ARRAY Magazine Month 2017

May 2017

Vol. 5 Issue 5

Priceless

A Variety of Local Experiences

Not too cool to earn a little more interest?

Stop by at any of our 3 locations to find out more about the Share Plus Premium account.

T-bil rate plus .25 minimum $10,000 Current rate 1.156076 APY and rates change weekly!

CU Service Centers 2917 Village Drive, Fayetteville 201 Hay Street, Fayetteville 219 N. Main Street, Spring Lake

Publisher AnneMarie Ziegler ArrayMagazine@gmail.com Associate Editor Kelsey Minnick Shaver ArrayInformation@gmail.com Photographers Amanda Loftus Amy Garner Jennifer Fennell Kelli Curtis Raul Ruberia Sr Robin Minnick Stone Samuels Contributing Writers Anissa Short Amanda Loftus Amy Garner Brenda Brown Brenda Howell Denise Bruce Dr. S. Fenner Jean Hutchinson Kelli Curtis Lisa Thomas Mike McCollum Robin Minnick Stacie Simfukwe Stone Samuels Wayne Smalls Administrative/Distribution Angie Autry Brad Lyle Kristen Gettys Mike Lyle Tanya Johnston Traci Falcon Marketing Consultants Kristy Sykes Sales Director ArrayMagazine.KSykes@gmail.com Stephanie Evans Tania Wilson Videography Christian Bendana Design Director Devon A. Wilson Graphic Design J&J Desktop Publishing Website Design/Maintanence Kristen Cahill

2

ArrayNC.com

About our cover:

Proud member of

Saundra Smith Rubiera, wife, mother, grandmother, and local artist displays some of her artwork at The ArtWalk in Downtown Fayetteville at The Gallery Room at The Sweet Palette.

Be sure to read about this amazing woman in this month’s issue!

Photography by Kelli Curtis

Proud media sponsor of

Proud member of

ArrayMagazineNC @ArrayMagNC

Send questions and feedback to: Array Magazine PO Box 20051 Fayetteville, NC 28312 (980)-ARRAY13 www.ArrayNC.com Please note that the inclusion of stories and articles in ARRAY magazine does not imply endorsement of products or people.

The views of the authors are presented for information and entertainment only and may not necessarily reflect the views of ARRAY. Specifically, ARRAY in no way endorses any claim associated with health and/or well being with respect to any particular person. We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. We will not be held responsible or liable directly or indirectly for any loss or damage that is caused or alleged to have been caused in connection with the use of, or reliance on, any content in this magazine. ARRAY reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing that does not meet ARRAY standards.

Submissions are welcome but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. ARRAY assumes no responsibility for information, products, services or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Monthly Columns

Contents

May 2017

5 Small Biz Doctor

Departments

8 Hidden Nuggets

16 Music Scene

14 Array of Pets

Tooting the Symphony’s Horn

21 Healthy Living

18 Everyday Hero

24 Calendar

Judge Toni King

30 Stiletto Thoughts

22 Artistic

Communique

34 Sip & Savor

Sandy Rubiera: Painting Joy!

Featured

32 Good News Shauna Hopkins

34 Sip & Savor

6 Downtown Art Tree of Good and Evil

Wing Fling

36 Bizz Buzz Watch My Wag Takes to Yoga

40 Repurpose With A Purpose

Project Five

10 Roller Derby

Amy Nunez

12 Fayetteville

38 Social Security Smarts

42 Amy on The Town 43 Today a Reader

Tomorrow a Leader

44 More Than Skin Deep 45 Dear Shanessa

Chamber CEO

46 Let’s Eat

Right On Target

47 Array for Kids

15 Natasha

Williams

48 Publisher’s Note

A Local Star

26 Fayetteville

Chamber Awards The Cream Of The Crop

10 Roller Derby ArrayNC.com

3

Listen for Senior Moments presented by ARRAY Magazine on Deelightful Middays with Dee Stevens!

Small Biz Doctor

Great Small Business Ventures For 2017 - Pt 4

Written by Michael McCollum “The Small Biz Dr.”

In Pt. 1 of 8 articles, I discussed

how a potential client contacted me to tell me he heard about me through one of my radio shows or articles regarding the small business industry, and wanted to know if he could pick my brain.

He wanted to know what I thought about his new CD/DVD cleaning company. “I started this business because I was the assistant manager of a CD/DVD pawn shop, and the owner would pay me $0.50 to clean old CDs that looked dirty before hitting the sales racks. So I thought that I should offer the same service to anyone with large CD collections.”

Needless to say, the business closed in two months.

The bottom line is that regardless how you feel about starting a certain type of business, unless you are the one that will purchase everything and pay yourself, it’s not about you, but what your customers want, need and are willing to pay for.

Over the next few articles, I will be providing some good small business ideas for people who are looking to start a business in 2017, but may not have tons of business knowledge, experience or high-tech training.

So make sure that you read them all for ideas.

Last month’s article listed the following business ideas: 1. Food Kiosk 2. Pool Cleaning 3. Clothing Alterations 4. Car Wash & Detailing 5. Packing Service Here are the next ideas: 1. House & Pet Sitting For personal, family or business travelers, hiring a house-sitter can offer peace of mind. Offering these services doesn’t require you to do anything tech-related. You can also add dog-sitting services.

2. Custom Embroidery Service If you enjoy embroidering and have the supplies to do so, you can offer your services to people who want to add their business logo, initials, or any other details to their clothing or accessories.

This requires a little experience, so take time to master the art.

3. Interior Decorating Service Helping clients design and decorate their homes and businesses can be a fun business opportunity for design-oriented entrepreneurs. And though there are some online tools that can help with those processes, it isn’t as necessary as a keen eye for design, because some people are

just born with it.

4. Personal Training If you love getting in shape and helping others do the same, you can offer your services out of your home, clients’ homes, at a business for managers and employees, or a local gym.

5. Tutoring You can start a tutoring business that helps grades 1-12, and then move up to post-secondary high school. The market is endless.

6. Photo Restoration Old photos tend to fade and show other signs of wear-and-tear over time. It takes some specialized expertise, but you can work to restore certain types of photos without going fully digital.

Make sure to get next month’s article for more great ideas. •A•

“The Small Biz Dr.” Host of the “On The Mic With Mike Show” www.sboradio.com & ESPN Radio 100.1fm Fayetteville NC Tuesdays 6-7pm

ArrayNC.com

5

The Sculpture Culture comes to Fayetteville

Part 5 Written & photos by Stone Samuels

Wow! It looks like time is truly flying this

year because here we are again and it is already May. We are already almost half way through 2017 and we are featuring our fifth sculpture in our series of ten.

This month we will be featuring the work of Sculptor, Painter and Illustrator Charles Pilkey and a piece named “The Tree of Good and Evil”.

This sculpture stands at ten feet, with highly detailed elements welded all around the tree. He doesn’t stop there - the metal is painted. This work was inspired by a parable in Old Testament in the book of Genesis. It is a metaphor for man’s strange relationship with technology.

Brilliant is a word that does not give complete credit to what this journalist sees in this wonderful work. It is complicated and whimsical all in one. Having looked at, studied and photographed this piece of art from every conceivable angle it is still very hard to describe what is being seen in front of my eyes.

It is located at the back of the Arts Council building on Maxwell St. in the parking lot. The way in which the sculpture is situated, the viewer can look from variety of different angles to give yourself the best chance of coming up with your very own description or analysis of what you are looking upon.

Warmer weather and larger groups of people making their way to the downtown area is helping to improve the downtown scene. One of the coolest aspects of going downtown is that there are a lot more young people, making the area more vibrant. They are getting the opportunity to see great works of art that they might never get to see any other place around the world.

6

ArrayNC.com

Charles Pilkey grew up in the Piedmont area of North Carolina.

Married with one son and three cats, he makes his home not far from Charlotte, in a town called Mint Hill. Charles is a educated man who was not always a sculptor – in fact, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelors of Science in Geology in 1978.

That is a long way from sculpting.

However, he also holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from East Carolina University, an Masters of Fine Arts degree from University of Missouri, and MLT ASCP from Central Piedmont Community College. He is a learned and diverse individual with a multitude of skills and creative energy that translates into amazing works of art.

He also taught Stone carving and welding classes at Kyushu Sangyo University in Fukuoka, Japan from 1998 to 2005. He lived in Japan for about 15 years. He has also been doing Freelance Scientific Illustrations since 1994. During his time teaching he must have had a lot of influence on young artists. Pilkey has been part of 10 international sculpture symposia. Pilkey works in steel, bronze, stone and terracotta.

His works can be seen on campuses, in parks, museums and in other public spaces. He has works displayed in China, Italy, Japan, Korea and Turkey. He also has pieces displayed in the United States.

Looking back at the “Tree of Good and Evil” there is a lot of thought and creativity put into this piece.

There are many people out there that should be very happy at his accomplishments. It has been a pleasure covering this exceptional piece of art.

The city of Fayetteville and the Arts Council are showing the citizens that they are committed to bringing new and different exhibits to town, in the ever-changing scenery of the art world. •A• Stay tuned for the next installment of the Sculpture Culture, where we will continue to bring you another piece of this amazing art.

Souljak’s Skincare

Sandra Ellis, Esthetician Fredericks Hair Design 4011 Sycamore Dairy Rd Fayetteville, NC 28303

Cell: 919-498-4207 Shop: 910-485-1855

ArrayNC.com

7

Hidden Nuggets

Entrepreneur Spotlight What do you do when life seemingly gives you

lemons? Well, if you are Carrie Randolph Louque, you not only make lemonade, but you share it with others. This is the best way I know to describe Carrie’s story for embracing her current home-based business venture with Plexus Worldwide. Her personal health challenges not only led to action needed to improve her own health, but the same action serves to fuel her passion to assist others. In fact, here is a little more about Carrie in her own words.

Written by Anissa Short

Who is Carrie? ~ I am a hope dealer who loves helping people. I am one who loves educating others and I am one making the wonderful adjustment to the world of empty nester.

What was your reason (or reasons) for starting a home-based business? ~ When my daughter began to apply for college, I realized that my financial blueprint was not that impressive so I started looking at various homebased businesses. I was driven to find a product that would benefit people helping to make their lives more positive. The products with Plexus had already brought about awesome results for me, so it just made sense.

What has been your biggest challenge and what did you do (or are you doing) to overcome it? ~ The biggest challenge to overcome has been my shyness. My strategy has been to “feel the fear and do it anyway�! So, I force myself to talk to people

2945 Hope Mills Road Ste 112 Fayetteville, NC 910-485-3111

A full service Barber Shop All nationalities welcome!

Mention where you saw this ad!

8

ArrayNC.com

in various situations so that my skills are sharpened to the point of being second nature.

What have you done and continue to do to support your success in business? ~ As the old adage goes, “consistency is the key to success.” To get results in anything, you must be consistent.

Consistency manifests itself in my belief in my products, in my use of the products, in my education about the products and the company, with investing in my customers and team members, and, of course, consistency in marketing my products.

What advice would you give someone contemplating a home-based business? ~ I would suggest that everyone do the appropriate research.

Research the startup costs, the inventory requirements, and if there are monthly sales/ recruiting quotas. A person must also determine their “why.” Is the desire to start a home-based business based solely upon financial need, or is it attached to a true passion and desire to change people’s lives?

What do you consider to be your greatest reward from working for yourself? ~ Because I love to help other people, I absolutely jump with joy when a customer contacts me with improved body image, mood, sleeping habits or energy.

Another perk is being able to help my team members reach their respective goals.

Other than generating a profit, what do you want your place in “free enterprise” to create? ~ I am excited to see just how many lives I can touch through what my company offers. My goal is to build a team of kind-hearted men and women who will change the lives of others. Being healthy from the inside out is the gateway to a beautiful life! •A•

HAND PAIN or NUMBNESS? This could be Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Symptoms and Characteristics    

10 Page Drive Pinehurst, NC

Numbness and tingling in hand & wrist Pain usually occurring at night Dry skin, swelling or color change in the hand Clumsiness or weakness of hand

help is here!

Call now to schedule a consultation

910.295.6868

www.pinehurstneurology.com

ArrayNC.com

9

Written & photography by Amy Garner

Amy Nunez is a slight dirty-blond with piercing steel

blue-grey eyes. Dressed in intentionally torn denim and a sleeveless rocker T-shirt, she is lean. Her jawline and the tilt of her chin indicate a general aura of rebellion. She is simply badass, at first glance. Underneath, though, she battles internally. “I have always struggled with anxiety. I fidget, bite my nails. I toss and turn when I attempt sleep and basically never stop thinking about all of those little annoying thoughts,” she says.

Amy began to find some relief from that inner war when she started roller derby at the age of 27. It wasn’t initially on her radar. In fact, she had grown up in New Jersey with her best friend, Samantha, doing team sports. Though they played together, Amy always felt she was second-string to Samantha. But while living together in Philadelphia, Amy got caught up in the modeling industry.

Coupled with a bad breakup and the anxietyinducing “trying

10

ArrayNC.com

to fit in,” her best friend knew she needed some help.

Amy recalls the moment. “Samantha recognized my bad place and saw that I had also lost that passion for counterculture. She called me out on it. She had seen a roller derby bout, and she knew that I would fall in love with the sport. When she said, ‘You need to do this.’ I listened. It changed my life.”

In that way she has, she looked away but spoke with passion about her first tryout experience. “I had bought some ill-fitting skates on eBay and went to tryouts with at least 35 other women.” Amy had never seen the sport, not really; a documentary on Netflix was the closest encounter she had had. She had no idea what was being looked for in the tryouts.

She nibbled a nail and stood up to continue. “All I remember from tryouts was that I failed the rolling squat and hit the blocking pad as hard as I could, but I made ‘fresh meat’—that is the term all derby leagues use for new recruits. It was a long haul, but out of all of those contestants, I was one of four who made the team.

I was 27 years old and I was finally first string at something.”

Roller derby was bigger than that for Amy. “It was the sense of community, the sense of sisterhood,” she says. “They were not only welcoming, but challenging, and smart. I walked in wanting heart, and came out wanting brains, strength and compassion.

But most of all I wanted someone who will walk up to me after a bout, give me a knuckle in the shoulder and tell me that I tried real hard. I wanted that positive regard and that realness.

This was the first time I ever felt like an athlete.”

Amy is an Army spouse and she and her husband, Justin, have only been to Fort Bragg together. Married for just four years, Amy feels very lucky that Fayetteville has a really robust roller derby community.

“Derby is a place where I can shove all of my head-garbage to the back of my brain. It’s extremely strategic and physical. It literally demands all of your body and mind,” she says.

However, Amy knows that anxiety can fight even through the hardest game. “I’m not saying that I’ve never had a meltdown at a practice or a game. The last game I played in was a total fail for me.” She continued, that rebellious chin trembling. “My grandfather had died the night before, and my family was hundreds of miles away. I had a full-on anxiety attack in the middle of a jam and when it was over, I spiked my helmet cover on the ground instead of handing it to my coach. I was not behaving like an athlete at all. It was a tough time,” says Amy, with tears.

While that incident was hard, Amy doesn’t want the standard perception of roller derby to be believed. Most people, she said, when you tell them about roller derby, will reply with a comment like “Wow, you must really work out your anger beating up on each other.”

“This is absolutely the opposite of how I feel. I am at my best when I’m happy and healthy. When I’m upset or angry, I’m worthless on the track,” she says.

Luckily, Amy knows, derby is full of people that struggle with the same feelings and are incredibly in tune with each other. “My teammates can tell something is wrong with me before I can and you better believe they will say something.” Amy confides. “We are some seriously emotional, outspoken ladies. I love it so much. I get to be part of a community that supports me when I’m down, and challenges me to be better. Oh yeah, and skates. I feel like a superhero when I skate.

It’s the most free you’ll ever feel.

It’s actually the only time I truly feel free. No anxious thoughts, no worries, you’re just flying.”

I welcome your feedback and suggestions. You can reach me at arrayadventures@gmail.com

1014 Robeson Street, Suite D, Fayetteville, NC 28305

Looking to add people to our growing and dynamic team. Landscape experience required.

910-960-7411

Landartadmin@nc.rr.com On A Mission To Bring You Outside

What is your biggest expense?

TAXES!

If I can possibly reduce your taxes by 20 to 50%, is that a conversation you would like to have? ▲ Tax-Free Retirement ▲ Asset Protection ▲ Estate Planning Alan Porter

Tax-Free Retirement Specialist

910.551.1046 Strategicwealth0@gmail.com www.AlanPorternc.com

You insure your car and your home — did you know that you can also insure your RETIREMENT? Call me!

ArrayNC.com

11

New Fayetteville Chamber

‘Shoots Straight’

Written by Robin Minnick

On March 24, the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of

Commerce announced a new CEO and president would be taking position in April. Once Christine Michaels has completed her move from Florida to Fayetteville, she will step into her new role heading up the Chamber.

While she brings nearly 20 years’ experience of association management with further background in communications economic development, and government relations, one of the most important assets she brings to Fayetteville is prior experience with three chambers associated with a strong military presence. She comes here from the Greater Brandon Florida Chamber, which supports MacDill Air Force Base, but she has also served at the Melbourne Regional Chamber of East Central Florida, and the Alexandria, Va., chamber. Her experience in these locations make her uniquely qualified to lead the Greater Fayetteville Chamber.

Ms. Michaels generously made time during her busy moving process to answer a few of ARRAY’s questions.

ARRAY: What do you see as essential to helping the two communities, civilian and military, work together as self-sufficient partners to mutual benefit?

Ms. Michaels: I think open communication is essential to a strong working relationship between the military and the business/civilian world. I have found the relationship becomes strongest when the military is kept aware of community efforts to support their personnel, and finds a welcoming environment such as Fayetteville. And likewise, when members of a military installation serve side by side with community groups and offer briefings and ways for non-military to become involved, as is most welcome!

ARRAY: You have noted elsewhere that when you became head of the Greater Brandon Florida Chamber, you “reorganized everything.”

From what you’ve seen so far, do you think you will need to do that here?

Ms. Michaels: I have been

12

ArrayNC.com

very impressed with the direction of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. I think we are in a growth mode, and ready to work closely with other organizations in the community. I also think that we are returning to our roots, that is our members, and will be offering programs to help them succeed in business. I see myself as someone who can bring best practices, experience and new ideas to a chamber that is ready to be active!

ARRAY: In a quote to the Chamber, you mentioned being impressed by their enthusiasm and determination to move forward. What else do you see that our city has going for it, in terms of the future?

Ms. Michaels: I was recently told that there are states who do not have the benefit of having a community as large as Fayetteville to call their own.

The sheer size of the city, county and surrounding areas and the constant influx from the post make this a vibrant area. The cultural offerings, festivals and events, the Crown Complex, the new baseball stadium, Civil War museum and other resources which are planned will add to the area’s “destination” appeal. More importantly, it seems as though the people and community leaders want the city to be a leader in the state and to be prosperous and thrive. It’s usually attitude and determination which can overcome any challenges to get there.

The mission of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber is to “be a catalyst in growing a healthy business community through its advocacy of business friendly public policy, the fostering of diverse innovative business initiatives, through strong collaborative partnerships and delivering valuable programs and services to our members.” As the transition begins and interim CEO Darsweil Rogers steps back, the question arises: How will this change affect the Chamber’s mission?

Along with her experience with other chambers, Ms. Michaels brings ideas from the national association and her colleagues, as well as best practices. She says, “I think our

membership will be pleased once I am able to get feedback and assess what our members really want and need.”

Michaels sees her previous work at the regional level as valuable in helping the Fayetteville Chamber increase its role as advocate and leader in the dialogue between other community organizations and individuals to help bring them together in pursuit of common goals.

“I look forward to getting to know the entities and people in the Cumberland County/ Fayetteville area so that we can find our common ground,” she says.

Currently Ms. Michaels is busy with the herculean task of packing up to move and finding a new home. Eventually she will be joined in Fayetteville by her nonagenarian mother and the four-legged portion of her household. Ms. Michaels is actively involved in animal rescue work. She has mostly cats right now, but she’s taken in dogs and farm animals, too. It’s been her passion for many years. History, the arts, and gardening are among her other interests. That’s good, because there’s a wealth of all of that here.

And she’s ready for it. “I hope to engage in local groups as soon as I get acclimatized,” she says.

Ms. Michaels paints a refreshing picture of a city leader who is accessible, involved, enthusiastic, and eager to engage. Her background cites tested and proven ability, and it includes experience uniquely pertinent to Fayetteville’s needs. Her “final answer” highlights what she is offering our city.

Car Tips!

• About 76% of drivers have a station they regularly go to, either because its location is convenient (25%) or because they believe it tends to have the cheapest price (62%). Make sure you’re shopping smart and checking that your go-to fill-up spot is, in fact, the cheapest. You never know when a nearby station is running a promotion or may have changed their pricing strategy, so always double-check.

• Consumers are paying for convenience and not planning; 40% of respondents choose a gas station based on location, while 14% choose a station depending on ease of entrance.

ARRAY: Finally, what do you see as your personal strengths, both as a person and as our new Chamber of Commerce CEO? Ms. Michaels: I am by nature a humble person, but if pressed to give my strengths I’d say they include being both a big idea person but also being practical enough to chart a course to make that idea a reality; and I am a patriotic and loyal person who sets high ethical standards; and I am a “straight shooter.”

Seems right on target.•A•

ArrayNC.com

13

Array of Pets

The Fayetteville Animal Protection Society, Inc (FAPS) provides a licensed, no-kill shelter. Anyone interested in these animals or others should phone 910-864-9040 or visit 3927 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville.

Photos by www.JenniferFennellPhotography.com

Name: Carla Age: 3 years Sex: Female Breed: Boxer Mix Size: Large Carla is a gorgeous brindle girl who is extremely well behaved! She does wonderful in a crate, loves people, and doesn’t mind other dogs. She has a little grey on her beautiful face that just adds to her old soul personality. She is the total package and none of us our sure why she hasn’t found her fur-ever family yet.

Photo credit: Jenifer Fennel Photography

Name: Cole Age: 1 years Sex: Male Breed: Domestic Shorthair Cole is a playful little guy. He plays with his little toy mouse all day! If he isn’t pushing it around the floor then he is sure to have it hanging out of his mouth as he walks around the room. Once he has tired himself out he will lay hisself in your arms and demand a belly rub. Cole has such a big personality for a cat and is it the cutest thing you will ever see!

Photo credit: Jenifer Fennel Photography

Name: Milo Age: 4 years Sex: Male Breed: Lab Mix Size: Large Milo is very timid when he is in his kennel, but once you bring him outside, you will see the side of Milo we all know and love! Milo would love a family to go on walks with, hikes, or just play in the backyard.

He is very easy going and is unbelievably gentle with everyone he meets! Milo will make someone very happy someday, we all just hope that day is soon.

Photo credit: Jenifer Fennel Photography 14

See more Array of Pets on our website: www.ArrayNC.com

ArrayNC.com

Written & photographed by Amy Garner

Natasha Williams is bigger than life—her presence

brightens up the entire room.

She was in town briefly recently, and we got together to chat and take a few pictures. We met up at the ARRAY office at Revolutionary Coworking, and she quickly morphed from your standard running-errands-attire of sneakers, khakis and T-shirt into this amazing figuregripping black-and-white symmetrical dress, killer heels and perfect lipstick. Perfect, ya hear me? Her personality revealed itself in the confident strength of her posture and the lift of her chin. Before she even said a word, I knew she was poised and articulate. She wore it in her face and her walk.

Now a New York-based actor, Natasha is a Fayetteville girl, born and raised. She is known for her work on “A Log Story,” “The Big Shot-Caller,” “30 Rock,” “My Parents Are Crazier than Yours,” “The Delivery Man” with Vince Vaughn and “Orange is the New Black.” A1989 Cape Fear High School graduate, she went on to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in WinstonSalem.

Natasha got her first big break in a national tour of the Broadway musical “Once on This Island.” That role led to a part in a European revue tour called “The Sound of Motown.”

She has also appeared in commercials for Publix Super Markets, Bojangles’, Popeyes

41

ArrayNC.com

and H&R Block, among others. Her biggest spot yet was a national American Express commercial for Blue Cash titled “Salad Bargaining” in which she is featured as a flight attendant serving Tina Fey. Natasha maintains ties to Fayetteville and is a member of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, The Arts Council of Fayetteville, and Group Theory, Inc., a communitybased organization where she recently participated in a school backpack giveaway program that is held annually.

“That project means a lot to me. I feel like we are really helping to line local students up for success,” she says. “And that is very important in this community and in others all over the country. We need to share our resources and make sure our young people have all the tools necessary to go as far as they possibly can.”

Natasha appeared at FSU’s Fine Arts Week in April and presented her signature workshop “What’s Next and How Can We Help.”

Sponsored by FSU’s theatre program, Natasha stressed career pathways in theatre, TV, film and commercials. “I approached this visit to FSU and to Fayetteville in a very personal way. Fayetteville is my home and I feel very bonded with the people who live here,” she says. “I wanted to make sure that my message gave FSU students a very clear message about working in the industry and building a career.”

•A• I welcome your feedback and suggestions. You can reach me at arrayadventures@gmail.com

Tooting the Symphony’s Horn

Written by By Robin Minnick Photo courtesy of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra A Well-endowed Orchestra…

When previous conductor Fouad Fakhouri completed his eleven-year stint with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra (FSO) in April of 2016, he left amid appreciation deep enough to amass donations for an endowment fund of 1.2 million dollars. The Fouad K. Fakhouri Endowment for Artistic Excellence hasn’t started to pay out yet, but when it does, it will do so at a level of four per cent, providing stabilizing funds for the orchestra.

As explained by Christine Kastner, Fayetteville Symphony President/CEO, a person may be able to donate a thousand dollars a year during his or her lifetime, but when the person dies, the gifts are gone.

When enough money is collected to generate that same thousand dollars per year, the gift continues indefinitely, there to provide even when grants and corporate funding shrinks.

The money “provides a really reliable income stream that you don’t have to go out and raise every year,” says Christine. Initially the money from this endowment will help stabilize some of the symphony’s income and help to make their employee salaries competitive.

Currently the FSO has multiple endowments with a combined principal worth of almost 2 million dollars.

Other endowments fund chairs in the orchestra through the Endowed Chairs Program. The symphony has as its goal to raise 5 million dollars in endowments.

“Endowment campaigns don’t stop,” says Christine.

“The holiday concert series still needs endowment to guarantee its continuance. And the Youth Orchestra needs endowment as well.”

military family member stationed in North Carolina.

The competition took a break while the FSO searched for a replacement for Fouad K. Fakhouri, but it is ready to start up again. Applications will open later this fall for the 2017-2018 year.

A conductor plays an important part in the competition. He or she needs to be present for the auditions and rehearsals. In addition, the conductor may have input into refining the selection process. One idea under consideration is a way to level the playing field between classical pianists who may have begun playing by the age of four and players of other instruments who were more likely to have started playing around sixth grade. The FSO’s new conductor will no doubt have a perspective to offer.

And the new conductor is…

Once the last candidate in the conductor search presented their concert in March, musician and audience surveys were gathered together and studied by the Search Committee, who gave their recommendations to the board. Their timeline was tight; negotiations had to begin in April as the new person was expected to come on board officially by July 1.

They made their deadline.

To Educate. To Entertain. To Inspire…

“The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is a professional, regional orchestra whose mission is to educate, entertain, and inspire the citizens of the Fayetteville, North Carolina region as the leading musical resource.”

This quote taken from the mission statement of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra particularly speaks to the Harlan Duenow Young Artist Concerto Competition and Scholarship. Each year young musicians apply to compete. They learn and video-record a concerto and submit it to the symphony in January. Competitors then come in person to play in audition. The winner performs at the symphony’s last concert of the year.

The competition, which also awards a two-thousanddollar scholarship to the winning classical musician is named for the orchestra’s longest serving conductor.

Applicants must between the ages of 12 and 21, and be either a full-time legal resident of North Carolina or a

16

ArrayNC.com

New Music Director of Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Stefan Sanders The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra has announced as its new Music Director, Stefan Sanders. Sanders has already begun working with the staff to plan the upcoming 2017-18 season. His first concert will

be Saturday October 14, 2017 at Methodist University. For those interested in season tickets, they will become available in late May. “Stefan is exactly what the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra needs for the future. He brings the ability to raise the level of the orchestra artistically as well as a desire to connect with our audience and our community,” said Christine Kastner.

She describes Sanders as an “imaginative musician, devoted educator and ardent champion of many types of music.”

Sanders was impressed and inspired by the Symphony’s commitment to the culture of Cumberland County. He said, “The musicians, administration, and board of directors motivate me to continue strengthening our community’s sense of identity through meaningful collaborations and performances of all kinds of music. It is my distinct honor to serve as the next music director and conductor of your Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.”

Sanders was one of five finalists out of 273 applicants from around the world. The finalists each prepared and conducted a concert with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra during the 2016-17 season by way of audition. The other four finalists were Al Sturgis, Aram Demirjian, Joseph Young, and Dina Gilbert. Sanders was the unanimous choice of the search committee and the FSO Board of Directors as well.

He brings a unique skill set and approach to his conducting; his formal conducting studies were undertaken at the University of Texas (Austin) and the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen. He is also a graduate of the Juilliard School, the University of Texas (Austin, and the Interlochen Arts Academy. His personal instrument is the trombone, and he previously built a career as an internationally renowned trombonist, performing as soloist in North America, Asia, and Europe. •A•

ArrayNC.com

17

Toni King:

More than just the robe

Written by Amy Garner

Judge. Daughter. Friend. Sister. Attorney. Community enthusiast. Survivor. Warrior.

Judge Toni King, one of the 10 12th Judicial District

Court judges, wears more than a black robe most days.

Her life is very full and her eyes hold a little exhaustion the day we meet to discuss this article. That may not seem flattering to some. However, I sat down and had a conversation with a determined woman who continues to fight through more than most people can tolerate, including exhaustion, every single day. And she shows up with grace and humor and fairness. To me, that is goldstandard beautiful.

Toni was born in Pusan, Korea to Willie and Sa Yon King. Like many folks in Fayetteville, she grew up following her military family around, attending grade school in different countries until graduating from Hanau American High School in Hanau, Germany. She moved along to college and graduated from North Carolina Central University with an undergraduate degree in English. In 2000, Toni graduated from the North Carolina Central University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate. After passing the bar exam in July 2000, she entered into private practice as an associate. In 2004, she formed the partnership of Miller, King & Clouse, PLLC, where she practiced in criminal defense, personal injury, real estate, and immigration.

In 2009, Judge King was appointed to the Bench by Governor Beverly Perdue and subsequently re-elected in the 2010 and 2014 elections. For as long as she can remember, Judge King wanted to be a lawyer—she enjoyed the debate and arguing, plus she loved to talk.

“The one thing I did well was talk,” she says.

As she matured and understood what lawyers really did, it became important for her to position herself to have the choice between working for others and for herself, and then also to assist those in need. “A law degree opens opportunities in so many fields, and there are just so many things a person can do to not only earn a living but to serve the community,” says Judge King.

Survivor.

Warrior.

The average Judge Toni King’s day is not your, or my, average day. She gets rolling around 8 a.m. and heads to her office at the court house, where she

18

ArrayNC.com

maneuvers through judge-stuff like bench orders, records, documents that need her signature, etc. She then checks in with case managers for anything that might need attention before heading off to court, conducting a docket call, and hearing cases, pleas, settlements and run trials. During her lunch hour, she rarely lunches, instead squeezing in other meetings with volunteer organizations or other agencies. She heads back to her office at the end of each day to wrap up more judge-stuff, signing documents and the like.

Survivor.

Warrior.

Then Judge King flexes her doctorate and heads over to Fayetteville State University, where she is an adjunct professor and teaches a variety of classes, including those about prisons and courts. She swings that gig at least two nights per week. Other nights, she juggles a variety of community and agency events as a board member or volunteer. She aims to be back home by 9 p.m. to get ready to start it all over again.

Survivor.

Warrior.

When Judge King started sharing her schedule with me, I knew there was more to her story. Heck, she was FAYmous for her Fight Like a Girl (KingStrong) thing. And here it is: Toni has been fighting stage III uterine cancer since January 2016. She describes it as “my greatest challenge,” challenging strength, weaknesses, and resiliency.

In her own words: “It has taken me to my darkest moments, where I have cried uncontrollable tears and to this day, I still cry. I promised myself from my initial diagnosis that I would never look how I felt. After reading about others and their journey, it convinced me to always put on my best outfit, my heels on and smile through any ailments or side effects to show the world a different face of cancer.”

She continues to commute to Duke on a regular basis for treatment. She has weathered her load of setbacks, chemo and its side effects. She is still showing up for work, for class, for this community.

But she hasn’t been alone in this journey, and that of all things, she says, is crucial. “Family, friends and

strangers keep me going. The constant encouragement it makes is hard to get stuck in depressed days. I know this is why I have done so well with my treatments. The light of the people around me is my secret weapon against cancer,” she says.

On top of all that she does, and all the pain and fatigue she faces day in and day out, she feels “losing over 100 pounds before my cancer and battling cancer now have been my greatest accomplishments thus far.” Her voice was quiet. “Both are probably a struggle that many can relate to in some form or fashion. I was always active as a young person but also struggled with my weight; it caused a lot of insecurity and despite people thinking I have all this confidence, I am still a work in progress.”

She continues: “We all struggle with different things.

The most beautiful person in the eyes of others criticizes themselves for some flaw or imperfection that only they see. It’s been so tough and I’ve fallen off the path and got back on but not giving up has allowed me to get where I am. I’m learning every day to love myself more.”

Survivor.

Warrior.

When I meet strong, driven women I always need to know where they find their inspiration. Toni—Judge King, Dr. King—says for her it is her mother who has been her greatest influence.

Her mother married a soldier and knew nothing of the culture or practices of this country she would soon call home. She didn’t speak English but came to the US and learned the language, and became a citizen and an entrepreneur. Her mom raised the judge through times when her father was deployed for the Vietnam War, Desert Storm and other military obligations he had to fulfill.

The hard work and adversities her mother overcame really influenced Judge King to be the woman she is today.

“She managed to assimilate herself into a new country that she loves but still maintains the culture and teachings of her native land, which she has passed on to her children,” Judge King says. “She’s just always been one to reiterate that I can do anything as long as I worked for it.”

Survivor.

Warrior. •A•

s n thi f o i t n Me 10% of or ad f

$aving You Hundreds!

Curb Damage • Custom Color Change Bent Wheels • Powder Coating • Cracked Wheels 5409 RAEFORD RD

FAYETTEVILLE

NC ArrayNC.com

19

Good Air Quality is a Community Effort

Written by Denise Bruce, Sustainable Sandhills

Spring has arrived with cool evenings and

warm afternoons. People all over Cumberland County are taking to the outdoors to enjoy the fresh air and warm weather. It is no surprise that those who live in the area enjoy the outdoors starting this time of year since, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Cumberland County boasts of the best air quality in the state.

For the past 15 years, the Air Quality Stakeholders of Cumberland have worked to improve air quality from the hazy days of the early 2000’s when local air quality was poor.

However, Cumberland County’s good air quality cannot be maintained by a small group of stakeholders alone. For continued good air quality, it will take every member of our community to do their part. There are many things individuals can do to help maintain good air quality, such as knowing when air quality might be poor and making a few changes to driving habits.

Knowing when air quality has the potential to be bad can help you make educated decisions.

Think of air quality conditions like the weather: You wouldn’t mow grass in the rain. Part of the EPA, Air Now (airnow.gov) has a smartphone app that shares the air quality forecast each day. Once you have the knowledge of good air quality or poor air quality, you then can act. For example, it is not wise to mow grass on a poor air quality day or take lengthy trips into town. The

emissions from lawn mowers and cars contribute to poor air quality. You might want to take a long hike along the Cape Fear River Trail, when good air quality day is best.

Mobile sources, cars, and trucks are a large contributor to poor air quality in Cumberland County. Making a few changes in driving habits can reduce the negative air quality impacts. For example, not idling your car for more than 10 seconds—and that includes skipping the drivethru. Another example is planning trips into town and avoiding stop-and-go traffic, which means taking the freeway instead of cutting through town.

Additional air quality tips can be found at www. fampo.org/airquality or by following Sustainable Sandhills on Facebook and Instagram.

Sustainable Sandhills will be sharing tips for maintaining air quality throughout the month of May. The Cumberland County Air Quality Stakeholders is a regional board with the Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organizations (FAMPO). The board consists of government and business leaders, and citizens planning for sustained good air quality in the FAMPO planning area. The board meets quarterly on the second Thursday of the month in the Cumberland County Historic Courthouse courtroom at 6 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 13, 2017. •A•

For more information contact Sustainable Sandhills: Denise Bruce, Cumberland County Air Quality Coordinator info@sustainablesandhills.org

20

ArrayNC.com

Healthy Living

Written by Dr. Shanessa Fenner

National Mental Health Awareness Month

May is National Mental Health Awareness

Month, and millions of Americans live with various mental health problems.

Approximately one in five adults in the United States—which is 43.8 million— experiences mental illness in a given year.

These illnesses include anxiety and panic disorders, depression, substance abuse and addiction, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and others. Many people suffer with more than one mental illness at a time. Certain factors may increase the risk of developing mental health problems such as having a blood relative with a mental illness, stressful life situations, or an ongoing chronic medical condition.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that depression is the most common type of mental illness, affecting more than 26 percent of the U. S. adult population. It has been estimated that by the year 2020 depression will be the second leading cause of disability throughout the world.

Mental health is serious and often there is a stigma associated with it. Sadly, there are negative attitudes and beliefs toward individuals who have a mental health condition. Don’t let this stigma create shame or let fear stop you from obtaining the needed treatment. Serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year.

One-half of all mental illness begins by age 14 and 75 percent begins by age 24.

Signs and symptoms associated with mental illness include withdrawal, apathy, feeling disconnected, increased sensitivity, mood changes, sleep or appetite changes, unusual behavior, nervousness, illogical thinking, and problems with concentration or logical thought. If an individual is experiencing a number of these symptoms and it is affecting their ability to work, study, or relate to others they should seek the help of a mental health professional.

Major illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder rarely appear out of the blue.

Family, friends, teachers, and other individuals start to notice changes with the individual’s thinking, feelings, or behavior before the illness progresses in its full-blown form.

Research shows early intervention can often minimize or delay symptoms, prevent hospitalization, and improve prognosis. It is crucial that the individual is assessed by a mental health professional and the treatment is individualized. It is very important for family members, spouses, and loved ones to be involved in the process.

Learn all that you can about the mental illness and what can be done to help the individual. It can be a very critical time when the individual does not take their medication or obtain the services they need in order to live a productive life.

ArrayNC.com

21

Sandy Rubiera:

Painting Joy! Written by Jean Hutchinson Photo by Kelli Curtis & courtesy of Raul Rubiera Sr.© 2017

Saundra Smith Rubiera could be called “a painter of

41

ArrayNC.com

joy.”

Saundra, otherwise known as “Sandy,” was one of several artists featured in the Art Walkabout for April 2017. Her work was displayed in the Gallery Room at The Sweet Palette, the first show in a traveling exhibition of 18 drawings. Using a palette of Prismacolor markers, Sandy has drawn and painted joy.

Sandy also received a grant from the Regional Artist Project Support program this year, which is administered and funded by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County (with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, Cumberland County and surrounding counties, the City of Fayetteville, and private contributions). And what artist would not be happy—joyful—about winning a coveted grant to help fund her work?

“Being an artist is all I ever wanted to do,” Sandy says.

“Planning this exhibit has been one of the crowning achievements of my life. I have been humbled by the unexpected honor. I haven’t worked this hard since graduate school…but it has been so rejuvenating.”

Sandy’s drawings are like glimpses into little rooms—rooms meticulously drawn to show intricate, colorful designs. While the rooms vary in interior décor, each one has a cozy, casual, joyful atmosphere.

These interiors are chock-full of furnishings: vibrant wallpapers, fancy teapots, multicolored rag rugs, wooden chairs, little chests, windows, Winnie the pooh, flowers in porcelain vases, woven baskets with plants or apples, and tables piled with memorabilia. Oft-used items, a family legacy, fond memories, joy palettes!

Perhaps Sandy’s interiors welcome viewers home to their cherished belongings, to comfort, to safety, and to peace. Are these metaphorical glimpses into a life fully lived?

Sandy answers immediately: “No, I am just crazy, mad for patterns!”

By simply stacking together everyday things that make her happy, Sandy creates decorative art. Bubbling with contagious enthusiasm, the artist explains that creativity has always infused her life. She delights in growing daffodils; she values special mementos; she cherishes old photos; and she enjoys crafting rustic furniture. While Sandy’s drawings include objects she owns, guests in her home will find no clutter, no garish wallpaper, and no tables in disarray. Sandy’s ideas are from her dreams and a vivid imagination, from “imaginary clutter.”

When first experimenting with interiors, Sandy saw a famous work by Pierre Bonnard displayed in a museum.

“I was so deeply moved by its beauty that I forgot to breathe!” she says. “It seemed he [Bonnard] and I were kindred spirits doing the same thing.” The experience validated the path she was taking in art.

“This current exhibit is all about the sheer childlike joy of freely making marks on paper —the delight, the excitement,” Sandy says. “The early artwork of children is uninhibited. It often lacks depth and perspective, like flat woodcuts.”

Sandy anticipates that her art will appeal especially to children. “I spent a year experimenting with this medium and exploring my subject matter,” Sandy says.

“Each work grew more focused, more complex. One work led to another and it became a series.”

Sandy’s drawings are not “more complex” because of their big inventory of items. Their complexity results from her creative technique. Sandy’s website states: “What inspires me to pick up a pencil, brush, or linocut tool and make marks on paper or canvas is the same now as it was when I was young: color, pattern, and flattened space.”

Using “exciting,” bright colors, Sandy capably manipulates pattern to create “movement in a drawing” and to “activate” its surface “by breaking large shapes into smaller color spots.”

Art students sometimes struggle to grasp the basic principles of art which Sandy willfully controls. In her current show, Sandy intentionally minimizes accepted uses of depth and perspective. According to her website, “Although I draw from life, I make a conscious effort to flatten space by tilting and altering perspective. I try to create the feeling that the objects are stacked, one on top of the other, vertically, rather than one behind the other, horizontally.”

Sandy clarifies: “I like to play with dimensions and perspective, to minimize three-dimensionality (3-D).”

She suggests that to understand her technique, a viewer might imagine herself standing on a tall ladder, looking down on things, and seeing multiple objects all in the same plane.

Talented, artistic family members surrounded Sandy as a child, including two uncles, her grandfather, and her dad. At age 7 she boldly announced to her mother,

“I want to be an artist!” Sandy’s interests were fostered in high school at the original Fayetteville Senior High School, and her mother inspired Sandy to set goals for scholarships so she could pursue formal art training.

In both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at East Carolina University, Sandy majored in painting and minored in printmaking.

In addition to designing custom murals for children’s rooms, Sandy illustrated three books. Skilled in multiple media (drawing, crafts, printmaking, and painting [pastels, water color, oil]), Sandy’s work has been shown in more than 20 exhibits, including the 1983-’84 American Drawings IV Traveling Exhibition, sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.

In a lifetime dedicated to studying, teaching, and making art, Sandy honed technique, versatility, and originality. She taught art to nearly all age groups (preKindergarten to seventh grade, high school, college, and university students), including classes offered through Fayetteville Technical Community College, Methodist University, and The Fayetteville Academy.

Though widely traveled, Sandy calls Fayetteville home, where, for decades, she has been an active volunteer.

As an adult, the artist again finds herself surrounded by talented, artistic family members: her husband and her two sons. Sandy’s husband, Raul Rubiera, Sr., contributed the accompanying photo of the artist in her home studio in April 2017.

“I am a product of art education,” Sandy says. “The value of funding the arts and keeping fine arts in education cannot be minimized. From ancient times when Homo sapiens put marks on cave walls, people have looked for ways to create, to express themselves.”

“Unlike other programs, fine art allows us freely to express our emotions, our souls,” she says. “Sometimes it can be difficult to convert artistic talents into financial success. Being an artist may not bring riches always, but it always enriches one’s life!” •A•

“I like to play with dimensions and perspective, to minimize three dimensionality (3-D).”

ArrayNC.com

23

May Sunday

Monday

1 Happy Birthday May Babies!

2

11 am Wild Wings Walapalooza, 2097 Skibo Rd

7

1 pm Mother-Daughter Tea, Studio 215 Events, Fayetteville 4:30 pm Family Minis in the Garden!, Cape Fear Botanical Gardens

pm Kids Mother’s Day 14 1Special, Wine & Design,

Donaldson St, Fayetteville 4 pm Aloha Fun Run 5k, The Runners Spot

pm Painting on a Barnstar!, 21 3Wine & Design, Donaldson St, Fayetteville

3:30 pm Fayetteville Quarter Frenzy, AIT Festival Hall, Fayetteville

Caroline, or Change: 28 2A pm New Musical, Cape Fear

Regional Theater, 1209 Hay St 7:30 pm A Symphonic Salute to the U.S. Armed Forces Concert, Festival Park, Fayetteville

24 ArrayNC.com

8

8:30 am Women Build, Habitat Restore, 3833 Bragg Blvd 12:30 pm Hope Mills Chamber Monthly Luncheon, Hope Mills Parks & Recreation

Tuesday

7 pm At the Death House Door, 221 Hay St

3

Wedne

8 am Leadersh Report Presen Maxwell St

5:30 pm Lead Project Report 159 Maxwell S

9

8:30 am Women Build, Habitat Restore, 3833 Bragg Blvd continues 6 pm Anniversary Members’ Exhibit, Cape Fear Studios, 148 Maxwell St

am Behi 10 7:30 159 Maxwell S

7:30 pm PreZumba Glow P 6404 Cliffdale

pm Drawing for the Fun am Brave Play under 2 year, 6 pm Team Ca 15 4:30 16 10 of It (ages 8 and up) Cape Fear Bravery Kids Gym, 886-A Elm St, 17 Fayetteville Wa Studios, 148 Maxwell St

Fayetteville

6 pm Effectively using Facebook/Instagram to Target Your Market, FTCC, Fayetteville

7:15 pm Wine, Yoga & Live Music, The Wine Café, Downtown Fayetteville

am Richard Guy Charity 22 10 Golf Invitational, Gates Four Golf & Country Club

2 pm Homeschool in the Garden Series, Cape Fear Botanical Garden

pm K9 Memorial Day 29 12 Ceremony, Airborne & Special

Operations Museum, 100 Bragg Blvd 4:30 pm Drawing for the Fun of It (ages 8 and up), Cape Fear Studios, 148 Maxwell St

Alzheimer’s, M 109 Hay Street Fayetteville

7 pm KidsPea KickBack Jack Morganton Ro

am PAW Patrol Live! “Race pm Animal 23 10 24 4Bayard to the Rescue”, Crown Complex, Clark P Fayetteville

6 pm Fayetteville Networking Event, Pierro’s at Traemoor, Hope Mills

am Saint John’s Episcopal 30 10 Church Exhibition, Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum, Maxwell St

7 pm Fayetteville SwampDogs vs Holly Springs Salamanders, JP Riddle Stadium, Fayetteville

Center, 631 Sh Fayetteville

1 pm Randy A Ellington-Whit Art Gallery, 11 Fayetteville

am Skin C 31 11 Month, Sunshi

Hay St, Downt

8 pm The Dia Frank, Gilbert Green Street, F

esday

ship 100 Project ntation, 159

dership 100 t Presentation, St

hind the Badge, Street

-Mother’s Day Party/Potluck, e Rd, Fayetteville

Captain Workshop, Walk to End McKee Homes, et, Downtown

ace Fundraiser, k’s, 5081 oad, Fayetteville

Feedings, J Park and Nature herman Dr

Akers Exhibition, ite Contemporary 13 Gillespie St,

Cancer Awareness hine Artistry, 108 ntown Fayetteville

ary of Anne t Theater, 116 Fayetteville

4

Thursday

11 am Fayetteville Go Red for Women Luncheon, 109 Green St 6:30 pm Sweet Tea Shakespeare, Cape Fear Botanical Gardens

am Fayetteville Ladies 11 10 Power Lunch, Ramada Plaza Fayetteville, 1707 Owen Dr

2 pm Wonderful Water, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville

5

Friday

2017

12 pm Nominations for Green Business Award begins, Sustainable Sandhills 4 pm A Garden Party 2017

by Boys & Girls Club of Cumberland County, Festival Park

Mom’s Wine Time, 12 6ThepmWine Café Downtown Fayetteville

6:30 pm Altra Demo Pub Run, The Runners Spot, 1221 Hay St

6

Saturday

8 am Giant Yard Sale for the Fur Babies, 2443 Hope Mills Rd 9 am 2017 Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival, Smithfield, NC 10 am Kids Fest, Festival Park

Learning the Essentials 13 9foram Financial Peace, NC CEED, Downtown Fayetteville

10 am Cooking with The Household 6 Catering Class,130 Bow Street 11 am Mother’s Day Brunch, The Metropolitan Room

pm Third Thursday! Beach 18 4Keen, Cape Fear Botanical Garden

6 pm Fayetteville Divas, Fullers Old Fashion BBQ, 7735 S. Raeford Rd, Fayetteville

am Beginning Watercolor 25 9with Lyn Padrick, Cape Fear Studios, 148 Maxwell St

2 pm Bugs in the Garden, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville

pm Party in the Park, 19 5:30 Stedman 6 pm Bunco to End Alzheimer’s, James Creek Clubhouse, 1868 Brawley Ave, Fayetteville 7 pm Frame to Table, SkyView on Hay, 121 Hay St, Downtown Fayetteville

am Fayetteville Pet Fest 20 8featuring the DockDogs,

Naturally Unleashed, 3035 Boone Trail Ext 9 am Walk to End Lupus!, Festival Park 10 am Party in the Park, Ernest Freeman Park, Stedman

pm StraightDropSeafood 1 am The Color Run, Crown 26 2year 27 8Complex, Anniversary, Elite Catering, Fayetteville 5474 Trade St, Hope Mills

6 pm 3rd Annual Art Show, The Sweet Palette, 101 Person St, Fayetteville

11 am 6th Annual Pig Pickin for Autism, Fort Bragg HarleyDavidson,3950 Sycamore Dairy Rd, Fayetteville

6 pm Fourth Friday, Downtown Fayetteville

To see more events and details, visit our calendar at ARRAYNC.com ArrayNC.com

25

Greater Fayetteville Chamber’s 2017 Awards Banquet Written by Kelli Curtis

In a celebration of local businesses and leaders

having profound community impact, the Greater Fayetteville Chamber hosted its 2017 Awards Banquet Friday, March 24, at the Crown Expo Center and announced its six winners.

According to the Chamber, “The list of nominees for each of the categories speaks

volumes about the passion, drive and determination within our community to make Fayetteville an example for others to follow. We are a community where our distinct diversities do not separate us but rather draw us closer together for combined strength and resilience.”

Business of the Year: Fleet Feet Runner’s Spot The Business of the Year Award “recognizes outstanding business leadership and achievement in our community. Your nominee should have demonstrated outstanding commitment to business practices, innovation, creativity and a commitment to the development of their employees.”

Fleet Feet Runner’s Spot, owned by Lou and Katina Guzman, opened in March 2015 and is already becoming a Hay Street and Fayetteville staple. Specializing in running/ walking footwear, apparel and accessories, The Spot is one of this area’s most active businesses in terms of community involvement. It regularly hosts fun runs and 5Ks, as well as supporting events on behalf of breast cancer, leukemia and diabetes awareness and mental health.

Upon approaching retirement from the military, Lou saw the need for a walking and running specialty resource serving Fayetteville and Fort Bragg. Lou says his goal is to provide personalized, thorough customer service to facilitate a healthy, active lifestyle. The employees utilize treadmills and biomechanics to provide insight on a

26

ArrayNC.com

customer’s foot pronation, and they work from the sole of the shoe to inserts and socks to meet the needs of each customer.

In order to also serve the community and provide education, the Spot hosts free clinics, including the subjects of nutrition (with free recipes available on the store’s website), running form and also yoga classes. “They’re a community event that gets other businesses involved, too,” Lou says.

Be on the lookout for an expanding company, with training programs being developed now.

Fleet Feet Sports Runner’s Spot www.fleetfeetfayettevillenc.com 1221 Hay St. 910-758-9127 Open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday 1-6 p.m.

Realtor Cup: Mary Lynn McCree Bryan The Realtor Cup is “awarded to the business person who has made the most outstanding contribution to the civic, economic and cultural growth of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. In addition, the recipient must have demonstrated qualities that define excellence in both business and community service.”

Mary Lynn McCree Bryan, head of Methodist University Board of Trustees, is credited with Methodist’s $35 million capital campaign (which was surpassed by its actual total of $41,266,820) that will support scholarships, faculty positions, academic programs, campus enhancements, new/ renovated buildings and expanded athletic facilities.

In addition, the vice president of the N.C.

Civil War History Foundation, Mary Lynn worked on an initiative that will bring a state-funded history center to Fayetteville. She has also served two maximum terms totaling 24 years for the Cumberland Community Foundation, during which time the foundation grew from $1.8 million in assets to $35 million. The Cumberland Community Foundation grants nearly $4 million each year to the community.

ATHENA Leadership Award: Bill Bowman This award is “presented to a man or woman who demonstrates professional excellence and who encourages women to achieve their full leadership potential. The nominee is an individual who gives back to the larger community of women and girls by providing and/or supporting leadership development opportunities and initiatives.”

The publisher of Up & Coming Weekly, Bill Bowman adopted three community organizations that focus on women, leadership, empowerment and local business: Between Us Girls (weekly meeting), Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch (quarterly) and Women’s View Magazine. He is an active participant and supporter of these organizations, providing both his personal time and financial resources in order to help them succeed.

According to the Chamber, “These three ventures were struggling, unable to maintain and scale the opportunities before them.

Today all three woman-focused organizations

are thriving.”

“People have got to care before anything can happen,” Bill says. “You’ve got to have the right motivation—doing the right thing for the right reason. But I didn’t do it all. All I did was support it. The women of BUGS took that ball and ran with it. We gave financial resources and small teams to support them, but the women did it.”

His nomination form says Bowman adopted the programs because “he knew the women of this community needed them, and their demise would leave a major void in the Fayetteville community.”

Next Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch: Thursday, May 11 Ramada Plaza at Bourdeaux Shopportunity and wine tasting from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Luncheon and keynote speaker from 12-2 p.m.

Shopportunity and wine tasting from 2-3 p.m.

Keynote Speaker: Bo Thorp, founding artistic director of Cape Fear Regional Theatre

ArrayNC.com

27

Small Business of the Year Award: Pressed—a Creative Place This award “showcases small businesses for their contributions in growing a greater Fayetteville.”

Pressed—a Creative Place, owned and operated by Ashley and Jon Thompson, originated in 2011 when Ashley moved to North Carolina as a military spouse. While her husband was deployed overseas, she utilized her love of all things creative and design to begin the company. And with her husband nearing retirement from the military, the couple plan to make Fayetteville their longterm home.

She has since expanded on Pressed Branding—which helps businesses with marketing and creating a visual brand—by opening the Hay Street retail space in 2015.

It houses unique, design-driven products and also hosts events and workshops for likeminded individuals to learn a new skill.

Ashley loves hiring fellow military spouses, veterans and military family members, as well as supporting artisans and businesses from the military community. “Looking for new products is my favorite part [of the job],” Ashley says, “but it’s a 24/7 job. I spent a lot of time on that part of the business.”

Ashley frequents NY Now, a wholesale gifts

and decor market, and local markets to find Fayetteville-area artists. She also utilizes Instagram and her travels to find inspiration. “ I love taking my unique experiences and translating it into our product selection so i can share these stories with our customers,” Ashley says.

And aside from growing her own business, Ashley seeks to grow the downtown Fayetteville area as well. “I want to see a vibrant downtown that highlights all the unique, independent businesses we have,” she says. “If we love the things that make Fayetteville unique, the best way to see that grow is by supporting the local businesses here sot hey can all grow with Fayetteville and make this community a great place to live, work and visit.”

Pressed—a Creative Place www.pressednc.com 120 Hay St., Fayetteville 910-818-6147 Open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sunday 12-6 p.m.

Chairman’s Award: Gary Rogers (Beasley Media Group) This award is “chosen by the current Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for the Greater Fayetteville Chamber to the individual who has excelled and gone above and beyond in their participation within the Chamber.”

Gary Rogers of the Beasley Media Group took home the 2017 award. Selected by Chairwoman Kitti Jo Finch, Gary serves as the Chairman of the Ambassadors and has developed many partnerships in Fayetteville.

“We have been blessed by his leadership over the Ambassador Program and appreciate his organization skills and Gary’s personalist, which he shares with all of us at every event,” Chairwoman Finch says. “I know Gary has a bright future and I appreciate the time and energy he gives so freely to the Chamber.”

Gary, as an account executive, helps businesses create media campaigns to grow their businesses. As an ambassador for the Chamber, he reinforces relationships among the Chamber members by informing of Chamber events, helping solve problems and acting as a liaison to the Chamber itself.

“I’ve gotten to know a lot of great people at the Chamber and in the community,” Gary says, “and it encourages me to stay active with the processes of growing the Chamber

28

ArrayNC.com

and the community as a whole.”

Gary, who is expecting his first child later this year, says he wants his child to “grow up and be as happy and healthy in Fayetteville as I am.”

The Beasley Media Group provides diverse programming to appeal to a large audience base of different demographics.

The radio programming emphasizes a “live and local focus,” according to the Chamber’s website, delivering news, information and entertainment in the several genres, including country, contemporary, urban, rock and others. They also act as “first informers in an emergency” and strive to be involved members of the community.

Beasley Media Group-Fayetteville stations: Foxy 99.1 FM WKML 95.7 FM Bob 96.5 FM Old School 107.7 Jamz Sunny 94.3 FM

Fayetteville Young Professional of the Year: Albeiro Florez This award is “celebrating young professionals who have taken ownership in the future successes of our community.”

Albeiro Florez, chief financial officer of Walker Florez Consulting Group Corp., is a veteran who continues to serve his community by also volunteering his time as an ambassador for the Greater Fayetteville Chamber, senior mentor for the National Society for Leadership and Success, member of Cape Fear Kiwanis and also with Missions of Mercy’s free dental clinic.

“In both my personal and professional life, helping others is one of my primary objectives,” Albeiro says. “Being altruistic is a character trait that I want to teach my kids and leave in my legacy. At the same time, i want to teach them that being a philanthropist is needed to grow as a person, and much needed in our communities.”

Albeiro started Walker Florez Consulting

Group Corp. with his partner, Channing Walker, in 2015. Now the “only fullspectrum consulting group in the Carolinas,” according to the company website, Albeiro and Channing first began by brainstorming ways they could support Family Readiness Groups, Better Opportunities for Single Soldier programs and local non-profits. Since launching those initial products and services, the company has continued to innovate and grow.

“This community has been receptive of us, and we believe in the vision of where the city wants to grow,” Albeiro says. www.walkerflorezcg.com 159 Maxwell St., Fayetteville 910-494-2651

WHY JOIN THE

CHAMBER? Let us help your business!

VISIBILITY

GROWTH

MEMBERS GET MORE! VOICE

$

NETWORK

DISCOUNTS

CREDIBILITY

Faybiz.com

ArrayNC.com

29

Stiletto Thoughts

d e m r o f s n Be Ye TraBusiness In Your Written by Lisa Thomas

It’s not surprising that

many businesses stagnate and owners find it difficult to expand and increase profitability at some point in their planning. Business owners, especially, can work hard to break the mold of old business practices while never really making the leap of increasing profits.

Having consulted for more than 20 years, it has been a recurring theme that new strategies and approaches are required, though the strategies alone do not result in profits.

Often, a paradigm shift needs to take place.

30

ArrayNC.com

When that happens, I love this biblical scripture, Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Viola Davis’s historic Emmy speech in 2015 quoting Harriet Tubman resonated with me, reminding me of this scripture.

She quotes Tubman, saying, “In my mind I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful,

white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line, but I can’t seem to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over that line.”

Viola continued by saying, “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.”

I thought it was beautifully said. However, while many of us watched in awe, I was thinking: How does one find oneself in a position where there is opportunity, particularly when most feel, as Harriet Tubman said, “I can’t seem to get there no how”?

I’ve consulted with many who

come to me because they see their dreams in vivid color, but can’t get there. The limitations of their thinking, the cultivated convictions and beliefs render them helpless and “separate” them from other achievers who find “opportunity.”

Some believe that simply perfecting past practices will take them “over that line.” However, what I find interesting is most don’t know there is a line or where the line really is. How can a fish who swims daily know there is water? We’re a lot like fish.

We maneuver through life not knowing we have conformed to it. It doesn’t occur to us that we’ve been swallowed by habit. However, if we begin to consider that we DO limit ourselves or “conform” to the world’s norms, we can alter and change to prove what is good and acceptable.

We can take on a tenacious spirit to discover the missing links that separate us from where we are and where we want to be. We’ll then find our “line” that needs to be crossed.

How amazing is that?

If you are stuck in expanding and increasing profitability in your business, you may be experiencing a “line.” What’s at the heart of your failed attempt may lie in the fact that you haven’t yet renewed your mind, and the innovative approach to your success is hidden behind the line.

We’re here to help you cross over. •A•

Come Join Us! 8AM every Tuesday at On The Border 115 Glensford Drive Fayetteville, NC

- Meet other business owners

- Meetone other business owners - Support another with referrals

- -Exchange bright ideas & concepts Support one another with

referrals - Engage in passionate conversation

- Engage in passionate conversation

Lisa Thomas is CEO of The P3 Group, Inc., a revolutionary training and development company; President of NetWorth; freelance writer and radio show host. www.TheP3Group.com

ArrayNC.com

31

Written & photography by Amy Garner

Shauna Hopkins is very no-nonsense, in a fabulous

kind of way. Her hair and makeup are flawless and she is stylish in that sassy “I want her to shop with me and help me be fabulous, too” sort of way.

And Shauna shoots straight from the hip. She conditioned herself to be that way. You see, Shauna is the director of the Find-A-Friend program, a division of Fayetteville Urban Ministry, and has been working with at-risk youth for 17 years.

Find-A-Friend was established in 1982 to work with the youth of Cumberland County. Under Shauna’s leadership, Find-A-Friend provides young people with after-school workshops that modify behavior, support academic growth, improve self-esteem and develop healthy family relationships. “We also work with youth that are victims of bullying to help them learn to overcome and cope with the damaging effects of that crime,” Shauna says.

Find-A-Friend also provides one-on-one mentors for those kids. As the Find-A-Friend coordinator and a proud alumna of Fayetteville State University, Shauna shifted the historical focus of Find-A-Friend from the basic and expected behavioral and mentoring work toward promoting the importance of completing higher education.

The organization is not only in the business of saving

32

ArrayNC.com

the lives of the youth in our community but also building and developing leaders for our future. “During my reign as the Find-A-Friend coordinator, the program has sent more than 75 youth to a college or university and continues to prepare many more youth for a very bright future,” shares Shauna.

Born in El Paso, Texas, in the late ‘70s, Shauna and her brother were raised by her strong, outspoken mother, Constance, and her supportive Aunt Liz. As her mother was in the military, so Shauna spent her childhood traveling the world, exposed to diverse lifestyles that prepared her for a life of adventure, adversity and the ability to overcome any obstacle that stood in her way. “I give all credit to my mother for opening up the world for me like that,” Shauna says.

Shauna went on to explain further. “My mom taught me that I have the strength to overcome anything and that I can achieve any goal or dream that I want to accomplish. She always pushed me to greatness and to accept a challenge as a chance to learn and grow.” She uses those same values to teach the youth she works with—teaching that they are able to achieve anything they want.

But it was Aunt Liz who taught Shauna the importance of compassion and giving with an open heart. During summers growing up, Shauna would spend time in the rural town of Leroy, Ala. Aunt Liz would often have her cousins and Shauna help the elderly by bringing them food and spending time, talking with them. Aunt Liz also made sure they were in Sunday school every week, learning values like being respectful to all, treating others the way you want to be treated, and doing your best to do the right thing each day. “These are also the values that I instill in the youth that I work with at Find-

A-Friend,” Shauna says.

After graduating from SeventyFirst High School in 1996, Shauna worked with local youth programs while attending FSU. In March of 2000, she joined Fayetteville Urban Ministry working with Find-A-Friend as a program assistant under thencoordinator Johnny Wilson, According to Johnny, “Shauna’s heart is so genuine for the kids in this program. She truly wants all of them to have the best life they can possibly have and she implements programs that will assist them achieve anything they set their minds to. She is the real deal.”

Shauna was promoted the Find-AFriend Coordinator in 2012.

Shauna’s greatest joy is knowing she has made a significant impact not only in this community but on a larger scale. Many of the youth she has worked with are now working all over the world, positively impacting other communities and spreading knowledge and values of what they learned in Find-A- Friend. “It makes my heart smile when I have a youth come back as a young man or young woman and let me know that their success is attributed to the hard work and dedication of the staff and volunteers of the Find-A-Friend program,” she says.

Continuing, Shauna’s eyes danced with determination. She has always said the youth are our greatest natural resource, and they are definitely worth the investment because they are our future.

“My greatest challenge is an internal struggle of trying to figure out how to reach more kids,” she says. “As I look around our society today I feel as though our kids need more love and more attention than ever before. It really takes a village to raise a child and I want to find a consistent way to motivate more people to invest in a work with our youth.”

Shauna has one final message: Follow your heart.

“A lot of times in life we measure success on how much money we make or how many material possessions we have,” she says.

“I encourage everyone to try to remember that happiness is the true key to success. I am so fortunate that I get go to work every day at place where I love what I do, who I work with and I know for a fact that I am making a difference in this world. “ •A• I welcome your feedback and suggestions. You can reach me at arrayadventures@gmail.com

Have You Found It?

Hidden somewhere in the magazine is this leaf .

Once you find it, head to ArrayNC.com to fill out the Green Leaf Hunt submission form to be entered in a chance for some green!

Your Vision. Our Expertise.

With a focus on superior patient care and the most advanced technologies Clear, Crisp Vision is just minutes away at Cape Fear Eye Associates!

Bringing You the Most Advanced and Trusted Technology

Appointments call: 910.484.2284 1726 Metro Medical Dr. | 1629 Owen Dr. Fayetteville

www.capefeareye.com ArrayNC.com

33`

Wing Fling?

Outta Sight!

Written by Robin Minnick Photos Courtesy Visual Resource Center

Fayetteville is full of non-profits large and small. But

when one of its smaller service groups puts on one of its biggest events—watch out!

Coming up on June 24 is the second annual Vision Resource Center Chicken Wing Cook-off—better known as Out of Sight Wing Fling. The event will run from 3-8 p.m. at Festival Park with vendors, live music, a kid zone and food trucks.

Teams will compete for top honors serving up chicken wings from their tastiest and most creative recipes.

All monies from the event will go to cover costs and proceeds will support the Vision Resource Center’s mission of enhancing the lives of adults and children who are visually impaired.

One of the more unique features of the event is the EyeQ Zone where sighted guides take blindfolded visitors through an obstacle course. Devised by local Cumberland County teachers, it’s an introduction to how those with impaired vision must cope with daily obstacles.

The VRC, like most non-profits, receives grants and money from sources like the United Way, but these funding sources are becoming less certain. Now the VRC is seeking help for Executive Director Terri Thomas’s new program, “Outside the VRC Walls.”

VRC serves approximately 31 children and 81 adults, age 6 to 86, out of a total of 733 people known to have

34

ArrayNC.com

visual impairment of some kind in Cumberland County. Their goal is to help the visually impaired (non-correctable legally blind) or fully blind people live a social and independent life.

“It’s about enjoying a viable life without sight,” explains Terri.

This is what drives her small staff of four—including herself—in their mission. Among other things, they provide training in life skills, a two-week summer camp for children, and monthly socials for the kids so they can hang out with people like themselves. There are also outings and meetings every month for the adults.

They hold what they call “family meetings” where clients give Terri feedback on how she’s doing, how well the programs are working, and what the clients’ needs are.

Their basic expenses are covered, according to Terri, “but all the money we’re raising now is for the skills,” referring to the Outside the VRC Walls program where associates from VRC go out into the community to teach their clients skills on living independently. Skills include coping with clothing (dressing themselves), cooking, cleaning and mobility. It might be something where a worker helps a client arrange canned goods in a certain order so she can always find what she

wants, even without sight, or attaching three-dimensional stickers to appliances so a person can tell by touch what the setting is.

Right now the only local consultants doing this work are located in Asheboro or Raleigh. Terri wants to develop and train a team here in Fayetteville. The work has already started, and they’ve received some support.

They received assistance in acquiring Amazon Echoes to help with cooking and other skill, but to complete the project they need to find some kind of discount on Wi-Fi to enable their clients to use the technology.

Ultimately Terri wants to create a network by which her clients can live full lives with as little dependency as possible. It takes time, and money, and trust.

“Without your sight,” says Terri, “you need a lot of trust.”

You also need the life skills. Her clients trust in Terri and her workers to help them build those skills.

Terri’s dedication and enthusiasm for her work bubbles over her as she talks, and her focus is laser sharp as options and alternatives are discussed. She is determined in her mission, and her attitude is infectious.

When she first arrived seven years ago, tired of the corporate work she’d been doing, clients commented on her youth. They said she’d end up moving on. Yet she’s still here, with plans to stay on until something (or, as she would say, someone) decides her work is done, which won’t be until she’s created that network throughout Fayetteville that allows people to take care of themselves, move about town on their own, and enjoy that viable, independent life.

She encourages everyone to come enjoy the Out of Sight Wing Fling. It’s a fun event that will help educate visitors and proliferate the funding Visual Resource Center needs.

Competition sign-up forms and other information can be found at www.outofsightwingfling.com

Planning time: Wing Fing with the Head Hens

FIND YOUR HAPPY AT A Community Project dedicated to your happiness, well-being and inner peace.

ArrayNC.com

35

Watch My Wag Takes to Yoga

Written by Robin Minnick

People are so busy—multiple interests, multiple jobs,

families to provide and care for. Some people handle this by compartmentalization—a slot for everything and everything in its slot. Others try to integrate everything they do under the umbrella of a single point of view, an overarching philosophy of life.

Vrnda Bailey, who owns and operates Watch My Wag in Southern Pines, has long approached her life with the philosophy of Ahimsa. Ahimsa, a part of one of the eight principles of yoga, means “Do no harm.” Embracing the concept in all aspects of her life, Ahimsa practice is even visible in her business. Vrnda runs Watch My Wag with a loving attention developed from when she worked with her aunt, a breeder of American Kennel Club championship dogs. They sought dogs well-balanced in both physical form and temperament, whether they were show dogs or home dogs. This required both careful observation of their behavior and care responsive to that observation.

Vrnda’s passion for understanding animals led her into rescue work, which included working on behavior formation and modification. This inspired a desire to establish her own independent training practice, focusing on dogs with behavioral issues. Watch My Wag offers day play, boarding, grooming, as well as training and behavior modification.

Some of Vrnda’s Ahimsa-backed practices are green practices. Watch My Wag is certified a Green Operations facility by Sustainable Sandhills and is a recipient of their 2016 Walk the Walk Green Facilities Management Award. They utilize only eco-friendly, biodegradable, or EPA-recommended products in maintaining the facility: vinegar and orange cleaners, eco-friendly detergents for bedding and toys, cloth towels instead of paper.

They even use aromatherapy, with lavender in the sleep areas to encourage relaxation and peppermint oil in the

36

ArrayNC.com

humidifiers/dehumidifiers to provide stress relief and clear the mind.

Tours of the kennel are discouraged and dropoffs/pick-ups carefully regulated so the dogs are not disrupted. Unexpected interruptions to routine can set them up for unwanted behavior or excitability. Special air filters and air exchanges are used to provide fresh air in the all-indoor kennel. Staff are specially trained to be observant and responsive in their handling of the dogs.

Her love of dogs and her belief in Ahimsa have led Vrnda into another endeavor. She recently held her first yoga class particularly for dog owners (and friends) at Hot Asana Studio, a yoga studio in Southern Pines owned and operated by Virginia Gallagher. Vrnda takes the Ahimsa philosophy and combines it with yoga to apply to dog care, tying together what can be learned from various yoga body postures with how people relate to their dogs.

The class—a sort of pilot (successive classes will depend on participant feedback)—runs 75 minutes.

Vrnda’s daughter Vanessa Hill has her dog, Marchella, there with her, a chihuahua who came to them as a rescue but is now “just a dog.” Marchella wanders the class at will, making friends on his terms and presenting as the calmest chihuahua on record. His peacefulness becomes as much a part of the class as Vrnda’s low voice.

Vrnda sees starting this yoga class as the fulfillment of what she’s been pursuing, “the perfect complement” to her work with dogs. The class emphasizes an awareness of body through the postures and principles of yoga.

She begins class with normal yoga warmups. As students pose, she guides them in a serene voice. She is calm, but with a contained energy that comes out in her enthusiasm. Her teachings are well thought out and smoothly delivered. She practices the stillness she preaches.

“Being aware of our bodies is, I think, one of the things that our dogs most want,” says Vrnda, as she begins to teach about the significance of certain positions participants take.

Dogs speak body language as their first language, and they frequently interpret our movement in ways we never intend. A shoulder dropped versus shoulders back—they don’t mean what we think they do to our dogs. Essentially, the shoulder dropped is an appeasement position.

When a dog sees that in a human, he sees of a lack of leadership, a lack of confidence. Shoulders back implies confidence. Stepping out without looking around or back at them shows them you have a plan, you’ll lead, and the dog feels secure and eager to go.

Vrnda encourages students to exercise with tools—in this case, blocks. She likens this to using tools of leash, harness, and treats—It’s OK, tools may be more effective, and it’s a personal decision. Vrnda says to be OK with making your own right choice rather than being concerned with views based on someone else’s more rigid ideas.

Class ends with participants stretched out with little pillows covering their eyes, arms and legs angled slightly outward, relaxed, hands turned up.

“Allow the mind to practice this quiet,” Vrnda says, “so as to start the walk indoors with a quiet attitude.”

She closes the class with the following: “When we are mindful, When we are aware of our body and in control, When we take time to take a breath and have pause before acting, And when our intention is clear....

That is who our dogs are so happy to see.” •A•

ELIMINATE YOUR DOUBLE CHIN

SURGICAL RESULTS WITHOUT SURGERY OR THE DOWNTIME!

INTRODUCTORY OFFER 20% OFF your first Kybella treatment

(cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer) 1001 Monroe Street Carthage, NC

Schedule Your FREE Consultation

910-947-6000

Watch My Wag

watchmywag.com 259 Commerce Avenue Southern Pines 910-725-1888

Now you see it

Now you don’t

www.mysticretreatmedspa.com

ArrayNC.com

37

Social Security

Smarts

Written by Brenda Brown

Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Fayetteville, NC

You are making America stronger through Social

Your Social Security Tax Supports Millions

Security. Chances are, people you know and love benefit in some way from this social safety net. Retirees, Wounded Warriors, the disabled, and people who are chronically ill rely on Social Security for monthly benefits. The Social Security taxes you pay are helping millions of Americans—and financially securing your today and tomorrow.

By law, employers must withhold Social Security taxes from workers’ paychecks. While usually referred to as “Social Security taxes” on an employee’s pay statement, sometimes the deduction is labeled “FICA.” This stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act, a reference to the original Social Security Act. In some cases, you will see “OASDI,” which stands for Old Age Survivors Disability Insurance, the official name for the Social Security Insurance program.

The taxes you pay now mean a lifetime of protection— for a comfortable retirement in your senior years or in the event of disability. When you die, your family (or future family) may be able to receive survivors benefits based on your work as well.

Social Security is fully funded through 2033. At that point, we will be able to fund retirement benefits at 79 percent, unless changes are made to the law. Social Security has evolved to meet the needs of a changing population, and you can count on Social security in the future.

If you are a long way from retirement, you may have a tough time seeing the value of benefit payments that

38

ArrayNC.com

could be many decades in the future. Keep in mind that the Social Security taxes you are paying can provide valuable disability or survivors benefits in the event the unexpected happens. Studies show that of today’s 20-year-olds, about one in four will become disabled, and about one in eight will die, before reaching retirement.

Check out our webinar, “Social Security 101: What’s in it for me?” The webinar explains what you need to know about Social Security. You can find it at www. socialsecurity.gov/multimedia/webinars/social_ security_101.html.

If you would like to learn a little more about Social Security and exactly what you are earning for yourself by paying Social Security taxes, take a look at our online booklet, “How You Earn Credits,” at www.socialsecurity. gov/pubs/10072.html.

You can also learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov.•A• Brenda Brown has been with the Social Security Administration for over 40 years. She began her career with Social Security as a Service Representative in the Reidsville, NC field office. She transferred to the Fayetteville, NC field office in March 1975 as a Service Representative and later promoted to a Claims Representative. She has worked as a Public Affairs Specialist since 2008. As the Public Affairs Specialist, she is responsible for providing information to the media, other employees and the public regarding Social Security issues and policies. She covers the Southeastern and Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina. Brenda is available to speak to groups in almost any setting in her efforts to educate the public about their Social Security Program.

Brenda is a graduate of Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, NC.

Repurpose with a Purpose:

Project FIVE

Written By Amanda Loftus

March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers”.

It’s no secret that flowers are a sweet way to show any mother that they are loved - but there is something a little better than flowers - coffee! Parenthood is a hairgraying experience that creates a lot of long nights, and many people enjoy the mental and therapeutic benefits of caffeine. Believe it or not, some even enjoy decaf!

This month’s Repurpose with a Purpose project began as a small computer desk, and is now a coffee bar. Talk about a transformation! The best part is that the desk was only $15 and on sale for 20% off.

My mom would sure be proud of my thrifty shopping!

Project FIVE Step 1 As every project starts off with, evaluate what you have to work with, and plan accordingly.

This desk had a unique construction, and I knew I needed to utilize the back of the desk.

Measure the dimensions of each section. This comes in handy when cutting wood.

Step 2 Fix problem areas, remove all hardware, and sand for paint prep.

Step 3 I cut slats of wood from leftover supplies used in previous projects (April and February) and screwed them into the frame of the desk to make a divider between the front and back areas for hanging mugs.

Step 4 Cup hooks come in many sizes, and the ¾” hooks seem to be a good size for a variety of mug handles.

TIP:

When measuring where hooks should hang, use a standard size mug and make sure once it hangs, there will be room for the next hook a few inches away.

40

ArrayNC.com

WHITEWASHING: gives a white paint and

washed look to wood. To create a whitewash, paint the wood with white paint and immediately wipe off with a cloth. The white paint will wipe off to reveal the woodgrains.

ArrayNC.com

41

Amy On the Town:

May Time in Fay Town

Written by Amy Garner

Fayetteville is a big ‘small town’ with an authentic sense of community, in spite of…or because of… our diversity. We are not yet a “destination spot”, generally speaking, but we are moving in that direction. We are not a city with options up and down every sidewalk. Fayetteville tucks the good stuff into little sweet spots all over town. You just have to look for it…like a treasure hunt….having reiterated those points, those little sweet spots inspire this column.

My mission is to share local fun, local events, local businesses and to stir you to pair those with your own lifestyle and your own budget and create some really cool adventures. These suggestions will vary based on effort and expense.

They are also not intended to be treated as a recipe so much as an inspiration. Something I suggest may spark an idea in you that leads to your own custom memory making moments. It really is all about opening your heart to our little town and finding the fun.

May is a season of blooming and renewing one’s spirit. It is the time of graduations and garden weddings and grilling out on a Tuesday night. There will be a lot to do in Fayetteville this month, but here are few suggestions from your favorite columnist: ~ The local troupe Sweet Tea Shakespeare is partnering with the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens for a night of “Shakespearean hilarity” on May 4, with your best buds or your own star-crossed lovah. If you’ve never been to a STS production, go forth now and get thou tickets. This will prove to be night of educated vulgarity, gut-busting guffaws and outrageous literary translation. This will appeal to the nerd AND the anti-nerd. The content and the language is adult in nature (see what I did there? Botanical Gardens, and all…)

Tickets are $20+ and can be purchased at www. sweetteashakespeare.com. ~ Operation Ceasefire is hosting a Family Movie Night perfect for you and your little ducklings on May 19 at Ben Martin Elementary. Operation Ceasefire is a partnership dedicated to reducing gun and gang violence in our county. I am not sure what movie they will show, but it will be family-friendly. This is a free event and the Fayetteville Police Department will be out there

with the K-9’s and a host of other vendors…And popcorn. They have the POPCORN! Bring a lawn blanket and snuggle up under the stars with your baby boos and catch the show. For more details and other movie night dates and locations, go to www.operationceasefire.com. ~ On May 20, prepare yourself and your patriotic sweetie to spend the day getting goose bumps.

The NC Field of Honor Opening Ceremony is from 10am-1pm at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum at 100 Bragg Boulevard. This event is hosted by the Fayetteville Downtown Alliance and the ASOM and will honor the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. This will be a super-special day that can be paired with a stroll through the museum. This is one of my most favorite things about living in Fayetteville - I intentionally drive by this field full of American flags as often as possible between May 20-June 30.

The contrast of the grass and Old Glory against the Carolina sky always gives me pause and swells me up with pride and gratitude. It literally unleashes a herd of bullfrogs in my throat. Every.

Time.

To sponsor a flag, call 910-643-2773 or 910643-2778. You can also stop in at the gift shop at the ASOMF gift shop inside the museum. And get this….all unclaimed flags after July 16 are donated to local schools. If that doesn’t make your redwhite-and-blue heart skip a beat, nothing will. ~ And while you are taming your own throat frogs, pop in to Fayetteville Pie Company just around the corner from the Field of Honor and the Airborne Museum at 723 West Rowan Street.

They only serve the most amazing sweet and savory pies, usually in a clever combo. One of my personal faves is the Pulled Pork and Sweet tater pie. This spot also makes a fabulous little nook to meet your own honey pie for a workday lunch.

The menu changes almost daily so follow them on Facebook or Instagram to stay current. You can also call them at 910-483-4097 to order ahead, togo or for more information. Their website is www. fayettevillepiecompany.com.

Whatever you decide to pluck from May’s full plate, make it joyful! •A• I welcome your feedback and suggestions. You can reach me at arrayadventures@gmail.com.

Empowerment Empowerment for for Growth Growth Written by L. Wayne Smalls

If you were to spend some time thinking about

it, could you name at least one person that did something of great significance for the overall improvement of society, all alone?

I don’t believe you can.

The reason for this is that no one can accomplish greatness all on their own. No matter what field, sport or era you consider, all the great leaders in our history were surrounded by an awesome team or staff of people that assisted them in accomplishing a great feat.

There is a correlation between successful leaders and the people around them. What people may not comprehend is the investment of effort these leaders put into forming their teams and staffs. This type of investment yields a return of growth for the individuals and collective team, and ultimately make the leader look amazing.

The successful leaders understand they must play an active role in the growth and development of everyone around them if they are going to build a winning team. The greatest of leaders know the way to ensure this type of success is by empowering their people so they can grow and become active and successful.

Once this is established as the culture of the group, team or organization, everyone involved can be endowed with the confidence to be the backbone of that leader and may ultimately

become a leader who must one day develop a team of their own. They will most likely understand how to do that because they will then have a sound, fundamental idea of how the process works, because they have gone through it.

Leaders who do not grasp this concept will struggle and most likely stunt the growth of the people who follow them. This could create an environment that does not embrace growth, but rather dependency. These types of leaders are most likely insecure within themselves and would rather keep their people in an inferior place then to allow them to grow for fear that their followers may surpass them in ability as well as skill.

Sometimes leaders don’t believe in empowering their people because they do not trust them. Trust is a big factor in the relationship between leader and follower.

One thing that is certain is this: If a leader is unwilling or unable to trust the people who follow them, it will be impossible for that leader to empower them in a way that will transition into permanent growth.

To take a page out of Army structure, military commanders always have a staff that works for them and advises them. Those commanders must develop trust between themselves and their staff in order to be successful. The most successful commanders always have a solid staff behind them who have been groomed, developed and very well trained. Like the structure in the military, we as leaders should strive to empower and train our followers for them to develop and continue our legacy when we move on. •A•

Wayne is CEO of L. Wayne Smalls & Associates, LLC., an independent leadership trainer and coach certified by the John Maxwell Team; radio show co-host; author; retired Army Officer; doctoral student of Bus. Admin. and Leadership; has a passion for empowering, enabling and enhancing leaders.

He does this by promoting the power of connection as well as personal and professional growth and development.

ArrayNC.com

43

More Than Skin Deep

Feet - Your Body’s Foundation

Written by Brenda Howell

Last month I wrote about head and

how the sutures found between the cranium bones affect the body. This month I want to head to the opposite end: your feet. (I promise I will get back to the back!). The feet, I believe, are the foundation of good posture.

When the foot is messed up for a long period of time, problems in the knee begin to arise. From the knee the hips begin to change and pain is created there. Bad hips can create painful shoulders and the shoulders can lead to neck issues. The body is a beautiful connected masterpiece, but sometimes the connectivity

creates a pain that makes us wonder what we did to make it hurt!

So what is going on with the feet?

When we look at the client’s feet we look to see which way the feet are tilted. Nine times out of ten the foot has what we call a medial tilt, or an over pronation. You may see a flat foot, or a foot with very little arch.

(But do not confuse the little arch to mean you have a pronated foot, I personally have great arches, and I also have pronated feet.). What is happening is the talus bone in the ankle is not lining up over the tibia bone in the leg properly. These offkilter bones then make the leg rotate in, causing the femur to not sit properly in the hip socket.

Now that the femur is sitting improperly in the hip socket the pelvis bone is sitting lower on that side. Have you ever noticed one hip seems to be higher than the other?

More energy. Less stress. Better health.

Chiropratic Laser Acupuncture Disc Decompression Pain Management Inflammation Reduction Body Contouring with i-Lipo CDL Physical Examination Sleep Apnea Testing Drug and Alcohol Testing

Visit Dr. Robert Twaddell

Chiropractic Physician, Certified DOT Medical Examiner, Author 1411 Ft. Bragg Rd. Fayetteville 303-2690 Doctor@ahealthyback.com

44

AHealthyBack.com ArrayNC.com

FayLaser.com

Well the rotation and the tilting keep heading up the spine (back problems begin to occur here) and one shoulder may be very much lower than the other shoulder. Did you ever imagine that your shoulder problems could be related to your feet?

Do not worry - corrections can be made! A good manual therapist can slowly over time help you correct your posture deviations and show you what muscles you need to strengthen as they work on the muscles that are too contracted.

Places like the Runners Spot located downtown can give you an assessment, or you can come by our clinic for a free posture assessment.

Keep your body’s foundation healthy!

Healthy feet make happy hips! •A•

Brenda is a Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist and owner of Healing Hands Body Therapy, 5843 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC. 910-5023596. Healinghandsbodytherapy.com.

She and her team specialize in medical massage by using a variety of modalities to reach your goals. Brenda and her team are constantly taking more training and education classes to help you realize that becoming pain free is not just a dream but is something that is attainable.

Dear Shanessa, I met someone and the relationship is progressing quickly. My problem is that he is a smoker and I have asthma, and the smoke can trigger an asthma attack. I have been single for a while now and finally met someone I like.

What should I do?

X pert

epair R e v i t o Autom ervice Mobile S

5 Star Reviews

15+ years experience specializing in computer diagnosis, drivability, no starts, & scheduled maintenance.

All makes and models! Towing available!

FIX IT RIGHT CALL THE FIRST TIME!

910-670-3159

ANDRE TOODLE

Owner & Technician

xpertautofay@gmail.com

Signed, -Concerned Dear Concerned, Think about this for a moment. What means more to you: your health or being in love? Asthma is serious business and should not be played with. Is he willing to quit smoking? Yes, love can be a beautiful experience, but is it worth the risk of jeopardizing your health or even your life? You have to make that decision.

Take care,

Shanessa

ArrayNC.com

45

Let’s Eat! Prepared and eaten by Stacie Simfukwe of Household 6 Household 6 Catering

May is an awesome month for foodies. It starts with Cinco de Mayo, celebrating with spicy tacos, enchiladas and margaritas.

Then onto Mother’s Day with brunch classics like waffles, frittatas and the much-appreciated Bellini. Finally, families and friends gather in backyards across the country to enjoy the Memorial Day barbecues with juicy burgers on the grill.

Out of these celebrations, my favorite is Mother’s Day. Since I’m a mother, I love seeing how my children work together to create the perfect breakfast or brunch for me. One of my favorite breakfast dishes is French toast—but I like to make it fun and different. Here’s one of my favorite recipes.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time:12-15 minutes Servings: 4-6

White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut Granola Crusted French toast Ingredients

• 3 Large Eggs 1 Cup of Milk • ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract • ½ Sugar • 2 Tablespoons Butter • 1 ½ Cups of White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut • Granola or Your favorite granola flavor • 1 Loaf Challah Bread or Brioche (Texas toast can work as well) • ¼ cup Confectioners’ Sugar (optional) • Maple Syrup (optional

Things you will need: • Bread knife • 2 wide bowls • Chopping board • Whisk • Tongs • Food processor • Frying pan • Cookie Sheet 46

ArrayNC.com

Directions

Preheat oven to 350˚. Prepare cookie sheet with non-stick spray. Slice bread an inch thick, discarding ends of bread. Set bread aside and begin to whisk eggs, milk, sugar and extract into a wide bowl. Place to the side. Then pour granola into food processor.

Pulse until granola is bread crumb-like consistency.

Then pour into the other wide bowl. Quickly dip bread into egg mixture, ensuring both sides are covered. Don’t leave it in too long—the bread will absorb the mixture fast. Place the bread in the granola, flip to make sure both sides are covered.

Press gently to get as much granola on the bread as possible. Then place on a plate.

Melt 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a medium-heated frying pan. Once the butter starts to bubble, place crusted bread into the pan. Lightly brown on both sides. With tongs, place the crusted bread onto the cookie sheet. Then put in the oven for about 8-10 minutes to cook all the way through. Pull from the oven when finished.

Put the granola-crusted French toast on a plate and you can dust confectioners’ sugar and pour maple syrup on top. Enjoy! •A•

If you like this recipe, please follow me on: Instagram @ the_hh6 Twitter @ hh6treats facebook.com/hh6catering youtube @ The HH6

Hip-Hip-H-ARRAY for KIDS!

ArrayNC.com

47

Publisher’s Note Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong ~ Leo Buscaglia

I enjoy the planning, and the reading of the articles each month in ARRAY, but the May issue is one of those special issues. The Magnificent Moms and Inspirational Women issue is moving to read. We have such amazing women within our community that go above and beyond every day. The stories of these women are just amazing! Another incredible thing is there are so many that it’s hard to choose who will go into our May issue! Our community is such a diverse and varied one and we have so much to learn from every person here.

ARRAY is on a path to real growth and recently while interviewing for sales consultants, writers, and interns for the summer I’ve had the pleasure to meet some amazing people, and all with very interesting stories. Everyone has a story and we should take the time to listen. When everyone is in place, ARRAY will be like this community…a diverse and eclectic group! We have people from all over the country, male, female, various ages, a myriad of life experiences and education, sundry of skills and talents, and a lot of thoughts and information in this group. It’s so exciting! One person came to us because they wanted the freedom to expand and spread their wings, to be creative and grow. I’m proud to say we are that type of company.

As I listened and learned from my family members growing up as they ran businesses and were involved with the community it was ingrained in me to surround myself with good people, and then be willing to listen to what they have to say. One of our team members described me as “someone who knows what they want”. She said “AnneMarie will let you know what she wants, and then steps back to let you do it. She doesn’t micro-manage but encourages creativity, but will be there to help when needed.” To me that is a huge compliment, and I love the energy our team has.

At ARRAY, I think we do a pretty good job of working together, while accomplishing great things and creating a publication each month that people thank us for doing. It’s a great feeling to be thanked for doing what you love! Our team also steps up and helps in the community, whether it’s with the Alzheimer’s Walk, Habitat for Humanity, the Downtown Merchants, the Spring Lake Town Rising, the Fayetteville and Hope Mills Chamber, FAPS, the Arts Council and so many more. How many other business owners can say that about their team? While most of our team are women,

48

ArrayNC.com

we applaud the men associated with us. While a woman founded and owned publication, we are operated by the entire team, because without them there would be no ARRAY. Without the support of our community of advertisers and readers, there would be no ARRAY. We appreciate each one of you and are working hard to grow the numbers in both areas.

We always look forward to the talents and skill sets of our summer interns, who live here, but attend school all over the country. We are glad they seek ARRAY out and glad they walk away with knowledge and experience at the end of their semester.

I will have to say I’m a proud mama!! Proud of the family support and help I get with the magazine, proud of our team and all they do, and proud of ARRAY and what it offers to our community. I’m looking forward to the growth of our team, of ARRAY, of our readers, advertisers and what we can give back to our community as we approach year 4!

Happy Mother’s Day to my mother and thanks for your support!

AnneMarie

you.

THE END OF ALZHEIMER’S STARTS WITH

Alzheimer’s is an epidemic devastating our families, our finances and our future. The disease is all around us — but the power to stop it is within us. If your company would like to hear more about how to join us in the fight to end Alzheimer’s, come join us for breakfast.

BECOME A SPONSOR. TEAM CAPTAIN WORKSHOP

May 25, 2017 | 6:00 pm McKee Homes Design Center | 109 Hay Street, Suite 301 Contact julie@McKeeHomesNC.com for more information fayettevillewalktoendalz 2017 FAYETTEVILLE WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S – SEPTEMBER 9, 2017 To Register: http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2017/NC-EasternNorthCarolina?fr_id=10565&pg=entry

Fayetteville State University

ProudTo Be...

The University for You!

Join others who have discovered their hidden potential and talent attending Fayetteville State University.

• Nationally Ranked Degree Programs • Perfect for Traditional and Transfer Students • On Campus and Online Classes Available • Affordable, Convenient, and Supportive

BE

Proud.

BE

Engaged.

BE

Involved.

BE

Active.

FSU is an HBCU and member of the esteemed University of North Carolina system.

1200 Murchison Road • Fayetteville, NC 28301-4298 • 910.672.1371 • 1.800.222.2594 www.uncfsu.edu/admissions