THE
• Well Child Visits
• Sick Child Visits
• Vaccine & Immunization Schedule
• 2023-2024 Guide to the Flu
• School, Sports, & Camp Physicals
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Vaccines & Immunizations
• ADHD Testing & Treatment
• Asthma Symptoms & Treatment
• Breastfeeding Support
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Jose Buenaseda, MD, FAAP
Leamor Buenaseda, MD, FAAP
Sreelekha Sashidhar, MD, FAAP
Christine Arnold, CPNP-PC
Melanie Pitts, DNP, NP-C
Beverly de La Rosa, CPNP-PC
Danielle Trigg, CPNP-PC
Rachelle Olson, FNPC
Ashley Monroe, PA-C
Sarah Lewis, PA-C
On her land off Cedar Creek Road, Channing Perdue, owner of new farm-to-table marketplace, walks past one of the original grain silos from Dowd Brothers Dairy, a historic farm that once supplied dairy to Fort Bragg. Photo by James Throssel
On the cover: Soldiers direct a cannon salute during the redesignation ceremony of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg on March 7, 2025. While the post is now back to its original name, it honors a World War II veteran. Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits
8 Farms Helping Families
Brandon and Channing Perdue are chasing their dream of creating an urban educational farm along Cedar Creek Road .
14 A team of heroes
Fayetteville’s new professional basketball team, Fayetteville Liberty, will make its debut in March 2026 with its inaugural season
20 Home is where the heart heals
How a military family's design journey turned into a local interior design business
26 Ready to listen
Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society keeps ham radio alive and well in Cumberland County
EDITOR'S TAKE
Highlighting Fayetteville’s military connections
BY VALERIA CLOËS
I don’t think anyone needs reminding about just how strong Fayetteville’s military connection is . After all, the biggest military installation by population in the country, Fort Bragg, is our neighbor
A neighbor we now call by a new — but familiar — name, renamed earlier this year from “Fort Liberty” back to its original “Bragg,” this time honoring World War II veteran Army Pfc . Roland L . Bragg .
And it’s upon this important moment in history that CityView Magazine’s July “The Military Issue” highlights our military community, from active service members with a passion for sports to veterans turned business owners and farmers to military spouses and families who masterfully adapt to the changes of military life
In these pages you’ll read about the Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society, self-described as one of the most active amateur radio clubs in the state This group is made up of many military veterans who have a passion for analog radios, which have been crucial in getting emergency information to the public when modern communication methods, like cell services, are down during a weather emergency
Next up is a story about a farm, only about four miles away from downtown Fayetteville and owned by a military family Channing and Brandon Perdue, founders of Farms Helping Families, moved to Cumberland County over 20 years ago for Brandon’s service at Fort Bragg . After expanding their operations, they opened the farm-to-table marketplace, Cedar Creek Market, this July They also give back to the military community, hosting the multiple programs through the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension to train soldiers, transitioning service members, veterans and spouses on agricultural skills .
Get excited, basketball fans! A new professional Fayetteville basketball team is gearing up for its inaugural season in March 2026 at the Crown Coliseum . The Fayetteville Liberty, started by retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Lee Edwards Jr , was born out of a desire for an impactful sports team, on and off the court . One
of the team’s prospects is Arylle Jai “AJ” Bryant, an IT Specialist in the Army
Lisa Faye Medina, interior designer and military spouse, turned a lifelong interest into an interior design business through Wildfire Restoration With over 18,000 combined social media followers, Medina shares her design projects, most recently her Vanstory Hills 1972 home renovation She has earned partnerships with major brands like Wayfair, Pinterest and Kingston Brass, and a mention in Better Homes & Gardens for a Fort Bragg dining room transformation
Our columnists this month offer perspectives on our city’s connection to the military . The first discusses the economic powerhouse that is Fort Bragg, contributing over $8 8 billion to the state’s economy The next explores just how different a civilian family life is from a military family’s Our newest columnist gives credit to just how strong those military families are for the unique set of challenges they face . And our last recommends six books to read that honor our military
We also have a whole new set of events and things to do this month in our To-Do List . And we may have spotted you at the Juneteenth Celebration 5K Flip to page 38 to find out
Thank you for reading CityView We hope this “Military Issue” magazine shines a light on our deep military connections
Valeria Cloës
Magazine Editor
For comments, questions, feedback, or to submit story ideas, email vcloes@cityviewnc com
Soldiers uncase the colors denoting Fort Bragg during a redesignation ceremony changing the name of Fort Liberty to its previous name Fort Bragg on March 7, 2025.
Photo by Melissa Sue Gerrits
LOCAL JOURNALISM NEEDS
JULY 2025
Publisher Kyle Villemain
Magazine Editor Valeria Cloës
Editorial Assistant Maydha Devarajan
Contributing Editor Katie Kosma
Director of Operation & Sales Talmadge Rogers
Administration & Operations Coordinator Caitlin Malson
Social Media Manager Grace McFadden
Graphic Designer Annette Winter
Sales Team Leader
Dawn Denham
Sales Executive Arianna Bannerman
Photographers
Melissa Sue Gerrits
James Throssel
Sharilyn Wells
Matthew Wonderly
Tony Wooten
Contributing Writers
Jason Canady
Sharon Moyer
Claire Mullen
Trey Nemec
Diane Parfitt
Teri Saylor
Tim White
Claudia Zamora
Distribution
Jennifer Baker
Wayne Robinson
Fort Bragg is a powerful economic engine
BY TIM WHITE
That was one happy buzz echoing out of the Triad a few weeks ago An economic buzz — a massive new aerospace venture coming to Greensboro, on the sprawling grounds of Piedmont-Triad International Airport
Massive isn’t an understatement . Jet Zero, an innovative new player breaking into commercial aviation, has agreed to locate its headquarters and factory there It’s not a comparatively small operation, like Honda Jet, which has been building small private aircraft in Greensboro for a few years now and employs about 1,500 people, according to FOX 8 WGHP.
Jet Zero plans to hire as many as 14,500 workers who will churn out dozens — eventually hundreds or more — big commercial jetliners in a new “blended wing” design that’s reminiscent of some recent military aircraft designs The planes are meant to be workhorses, carrying hundreds of passengers on trips up to 5,000 miles . The company plans to have its first demonstration jetliner flying in two years Pie in the sky? Not likely Alaska Airlines and United Airlines are already investing in the $4 .7 billion project, according to Reuters So is the U S Air Force This thing is real The backers are there to challenge Boeing and Airbus for commercial aircraft supremacy . And this project — added to the Honda and Boom Supersonic (which plans to build faster-than-sound commercial aircraft in Guilford County) — could make Greensboro a world power in commercial aviation
So, what’s all this mean for us? It means we need some perspective here . Because the Greater Fayetteville area already has the equivalent of nearly five times that workforce in just one massive development — Fort Bragg
The post is the largest military installation (by population) in the world, home to over 48,000 total troops, over 1,600 Reserve Components, over 2,000 Temporary Duty students, over 16,000 Department of Defense civilians and contractors, and over 80,000 military family members, according to Fort Bragg Garrison Public Affairs Officer April Olsen And the post helps support 97,000 retirees and their families
The post puts more than $8 8 billion a year into the local economy It is a giant economic engine, fueling not just Cumberland County but directly or indirectly, benefiting much of North Carolina
So we have a right, around here, to pat the state economic developers on the head and tell them, “That’s nice Now come on down if you want to see something really big ”
I’m not sure if all the officialdom up in Raleigh really
appreciates what’s been here for decades The spotlight always finds the Triangle, Triad and Charlotte a lot more easily So does the infrastructure investment After years of trying, we finally got the Outer Loop, and it’s making a big difference in the way the county — and counties around us — are growing and building
But the rest of the state’s investment in us tends toward underwhelming . There is no direct superhighway link to the Triangle, unless you want to go up I-95 to I-40, a congested corridor that is the antithesis of “direct ” Or you can drive up NC-87 to US-1, braving slow traffic and numerous stoplights until you hit the Sanford bypass Either way, it’ll take you a couple of hours And if you need to get to Charlotte in a hurry — well, don’t ask . You can’t . And never mind highspeed rail It’s on some state drawing boards, but given the condition of federal funding these days, drawings are about all we’ll get .
And what about the superb education our kids deserve, and employers like Fort Bragg need for a thriving workforce? We’re still stuck in a state education funding famine The General Assembly has spent decades thumbing its nose at court findings that it is drastically underfunding public education — defying the N .C . Constitution, which mandates adequately financed public schools In part because we lack a well-trained and educated workforce, our economic development successes tend to be things like call centers, warehouse and distribution operations, and light manufacturing The jobs that call for advanced degrees and specialized skills go to the Triangle and, to a lesser extent, the Triad If we had better-educated workers and a transportation network that better connected us to the rest of the state, we might get a few more of them .
But still, there’s a pretty good bottom line for us right now: Fort Bragg is a powerful economic engine and the Greater Fayetteville area is fortunate to have it . I can’t imagine life here without it
But I can imagine life getting a lot better if state economic developers push as hard for us as they do for the Triangle and Triad I’ll leave it to our elected leaders to figure out how to make that happen It should be Job No 1
Tim White is the former editorial page editor of The Fayetteville Observer.
On the homefront
BY CLAIRE MULLEN
“Daddy, did you ever go to war?”
An innocent question asked by a naive 5-year-old-little boy to his civilian, dentist dad
“No, buddy, I’ve never gone to war Well, not unless you count the war on cavities . ”
In the mind of a kindergartner who has lived in our military town his entire life, this was a perfectly reasonable ask While neither myself nor my husband have ever served in the military, our two children have grown up several miles from the most populated military base in the world and live their daily lives in conjunction with men and women in uniform and their families
They can distinguish between thunder and Fort Bragg, try to remember the names of the various military aircraft that fly over our backyard on a daily basis, are unfazed by Humvee convoys rolling by in morning traffic, and know to say “thank you for your service” when the opportunity arises .
Active duty and retired service members have been their coaches, teachers, parents’ co-workers, and parents of their teammates, classmates and friends . It has been a common occurrence over the years for multiple schoolmates to have loved ones absent at “Donuts for Dad,” “Muffins for Mom,” spring musicals or awards assemblies due to deployments
I will never forget my daughter coming home from preschool one afternoon to recount the story of a little friend who brought in an “extra special” item for his turn for show-and-tell that day, a teddy bear with a picture of that little boy’s father printed on the bear’s tummy .
As my daughter told it, “Whenever he misses his daddy or feels sad that he’s gone, he can run to his room to find his special bear and give it a hug . Because his daddy had to go to war ”
While my family is quite familiar with life in a military community, we have no first-hand experience with life in a military household Although I can’t pretend to know what that’s like, I am oftentimes reminded of the sacrifices that these men and women and their families make, and how the everyday trials that we civilians encounter oftentimes pale in comparison to what our military community members face .
On nights when dinner is getting cold because my husband is running late at his office, or on Saturdays when he’s away at a weekend conference, leaving me to wonder how I’m going to juggle my two children’s conflicting soccer games, I am humbled when I think about my close friend . She is a mother of twice as many children as I, who has handled her husband’s multiple year-long deployments with steadfast patience and grace, many times being the first to offer to lend a helping hand to a friend in need, in spite of her own never-ending personal obligations
When I find myself feeling frustrated over what seems in the moment like an insurmountable glitch in our plans, or swamped in the midst of a particularly busy season, I remind myself of particular friends who are able to rally, re-group and forge ahead with family life for months on end after their spouses get short-notice orders for duty overseas Moms and dads who, while their loved one is away serving our country, continue to show up at their own jobs and come home to continue the hard work of keeping life as normal as possible for their children, all while, I can only imagine, constantly worrying over the well-being of their soldier far away
On a recent afternoon, as I rummaged through our storage closet searching for something, I came across an old Rubbermaid trunk that contained mementos from my childhood bedroom When I opened the lid, the first thing I saw resting on top of a stack of prom dresses, athletic trophies and framed photos was something I hadn’t thought about in years A neatly folded American flag tucked into a protective plastic sleeve, along with a certificate of appreciation for my support of our troops during Operation Iraqi Freedom A flag that had been given to me by the father of a fellow cheerleader upon his return to Fort Bragg from deployment
I took the flag out of the trunk and thought back to my senior year of high school when I first received it I remembered being incredibly honored but also
PHOTO BY CHRIS ROBERT ON UNSPLASH
completely baffled as to why a grown man and distinguished member of our United States Armed Forces, fresh from a warzone, would bestow such an honor on a 17-year-old high schooler who had done nothing more than offer to give his daughter, two years my junior, rides home from cheerleading practice and games .
Twenty-two years later, and now a wife and mother of young children, I have greater insight as to why this was such a big deal to my teammate’s father When he deployed to the Middle East, he left behind his wife, who worked as a nurse, a teenage daughter (not old enough to transport herself to and from extracurricular activities), and two sons: a toddler and an infant I imagine that my willingness to drive a couple of extra miles to take my teammate home might have allowed her little brothers to get their afternoon naps, or saved her mom the trouble of loading two sleeping babies into their carseats to retrieve their sister from school after a late-night return from an out-of-town basketball game While this was nothing to me, it apparently made a profound enough impact on their family that a true American hero thanked me I showed my children the flag and explained to them that the lessons we can learn from our military neighbors are humbling and important While those of us who have never served or lived with someone who has will never be able to fully grasp all that their world entails, we can and should always look for our own ways to support them on the homefront Anything to show our men and women in uniform and their families how humbly thankful we truly are for their service to this great nation that we all call home
Claire Mullen can
A sign on Cedar Creek Road announces the soon-to-open Cedar Creek Market, promising fresh local produce, meats and a new community hub.
ENVIRONMENT
Farms Helping Families
Brandon and Channing Perdue are chasing their dream of creating an urban educational farm along Cedar Creek Road to help alleviate food insecurity and teach their neighbors the skills they’ve learned the hard way.
BY TERI SAYLOR | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES THROSSEL
WWhen it comes to chasing dreams, Channing and Brandon Perdue have written the playbook They’ve literally moved the earth in their unshakeable quest to fight hunger
What started out as a small-scale farming operation to teach their four children where their food comes from has become a program to educate people about sustainable farming practices and provide quality products for their community
This mission led them to incorporate Farms Helping Families in 2021 as an educational business endeavor and launch the Cedar Creek Market in Fayetteville, a
farm-to-table marketplace where a collection of farmers, producers and artisans will sell their products Both businesses are located on Cedar Creek Road The market will open to the public by July 1
“I began my love for growing things when I had our first daughter,” Channing said “One day, I asked her where she thought food came from and she said ‘Walmart ’”
That conversation ignited a spark, inspiring Channing to explore the concepts around industrial farming, which feeds the masses, and small-scale farming, which feeds families and individuals
are just
Channing Perdue shakes paws with one of her trusted farm dogs. Several
a year old and always eager for her attention.
“It planted a seed in her, so to speak,” Channing’s husband, Brandon, quipped “She wanted to start raising food for our family in a garden with a small flock of chickens ”
At the time, the Perdues lived in Hope Mills after moving to Cumberland County in 2007 to accommodate Brandon’s service in the U S Army at Fort Bragg
Over their almost 20 years of marriage, some of it longdistance during Brandon’s deployments, their path has not always been easy, but they share a spirit of deep resolve and have never met an obstacle they could not overcome .
After outgrowing their small Hope Mills home, they discovered an urban paradise on Cedar Creek Road, with 10 acres of land so well hidden off the busy roadway that passersby would hardly notice it’s there They’ve lived and farmed there for over seven years
The property is just around four miles from the heart of downtown Fayetteville, and on some evenings when the traffic dies down and the wind is still, they can hear noise from Segra Stadium .
It’s a short stroll from the Perdues’ back door to their pristine barnyard — home to goats, cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, horses, and a team of Great Pyrenees dogs
Channing holds one of the baby goats, a particularly talkative kid on the farm.
Channing stands inside the future home of locally sourced produce and meats, proud of her DIY spirit and excited for what’s ahead.
assigned to protect the livestock from predators It’s birthing season, and the expectant mothers, newborn calves, piglets and baby goats make it difficult for Channing to estimate the size of her livestock population
The land was not always fit for farming, Brandon says
“It was 70 percent forest when we bought it,” he said “The farm hadn’t been active in probably 20 years, and we put a lot of work getting it to where it’s at now ”
For some, the idea of clearing 10 acres of long-neglected land and remaking it into a farm might have proved impossible, but Brandon laughs when he recalls his evolution into an agricultural landscaper
“When we moved here from Hope Mills, I had no tools,” he said . “We had a push lawnmower that wasn’t even self-propelled, and we didn’t have a lot of money to hire anyone to come in and do the work for us ”
Bit by bit, he acquired the equipment and help he needed to get the job done
Farming has been a learning curve for Channing, too The first time she tried to milk a goat, she found herself relying on a YouTube instructional video
A relationship she has forged with Lisa Childers, the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension director, has
helped smooth Channing’s path
“Lisa has literally been my best friend through this, and all the agents are amazing,” she said “They know me and my family, they’ve been to my farm, and the best thing is knowing they’re in my corner ”
The Cumberland County Cooperative Extension has also brought soldiers and interns into the Perdues’ corner through its Soldiers to Agriculture Program and the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program
Cumberland County Extension Agent Corey Deibel runs the Soldiers to Agriculture program and says he relies on farmers like the Perdues to provide military personnel with the knowledge and experience to get into farming
Soldiers to Agriculture is a five-week program offered three times a year and geared toward transitioning service members, as well as spouses and veterans, into farming and other skills like agribusiness development and beekeeping .
“A lot of these folks come in not to get another job, they just want to farm or homestead to help heal from previous military operations or deployments,” Deibel said .
Programs like Farms Helping Families also inspire service members to see that with hard work, perseverance and dedication, their dreams can become a reality .
Two of the many curious pigs on the farm. Channing ensures all her animals have regular human interaction so they grow up comfortable around people.
And through the DOD SkillBridge program, industry partners, like the Perdues, are connected with service members transitioning into civilian life to help them gain real-world, civilian job experience . This is done “through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service,” according to the DOD SkillBridge program website .
“We’ve hosted five Skillbridge interns,” Channing said “Some want to establish their own farms and others are actively running family farms, or they plan to take over when their aging family members retire ”
For Channing, a turning point came the first time someone stopped by the farm asking for food Then others started coming at the rate of two or three per month Thinking about it stirs her to tears
“People come to my farm and tell me they’re hungry, that they don’t have any food, and they ask if I can help them,” she said
She responds by giving them meat, eggs, vegetables or whatever she has available .
“I never want anybody to go hungry,” she said
In this way, Farms Helping Families has also become part of Channing’s faith-based purpose to alleviate food insecurity, not by simply giving it away, but by teaching
people sustainable practices
.
“I know hunger and unhoused populations are neverending battles, and my dream comes from helping families learn how to grow their own food,” she said .
To enable the expansion needed to fully serve the community, the Perdues recently purchased 400 acres of untamed land along Cross Creek Road that backs up to the Cape Fear River It was the Fayetteville site of Dowd Brothers Dairy, a historic dairy farm that operated from 1956 until 1973
Known as one of the state’s largest dairy farms during its lifetime, the farm supplied milk to Fort Bragg and the greater community
Owner Curtis Dowd, who died in 2017, was inducted into the Cumberland County Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1998
The old farmland is overgrown and forested, but the Perdues have discovered remnants from the dairy’s glory days, including the barn’s foundation, a few silos and some pieces of equipment long abandoned According to records in the Cumberland County Register of Deeds office, a variety of owners previously held deeds to the property, including members of the Rosser family
They have built about five miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, and aim to make the entire
Channing shares her excitement about bringing the goats to the new land, where they’ll help clear overgrown vegetation.
property usable for farming and recreation They know it may take decades, but they don’t see it as an impossible obstacle
“With our experience at our farm and understanding overgrowth and how to make it usable, we know what it will take, and we’re basically working on small chunks of it at a time,” Brandon said
Some days, Brandon and Channing feel overwhelmed but are never deterred
“We always keep moving forward,” she said . “We can’t afford to be negative because there’s always something going wrong that we have no control over . ”
Currently, the Perdues are focused on completing some fencing and opening the market .
“These are huge priorities, and we’ve had delays, like discovering an animal is giving birth, or the cows have gotten out of their pasture,” she said “There were two nights recently when Brandon was out on the farm until about 11 both nights fixing shelters, and that was after he worked at his job all day . ”
She relies on giving herself grace and setting priorities
“I must understand how much I can do and be okay with that and not beat myself up,” she said “Mainly, what motivates me is hearing God’s voice telling me to keep going ”
Channing and Brandon, both 45, have learned that it’s never too late to have a dream and strive to make it come true Channing says she was in her mid-30s when she discovered her passion for farming
“When I found farming, I discovered that it’s hard, but it is my God-given gift,” she said “I would say I’ve learned that if your dream doesn’t scare you, then it’s probably not big enough ”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Teri Saylor is a freelance writer based in Raleigh
•
A team of heroes
Fayetteville’s new professional basketball team, Fayetteville Liberty, will make its debut in March 2026 with its inaugural season.
BY JASON CANADY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY WOOTEN
TThey say when one door closes, another one opens That’s surely what Robert Lee Edwards Jr was thinking in 2023 as he watched the final seconds tick down on the Crown Arena’s overhead screen, marking the last game of the Fayetteville Stingers’ basketball team
Despite the disappointment of hearing the final buzzer on the Fayetteville Stingers, the beat in Edwards’ heart — the dream of owning a basketball team — grew louder
Edwards, the team’s livestream coordinator and director in charge of the big screen at the time, turned to his coworker Tiras Ray and said, “One day I’m gonna buy a team ”
Ray, the screen producer and camera operator, laughed, “Are you serious?”
“Tiras, stick with me,” Edwards replied .
Now, years later, Ray reflects on that conversation, saying Edwards is “a man of his word ”
“Anything he’s told me, he’s delivered on,” Ray said .
Just a year and a half after watching the Stingers’ final game, Edwards, at 37 years old, turned his vision into reality . Edwards ended up submitting a proposal in 2023 to The Basketball League (TBL), and it was accepted TBL is a professional men’s basketball league in North America that focuses on providing a professional basketball experience with a strong emphasis on community engagement and affordable entertainment
During his negotiations with TBL, Edwards purchased a brand-new license, which included naming rights and likeness for an entirely new team
“TBL officials named me a new team owner after the purchase,” Edwards said
The Fayetteville Liberty basketball team was officially
born on December 12, 2024, with its inaugural season starting in March 2026 at the Crown Coliseum as part of TBL
“We’re like a feeder league,” Edwards explains “We’re the central connection point for guys aiming for the NBA’s G-League or looking to sign overseas contracts . In baseball terms, we’d be a Single-A affiliate ”
But his mission goes beyond the court — he wants to uplift the city and give youth a renewed sense of hope .
He always believed Fayetteville could support a stronger, more impactful sports team — for the players, the fans and the community . He sees his athletes as ambassadors not just on the court, but off it as well He doesn’t want just basketball players, he wants heroes Edwards envisions basketball fans not just coming to watch a basketball game, but to support their hometown heroes
LibertyCity Ambassadors Program
Under the umbrella of his nonprofit Hope Community, Edwards launched the LibertyCity Ambassadors Program (LcAP), the official outreach arm of Fayetteville Liberty .
The program offers scholarships, organizes charity drives and hosts school visits It has already awarded scholarships to students at three local schools: Alger B . Wilkins High School, Pine Forest High School and Max Abbott Middle School
“You can have all the talent in the world, and I want them to be talent-driven,” Edwards said, “but if you’re not a man of loyalty, honor, respect, integrity, personal courage and selfless service, you may not have a home here . Those things are more important to me ”
He credits his Army background and discipline for
Head Coach Don Gardner and General Manager Tiras Ray prepare for a workout of the newly formed Fayetteville Liberty basketball team at Spout Springs Church in Cameron, N.C.
his leadership style and enjoys mentoring and inspiring others on a broader level
At first, Edwards didn’t know what to name the team
But when Fort Bragg was renamed Fort Liberty in summer 2023, the choice became obvious
“We know it’s since changed back to Fort Bragg,” Edwards said, “but Liberty became our springboard It was perfect ”
He chose black and gold as the team colors — a nod to Army culture
Fayetteville Liberty Owner Robert Lee Edwards Jr.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Edwards is a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 who has lived in Fayetteville for the past 12 years — and now calls it his forever home .
“My whole family is here, including my father, who also retired here,” said Edwards, a self-described military kid He has a background in information systems
technology and also spent time as an associate pastor in Fayetteville During the COVID-19 lockdown, Edwards became the church’s sole “computer guy,” which pushed him to learn social media and videography to help with virtual outreach That unexpected skill set led him to a job with the Stingers — and eventually to team ownership
One of his first calls after purchasing Fayetteville Liberty was to his former coworker, Tiras Ray
“I’m gonna buy the team on Friday, and I want you to be part of it,” Edwards told him . He initially appointed Ray as assistant coach and head of player operations
“That worked for me,” said Ray, who had a 15-year background in restaurant management, including stints at Waffle House, Cheddar’s, Red Lobster and Red Robin
But after a month, Edwards called Ray again
“I think I made a mistake,” Edwards told him . Ray thought he was being let go until Edwards said, “I should’ve given you a bigger position ”
That’s how Tiras Ray became general manager in 2025 .
Team owner Robert Lee Edwards Jr. Photo by Brad Woods/4YourMemories Photography, contributed by Fayetteville Liberty
General Manager Tiras Ray
Ray is Edwards’ right-hand man His duties include recruiting players, handling contracts, securing sponsorships and hiring staff across all departments — from coaching to media
Ray said he uses social media, like YouTube and Facebook, to recruit potential players He looks for athleticism, basketball IQ and team mentality
“Everyone wants that dog — a guy who plays hard, plays both ends of the court, not just a scorer but a defender too,” Ray explains “For how common basketball is, not a lot of people can play at a high level ”
Ray also has a background in sports media After leaving the restaurant industry, he worked in the school system and started a podcast, Say What? Say it Again, focused on sports He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in sports broadcasting from Full Sail University
Through a guest segment on his podcast, Ray first met Fayetteville Liberty’s future head coach, Don Gardner
Head Coach Don Gardner
Don Gardner, 49, has a deep coaching resume Raised in Fayetteville by a military father, Gardner currently works in the Fort Bragg school system and serves as vice president of schools for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1770 . He’s married and has raised three boys and two girls
“I have 23 years coaching varsity and two years coaching middle school,” Gardner said . He’s a 10-time Coach of the Year with 500 wins and a 2024 Hall of Fame nominee with the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) He also recently received a proclamation from Mayor Mitch Colvin for his work in the community, designating March 2, 2025, in honor of Gardner Gardner doesn’t preach a specific coaching philosophy but believes in leading by example and work ethic
“Always be coachable and stand on your standards,” he said He wants professionals — players who sacrifice the me for the we, and who hustle on both sides of the floor
Gardner works with Fayetteville Liberty prospect Arylle Jai “AJ” Bryant during the basketball team's workouts.
When inviting players to a combine, Gardner encourages authenticity — whether confident or shy — so he can learn how best to coach them if they make the team
“I want our team to be dependable in the community and an inspiration to local kids,” Gardner said “I want a program where someone can say, ‘Hey, I can play for a pro team right here without going anywhere ”
Gardner says many of Fayetteville Liberty’s recruits have played high school ball in Fayetteville
Fayetteville Liberty prospect
Arylle Jai “AJ” Bryant
One of those local prospects is Arylle Jai “AJ” Bryant A 23-year-old IT Specialist in the Army, AJ is married, humble, grounded and driven — exactly the kind of player Fayetteville Liberty is after
“AJ is phenomenal,” Ray said . “So mature, so mild-mannered He’s one of those people it’s hard not to love That’s the kind of player we want . ”
Bryant has an impressive basketball resume, which includes a stint in high school basketball at Westover
When Ray invited him to the team’s first combine, AJ checked his deployment schedule before committing
“I didn’t want to say yes and then be sent on deployment,” AJ said “He told me to come to the combine, and we’d go from there . ”
It was AJ’s first professional combine
“It was great,” he said . “I met the staff and felt the support They test your vertical, height and weight, and you run 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 drills . From the start, I knew I wanted to be part of this team ”
Of the 34 players at Fayetteville Liberty’s first-ever combine, only nine were retained — and AJ was one of just two who received a written invitation to return for the second combine on July 12
“This is my first real pro opportunity,” AJ said . “I let a few slip by before Not this time ”
Community outreach driven
In an effort to connect the Fayetteville Liberty team with the youth of Fayetteville, Edwards proposed a free basketball clinic for children ages 5–14 at the TJ Robinson Life Center in Hope Mills The response was overwhelming: 120 kids signed up within the first 24 hours Edwards then expanded the invitation to accommodate up to 200 campers . By the time the registration closed, “211 campers had signed up over 158 families,” Edwards said The camp is scheduled for July 15 .
“This is totally free,” Edwards said “They get to interact with our team and get swag bags, shirts and food — the whole nine We were able to do this to have an impact on our city I’m leading with these initiatives ” Edwards says that without the backing of a giant like the NBA, leagues like the TBL often struggle to stand on their own . That’s why they focus on building strong
community ties But for Edwards, it’s not a marketing tactic — he genuinely believes in the power of hope
“We generally believe in bringing hope to the community one possession at a time, we just happen to do it through basketball,” Edwards said “We’re connected to the city and consider ourselves stakeholders in the city of Fayetteville I know this team is going to be an asset to the city for many years to come We need the city behind us and give us a fair shake ”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jason Canady is an awardwinning writer and poet from Fayetteville He has covered the Hope Mills municipality for CityView and contributes to CityView Magazine
The Medina family bought their home in August 2021, and immediately launched into an ambitious whole-house renovation that would transform every corner of their space.
BUSINESS
Home is where the heart heals
How a military family’s design journey turned into a local interior design business
BY SHARON MOYER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY WOOTEN
IIn the tight-knit community surrounding Fort Bragg, where military families face unique challenges of frequent moves, deployments and life’s unexpected turns, the concept of “home” takes on profound meaning
For Lisa Faye Medina, interior designer behind Wildfire Restoration and a military spouse, creating beautiful, functional spaces isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about healing, hope and helping families find their footing in a never-changing world .
Roots in service and craftsmanship
Lisa’s journey into interior design began long before she launched Wildfire Restoration four years ago Growing up with a father who owned a painting company, she learned
the value of hands-on craftsmanship and attention to detail Her mother, meanwhile, taught her how to make any space, no matter how modest, feel welcoming and warm .
“My mother had this incredible ability to take our simple home and make it feel like a sanctuary,” Lisa recalls “She showed me that creating a beautiful space isn’t about having the most expensive things, it’s about understanding what makes people feel comfortable and loved ”
These early lessons proved invaluable when Lisa married Anthony, a special operations service member at Fort Bragg, and began the nomadic life familiar to military families
With four children now aged 17 to 26, the Medinas have experienced firsthand the challenges of creating stability and comfort in temporary spaces
Lisa Medina, owner of Wildfire Restoration, utilizes her remodeling skills in collaboration with Pinterest and other companies to renovate the kitchen and laundry areas within her own home.
“As a military spouse, you become an expert at making a house feel like home quickly,” Lisa explains . “You learn to work with what you have and make every space functional for your family’s needs ”
From necessity to calling
What started as a personal skill born from necessity gradually evolved into something more Lisa began sharing her design projects on social media, showcasing how she transformed military housing and their various homes throughout Anthony’s career The response was immediate and enthusiastic .
“I wasn’t trying to start a business,” she admits “I was just sharing what I was doing with our own spaces But other military spouses started reaching out, asking for help with their homes ”
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect The COVID-19 pandemic struck just as Lisa began to consider formalizing her design services, and suddenly, families everywhere were spending unprecedented amounts of time in their homes . The importance of functional, beautiful living spaces became crystal clear
“The pandemic really highlighted how crucial our home environment is to our wellbeing,” Lisa notes . “People realized that their spaces needed to work harder; they needed to be offices, schools, gyms and sanctuaries all at once ”
Building a family business
Despite his demanding role in special operations, Anthony became an integral part of Wildfire Restoration’s success His contracting background and practical skills perfectly complement Lisa’s design vision .
“Anthony is my support system in every sense,” Lisa says “He helps coordinate subcontractors, runs errands, and handles the practical side of projects . We’ve learned to work together despite the occasional stress that comes with mixing business and marriage ”
The family approach extends beyond just Lisa and Anthony Their network includes other family members who contribute various skills, creating a true family enterprise that reflects the collaborative spirit often found in military communities
This collaborative spirit has also fostered meaningful partnerships with local businesses with similar values Geovany Vanegas, from Arana Stone, another family-owned and -operated business in Fayetteville, has become one of Lisa’s trusted partners for custom stonework projects
What sets Lisa apart, according to Geovany, is how she makes everyone feel like part of the creative process
“Lisa involves her whole family in projects, which adds such a personal touch,” he said “When working on her designs, we feel included in something bigger than just a transaction It’s a true collaboration between two family
Lisa uses the carport of her home as a workspace for her remodeling project.
businesses that understand each other’s values ”
Geovany appreciates Lisa’s thorough approach, noting that her detailed explanations and visual aids help his team fully understand her vision
“Working with Lisa is both challenging and rewarding,” he said “Her attention to detail pushes us to be more creative and precise in our work
“She doesn’t just tell us what she wants, she shows us,” Geovany said “Whether it’s specific table legs or detailed cabinet designs, Lisa’s creativity makes every project unique We’ve learned to expect the unexpected with her projects, and that’s made us better craftsmen . ”
The partnership has been mutually beneficial, with Geovany noting Lisa’s growing social media influence of over a combined 18,000 followers across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok has brought positive attention to local businesses like Arana Stone
“We’re hopeful for many more projects together,” he said “Lisa’s reach through platforms like Pinterest and her partnerships with major brands helps showcase what local businesses can accomplish when we work together . ”
As a company that offers military discounts, Arana Stone particularly values working with Lisa and serving the Fort Bragg community .
“We understand the military families here, and working with Lisa helps us better serve that community with the
quality craftsmanship they deserve,” Geovany adds
Healing through design
Perhaps no project illustrates the deeper impact of Lisa’s work better than her collaboration with Nairilys Delgado, a fellow military spouse who lost her husband in 2020 and found herself struggling to make her house feel like home for herself and her children
The two women had connected nearly 10 years earlier through a fitness accountability group on Facebook, but their professional relationship began in 2022, when Nairilys was considering selling her home and starting fresh elsewhere
“I was in a really dark place,” Nairilys explains “The house felt heavy with memories, and I didn’t know how to move forward Lisa listened to my story and helped me see that I didn’t need to leave, I needed to transform the space into something that honored my husband’s memory while creating new possibilities for my family ”
The project involved converting her late husband’s man cave into a healing space where her children could play while staying connected to their father’s memory Lisa’s attention to detail, including preserving and displaying the husband’s wrestling belts, showed an understanding that good design goes beyond aesthetics to touch the heart
“Lisa and her family worked with their hearts,” Nairilys
Despite his demanding role in special operations, Anthony Medina became an integral part of Wildfire Restoration’s success.
reflects . “When Anthony noticed a small leak in my ceiling and fixed it without being asked, I knew I was working with people who truly cared about making my house a home ”
The ripple effect
Lisa’s work with military families has created a ripple effect throughout the Fort Bragg community Her approach, which emphasizes timeless design elements with interchangeable finishing touches, particularly resonates with military families who know they may need to adapt their spaces frequently
“Military families face unique challenges,” Lisa explains “We move frequently, we have limited budgets, and we need spaces that can adapt to changing needs My goal is to create designs that are both beautiful and practical, spaces that can evolve with families as their circumstances change ”
This philosophy has served her well as Wildfire Restoration has grown from serving local military families to gaining national recognition through partnerships with major brands like Pinterest, Wayfair and Kingston Brass Her work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, showcasing a Fort Bragg dining room transformation that converted the space into a functional home gym
Medina’s home renovation journey
While Medina’s passion for client renovations is undeniable, client work had to take a pause after
undertaking her own 1972 Vanstory Hills home’s renovation The Medina family bought their home in August 2021, and immediately launched into an ambitious whole-house renovation that would transform every corner of their space
“As soon as we got the keys, we ripped out the old carpet and had the original floors refinished,” Lisa explains
The project quickly expanded to include replacing all mismatched baseboards throughout the house, painting the entire interior from floor to ceiling, and addressing major infrastructure needs like replacing the old water heater with a tankless system and updating the electrical in the living room and kitchen
To create better flow between spaces, she opened up three cased openings and removed four doors that had previously divided the living areas, achieving the open feel they desired while maintaining distinct, cozy spaces . The living room required extensive work after a leak behind the fireplace, leading to new drywall installation and updated trim work that completely transformed the space’s character
The most ambitious phase involved three complete demolitions where the kitchen, powder room and mudroom/laundry room were stripped down to the studs, allowing Lisa to rebuild and rework every inch of these essential spaces from the ground up .
The renovation extended beyond the interior with exterior improvements including fresh paint on shutters, updated white trim, and new lighting in the backyard and
The kitchen was stripped down to the studs, allowing Lisa to rebuild and rework every inch of this essential space from the ground up.
front of the home Countless finishing touches followed, from leveling kitchen flooring and updating floor vents to removing wallpaper, installing new bathroom faucets, adding a needed exhaust fan, and installing new pulldown attic stairs
Looking forward
As Lisa nears completion of her own ambitious home renovation project, she’s preparing to resume taking on client projects with a deeper understanding of what home truly means
“Every project teaches me something new about how people live and what they need from their spaces,” she says “Working with military families has shown me that the most important element in any design isn’t a particular style or trend, it’s understanding the people who will live in that space and what will make them feel most at home ”
For families like the Medinas and Delgados, home isn’t just a place; it’s a foundation for healing, growth and hope Through Wildfire Restoration, Lisa continues to help military families create those foundations, one thoughtfully designed room at a time .
“In the military community, we understand that home isn’t about the building, it’s about the people inside it and how the space supports their lives,” Lisa concludes . “That’s what drives everything I do I want to help families create
spaces where they can thrive, no matter what challenges they’re facing ”
As Lisa puts the finishing touches on her family’s Vanstory Hills home and prepares to take on new clients, her vision extends far beyond individual projects She’s building a legacy that proves military spouses can transform personal challenges into professional success while lifting their entire community
Through Wildfire Restoration, she’s not just designing beautiful spaces; she’s creating a model for how passion, persistence, and an understanding of what truly matters can turn a house into a home, a skill into a business, and a military spouse’s journey into an inspiration for families everywhere
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sharon Moyer, a native of Muskegon, Michigan, moved to Fayetteville in 1987 and has lived here since . Sharon works as the community engagement administrator at the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County
COMMUNITY
READY TO LISTEN
ICape Fear Amateur Radio Society keeps ham radio alive and well in Cumberland County
BY TREY NEMEC | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHARILYN WELLS
In a world obsessed with lightning-fast messaging, apps and smart everything, a passionate group in Fayetteville works to keep alive a form of communication that predates the internet: One that still works, even when the rest of the world goes silent
Amateur, or ham, radio
Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society (CFARS) is made up
of a group of dedicated amateur radio operators, also known as hams, who work to establish connections near and far In their technical world, where antennas tangle with tree branches, radio waves bounce off the moon, and friendships stretch across continents, the members of this group hope to engage people of all ages and keep amateur radio thriving
Digital radio transmissions are logged by a computer — this is the "new age" version of the ham radio.
Signals near and far
Founded in 1969, the Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society is a friendly group of tinkerers, tech lovers and service-minded folks . They try to meet monthly, CFARS Vice President Rod MacLean told CityView, holding events, participating in competitions and practicing their skills on all varieties of radio equipment
“Except in July and August, because it’s too bloody hot,” MacLean said with a chuckle
On any given weekend, CFARS members might be checking into regional radio nets, testing new antenna designs in their backyards, or chatting with someone in Slovenia just for the fun of it
MacLean explained that the organization has many members, with about 50 regular meeting attendees and over 150 people on their current roster Some have moved away due to military service or other work obligations, but they remain members of CFARS for life
In February, the organization participated in the N C QSO Party, a competition where amateur radio clubs try to make contact with as many other operators or organizations as possible, in order to rack up points A QSO refers to contact made between two operators or stations through the radio Each station and operator is given a unique call sign, which consists of a string of letters and numbers that makes them easily identifiable when contacting other operators and stations Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society goes by the call sign “K4MN ” CFARS President David Winfree told CityView that the organization won in their division of the N C QSO Party this year They were also named a “bonus station,” for which outside stations would earn an extra 50 points should they be able to track down K4MN and make contact .
Some CFARS members who participated in the N C QSO Party include Mike Prevatte, Nina Maier, Juan Serra, David Cowart and more Alongside their victory in the
Antennas of every shape and size are built for the society’s meetings and competitions. Wire antennas (not pictured) are also placed to find signal to send messages. This is what makes communication in austere environments.
N C QSO Party, CFARS is making preparations for the upcoming National Association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) Field Day, a two-day event held June 28-29 During the annual field day, over 31,000 amateur radio operators throughout North America will make contact with as many other stations as possible, according to ARRL
“This one is like the Super Bowl for ham radio Once again, we will be out of the house and off grid, testing our skill set to make contacts in the field and compete against other clubs for the best score,” Winfree told CityView
What is ham radio?
Imagine being able to talk to someone across town, across the country or halfway around the world without cell towers or Wi-Fi . That’s ham radio in a nutshell .
But how exactly does ham radio work? How can someone in North Carolina talk to someone in Finland, Australia or India without a phone, the internet or a postage stamp? It may sound otherworldly, but it’s really a mix of science, skill and the magic of radio waves
Using specialized radio equipment and a deep well of technical knowledge, licensed amateur operators transmit voice, text, images and even data through invisible frequencies that span the globe .
At its core, ham radio is about sending and receiving signals through the air You use a radio, with costs that can range from $25 to several thousands for more advanced models The radio converts your voice into an electrical signal That signal travels through a wire or antenna, shoots off into the sky as a radio wave and is picked up by another antenna, sometimes thousands of miles away On the other end, someone else’s radio converts that signal back into sound .
Presto, you’re having a conversation, no cell towers or Wi-Fi signal required
Ham radio isn’t limited to verbal communication either . Modes like CW, or Continuous Wave, allow operators to send strings of Morse code to others, which is especially useful when operators may be experiencing weak signal conditions
ARRL reports that Morse code was the only way to communicate by radio for about the first decade of the practice, which began in the 19th century
Still, other options like Digital Data Modes — which make use of radio waves via laptop or other devices — offer even wider opportunities for operators to talk around the world and specialize in whichever mode they like best
Some signals are beamed into space, ricocheting off the moon or meteors, while others travel by bouncing off the Earth’s ionosphere, a part of Earth’s upper atmosphere, before boomeranging back to other radio operators With the use of satellites and the International Space Station supporting and reflecting ham frequencies, the sky is no longer the limit
It’s science, it’s skill and it’s open to anyone willing to learn
Putting it to the test
Ham radio operates on a specific range of frequencies that are outlined by the Federal Communications Commission All amateur radio operators in the United States must be licensed through the FCC, and are issued a unique call sign
MacLean, call sign “KQ4FNO,” has been a licensed operator since 2023 . He told CityView that the exam to earn a license is extensive, but not difficult
There are three different licenses available in the U S — technician, general and extra — and each comes with varying degrees of difficulty and study time Between the three licensing exams, hopeful operators are expected to answer 120 questions out of a pool of over 1,500 questions .
“The general and the tech are, generally speaking, not too difficult to get The general gives you most of the activity that you’re trying to do,” he said “You have to learn the material that’s going to be presented on the test ”
In an age of TikTok and text messages, ham radio might sound quaint, but it’s anything but outdated or unpopular In the U S , there are an estimated 700,000 licensed amateur radio operators from coast to coast, and about 3 million worldwide, according to the U S Naval Institute
When everything else fails
Beyond communicating through radio waves as a hobby, ham radio systems can be integral during emergency situations, especially when phone lines, internet connectivity or even electricity go dark
Operators can set up local networks between towns, counties or regions in order to efficiently and effectively communicate during times of trouble According to ARRL, many amateur operators are active after disasters, establishing communication when other systems like phone and cellular infrastructure have been damaged Many operators volunteer to assist local public safety organizations, and are recognized as a resource for national organizations like the National Weather Service and the Department of Homeland Security .
Most recently, ham radio operators across the Southeast region sprang to action when communication systems were destroyed during Hurricane Helene, which devastated western North Carolina and east Tennessee in September 2024 Operators worked closely with local law enforcement and emergency services to relay critical information about the storm, people affected and resources needed, according to ARRL
“What happens when your telephone goes out?”
MacLean asked He explained that even when systems go down, a connection can be established using just a radio and any spare parts fashioned into an antenna . “You can tune a trash can,” he mused
“It’s another capability of communicating Yes, it’s a bit ‘nerdish,’ but all the stuff that developed your cell phone came through ham radio,” MacLean said
CFARS offers a list of emergency shelters in Cumberland
Mike Prevatte, Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society (CFARS) member, notes who he contacted with the handheld ham radio and responds back during a February amateur radio club competition.
County, complete with antenna coordinates, to help operators easily find a signal and relay time sensitive information during crises
Winfree explained that CFARS trains regularly, staying ready to assist during times of emergency
“The club trains for this once a quarter to keep our skill sets tested and ready to go,” Winfree wrote . “We use the MARS system to send messages for the Military and FEMA as needed when we are asked to deploy ” The U S Army Military Auxiliary Radio System (AMARS) is a network of citizen volunteers that are trained by the Department of Defense on amateur radio operation to assist during times of need
Winfree also explained that the organization trains for emergency situations by performing a drill called a “fox hunt ” In this drill, members group up and practice locating a radio that has been hidden in a random location in town or in the woods This practice would come in particularly handy if a lost or injured person was attempting to make contact over the air .
Inspiring the next generation
CFARS is on a mission to spark that same wonder for frequencies and moon-bounce communication among
Cumberland County’s younger generation MacLean said that the organization partners with local schools to teach young people about the capabilities and benefits that come with operating a ham radio .
“We’re starting to get into the schools, working with STEM programs,” he said “And there’s more interest from the younger people . We are trying to get more younger people interested ”
Winfree said CFARS members have given talks to students and children at places throughout Cumberland County, from Fayetteville State University to Fort Bragg to public libraries
“This is more than just setting up a radio We explain how it works, what the frequencies are and how they work How the sun plays a big part in what bands we are going to use and also depends on what area we are trying to reach, as well as what time of day,” Winfree told CityView “The hobby is based on science, and it is pretty detailed We try and meet the school students on the level that they are at . So far, it has been a great time with a lot of people in the club helping out ”
Join the conversation
At Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society, members are eager
Nina Maier, CFARS member, types in Prevatte’s notes after he made contact with a fellow ham radio enthusiast.
to show newcomers the ropes … or cables, frequencies and call signs
“Anybody can join the society, there’s no big deal about that You are not required to be a licensed operator to join the club,” MacLean said “We will do our best to make you an operator,” he added with a chuckle
Through ham radio, operators communicate, compete and build connections across the globe Fostering both friendship and friendly sport is a main pillar for the amateur radio community, but growing as a local community is just as important
Winfree, who said he has enough memories from ham radio to fill a book, finds that listening to the older members of CFARS and learning from them has been one of the most notable aspects of the hobby
“The stories they tell and watching how they work the radio has taught me a lot,” Winfree told CityView “There is always something to learn and these guys have a lot of knowledge on how the radios work and how to build an antenna out of wire to get on the air . ”
With science, passion and the power of radio waves, the Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society works to create a wide net of communication When the lights go out, the hams light up the airwaves — and they’re always ready to listen
To find more information about Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society, visit their official website at cfarsnc. org.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trey Nemec is a reporter for CityView He is a Fayetteville State University alumnus, and holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies He can be reached at tnemec@cityviewnc com
Little Changes Can Make Big Savings
Follow the Season’s Time-of-Use Schedule
PWC’s Time-of-Use billing for electricity follows the summer schedule through October 31, with Summer Peak Hours during the afternoon-evening every day from 3:00 p.m – 6:00 p.m. Save on your energy bills when you:
• Keep your air conditioning at the highest comfortable temperature. To take full advantage of Time-of-Use rates, add a programmable smart thermostat to automatically control your A/C.
• Adjust your routine to do things like laundry, running your dishwasher, etc. during Off-Peak Hours, when electricity is billed at 35% lower rates.
• Conserve all the power you can during Peak Hours when energy demand is highest.
Remember, the Time-of-Use schedule is observed every day including weekends and holidays. For more conservation tips and information on PWC incentive programs visit our website.
BETWEEN UNIFORMS AND HUGS: what
we don’t always say about
BY CLAUDIA ZAMORA
military life
Fayetteville breathes military life . We feel it in the morning traffic, the blended accents, the “veteran discount” signs, and the families hugging tightly at the airport
Cumberland County pulses with the heart of North Carolina’s military presence Home to the state’s largest military installation by population, it hosts over 48,000 active-duty troops, more than 1,600 Reserve Component members, over 2,000 Temporary Duty students, and more than 16,000 Department of Defense civilians and contractors, according to Fort Bragg Garrison Public Affairs Officer April Olsen In addition, over 80,000 military family members and more than 97,000 retirees and their loved ones still call this place home
It’s almost a city within a city — a web of service, sacrifice and shared purpose
But there’s another side of military life — quieter, often invisible The one lived behind closed doors The one that doesn’t earn medals or Facebook posts The one built on waiting Waiting for a return Waiting for news Waiting to adapt . Waiting not to fall apart .
I’ve met women raising children with one foot in uncertainty Men returning from deployments, unsure how to reconnect with their own emotions . Teenagers who’ve changed schools five times before turning 14 And behind all of them, something untrained remains: the need to be held, to belong, to not disappear .
Military life teaches discipline, yes But it also leaves scars not easily seen And the community around it carries a beautiful, complicated task: to support without intruding, respect without isolating and hold space without judgment
Many Latino families live in the shadow of the base Some do it quietly, with pride and grief braided together . Others find refuge in community — a space to cry without explanation, to laugh without guilt
My words are not a complaint . It’s a recognition . A tribute to those who wake before dawn to serve To those who stay
Maybe what this community needs most isn’t another medal . It’s a shared coffee . An 'I get it, too .' A space where being human isn’t a weakness, but a right .
behind and turn a house into a home To those carrying emotional weight heavier than their gear To those who, amid strict orders, still allow themselves to feel .
Maybe what this community needs most isn’t another medal It’s a shared coffee An “I get it, too ” A space where being human isn’t a weakness, but a right .
Fort Bragg isn’t just a base It’s a collection of untold stories And many of them are waiting to be heard
Claudia Zamora is an Argentinian writer, mental health and wellness coach, and director of the Sí! Spanish Immersion Institute at El Centro Hispano She has lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina, since 2011 .
PHOTO BY JOEL MUNIZ ON UNSPLASH
A crowd searches for the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team in the sky at the 2021 Fort Bragg Fourth of July Celebration.
Photo by Sharilyn Wells
Books that honor our military
BY DIANE PARFITT
This month’s issue of CityView honors the military in our community . Fayetteville has a long history with its military connection to Fort Bragg, and I imagine most people who live here have some connection in the past or currently with our military friends and families . Numerous books have been written as a testament to military men and women and their experiences Many have been written by these men and women themselves . Marine General James “Mad Dog” Mattis encouraged his soldiers to read They would often say they were too busy to read, and Gen . Mattis replied in an email to his troops on Nov 20, 2003: “… The problem with being too busy to read is that you learn by experience (or by your men’s experience), i .e ., the hard way . By reading, you learn through others’ experiences, generally a better way to do business, especially in our line of work where the consequences of incompetence are so final for young men ”
To help us understand what they have gone through in defending our country and our ideals, here are some books to help us know these heroes a bit better
1. Where the Birds Never Sing: The True Story of the 92nd Signal Battalion and the Liberation of Dachau by Jack Sacco
Author Jack Sacco pays tribute to his father, Joe Sacco, an American soldier in World War II In 1943, on his farm in Alabama, Joe receives his draft notice After his training, he is shipped to England Later he lands on Omaha Beach in Normandy and then survives the Battle of the Bulge After fighting his way across Nazi Germany, he witnesses the cruel reality of the concentration camps As he and his fellow soldiers are leaving Dachau, Joe Sacco writes, “Now, after a year of combat, each of us finally and forever understood why destiny had called us to travel so far away from the land of our birth and fight for people we did not know And so it was here, in this place abandoned by God and accursed by men, that we came to discover the meaning of our mission . ”
2. You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For by Kyle Carpenter and Don Yaeger
U S Marine Lance Corporal Kyle Carpenter stepped in harm’s way to save a fellow Marine while in Afghanistan
in 2010 . Surviving but mortally wounded, he now shares this manual for living Guided by the lessons he learned growing up as well as his training in the Marines, Carpenter shares his story to help readers become the best they can be throughout their lives “A true leader is not someone who keeps themselves separate from the people they lead; he or she is right in the middle of what the team is going through, experiencing the lows as well as the highs with everyone else ”
3. The Things They Carried by Tim
O’Brien
Considered a classic since it was first published in 1990, The Things They Carried is a collection of interrelated short stories based on O’Brien’s experiences during the Vietnam War Prompted to write this book when he returned home from Vietnam, O’Brien was astounded that people in his hometown had so little understanding of the war Avoiding the political debate about the war itself, he uses storytelling to relate the experiences of his fellow soldiers during the war Although he wrote this as historical fiction, he says that the details of the story don’t matter as much as what the story is trying to teach us .
4. Shoot Like a Girl: One Woman’s Dramatic Fight in Afghanistan and on the Home Front by Mary Jennings Hegar
This book is for women and men in both the military and civilian life . A U . S Air Force pilot in the Air National Guard, having finished at the top of her class during training, author Hegar served three tours in Afghanistan But her story is about more than just her time in battle She shares the battles she faced on American soil, facing harassment and disrespect from fellow soldiers However, there were also those who advocated for her with respect and
admiration . With this support, she took on an even greater challenge — to eliminate the military’s Ground Combat Exclusion policy, which kept women service members from officially serving in combat At times funny and thrilling, this true story of a brave woman who sacrificed everything for her country proves her devotion to fellow women and men in uniform and her sense of justice
5. Jet Girl: My Life in War, Peace, and the Cockpit of the Navy’s Most Lethal Aircraft, the F/A-18 Super Hornet by Caroline Johnson and Hof Williams
What is a tall, blonde debutante from Colorado doing in the cockpit of a fighter jet? This remarkable story tells us how Caroline Johnson became one of the first women to fly a combat mission over Iraq since 2011 and the journey that got her there to drop bombs on ISIS Johnson shares her story to help attract and inspire the next generation of women and men to want to serve their country as well as seek a life of adventure
In this coming-of-age story, we learn how Johnson gains strength from her group of friends, the Jet Girls It details her struggles with all the ordinary problems of life while at the same time being put in harm’s way on a daily basis from terrorist groups such as ISIS and world powers like Russia and Iran
6. Lafayette: Lessons in Leadership from the Idealist General by Marc Leepson
Lafayette was a French nobleman who came to our country in 1777 at age 19 to fight for our freedom as a Major General . He led American troops into battle and became one of George Washington’s most trusted generals . In his recently re-published book on Lafayette, author Leepson presents a concise and readable biography of our city’s namesake . He illuminates the core values Lafayette demonstrated throughout his lifetime — especially leadership — that are still relevant today
A copy of this book is given to the top graduate and Médaille Lafayette Award recipient in each Master Leader Course at Fort Bragg for the Special Operations Forces . It has also been given to each graduate of the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Fayetteville course for the past 10 years
Diane Parfitt owns City Center Gallery & Books in downtown Fayetteville She can be reached at citycentergallerybooks@gmail com
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THE TO-DO LIST
Here are just some of the things happening in and around Fayetteville this month. Scan the code with your phone for more events, additional information and to post your event on our website. Events are subject to change. Check before attending.
July 17
Family Art Night: Paint Pour River Rocks
Cape Fear Botanical Garden 536 N Eastern Blvd capefearbg org
July 19
Moth Night
J Bayard Clark Park and Nature Center 631 Sherman Drive fayettevillenc gov
July 19
Nature Play Day: Fur, Feathers, and Scales
Cape Fear Botanical Garden 536 N . Eastern Blvd . capefearbg org
July 19
Puzzle Palooza Kiwanis Recreation Center
352 Devers St fayettevillenc gov/ Parks-and-Recreation
July 19
Run Through The Decades 5K
U S Army MWR Ft Bragg 1500 Howell St , BLDG F-4208, Fort Bragg bragg armymwr com
July 25
July 12
5th Annual Gates Four Summer
2025 Concert Series: Beggars
Banquet Rolling Stones Tribute
Gates Four Golf & Country Club
6775 Irongate Drive
fayettevilledinnertheatre com
July 12
Woodpeckers Baseball: Harry Potter Night
Segra Stadium
460 Hay St
milb .com/fayetteville
July 12
Red, White and Blue
Par 3 Golf Tournament
U S Army MWR Ft Bragg
Ryder Golf Course
Normandy Drive, BLDG 1-5625, Fort Bragg bragg .armymwr .com
July 13, 20 & 27
Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom Farmer’s Market
5435 Corporation Drive, Hope Mills dirtbagales com
4th Friday: District Vibe Cool Spring Downtown District Downtown Fayetteville visitdowntownfayetteville com
July 25
Kid’s Pixar Movie Night: Inside Out 2
College Lakes Recreation Center 4945 Rosehill Road fayettevillenc gov
July 31
Woodpeckers Baseball: Christmas in July
Segra Stadium
460 Hay St milb .com/fayetteville
Hay Street fills with festivalgoers and vendor tents for the spring 2025 Dogwood Festival. Photo by James Throssel
Reenactors from the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry march down Hay Street in the 2015 Fayetteville Veterans Day Parade. Photo by Matthew Wonderly
SEEN @ THE SCENE
Juneteenth Celebration 5K
The 2025 Juneteenth Celebration 5K took place from 7:30-9 a m Saturday, June 14, starting at 301 N Cool Spring St The event sold out at 400 tickets this year, 5 days out from the event, Beofra Manning, the fundraising committee chair of Fayetteville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc and chair for the Juneteenth Celebration 5K, told CityView . Photography by James Throssel
Want CityView at your event for Seen @ the Scene? Email us at cmalson@cityviewnc.com.
Juneteenth 5K medals lined up and ready for finishers
Runners line up as the countdown begins for the Juneteenth Celebration 5K
Constance Pratt, Vanessa Williams and Patricia Malone
Breanna Mandato, D Germain, Mary Bliese and Keely Warren
Runners gather to warm up before kicking off the Juneteenth Celebration 5K
Shermaine Peeples, front
Vanessa Williams
D Germain
Kristin Parkinson
Jamie Davis
John Dallas, D Germain and Devon McGee
Gabriella Holliday
James Bryant
Charissa Lundy and Rashad Lundy
Jasmine Thompson and Tarvars Denning
Providing Solutions for North Carolina Military Families’ Top Concerns
Financial Readiness
of military-connected respondents say that finances are a top issue. 44% of military-connected respondents say that having two incomes is vitally important to their family’s well-being. 95%
What we’re doing:
Military spouse employment network of 20K members.
Providing the nation’s largest digital community supporting military families, offering essential financial tools and direct support to enhance economic stability.
Youth Well-Being
of active-duty family respondents cite dependent children’s education as a top issue. 71%
What we’re doing:
Partnering with installation and county agencies to support educational access and resources for military-connected children.
Delivering youth-focused initiatives like Blue Star Welcome Week, Blue Star Museums, Outdoors Explorers for All, and Month of the Military Child to enrich learning and development opportunities.
Food Insecurity
1 in 5
military-connected respondents report food insecurity.
What we’re doing:
Nourish the Service events impacting families by providing pantry staples or grocery gift cards. Partnerships with local organizations to further support military family food insecurity needs.
“We went through a long separation right after moving where my spouse had to locate elsewhere for over a year and we had no network; no community. I saw a Blue Star Families coffee pop up in our area and took that as my sign. I met some of my best friends there & eventually fostered an amazing community all because Blue Star Families set up the foundations to do so. I can’t wait to be part of everything Blue Star Families will offer in the Fayetteville area!”
Alicia B.
To learn more about Blue Star Families Greater Fayetteville Region Chapter — Connect Today!
Tate Johnson
Executive Director, Blue Star Families Greater Fayetteville Region (252) 917-9186 | tjohnson@bluestarfam.org
