CityView September 2024 by CityView Magazine

OCTOBER 10, 2024 • 6 PM -

From the Editor

composite wood gives way to the original styling of bright orange aluminum railings on the Putt-Putt course in Fayetteville.

Falling for fall

As autumn descends upon us, turning the color of leaves from green to shades of red and yellow, we invite you to turn the pages of this month’s “Fall in Fayetteville” edition

Get ready for Fayetteville’s staple fall events: the 46th annual International Folk Festival starts Sept 28 with its usual offerings, as well as some new activities for the community to enjoy .

Reminisce on the legendary (and authentic) game of putt-putt, started in our city by Fayetteville icon Don Clayton 70 years ago, and learn about how we continue to feel the impact of his contributions to the community today

And the Marquis de Lafayette is coming back to town! The Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour kicked off Aug . 15 in New York, and on March 4-5, 2025, will be stopping in Fayetteville We break down the importance of this event and what the Lafayette Society has planned for the grand celebration

As always, CityView Magazine’s September issue has the columns you know and love that are sure to get you in the fall mood

You may have been featured on our website! Visit cityviewnc com/seen-the-scene/ to see if you were spotted out and about .

Fill up your calendar with this month’s top events from our To-Do List

Get your sweaters out and cozy up with this September issue, but before you start reading, we’re soliciting nominations for our fifth annual Community Impact Awards, honoring community members who quietly and selflessly go about helping others Scan the QR code to nominate until Sept 2

Thank you for reading!

SEPTEMBER 2024 THE TEAM

Publisher

Kyle Villemain

Magazine Editor Valeria Cloës

Editorial Assistants Maydha Devarajan Bill Horner III

Director of Operation & Sales Talmadge Rogers

Administration & Operations Coordinator Caitlin Malson

Sales Team Leader Dawn Denham

Sales Executive Arianna Bannerman

Photographers

Sabreena Czarnecki

Malgorzata DittmarNishimura

Raul Rubiera

Matthew Wonderly Tony Wooten

Contributing

Writers

Zachary Horner

Gary Mangum

Claire Mullen

Diane Parfitt

Aria Spears

Allison Underwood

Mary Zahran

Social Media Manager

Raven Scott

Graphic Designer

Annette Winter

Distribution

Jennifer Baker

Wayne Robinson

For advertising inquiries please contact sales@cityviewnc.com

Valeria Cloës

Magazine

Editor

vcloes@cityviewnc .com

Modern

Photo by Tony Wooten

EDITOR'S TAKE

As a beautiful autumn approaches, don’t fall for the temptation to litter

BY BILL HORNER III

Life is pockmarked with an array of puzzling incongruities Among them is the fact that we actively recruit volunteers from among our ranks to spend their weekends bagging up roadside trash — trash discarded by litterbugs who also come from among our ranks

A relative few carelessly violate norms . The rest of us are left to clean up after them, as if they were 3-year-olds still in the potty-training stage

Fall is nearly here, the most beautiful of all the seasons, and the most walkable It’s a great time to reinforce one of life’s eternal dictums: Tossing litter out your car window is moronic

Look, I really dislike a lot of things in life A handful of things — online bullying, yardwork, writing “your” instead of “you’re,” people who use the f-word in public and men who can wear skinny jeans — really, really irk me But few behaviors chafe me as much as the careless, idiotic act of littering

Why’s it so infuriating?

I dunno Aside from letting loose the occasional handful of empty sunflower seed hulls on long drives along open highways years ago, I can honestly say that, as an adult, I’ve never littered Something about my internal moral compass just won’t allow me to throw out as much as a crumpled-up straw wrapper, probably more biodegradable than those sunflower hulls I used to toss back in my sunflower seed-eating days

Lest you think this is a humblebrag, rest assured that my own life dossier has plenty of stains on it And I’m no tree-hugger But if you offered me $1,000 in cash to toss my empty Starbucks chai latte cup out my car window, I wouldn’t even vaguely consider it (Starbucks customers must share my proclivity; I never, ever see trash from Starbucks on my walks or cycling forays into the country . Bud Light and Pepsi drinkers, on the other hand, are the absolute worst ) I can’t bear to do it, and can’t bear to see others do it, either .

I took notes on my cell phone about what I saw during a recent walk down a rural road near my house There was a discarded Little Caesars pizza box . A diaper . Quite a few empty blue Bud Light bottles Three empty Styrofoam serving cups — presumably from an ice-cream run — one

with the spoon still inside Discarded potato chip and Doritos bags An empty Modelo can A half-full bottle of Mtn Dew Code Red . More fast food bags than I could keep track of Dozens of empty, flattened beer cans At least a half-dozen large drink cups, the kind you buy at convenience stores; some still had lids and straws intact . A shirt sleeve Empty take-out containers

That was just in the first half-mile

Littering is a Class 3 misdemeanor here in N C

Intentionally littering less than 15 pounds gets you a fine of up to $1,000 and 24 hours of community service In other words, it’s against the law

But so is speeding, many folks must reason; plus, it’s OK so long as you don’t get caught and you’re not reckless, right?

I’m sure that wasn’t on the mind of the people who threw out all the beer bottles on the road near my neighborhood They were solving a dilemma: they certainly didn’t want to get stopped with an open container of alcohol That’d be real trouble Much easier just to chuck ‘em out the window and let them be someone else’s problem, right? Simple . Fix two problems with a single throw (and break not one, but two, laws in the process)

I also can’t imagine the idiocy and lack of compunction in tossing the remnants of a bagged takeout meal on a roadway, either, instead of waiting until you got home

Alas, it happens . A lot . How much trash are we talking about? In North Carolina, about a million pounds of trash is collected in our Adopt-A-Highway programs, on average, each month . That probably puts the uncollected volume at at least another million or two pounds per month

We don’t just need more people like me who hate seeing it . We just need more of the rest of you to be respectful — and responsible for your garbage

Please Otherwise, you’re garbage

Bill Horner III

Executive Editor, CityView Media

Assistant Editor, CityView Magazine bhorner@cityviewnc com

SOMEDAY YOU’LL THANK ME

The hurricane chronicles

BY MARY ZAHRAN

Those of us who have lived in the Fayetteville area for any length of time know that September, in addition to being the official beginning of fall, is also the month when we are most likely to have hurricanes

For those of you who have not been through a hurricane, I offer you a preview of what you may experience if one occurs For those of you who are veterans of the hurricane season, I offer you a chance to travel down memory lane with me .

If you have been through just one hurricane, you know the answer to the following question: What is the best time to buy the supplies you need to get through a storm? The best time to buy these necessities is long before a storm is predicted

Something strange happens when people hear that a hurricane is coming their way They rush to the nearest grocery store or Lowe’s only to find that nothing they need is in stock . There is no bread or bottled water; there are no bags of ice, no flashlights, and no batteries The reason these things are not available is that the weather veterans bought them before the rookies had a chance to

After years of surviving September weather and all the surprises that can pop up, these battle-tested consumers develop a sixth sense about the best time to stock up . They are the ones with countless jugs of water in their basements and generators in their garages

At the top of my list of essentials is a manual can opener What is the point of having dozens of cans of non-perishables and an electric can opener in a house without electricity? It is not unusual to lose power during these storms, and at the very moment the power goes out, you will be standing in front of your electric can opener trying to open a can of tuna for lunch Take it from a veteran of the weather wars — this kind of thing will happen if you don’t plan ahead

Another essential is a portable radio I bought one in 1999 in anticipation of a possible catastrophe — a computer programming glitch that was expected to create havoc when 1999 became 2000 While that event never happened, decades later, my Y2K radio has seen me through many storms Just make sure the batteries are working Otherwise, your radio will be no more useful than a paperweight .

Family entertainment is another essential that many of us tend to overlook in our haste to find bottled water and batteries . If the power goes out and is not restored within a short time, leaving people without access to a television or a computer, a happy home can become a grumpy home .

As an avid book reader, I have never had a problem if the power goes out In fact, it has always been a welcome change to have a quiet house filled with people who are either reading or playing a board game

The secret to having a quiet house during a hurricane is to make sure there are enough flashlights and batteries for everyone to entertain themselves in a dark house It is especially important to keep flashlights handy when everyone goes to bed . If someone stumbles into an unlit bathroom in the middle of the night and either falls down or stubs a toe, your family may be treated to a new kind of vocal entertainment .

Nothing is more entertaining than the interviews reporters have with surfers determined to stay in the ocean because the waves that form ahead of a hurricane are too high and powerful for them to pass up Their enthusiasm usually disappears when local officials give them Sharpies and tell them to write their Social Security numbers on their bodies in case they drown and their next of kin needs to be notified

Something we hurricane veterans know for certain is that these storms always offer us a chance to discover new things about ourselves We may, for instance, think these storms are going to afford us the rare opportunity to spend quality time with our families, only to discover by day three that there is such a thing as too much quality time We may find out it is possible to eat too many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches But above all, we may discover that people who are deprived of fresh, hot coffee often turn into frightening creatures .

Mary Zahran, the proud owner of a manual can opener, can be reached at maryzahran@gmail . com

•

FAMILY MATTERS

Home is where the dusty rose bathroom is … not

BY CLAIRE MULLEN

When my husband and I bought our house over 10 years ago, we knew it would need a little TLC In our eagerness to get out of our getting-too-small-for-us rental, we both immediately fell in love with our home’s quiet, convenient location, large yard, and the wonderful neighbors, many of whom we already knew We brushed off its dated features, which, in large part, had not been changed since 1983, the year the house was constructed Every realtor, inspector, and contractor that walked through with us before we made our final offer assured us: “This house has great bones ” And it really does

While many of our friends were opting for move-inready homes with open floor plans, on-trend subway tile, sparkling stainless steel appliances, and a different shade of fresh gray paint in every room, we embraced our ‘80s baby with her more-closed-than-open design, canary yellow walls, plaid wallpaper borders, aged white appliances, and floral window treatments What we lacked in a new-fangled steam shower and sleek free-standing soaking tub in our master bathroom, we made up for with our gargantuan pink (I think the technical term when this color was all the rage in 1983 was “dusty rose”) built-in jetted garden tub and its coordinating pink shower tile and pink floor tile

We were novice homebuyers, grateful to own our own home and excited by the process of making it ours . We reasoned that these cosmetic challenges were nothing that couldn’t be overcome with a couple cans of paint, a few trips to Home Depot, and the help of Pinterest for some design “pin-spiration ” Plus, we were anxious to settle somewhere since in the middle of house-hunting, I was also seven months pregnant with our first child We would dive into these home projects head first and right away, we said, as we signed on the dotted line to purchase our new home

In a Herculean effort to get our new abode in order while we were still a family of two, we spent the last several months before our daughter was born replacing old carpet, painting the walls, transforming the upstairs bedroom that had belonged to the previous owners’ teenage daughter into a nursery, and cutting down several struggling pine trees that loomed dangerously close over the new

nursery . We had grand plans to move full steam ahead with knocking down a few obstructive walls, opening up our kitchen, demoing the Pepto Bismol bathroom, and overhauling the general aesthetic of each and every room . I went into labor carrying empty moving boxes downstairs from our daughter’s nursery, and her room was the only one in our house that was completely furnished and decorated according to our plan when we brought her home in April of 2014 And what the real estate agents, inspectors, and contractors don’t tell you is that fixing up a house, even one with “great bones,” takes a lot of time, a lot of money, and a lot of patience — three things that we were just about fresh out of as a young couple, just starting out, with a brand new baby

Over the course of the next 10 years, we learned the hard way that funds set aside for pipe dream things like surround-sound speakers, custom closets, and smart appliances disappear faster than you can say “old roof vs . Hurricane Matthew,” “30-year-old HVAC unit vs . Fayetteville July,” or “fluffy insulation vs nest-hunting mama raccoon ” Those are the types of things that you don’t account for when you add photos of marbled kitchens and Italian-tiled bathrooms to your “dream home” Pinterest board And that’s just the money part of it

Another thing it takes to renovate a 30-year-old home is time I’m not sure where the past decade went, but I do know that in the hustle and bustle of having a second child and everything else that ensues as those two children grow up, we’ve been too busy to devote much attention to home improvement and decor We’ve existed just fine with baskets of laundry adorning every corner, kids’ artwork push-pinned into the walls, cheap couches that sometimes double as trampolines, and a hodgepodge of kitchenware that we’ve held onto from college apartments, received as wedding gifts, and inherited from family members We are not fancy people and we don’t require fancy things

But recently, we began to notice impossible-to-ignore structural failings in our home like cracking tile in the bathroom shower, dips in the original kitchen floor that’s begging to be replaced, and drawer brackets that have begun to break from years of wear and tear, among other

concerning issues Problems with fixes that will require more than a Saturday morning DIY YouTube tutorial

And so, we are biting the proverbial bullet . We’re finally putting the plans that we made 10 years ago into motion and starting with renovating our dusty rose bathroom and our Brat Pack era kitchen . We’ve found a creative and adaptable contractor who indulges us with chuckles when my husband asks questions like, “How much would it cost to just skip the bathroom reno and keep the construction site porta potty rental instead?”

I’ve realized that we may have to sell our plasma for what some refrigerators cost these days .

I’m trying to wrap my mind around sharing a bathroom for months on end with a 7-year-old little boy who sometimes forgets, “If you happen to sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie ”

I’ve unsuccessfully scoured our house for a spare corner where a temporary makeshift kitchen could be erected, and deduced that DoorDash might just be our new best friend I’ve heard that gray is “out” and bold color is “in,” which is unfortunate considering that the one thing we did manage to accomplish all those years ago was painting the

vast majority of our walls gray

I’ve taken an online quiz to try to determine my interior design “aesthetic,” and learned that my tastes fall somewhere in the realm of mid-century-moderntraditonal-contemporary-transitional-farmhouseScandinavian-minimalist-maximalist-industrialbohemian-rustic-glam-coastal-mountain-cottage-French country-Mediterranean-shabby chic, if that makes sense

We’re choosing functional over fancy and have accepted the reality that no renovation project comes without a few “unexpecteds” along the way

We are all excited to bring two of the most used rooms of our home into modern times Well, maybe, all of us except my 10-year-old daughter who wistfully admitted, “I’m really going to miss the pink bathroom . It’s just so beautiful ”

Claire Mullen can be reached at clairejlmullen@gmail com, especially if you are an interior designer who specializes in the style described above

International Folk Festival

Fayetteville’s staple festival returns for its 46th year with a bit of the old and a flair of the new

BY ALLISON UNDERWOOD

The 2022 International Folk Festival kicked off with the annual Parade of Nations down Hay Street on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. Photo by Sabreena Czarnecki

EEvery fall, in the late days of September, when the leaves are changing, a sea of technicolor explodes from every block of downtown Fayetteville That is when you know Fayetteville’s International Folk Festival has returned

This year, attendees can expect some of the usual anticipated elements of the International Folk Festival Food trucks will line the promenade leading to Festival Park, the Parade of Nations will march down Hay Street, and vendors will spring to life with crafts and merchandise

As the festival kicks off its 46th year of celebration on Sept 28 with a few new additions — including a Youth Creation Station, a pre-parade breakfast, and an art exhibit highlighting pieces from both national and international Latinx artists displayed in the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County — festival contributors and showrunners have pulled out all the stops to make this a celebration like no other

Where it all began

Since its debut in 1978, the International Folk Festival, the longest-running multi-cultural festival in the region, has become a community staple With hundreds of food and art vendors, live music, and the popular Parade of Nations, people come from across the state to soak up the festivities

The origins of an event now cemented as a staple in Fayetteville lie with two women with a dream John

Malzone, one of the original creators of the Folk Festival, said he remembers the day Martha Duell and Mildred Evans approached him with an idea Martha, co-founder of the Cape Fear Botanical Garden and the creator of Lafayette Society, and Mildred, a former Fayetteville City Council member, wanted to create an event that every member of the community could enjoy “They explained to me that they were going to create a festival for the community to celebrate the unique fabric of Fayetteville and Cumberland County,” John said

John was no stranger to organizing festivals . In 1971, after returning from his tour as a draftee in the Vietnam War, John attended his first Fayetteville Christmas Parade He recalls being shocked by the quality of it; John quickly took his concerns to the Fayetteville City Council in January 1972 and Beth Finch, then-mayor of Fayetteville, who surprised him with her response .

“She said, ‘You think you can do better? You’re in charge,’” John said, smiling at the memory

John went on to manage the Fayetteville Christmas Parade for 10 years, building on its success each year

With this experience in John’s back pocket, the vision of Martha and Mildred, and a collective hope to better the community they fell in love with years before, the International Folk Festival was born

Gathering his contacts from the Christmas parade, John produced a festival like nothing Fayetteville had ever seen

The Fayetteville Arts Council presents the International Folk Festival. Photo by Matthew Wonderly

Everything we do is to use art and culture to bring people together

— Robert Pinson, CEO and president of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County

before That first year in 1978, 10,000 people turned out to the International Folk Festival The following year, the number doubled

“In those days, nobody felt very good about being from Fayetteville,” John explained

The culture of downtown Fayetteville during those days was drastically different from today’s plethora of coffee shops, restaurants, and family-friendly entertainment, he recalled But John said when the International Folk Festival came to town, those feelings of shame turned to pride .

Why it matters

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, the showrunner of the International Folk Festival, is at the root of that hometown pride From Martha and Mildred, the festival was managed by the Olde Fayetteville Association who then passed the baton to the Arts Council in 2000

With nearly 22 different cultures represented, 35 different marching units, and an average of 75,000 in attendance, the Arts Council works year round to make the festival happen .

“Everything we do is to use art and culture to bring people together,” said Robert Pinson, president of the Arts Council .

The people are what it’s all about, Robert expressed Anita Flowers, a representative of Romania in the Parade of Nations, agreed .

In 2008 Anita immigrated to the United States at age 26 While attending the International Folk Festival in 2014, Anita spotted a Romanian flag on the hat of another woman and a conversation sparked between the two

That woman was Laura Strater, a local special education teacher and leader of the Romanian representatives in the International Folk Festival Anita explained it meant

John Malzone was one of the people who produced the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County's first International Folk Festival in 1978. Photo by Raul Rubiera

Opposite, Beth Caro and Bryan Barretto prepare plates of food for guests.

Beth Caro makes a traditional Filipino farm outfit for the upcoming International Folk Festival.

The Philippine-American Club of Fayetteville performs the traditional Tinikling folk dance while dressed in costumes created by Beth Caro.

Photos by Tony Wooten

the world to her to find a Romanian community, a connection that never would have happened if it weren’t for the International Folk Festival

“We all [members of the Romanian group] grew up in a communist and war-ridden country,” Anita said, “and I think we all see the beauty of being able to live and excel in the land of the free . ”

For a festival that exudes patriotism and celebration, there was a time when the inevitability of the International Folk Festival was tested John recalls that fateful time in 2001

“When 9/11 happened, the entire country shut down There were no football games, there were no festivals,”

John said .

The board of the International Folk Festival conducted a meeting to decide whether continuing with the festival that year was feasible John felt it was important that they did

“We decided that if we couldn’t have the Folk Festival in the heartbeat of the U S military, if we said ‘no,’ then the enemy had won,” John explained

Just three weeks after the terror attacks, food booths sprung to life, music rang through the streets of downtown Fayetteville and Parade of Nations participants marched through the streets like they never had before “I’m not going to pretend that we weren’t scared But the spirit of Fayetteville rang true that year,” John expressed with pride

The magic behind it all

Twenty-three years later, the pride of each nation represented — from each stitch of the costumes to every diligently made meal — continues to exude from every performer, marcher, and vendor

The Philippine-American Club of

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Customer Focused. Community Strong.

I believe that what we are and where we used to live is still within us .

— Laura Strater, leader of the Romanian representatives

Fayetteville, a group of over 400 members, has been a part of the International Folk Festival since its start

Bryan Barretto, president of the club, said they begin planning for the festival every spring In addition to the group’s participation in the Parade of Nations, the Philippine-American Club of Fayetteville also has a food booth where they serve fried rice, barbeque sticks, and traditional snacks

Beth Caro, the parade coordinator for the PhilippineAmerican Club of Fayetteville, handmakes the traditional barong outfits that members wear for the parade The barong is a long-sleeved embroidered shirt, often worn in formal settings, and Beth said it can take her up to four hours to make just one

During the days leading up to the festival, the smell of homemade lumpia, Filipino spring rolls, and pancit, a rice noodle dish, made by Beth and other members of the Philippine-American Club of Fayetteville, waft through

her home Her house is filled with barongs and other traditional clothing ready to be displayed during the parade, Beth said

Festival participants for some countries, like Mexico, take up nearly three city blocks during the Parade of Nations, according to Robert

Others, like Romania, are small but mighty Laura said their participation varies each year, but regardless of numbers, it’s a pleasure and an honor to be a part of the parade .

“I believe that what we are and where we used to live is still within us,” Laura said

What to expect

This year, attendees at the International Folk Festival can expect a bit of old with a flair of the new, according to Robert The festival will have a small presence Friday, Sept 27, during 4th Friday with food and art vendors, live music,

Beth Caro distributes outfits before rehearsing the traditional Tinikling folk dance. Photo by Tony Wooten

and an arts “LatinXhibit” displayed in the Arts Council building, located at 301 Hay St

The festival will begin with a full day of celebration Saturday, Sept 28, beginning at 8:30 a m with a breakfast and followed by the beloved Parade of Nations on Hay Street in the heart of downtown Fayetteville at 10 a m

The remainder of the weekend will be packed with performances, music, food, and plenty of entertainment for all ages

The newest addition to the festival, the Youth Creation Station, is what Robert said he is most excited about Festival Park, at 335 Ray Ave , will be set up for the station with a variety of activities for children from story time to crafts and games, all with the focus of teaching the younger generation about the cultures of the International Folk Festival . Volunteers are at the root of the festival’s success and the Arts Council is always on the hunt for willing participants, Robert said To volunteer for the festival, join the parade, register as a vendor, or for more information on the International Folk Festival, visit the Arts Council website .

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allison Underwood is a Fayetteville native who graduated from East Carolina University in 2022 with a degree in journalism During her time at ECU, Allison was a writer and an editor for two university magazines and was featured in Countenance magazine . In her free time, Allison enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband and their cat and dog

A sporting legacy

Putt-Putt Fun Center celebrates its 70th anniversary this year by remembering the person who started it all in Fayetteville.

BY ZACHARY HORNER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY WOOTEN

TThe origin story has been told more than Batman’s — OK, maybe not that much — but it’s worth repeating here

Seventy years ago in Fayetteville, Don Clayton was an insurance salesman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and his doctor advised him to take some time off In that brief sabbatical, Don designed what would become the first putt-putt course, and with the help of his father, built the first “Putt-Putt” course on Bragg Boulevard in Fayetteville . The franchise, eventually named Putt-Putt Golf and Games, eventually expanded to hundreds of locations across the country

The company has changed significantly since 1954

Now, Putt-Putt Fun Center features more than golf, with additional attractions ranging from go-karts and laser tag to traditional arcade games And Don, who passed away in 1996, continues to leave his fingerprints on the family entertainment industry to this day .

In today’s vernacular, “putt-putt” and “mini-golf” are used interchangeably They're both similar: a simplified version of “real” golf where you use only a putter from tee to the hole Set aside are the drivers and irons and bunkers — players are draped right onto the green with the goal of

Members of the Junior Putters Association

getting the ball into the cup in as few strokes as possible . But make no mistake: what Don Clayton created was not mini-golf “Putt-Putt” is the trademarked name of what has become synonymous with the game itself, while “puttputt” is what Don Clayton created Prior to the creation of putt-putt, miniature golf featured putting around obstacles such as rotating windmills and cartoonish plastic statues of animals, with luck just as much, if not more important, than skill in wielding a putter Don wanted something different — something, according to a longtime friend, more competitive “Each hole is designed to make a hole-in-one,” said Joe Aboid, the commissioner of the Professional Putters Association (PPA), the professional putt-putt tour founded by Don in 1959 “They have standard rails, bump boards as we call them They are aluminum rails to give a consistency of kick and consistency of bounce . In miniature golf most of the time it’s brick and concrete ” Putt-Putt courses, he says, reward real skill; the best PPA players indeed have the ability to ace, or get a hole-inone, on any or all of the 18 holes during each round

Above, 1980s Putt-Putt course in Columbus, Ohio.

Below, Jimmy Carter, who was running for governor in Georgia, and family playing putt-putt in 1966.

“He enjoyed the competitive aspect of the game,” said Joe, who was 5 years old when he first met Don . “He didn’t think miniature golf was competitive enough ”

Joe’s father owned five Putt-Putt courses under the Golf and Games banner, and Joe, he said, “grew up in the business of putt-putt ” Joe later owned his own course in Lynchburg, Virginia, when he sold a few years ago

Bill Kirby Jr , a longtime Fayetteville journalist and columnist for CityView, played his first round of putt-putt at age 11 at the Raeford Road location in 1961 That was the first of, by his estimation, around 75,000 rounds of puttputt, a game he grew quickly attached to

“I was at the course every summer, 9 a m to 9 p m , and [practiced] every day,” Bill said “I picked up trash and swept the carpets to be able to play ”

Donna Clayton Lloyd, Don’s daughter, was very involved in the running of the Putt-Putt business until the family sold the company in 2004 .

“It is hard to put into words,” Donna said when asked what putt-putt and the business means to her “I sell real estate, and I have clients who come here from cities who have putt-putts People always have a putt-putt story They remember it from playing and working and relationships and jobs . The stories have been so vast . ”

Michael Knight, now the general manager of the Fayetteville location of Putt-Putt Fun Center, said he played on the Bragg Boulevard course growing up and now wants to create memories similar to those he had as a child

“When I went as a kid, it’s always been a family-friendly environment,” Michael said . “Knowing we have a safe space to come here, and I’m responsible for that, it makes you feel good Just to create an opportunity for families to have core memories like I did is rewarding in itself ”

Bill’s introduction to Don came formally when the PPA’s Parade of Champions, a syndicated television broadcast featuring top tournament winners from the previous year, came through Fayetteville’s Raeford Road location in 1962 Since then, Bill has established himself as one of the top PPA players of all time, earning admission to the association’s Hall of Fame in 1994 and winning the PPA National Championship in 1995 He continues to play on the tour to this day, serving as the director of the PPA’s Southern Tour and a member of the PPA Executive Committee .

“I was a dreamer, from the first time I met the National Champions, competing on the PPA Parade of Champions,” Bill said . “My dream was to one day be a PPA National Champion I just worked hard in practicing, knew how to manage a course I never stopped dreaming ”

Joe says Don longed for playing the game to provide someone a living, or for a game to be played for a million dollars Neither of those things have happened (yet), but Don created more than that .

Putt-putt, according to Donna, became a conduit for so much more

“It was his natural instinct to connect people and to encourage people to play together, and it was oftentimes some competitive edge,” Donna says “He was always forward-thinking and he watched for the kinds of changes in the world around us that would create competition for people’s time and attention ”

Putt-Putt facilities would later hold more than just courses, expanding to include more attractions and fun experiences That is where you will find Putt-Putt today: in the Putt-Putt Fun Centers . There are currently 28 locations in 12 states

David Callahan, a Fayetteville native, started working with Putt-Putt in 2000 and eventually bought the company in 2004 He said that the company has a place in the family entertainment market alongside attractions like trampoline parks and game rooms .

“There’s a lot of history in putt-putt,” said David, PuttPutt Fun Center’s CEO “We just happen to think we have a niche that can survive another decade or two . You have so many players enter the market now We just think we’ve got a boutique niche We’re focused on a larger building, more indoor attractions, but we’ll never leave the puttputt golf ”

While the entertainment offerings have expanded, the priority remains — as it did at its founding — establishing a family-friendly environment where people can feel safe

“It is a unique personal experience in a really fun, wholesome environment,” said Teresa Greco, Putt-Putt Fun Center’s COO . “It’s very safe, it’s clean, it’s friendly . We have such a variety of indoor and outdoor attractions It’s really

Michael Knight and Michael Edwards, assistant general manager of the Putt-Putt Fun Center of Fayetteville, in the arcade of the center.

Putt-Putt has expanded over the past 70 years to include multiple courses, go-karts, bumper boats, laser tag, and an indoor arcade.

Vance Bishop plays putt-putt.

Aaron Finley (middle), his son, 9-year-old Levi (left), and daughter, 5-year-old Catalina (right), pause for a portrait after completing a round of putt-putt at the Putt-Putt Fun Center in Fayetteville.

a place where you can let loose, let go, have really great family or friend memories, and carry on that tradition that we all have and impart that to the next generation ”

What should not be lost in all this is that Fayetteville made this happen

“Don loved Fayetteville,” Joe says “He had enough money to move anywhere he wanted to move to He could go any place he wanted to go He never left it ”

And in Fayetteville, Putt-Putt is “just a part of the community,” Bill adds

“Generations of families and kids grew up here playing the game,” Bill says “And countless kids and teenagers worked at the Putt-Putts here that were located on Old Fort Bragg Road, Raeford Road, Bragg Boulevard, and Owen Drive You can’t go anywhere in the country without someone saying they played PuttPutt somewhere ”

Donna probably saw this more than anyone, especially in her father

“He was so passionate about Fayetteville,” she says of Don . “I don’t think you’ll ever find a human being who lived in this city who had more vision and more passion for Fayetteville than my dad ”

Don Clayton is a Fayetteville icon, a historical figure, remembered fondly not just for his creation, but his entrepreneurial spirit and his lasting impact on both Fayetteville and this game many cherish

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zachary Horner is a contributing writer for CityView Magazine

Horner holds a bachelor's in journalism from Elon University and will graduate from the University of Kentucky in December with a master's of social work He and his family live in nearby Lee County

The statue of Lafayette stands at the Lafayette Plaza in Cross Creek Park downtown. Photo by Raul Rubiera

Saying goodbye again

200 years later, Fayetteville to join in on the Bicentennial of Lafayette's Farewell Tour celebration next March

BY GARY MANGUM

TTwo hundred years ago, a French nobleman who helped a very young United States win the Revolutionary War toured the country

Along the way, Gilbert du Motier — known as the Marquis de Lafayette — made a stop in Fayetteville, a town that had been renamed in his honor

This year and next, on the eve of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence, the American Friends of Lafayette will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s 1824-25 Farewell Tour That original tour happened after President James Monroe invited du Motier, the last surviving major general of the American Revolution, to visit the U S

Over 400 days and 25 states, Lafayette eventually made 250 stops in cities across the country

Fayetteville, the first U S city named for Lafayette in 1783, will hold its celebration on March 4-5 .

The bicentennial celebration of the Farewell Tour began in Staten Island, New York, on Aug 15 Like the original tour, the celebration will last 13 months and cover more than 6,000 miles and 250 cities It will end on Sept 8, 2025, at Mount Vernon, Virginia — George Washington’s home — and on the Potomac River in Maryland and Virginia on Sept 9 That was the date Lafayette’s ship sailed to the Atlantic Ocean and he began his return to France

“You feel a sense that we’re all Americans no matter our political differences,” said Hank Parfitt, the chairperson of Planning Committee for Fayetteville’s Bicentennial Celebration of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour and a past president (2010-2022) of the Lafayette Society of

Fayetteville . “When Lafayette visited, we were on the eve of America’s 50th birthday, so here we are on the 250th birthday The similarities are just striking This celebration dovetails nicely with what they call America 250 . It’s a big campaign ”

America 250 is the national celebration for the United States’ 250th birthday in 2026 .

“This (Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour) is a great lead-in to that,” Hank said “Hopefully between the two events we will have a surge in true patriotism that includes respect for our fellow citizens ”

The first farewell tour

President Monroe, who left office in early 1825, saw Lafayette’s appearance as a way to unite the country, Hank said

“His first term as president was a period of unity in the country Political parties disappeared They were called Democratic-Republicans,” Hank said “In the election of 1824, the four people who ran for president were all from the same party That’s where no one won the majority of electoral votes ”

After the election, won by John Quincy Adams through the House of Representatives, becoming president, while Andrew Jackson won the popular vote, Hank said the party began to splinter .

“His (Monroe's) vision of ending his second term with the harmony he had in his first term was rapidly escaping him,” he said “He felt this (Lafayette’s Farewell Tour) would be good for the morale of the country And it was because here is a figure on the world stage representing liberty, justice, and equality .

“He’s come all the way from France to your little country which is barely turning 50 years old and tell you what a great job you’ve done, how you’ve carried the torch for liberty and democracy, and look at all the improvements you’ve made ”

Hank said that an estimated 6 million people saw Lafayette in 1824-25 The nation’s population was around 9 6 million in 1820, according to that year’s census

The American Friends of Lafayette — a society dedicated to Lafayette’s memory, and “study of his life and times in America and France,” according to its website — has designated Fayetteville as a “premier bicentennial site” since it was the first city in the country named for Lafayette that he also visited, said Chuck Schwam, the executive director of the American Friends of Lafayette and head of its Lafayette Bicentennial Tour Committee

In 1783, Cross Creek was renamed Fayetteville by the N C . General Assembly, Hank said, noting that the patriotic sentiment was widespread

Across the U S , Chuck said there are now approximately 80 towns and cities named after Lafayette .

Gwenesta Melton, who succeeded Hank as president of the Lafayette Society, said, at the time of Lafayette’s tour, Fayetteville was the only city that was named after him that he actually visited, making the bicentennial celebration of the Farewell Tour an opportunity for the people of Fayetteville to be acknowledged and highlight the importance of Lafayette

“We want everybody to see what has become of this community from 1824-25, to see that the city itself is trying to promote [Lafayette’s] ideals,” Gwenesta said “Diversity

in the city is important and we can demonstrate that when people come and see this city ”

Gwenesta said the Lafayette Society is working with the American Friends of Lafayette’s Bicentennial Tour Committee to promote the celebration, embarking on fundraising efforts and a variety of creative contests .

Planning for the event

Planning for the national tour began in 2021, Hank said The Fayetteville Planning Committee for the Bicentennial Celebration of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour — supported by the Lafayette Society — began meeting in February 2022 and is a function to the organization

The Fayetteville Planning Committee is “a cross section of Fayetteville organizations,” Hank said, with representation from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County, the Fayetteville History Museum, the Museum of The Cape Fear Historical Complex, Fayetteville State University, Methodist University, and Fayetteville Technical Community College, and many others, as well as a liaison with city and county government .

“It’s really a community wide effort,” Hank said, “that way it represents the great diversity in our community ”

It’s a committee he’s proud of .

“This is a great committee with many people who have a passion for service to their community and who have developed a passion for Lafayette and his ideals, and are committed to our mission to commemorate, educate, and celebrate,” Hank said “They have really grown as a group and are pulling together as a team ”

One of those committee members is Anna Meyer,

The carriage used for the Grand Ball during Marquis de Lafayette's visit to Fayetteville is displayed at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Company (F.I.L.I). Photo by Tony Wooten

the chairperson of the Marketing Committee and executive director of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra Since Hank wanted the committee to represent the multitude of organizations in the area, Anna said she was happy to be a representative of FSO and the atlarge arts community by serving on the committee

Anna is also helping to plan live entertainment for the Farewell Dinner on March 5 and involving the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra in the process by holding a chamber music concert titled “Sounds of Lafayette” on Jan 25 at First Presbyterian Church .

“This concert will feature music written by French composers, some of whom were prominent during Lafayette’s lifetime,” Anna said “We hope our concert will serve as an exciting pre-event to the main celebration in early March ”

Fayetteville’s celebration

The celebration in Fayetteville begins March 4, with a reenactment of Lafayette’s horse-drawn carriage arriving, accompanied by the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry, his bodyguard 200 years ago

After the afternoon entrance into Fayetteville, Dance Master Charles Steplively of Virginia and the historical musical group Syllabub will be the entertainment at an authentic Regency period costume ball from 6-9 p m at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden . Tickets are $75 per person and $750 for a table of eight Janelle Preman, past regent of the Liberty Point Chapter of North Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution, is in charge of the ball

“With Fayetteville being one of the premiere cities recognized nationally, we’re trying to make it a big deal,” said Janelle, 54, who served in the Army and works as a civilian for the U S Army Special Operations “We have the entire facility (Cape Fear Botanical Garden) booked .” Being a former member of the

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military, Janelle said the Lafayette celebration is very important to Fayetteville, adding that the Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour is going to be amazing if it’s anything like the original

“Since we’re home to Fort Liberty,” Janelle said, “it has a lot of meaning to us for what he did for our military and where we are now ”

On March 5, event attendees can take the ticketed Lafayette Trail Tour with a guide or do a self-guided tour with a free app called TravelStorys Audio Guide during the afternoon

“Methodist [University] probably has, in the Lafayette collection, one of the nation’s largest collections of artifacts or souvenirs related to Lafayette’s visit And they will be on display and people can run out there,” Hank said “Ramsey Street is only 10 minutes away from downtown and during this event you can see the collection on display . ”

The carriage that Lafayette rode in also will be on display at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (F I .L .I .) Armory and Museum, Hank said This is for attendees who have purchased a ticket for the Lafayette Trail Tour, the Lafayette Ball, the Farewell Dinner or any of the three .

The nightcap will be on Wednesday evening with a dinner from 6-9 p m at the Linda and Ralph Huff Orangery at Cape Fear Botanical Garden with live music and theatrical portrayals of scenes from Lafayette’s visit Tickets are $95 per person and $1,000 for a table of eight

“For those who attend these events,” Hank said, “it’s a nice balance of learning some fun facts about history but at the same time be entertained ”

More details can be found on the organization’s Facebook page “Lafayette Society ” Other information can be found at the Lafayette Society’s website, lafayettesociety .org .

Fayetteville is one of seven places in North Carolina holding celebrations, Hank said The others: Murfreesboro on Feb . 26, Jackson on Feb 26 as well, Halifax on Feb . 27, Enfield on Feb 28, Falls of the Tar (Rocky Mount) on Feb 28, and Raleigh from March 1-2

The committee in action

Much work already has been done for the March event, but much more is ahead .

For example, the Fayetteville Planning Committee had to navigate one challenge in the form of dates for the event Fayetteville did not get a weekend to host the celebration since The American Friends of Lafayette wanted to maintain historical accuracy by granting each city their celebrations on the exact dates Lafayette visited them 200 years ago, Hank said

But, Hank said, Fayetteville also has some advantages given their celebration days are Tuesday, March 4, and Wednesday, March 5, thus not competing with weekend events in the area

“We do expect a good attendance from out of state but we also must have good representation locally from the people here,” he said “And for the people in Fayetteville it is a once-in-a-lifetime thing So we want to use this again as a way to lift up Fayetteville and show the world that Fayetteville is a good place to live, work, and play ”

Hank stresses it’s much more than a one-person job and offered as an example how the committee members changed the location of the March 4 procession into town

“When you go into an event that involves this many people, a committee can just save you,” said Hank, who is also a retired urologic surgeon and owns Center City Gallery & Books with his wife Diane “It can help correct some of your ideas that may sound good in the beginning but you realize that somebody else says, ‘Hey, you know we don’t have to do it this way Let’s do it this way ’”

Hank said the original intent was to stage the procession by closing all of the streets downtown while coming up Person Street, but that proved unwise given all the construction downtown

Someone spoke up at a committee meeting last month, Hank recalled, suggesting Lafayette Plaza as a great place instead given the nature of the celebration honoring Lafayette .

“It’s actually going to be quite dramatic and it’ll be really well done,” Hank said “So that was just a great example of the committee coming up with an alternate plan that’s going to be better than the original ”

The guiding light for the Fayetteville Planning Committee, as well as the Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour, is of course, the Marquis de Lafayette and his ideals

“Celebrating Lafayette allows us to reflect on the history and formation of our country and community,” Anna said “This celebration has the potential to bring people together to celebrate the American values of liberty and equality, as exemplified by Lafayette ”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gary Mangum is a journalist who has worked professionally for 44 years He began his career in 1977 at the Fayetteville Times The UNC-Chapel Hill journalism school graduate (1981) served as a sports reporter, designer, and copy editor for many newspapers over the years, including the Fayetteville Times, the Greenville News in South Carolina, the Orlando Sentinel, and the Commercial Appeal in Memphis before ending his career in 2021 at the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute, Indiana He has been retired since 2021 and has been providing features for CityView Magazine since 2023

Hank Parfitt, Dr. Gwenesta Melton, and David Mann gather at Lafayette Plaza to discuss upcoming celebrations honoring Marquis de Lafayette and his contributions to America during the Revolutionary War.

Photo by Tony Wooten

The Lafayette Society Creative Contests

The Lafayette Society is now accepting submissions for its poetry and video contests, according to its website.

Fayetteville is "inviting all residents and students in Cumberland County and Fort Liberty to submit a poem or video highlighting the values espoused by The Marquis de Lafayette, for whom we are celebrating the bicentennial of his 1824-25 visit to America: Liberty, human rights, equality, abolition of slavery and religious tolerance."

"Poetry Contest

The competition aims to ignite and celebrate the brilliance of your words through fostering a profound connection with Lafayette’s enduring principles. Every style of poem in welcome.

Lafayette Poetry Competition Prizes

First Place Winner: $400

Second Place Winner: $200

Third Place Winner: $100

Video Contest

The objective of the Fayette Video Contest is to encourage and promote excellence in creative expression in the video and film arts through developing an awareness and an appreciation for Lafayette’s timeless principles. Videos of every style are welcome.

Lafayette Video Competition Prizes

First Place: $700

Second Place: $300

Third Place: $100"

All contest entries are due by Dec. 1, 2024. Full rules and submission guidelines are available at lafayettesociety.org/creativity.

Chris Thrasher and Sam Kelley discuss details for the Lafayette Society's poetry and video contests supporting the bicentennial of Lafayette's visit to Fayetteville at Rude Awakening coffee house. Photo by Tony Wooten

Do you know someone in our community who quietly goes about helping others? Who gives selflessly and works behind the scenes to improve the lives of those around him or her? We want to hear about these amazing people.

CityView Magazine is soliciting nominations for our fifth annual Power of Giving Community Impact Awards.

Go to CityViewNC.com to submit a nomination. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 2. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and recognized during a luncheon, Nov. 14.

Please scan the QR code to fill out the survey.

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NOVEMBER 14, 2024

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Janelle Preman, Kensley Edge, and Chris Hoffman meet at Cape Fear Botanical Garden to discuss the upcoming Lafayette Ball.

The Farewell Tour Bicentennial

According to the Lafayette Society:

“Tuesday afternoon, March 4 — Lafayette arrives in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry — his bodyguard 200 years ago!

Tuesday evening, March 4 — Dance Master Charles Steplively of Virginia and the historical musical group Syllabub will help you polish your dance moves at an authentic Regency Period costume ball A truly magical experience!

Wednesday, March 5 — Explore Fayetteville’s 250-year history! See Lafayette’s carriage, the Liberty Point Resolves (signed a full year before the Declaration of Independence), and 200-year-old Lafayette souvenirs at Methodist University Take the Lafayette Trail Tour with a guide or with a free app .

Wednesday evening, March 5 — Enjoy a sumptuous dinner in the elegant Orangery at Cape Fear Botanical Garden along with live music and theatrical portrayals of scenes from Lafayette’s visit .”

For more information and to make your reservations, visit lafayettesociety or g/the-grand-tour-bicentennial/

200th Anniversary Lafayette’s Farewell Tour of America

The Lafayette Birthday Ball in 2023 was hosted by Rebecca Russell and her company BeeSpoke Vintage as part of the Lafayette Society's annual Lafayette Birthday Celebration. Photo by Malgorzata Dittmar-Nishimura

Who's Who

Meet

few of Fayetteville's Finest

Chris Fletcher’s passion lies in his role as a dedicated leader at Manna, where the mission is clear: to be the best church for its city .

chris fletcher

Chris Fletcher from Fayetteville, North Carolina, began as a janitor at Manna, a pivotal starting point not only for his career, but also in his life.

Chris’s passion lies in his role as a dedicated leader at Manna, where the mission is clear: to be the best church for its city. He attributes this calling to a divine intervention that redirected his life from pursuing a law degree in his early 20s.

Family is the cornerstone of Chris’s life, with his beloved wife, Rachel, and their four children serving as his pride and joy. He values his faith, marriage, and parenthood above all else.

Guided by his mother’s advice — “Don’t marry someone you can live with, but someone you cannot live WITHOUT,” — Chris has built his life around this principle.

What truly motivates him is the profound sacrifice of Jesus, driving his dedication to his faith and his community. He lives by the mantra, “The truth shall set you free.”

In moments of relaxation, Chris finds solace in sports, date nights dining at Sakura with his wife, and the soothing strains of music.

Fayetteville holds a special place in Chris’s heart, with the Ghost Tower being a cherished landmark - the very site where he proposed to his wife.

In addition to his work at Manna, Chris is actively involved with Fayetteville Soccer Club, reflecting his commitment to making a positive impact in our community.

portia Grady

Portia Grady, the visionary owner and executive chef behind The Friend’s Table, is a proud North Carolinian with deep roots in the state. Born in Wilmington and raised in Charlotte, she embodies the warmth and hospitality synonymous with Southern culture.

The Friend’s Table, Portia’s innovative culinary venture, redefines the brunch experience by blending trendy dishes with Southern comfort food, creative cocktails, and the vibrant energy of a live DJ. Her culinary passion shines through signature dishes like shrimp and grits, which have become hallmarks of her restaurant.

Her commitment to excellence is reflected in the numerous accolades she has earned, including the Open Table 2023 Restaurant Award. A proud alumna of UNC Pembroke, where she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education, Portia furthered her education with an MBA from UNC. Now, as a Doctoral Candidate with expected completion in 2026, she continues to expand her knowledge and influence, recently being accepted into the prestigious Yale School of Management Women’s Leadership Program.

Since 2018, Portia has independently employed and trained over 60 local talents, offering them a platform to build their careers. Recently, she has created fulltime salaried positions for some of her restaurant crew members, reflecting her commitment to providing stable, rewarding opportunities. Her leadership extends beyond the kitchen, as she actively engages in her community by adopting 12 local teachers to supply their classrooms with materials for the school year, ensuring they have the resources needed to succeed.

Her entrepreneurial spirit has also led her to expand The Friend’s Table’s catering services to professional athletic teams and local businesses, further solidifying her impact in the culinary world. She draws inspiration from the people around her—those she admires, collaborates with, and those who look up to her as a mentor. Her journey is one of continuous growth, always seeking to reach new heights and make a positive impact.

Portia Grady’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and purpose — a journey that continues to inspire and uplift those around her.

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253 Westwood Shopping Center Fayetteville, NC 28314

BY TONY

PHOTO

WOOTEN

Skin Specialists of Fayetteville

Beautiful skin is healthy skin! The team at Skin Specialists of Fayetteville has been voted the #1 MedSpa in the area for two years in a row. They help their clients on the journey to a clearer, fresher complexion that needs no filters.

Skin Specialists of Fayetteville is invested in all their clients’ skincare journeys. Owner Deanna Holt and her incredible team provide complimentary consultations for many of their services, take the time to listen to specific needs, provide pre-service checklists and post-service reminders, and do it all in a welcoming and inviting environment (can you say snacks?)!

You can purchase services now and save them in your patient account to use later. Want it all? Monthly memberships and military discounts are also available.

Services offered:

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• Dermal fillers

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• Customized facials (pregnancy/breastfeeding safe options available)

• Scalp treatments

• Brow tint/lamination

• Acne treatment

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209 Fairway Road, Suite C Fayetteville, NC 28305 www.bestskinoffayetteville.com

Dave Eavenson

Dave Eavenson serves as the Vice President and Director of Athletics at Methodist University — home of the 2024 NCAA DIII Men's Golf National Champions (one of 40 team national titles held by the Monarchs). Eavenson has been AD since 2017 after serving 20 years as a coach at MU.

910-630-7000, 5400 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311 Methodist.edu

For nearly 70 years, Hinkamp Jewelers has served customers in greater Fayetteville with the caring touch only a family business can provide. Today, Wally Hinkamp, the second-generation owner, along with sister Donna Hinkamp Warren, and devoted staff, continue to make “good things happen” for customers, old and new. For beautiful jewelry, custom creations, expert repairs and superior service, trust Hinkamp Jewelers.

201 S. McPherson Church Road Fayetteville, NC 28303 www.hinkampjewelers.com

Kim Pryzgoda, DDS

Fayetteville is home to many remarkable individuals, but one shining star in the community is Dr. Kim Pryzgoda, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill’s Adams School of Dentistry. Her dedication to improving patients’ oral health, aesthetics, and dental experiences has made her a trusted healthcare provider in the Fayetteville area.

Dr. Pryzgoda’s patient-centered approach empowers her patients by educating them about the importance of dental health and their treatment options. Her commitment to building strong relationships with her patients is part of what drives her to create an unparalleled level of service.

In addition to her thriving dental practice, Dr. Pryzgoda has also served on several community boards, including Fayetteville Academy, Fascinate-U Children's Museum, and the Fayetteville Technical Community College Dental Advisory Board.

Dr. Pryzgoda’s commitment to community service and being a compassionate healthcare professional is rare and distinguishes her as a gem in the Fayetteville community. We are fortunate to experience her kindness and powerful impact on our community.

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653 Hay St. Fayetteville, NC 28301 www.kimpryzgodadds.com

Pryzgoda Kim DDS PA

Fall in love with fitness again in Fayetteville

BY ARIA SPEARS

When it comes to fitness, sometimes even the most-loved routines can feel dull

After learning to swim at 28 with a coach and a pool noodle surrounded by Fort Leonard Wood Army divers and other swimmers, I learned that challenging myself to acquire new skills in fitness can be life changing What started as unnatural and difficult eventually became a stress-relieving routine, with opportunities for new connections and expanded horizons It’s never too late to try something new .

As summer winds down and colder months come into view, moving is more important than ever Invite a friend or two to mix up your fitness routine this fall at some of these indoor Fayetteville fitness hotspots and ignite a fresh love for fitness

Acquire

agility and stay nimble with fencing

The All-American Fencing Academy in downtown Fayetteville features Fourth Friday Walk-In Classes where you can test out your fencing abilities with a one-time class

“Although the former primary intent of the club was to build and maintain a strong Army Fencing Team, the club’s strength lies in its civilian and Army family students,” the website states “We welcome the whole community Our fencers come from all over the Sandhills region and Fort Liberty, N C The All-American Fencing Academy is the only location teaching and training fencers within a 2 hour radius ”

Light up the room with new moves

Sometimes feeling confident in your own skin on the dance floor is simply a matter of adding moves to your repertoire Roland Dance Studio and Fayetteville Latin Dance offer the opportunity to brush up on styles from country line dancing, to swing, to salsa, and beyond Roland Dance Studio offers a beginner group lesson at 8 p m every Friday followed by open dancing with a fullservice bar from 9-10:30 p m , along with other classes and lessons during the week

Fayetteville Latin Dance offers classes for absolute beginners to advanced levels, with classes on kizomba, salsa, bachata, Afro movement, and more Each class is designed for walk-ins to drop in at any time The team also offers individual lessons and private group lessons . Surprise birthday plans for your music-loving friend? Check!

Experience the immersive calm of swimming

Though each individual might compete or swim alone, swimming is a community sport The Fort Liberty Masters Swim Club creates a space for swimmers of all skill levels to develop their swimming skills in a community-oriented environment

“Masters is a diverse group of competitive, triathlete, and fitness swimmers,” says the Fort Liberty Morale Welfare & Recreation (MWR) aquatics site “Every practice has an instructor on deck . We welcome swimmers of all ability levels!” Learn more at MWR Aquatics or call 910-908-6187

Whether you swim for speed, endurance, fun, or health, swimming is an activity you can do from age 9 to 99

Reach New Heights with Rock Climbing

When the fall and winter days grow shorter, an afterwork climb might become the end-of-day, stress-relieving ritual you need . Whether climbing at The Climbing Place or Triangle Rock Club Fayetteville, you will find a full-body workout to strengthen both your mind and muscles The Climbing Place offers a free class to educate beginner climbers on safe practices, as well as paid technique and lead climbing classes by appointment On Wednesdays, The Climbing Place features discounted rates on gear rentals and climbing time for military personnel

In addition to fitness and yoga classes, Triangle Rock Club Fayetteville offers discounts for first-time climbers, as well as classes on lead climbing, bouldering, rope climbing, and more

Not sure who can climb with you? Post a notice with your contact and climbing schedule on the gym bulletin boards and find your very own climbing crew

Create your plan to fall in love with fitness

It’s common for seasonal changes and holidays to lead to cold-weather blues . But Fayetteville indoor sports and recreation opportunities like these create plenty of opportunities to get out of your head, make some memories, and stay fit all season long .

Aria Spears is a freelance copywriter and civic leadership enthusiast . She can be contacted at hello@ aria-writes com

Army officer Dylan Nigh defies gravity as he ascends a wall at the Triangle Rock Club. He climbs as much as four times a week at the club. Photo by Tony Wooten

Vive Lafayette!

BY DIANE PARFITT

As Fayetteville prepares for the Bicentennial Celebration of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour in March of 2025, we can all enjoy some reading about the Marquis de Lafayette I don’t mean heavy, stodgy, textbooks I’m suggesting some delightful fiction and non-fiction books that can give a wealth of information about Fayetteville’s namesake Lafayette was born on Sept 6, 1757, in south-central France, and we recognize his birthday every year on the weekend after Labor Day This year, it will be Friday and Saturday, Sept 6-7 At about the same time, the year-long celebration of the Farewell Tour kicked off in New York The “rolling celebration” comes to Fayetteville on March 4-5, 2025, the exact same dates when Lafayette honored our city with a visit in 1825 Not only are we the first city named for Lafayette (1783), we are also the only namesake city he visited, even though he visited over 250 cities and towns on his Farewell Tour

Here are some fascinating books about Lafayette for all ages and interests . All continue to be popular books available at City Center Gallery & Books

1. Lafayette

by Harlow Giles Unger

Considered one of the best and most readable books on Lafayette, this gripping biography shares an intimate portrait of the heroic French nobleman who left his life of luxury in France at 19 to sail to America to fight for American liberty Even at his youthful age, he was named a major general in the Continental Army and earned the love and respect of his fellow soldiers

When Lafayette left America after victory was secure, he tried to introduce democratic principles in his home country After the French Revolution got out of control, he was imprisoned for five years in Austria, but his hope for a French democracy was eventually realized

2. Hero of Two Worlds by

Mike Duncan

Published in 2021, this book by popular history blogger Mike Duncan became an instant bestseller . Written in a very readable style, we learn about Lafayette’s 50 years at the center of the Age of Revolution With this book, we can be inspired by Lafayette’s story and reflect on how we can defend his ideals of justice and equality today

3. Lafayette in Two Worlds: Public Cultures and Personal Identities in an Age of Revolutions by Lloyd

Kramer

Professor Lloyd Kramer from UNC-Chapel Hill, Lafayette expert, and former chair of the UNC History Department, has visited Fayetteville

All men are born equal; it is up to us to ensure they remain so .

— Marquis de Lafayette

many times to share stories about Lafayette that focus on his ideals of liberty, freedom, and equality From his service in the American Revolution to his sacrifices in the French Revolution and his support of the Greek and Polish Uprisings, Lafayette stood for the values that we cherish Lloyd also talks about Lafayette’s literary and philosophical salons, his promotion of numerous prominent writers (many of them women), and his outspoken support for the abolition of slavery

4. A Spy Called James: The True Story of James Lafayette, Revolutionary War Double Agent by Anne Rockwell (author) and Floyd Cooper (illustrator). Grades 2-5

This picture book tells the story of James Armistead, an enslaved man who spied for the Americans Serving under General Lafayette at Yorktown, James was asked to be a double agent He convinced General Cornwallis that he had escaped from his master and was willing to join the British Army Cornwallis then asked him to spy on the Americans James gave the British officers false information while bringing accurate information to Lafayette . After the war, thanks to Lafayette’s support, Armistead received legislative emancipation and changed his name to James Lafayette

5. Lafayette: Hero of Two Worlds A Comic Book for All Ages

Illustrations by graphic art students at Fayetteville State University, along with historically accurate text, make this graphic novel an ideal and fun way to learn about Lafayette . Although suitable for readers as young as 10, high school students will fully appreciate the fact-filled text by David Reid, director of the Museum of the Cape Fear . Adults will enjoy it too as a quick way to become a Lafayette expert

6. Lafayette! (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #8): A Revolutionary War Tale by Nathan Hale. Grades 3-7

This graphic novel will give kids the story of young Marquis de Lafayette, who came from nobility but was also looking for an adventure The cartoons show how he became one of Washington’s most trusted generals and brought French troops and ships to help America win His support for freedom, liberty, justice, and abolition are enduring values for young people to learn .

7. The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray

Three women, three eras, one castle

This book follows three generations of women who lived in Lafayette’s chateau in Chavaniac, France, where he was born and raised During the French Revolution, his wife Adrienne stayed there in defiance of the radical Jacobins . During World War I, New York socialite Beatrice Astor Chanler was looking for a cause Her marriage was crumbling, so she goes to France where she uses the family fortune to restore Lafayette’s crumbling chateau to create a safe place for sick and orphaned children

Then, in the 1940s, Marthe Simone, who grew up as an orphan in the chateau, works as a teacher as the Nazi forces occupy France Marthe was able to use her talent as an artist to create false documents to protect the Jewish children in the chateau

Weaving these three stories together, Stephanie Dray creates a worthy historical novel based on true events

8. A Destiny of Undying Greatness: Kiffin Rockwell and the Boys Who Remembered Lafayette by Mark Trapp

During the first two years of World War I, prior to America’s involvement, many of our young men wanted to join the fight Mark Trapp shares the story of one of them, Kiffin Rockwell, from North Carolina These brave men, inspired by the ideals of Lafayette and his role in our fight for independence, went to France and formed “an all-American squadron of the world’s first fighter pilots,” according to the Amazon book blurb — the Lafayette Escadrille

Author Mark from Chicago will be in Fayetteville at FTCC on Friday, Sept . 6, to talk about his book as part of the Lafayette Society’s birthday celebration Go on their website lafayettesociety org for details on the lecture and other birthday events . While there, read about the Farewell Tour Bicentennial under its tab

With special thanks to my in-house Lafayette expert and editor Hank Parfitt

Diane Parfitt owns City Center Gallery & Books in downtown Fayetteville She can be reached at citycentergallerybooks@gmail com

THE TO-DO LIST

Here are just some of the things happening in and around Fayetteville this month. Scan the code with your phone for more events, additional information and to post your event on our website. Events are subject to change. Check before attending.

Sept. 27

4th Friday Fiesta Latina

Cool Spring Downtown District

Downtown Fayetteville Hay Street

visitdowntownfayetteville .com

Sept. 28-29

46th Annual International

Folk Festival

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/ Cumberland County

Festival Park

335 Ray Ave eventeny .com

Sept. 28

Blind to Boundaries Fashion Show

Vision Resource Center

Kiwanis Recreation Center

Sept. 5-29

Footloose: the Musical

Cape Fear Regional Theatre

1209 Hay St

cfrt org

Sept. 6-7

17th Annual Lafayette

Birthday Celebration

The Lafayette Society

Various locations lafayettesociety org

Sept. 7, 22 and 28

Drop-In Garden Tour

Cape Fear Botanical Garden

536 N Eastern Blvd

capefearbg org

Sept. 8

Symphony on Tap

Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra

Haymount Truck Stop

100 Broadfoot Ave . fayettevillesymphony org

Sept. 10

2024 Public Safety Valor Awards

Greater Fayetteville Chamber

Manna Church

5117 Cliffdale Road chamber .faybiz com

Sept. 14

Fashion and Talent Showcase

Together As One Bridal Boutique

7716 Raeford Road, Suite D eventbrite com

Sept. 20

24th Annual Toast of the Town

The CARE Clinic

Cape Fear Botanical Garden 536 N Eastern Blvd toastofthetownfay com

Sept. 21

Music of the Knights

Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra

Seabrook Auditorium at FSU

310 Green St ., Suite 101 ci ovationtix com

352 Devers St eventbrite com

Sept. 28

Ladies R&B Kickback Concert

Crown Complex

Crown Coliseum

1960 Coliseum Drive crowncomplexnc .com

Sept. 28

Fayetteville Natual Hair

Expo 2024

John D Fuller Recreational/ Athletic Complex

6627 Old Bunce Road fnhexpo com

Sept. 28

Fayetteville Oktoberfest

Bar Crawl

PubCrawls com

Various locations eventbrite com

Cape Fear Botanical Garden. CityView photo by Tony Wooten

When

Thursday, Nov. 30 from 5-7

Friday, Dec. 1 from 5-7

Saturday, Dec. 2 from 10

Thursday, Dec. 7 from 5-7 PM

Friday, Dec. 8 from 5-7 PM

Saturday, Dec. 9 from 10 AM - 5 PM

Our Christmas Home Tour is in two of our neighborhoods, the first two weekends in December on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Fayetteville, NC Lennox Haymount

We are offering interest buydowns starting as low as 4.5% buydown for the 10 move-in ready models during this Christmas Parade of Homes Tour.

You are invited to celebrate the season with the Floyd Christmas Open House. Come see the exquisitely, decorated homes and all of our latest features. Pick up your gift from under our tree and enjoy a glass of eggnog while sharing holiday food, fun, and cheer with us.

Discover timeless luxury at this brand new community of townhomes built by Floyd Properties; owned and operated by Lennox Townhomes, LLC. Lennox at Haymont showcases our executive townhomes with exquisite finishes and superior construction, redefining high standards. Centrally located in desirable Haymount, our 70 years of home-building expertise ensures a residence that stands the test of time. Welcome to a legacy of refined living.

Where

Scan for information and directions.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

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

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• 2023-2024 Guide to the Flu

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• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Vaccines & Immunizations

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• Urinalysis

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Beverly de La Rosa, CPNP-PC

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

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