The Rant Monthly | December 2024

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SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA

GAMES & TOYS

RAVEN FORGE EXPANSION, NEW TOY STORE PROVIDE LOCAL GIFT STOP FOR COLLECTORS AND GAMERS YOUNG AND OLD ALSO INSIDE: HOLIDAY CALENDAR | SCHOOL WORKERS SEEK RAISE | MARKETPLACE BREAKS GROUND

2 | December 2024

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Happy Holidays MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS AND WISHES COME TRUE

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y The Rant l h t on M November 2024 | Sanford, North Carolina A product of LPH Media, LLC Vol. 6 | Issue 12 | No. 69

Editorial Gordon Anderson | gordon@rantnc.com Billy Liggett | billy@rantnc.com Jonathan Owens | jonathan@rantnc.com Richard Sullins | richard@rantnc.com Advertising Nate Ewing | advertising@rantnc.com | (919) 478-0560 Contributors Jacalyn McAlister Editorial Board Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, Missy Elliott, Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen, Melissa Ferrick, Marvin Sease, Arthur Russell and Prince Rogers Nelson

Find Us Online: www.rantnc.com Facebook: facebook.com/therant905 Twitter: twitter.com/therant905 Instagram: instagram.com/therantnc

The Rant Monthly is located in beautiful Sanford, North Carolina.

Please address all correspondence to LPH Media LLC, 3096 South Horner Boulevard #126, Sanford, NC, 27332. Editorial email: billy@rantnc.com.

Advertising email: advertising@rantnc.com The Rant Monthly is published monthly.

The Rant Monthly is wholly owned and operated by LPH Media LLC, a North Carolina corporation.

Submissions of all kinds are welcome. This publication is free. Removal of this newspaper from any distribution point for purposes other than reading it constitutes theft, and violators are subject to forced marathon viewings of Growing Pains. Printed by the Wilson Times Co. in Wilson, North Carolina.

Copyright 2024, LPH Media LLC, all rights reserved.

So speak your peace in the murmurs drawn. But youth is wasted on the young.

The Rant Monthly | 3

4 | December 2024

@therant905 COLD OPEN

A holiday Rant for the kids and the kids at heart

I

did the math once and came to the realization that had I never opened the toys my parents bought me back in the 1980s, I would be a billionaire by now. Maybe I’m exaggerating. But it can’t be by much.

My family didn’t have a ton of money when I was growing up, but my parents always found a way to make Christmas morning special for me and my younger brother and sister. My favorite Christmas was 1983 ­— I was 7, and that year northeast Ohio experienced a record-breaking blizzard on Dec. 24 that required more than one Rudolph to navigate through.

We woke up to about two feet of snow outside, and underneath the tree that year was Castle Grayskull and a whole army of He-Man toys that Santa had arranged in an intense battle scene. Dad also got himself an Atari that year, so in between fight scenes, I remember sitting down with him to play a little Burger Time or pixelated football. Ah, the memories.

Thoughts of Christmas 1983 hit me like a Cleveland cold front the first time I walked into Rogue Toys, a new downtown vintage toy store and one of the subjects of this month’s cover story in The Rant Monthly. I saw many of those He-Man toys from 40 years ago (and a Castle Grayskull still in great shape), in addition to tons of old Star Wars, G.I. Joe and Thundercats figures that I had and played with until their arms and legs fell off back

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The Rant Monthly DECEMBER 2024

SANFORD, NORTH CAROLINA

GAMES & TOYS

RAVEN FORGE EXPANSION, NEW TOY STORE PROVIDE LOCAL GIFT STOP FOR COLLECTORS AND GAMERS YOUNG AND OLD ALSO INSIDE: HOLIDAY CALENDAR | SCHOOL WORKERS SEEK RAISE | MARKETPLACE BREAKS GROUND

in my youth. For anyone who grew up in that era, this store is pure nostalgia. For my kids, the store was still magical (toys are toys are toys).

We feature Rogue Toys and another Sanford fun stop, Raven Forge Games, just in time of the holiday season this year.

Both offer perfect gifts to create the kind of Christmas mornings I had as a kid, but more importantly, both offer something fun and unique to our downtown area that continues to grow and seek businesses that are here for the long haul.

Enjoy this month’s issue, shop locally and Merry Christmas to all of you. Thank you for continuing to support The Rant.

— Billy Liggett

FOUR GREAT (FORGOTTEN) TOYS FROM THE 80s Everyone remembers Cabbage Patch Dolls, Star Wars and Nintendo, but these toys also rocked:

Jem & the Holograms

California Raisins

ViewMaster

Teddy Ruxpin

Jem was truly outrageous and she rocked way harder than Barbie and friends.

You really had to live through the 80s to understand just how popular these were.

Long before VR headsets, the View Master was the only way to go 3D.

All you needed was a cassette to shove in his back, and Teddy Ruxpin came to life.

The Rant Monthly | 5

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The Rant Monthly | 7

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Commish’s vote among 60K challenged in Riggs race

By Gordon Anderson gordon@rantnc.com A candidate for the North Carolina Supreme Court has challenged more than 60,000 votes across the state in a quest to overcome his opponent’s slim lead.

Of the votes being challenged by Republican Jefferson Griffin, 215 are in Lee County.

Democrat Allison Riggs leads the race by just over 600 votes statewide.

The bases for the challenges vary — seven are Vorbeck voters Griffin’s campaign says aren’t registered, and two are alleged to be felons. One more is an absentee voter alleged to be ineligible to cast a ballot.

The remainder — 205 total — are voters the Griffin campaign says didn’t provide crucial information when registering,

the Board of Commissioners, has voted without problem in primary, municipal and general elections in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

typically either a Social Security number of driver’s license number. One of those names should be familiar to anyone who follows local politics — Taylor Vorbeck, a Republican member of the Lee County Board of Commissioners.

Vorbeck said the notice she received included a QR code that took her to the N.C. State Board of Elections website, but suggested no other course of action.

Vorbeck said she was notified by the North Carolina Republican Party that her name was on the list.

Jane Rae Fawcett, Lee County’s elections director, told The Rant that the validity of votes challenged by the Griffin campaign will be determined by state elections staff in Raleigh and that a recount conducted locally didn’t change any votes in the race. A hearing of the Lee County Board of Elections was set for Dec. 2 to look at the votes of a handful people alleged to be felons or whose verification is pending.

“I don’t understand how that information was removed,” she said when reached for comment, explaining that she registered to vote in Lee County in 2019 at the local DMV office. “Both my driver’s license and my Social Security Number were given to me by the government, so I don’t have any reason to hide them. I’m wondering if anyone is trying to figure out why that information was removed (from my registration). It’s baffling that this could happen.”

The State Board of Elections provided the following statement for anyone who has received a notice that their vote is being challenged:

Vorbeck, who was elected in 2022 to represent the county’s fourth district on

“A candidate for N.C. Supreme Court, Jefferson Griffin, has challenged the election results and has alleged that some voters were not eligible to vote in the election. If you received a notice from the North Carolina Republican Party stating, ‘your vote may be affected by one or more protests filed in relation to the 2024 general election,’ it means that Mr. Griffin has alleged that your ballot is ineligible. The State Board and county boards of elections are considering these challenges in the coming weeks.”

For her part, Vorbeck visited the Lee County Board of Elections on Nov. 26 and filled out a new registration form.

“They printed off my voter registration form, and they couldn’t say why that information wasn’t on there,” she said. “I’d give them my blood type if they wanted it. It’s just bizarre that I can vote (in eight elections) and this happens now.”

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The Rant Monthly | 9

10 | December 2024 NO JUSTIFICATION FOR STORY ON SALARIES The Sanford Herald published a story in November listing the salaries of many public officials in Lee County who earn more than $100,000 per year.

The story didn’t include any reason for the disclosure of the salaries other than citing it as “a public service.” The story also included the salaries of three Broadway employees who make less than $100,000.

Salaries of public employees are a matter of public record, and public bodies are required to provide them in response to any requests that may be made. That is without dispute. What The Rant disagrees with is randomly reporting those salaries to the public — particularly as a large scale information dump — without some allegation of wrongdoing, context about whether the salaries are significantly higher or lower than what those employees’ peers may earn, or some other reason to make the details of an individual’s employment a matter of public interest. The story didn’t attempt any such justification.

The departments of a handful of the employees whose salaries were disclosed, such as finance or human relations, were included in the story. The vast majority of the employees’ positions or departments, however, were not identified until later added (according to the story’s author).

We feel that detail further clouded any visible reason for the story.

Just as public bodies have a responsibility to disclose public information, journalists have a responsibility to weigh whether publicizing that information for no apparent reason does the public a demonstrable good. We suspect the story had its genesis in the fight over education funding between the Lee County Board of Commissioners and the local school board. But disclosing the salaries of people unrelated to that struggle will do nothing to resolve it. Instead, anybody who picked up the weekend edition of The Herald may conclude that there is a problem that does not exist.

We’ve always said people should read both The Herald and The Rant, and we’re more than glad to point out when they’ve done great work. That said, we’re also willing to point out what we see as a misstep.

This is one of those times.

OPINION

@therant905

DEGENERATIVE AI

No more silence on local elections

By Billy Liggett

I

spent Election Night in East Texas with family this year — our thoughts focused more on my mother and her battle with ovarian cancer than the winner of a tight presidential race. We gathered at my aunt’s house for ribs and quality time together while the presidential election played out on wallmounted TV in another room. Only occasionally did we peek over to see the early results.

My sister and I — two blue dots in a rural Texas county that would go on to vote 82 percent in favor of Donald Trump — were a bit more anxious than our mostly MAGA family — their confidence that night was both surprising and unsettling.

I entered the evening with false hope that Kamala Harris and the Democrats had done enough to tilt the swing states in their favor, but Trump’s win on Nov. 5 was decisive. Few in my family seemed as perplexed as I was.

I had questions that night. And not the combative “What the hell are you thinking?” type of questions that can ruin any family gathering (and look, considering the record of the man who won, I would have been justified in such a question).

Instead, I sought to understand the

“Forget toys, boomer. I need more YouTube followers.”

mindset of the “other side,” which in this case were the people I’ve known my entire life. Our discussions were civil. Eye-opening. Frustrating, but educational.

Lee County, North Carolina, is a little more “purple” than my hometown, but it’s a county that has gone Trump three consecutive elections and a county that this year voted in an entirely Republican Board of Education and a majority Republican Board of Commissioners. Thankfully, even we couldn’t elect Mark Robinson for governor, but that contest was far closer here than in other parts of the state.

In talking to my family, one thing we agreed on is that civil discourse is increasingly rare in politics. Our views are

shaped by both our surroundings and whatever information source we choose to consume. Fox News delivered the results in my aunt’s house that night, and I’m not entirely sure she’s aware that other channels exist. I get a lot of my news from social media algorithms that have been trained to feed me only the headlines that won’t upset my stomach.

Gone are the days of highly respected newspapers and nightly news programs delivering unbiased reporting and leaving the rest for us to decide. News sites and channels today exist to spoon-feed us and coddle our views rather than challenge them.

That’s why it was depressing to see two still-standing stalwarts in the news-

The Rant Monthly | 11

rantnc.com paper industry, The Washington Post and the LA Times, announce they would not endorse a candidate for president prior to the election. Readers on both sides of the political aisle saw the moves as cowardice rather than an act of neutrality, and the damage was swift. The Post lost more than 250,000 subscribers as a result, and the editor of The Times announced her resignation less than two weeks before Election Night.

The Rant’s decision not to endorse local or national candidates this year was, thankfully, not met with such retribution. This is likely because The Rant has never endorsed a candidate, at least not since launching our printed publication in 2019.

Not that we hadn’t considered it. We feel our main duty each election season is to inform the public of who the candidates are and what their stances are on important local (and sometimes state and national) issues. We provide a service by offering extensive, equal-time Q&A op-

portunities to every candidate, regardless of party. In the past, we also helped produce radio interviews with candidates and provided free access to those programs.

But we’ve never outright endorsed a candidate, at least not in print. Our mindset was this — we’re not here to tell you how to vote, and (frankly) who cares what we think, anyway? I’ve worked with editors and publishers in the past who operated under delusions of grandeur and a mindset that their stamp of approval on a candidate was valuable enough to tip the scales in a close election.

I always viewed our silence as a positive.

But this year our silence bothered me.

Republicans swept the field for the Board of Education, and while I have nothing personally against the four candidates who won, I do take issue with the Republican Party’s stance on public education in our country. I disagree with the idea that increasing access to private schools through taxpayer-funded vouchers somehow helps our public schools. I dis-

agree with the party’s threats to cut federal funding to any school that pushes Critical Race Theory and its push to create a credentialing body to certify teachers who embrace “patriotic values” or a “Parental Bill of Rights” that is aimed squarely at silencing the LGBTQ+ community.

Public education in our country is about to take a big hit at the federal level, and we need fighters at the local level to stand up to these Project 2025-inspired policies. An all-GOP board will be a rubber stamp on these policies. This isn’t good for our students and teachers.

Qui tacet consentit. Silence gives consent.

Had we endorsed any particular candidate at the local or state level, would it have made a difference in the outcome on Nov. 5? Maybe, maybe not. I was part of a team that handed out endorsements at The Herald between 2007-2011, and I’ve been part of much larger newsrooms that put a lot of thought and effort into their endorsements in the past. I joked during my time at The Herald that my endorse-

ment was often a bad luck charm for local candidates.

But at least we made our case and expressed what we believed in. There’s something very American about that — that whole First Amendment thing.

I didn’t like the outcome of this election, and the advice that is often tossed out to the losing side is “do something about it next time.” The Rant has spent the last five years earning your trust and providing a forum for the community. Going forward, we’re going to use our forum to point out the candidates we feel are most qualified.

We will still provide equal time and as much content as we can so voters can make an educated decision at the polls.

But we’ll also throw in our 2 cents, which isn’t worth much these days (thanks, Biden). Regardless of the outcome, we’ll fight harder for what we believe in. We invite you all to do the same. o Email Billy Liggett at billy@rantnc.com.

12 | December 2024

GAMERS & COLLECTORS UNITE Raven Forge’s move to a larger location on South Steele Street and the addition of Rogue Toys on Chatham Street in downtown Sanford are big additions to the local retail options this holiday season, especially for those with gamers, card collectors and vintage toy enthusiasts in the family.

Image: Pikachu riding a black raven in the snow, created using Midjourney

@therant905

The Rant Monthly | 13

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COVER STORY

TOY STORE RENAISSANCE WITH THE EXTINCTION OF BIG BOX TOY STORES, SMALLER SHOPS LIKE RAVEN FORGE GAMES AND ROGUE TOYS IN DOWNTOWN SANFORD ARE SERVING A CUSTOMER BASE OF COLLECTORS AND GAMERS

B Y B I L LY L I G G E T T A N D G O R D O N A N D E R S O N

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oys ’R Us. KB Toys. FAO Schwarz. Those who grew up in the 1980s and earlier might remember the joy of walking through the doors of a large store dedicated solely to toys and games. Especially around Christmas, trips to the toy store were reconnaissance missions to build that ever-important wishlist for Santa. For parents, they were a one-stop shop for Christmas morning magic.

When Toys ’R Us closed the last of its big box stores in 2021, it marked the end of a retail era in the U.S. as parents (and Santa) turned to online shopping for their toys and games. Their absence did open the door for a resurgence of “mom and pop” toy stores across the country.

Count Raven Forge Games among them. Born in a small second-story rented room on North Steele Street in November of 2021, Raven Forge has grown considerably in just three years and now has a home further down Steele in the heart of downtown Sanford. Launched

by Ryan Morgan and Jacob Peterson (and now run by Ryan and his wife, Shauna), the business is popular with gamers (role playing games, board games, card games) and is as much a “hang out” for enthusiasts as it is a store.

Pokemon, Loracana and Magic: The Gathering are but a few of the many types of cards that can be found at Raven Forge Games in downtown Sanford. On Tuesday evenings and Sunday afternoons, the store hosts casual and serious Pokemon league play, while Magic gatherings are held on Wednesday and Saturdays. A full calendar of events can be found on their website. Photo by Billy Liggett

14 | December 2024

@therant905 Raven Forge’s early success is a good sign for Rogue Toys, a small vintage toy store at the intersection of Chatham and Wicker streets on the other side of downtown Sanford.

Opened in August by recent North Carolina transplant Matthew Sarmiento, Rogue Toys specializes not in the toys found on the “what’s trending?” list, but those that would have been found in Toys ’R Us, KB Toys and their competitors in the 80s and 90s.

Both Raven Forge Games and Rogue Toys have given parents and secret Santas in Sanford a closer option to fill out those wishlists this month. More importantly, they’re providing variety and bringing fun to a downtown area still seeking businesses that are in it for the long haul as the city around it continues to grow.

RAVEN FORGE GAMES

Matthew Sarmiento opened Rogue Toys on Chatham Street in August, fulfilling a dream (almost) he’s had since high school.

“I dreamed about having a comic book shop when I was 16,” he said. “This isn’t a comic book shop, but it’s about as close as you can get.” Photo by Gordon Anderson

It’s been just over two months since Raven Forge Games “upgraded” from its tight quarters on the northern edge of downtown Sanford to its new location at 132 S. Steele St. But already, the bigger space and increased

The Rant Monthly | 15

rantnc.com foot traffic have paid off for Ryan and Shauna Morgan.

“The move has been great,” says Ryan.

“We’ve seen a huge uptick in customers.

Not only are our regulars coming in more frequently, but we’re attracting new customers who didn’t know we existed previously. We’ve been asked many times, ‘How long have you been in business?’ and many are shocked when we tell them three years and that we really only moved a block over.”

It’s actually Raven Forge’s second move in just three years. It only took a few months after Ryan Morgan and his friend Jacob Peterson started selling popular games like Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons to move across the street from their one-room digs to a (then) much larger location across the street on North Steele Street in early 2022, on the tail end of a pandemic that crushed many small businesses. At that location, the two built a small, dedicated following of customers thanks to regular events and tournaments featuring their most popular games. Peterson moved on as an owner in February of 2023 (he remains a friend and regular customer), and not long after that, Ryan and Shauna began looking for even more space to accommodate their growing customer base. Their search lasted eight months before they discovered the former home of Purple Poodle Co. (a locally owned boutique) and before that, Super 10, a discount store resembling a Dollar General.

“We looked all over town at a variety of locations and just lucked out when we found out this space was potentially opening up — we had simply outgrown the old space, both in terms of merchandise and event space for people,” Ryan Morgan says. “We were looking for something that could attract more walk-by traffic, hold more space for products, and allow us to continue to grow our event space. We had to start turning customers away, which was something we didn’t want to continue.”

The new location has a giant wall of board games and aisles full of their best-selling card games and role playing games (and their many, many accessories, maps, manuals and starter kits). But the key to Raven Forge Games — and the reason you’ll see so many new and old faces on a weekend afternoon or after work on a Monday through Friday — is its packed event calendar. Monday nights are “ladies night” for Dungeons and Dragons play. Tuesday evenings offer casual Pokemon leagues. Dungeons and Dragons for all on

A CHRISTMAS CAROL DEC. 5-22

ART FOR GIFTING D.K. CLAY & BAREFOOT CLAY

DINING & DRINKS WHILE YOU SHOP

Don’t miss Temple Theatre’s adaptation of this holiday classic.

The spirit of the season is wrapped in your favorite yuletide melodies and tied with all the holiday magic and wonder of your childhood reminding us all to honor Christmas in our hearts and try to keep it all the year round.

At D.K. Clay Pottery, find the perfect holiday gift by visiting one of the largest pottery studios in North Carolina. And whether you’re a ceramics enthusiast or just looking for unique, handcrafted items, Barefoot Clay offers a selection of handmade, wood-fired pottery.

We recommend stopping in at Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House, La Dolce Vita Pizzeria or one of the stops along Sanford’s Taco Trail to get your fill of Mexican cuisine or the Sanford BBQ Trail for some of the best meat in the state. For drinks to whet your whistle, be sure to check out our craft breweries and bars.

16 | December 2024

@therant905 Wednesdays. Board game and Magic: The Gathering play on Thursdays, and even more D&D and Magic on Fridays. The weekends are for Lorcana players, casual Magic players and serious Pokemon gamers.

“Our customers can come in any day to play in the space without feeling like they’re interfering,” Morgan says. “Our event space was very limiting before; whatever the scheduled event was, that was the only space available to customers. Now, we can continue to run those same events, and still have a lot of space for a family to grab a game and play.”

Morgan says the packed calendar is vital to the success of the business. Those events not only introduce their customers to new games, it introduces them to like-minded people.

“We’ve seen so many friendships form through our events; they gain a sense of belonging that maybe they didn’t have before,” he says. “It’s amazing to see customers who were shy when they first came in now have strong ties to the community and really come out of their shell and become ambassadors to other new people.

“You can buy almost any of the products we sell online, and we know that. But what you can’t get is the expertise of our staff to help you pick the right products, or the excitement of opening an awesome pack of cards with others who share your enthusiasm, or a place to play the games you love with others who also care as deeply as you.”

Equally important is the merchandise, and Raven Forge’s bigger floorspace has allowed the Morgans to expand their product line.

They’ve added puzzles, Gundam models and local vendors and expanded almost every product line they previously carried. They’re carrying more classic board games like Monopoly, Life and Operation, have added more Squishables, new paint lines and accessories and more card accessories (like Dungeons and Dragons-themed candles).

The new Raven Forge Games on South Steele Street in downtown Sanford has added new merchandise and expanded their old product line since the move.

The new location offers hundreds of board games and aisles of accessories to popular card games and role playing games like Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering and Warcraft. Photos by Billy Liggett

The Rant Monthly | 17

rantnc.com “You can buy almost any of the products we sell online, but what you can’t get is the expertise of our staff to help you pick the right products, or the excitement of opening an awesome pack of cards with others who share your enthusiasm.”

“In some areas, we didn’t increase our inventory, but the way we displayed it has increased visibility and made it accessible,” Morgan says. “For example, our card game playmats were previously in the manufacturers boxes and it was difficult to see the artwork.

We’ve opened them up and hung them on hangers so that customers can now see the full artwork and we’ve seen a big uptick in sales because of this.”

The Christmas shopping season is an important month for any small business, and the Morgans are counting on a strong December to close out their first calendar year since the move. The board games, puzzles, stuffed animals and starter kits are popular gifts, and their aisles are packed with stocking stuffers as well.

And for parents who are unsure of what kind of game their kids would be interested

in — or even what type of Pokemon cards are the most popular right now — Raven Forge’s staff is full of men and women who are collectors and gamers themselves. They’re skilled in explaining nuanced games to beginners and what’s trending to uninformed parents.

“Our staff are great at helping walk people through the options when it comes to the more complicated purchases,” Morgan says.

“Sometimes people take a picture of what their loved ones have and show the staff which can help if they are completely lost. Dice and accessories always make great gifts for any RPG fans. We also have gift cards if we can’t help them figure it out, and a great return policy if a mistake is made.

“We want all our customers to walk away with an awesome experience and come back again.”

Raven Forge Games has tables full of miniature castles and other obstacles for their popular Warhammer 40K tournaments. The assembly and painting of models is an aspect of the hobby as important and poular as the game itself.

18 | December 2024

@therant905 ROGUE TOYS

In December of 2023, Matthew Sarmiento completed a move to North Carolina, something he’d been trying to do for years.

Growing up in the deserts of southern California and then spending much of his adult life in Las Vegas, he and his wife had been seeking something different for a long time, and North Carolina had been particularly attractive to them on visits to their son who was a Marine stationed at Camp Lejune in Jacksonville.

“You have this color here that we didn’t have in California or Vegas. I think it’s called green,” he explained with a laugh.

“When I wake up in the morning, my favorite thing is walking outside and hearing crickets. It just smells fresh.”

Old Star Wars toys (like this Millenium Falcon), classic pro wrestling figurines, Cabbage Patch dolls, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and even old Thundercats toys are but a few of the offerings at Rogue Toys. Photo by Gordon Anderson

Although the couple had been trying to move to for North Carolina specifically for a while, Sanford wasn’t immediately on their radar until a real estate agent suggested it over larger cities like Winston-Salem and Raleigh, explaining that their home buying power would stretch further in Lee County.

“We looked at the whole state, and couldn’t find anything we liked as much as Sanford,” he said. “We were driving back from Tennessee and we just decided to stop in Sanford again, and there were carolers and people giving things out on Steele Street. It was homey and there was a sense of community. It felt like Mayberry.”

Sarmiento, who has identified with “nerd culture” (think comic books, Star Wars, Saturday morning cartoons, and more) since he was young, achieved another lifelong dream just a few months later in August of this year — opening Rogue Toys, a vintage collectible toy shop at 151 Chatham St. in downtown Sanford.

“I dreamed about having a comic book shop when I was 16,” he said. “This isn’t a comic book shop, but it’s about as close as you can get.”

Sarmiento’s Rogue Toys location is the first franchise for the company, which also has stores in Las Vegas, Portland, Oregon and the Salt Lake City area of Utah (you might recognize the name from TV’s “Pawn Stars,” on which Rogue Toys’ Vegas staff

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The Rant Monthly | 19

rantnc.com “These things are a connection to childhood. ... With vintage toys, everything has a story.”

— Matthew Sarmiento, owner, Rogue Toys —

served as the show’s vintage toy experts).

Sarmiento had been involved with Rogue’s Vegas locations and prior to his arrival in North Carolina was offered the opportunity to open his own store.

“I sacrificed 90 percent of my collection to open the store,” he said. “For me it was hard, but it also wasn’t. I tell myself I own a toy store, and my attitude is if I own a toy store, I can get it back eventually.”

The small space is absolutely crammed with collectibles, most of which Sarmiento has amassed from other collectors. Examples include vintage G.I. Joe figures and models, all manner of Star Wars memorabilia, classic pro wrestling figurines, Cabbage Patch dolls, movie posters, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles merchandise, a full set of KISS dolls, a working Evel Knievel toy set from 1974, “Dukes of Hazzard” figurines, a signed “Thundercats” sword, and much, much more (the list literally goes on and on). Items from Sarmiento’s private collection that aren’t for sale (but on hand to look at) include an Iron Man mask signed by comic book legend Stan Lee, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books drawn and signed by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman. He’s even got a photo of Sanford Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon at store wearing a mask from the Star Wars TV show “The Mandalorian.”

Sarmiento is a veteran who turned to collecting in his adult life as a method of dealing with PTSD. He started with Transformers and sold most of that collection before he “got bored” and branched out to other things.

“When I started, the store was pretty heavy on Star Wars stuff,” he said. “It kind of looked like a Star Wars store with a few other toys. It’s been crazy to watch it grow since then. Lots of this stuff has been from people just coming in with things they had in their attic or whatever. It’s tough being a collector — it’s definitely a dilemma. The collector in me wants to keep all this stuff, but the business owner wants to sell.”

Sarmiento went through the city of Sanford’s RISE (Real Investment in Sanford Entrepreneurs) program, and while he didn’t win a grant to start his business, he moved forward anyway, believing Sanford was the perfect place to appeal to the kid in everyone.

“We had to write a mission statement, and what I came up with was ‘anybody can buy a toy, but I want to sell a memory,’” he said. “I know it sounds cheesy, but these things are a connection to childhood. And you don’t have to be a collector to like toys.

I have people come in all the time and say, ‘Wow, I had this when I was a kid! I need to bring my own kids in here.’ With vintage toys, everything has a story. I don’t know everything about toys, and I never will. I’m still learning. But I didn’t know anything when I started out. I just did it for toy credit and to help with my PTSD.” Rogue Toys is approaching its first holiday buying season (which is under way as you read this) and Sarmiento is confident that the groundwork he’s laid since opening in August will lead to a successful year.

“We just want people to keep coming into the store,” he said. “I was so used to Vegas, which is just so big. It’s been a challenge, but I think I’ve adapted. I do a loyalty program, I do events where we have raffles and toy swaps and events focused around Saturday morning cartoons. That’s all nostalgia.”

Ultimately, Sarmiento knows he’s “unique” to downtown Sanford but feels gratified that people are responding to what he’s built. He said he loves the community aspect and was particularly happy to get a welcome from the owners of Raven’s Forge, a business trafficking in the very adjacent tabletop gaming industry, as well as support from Downtown Sanford, Inc. “(The owners of Raven’s Forge) came by and said ‘hey, we’re nerds too. If you ever need anything, let us know,’” he said. “I love Sanford and want to see it succeed, which is why do all I can to bring people in. I haven’t regretted moving here a bit.”

“When I started, the store was pretty heavy on Star Wars stuff,” says Rogue Toys owner Matthew Sarmiento. “It’s been crazy to watch it grow since then.”

Photos by Gordon Anderson

20 | December 2024

@therant905

Where can you get a close cut in Sanford?

Head to Jamie’s Barber Shop on Steele Street in Downtown Sanford.

Jamie Norton has been cutting hair in Sanford since 2002. He works hard to provide great customer service and a friendly atmosphere so you can relax while he works on your hair.

Jamie is great with kids and has experience with all types of haircuts, so feel free to stop in and get a trim.

A child enjoying the snow is one of three small canvas acrylic paintings by artist Alison Charchar currently on display at Oxide Gallery of Fine Art, located on Moore Street in downtown Sanford. The holiday gallery will run through Dec. 24.

WINTER WHIMSY Oxide Gallery of Fine Art ends the year (and its business run) with a holiday themed showing of local artists

By Billy Liggett billy@rantnc.com

JAMIE NORTON OWNER 109 S. Steele St. Sanford, NC

JamiesBarberShopnc.com • 910-384-2826

It’ll be a bittersweet holiday season for Oxide Gallery of Fine Art in downtown Sanford. December will bookend a twomonth Holiday Treasure gallery featuring winter- and holiday-themed works from local and regional artists — many of them experiencing their first inclusion in a public gallery.

The down note on an otherwise joyous display — when the event ends on Dec. 24, it will also mark the end of Oxide Gallery, according to co-owner Heath

Buckmaster. Opened earlier this year with the backing of Lee County Fine Arts Inc. — a nonmembership, nonprofit organization that “fosters a thriving visual arts community in Lee County that educates and benefits the region — the gallery was intended to be a support center for local artists and their creative growth. While the response from the art community was “extremely positive,” the gallery never found its footing with the rest of the community (specifically, those interested in purchasing local art).

“As the gallery comes to a close, we’re reevaluating the role of Lee County Fine

rantnc.com Arts in terms of continuing to support and promote local artists and the things they want to do,” Buckmaster says. “Unfortunately, we put a lot into this gallery.

For some artists, this was their very first exposure to having work in a gallery or in a curated show. They were able to learn how to prepare and present their works for public display, and we’ve been able to mentor new artists to provide them with some of the guidelines, which hopefully sets them up for any future gallery they might choose to work with.”

This month’s Holiday Treasures and Gift Boutique — planned long before the decision to shut down — will at least give Buckmaster and business partners Karen Tatum and Karen Rushatz an opportunity to go out on a positive note, selling art to gift seekers during the busiest shopping month of the year.

“Holiday Treasures and our Gift Boutique celebrates the spirit of the season in small works,” Buckmaster says. “Guests can enjoy early holiday shopping for everyone on their list, with a wide collection of unique artwork including glass and ceramic ornaments, woodworking, art note cards and journals, small paintings and so much more. The Gallery has also decorated our front window display in an enchanting holiday theme.”

The “small treasures” wall features three works on small 8-by-8-inch canvases from several local artists who were asked to create something that represented the holidays in any medium they were interested in. Local artist Jake Brower did a fun polar bear series, while artist Alison Charchar did seasonal themes featuring children. The artists were then asked to do a fourth panel that would become give-away prizes in a holiday raffle that will be held on Dec. 7.

“Small treasures is actually based on a show that I’ve done at other galleries, because the artists kind of get a lot of artistic freedom and expression, because they can choose whatever kind of theme that they want for the series,” Buckmaster says.

The gallery, located at 148 S. Moore St., will be open for a First Saturday public reception from 4 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 7.

Otherwise, the gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays throughout the month.

The last day to see the collection will be Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Rant Monthly | 21

22 | December 2024

@therant905

Classified school staff asks for raise, pay scale

By Richard Sullins richard@rantnc.com The crowd of “classified” Lee County Schools employees was about 150 when they marched into the Dennis Wicker Civic Center on Nov. 18, walking single file like a group of elementary students.

That number of 150 was 50 percent larger than the one that greeted the Lee County Schools Board of Education the previous week and it was clear from the outset that this group is only growing bigger and stronger and could become more of a force in educational policy in Lee County if their concerns are not addressed.

In fact, this group that to this point has no name is planning to return to the next meeting of the Lee County school board scheduled for Tuesday, December 10. At that same meeting, four people will take their oaths of office following the results of the November 5 election.

The school board’s vice chair, Sherry Lynn Womack, is returning for another term, and three new Republican women will also take their oaths: Megan Garner, Cindy Ortiz, and Carla Hooker, giving local Republicans control of all seven seats on the board.

“Let’s see that one again”

Before the first speaker came to the podium, Republican Commissioner Taylor Vorbeck made a motion to suspend the commission’s rules of order so each speaker could have more than the usual three minutes to speak. This had been done the previous week by the school board in the interest of hearing all the concerns of the group.

April Stone, a bus driver and instructional assistant listed as a classified employee at Lee County High School, was the group’s lead speaker, as she had been at the school board’s meeting on Nov. 12.

Stone made many of the same points to the commissioners that she had a week earlier to the school board, like those of being overlooked for several years when money for raises was being distributed, of working for years without a pay scale in place and how that has meant new employees can often be hired at

April Stone speaks on behalf of “classified” employees of Lee County Schools at the Nov. 12 school board meeting (prior to the Nov. 18 meeting of the commissioners). The group of instructional assistants, library and office staff, maintenance and custodial workers and others, formally asked for an increase in pay and brought other concerns during both meetings. the same rate of pay as a veteran employee that has worked for decades, and of how classified staff are not given even the most basic of employee benefits – the right to earn vacation and sick leave.

Approximately 1,200 people are employed by the Lee County Schools district and by way of explanation, most of those employees in this largest category are labeled as “classified,” meaning they aren’t required to be certified in order to work within the district.

This grouping is broad in scope and typically includes instructional assistants, library and media assistants, office staff, maintenance and custodial workers, school bus drivers, and others.

The smaller class that includes teachers, counselors, and other key positions in the district office contains so-called “certified” employees because they must have earned and hold a current and particular certification before they can be employed.

Think of this classification as encompassing a teacher who must have a license for a grouping of students, principals and assistant principals who have completed the preparation and training required to hold those positions, or

counselors that are required to have met the requirements for at least a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate.

Using feedback she had obtained from the school board meeting, Stone zeroed in on how changing economic conditions are impacting employees who are not receiving cost-of-living adjustments to their pay, making a case that its effects can go so far as to influence school quality and student classroom performance, even going so far as to suggest an impact on test scores.

“A classified employee, usually a bus driver, is the first person, as well as the last person, that student sees every day. Some of them are coming from situations at home that are just too horrific to put into words, and coming to school is the best part of their day,” she said. “Here, they can get two hot meals per day – breakfast and lunch – and they can get help in selecting a book to read, they can have access to computers that can’t be afforded at home, and they can make friends with adult staff members and build relationships that will last a lifetime. Many, many of these things are done every day by the classified employees that you provide the money for.”

It’s the blame game

Then Stone raised another issue, the one some who had come with her called “the real issue,” with the commissioners. It was the same one she’d raised with the school board on the previous Tuesday, that of participating with the school board in an endless game of budgetary ping pong every spring and summer when budgets are made.

“You have been playing a blame game (with the school board), but we are the ones who are suffering,” she said. “How many of you could live off this amount of money every month? We are having to make decisions about getting things done, like maybe a roof repair, or deciding whether to trade in our old car for something more dependable or to pay bills that may already be overdue. Some of us are in situations where we can’t get children everything they want. Try wearing that one on yourself at Christmas time.”

She cut to the chase and asked for increases in pay for all school system classified staff.

“I beg you to please consider giving us more money,” she continued. “Most of us have two or three jobs, and that shouldn’t happen. Not in a county that is doing as well

The Rant Monthly | 23

rantnc.com as the economy is here in Lee County.”

Another employee, Alicia Hilliard, spoke about the challenges she faces each month in making ends meet on her salary.

“The Lee County School system had never failed me until I went to work for the Lee County School system,” she said.

Yolanda Womble, an instructional assistant and bus driver at Tramway Elementary School, said she believes some of the higher paying jobs in the school district were created for specific individuals who are trying to “game the system.”

“We just want to be paid fairly,” she said.

“We teach many things to students that they don’t hear otherwise. We teach life lessons. I can’t tell you how insulting it was to find out that some teachers in this very school district are getting paid $35 per hour to drive a bus while they are getting paid much less.”

Using the right data is always a good call

At each of its two presentations, the classified employees’ group made exten-

sive use of data sets, particularly summary information on employee salary ranges. And as it turns out, some of that information has turned out to be incorrect.

Speaking later in the meeting, County Manager Lisa Minter said some of the faulty data related to the county’s fund balance, an account held by the county that contains an accumulation of unspent budget dollars from year to year. State law requires the county to maintain a certain amount in its fund balance account from year-to-year in case of emergency.

A balance is also usually maintained so funds are available for situations that must be addressed quickly as they arise, like the purchase of land that quickly comes on the market and might be suitable for a future school site, or the replacement of a chiller at a county owned building. Minter said the group had been given incorrect information about the actual amount contained currently in the county’s fund balance.

Minter also said the group had been basing some of their numbers on the amount of total revenues received by the school dis-

trict instead of looking at just the amount the county provides to the system. The total revenues amount contains not only county funds provided to the school district, but also those that come from state, federal, and other sources.

Minter stressed that Lee County has always used the amount of per pupil spending as its measuring stick for funding the school district’s operations at its 17 campuses and pointed out that the county has consistently raised that amount over the years. Commissioner Robert Reives asked whether this was an instance of “a group not looking at revenues correctly.” Minter responded that his belief was correct.

The twelve issues of Christmas

The classified staff group brought up other issues during its comments to the school board on November 12, and Superintendent Dr. Chris Dossenbach indicated that evening that some of them were already on his radar. For example, he said his office has already begun exploring options for ways to increase compensation for all of the district’s

1,200 employees in next year’s budget.

“We understand this is an issue that has to be addressed,” he told the school board in November. “I can assure you it will be my number one request again this year.”

It could be – a really big “maybe” here – that something could be possible during the current budget year. Dossenbach went on to say that “we are evaluating what may be possible in our existing budget.”

The school board’s agenda for its next meeting scheduled for Dec. 10 will go public during the first week following the Thanksgiving holiday, and we should know by then whether the superintendent will have been able to pull a rabbit out of his hat.

One thing is for certain. He and the seven members of the Lee County Board of Education can expect another capacity crowd to fill its board room when the final meeting of 2024 gets under way on December 10. The swearing-in of the three new members won’t be nearly as exciting as how this new board responds to the concerns of its largest employee group.

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24 | December 2024

@therant905 LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Commissioner denounces ‘name calling’ at school board meeting SANFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY NAMES CEO After a six-month nationwide search, the Sanford Housing Authority named Dr. Michael C. Threatt as its new leader and CEO. Threatt’s career spans 19 years in the real estate industry, encompassing the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Notably, he has served in leadership roles for 12 years, including nine years in executive leadership at public housing authorities in Alabama, as COO in Dothan, CEO in Sylacauga and vice president in Birmingham. He also spent time with the Hillsborough County and Tampa Housing Authorities in Florida earlier in his career.

Since 2019, he has been awarded 15 state, regional or national affordable housing best practice awards for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of PHAs. This includes a 2019 CEO of the Year for Alabama PHAs. He has worked in urban, rural and suburban areas, demonstrating his versatility and adaptability.

“Our entire Board is thrilled to welcome Dr. Threatt as our new CEO,” said Hope White, chair of the Sanford Housing Authority. “The changing business needs of the affordable housing industry requires the skillset of an innovative, collaborative leader with a modern-day leadership approach and entrepreneurial worldview. He understands that the future of affordable housing will require ‘outside-the-box’ thinking, investing in technology and collaborative partnership.”

“I look forward to working with the Board of Commissioners and the staff at SHA,” said Threatt. “I plan to provide healthy, safe and sustainable affordable housing that promotes economic self-sufficiency programs, high-level aging-inplace supportive services, and workforce development opportunities that improve the quality of life for all Sanford and Lee County residents.”

By Richard Sullins richard@rantnc.com Among five members of the public who addressed the Lee County Board of Education on Nov. 12 was Democratic County Commissioner Cameron Sharpe, who had been re-elected to another four-year term as a commissioner seven days earlier, and who decried internet comments made against him by a member of the school board. Sharpe said up front that his remarks were not in the context of his role as a public official, but those of a private citizen.

Sharpe began by reminding school board members about their responsibility to always uphold the highest standards of professionalism by exercising the greatest of care in all of their postings on social media platforms. He also said all public officials should continue to keep in mind that whatever they may say in the public square of the internet remains there for anyone around the world to see and hear throughout eternity, even if that communication was meant for only one or two people.

“It is essential that we maintain respect in all our interactions,” he said. “Resorting to name calling because a board cannot fulfill your wish on demand, especially to a board member who tried to fulfill that wish in three previous years when it was a viable option … Name-calling is not going to make me or anyone else more inclined to work with you.”

Sharpe didn’t publicly name the person that he was referring to, but the incident he referred to had occurred on Facebook a few days before the school board’s November 12 meeting in a posting between Republican school board member Alan Rummel and another person.

In that conversation, Rummel said Sharpe campaigned on how local Democrats would support schools if they were in charge of the school board, but then laments that the commissioners do little to support them

now. He wrote that Sharpe was “a freaking clown” and went on to say a few sentences later that he’s “a terrible elected official.”

Sharpe told the school board that those remarks “offended me, but I’m a grown man and I can deal with that.”

“For the two years that this member has been on this board, Republicans have been in control of it. And Republicans have been in control of the county commission for the last six years. So, I will say to that board member, ‘you ain’t got no juice, and you can’t even deal with your own people.

They ain’t listening to you.’”

Sharpe did at one point refer to “the board member” … “whin(ing) and cry(ing) like a little seventh grade girl whose boyfriend broke up with her” during a committee meeting. During his closing moments, he looked directly at Rummel.

“So, let’s keep that in mind,” he said.

“I’m not your problem. The majorities (on both boards) need to get together and work this out.”

Rummel didn’t respond to Sharpe’s comments.

What’s behind this?

Sharpe’s appearance at the school board meeting related to a vote that had taken place at a meeting of the county commissioners on October 21. After a discussion by the full board in closed session, Sharpe made a motion to increase the salary of County Manager Lisa Minter by one percent. With one member absent, the proposal passed on a 4-2 vote.

This was the subject that Rummel had been discussing during the Facebook chat when Sharpe’s name had come up during that conversation, and it is also apparently what led Rummel to say what he did about Sharpe.

But the real story behind all this is a circumstance The Rant has been following for the past four years. The Lee County Board of Education and the county Board

of Commissioners are quickly moving toward a point of impasse where progress isn’t possible because the people involved cannot agree.

Since the budget negotiations held in the spring of 2021, the school board has gone to the commissioners each spring with a list of specific needs that went beyond what the county had indicated it was willing to fund. Usually, those requests were in the form of increases in the local supplements paid to teachers and other personnel to retain them in Lee County instead of watching them flee to surrounding communities that offered more cash and incentives.

Two years ago, after the Republicans took control of the board of education after the 2022 election, the school board asked instead for funding to begin the implementation of a proposed salary plan for all school district employees. The thinking was, in part, that the commissioners may not have an interest in funding those local supplements.

But just as it had done previously, the county answered with “no” two more years in a row on funding the school board’s salary plan, and that has left the board of education and its staff scratching their heads as they try in vain to find a winning approach the commissioners will be receptive to.

For its part, the county has provided increases in funding to Lee County Schools in each of those same four years and given it with no strings attached, leaving the school system to direct those dollars to where they are needed most. But in each instance, those same county dollars fell short of the special needs that the school board asked the county for, leaving the school board with a choice between funding their original initiative at a greatly reduced level or scrapping their plans altogether.

In recent years, the state legislature has provided small amounts of money for raising the salaries of teachers across North Carolina. But the state doesn’t provide

The Rant Monthly | 25

rantnc.com money for the salaries of most “classified” school employees (those not required to hold certification before employment, like office staff, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, or instructional assistants).

That money has to come from the county, and many of those same classified school employees have found it particularly galling that the commissioners have been able to find money to increase the salaries of county employees for the past three years, but all the while being told that there is just not enough money for most school workers again this year.

The result has been that the school board has gone to the commissioners repeatedly over the past four years to ask for money to grant these salary increases, only to be told “no.” When Republicans took over the school board following the election of 2022, there was optimism that this log jam might finally be broken because a single party held a majority of seats on both boards.

But the result was the same each year as budget time came and went. After being told two years ago by the commissioners that they were not provided enough information with which to grant those kinds of increases, the school board went back to the commissioners this past spring with a budget request of great detail, one that seemed to be the result of many hours of thought and deliberation. And still, the answer was no.

As the budget for the county was adopted in June, the county approached the school board with a novel idea to construct a joint county/school board maintenance facility on land where the old Jonesboro Elementary School had once stood, but the school board put off any further discussions on the idea until the 2024 elections were concluded.

This brief summary provides an explanation on how the two most influential governing bodies in the county have reached a stalemate that’s preventing them from cooperating on even the simplest of matters as the first half of the 2024-25 Fiscal Year is nearing the Thanksgiving Holiday break.

And it demonstrates how the breakdown in relationships between those two boards has reached a point where words spoken without proper consideration of their potential impact have served only to make that already bad situation even worse.

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26 | December 2024 LOCAL GOP WINS BIG IN COUNTY RACES IN NOVEMBER ELECTION Lee County Republicans swept the race for the local Board of Education on Tuesday and held on to their slim majority on the local Board of Commissioners despite Democrats winning two of the three available seats.

Republican Megan Garner led the school board ticket with 14,395 votes, followed by Republican Cindy Ortiz with 14,205, incumbent Republican Sherry Womack with 13,985, and Republican Carla Hooker with 13,624. The top four vote getters won seats.

Incumbent Democrat Patrick Kelly was in fifth with 13,304 votes, former Lee County Schools Teacher of the Year and Democrat Katie Eddings had 11,194 votes, incumbent Democrat Jamey Laudate got 11,817 votes, and Democrat Shonda Ray earned 11,656 votes.

The election creates a 7-0 majority on the school board, with the four winners joining Republicans Alan Rummel, Chris Gaster and Eric Davidson.

On the Board of Commissioners, Republican newcomer Samantha Martin led the ticket with 14,247 votes, while incumbent Democrats Mark Lovick and Cameron Sharpe came in second and third, respectively. Lovick earned 13,717 votes and Sharpe got 13,417.

The top three vote getters in that race won seats.

Republican David Smoak came in fourth place with 13,174 votes, Democrat Bob Joyce was fifth with 13,088, and Republican Bob Quilty came in sixth with 13,056.

Martin replaces Republican Commissioner Bill Carver, who didn’t seek re-election, and Lovick and Sharpe retain their seats. With Republican commissioners Andre Knecht, Kirk Smith and Taylor Vorbeck, and Democratic Commissioner Robert Reives Sr., the board retains its 4-3 Republican majority.

Democrat Pam Britt was unopposed in her re-election bid for the Lee County Register of Deeds, and Tommy Dalrymple was re-elected as a Lee County Soil and Water Commissioner with 19,720 votes.

— Gordon Anderson

@therant905 LOCAL GOVERNMENT

What the TriRiver Water merger means for Sanford, its neighbors

By Richard Sullins richard@rantnc.com The Sanford City Council’s decision to take a second, much bigger step in the planned expansion of its water and wastewater treatment services to surrounding municipalities represents an important escalation in its efforts to become a major player in economic development in central North Carolina by making a name for itself as the major hub for the most valuable of all resources: water.

In early November, the city approved in separate unanimous votes two closely related documents known as “interlocal agreements” that will merge its water and sewer services with those of both Siler City and most of Chatham County on July 1, 2025. The process will work in much the same way that a nearly identical agreement between Sanford and the Town of Pittsboro went into effect on July 1 of this year.

When these new agreements with Siler City and Chatham County take effect next summer, the boost in size of the rebranded Sanford system known as “TriRiver Water” will be akin to what the United States experienced in 1803 after Jefferson persuaded the French to part with the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the new nation in just the stroke of a pen.

These new bilateral agreements consist of separate contracts between the City of Sanford with Chatham County, where the service area will consist of most of the western half of the county, along with its southeast corner. The Siler City connection will take on great importance as the town prepares for the construction and the beginning of operations for the computer chip manufacturer Wolfspeed, on track to go online within the next two years.

He who controls the pipeline…

Sanford’s greatest natural asset is the access it enjoys to seemingly boundless supplies of some of the state’s purest water,

a resource that uniquely positions the city to become a major player in future economic development projects. The city has ample supply of this most critical resource, recently constructed infrastructure to move all that water and waste around, and perhaps the most important ingredient to help create success — arguably the best and most experienced team of engineers and staff in the state who understand the ways all these things will work together in years to come to ensure that Sanford and Lee County will continue to grow for the next half century.

Siler City approved its agreement with Sanford on Oct. 7 and Chatham County did the same on Nov. 4. The Sanford City Council ratified both agreements on Nov. 5 during an Election Day meeting. Both are set to take effect next summer on July 1.

Sanford will take on the ownership and operation of each of these systems in the next few years. That means water and sewer customers will have TriRiver Water providing its water and sewer services. It means that responsibility for fixing broken water pipes will belong to TriRiver. It also means that the revenue that has been going into Pittsboro, Chatham County, and Siler City for their own separate water systems will now flow directly to the City of Sanford through TriRiver. Employees now working in those three systems will be transferred to TriRiver with no loss of compensation or benefits, according to Assistant City Manager Vic Czar.

Achieving parity

A merger of this size doesn’t happen overnight. Engineers say their real overarching goal is to have each location’s quality of service to be about the same at any point in the system, a concept called parity. Czar believes that achieving parity within the four-municipality system is very possible, but his “engineering brain” knows it may take 20 to 30 years to get there.

Then, there is the issue of rate parity.

Taking on another municipality’s system also means the city will assume the other municipalities’ debt, and that’s something that adds a lot of cost and sometimes can sink a well-intentioned agreement between two smaller players.

Czar explained that successful mergers use an economies of scale approach, or cost advantages that companies can experience when the costs of production rise at a rate faster than its costs.

Sanford’s per customer rates for water and sewer services are significantly lower than any of the other three operations, but Czar told the city council at its meeting on Nov. 5 that the goal for TriRiver is not to achieve parity, or equality, by raising rates for Sanford customers, but instead to accomplish it by lowering the rates of the other three.

But the successful implementation of these agreements means more than a few signatures on several sheets of paper. In many cases, there are issues that have to be cleared up by one or more parties before it can take effect and that is true with the interlocal agreement involving Siler City.

The town is presently under a Special Order by Consent with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality after years of failing to get contaminants in its wastewater system under control. Multiple violations of the Clean Water Act led to a moratorium on the issuance of any new sewer connections, effectively freezing the town’s ability to approve any new residential or commercial construction.

Like most cities, the water delivery and treatment systems within Pittsboro were not designed, nor intended to accommodate the levels of growth being experienced in northeastern Chatham County today. Most of the town’s water mains were built before the arrival of the Great Depression in 1929.

And this inevitable growth is continuing to stretch the town’s ability to handle it, with shortages in water and wastewater capacities, issues with wastewater treatment, and even problems with water quality.

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rantnc.com Over the last 20 years, Pittsboro has been forced to impose a temporary moratorium, or extend an existing moratorium, 15 times because of the limitations of its water treatment system. These actions have impacted construction of new residential developments, as well as commercial or industrial buildings.

But what Pittsboro lacks, Sanford has in great abundance: ready access to an abundant supply of clean water. Sanford draws its water from the Cape Fear River and discharges it into the Deep River (a Cape Fear tributary), but its wastewater scrubbing capabilities are so thorough that the water discharged into the river is tested to be cleaner than water drawn from the river downstream for drinking.

Sanford’s wastewater treatment capacity is presently 12 million gallons per day — enough for the city, but nowhere near

enough for a city that wants to become a regional player in major economic development projects.

Meanwhile, Pittsboro recognized in 2009 that it needed a partner organization to help solve the limitations that its water systems were placing on its potential for growth and within two years, it began exploring a connection between its own wastewater treatment plant and the city of Sanford to increase its capacity.

Others nearby, facing the same circumstances as Pittsboro, began reaching out to Sanford as a potential partner and in 2021, an interlocal agreement was reached between the city and Pittsboro, Chatham County, Holly Springs, and Fuquay-Varina to study, design, and complete construction of an 18-million gallon per day wastewater treatment facility upgrade in Sanford to meet the needs of all five partners.

The vast majority of the costs for tying the systems together and expanding their capacities to provide adequate supplies of drinking and wastewater for the next 50 years are not to be paid from funds generated by local governments. Most of the dollars necessary to pull this engineering rabbit from a hat will come in the form of dollars already committed to it by the State of North Carolina and the federal government.

of former Mayor Chet Mann’s administration that began in 2013.

Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon paused the Nov. 5 meeting to pay tribute to the many council members, staff, and economic development professionals who worked for more than a decade to hammer out an accord that will lay the foundation for a new kind of economic partnership, one focused on the sharing of natural resources in the advancement of a region, instead of just a city or even a county. A lot of that groundwork was laid during the very earliest days

Mayor Pro Tempore Mark Akinosho sees the collaboration between communities as being the real winner for Sanford, saying “it allows Sanford to use its most abundant natural resource as leverage in becoming a regional leader.”

“What we’ve been able to do here is to break new ground by trying something that really hasn’t been done before,” Salmon said. “This kind of governing is hard, and it takes time, but many people saw the value of what could be gained by rolling up our sleeves and working side by side. Now, all that hard work is about to pay off.”

The next few months will see many of those final ‘i’s dotted and ‘t’s crossed by assisting Siler City with the closeout of some lingering paperwork.

28 | December 2024

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SUNDAY WITH SANTA Photos by Jacalyn McAlister, Downtown Sanford Inc.

The holiday season kicked off in November with a Sunday with Santa event and tree lighting ceremony in downtown Sanford.

rantnc.com

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rantnc.com BRIEFS

SANFORD NAMED ONE OF TRIANGLE AREA’S HEALTHIEST EMPLOYERS

CITY BREAKS GROUND ON AGRICULTURAL MARKETPLACE AFTER 5 YEARS OF PLANNING

The City of Sanford was recently named the 2024 Healthiest Employer in the Triangle area in the 100-499 employee category by Healthiest Employers.

The City of Sanford broke ground on the Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace on Nov. 21, fulfilling a vision five years in the making. The ceremony brought together community members, business owners, state and local officials, and other stakeholders to celebrate what the Marketplace means for the city and the region.

The City secured the top spot because of its focus on the physical and emotional wellbeing of its employees, which cultivates an atmosphere where employees can thrive and excel.

Since 2013, the City of Sanford has offered a range of wellness activities to employees. Hoping to increase employee excitement and participation, and achieve greater success, the City partnered with Piedmont Pharmaceutical Care Network and introduced the chronic condition care management program HealthMapRx in 2017.

“This is going to be unlike anything else in the Sandhills region. What an amazing moment for us to come together and celebrate this uniquely collaborative endeavor that recognizes the vital role that agriculture plays in our lives,” said Bill Stone, Lee County Director for the N.C. Cooperative Extension during the event.

The initial phase of the partnership focused on health management for employees, retirees, and dependents covered under the group health insurance plan who were diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Finding success, the City added hypertension management, biometric screening, and the zConnect mobile health app in 2019.

The Marketplace will act as a gateway to the future Sanford Central Green, extending from Charlotte Avenue and First Street in Downtown Sanford to the Sanford Municipal Center on Weatherspoon Street. The concept includes options for facilities for public use, a greenway, community amenities and the restoration of Little Buffalo Creek.

“We can’t wait to see what the completed Sanford Central Green Project will look like along this entire corridor,” said Stone. “It’s exciting to envision the Marketplace as a launch point for this ambitious next phase of downtown development.”

With funding from public and private partners, the Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace has secured over $3 million in grants and funds. Allocations include: •

$1 million from the Ruby and Ernest McSwain Worthy Lands Trust;

•

$900,000 from the North Carolina Department of Commerce Rural Transformation Grant fund;

•

$611,000 from the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission;

•

$505,000 from the Pilgrim’s Hometown Strong Grant; and

•

$50,000 from the Lee County Farm Bureau.

— City of Sanford

Several positive clinical outcomes have been noted in diabetes and cardiovascular health, including:

(Top) Julian Philpott and members of the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission presented a check for $398,019 to Mayor Rebecca Salmon and members of the Sanford City Council before the Pilgrim’s Sanford Agricultural Marketplace groundbreaking on Nov. 21. This is the second grant allocation from the NCTTFC for the marketplace and will be used to extend the vendor pavilion. (Above) Attendees joined the Sanford City Council, N.C. Cooperative Extension, and Downtown Sanford, Inc., at the groundbreaking ceremony.

APPEARANCE COMMISSION SEEKS SLHS MURAL ARTIST The City of Sanford Appearance Commission is currently accepting proposals for a mural to be installed at Southern Lee High School.

The mural will be a gift from the Southern Lee Class of 2025 to commemorate the school’s 20th anniversary. Proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Jan 17. The mural

must be installed by May 15.

The budget for the mural is $8,000 and includes the artist’s labor fee, surface preparation, mural protection/maintenance plan, supplies, travel-related expenses, and any other associated costs. To be considered, artists must either live in North Carolina or have been raised in North Carolina.

For full information, read the Request for Proposal at sanfordnc.net/art.

•

41% of eligible diabetes participants enrolled in the program and recorded A1c levels below 7, a 23% improvement since 2020.

•

88% of hypertension participants lowered blood pressure to below 140/90, a 16% participation increase since 2020.

•

8% reduction in high-risk waist circumference.

Participants have saved the health plan $4,878 compared to non-participants.

“These health and wellness programs have enabled the City to support its participating employees through their wellness journeys,” says Christy Pickens, Director of Human Resources. As a result, “employees are motivated to continue focusing on positive results.”

Participants surveyed anonymously underscore the success of the City’s wellness initiatives. “I never cared as much about my health until this program,” shared one respondent.

— City of Sanford

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@therant905 DEPUTIES SEIZE 22 POUNDS OF COCAINE, ARREST TWO Lee County sheriff’s deputies arrested two people from Georgia on Nov. 3 after finding 22 pounds of cocaine in their vehicle.

LONGTIME DIRECTOR RETIRES AFTER 45 YEARS WITH LCS Lee County Schools celebrated a bittersweet retirement as Dr. Caroline “Carol” Chappell, the executive director of Community Partnerships and Student Risk Management is stepping away from the district after more than 45 years of service to the students and families of Lee County.

On her final day in the office, Chappell was surprised with the announcement that the Assembly Room at Central Office will bear her name going forward. Thanks to the Lee County Schools action, the room has been named the Dr. Carol Chappell Professional Development Suite in honor of her commitment to continued improvement and learning for all educators.

“It is very, very humbling. It is something that I never thought about. I’m just totally honored,” said Chappell. “It was a great surprise today,” she said.

Stars and stripes lined the driveway to J. Glenn Edwards Elementary on the Thursday prior to the Veterans Day holiday in November. Smiling students waved American Flags and held signs showing their appreciation to the assembled veterans ready to march through the school’s first Veterans Day Parade. “We felt a calling to do something truly special — a celebration that honors the sacrifices and bravery of our Veterans,” said J. Glenn Edwards Principal Emily Mize. “We proudly wear the honor of being a designated Purple Star School, recognized by the NC Department of Public Instruction for our unwavering commitment to our military connected families. For us, it isn’t just a title. It truly is a heartfelt promise that we will always strive to create systems and provide additional supports that uplift and empower those who serve our country.”

Dr. Chris Dossenbach, superintendent of Lee County Schools, made the announcement in front of a small crowd in the newly dubbed Chappell Professional Development Suite. He said, “We reflect on your extraordinary career, and we look to the future — a future that will carry your legacy forward.

Your fingerprints are on so many parts of this district: the policies you’ve helped shape, the initiatives you’ve championed, and, most importantly, the people you have mentored.

Your wisdom has been a beacon for all of us, and your dedication has been a constant source of inspiration.

“It has been wonderful for me,” said Chappell, “when you are excited to get up everyday and go to work because you feel like you are helping children, that really is the greatest blessing of all. When they are learning and you see things taking place, it really is the job of a lifetime. I’m very pleased with all of the kids, all of the staff. I’m just really proud of everyone in our school district.”

— Lee County Schools

Yuricela Hernandez, 28, and Jose Sanchez Cruz, 39, both of Georgia, each after charges of trafficking cocaine by transport, trafficking cocaine by possession, maintaining a vehicle for the sale of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Because an 11-year-old child was in the vehicle, they also each face a charge of misdemeanor child abuse.

Deputies stopped the vehicle Nov. 4 on Bailey Thomas Road and found the drugs inside a hidden compartment. They also found $40,000 in cash.

Hernandez and Cruz were brought before a Lee County Magistrate, who issued a $500,000 secured bond. On Nov. 4, a district court judge raised both bonds to $1,000,000 secured.

CCCC PROGRAM HELPS LAUNCH PLAY PLACE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Liberty PlayTown, an imaginative and inclusive play center located in Harnett County, announced its grand opening in October. This unique facility, co-owned by Carolyn Wilson and Krista Petty, offers a unique space for play for children ages 0-7.

In addition, the center will be fully wheelchair accessible and provide a sensory-friendly space for children, with private playtime available for children with special needs.

Wilson and Petty’s path to opening Liberty PlayTown was aided by their participation in the Lift-Off Lab program offered by the Central Carolina Community College Small Business Center with support from Harnett County and the Dunn, Lillington, Angier, Erwin and Coats Chambers of Commerce.

The program not only offered Wilson and Petty essential business tools and information to make their vision a reality, but awarded them a $5,000 startup grant.

“Central Carolina Community College is a part of our community. We greatly appreciate their presence in the area and their willingness to assist people who have a dream of entrepreneurship but need a little guidance and encouragement,” said Wilson.

— Central Carolina Community College

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rantnc.com SOUTHERN LEE’S COLVIN NAMED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF YEAR In her 20th year as an educator, Southern Lee High School Assistant Principal Angela Colvin was selected by her peers as the 2024-2025 Lee County Schools Assistant Principal of the Year. Superintendent Dr. Chris Dossenbach and Central Office staff surprised Colvin during a staff meeting in November in the school media center.

Colvin began her career as an Exceptional Children teacher at Lee County High School before transitioning over to Southern Lee High School when the school opened. Colvin spent nine years as an EC educator, working her way up to EC Department chair.

After nine years teaching EC, Colvin began to search for the next step in her career.

“It was a time in my life that I felt like it was time for a professional change, but I really was not sure where,” she said. “One of our former principals, Bonnie Almond, mentioned to me that as an Exceptional Children Department head, you really are a mini-administrator. She said I should consider administration.”

That nudge from her Principal sparked a change in course for Colvin, who had been thinking about a change to school counseling, but instead entered an administrator development program, the Sandhills Leadership Academy program, and was shortly able to gain her administrator certifications.

A noted solutions-focused administrator, Colvin most enjoys watching students grow from young ninth graders to the accomplished students that cross the stage as graduating seniors. “When I have worked with students who had struggles at times in their high school career, ... when those students are able to make it happen, those are the most rewarding days for me.”

In her first year at the helm, SLHS Principal Amy Lundy has found Colvin’s experience and steady hand to be invaluable. “ I love that she keeps me grounded on keeping first things first. Some people get all wrapped up in data and discipline, but she reminds me and all of us that we have to keep the first things first. We have to love the kids that are here so that they know they are safe and then we can add all of the other things they need,” she said.

— Lee County Schools

Southern Lee High School’s Angela Colvin was named Lee County Schools’ Assistant Principal of the Year for 2025. Said Superintendent Dr. Chris Dossenbach of Colvin: “Having worked alongside her at Southern Lee, I’ve witnessed her unwavering dedication and tireless commitment to our students and community. This recognition is a testament to her exceptional leadership and passion for education.”

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SLHS TEACHER RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION The North Carolina Science Teachers Association (NCSTA) recently honored one of Southern Lee’s own, Jessica Maldonado, with the High School Outstanding Science Teacher Award for the Sandhills Region. Maldonado accepted the award last Thursday night at the NCSTA’s annual conference.

ART FOR THE SKY RETURNS TO TRAMWAY, DRIVING HOME IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY Tramway Elementary School students and staff took part in their second “Art for the Sky” project this week, creating a mosaic mural image with their bodies to demonstrate how a whole school or community can come together to make a beautiful picture.

Every student and staff member as well as some family members took part in the project, donning color-coordinated shirts to fill out the giant circle mural in the shape and likeness of Tramway’s “Success in all Seasons” tree, a staple symbol of the year-round calendar school. Over 500 people took part in the event this year, including the fifth grade students at the school who were Kindergarteners the last time Tramway did the project in 2019.

Maldonado has been teaching for 16 years, spending the last decade of her career in Lee County Schools including the last seven years at Southern Lee. The awards from NCSTA are presented to recognize excellence in science teaching and according to the award profile are given to teachers who exemplify excellent, creative, innovative teaching of science.

A highly versatile educator, Maldonado has excelled teaching almost every science subject at Southern Lee ranging from Physical Science, Earth and Environmental Science, Biology, Zoology and Marine Sciences. Additionally, she has thrived teaching exceptional children (EC)-inclusion courses, English Learner courses and honors level.

Maldonado, who teaches marine science at SLHS, said, “If there’s one thing I really want my students to take away from my class, it’s the idea that learning is an exciting journey that lasts a lifetime, not just a checklist to complete.”

“It is a good opportunity to bring the entire student body together for a collaborative art project,” said Principal Andrea Cummings who was head of school back in 2019 also, “We realized it brought a lot of unity to our school and the current fifth graders were actually Kindergarteners at the time. We decided to bring it back this year as a semi-reunion for them since they will be leaving Tramway soon.”

The project is a passion project for Mary Beth Wiltshire who is the school’s art teacher and coordinates many of the details and volunteers who make organizing a moving project like this possible. She works with Daniel Dancer, an artist who visits schools all over the country creating Art for the Sky projects with students and schools from all over.

— Lee County Schools

“I love sharing my knowledge of science because I find immense satisfaction in igniting my students’ curiosity and inspiring them to explore the world around them.” — Jessica Maldonado

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rantnc.com COMMISSIONER TAKES PART IN NCACC LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Lee County Commission Chairman Kirk Smith joined fellow county leaders as the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) convened its biennial Legislative Goals Conference on Nov. 14-15, at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley. The two-day event, which gathered county representatives from across the state, finalized the NCACC’s legislative priorities ahead of the upcoming long session of the North Carolina General Assembly.

Smith’s role was to review and vote on each of the numerous goals proposed for the Legislative Goals Conference. In light of the previous School Board meeting that saw the “Classified staff” address their pay discrepancies to the School Board, Smith proposed a new Legislative Goal prior to the cut-off time on Thursday to “Support legislation promoting an increase in state funding for classified staff.”

The Goals Conference Delegates heard Smith’s proposal and after a series of parliamentary maneuvers and amendments, the following was passed unanimously: “Support legislation promoting teacher and classified school personnel recruitment and retention, including state funding for increased salaries.” The concluding act of each delegate was to rank their top five goals for the Association to prioritize during the upcoming long session, and this Legislative Goal was ranked No. 1.

CONVICTED CHILD SEX OFFENDER CHARGED AGAIN A Sanford man convicted of sex crimes against a child by an Alamance County jury in July was charged again by Sanford police with a count of the same offense.

According to the Lee County Jail’s website, 57-year-old John Barnhart of Pioneer Drive in Sanford faces a count of indecent liberties with a child. Barnhart was arrested by the Sanford Police Department and booked on Nov. 20 on a $150,000 secured bond. Details about the case against Barnhart weren’t immediately available, but Barnhart was convicted in July of the same charge stemming from a case brought against him in 2021 by Mebane Police.

At the time of that arrest, Barnhart was facing multiple charges of assault on a female and sexual battery stemming from

a 2018 arrest. He was acquitted of those charges in December 2021. According to a report in the News of Orange, Barnhart had a lengthy history of facing similar charges.

In Mebane, Barnhart was a real estate agent and active in business and community groups, including involvement with the Interact Club at Eastern Alamance High School. He now resides in Lee County.

Barnhart was sentenced to six months in prison following the Alamance County conviction, and required to register as a sex offender for 30 years upon release and undergo 36 months of mental evaluation and supervised probation. Sanford police said he was not in prison at the time of his arrest.

TEEN ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER Sanford police arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with a murder that happened on Nov. 9. David Ray Jackson, 19, of Eastover, faces one count of first degree murder.

He was arrested on Nov. 21 and booked into the Lee County Jail without bond.

Jackson is accused of shooting a 17-year-old at the Ryder Downs apartment complex off Pendergrass Road on Nov. 9.

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COMMITTEE HEARS PROPOSALS FOR THREE TOWNHOME PLANS The Sanford-Lee County Planning Department’s Technical Review Committee heard three new townhome proposals in various parts of the city at its meeting in November.

The largest of the proposals, Black Bear Townhomes, would see 18 townhome units on 1.8 acres along Hawkins Avenue between Wayne Street and Veterans Way. The lots would be at least 22 feet wide and 115 feet deep. The land would have to be rezoned if the project is approved.

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Peace Townhomes is proposed on 7.93 acres along Carbonton Road between Bridgewater Drive and Stoneybrook Drive.

The subdivision would contain 14 townhome units on lots at least 24 feet wide and 100 feet deep.

A proposal at 108 S. Third St. — currently a wooded lot in a residential neighborhood — would see two townhome duplex units, each with its own dedicated “accessory dwelling.” Plans show that it would be configured as a “pocket neighborhood” around a shared courtyard.

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36 | December 2024

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EVENT CALENDAR

DECEMBER 5-22 A CHRISTMAS CAROL Temple Theatre’s musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel will have a four-week run throughout the month of December on the main stage. Join Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and a host of colorful characters for a remarkable holiday production of the literary classic. “The spirit of the season is wrapped in your favorite yuletide melodies and tied with all the holiday magic and wonder of your childhood reminding us all to honor Christmas in our hearts and try to keep it all the year round.”

Visit templeshows.com for ticket information.

SEND YOUR EVENT The Rant Monthly's community calendar has returned, and we're doing our best to track down everything going on in Sanford and Lee County. Send us your events by email at billy@rantnc.com and include the date, time, location and a brief description.

DECEMBER DECEMBER: Oxide Gallery of Fine Art in downtown Sanford will present Holiday Treasures now through Dec. 28. The Gallery will be open for a First Saturday Public Reception on Dec. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. to kick off the holiday shopping and gift-giving season.

DEC 1: The town of Broadway will host Christmas in the Park at the North Carolina Veterans Memorial from 3 to 5 p.m. Enjoy cider, carols, a tree lighting ceremony and a visit from Santa Claus.

DEC 1: Hugger Mugger Brewing and Sanford Yoga Center present Yoga and Beer from 11 a.m. to noon at the brewery in downtown Sanford. Cost is $20 and includes a drink of your choice.

DEC 1: Seva Yoga will host Puppy Yoga with two sessions at 10 and 11:30 a.m. at Blackbelt Leadership Academy,

1716 Westover Drive in Sanford. Suggested donation is $20 with proceeds benefiting Carolina Animal Rescue and Adoption.

DEC 2: The Sanford Christmas Parade will ride through downtown Sanford beginning at 7 p.m. Parade route runs through Wicker Street, down to Steele Street and back up Carthage before ending at Carbonton Road.

DEC 2: The Lee County Board of Commissioner will hold a swearing-in ceremony just before its 11 a.m. meeting for the incoming commissioners in the auditorium of the McSwain Extension Education and Agriculture Center, located at 2420 Tramway Road.

DEC 3: The Lee County Library will host a Local History Open House from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the library in downtown Sanford. There will be a lineup of local, regional and statewide groups represented: Harnett County Public Library, Cumberland County Public Library, State

Archives of North Carolina, Railroad House Museum, Heart of Deep River Historical Society and the N.C. History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction.

DEC 4: The next Corridors of Opportunity panel — discussing Sanford and Lee County’s rapid growth in housing, jobs and manufacturing — will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. Panelists Leyla Avila from Kyowa Kirin, real estate investor Mark Lyczkowski, John Ramsperger from Sanford Real Estate and SAGA Economic Development Director Todd Tucker will serve on the panel.

DEC 5: Central Carolina Community College’s annual Cougar Express Drive Thru will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. Cruise through Santa’s Christmas village and look for character appearances, photo opportunities, interactive stations and goodie bags.

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rantnc.com DEC 11: The enchanting spirit of an Irish Christmas takes center stage at Bradshaw Performing Arts Center in Pinehurst at 7 p.m. “Irish Christmas in America,” a BPAC special event, is an unforgettable evening of music, dance and storytelling, inviting audiences to revel in the heartwarming traditions of Ireland.

DEC 11: A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Home2 Suites will be held at 4 p.m. at 115 Amos Bridges Road in Sanford.

DEC 13: 80s Unleashed will perform at Smoke & Barrel in downtown Sanford at 8 p.m.

DEC 7: Taylor Phillips’ fourth annual Benefit Concert will begin at 5 p.m. at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. Each year, Phillips brings top country artists to the center for a benefit concert with proceeds going toward the CCCC Foundation.

DEC 6: Mike Edwards & His Friends will perform at the Smoke & Barrel in downtown Sanford from 8 to 11 p.m.

DEC 6-21: Buchanan Farms will host its first Christmas on the Farm from 5 to 9 p.m. Enjoy a Christmas corn maze, food truck, wagon ride, bounce houses, a decorated Christmas hayride and Santa Claus each night. Admission is $12 for children ages 3 and up.

DEC 7: White Hill Farm in Cameron will host its Christmas Market from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with an appearance by Santa from 11 to 2). Grab some handmade Christmas gifts from local vendors, shop for the perfect Christmas tree, find a fruit or gift basket and enjoy the holiday season in a small town setting. White Hill Farms is located at 5020 South Plank Road in Cameron.

DEC 7: Lee County Community Orchestra will perform “A Holiday Portrait,” its annual holiday concert featuring holiday classics like “Nutcracker Ballet Suite” by Tchaikovsky. Shows at 3 and 7:30 p.m. at the Mann Center in Sanford.

DEC. 13: “O Blessed Season” candlelight tours will be held at the House in the Horseshoe from 3 to 6:30 p.m.

Step back in time and experience an 18th-century Christmas. Interpreters will portray members of the community who have gathered for a festive party during the holiday season among fresh greenery and candlelight. Tickets are required. This event is part of the “Revolutionary NC” theme for America 250 NC. DEC 14: The Town of Broadway will hold its annual Christmas parade at 2 p.m.

DEC 18: Hugger Mugger Brewing will host a Bottle Share beginning at 7 p.m. at the brewery in downtown Sanford. Bring a couple of your favorite beers in bottles, cans, growlers or an old shoe and share with others. This is a great way to learn more about beer and all the different beers available out there. Free event. This is the only event where outside alcohol is allowed in the brewery.

DEC 20: Worn Out Welcome will perform at Smoke & Barrel in downtown Sanford at 8 p.m.

DEC 20-22: The Southern Lee High School Drama Department will present a fundraising show for the holiday season: Dancing Lights: A Faerie Tale Adventure, an immersive fairytale dinner experience where the whole family is surrounded by scenery and projections. The show runs at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 20, 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 and 3 p.m. on Dec. 22. Tickets are $29.75 and can be purchased online at questtorestore.com.

DEC 27: Gary Braddy & Friends will perform at Smoke & Barrel in downtown Sanford at 8 p.m.

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38 | December 2024

CROSSWORD: Manias and Phobias ACROSS 1. Figaro’s solo, e.g.

5. Not sin, as in math 8. Designer Laroche 11. Pi-meson 12. Cut, like a log 13. *Telephobia, or fear of this device 15. “He’s Just Not That ____ You”, movie 16. 2D measurement 17. Gives a helping hand 18. *Ludomania, obsession with ____ 20. Therefore 21. Poetic feet 22. Accident 23. *____mania, obsession with wealth and power 26. Type of throw, in baseball 30. Miner’s load 31. Member of Round Table 34. Quartet minus one 35. Spacious 37. Last word of “America the Beautiful” 38. Young chicken 39. Cocoyam 40. Largest Asian antelope 42. Haute couture gala location, with The 43. Slimy phlebotomists 45. *____phobia, fear of public speaking 47. Took the bait 48. Tempter 50. Dumbstruck 52. *Gamophobia, fear of ____

55. September stone 56. Cantina cooker 57. Apple leftover 59. Lakes, in Scotland 60. ____ gin 61. “On a ____,” or carefree 62. *____mania, obsession with oneself 63. Cough syrup amt.

64. Additional DOWN 1. *____phobia, fear of bees 2. Bananaphone preceder 3. Itty bit 4. Language disfunction 5. Indigenous person of Lesser Antilles

@therant905 6. Track and field star, 1936 Olympics 7. Tear in pantyhose 8. Struck with a mallet 9. Back arrow key 10. Indeed 12. Against the stream swimmer 13. Say “pretty please” 14. *____phobia, fear of snakes and crocodiles 19. Uncooperative, like a mule 22. “Battleship” success 23. Kind of mushroom 24. Grind down 25. Glittery stone 26. Carpet style 27. Lily genus, pl.

28. Angers 29. “All for one and one for all,” to Musketeers

32. Egyptian goddess of fertility 33. Hair raiser 36. *____ effect, or compulsive handwashing 38. Pileus, pl.

40. Entomologist’s catcher, sometimes 41. Agora, plural 44. Tannery supply, pl.

46. Delphi talker 48. Room partitions 49. Lowest deck on a ship 50. Full of excitement 51. Home to Baylor University 52. Lion’s share 53. Hockey score 54. Commits a faux pas 55. A in IPA 58. Increase

rantnc.com

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40 | December 2024

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