CityView February 2024 by cvnc

CityView WWW.CITYVIEWNC.COM

DECEMBER FEBRUARY 2023 2024

ON TARGET: From date nights to family hangouts, we've got perfect suggestions for the adventurous and those just looking to relax

PLUS: Falling in love with baseball & Practicing love and self-care

FEBRUARY 2024 28

Save a life

Marilyn Pitts, a trained nurse, saved her husband Larry's life with her quick thinking.

How Fayetteville’s Woodpeckers general manager grew to love the game Michelle Skinner’s journey to falling for baseball and making every game a hit.

Love yourself Self-care is healing and creates a good foundation of strength to combat stress, burnout, and whatever else comes your way. On the cover: CityView photographer Tony Wooten captures some fun ideas for date night. Army Sgt. 1st Class Markes Johnson and his daughter Xahara, a Terry Sanford High School senior, threw axes and played a game of cornhole during an impromptu dad/daughter date night at Axes and Armour on Raeford Road. Axes and Armor offers indoor axe throwing, a rage room, and a splatter paint room for the whole family to enjoy.

Minority-Owned Business Profiles

COLUMNS Editor's Take: Bill Horner III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Someday You'll Thank Me: Mary Zahran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Family Matters: Claire Mullen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Good Reads: Diane Parfitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 The To-Do List: Your go-to spot for local events . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Seen @ the Scene: A look at who was out and about . . . . . . 44

2 February 2024

Love and compassion Cuddling, Santa, and community at the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center NICU.

Love at a Romanian checkpoint A military spouse shares her international, dualmilitary story.

THE LOCATION YOU WILL LOVE. THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS. Nineteen communities to choose from in the most desirable areas featuring unique floor plans to fit every lifestyle. Discover why the Fayetteville area is the perfect place to build your Dream Home. For area and community information, homebuyer and broker incentives, and availability, please contact us today! 910-415-9677 DREAMFINDERSHOMES.COM

CityViewNC.com | 3

CityView PUBLISHER

Tony Chavonne

tony@chavonne.net

Want top Fayetteville area headlines directly in your inbox?

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR

GENERAL MANAGER

What subscribers are saying “CityView is my go-to local news source.” – Doris Lockamy “CityView is a wonderful way of staying current on what is going in our community and beyond with reliable and fact filled information.” – Connie & Ernie Johnson “Happy to support the excellent staff members who work hard to serve the Fayetteville community.” – Michelle Valenzuela “Keep up the OUTSTANDING work.” – Antonio Jones

Our daily newsletters reach 35,000+ readers.

Maydha Devarajan

mdevarajan@cityviewnc.com COPY EDITOR

Scan the code or subscribe at www.cityviewnc.com

Bill Horner III

bhorner@cityviewnc.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER PHOTOGRAPHERS

Valeria Cloës Ashlee Cleveland Rhonda Smith Raven Scott Sabreena Czarnecki

Tony Wooten CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Zach Horner

Jami McLaughlin

Claire Mullen

Diane Parfitt

Teri Saylor

Aria Spears

Mary Zahran

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Annette Winter

SALES TEAM LEADER

Kayti Gutierrez

sales@cityviewnc.com DISTRIBUTION

Jennifer Baker Wayne Robinson

Want to see your business in CityView TODAY? When the news is delivered, let your business be the first thing readers see. Cost-effective options are available on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Email sales@cityviewnc.com for more information.

CityView is published 12 times annually by CityView Media, LLC. Mailing Address: 2919 Breezewood Ave., Ste 300, Fayetteville, NC 28303 Phone: 910.423.6500 | Fax: 910.423.0096 Postage paid at Fayetteville, NC No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from CityView Media, LLC. Publication of an advertisement in CityView does not constitute an endorsement of the product or service by CityView or CityView Media, LLC.

4 February 2024

EDITOR’S TAKE

When the wedding vows are lost to memory, we recite their meaning daily BY BILL HORNER III, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

asked my wife a question not long ago, then held my breath. “Do you remember our wedding vows?” I wondered. The query wasn’t made facetiously. Me? I don’t remember the vows — not word for word, anyway — we said to each other going on 34 years ago. So when Lee Ann said she didn’t remember them either, I breathed a bit of a sigh of relief. Let me explain. When we started planning our wedding, we decided to write our own vows for the ceremony. It wasn’t whimsy or capriciousness; we simply wanted to make the day our own. We worked on those vows for weeks, diving into the process with all the seriousness the occasion deserved. I vividly remember the beginning — “Lee Ann, I love you,” because it starts with love, right? — and the ending, which was two verses from Proverbs 24: “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” And of course I remember the sentiment, which was: commitment and devotion. But the words in between? They’re lost in the fog of memory for me, though not fully forgotten. And to me, it doesn’t matter that my wife can’t recall the specific words of the vows. She lives them all day, every day, without fail. I found myself reflecting on this the last few weeks as she’s made three trips to Florida and another to Texas to step into the breach to serve two of our children in a time of dire need (assisting one, and his wife, after the premature birth of our grandson, whilst also helping our daughter with a cross-country move). And all this while not missing a beat at home — and continuing to do her usual stellar job of being “Mimi” to our granddaughter, who spends parts of a few days a week with us. This has given me a chance, too, to practice my serve to her as her work and stress load intensified. The words “labor of love” were joyously created for times like these, and I’ve never seen a more willing laborer than the mother of our children. Our wedding vows didn’t include the phrase “for better or for worse.” We knew that would come with the package. And I recognize this spate of events, in the scheme of things, doesn’t fall within a mile of qualifying as a “for worse” season in our lives. For a couple who has spent more than three and a half decades together, it’s just another blip, another thing, another of life’s hiccups that, if nothing else, gives us opportunities: first, to lean on each other; second, to be there for our children; and third, for me, as her husband, to lean hard

into the purpose of those few sentences we memorized (and, I might add, recited flawlessly) back on June 30, 1990. In a box somewhere in our craft room upstairs, there’s a VHS tape of our wedding ceremony. We haven’t watched it since showing it to our children when they were young. I’m pretty sure we don’t even own a VHS player now, but as the seasons have passed we’ve spoken often of how much we vividly recall — vows notwithstanding — about that incredible day. The nearly 12,300 days since haven’t been flawless, but they’ve been beautiful. Some (particularly recently) of those days have been mighty long, but put together each is a unique part of the foundation that’s allowed us to build a life together. Rarely is one that passes and doesn’t include me stopping at some point along the way to marvel at how Lee Ann personifies those vows. She recites them daily with what she does. We don’t remember the exact words, but that’s not the point. The blessing after all this time is the privilege to give life to them with our hands and feet — and our hearts — just one more day.

Bill

CLARIFICATION: In a story in our January issue, it was implied that exercise physiologist Safia Haq had children. She does not. CityView apologizes for the error. Bill Horner III is the executive editor of CityView. Contact him at bhorner@ cityviewnc.com. CityViewNC.com | 5

SOMEDAY YOU'LL THANK ME

The lessons of gravity

egend has it that Isaac Newton discovered the laws of gravity by watching an apple fall to the ground in a straight course without deviating to the left or right. From this observation, he concluded that the same force that makes an apple fall also holds us on the ground and keeps the moon and planets in their orbits. I learned about the laws of gravity in a slightly less scientific way: on my bathroom floor after blacking out while sick. In early December, I suffered a bout of food poisoning that made me violently ill. While I was in the bathroom, I became dizzy and disoriented from sudden and acute dehydration. For reasons still unknown to me, I stood up to unlock the door. Before I could stand up, I lost consciousness and fell face-first on the floor. When I regained consciousness and felt my nose, which was beginning to swell, I knew I had to put ice on it. I managed to get to the kitchen, wrap ice cubes in a dish towel, and apply it to my face. My husband, who had just returned from having lunch with friends, walked into the room and took one look at me; he immediately knew I needed medical attention. Our daughter called her husband, a paramedic, who is our go-to person for medical emergencies, and he recommended an urgent care facility on Morganton Road. When I walked into the urgent care clinic, the laws of gravity — which had sent me plummeting to my bathroom floor — were replaced by the lessons of gravity, which would prove to be enlightening in the coming days. One of the first lessons I learned was just how lucky I was to have access to good medical advice and care on short notice, something many of us take for granted or never even think about. The P.A. who took care of me, Mark Lucas, was exactly the right

6 February 2024

BY MARY ZAHRAN

fit. He was completely professional while assessing the extent of my injuries, but when I started making jokes about my appearance, he laughed and responded with some humor of his own. I knew then that I was in good hands, and I was grateful for that. I also saw Dr. Steven Pantelakos, an ear, nose and throat physician and family friend. Steve, who is one of the kindest and most caring people I know, assured me that my injuries did not cause irreparable damage and should soon mend. Again, I was reminded of how fortunate I was to have such good medical care. My next lesson wasn’t so much a discovery as it was a reminder of how a sense of humor can get you through almost anything life throws at you. As I discovered by looking in the mirror the morning after I fell, when your reflection resembles a circus clown more than it resembles the face you normally see, you had better have some jokes on hand to ward off your impulse to cry or to feel sorry for yourself.

For the next few days, I made numerous references to Jimmy Durante and Karl Malden, two men who not only were great actors but also had large noses. Durante worked his “schnoz” into many of his comedy routines and became a star in an industry known for beauty and vanity. Malden, aware he wasn’t a matinee idol, endeared himself to audiences as an everyman figure. I was in very good company having these men as my inspiration for living with an oversized nose, even if my situation was temporary. When I began showing my facial bruises to others and explaining their origin, I learned that many people have their own stories about falling. Some of these stories were funny, but many were not, and some were tragic. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones to a fall, and I now understand how easily and quickly these accidents can occur. The most enduring lesson for me is not one I just learned because of this incident, but one I have known intuitively most of my adult life: Life is a fragile and unpredictable thing. We would do well to remember this inescapable truth and let it guide us in how we live and how we build relationships with ourselves and others. And while you are working on relationships, don’t forget to make friends with gravity. It refuses to be ignored. Mary Zahran, who no longer resembles a circus clown, can be reached at maryzahran@ gmail.com.

CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

K4-12th Grade

We are a growing, small school with proven programs that build our students' intellectual, emotional, physical & We are a growing, small with proven spiritual capacites. Weschool love children, we programs that build our students' also love our adolescents and young adults. intellectual, emotional, physical & We teachcapaci�es. math, language, speech,we spiritual We love children, music, so muchand more. Weadults. cheer also love art our and adolescents young for Cougars when they speech, compete in Weour teach math, language, sports art and and whenso they music, muchcomplete more. Weearly cheer for our Cougars when they compete in college programs. sports and when they complete early college We love our families and work programs. We love our families and work with to ﬁnd findsuccess successforfortheir theirchildren. children. with them them to We are Cornerstone. WE ARE CORNERSTONE.

ccafay.org (910)867-2166 Scotty HillRoad Road 30003000 Scotty Hill

ccafay.org • (910) 867-2166

See it. Degree it. Enriching lives. Reimagining futures. Your next chapter starts here. Emergency Medical Science Associate Degree Learn about the competitive admissions process for this program and more! SPRING 8-WEEK CLASSES BEGIN MARCH 14 – APPLY TODAY!

Questions about Emergency Medical Science? Contact healthproadmissions@faytechcc.edu

910-678-8400 admissions@faytechcc.edu f t www.faytechcc.edu

CityViewNC.com | 7

FAMILY MATTERS

In sickness and in health BY CLAIRE MULLEN

hen a preacher looks you and your soonto-be spouse both square in the eyes and asks if you will take the person standing before you to be your life-long partner and promise to have and to hold them in sickness and in health, it’s pretty easy to utter resounding “I wills!” and “I dos!” Especially when the one to whom you are making those vows is the picture of perfect health. Picture this: It’s 2008 and at the altar is a 23-year-old bride with an August tan and professionally done hair and makeup. She’s in prime physical form due to a pre-wedding fitness and nutrition crackdown, and she still has the mental capacity to remember to take her vitamins and do yoga stretches every morning. Standing beside her is a 25-yearold groom who actively participates in team sports, has a room in his house dedicated to fitness equipment (that actually gets used), and has a penchant for spinach and salmon. Fast forward 15 years. Here I sit at our office desk, typing away on this column, with a growing mound of crumpled tissues beginning to obscure my view of the framed photo of those two young, healthy, smiling people in their white gown and tuxedo. As I sip my honey lemon detox tea, I sit back, cough, and think back on what “in sickness” has meant over the course of our decade and a half of marriage. Maybe I’m pondering both marriage and illness because it’s simultaneously the month of love and the season of sickness, and my household, while always full of love, is also currently experiencing an abundance of the latter. For my husband and me, taking each other “in sickness” has meant coming home from work to find your new husband curled up on your new couch wrapped in your

8 February 2024

fuzzy green bathrobe with your cute pink thermometer dangling from his quivering lips, and hearing a barely audible, “Babe, I’m so sick. Can you bring me some Gatorade?”, and realizing that you are, for the first of many, many times, up against the worst of all the Earthly ailments … the “Man Cold.” And the “in sickness” part must also mean that you have to share your favorite bathrobe. “In sickness” has meant living off Taco Bell, McDonald’s bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits, and cold cantaloupe for nine straight months because that’s all your nauseous pregnant wife can bear to consume, without a word of complaint (since you’re partly to blame for this, after all). It’s meant volunteering to be the chief operating officer of the NoseFrida “snotsucker” device because your congested newborn’s respiratory health depends on it and your

wife is too grossed out by the concept of using her mouth to suck the contents of your baby’s nose out through a thin plastic tube despite the patented no-parental-contactwith-mucus “hygiene filter.” “In sickness” has meant taking turns getting up every two hours to rock a toddler with perpetual ear infections back to sleep and tag-teaming against said toddler in a wrestling match to administer ear drops and yucky antibiotics. It has meant simultaneously jolting from bed at the sound of dry heaving from the other room; after 10 years of parenthood, we have the whole “kid puking in the middle of the night” thing down to a science. He grabs the carpet cleaner and strips the sheets while I change the pj’s, take the temperature, and pour the Pedialyte. “In sickness” has meant flying home

hours after landing for a long-planned, much-anticipated Arizona golf trip with your best friends because your wife has just come down with Covid-19 and is too sick to care for herself, much less your children. It’s meant countless other foiled vacation plans, canceled date nights, absences from family holiday get-togethers, and days of missed work because someone has tested positive for one of the multitude of viruses that seems to love to incubate in elementary school classrooms. It’s meant all four of us coming down with Norovirus at the same time and living to tell the tale. It’s meant achieving the ultimate family trifecta of Covid-19 for Thanksgiving, Flu A for Christmas, and Flu B for New Year. It’s also been the little things in between the big bugs, like me buying him one of those daily pill organizers so that he doesn’t forget to take his cholesterol medication or his multi-vitamin, and him bringing me a packet of Emergen-C for my water when he starts to sniffle. “In sickness” has meant both of us being able to laugh after he says, “Wow, that’s sexy” as he witnesses my nighttime routine of blowing my nose after a vigorous sinus rinse, shooting Flonase up my nostrils, and puffing my inhaler, and I reply with, “Yeah? Well, so is your snoring.” But what “in sickness” has not meant for us in our marriage is one of us facing a serious illness, and we do not take this for granted. We have watched so many of our brave friends and family members stand by their partners in true sickness and have marveled at the amount of strength and love that it takes to uphold that marriage vow. During this month of love, if you are dealing with tissues and DayQuil, trash cans, and Zofran, or even ports and chemo, let the ones who love you take care of you. They made you a promise, after all. And to my darling husband, I’d like to offer a small edit of those vows I made 15 years ago, “I, Claire, take you, Corey, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward … in health and especially in sickness.” You may want to wait until springtime to kiss the bride.

PHILLIPS EYE BR ANDON PHILLIPS, M.D.

• Red eyes • Diabetes • OptiLight • Dry eyes • Glaucoma • Rosacea • Sports Visual Acuity • Macular degeneration

(910) 930-0704 1212 Walter Reed Road Fayetteville, NC 28304 phillipseyefayetteville.com f l

FTCC Forward

Scholarship is available for students who meet the residence requirements and are interested in these classes.

SCAN FOR APPLICATION

• Barbering I • Building Construction Technology • Cardiovascular Monitor Technician • CompTIA A+ Hardware & Software • Electric Lineworker • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) • GTAW • Industrial Welding • Logistics • Medical ICD/CPT Coding Part I • Mobile Structural/Pipe Welding • Nurse Aide Level I and II • Patient Care Technician • Phlebotomy Hybrid • Property Maintenance Technician • Registered Medical Assistant I Hybrid • Therapeutic Massage I (910) 678-8432 FOR INFORMATION

Claire Mullen can be reached at clairejlmullen @gmail.com. CityViewNC.com | 9

COVER STORY

Date night Fayetteville offers a wide variety of events to enjoy on date night: From in-house cooking classes by Chef Mei Personal Chef Service, to sipping wine while painting portraits of your partner at Wine & Design Fayetteville, to freestyling designs on pottery at Greg’s Art Pottery and Gifts, to a gripping dad/daughter date throwing axes at Axes and Armor. Whether you like a thrillingly adventurous date or a relaxing date night in enjoying food, you’ll find something perfect for you and your date. PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY WOOTEN

10 February 2024

Chef Mei, the owner of Chef Mei Personal Chef Service, LLC, applies her boutique catering concept to teach a cooking class in the home of husband and wife Brian Krakover and Barbara Wise. Brian and Barbara use Chef Mei's services as a private chef biweekly but chose this evening to create an intimate experience by preparing a meal with her guidance. Opposite top, Barbara Wise (left) learns Chef Mai's smashing technique for her Crispy Smashed Brussels sprouts while her husband Brian begins sauteing squash for the Winter Squash Risotto with Sage and Pine Nuts. Opposite left, Brian seasoned steaks that he glazed with a Sweet Bourbon Coffee Sauce for tonight's dinner. Opposite right, Brian and Barbara sit to enjoy their self-prepared meal.

CityViewNC.com | 11

Right, Stephanie Huckabee and Brandon Kirk have been together for years and decided to mix things up by attending Wine & Design Fayetteville's Date Night to paint portraits of each other. Middle, a view of Stephanie Huckabee's portrait as painted by her boyfriend Brandon Kirk. Far right, several couples attended date night at Wine & Design Fayetteville. The studio offers a range of affordable private and public paint and sip parties for all ages, groups and talents, including date nights, art instruction, kid's events and team building. Below, Ron and Tameeka Broadway have been married for 10 years and chose this evening to paint portraits of one another as an alternative to a dinner date.

12 February 2024

CityViewNC.com | 13

Greg's Art Pottery and Gifts is a paint-your-own pottery studio in downtown Fayetteville. They also sell artwork by local artist Greg Hathaway and other fun gifts. They are located near the Arts Council in downtown Fayetteville. Andrea Nelson and Mason Kohlbeck share a second date at Greg's. Couples choose a clay pottery subject to paint. Then a staff member fires and finalizes the creations.

14 February 2024

CityViewNC.com | 15

Katelyn Wood and Hunter Hicks celebrate their engagement with coffee from Rude Awakenings as they pose for a portrait outside of the Cameo Art House Theater. The two chose downtown Fayetteville as it represents a portion of their courtship. Katelyn, an RN-BSN pediatric nurse at Cape Fear Valley, and Hunter, a youth director at Arran Lake Baptist Church, were married on Sept. 16, 2023.

16 February 2024

Army Sgt. 1st Class Markes Johnson and his daughter Xahara, a Terry Sanford High School senior, threw axes and played a game of cornhole during an impromptu dad/daughter date night at Axes and Armour on Raeford Road. Axes and Armor offers indoor axe throwing, a rage room, and a splatter paint room for the whole family to enjoy. Johnson is currently stationed in Maryland while his family stays in Fayetteville as Xahara completes her senior year of high school.

CityViewNC.com | 17

Michelle Skinner in the stands at Segra Stadium

FOR LOVE OF THE GAME

How Fayetteville’s Woodpeckers general manager grew to love the game Michelle Skinner’s journey to falling for baseball and making every game a hit — no matter the score

BY ZACHARY HORNER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY WOOTEN

he didn’t love baseball growing up. In fact, it was her least favorite sport. Now, Michelle Skinner’s livelihood revolves around baseball. She’s the general manager for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, a job that involves making sure everything goes smoothly for the Minor League Baseball team on game day and keeping fans entertained and engaged year-round.

18 February 2024

“It comes down to keeping everyone moving in the same direction, balancing the entertainment side and the community side and the baseball side,” she says. “Seeing people having a good time here and providing that entertainment … that’s what I love, just seeing people enjoy the ballpark.” Skinner joined the Woodpeckers a year ago after 13 years in upstate New York with the Tri-City ValleyCats, formerly an affiliate of the Houston Astros, the parent

club of the Single-A Woodpeckers. It wasn’t where she thought she’d be growing up, assuredly, but a college internship with the Vermont Lake Monsters — formerly of the New York-Penn League — changed that. “I absolutely loved it,” Skinner says. “The community aspect of minor league baseball and how pure it was at that level and watching the fans have fun, I had the best time there. I love minor league baseball and the connection that we have with our community.”

Minor league baseball is a unique expression of sports. The leagues and teams are filled with players trying to make their way to “The Show” — to the roster of a Major League Baseball team — traveling across the country with various teams on multiple levels in varying sizes of cities. The Woodpeckers, as the Astros’ Single-A affiliate, are four rungs below the Houston club on the hierarchy in the sprawling entity known as Minor League Baseball, or MiLB.

Skinner joined the Woodpeckers a year ago after 13 years in upstate New York with the Tri-City ValleyCats, formerly an affiliate of the Houston Astros, the parent club of the Single-A Woodpeckers. The Woodpeckers have been home to many MLB players since its inception in 2017 and its move to Cumberland County in 2019. Shortstop Jeremy Peña, the MVP of the Astros’ 2022 World Series victory, played 43 games with the Woodpeckers in 2019, alongside fellow World Series winners and pitchers Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia. Outfielder Jacob Melton — currently Houston’s No. 1 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, a news outlet that covers baseball prospects — played 12 games with Fayetteville in 2022. And outfielder Drew Gilbert, now the No. 2 prospect of the New York Mets and MLB’s No. 52 prospect overall, suited up for the Woodpeckers in six games that year. Baseball is obviously a draw for sports fans, especially with the opportunity to see athletes who might one day play for a bigleague club. But minor league baseball, as often the biggest sports draw in towns that don’t have a top-tier professional or college team, must cater to all — the diehards, the families with kids, the couple looking for a date night, and Skinner is responsible for

uncfsu.edu

Right, memorabilia lines the walls inside Michelle Skinner's office at Segra Stadium. CityViewNC.com | 19

A plaque made by Skinner's dad represents teams she's been a part of and includes her grandfather's glove and mask.

Segra Stadium has a lot, objectively, to offer sports fans. “The hope is that if you hate baseball, you can still come here, have dinner, have a drink,” Skinner says. “It’s that social event where you’re just chatting with your friends and something happens and you cheer.” making that happen. She describes her job as balancing the entertainment and community aspect of game day with assisting the baseball side of player development and building winning teams. She doesn’t have anything to do with roster construction or who dons a Woodpecker uniform, but, she says, those on the squad have a lot to do with her role. That means, on a typical game day: connecting with sponsors and big groups attending games, ensuring both teams and game umpires have what they need, checking weather forecasts, scanning tickets when gates open, and making sure everything is working well at concession stands. It’s a lot to do, but it’s that time, when the fans are at Segra Stadium, that Skinner enjoys the most. “It’s a very community experience,” Skinner says. “A lot of people when they leave, they don’t remember the score, they don’t know if we won or lost. They’re here for the entertainment side.” Segra Stadium has a lot, objectively, to offer sports fans. The facility is well-

20 February 2024

regarded — Groundskeeper Alpha Jones won the Carolina League and Single-A Groundskeeper of the Year Award last November — and as already discussed, the team has been home to World Series winners and potential All-Stars. MLB Pipeline named Woodpeckers lefty Trey Dombroski the Astros’ Pitching Prospect of the Year after he led the Carolina League in strikeouts and finished second in Earned Runs Average. But Skinner says the non-sports fan will enjoy Segra experiences as well. The team regularly hosts themed nights — Star Wars and Harry Potter nights among them — as well as military-themed celebrations. “The hope is that if you hate baseball, you can still come here, have dinner, have a drink,” she says. “It’s that social event where you’re just chatting with your friends and something happens and you cheer.” Providing for the community goes beyond game day (or night). The Woodpeckers’ Community Leaders Program allocates funds to youth sports and

military charities, with the Woodpeckers Sports Fund in particular distributing $10,000 per school year to Cumberland County Schools’ high school athletes who need help with fees, uniforms, and other costs associated with sports. Skinner herself has a long history of community involvement. In her prior role with the Tri-City ValleyCats, she was a board member of the local Salvation Army and president of the local Kiwanis Club. In addition, she oversaw the team’s ‘Cats Care campaign, which racks up a yearly community impact of more than a half million dollars through direct donations, charitable partnerships, and more. Robert Van Geons, the president and CEO of the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, says Skinner has “set a very high bar when it comes to community engagement.” “She and her staff give back to our community by partnering with organizations such as Operation Inasmuch, Salvation Army, Cumberland County Schools, and many more,” Van Geons says. “Under her leadership, Segra Stadium has established itself as one of the first places we think of when planning an event to promote our community to industry leaders, policymakers, or potential investors.” That’s the goal, especially this year, Skinner says. She and her staff have adopted the slogan “Seize the Fay” (like “seize the day,” get it?) with the goal of being visible and a part of the community. She wants it to be a lifestyle, not just a job. “If it’s a lifestyle and you love it and are a part of the community and become family with the co-workers and the fans, then it’s not like you’re working,” she says. “That’s where we’re trying to get in the mindset with the Woodpeckers.” That’s where Michelle Skinner got to with baseball, the sport she liked the least growing up. She referenced a line from the film “Moneyball” when Brad Pitt’s character, an MLB team general manager, asks, “How can you not be romantic about baseball?” “As a non-baseball person most of my childhood, it’s that summer night and that cool breeze and the atmosphere of it,” she says of minor league baseball. “You can’t beat that. It’s a little slower, it’s more relaxed and you can really sit back and relax and enjoy it.

Michelle Skinner on… …coming to Fayetteville from New York It’s been a whirlwind. We’ve learned a lot, I’ve learned a lot. It’s unique coming from [that] market. I knew all the season ticket-holders, I knew all the corporate partners. Coming here, [it’s like] being the new kid again. …how she ended up with the job I got a call from one of my former interns. I wasn’t really looking for a change, but you always want your name to come up in the conversation. I talked to them [the Astros] for a month or so and I flew down to Fayetteville. It was a no-brainer. The ballpark here is top-notch. Be nice to your interns, the moral of the story. …the philosophy to weather and game day Our goal is to play baseball, and that’s from the baseball operations side. We have to try to play baseball if there’s any window to do that. The worst days are when it’s supposed to rain around game time and then it pushes back. …being a woman in a mostly male-dominated sport For the most part, I don’t think about it a ton. This has been my career and that’s what I’ve done. I’m lucky enough to have had people who have supported me that it hasn’t been a thing. It’s just natural to me. …the history and spread of minor league baseball in North Carolina I knew [coming in] that North Carolina has a plethora of teams and history. You don’t talk minor league baseball without talking about the Durham Bulls. They do a great job and they’ve done a great job for years. The climate has been great. …honoring veterans during military-related theme nights Those [are the] touching moments that make you think, “This is what I get paid to do.” We’ve got 4,000 people here enjoying this and we did this. …the baseball side of her job If they’re here, we’re going to make sure they’re treated well and we’re working with Houston and that it’s a good place to play and develop. We take the roster that we’re given and make the best of it.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION: • Two-time recipient of the New York-Penn League JoAnn Weber Female Executive/Staff Member of the Year Award (2014, 2018) • Named to the Albany Business Review’s 40 Under Forty list (2019) • Finalist for the United Way Capital Region Philanthropist of the Year (2020) CityViewNC.com | 21

n the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to forget yourself. And in the month of Valentine’s Day when couples in love are buying each other chocolates and roses, it can seem counterintuitive to practice selflove and care. But something as small as a haircut, manipedi, or walk in the park can be a gamechanger when it comes to taking time for self-care and loving yourself. So, sit down, relax, and pamper yourself in this month of (self-)love.

Scissors on Marlborough owners Carla Bullington (seated) and her mother, Joan Bullingtonn, begin their day inside the lobby of their salon.

FEATURE

Self-care helps you love yourself BY JAMI MCLAUGHLIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY WOOTEN

22 February 2024

Getting a new look When you enter Scissors on Marlborough, the small white house at 1030 Marlborough Road, the atmosphere is like a modern-day Truvy’s salon in “Steel Magnolias” from its chandelier and fireplace to fun, trendy décor and staff ready to transform you into the best version of yourself. Carla Bullington Myers, who bought the salon in 2006, loves doing hair for the fashion, beauty and all things glamorous that she says comes with it. Transforming straight locks into a lustrous hot-rolled hairdo reminiscent of a 1990s Victoria’s Secret model, cutting face-framing layers for something different, or even adding a few lowlights can brighten anyone’s day. A person’s outside appearance can change them inside as well, Myers says, especially when it comes to encouraging more love and acceptance for oneself. “In some cultures, hair represents carrying your burdens and struggles,” Myers says. “One of the biggest changes is when you cut long hair to short. A lot of time people will want to change their hair when they are going through a breakup or something happens. It’s a way to regain control when you don’t have any. It makes you feel like a new person.” Her friend and fellow hairstylist Sheri Liles says a good cut or color can be what you need to wash off the past. “You can completely change a person’s mood, their day or how they are going out to face the world with scissors or some color,” Liles says. Liles says one of the best things about the salon is what they dub “psycho-hair therapy,” where clients chat with and confide in the stylists. “This salon is a wonderful social outlet,”

Ashley Culberth works on a client's hair inside Scissors on Marlborough salon.

Liles says. “Over the last 23 years, our clients have become extended family. … Our clients trust us to let us in when they need us the most.” Getting a haircut, a shampoo or a blowout is only part of it too. For women who might have competing responsibilities with work and family obligations, Liles says the salon experience can be especially important. “This is not only about treating yourself with your hair,” Liles says. “It is treating yourself to time with others where you are the focus.” A little further down Raeford Road, is Bombshells Salon at 4145 Ferncreek Drive where owner Suzanne Williams also believes that a good salon experience can add to anyone’s confidence level. “It’s in the atmosphere when you come in,” Williams says. “We have good coffee, good wine and snacks. It’s not always about getting your hair done.”

She says the lively salon with nine stylists can make anyone comfortable, just by being themselves and having a fun time. “Most of our clients we’ve known for years so they can come in and talk with us,” Williams says. If one of their clients comes in feeling a little down, Williams says the hairstylists will crank up the music, tell stories, and laugh with their clients, changing their entire mood — and hairstyle. Plus, it’s instant gratification, according to Williams. “When you look in the mirror and you feel good about the way you look, it’s a domino effect,” Williams says. “People leave the salon and want to buy a new bronzer or a new outfit. A haircut takes less than an hour. Hair color maybe two. And you leave feeling changed and revived.” Alexis Fernandez, a 20-year-old student studying psychology at NC State, came

home to Fayetteville to get a retouch on her highlights at Bombshells. “All the stress that college puts on you doesn’t matter when I’m here,” Fernandez says. “Every time you leave the salon, you feel good about yourself. It’s absolutely self-care. It helps your mental well-being. When you feel good about how your hair looks and you pair it with a good outfit, maybe some makeup, it lifts your spirits completely.” At HeadHunter Barbershop located at 4848 Cumberland Road in Hope Mills, owner Lee Strickland says his shop, which has been in his family since 1975, is all about pampering for men. “We offer haircuts, beard shaving and steam towel treatment, beard trims, and a combination cut and shave,” Strickland says. Strickland says that the patrons who come in just like to get away from what is going on in the world and enjoy coming to their mom-and-pop, old-fashioned barbershop. CityViewNC.com | 23

The Spa Fitness and Wellness Center also hosts hot yoga classes and has a whirlpool, sauna, and steam room to relax sore muscles, and in-house child care so customers can enjoy the experience uninterrupted.

Stylist Sabrina Heeks trims Mike Costello's hair at Scissors on Marlborough salon. Mike enjoys the experience and considers it a necessary part of his self-care routine.

The barbershop greets clients with church pews in the lobby, along with sketches of original patents hung on the wall, including a barber pole, a barber chair and clippers on the wall. A wood statue of a headhunter from the Philippines stands in one corner. “It’s a little man cave to get away,” Strickland says of the barbershop. “Men come in and catch up on sports or the newest cars. It’s crazy what men come in and talk about, but it’s also interesting. We hear a lot of life lessons, and even the history of this area.” Working alongside his mom Dail and his dad Roscoe, or “RL,” as most call him, Strickland says they have now seen generations of families come to the barbershop, with fathers bringing their sons, who then later bring their own sons. “We have retired guys, Army generals, ditch diggers and doctors come in,” Strickland says. “They all want a bit of pampering and to look good when they leave.” On a recent Friday, with the TV in the corner playing a game, Eddie Troy, a Hope Mills resident, sat in RL’s seat. As he got his hair cut, a group of school-aged boys slid into one of the church pews as they waited with their mom for their turns in the chair. “When I moved here, I was looking for a good barber,” Troy says. “I found one here. They treat you like family.”

24 February 2024

Nail care One of the locations for relaxation, and well-known to locals, is the quiet room at Millenia Nails and Day Spa at 2423 Robeson St. in Fayetteville. Walk in and ask manager Wendy Nguyen for the quiet room experience, which involves a zero-gravity massage chair, a heated blanket, and low lighting. Phone calls are not allowed and neither is talking to your neighbor. For packages ranging $50 and up, clients receive a full pedicure while listening to spa music, getting a massage, and sipping on a soft drink — or even a glass of wine. For customers coming with a friend, a great place to chat while having a mani-pedi appointment is the Candle Nail Bar, which opened in 2017 at 111 S. McPherson Church Road in Fayetteville. With side-by-side chairs, staff greet patrons with a choice of beverage, including beer, wine and soft drinks, and a snack before choosing a service. Some pedicures include rubbing fresh grapefruit and oranges on the client’s feet and legs, and others include paraffin wax and hot stones. Day spa treatments For those looking for a little more than a mani-pedi, facials, waxing, and massages are available at the Day Spa located at The Spa Fitness and Wellness Center.

Getting outside While the experience of pampering is a treat every once in a while to stay motivated and feeling your best, there are also easy ways to practice self-care on a daily basis to process feelings of stress, depression, or unhappiness. For example, exploring all of your senses through a brisk outdoor walk is a daily way to perk up and feel better along with reducing stress and tension, according to BenchMark Physical Therapy, located on Raeford Road in Fayetteville. Walking can be a great way for you to disconnect from all of the things that may cause you underlying stress and give you that breath of fresh air you need, according to their website. Getting healthy and improving your mood are two other benefits of getting outside, and Fayetteville has a lot of outdoor spaces to meet others or clear your head on your own. The Cape Fear River Trail is a 7-mile trek along the Cape Fear River and is popular among bicyclists, runners, and those seeking an easy nature walk. Waterfalls, wetlands, and even a covered bridge are part of the experience. Another fantastic way to be social and be outside is to walk the wide brick sidewalks of downtown Fayetteville. Lined with public art, shops, and patio restaurants, downtown keeps you active, from the Fayetteville Running Club in the early morning to the outdoor bands playing at Huske Hardware House Restaurant and Brewery in the evening. And quite a few neighborhoods in Fayetteville include walking lanes and sidewalks if you prefer stepping outside your driveway and rounding the block with your earbuds in. Journaling and reading Writing daily in a gratitude journal is a great way to pamper yourself by being grateful for what you have in your life. Whether it is for a car that runs, a stranger who smiled at you on the sidewalk, family or friends who love you, knowing how to knit, or even for being able to make your

Self-care is healing and creates a good foundation of strength to combat stress, burnout, and whatever else comes your way. favorite turkey sandwich for lunch, reading back through it is sure to help you measure milestones or simply remember the small things that add up day by day. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, practicing journaling helps deal with anxiety and depression and reduces stress. “Journaling helps control your symptoms and improve your mood by: Helping you prioritize problems, fears, and concerns,” the Journaling for Emotional Wellness article says, “Tracking any symptoms day-to-day so that you can recognize triggers and learn ways to better control them; [and] providing an opportunity for positive selftalk and identifying negative thoughts and behaviors” Finding a podcast or a good television series, or joining a book club can also help boost mental health. Keeping your brain full of fun facts and imagination is a good release from daily stressors, and research has shown that reading can lower heart rate and improve cognitive function, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health. Additionally, a night out pampering yourself with a play or concert ticket — whether you go by yourself or with friends — is always a treat. Therapy is always helpful, too. There are psychologists, counselors, life coaches, pastors, and licensed therapists who want to see you live your best life. So if you need a change, find a professional to talk with. Having an objective third-party, trained mental health professional for extra support can be life-changing. Whether you need a mood boost or a long-time good habit to form, self-care is healing and creates a good foundation of strength to combat stress, burnout, and whatever else comes your way. The key is to take care of yourself — physically and mentally. A small change can make you braver to do more, and of course, who doesn’t love a little pampering in their life?

Stephanie Aveau, a stylist at Bombshells Salon, poses for a portrait with the owner, Suzanne Williams.

Madison Miller, a pre-med college student at Fayetteville Technical Community College, visits Bombshells Salon quarterly. She enjoys relaxing and talking with the owner, Suzanne Williams, as she styles her hair. CityViewNC.com | 25

P R O FE S S I O N A L P R O FI L E S

Sheldon & Joyce China

Minority-Owned Businesses These profiles celebrate the resilience, creativity, and success of entrepreneurs who bring unique perspectives to the business landscape. Join us on a journey to explore the stories behind these enterprises, showcasing the power of diversity and inclusion in driving economic growth. CityView will be profiling Women in Business in our March issue. Call us at 910-423-6500 or email sales@cityviewnc.com to reserve your spot in this special promotional section.

CityView

MELVIN’S AT RIVERSIDE

In the heart of Fayetteville the dynamic duo behind Melvin’s at Riverside, Sheldon and Joyce, have been making waves with their entrepreneurial spirit and culinary expertise. Despite their youthful energy, this husbandand-wife team has a wealth of experience — combining Joyce’s innate business acumen with Sheldon’s culinary expertise — that has propelled their business to new heights. Sheldon and Joyce’s journey has showcased their ability to overcome challenges and solidified their place as entrepreneurs to watch in the Fayetteville culinary scene. Melvin’s at Riverside isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a testament to the passion and dedication of two individuals who have turned their dreams into a thriving reality.

910-339-3059 | melvins-atriverside.com 1130 Person St, Fayetteville, NC 28312

Rose Price — Aurora Rose Beauty Spa Meet Rose Price, the powerhouse behind Aurora Rose Beauty Spa. As a female Veteran-turned-business owner, Rose embodies resilience and determination. Her journey from military service to entrepreneurship exemplifies her unwavering commitment to her passions. As CEO, Rose is more than a leader; she’s a mentor and a role model. With unwavering support from her community and mentors, Rose fearlessly pursues her dreams, proving that with dedication and resilience, anything is possible. But Rose isn’t just a business owner; she’s a curator of confidence and self-expression. With a heart full of love for her husband (Julius), son (Jordan), and daughter (Brielle) combined with burning passion for her craft, Rose creates a sanctuary where clients can embrace their beauty inside and out. The name “Aurora Rose” pays homage to Rose’s grandmothers, whose legacy of love and strength continues to inspire her every day. Through her business, Rose honors their spirit by providing a space where others can experience the same sense of empowerment and renewal. Rose strives to uplift her community, live her purpose, and to help others discover their best selves by celebrating the beauty that blossoms within each of us at Aurora Rose.

910-929-2611 | www.aurorarosebeauty.com 235 Westlake Road Suite 202, Fayetteville, NC 28314

26 February 2024

S P EC I A L P R O M OT I O N A L S ECT I O N

VOTE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

Honor Courage Commitment “Growing up in Fayetteville, I learned from an early age the Love of God, Family, Country, and North Carolina. I also learned that faith without works is dead. So, after 36 years as a courtroom trial lawyer and over 33 years as a Marine Corps Officer, I cannot sit idly by as our core values that I fought to protect — our Democracy, our Liberty, Justice, the Rule of Law, and particularly our U.S. and N.C. Constitutions — are threatened by enemies foreign and domestic. The truth matters! Our laws, their enforcement, and the consequences of violating our laws matter. I intend to fulfill the N.C. Constitutional and statutory duties and responsibilities as our next Attorney General. We owe that to our children and our grandchildren for generations to come.” – Tim Dunn, Democratic Candidate for NC Attorney General

NORTH CAROLINA ATTORNEY SINCE 1987 • Prosecuted, Defended and Judged thousands of cases in State, Federal & Military Courts • Currently representing juvenile defendants and indigent Pro Bono cases

U. S. MARINE CORPS OFFICER SINCE 1986 Retired as a Colonel in 2019; Awarded Bronze Star Medal for service in Iraq, 2004 • 11 Deployments, including 4 combat tours: Kuwait, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan • Key positions held: • Marine Corps Federal Prosecutor • Staff Judge Advocate for Operational Commands: Captain – Colonel • Executive Officer, Fire Support Officer, and Platoon Commander - ANGLICO • 1st USMC attorney selected to prosecute Saddam Hussein and other former leaders of Iraq • Senior Reserve Military Trial Judge • Civil Affairs Officer in Charge – Philippines and Helmand Province, Afghanistan • Chief of Staff – USMC Training Command

PRIORITIES • PROTECT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS: OF LIFE & LIBERTY, TO VOTE, OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS • REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE & VIOLENT CRIME: By Supporting local and state LAW ENFORCEMENT and DISTRICT ATTORNEYS • IMPROVE: JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM • END: FENTANYL AND OPIOID EPIDEMIC • PROSECUTE: CORPORATE CRIMINALS and ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTERS

VOTE EARLY: FEB. 15, 2024 – MARCH 2, 2024 VOTE PRIMARY ELECTION DAY: MARCH 5, 2024

(910) 867-3511 • timdunnforncag24@gmail.com • DUNNFORNC.COM PAID FOR BY TIM DUNN FOR NORTH CAROLINA

CityViewNC.com | 27

28 February 2024 Patricia Bilal

HEALTH

When love, luck and knowledge save a life

BY JAMI MCLAUGHLIN | CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

hen Larry Pitts went into cardiac arrest last July, it happened without warning. An Army veteran who had kept active and in decent shape, Larry, 63, had finished a little yard work with his wife Marilyn when he collapsed. Luckily, Marilyn, who was a trained nurse, saved his life with her quick thinking and more than seven minutes of CPR. CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating, according to the Mayo Clinic. It involves chest compressions and giving breaths during a cardiac event. “I was just sitting there in the garage cooling off after mowing the front yard,” Larry said. It was July so it was warm, but he had a fan blowing and was sitting down. Marilyn, who had been tending to their rose bushes, brought him a Gatorade and they chatted for a bit. “The next thing I know is my eyes open and I’m in a hospital,” he said. “For me, I had just put the lawn mower away, but here I was with a scar on my chest and bandages.” For Marilyn, also 63, it had been a completely different story. “He got up from his chair to give me a hug and kiss, took two sips and went straight back,” she said. She said when he fell backward, his eyes were open, and he was as stiff as a board. “It happened so fast I couldn’t catch him,” she said, “He hit his head when he went down and started bleeding. He turned a dark bluish gray almost immediately and I knew he was not getting any air. There was no pulse, so I started CPR right away.” Her decades of medical training kicked in and she went to work. “I’ve done CPR so many times that I didn’t hesitate to do it. It was instinct,” she said. It had been a weekday in the summer so despite Marilyn screaming for help, no one heard her. “I thought a neighbor would hear me, but there was no one,” Marilyn said. “I did a cycle or two and went to grab my phone. I was trained [that] you get help when you can, so I just kept going, screaming the whole time to try to find help.” She said Larry tried breathing a few times on his own, but he was not consistent. “He was not coming out of it,” Marilyn said. “I didn’t know why he had collapsed, and on top of it, he now had a head injury. I didn’t know if it was his heart or a stroke, I just knew he wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a pulse so [I] kept doing CPR.” When the paramedics arrived, Marilyn had spent seven and a half minutes rotating between chest compressions and giving breaths despite the July heat and her asthma. “It was the scariest thing I’ve ever had to do with my husband,” she said. Left, Marilyn Pitts, a trained nurse, saved her husband Larry's life with her quick thinking and more than seven minutes of CPR when he collapsed last July. CityViewNC.com | 29

After six months and adhering to strict physical therapy exercises at home, Pitts has fully recovered.

The whole team, every single person, from the liaison in the emergency department to the chaplain to the staff in the ICU, were stellar,” Pitts said. “Everyone knew exactly what they were doing … They never made me feel like there was no hope.” The couple has known each other since they were in high school, living in the small town of Bradley, Illinois, south of Chicago in the mid-1970s. “We went to high school together, but I was so shy. I couldn’t even talk to her,” Larry said. After they graduated in 1978, Larry ended up joining the Army and saw the world while Marilyn went to work in health care for UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh. And as luck would have it, the pair had a second chance for love at their 35-year high school reunion.

30 February 2024

“We realized that we had both spent the last 20 years in North Carolina only 80 miles apart,” she said. Larry knew it was now or never and asked her to lunch. From there, the pair knew that there was something special between the two of them. When he proposed, they were at one of their favorite spots at Fort Fisher just south of Wilmington. “We had been talking about it for a long time and I knew I was crazy about her. It was between these oak trees and the ocean, and I didn’t even have a ring. I just asked,” he said.

Marilyn said yes and then laughed that they could go ring shopping together. “When he didn’t have a ring, I just said that’s good, I can pick it out,” she said with a smile. Shortly thereafter, the two married one early morning in January at a gazebo near the place he proposed. “Both of us had been married and then divorced. And I swore I’d never get married again, but we had a great connection,” she said. Little did they know then that she would save his life years later. When Larry woke up a week after his coronary event, the first face he saw was Marilyn’s. “As I was coming out of it, I saw my wife and was just really confused to be in the hospital,” he said.

Prevent Wastewater Backup CEASE

W EEP IP

TT a ’ p i p

He had bandages on his chest and leg and was also on a ventilator, a medical machine that helps patients breathe. When Larry found out that he had gone into cardiac arrest so suddenly, he was surprised. “I had never had problems,” he said. “I didn’t have chest pain or shortness of breath. There was no warning.” Marilyn told him that he had a triple bypass and had been in the hospital for a week. “He had a 95% blockage in his right coronary artery and had to have surgery,” she said. “He was sedated so he couldn’t move, and his heart could heal. His heart function improved from 20% to 50-60% just from the rest [he was able to get].” He was stunned, but the next day, was well enough to be talking and sitting in a chair. “I walk in, and he says, ‘Hello, sweetheart.’ And he was back,” she said. Marilyn said the staff at Cape Fear Valley Heart & Vascular Center gave her complete confidence that would be the outcome of Larry’s treatment. “The whole team, every single person, from the liaison in the emergency department to the chaplain to the staff in the ICU, were stellar,” she said. “Everyone knew exactly what they were doing … They never made me feel like there was no hope.” But it was Marilyn who had kept him alive until Cape Fear Valley Health personnel could take over. “She saved my life,” Larry said. “I’m reset and back to normal because of my wife. If she hadn’t done what she did, I could have lost functionality.” After six months and adhering to strict physical therapy exercises at home, Larry has fully recovered. Now, the grateful couple enjoys taking walks through downtown Hope Mills and staying active together. Marilyn hopes that others hear their story and feel encouraged that they can help others if the situation ever arises. “People might be afraid to do CPR, but you could save someone,” she said. “The key is to do it as soon as possible. If I had waited or if I had tried to drive him to the hospital, it might have been a different outcome. Jump in and start it.”

grea

Do Your Part to Keep Grease, Wipes and Other Objects Out of the Pipes Grease, fat and oil – as well as wipes and other items – should never be poured or flushed down drains or toilets. They can block sewer lines and cause wastewater to back up. The overflow can damage our water supply, harm the environment and even cause costly damage to your home. PWC encourages everyone to do their part to protect our water quality. It’s more than good sense...it’s the law. Guidelines for Grease

Protecting our Pipes

• Let it cool, pour it into a Items you should never flush: disposable container and • Hand or baby wipes – even if they’re put it in the trash. Scan the labeled “flushable”! QR code to request a free “Fat Trapper” • Paper towels from PWC. (Covered cooking grease • Diapers and feminine hygiene collection containers) products • Dental floss and Q-tips® • Wipe grease from pans before • Kitty litter you wash them. • Medications or medical waste • Never put meat or vegetable scraps (syringes) down the drain, even if you have a • Any plastic garbage disposal. Compost or throw products them away. • Food wrappers • Cigarette butts For more information, see the Environmental section of our website. 17714

CityViewNC.com | 31

Mike Garrett, senior pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, poses with his wife Marcia and their dog Darby in the nursery section of the church.

32 February 2024

FEATURE

Love and compassion Cuddling, Santa, and community at the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center NICU

BY ZACHARY HORNER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY WOOTEN

hen Mike and Marcia Garrett made their way to Fayetteville in the summer of 2015, they only expected to be here for two years. Mike had been a pastor at a church in Atlanta for 12 years, and the Garretts accepted a call for him to take up the interim pastor post at First Presbyterian Church in Cumberland County. Marcia, passionate and full of energy, had always found something outside of being a pastor’s wife to do, such as serving as a PTA president. When the Garretts moved to Fayetteville, though, Marcia didn’t want to get too involved since their stay in Cumberland County would likely be short. But when the church picked Mike to be their permanent pastor, she wanted to find something to sink her teeth into, to invest time in. She found babies. But not just any babies: the babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, a place Marcia now calls her “village.” Since 2018, Marcia has spent many hours and days at the NICU doing something very simple, but incredibly impactful: cuddling at-risk newborns. “They are my heart,” she says. “It gives me great joy. It’s that holding that makes all the difference in the world.” Inside the NICU Imagine you’re working on a project and you have 13 weeks until your deadline. You’re not nearly finished yet because you think you still have time. All of a sudden the project is due — and that project is your

body physically pushing a baby out of it. Daphne Nault found herself, surprisingly, in that predicament at Christmas in 2022, about to deliver her first child, a boy named Declan, when she was 27 weeks pregnant. She said she wasn’t even really showing yet. “It was so traumatic,” Nault says. “I just went to the hospital. I was out and about in town, so I called my husband and said I was going to the hospital. They immediately rushed me back to find out I was having my baby that day. I was like, ‘What?’”

The cuddling program at the Cape Fear Valley NICU was in place before Marcia Garrett arrived in 2018, but she became the program coordinator shortly after joining. Declan was taken to the Cape Fear Valley NICU after birth. For that first day, Daphne wasn’t allowed to see Declan because she had lost so much blood. When she did finally see him, it was akin to an otherworldly experience. “He was in a box and we couldn’t touch him,” she says. “I joke about it now, but he looked like an alien, because he didn’t look like what a baby was supposed to look like. We had our birth plan and nothing went like that.”

Having your child go to the NICU might be the height of fear and panic for a new parent. Babies go to the NICU when they are born prematurely or face severe complications from their gestation and/ or birth. Researchers and academic studies estimate that around 10% or more of newborns end up in the NICU, according to the Journal of Perinatology. As expected, life isn’t all sunshine and roses for newborns who end up in the NICU. Kristen Coggin has worked as a neonatologist for 12 years and is currently the medical director of the NICU at Cape Fear Valley. She said the NICU can be “really challenging some days.” Some babies will be in the NICU for a few days, but others, Coggin says, may stay for weeks or even months. That’s what happened with Declan. Originally due in March 2023 but born in December 2022, he was not released from the hospital until April 12, after his due date. “It’s crazy, the roller coaster you go through every day,” Nault says. “We never had an idea of when he was going home until two days before we could take him home.” The role of cuddlers The cuddling program at the Cape Fear Valley NICU was in place before Marcia Garrett arrived in 2018, but she became the program coordinator shortly after joining. It’s fairly well-established that infants who receive physical touch early and often have better neurodevelopment, and skinto-skin contact has been found to improve attachment and emotional connection. For babies who are in the NICU, when they CityViewNC.com | 33

Marcia, left, and Mike, right, Garrett pose with Dr. Kristen Coggin, medical director of the Cape Fear Valley Medical Center NICU in Fayetteville, during this past Christmas. Coggin says the Garretts are ‘such a great pair’ of volunteers as part of the cuddling program and playing Santa Claus each holiday season. Contributed photo.

Studies have found a tangible connection between physical touch and earlier release times for babies in the NICU, particularly those who have Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Babies affected with NAS were exposed to opioids for a length of time while in the womb and struggle with withdrawal when born. can’t be with their parents all the time, volunteer cuddlers step in and play that physical touch role. “We’re unfortunately in a situation where babies end up in the NICU for weeks or even months,” Coggin says. “Families do their best to be here when they can, so the cuddlers do a great job to fill in that gap when they can.” Studies have found a tangible connection

34 February 2024

between physical touch and earlier release times for babies in the NICU, particularly those who have Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Babies affected with NAS were exposed to opioids for a length of time while in the womb and struggle with withdrawal when born, according to MedlinePlus. This can lead to trembling, sleep problems, seizures, poor feeding, and other symptoms. Cuddling programs like

the one at Cape Fear Valley can help ease those symptoms by providing physical touch to babies when parents can’t be there. Cape Fear Valley utilizes the “Eat, Sleep, Console” model, a practice that is growing in use in NICUs across the county. The model’s goal is to reduce medication used to manage symptoms from NAS by increasing the amount of time a baby receives physical comfort. In a June 2023 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers conducted a trial of “Eat, Sleep, Console” in 26 U.S. hospitals and found that infants with NAS who received treatment in the “Eat, Sleep, Console” model were released from the hospital nearly one week earlier on average than those who had received usual care. The cuddling program at Cape Fear Valley is one way that the NICU implements “Eat, Sleep, Console.” “Life goes on despite having a baby in the NICU,” Coggin says, “and the cuddlers have stood in the gap for moms and dads who couldn’t be here and have really helped make that a success. Babies are getting in and out more quickly, the length of stay is being improved, they’re getting less medication.” A normal cuddling shift, Marcia says, is at least three hours. One cuddler is in the NICU at a time and is available as needed to assist the nurses. “You are there to spot them,” she says. “When it gets so busy, and a baby is just unhappy — they’re not wet or need a feed — that’s where we step in.” Nault says she went back to work soon after recovering from giving birth to Declan, and knowing that volunteers would be holding her son every so often was comforting to her. “To see one of the other volunteers in there holding him and to get that interaction when I couldn’t be there 24/7, it was amazing,” she says. “He wasn’t by himself. It was super comforting. It was really nice knowing that other people were there.” But what Coggin adds, and Marcia found out quickly, is that the cuddlers also help the NICU staff significantly. Marcia says the cuddlers will sometimes get lunch for nurses during busy hours and help any other way they can with some non-medical tasks. “The cuddlers not only provide us with some respite but the general atmosphere is just brighter and warmer when they’re here,”

Coggin says. “They come in with their pink jackets, they’re smiling, they’re happy to be here. You can tell that they’re here because they genuinely love to be here.”

didn’t take long for her to reconnect with her NICU family. When the Garretts’ first granddaughter was born that summer, a group of NICU nurses visited her home to celebrate — outside, with precautions taken, of course.

Mike says the work that Marcia does in volunteering with the cuddlers connects deeply to their Christian faith by one word: compassion. “Compassion is certainly at the heart of the Christian faith, and not just compassion but compassion for the vulnerable,” Mike says. “Certainly there is no one more vulnerable than a premature infant. When you sense the vulnerability, not just of the infants but their parents and their support network, it seems to make really good sense.” Marcia says volunteers need to be willing to be there for the hard times. You can’t pick the babies up or feed them or change them, but you can hold onto them, Marcia says. “You will hear buzzers and beepers and there are lights going off,” she says. “There is nothing you can do. So you need to take a breath because that’s being done by the best of the best. What you’re there to do is just love on that little dolly.” It may not have been the loving Marcia had planned to do when she and her husband moved to Fayetteville nine years ago, expecting to stay two. “God told us to come and love his people,” she says. “That’s what brought us to Fayetteville. Of course it was about the church.” Now, it’s about so much more.

Marcia makes a mark Mike Garrett says he is very proud of his wife and that the cuddling program is A continuing service her way of “serving God and serving other Nault says the volunteers and what they people.” did for her son “warmed (her) heart,” and “I’m a big believer in usually good Declan became, in her words, “like a family ministry comes from the bottom up,” Mike member” to them. says. “Instead of just saying, ‘I have an idea, “He was there for so long, and at the end, let’s try it,’ you discover people doing good everybody knew Declan and everybody things and you say, ‘Maybe this is what we knew his story,” she says. “It was wonderful, should be embracing.’ For me, that is how all the volunteers.” this happened. This started as something That’s the goal after all, Marcia says. Marcia got involved with and I came Parents ending up in the NICU, for whatever alongside as opposed to being a big idea that reason, are going through a stressful time we had and imposed.” along with the babies and the hospital staff, He came alongside by playing Santa and any way she and her volunteers can help Claus, with Marcia as “Cuddles the Elf,” in is worth it. There are times, she says, when the NICU at Christmas in 2021. The whole she will go to the NICU in the middle of the NICU unit, Marcia says, bought in, and night to do some cuddling, and Coggin says Mike soon began making the rounds to the the unit has a list of trustworthy and veteran pediatric and emergency department units as volunteers who are on-call. well. Both Marcia and Mike, Coggin says, are “It truly takes a village, and our village can’t very much appreciated by the NICU staff. just be limited to those who are employed,” “She has quickly taken a leadership role Coggin says. “We are dependent on those and has really become a real part of our who are on the outside who are willing to NICU family,” Coggin says. “She does a come inside and willing to make a difference.” lot in regard to staff morale, visits, dropins, holiday visits, and has been a great all-around part of what we do. She and her husband are really a dynamic duo. They have been really good to us.” Nault met Mike and Marcia when they came to the hospital as Santa Claus and Santa’s elf. “They were wonderful,” Nault says. “It was stressful when your kid comes so early and you weren’t expecting them to be there. Lots of holidays, and during the holidays in the NICU, everybody goes all out.” For her part, Marcia says she has found a place there.fear valley health at cape “I feel like I found home,” she says. “It was the nurses that have been there a long time that embraced me and I was able to at cape fear valley health things. I made Care my mistakes and got sentIf the mother and father are physically unable to visit, the on policy in the ask Neonatal Intensive Unit We realize this is a very stressful time for you and yo ers from other areas to protect support person may visitGarrett without the parent. well-being as important to us as your downoftothe thehospital principal’s office, things you can Marcia is seeking more volunteersfamily. to beYour cuddlers inisthe rom the risk of infection. baby’s. ask and can’t ask. I live to be up there … That’s NICU Fear visiting Valleyhours, Medical Visitors may visit, oneat at aCape time, during and Center. All volunteers are vetted my risk peace. favorite saying babies are at higher forMy infection due to is that you can’t must be accompanied by the parent. prior to going on to the NICU encourage you to ask at any time abou and floor. Email Marcia If questions the mother and father a The interviewed visitation policy in the Neonatal Intensive CareWe Unit scare I rock babies in the NICU.” d inability to fight offme, infection. baby’s care or condition. support person may visit (NICU) differs from other areas of the hospital to protect in the family waiting room, hospital lobby nicucuddlermarciag@gmail.com if you are interested. She briefly lost that home when the You may wait at babies from the theunit riskisofclosed. infection. e is reserved for parents, grandparents, greator the cafeteria the during the times Please The staff of the NICU hopes that you feel comfortab Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, but it Visitors visit,you onemay at a ts, significant others and siblings. do not wait at the secretary’s station. communicating any concerns or may questions Premature babies are at higher risk for infection due to must be accompanied by t Occasionally, you maysize be asked to leave the unit off infection. e is allowed throughout the day except during Please remember that the staff is only allowed to ans their and inability to fight CityViewNC.com | 35 unds: temporarily or wait before entering if there is an questions related to your baby. You may wait in the famil emergency, admission otherisspecial procedure. Pleasegrandparents, greatBedsideortime reserved for parents, or the cafeteria during the a.m. be understanding and cooperative if this is asked you.siblings. grandparents, significant othersofand do not wait at the secretar

eonatal intensive care unit

and Friends Bedside Time

the neonatal intensive care unit Calling the NICU

Family and Friends Bedside Time

H E A RT & S O U L

TUESDAY TUESDAY $5 $5 MENU MENU ITEMS ITEMS BEIGNET BEIGNET BITES BITES DEATH DEATH VALLEY VALLEY COCKTAIL COCKTAIL 2116 Skibo Road

CHICKEN CHICKEN & & SAUSAGE SAUSAGE GUMBO GUMBO

Fa8ette6ille= NC 2 14

DOUGHNUT DOUGHNUT BREAD BREAD UDDING PUDDING

(910) 779-4901

LOUISIANA LOUISIANA KICK KICK WINGS WINGS

Elopements & Custom Weddings on a historic 200-year-old farm. www.rubiconfarmnc.com

Medical Weight Loss

3-month FDA-approved prescription Skin Tightening Treatments

EVERY TUESDAY IS

Medical provider consult calls* Health Supplements* *May be at an additional cost

FAT TUESDAY *Offer only valid in restaurants on Tuesdays, starting January 9, 2024, through February 13, 2024.

SKIN SPECIALISTS OF FAYETTEVILLE 2022 & 2023 READERS CHOICE AWARDS WINNER VOTED FAYETTEVILLE’S #1 MED SPA

facials • HydraFacial • neurotoxin • dermal fillers • chemical peels microneedling • Morpheus8 • IPL • lash lift/tint • brow lamination laser hair removal • PDO threads • PMU • PRP injections

W W W. B E S T S K I N O F FAY E T T E V I L L E .C O M 910 -759 - 3 0 6 0 • @ S K I N . S P E C I A L I S T S . FAY E T T E V I L L E 36 February 2024

Rolands

www.aurorarosebeauty.com

(910)929-2611

DANCE STUDIO

910-423-2636

PRIVATE AND GROUP CLASSES BY APPOINTMENT

JOIN US FRIDAY NIGHTS 8PM: BALLROOM 9PM: SWING STYLE 10PM: LATIN

Feb. 16th, Special Crowning Event. Who will be the King & Queen of Valentine?

310 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville

H E A RT & S O U L

Round-A-Bout 1 - Raeford Rd. (71st) 115 Skateway Drive Fayetteville, NC 28304 Tel: 910-860-8900

Round Round a a Bout Bout Skate Skate Centers Centers

Round-A-Bout 2 - Eutaw 880 Elm Street Fayetteville, NC 28303 Tel: 910-484-4465 Round-A-Bout 3 - Goldsboro 1305 Parkway Drive Goldsboro, NC 27534 Tel: 919-778-1831

Ro nto a un Roll into Family Fun

www.round-a-bout.com

The Perfect Valentine’s Gift We have that something special for your Valentine

Indulge in love and sweetness this Valentine’s Day with the Downtown Market of Fayetteville! Pre-order for pickup or delivery for the perfect gift. Choose from our beautiful flower arrangements, decadent chocolates, custom baskets, and assortment of gifts. Let us fill your life with love, one delightful treat at a time!

919-349-6062 f l ncmilkman.com

CityViewNC.com | 37

HOMEFRONT

Love at a Romanian checkpoint An international, dual-military story BY ARIA SPEARS

William Tyler Kenley (left), James Mina Kenley (William and Andreea's son), Andreea Kenly, and Ana Theodora Kenley (William and Andreea's daughter) pose in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in the June heat after Andreea and the kids got back from a trip to Romania when the kids were 5 and 1. Photo courtesy Andreea Kenly.

“I

’ll never get married again,” said Andreea Mihaela Buleu after a tough divorce. A Romanian citizen, Buleu decided to leave nursing to enlist with the Romanian military police. She didn’t know at the time that this decision would change the trajectory of her life forever. Three years into her service, Andreea found herself on checkpoint gate duty as a private at the second-largest training base in Galati county, Romania — Smardan Secondary Combat Training Center. A new rotation of U.S. Army service members was set to arrive, and her friends teased her: “Just watch, you’re probably going to get married!” Having no desire to marry again, Andreea joked along with them, adding what she saw as a comical caveat: “I’ll never get married —

38 February 2024

leaving half of the drinks at the gate. Upon his return to the gate for the rest of the drinks, he realized Buleu had given them away, assuming it was for the same group. “For me, everybody knows everybody,” Buleu said. “I had no idea what U.S. Army means or what the structure is.” From that moment, Kenley kept in contact even after he left for Germany later that fall. Buleu didn’t think much of it. Many American soldiers had come and gone. When the text messages didn’t stop and Kenley invited her to visit him in Germany, she was hesitant. She planned to leave the military to pursue a nursing job offer in London, England. She eventually agreed to visit him. Stepping into the U.S. military world of Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany, she realized how different her military experience was from his. “I was shocked,” Buleu said. “The Romanian Army doesn’t have the same structure. He had his own room, and I was surprised by it all.” A couple of weeks later in February 2017, Kenley proposed. Buleu laughed it off as a

Andreea Buleu laughed Kenley's proposal off as a joke: They’d only met five months ago. Once she realized he was serious, she agreed, but he needed him to prove himself. unless he is an American.” Day after day, American soldiers passed through the checkpoint. Buleu learned English through watching English TV as a child, and these skills made her a point of contact between the Romanian and American units, often helping soldiers navigate life in her country. One day in October 2016, William Tyler Kenley, an American E-5 Infantry noncommissioned officer, was tasked with picking up the team’s pizza and drinks,

joke: They’d only met five months ago. Once she realized he was serious, she agreed, but she needed him to prove himself. “If he’s going to really want this, he’s going to figure out the process [of marrying someone from another country] and I’m not going to do anything,” she said. “If he’s not, I guess I’ve got my answer.” The next day, Kenley found a translator and retrieved the list of required documents to get married from a local German courthouse. “That’s when it kicked in that it’s

for real and he doesn’t quit,” Buleu said. She paid the required fees to leave the military and declined the role in London. Both took the timing of their meet-cute as a sign. In April 2017, they got married at the courthouse in Germany, secured Buleu’s military ID, and rented an apartment all in one day. Kenley left for the next rotation the next morning, leaving Buleu on her own. By the time he came back three weeks later, Buleu had already found a temporary babysitting opportunity and a regular on-post volunteering role with a “Freecycle center” — a U.S. Army initiative providing donated household goods to military families that furnished their apartment for free. The couple experienced challenges from the beginning, Buleu said, as some in their military community vocalized their belief that Buleu was more interested in an American green card to work in the U.S. than a lasting commitment. Though the two were still building trust and getting to know one another, Buleu said,“[Kenley] didn’t really care about any other opinions.” Almost seven years later, their family has completed a few Permanent Change of Station moves and grown to include two children — with numerous rotation separations and deployments throughout their relationship. When it comes to advice she’d give to other international military couples, Buleu (now Andreea Kenley) said, “Not everything was rainbow and sunshine. We have our days even after almost seven years of marriage and two children. The culture differences and the expectations were something that we both had to work and understand … [It] really takes time and I have to say that he had so much patience with me. He really sometimes is my calm when I’m a storm.” Foreign-born spouses bring a vast array of valuable experiences to the wider military community. Foreign-born spouses and couples looking for community here at Fort Liberty can get connected to the North Carolina chapter of the Foreign Military Spouse Association, a recent support initiative founded by Swedish-born military spouse, Juliette Ramberg de Ruyter at www. foreignmilitaryspouse.com.

Voted Best Private School 12 years and counting! New science/STEM wing and junior high classrooms Non-denominational Selective enrollment Great athletic, performing and fine arts programs Pre K through 12th grade

(910) 483-3905 422 Ireland Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304 www.fayettevillechristian.com

MILITARY SPOUSES SHARE THEIR STORIES Stephanie Keen — Austria & U.S. Matthew Keen was born in Albany, Georgia. I was born in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. We met on Tinder. When we got married on June 13, 2023, it wasn’t exactly planned. I was on a visit to see him for a month, and I missed him. We were thinking about it, and his family knew a pastor. We said, “Let’s not wait and just get married.” It was such a beautiful day. Advice: I would say everyone should know it’s hard being apart and crying for days happens sometimes. I am stuck in Austria without any chance to see my husband. I have to stay here until I get my green card, which is hopefully really soon. But even if that happens to other people, you can do it. You already went through a relationship being apart. And in the end you will get the best gift — a whole life with your partner for the rest of your life. It is all worth it, never give up and trust in yourself and your love that you feel. Angela Phoenixia Oliver — Indonesia & U.S. I was born in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, but I’m of Chinese descent. We met for the first time when he was stationed in Germany, and I was there for an employee exchange. I worked for Allianz (a German company) and lived in Germany for a year and a half. [We met through] online dating. He swiped right, and so did I. We agreed to meet up. Advice: We both say “trust [in each other]” as an international couple. We have already been through some challenges. Stay curious about, but respectful of, each other. It is really important to stay up to date with your partner. Understand your partner’s background while also teaching them about yours. Military life isn’t easy to understand for us who come from a different country where there’s not much to do with the military lifestyle.

Aria Spears writes for CityView’s Homefront initiative. She’s a writer, communications professional and civic leadership enthusiast. With a master’s degree in nonprofit and civic leadership, Aria can be found exploring cities, persuading people to join local civic boards and sharing her book “The Community Mapping Journal.” When it comes to active-duty military family life, she believes that joy makes us strong. CityViewNC.com | 39

he rom-com books that you see in bookstores and on all the lists of best-sellers are there for a reason. They are among the most popular and profitable books sold. Why is that? Maybe it is because every good romance novel has a heroine you care about, a hero you lust after, emotional tension, a good plot, and a happily-ever-after ending. What more can a girl want? Or a guy for that matter? Although women are the most frequent readers of rom-com books, there is a growing group of bro-com books and bros who are reading them. Rom-com books have been around since advances in printing in the early 19th century made books more affordable — think Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in “Pride and Prejudice.” Yes, it’s on many lists of romance books and is also considered a classic. So, what are some of the latest romance or rom-com books today that might just end up as classics?

GOOD READS

ROM-COMS: The perfect match for February and Valentine’s Day BY DIANE PARFITT

1 2

3 4

1. FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry Emily Henry has won multiple awards for her rom-com books. In “Funny Story”, Daphne’s fiancé dumps her for his old girlfriend, and she finds herself alone in a town with no friends or family but with her dream job as a children’s librarian. When she needs a roommate to help with the bills, who would have thought she would turn to her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex-boyfriend? They turn out to be great roommates while ignoring each other until they turn out to really like each other. Oh, the perfect rom-com!

2. PRIDE & PREJUDICE

by Jane Austen All right, just for comparison, I must mention Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy again. Why is this classic considered a romance novel? According to Barbara Sherrod of the Jane Austen Society of North America, “Pride and Prejudice is a classic love story because it set the pattern for a modern popular love story, the story in which an independent-minded and fascinating woman is loved by a remote, powerful man. The attraction between the two of them is exhibited as hostility, at least for the first half of the book. It is the pattern imitated by three-quarters of the romance novels on the shelves.”

3. THINGS WE NEVER GOT 6

7 40 February 2024

OVER (Knockemout Book 1) by Lucy Score When Naomi runs away from her wedding, she returns home to Knockemout, Virginia, to help her twin sister out of a jam. When she meets Knox Morgan, who is handsome, but quite grumpy, she realizes she needs his

help in working out some of her family’s problems. This delightful book is the first in a series of three books that all take place in the little town of Knockemout, with some recurring characters while introducing new ones to the mix.

4. ROMANTIC COMEDY

by Curtis Sittenfeld When TV comedy sketch writer Sally, meets pop music sensation Noah, many dismiss any chance that they would become a couple. The reason: It’s OK for dorky men to date gorgeous women, but when it’s the other way around? It’s just not possible. Will Sally be able to overcome her self-doubts and give herself over to this gorgeous rock star?

5. A LOVE SONG FOR RICKI

WILDE by Tia Williams With a last name like Wilde, Ricki would think she has a lot in common with her famous Atlanta socialite sisters. But, alas, she is not like them and the only way to find herself is to get away. She moves to Brooklyn and is convinced there are exciting things awaiting her. The first thing she does is realize her dream of opening a flower shop. Is love just around the corner when she meets a dreamy stranger?

6. A COURT OF THORNS AND

ROSES by Sarah J. Maas The crossing of romance and fantasy is not new to the book world. This is the first of a five-book series featuring Feyre, a 19-year-old huntress. She is kidnapped by Tamlin, one of the High Lords of a faerie land after she kills a faerie wolf. Here Feyre learns she had

PRECINCT WORKERS NEEDED The Cumberland County, North Carolina Board of Elections is recruiting workers for 2023-2025. Individuals are needed to serve as precinct officials for the following dates: October 10, 2023; November 7, 2023; March 5, 2024; April 23, 2024; May 14, 2024 and November 5, 2024 Earn up to $190.00 for each election worked.

major misconceptions about faeries, and over the course of each of these books, she and Tamlin fall in and out of love. If you love romance, faeries, and fantasy, this is the perfect book to start a series.

To apply or request information visit ElectionReady.net or call 910-678-7733.

7. THE GRAHAM EFFECT (Campus

Diaries Book 1) by Elle Kennedy Gigi Graham is on the path to qualifying for the women’s national hockey team. Things are going well until she teams up with a grumpy male hockey player who promises to help her sharpen her game. The problem is, although he is rude and opinionated, he’s quite a hunk. And the chemistry between them, which they are both trying to ignore, is steamy enough to melt the ice on the rink. Who can avoid reading a good love story, especially in February? Whether you are already a lover of romance novels or new to the genre, these are some good choices for the month of love!

“That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald Diane Parfitt is a retired pediatric nurse and former assistant professor of nursing education. She owns City Center Gallery & Books in downtown Fayetteville. She can be reached at citycentergallerybooks@gmail.com

COMING IN MARCH

THE FAITH ISSUE PLUS

WOMEN IN BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

CityViewNC.com | 41

THE TO-DO LIST

Here are just some of the things happening in and around Fayetteville this month. For more events and additional information, visit www.cityviewnc.com/calendar. Email cityview@cityviewnc.com to share your event with us!

FEB. 1-28

FEB. 13

FEB. 1

FEB. 13

"Our People: The Black Influence in Contemporary Culture" The Arts Council 301 Hay St., Fayetteville wethehearts.com

Business Resources Round-Up FSU Entrepreneurial HUB 1073 Murchison Road, Fayetteville eventbrite.com

FEB. 3

City Market at the Museum Fayetteville History Museum 325 Franklin St., Fayetteville distinctlyfayettevillenc.com

FEB. 3

Cook Healthy with Confidence Cooking4Fitness 130 Bow St., Fayetteville eventbrite.com

FEB. 7

Lindsay Lectures with Terese Schlachter & Col. Gregory Gadson (Ret.) U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum (ASOM) 100 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville distinctlyfayettevillenc.com

FEB. 10

Daddy & Daughter Dance Fayetteville Chapter 82nd Airborne Division 606 Johnson St., Fayetteville eventbrite.com

FEB. 10

Make it, Take it Fascinate-U Children’s Museum 116 Green St., Fayetteville fascinate-u.com

FEB. 11

Dog Yoga Patriot K Nine Training & Behavior 3760 Sycamore Dairy Road, Fayetteville distinctlyfayettevillenc.com

42 February 2024

Symphony on Tap Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra 5780 Ramsey St., Fayetteville fayettevillesymphony.org

DIY Fishing: Lanyard Making Workshop John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center 7489 Raeford Road, Fayetteville license.gooutdoors northcarolina.com

FEB. 14

Flower Crown Workshop Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom 5435 Corporation Drive, Hope Mills eventbrite.com

FEB. 17

Lift Every Voice and Sing – A Musical Journey Through Black History Seabrook Auditorium 1200 Murchison Road, Fayetteville cumberlandchoralarts.org

FEB. 22

Under the Sea Fort Liberty R. Miller St., BLDG 1-3346, Fort Liberty liberty.armymwr.com

FEB. 23

Vegan Cooking Show Prima Elements Holistic Wellness Center 124 Anderson St., Fayetteville primaelements.org

FEB. 24

Dinner in Love FACTS Wellness & Retreat Center 8175 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville eventbrite.com

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

VENDOR SPOTS AVAILABLE

Support Ladies’ Night Out

PRESENTS CIT Y VIEW M AGAZINE’S

NIGHT OUT

Save the date for April 18, as Cape Fear Valley Health presents

CITYVIEW MEDIA’S FOURTH ANNUAL LADIES NIGHT! An evening of shopping, eating, drinking, dancing and entertainment at the Carolina Barn at McCormick Farms. GOLD SPONSOR

AUDIO/VISUAL SPONSOR

FASHION SHOW BY

PROC E E DS BE N E F I T T I NG C I T Y V I E W N E WS F U N D

EA RLY BIRD TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

RUSTIC ELEGANCE

and SOUTHERN CHARM

7765 McCormick Bridge Rd. Spring Lake NC 28390

Dakota Hersey Photography

Visit THE

Carolina BARN.com to book your tour today.

Kaitlyn Blake Photography

Morgan Caddell Photography

CityViewNC.com | 43

SEEN @ THE SCENE

>> FIND MORE EVENT PHOTOS AT CITYVIEWNC.COM

Methodist vs. Greensboro College Basketball Game PHOTOS BY SABREENA CZARNECKI

Methodist University women's basketball played host to Greensboro College on Jan. 20 for a USA South Athletic Conference contest.

Olivia Corbitt, Saamiyah Thomas and Betty Curry

Deon and Kristi Lytle and Chole Hawkins

Ethan Bateman and Bryson Ausby

Hayden Ballance and Blake Lewis

Rachel Blanchard, Kealey Wade, Bailey Snow and Kaylyn Nuckols

Rakya Casey, Jaida Calzado, Armani Willis, Jewel Arrowsmith, Taylor Culver and Daniela Giraldo

44 February 2024

Kimori Benjamin, Kenzi Roger’s, Melanie Jones, Makeitha Webb and Luca Jones

YOUR SCHEDULE. YOUR PACE. YOUR SUCCESS.

ONLINE AT MU Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral and Certificate Degrees that employers want you to have. Perfect for working adults, active military, veterans, and their families, our online programs allow you to study on your schedule and where it works best for you. Learn more to achieve more at online.methodist.edu.

97% Receive Financial Aid

Excellence & Affordability Come Together Online and On Campus with:

80 +

90 +

AREAS OF STUDY

CAMPUS ORGANIZATIONS

NCAA SPORTS

with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees

with students from more than 50 countries

with more than 80 team and individual national champions

methodist.edu • 910.630.7000 • 5400 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC 28311 CityViewNC.com | 45

SEEN @ THE SCENE

>> FIND MORE EVENT PHOTOS AT CITYVIEWNC.COM

Fort Bragg Polar Bear Plunge PHOTOS BY SABREENA CZARNECKI

The annual Fort Bragg Polar Bear Plunge was held on Jan. 27 at Smith Lake.

Jay Gables, Brian Minietta, Chris Perry, Ashley Perry, Kevin Bolds, Naffey Sugrim and Tara Gables

Nicholas and Jorge Vargas, Polar Bear, Daniel and Sandra Vargas

Winston Au, Paola Cardenas and Yulia Spikes

Jennifer Lara, Dharma Lara, Catrin Lara and Kaylee Thaler

46 February 2024

Joe Workman

Back: Alfredo, Samantha and Ophelia Front: Alyssia and Sophia Ramirez

Jason Bullock, Tyler Goode, James Morello and Justin Shepherd

communityevents events2024 2024 community CapeFear Fear Cape Botanical Garden Botanical Garden

Dog Garden Dog DayDay in in thethe Garden A Day of Tail-Waggin’ Fun April 2024 A Day of Tail-Waggin’ Fun April 13,13, 2024 Youand andYour YourPups! Pups! forforYou

TheFriends Friendsofofthe theGarden Garden The Farm-to-TableDinner DinnerEvent Event Farm-to-Table

Pondamania Pondamania June 2024 June 08,08, 2024

Garden Gathering Garden Gathering May 2024 May 15,15, 2024

Celebraaonofofthe theArts, Arts, A ACelebraaon Hands-OnLearning Learningand andFamily FamilyFun Fun Hands-On

Music and More- Music and More Kicks oﬀ with Riggsbee Road Kicks oﬀ with Riggsbee Road All-Female “Newgrass” band June All-Female “Newgrass” band inin June

Summer Sunset Series Summer Sunset Series June 2024 June 21,21, 2024 July 2024 July 19,19, 2024 august 16, 2024 august 16, 2024

Halloween FourNights NightsofofSpook-tacular Spook-tacularFun Fun Halloween in in thethe Four BOOtanical Garden theEnnre EnnreFamily Family BOOtanical Garden forforthe October 24 27, 2024 October 24 - 27, 2024

Fayeeeville’sOriginal OriginalHoliday HolidayLight LightShow Show Fayeeeville’s NightsininDecember December 1313Nights

Holiday Lights Holiday Lights Garden in in thethe Garden December - 22, 2024 December 5 -522, 2024 (select evenings) (select evenings)

SponsorshipOpportuniies Opportuniies Available - shanrick@capefearbg.org Sponsorship Available - shanrick@capefearbg.org

Followus uson: on: Follow

536N.N.Eastern EasternBlvd.Blvd.-Fayetteville, Fayetteville,NC NC- 28304 - 28304 536

Visitususatatcapefearbg.org capefearbg.orgororcall/text call/text910-486-0221 910-486-0221 forinformation information Visit for CityViewNC.com | 47

Over 70 Years of Quality & Luxury

CHRISTMAS TOUR

home &

3 G E N E R AT I O N S O F HO ME BUI L DI N G Over 70 Years of Homebuilding Excellence

Two Neighborhoods, Ten Homes

FAIRFIELD FARMS 633 W. Summerchase Dr

TURNBERRY

Across from the new Aquatic Center

When Thursday, Nov. 30 from 5-7 PM Friday, Dec. 1 from 5-7 PM Saturday, Dec. 2 from 10 AM - 5 PM Thursday, Dec. 7 from 5-7 PM Friday, Dec. 8 from 5-7 PM Ou r s al e s cons u l t a n t s a re ea g er to h e lp an d can Our Home twowiofl lour the first two schChristmas e dul e a tou r foTour r yois u .in We a l sneighborhoods, o take tim e to sh owweekends you ourini n cred i b l eon F lThursday, oyd Pro pFriday, er tie s and Hom e site December Saturday. Pa cka g e s , as wel l a s d i s cu s s yo u r p ers o nal g oals, h om e re qui re m en t s , a n d cu s to m o p t i ons. Co nta c t Weus aretoday offeringaninterest low asy 4.5% for the d l et ubuydowns s h el p yostarting u b ri n gasl u xur h o mbuydown e.

Saturday, Dec. 9 from 10 AM - 5 PM

Where

10 ready • Lmove-in arg e , Exe c umodels t i ve enduring s u i tethis Christmas Parade of Homes Tour.

Scan for information

• Prog ramabl e S h ower Sys tem s

and directions.

You are • Se l f invited Cl eani to n gcelebrate To i l et s the season with the Floyd Christmas Open House. Come see the exquisitely, decorated homes and all of our latest • Cus tom Cabi n et s features. Pick up your gift from under our tree and enjoy a glass of eggnog • S pa c i ous Wa l k i n C l o s et s while sharing holiday food, fun, and cheer with us.

Main Main Phone: 901 Arsenal Fayetteville, NC Ph o n e: 910910-978-8086 -2 37- 5 026 | E m a i l: Email: G re g FDavidRayEvans@gmail.com loyd @ F loyd Pro p.co m | www.floyd p roAve. p e r ties.com

Where Your Children Come First

www.kidsfirstpedsraeford.com Kids First Pediatrics of Raeford and Fayetteville has created a professional and caring medical environment for infants, children, adolescents and their families. We provide complete pediatric and adolescent care.

Pediatric Services We Provide

Check Ups, Sick Child Visits & More in Raeford and Fayetteville • Well Child Visits

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Urinalysis

• Sick Child Visits

• Vaccines & Immunizations

• Strep and Mono Screen

• Vaccine & Immunization Schedule

• ADHD Testing & Treatment

• Vision and Hearing Tests

• 2020-2021 Guide to the Flu

• Asthma Symptoms & Treatment

• School, Sports, & Camp Physicals

• Breastfeeding Support

Jose Buenaseda, MD, FAAP Leamor Buenaseda, MD, FAAP Sreelekha Sashidhar, MD, FAAP Christine Arnold, CPNP-PC Amy Miller, PA-C Melanie Pitts, DNP, NP-C Danielle Trigg, CPNP-PC Cinthia Follrod, CPNP-PC Meaghan Hodges, CPNP-PC Rachelle Olson, FNPC

4005 Fayetteville Road Raeford, NC 28376 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2035 Valleygate Dr., Suite 101 Fayetteville, NC 28304 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

6415 Brookstone Lane, Suite 101 Fayetteville, NC 28314 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

910.848.KIDS (5437)

910.677.0007

910.306.KIDS (5437)

Brookstone office only 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturdays for sick/urgent appointments, established patients only.

Quick action saved Larry. Learn more about how CPR and a heart center close to home helped him get back to life after cardiac arrest.

Your heart, our specialty. capefearvalley.com