Fayetteville, N.C. –The Home Builders Association of Fayetteville will host the 13h annual Carolina Home & Garden Show February 24-26, 2012 at the Crown Expo Center.  The show has over 150 booths, 60 vendors and 15 new vendors.

The show opens on Friday, February 24 at noon and runs until 6:00 p.m., Saturday, February 25 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 2612:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Over the three day show, patrons will see and learn about all areas of home improvement, from the fence to the fireplace and everything in between.

Some of the highlighted additions to the show include educational and hands-on seminars. Jason Cameron host of DIY “Man Caves” and “Desperate Landscapes” will perform live demonstrations on Saturday, February 25 at 11:00, 2:00 and 4:00 and be available for autographs.

Visit www.carolinahomeandgardenshow.com for a list of all the seminars during the three day show.

The mission of the Home Builders Association of Fayetteville is to serve, advocate, and promote the local building and development industries while fostering unity between members, government, and the community.

Contact: Carrie Lacayo

763-8050 or carrie@ebenconcepts.com

(Raleigh, NC) – M. Hughes Waren, Jr. RHU, Benefit Consultant with Fayetteville based Ebenconcepts, was recently appointed to the N.C. Health Insurance Risk Pool (Inclusive Health) Board of Directors. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin appointed Mr. Waren to a three-year term representing the agent/broker community on the board.

“We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Waren to the Board of Directors,” said Michael Keough, Executive Director of Inclusive Health. “He is a proven leader in the broker community and we feel confident that he will serve the best interests of all North Carolinians as we work to provide affordable health insurance for individuals with pre-existing health conditions.”

Hughes has been a licensed insurance agent since 1997. He opened the Wilmington office of Ebenconcepts in 2002 to better serve his client’s employer sponsored health benefit plans brokerage and consulting needs. Hughes is a past president of the Coastal Association of Health Underwriters, and past president of the N.C. Association of Health Underwriters.

The North Carolina General Assembly established the North Carolina Health Insurance Risk Pool (NCHIRP) in 2007. Today NCHIRP operates as Inclusive Health providing affordable, individual health insurance coverage to North Carolinians who do not have access to an employer health plan and face higher premiums due to a pre-existing medical condition. Inclusive Health also offers coverage to individuals who are eligible for, enrolled in or exhausting COBRA or state continuation coverage or qualify due to loss of employment due to the effects of international trade under the Health Coverage Tax Credit.

Inclusive Health began offering coverage on January 1, 2009 and is a non-profit corporation. It is not part of any state agency but is administered by an appointed Board. The board together with Inclusive Health’s executive director reports to the NC General Assembly.

RALEIGH, N.C. (February 13, 2012)

This year’s event aims to be the largest yet, with over 475 walks anticipated. “The turnout of supporters [in 2011] was fantastic,” says Jeff Furst, President of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Carolinas Chapter. “We appreciate the efforts of everyone who worked so hard to make this event a success, and we look forward to seeing continued fundraising efforts push us closer to our goal.”

Sixty percent of all the funds raised will go toward programs, services and advocacy for people living with MS and 40 percent supports national research to find the cause and cure of MS.

In addition to the 4.75 mile walk route, the event will feature live entertainment, food vendors and kids’ activities.  There will be a large team tailgating area where participants can enjoy the day’s festivities with their friends, family and co-workers.

The 2012 Fayetteville Walk MS website allows individuals to create and join teams, register and donate online. For more information or to register, please visit www.WalkingForMS.org or call 1-800 FIGHT MS.  Participants are encouraged to recruit friends and family to walk or volunteer as a team at the event.

About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and 2.5 million worldwide.

About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society:
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. The Eastern North Carolina Chapter, located in Raleigh, serves the over 5,400 individuals affected by MS in our 49-county area. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS. In 2008 alone, the Society devoted over $136 million to programs that enhanced more than one million lives. The Society also invested nearly $50 million to support 440 research projects around the world. We are people who want to do something about MS NOW. If you or someone you know has MS, please contact the National MS Society today at www.nationalMSsociety.org/nct or 1-800 FIGHT MS to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.

Movie Music Soirée

David Michael Wolff and Friends
Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, 7pm
Owens Auditorium at SCC
Get tickets online.

Jazz Series: Brothers – Joshua and David Michael Wolff on two pianos with trio

Friday,  March 23, 2012, 7pm
Owens Auditorium at SCC
Get tickets online.

Pinehurst Pops Series: Rodgers and Hammerstein Extravaganza
Sun., Mar. 11, 4pm
Robert E. Lee Auditorium
$25/gen, $50/priority reserved seating
Get tickets online.

Third of four concerts in the Pinehurst Pops Series.  Miss Saigon, Salute to Rogers and Hammerstein, and other pops favorites.

Jazz: Palustris 2012

Brothers: Joshua and David Wolff and trio

During Palustris Festival – date and venue tbd.

NOTE: Same concert will be repeated on Sun. March 25, 4pm at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville (1601 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville)

Chamber Music: Bohemian Rhapsody

Sunday, April 15, 2012, 4pm
David Michael Wolff and Friends
SCC’s Owens Auditorium
Get tickets online.

NOTE: Same concert will be repeated one week later on Sun. April 22, 4pm at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville (1601 Raeford Rd., Fayetteville)
Pinehurst Pops Series: Salute to Broadway
Tues., May 22, 7pm
Robert E. Lee Auditorium
$25/gen, $50/priority reserved seating
Get tickets online.

Fourth or four concerts in the Pinehurst Pops Series.  West Side Story, The Sound of Music, and other pops favorites.

Fayetteville Series:

Chamber Music and Jazz
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
1601 Raeford Road, Fayetteville

Single Admission Pass:  Adult $25, Senior/Military $20, Child/Student $5.
A pass is valid for any of the Fayetteville Series concerts.
Fayetteville passes available at the door or by calling our Box Office, 910-687-4746.

Jazz: The Mark Wells Quartet

Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, 4pm

Mark Wells, vocals/piano; Jason Foureman, bass, Abdullah Rahman, drums, Kevin Van Sant, guitar

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

1601 Raeford Road, Fayetteville

Get tickets online.

Early Valentine’s

Movie Music Soirée

Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, 4pm

David Michael Wolff and Friends

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

1601 Raeford Road, Fayetteville

Jazz

Sunday, March 25, 2012, 4pm

Brothers: Joshua and David Wolff and trio

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

1601 Raeford Road, Fayetteville

Bohemian Rhapsody

Sunday, April 22, 2012, 4pm

David Michael Wolff and Friends
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
1601 Raeford Road, Fayetteville

Venues:

Owens Auditorium at Sandhills Community College,
Pinehurst, NC

The Carolina Hotel (Grand Ballroom and Cardinal Ballroom)
Pinehurst, NC

Robert E. Lee Auditorium
Pinecrest High School, Pinehurst, NC

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
1601 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC

When: Saturday, March 31, 2012
Where: J. P. Riddle Stadium

Registration 9AM • Opening Ceremony 9:45AM • Start 10AM

To find out more about the Walk, contact Melissa Cormican at 1.877.568.4347 or email her at Melissa@CatfishChapter.org

About ALS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that robs a person’s ability to control muscle movement, leading to total paralysis. The average lifespan of a person with ALS (PALS) after diagnosis is three to five years. As of yet, there is no known cause or cure. One in 800 men and one in 1200 women will be diagnosed with ALS in their lifetime. ALS knows no racial or ethnic boundries and it is estimated that as many as 30,000 people in the United States are currently living with ALS. Studies have shown that those who have served in the military have a nearly 60% greater risk of ALS than those who have not served.

About The ALS Association

The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. As the preeminent ALS organization, The Association leads the way in research, patient and community services, public education, and advocacy — giving help and hope to those facing the disease. The Association’s nationwide network of chapters provides comprehensive patient services and support to the ALS community. The mission of The ALS Association is to lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global cutting-edge research, and to empower people with Lou Gehrig’s disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.

About the Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter

The Catfish Chapter has been serving persons with ALS (PALS) across North Carolina since 2000. The Chapter has grown into an award-winning and nationally-recognized organization because of their efforts in service, advocacy, and fundraising. The Chapter has been recognized by The ALS Association as Chapter of the Year and has collected several other Chapter and individual awards as well. For more information about the Chapter, visit www.CatfishChapter.org.

MIRANDA LAMBERT,

COMING TO THE CROWN CENTER

Fayetteville, NC – Two time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Miranda Lambert, will be On Fire when she hits the stage on Saturday, February 25th with Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann at the Crown Center . Tickets go on sale January 27th at 10am and start at just $27.75 and are available at the Crown Center Box Office, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Miranda’s highly anticipated new CD ‘Four the Record’ is in stores now. “I’m looking forward to the tour and playing some new music from ‘Four The Record’ and kicking some attitude,” said Miranda. “Chris and Jerrod have great shows and we’re gonna have a lot of fun out there this year and it will be a great year with our fans. See you out there!” Lambert, the reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year is nominated for two CMA Awards this year including Female Vocalist.

Chris Young brings a string of four number one singles to the tour including “Tomorrow,” the first single from his # 1 album, Neon.  “I’m really fired up about touring with Miranda,” Chris said. “I’ve admired her talent over the years and I’m looking forward to spending the first part of 2012 on the road with her and Jerrod.” Chris was recently nominated by the CMA as “New Artist of the Year” and has 3 American Country Award nominations including “Breakthrough Artist of the Year.”

Jerrod Niemann launched his debut major label album Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury, with the # 1 smash song, “Lover, Lover.” On the tour Jerrod said, “Miranda is as real as it gets. I’m proud to be a fan and thankful to be a friend. I look forward to joining her tour next year & catching up with my good buddy Chris Young.” Jerrod has 5 nominations for the upcoming American Country Awards.

When: Saturday, February 25th

Where: Crown Center

Public Onsale: Friday, January 27th 10:00 am

Purchase Tickets: Tickets are available at the Crown Center Box Office, charge by phone at 800-745-3000, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Hours of operation for the Tax Center will be 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday-Friday, and

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday. The center will be closed on Sundays and federal holidays. It will be open until midnight on both April 16 and 17. Entrance to the tax center after 6 p.m. and all day Saturday will be the main canopy-covered entrance to the building; this will be the only unlocked entrance during those times.

The Fort Bragg Tax Center is the largest in the Army. It serves active duty military, Family Members, and retirees with virtually all of their personal tax needs. The Tax Center provides free tax preparation, electronic filing, and tax form distribution for federal and all state tax returns.

Soldiers and civilian volunteers will assist tax payers with all their tax needs. These Soldiers and volunteers have completed the Internal Revenue Services’ training program and are IRS certified to prepare tax returns.

Assistance is provided on a walk-in basis. In order to have returns prepared, taxpayers must:

1. Arrive at the Tax Center not later than one hour prior to closing.
2. Bring their W2 forms, which can be downloaded from the DFAS MyPay website at https://mypay.dfas.mil. A copy of an LES cannot be used.
3. Bring their military/dependent/retiree ID card.
4. Bring Power of Attorney if filing for another person or filing married without your spouse present and any tax forms they have received in the mail.
5. If taxpayers want to get their refund faster by direct deposit, they must also bring a canceled check.

Last year, the Tax Center served more than 18,000 Soldiers, Retirees and their Family Members; prepared nearly 14,000 returns, and collectively saved clients approximately $3.2 million in tax preparation costs. It remained open until June 30 to support Soldiers returning from overseas. If necessary, it will do so again this year.

Fayetteville, NC – January 10, 2012 – On January 20-21, 2012, the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) Martial Arts of Fayetteville will demonstrate its support for the military at its annual Home Town Heroes: Regional ATA Martial Arts Tournament at the Crown Coliseum Expo Center. The local chapter will donate a portion of all proceeds from ticket and t-shirt sales to the Army’s Army, an organization made up of citizens and businesses that support the military, dedicated to ‘watching over those who watch over us©.’ The tournament is the area’s largest martial arts competition for youth and teenagers. Last year it drew in roughly 1,000 individuals, made-up of competitors and spectators, and organizers are hoping to attract an even bigger crowd this year.

The ATA Martial Arts of Fayetteville and the Army’s Army partnered together for last year’s tournament to honor 30 Purple Heart recipients, members of the local Fayetteville chapter 2226 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. In Fayetteville/Cumberland Country, America’s First Military Sanctuary Community, the military receives VIP treatment, and the Purple Heart recipients experienced this firsthand at last year’s tournament. Each of the honorees were publicly acknowledged, received front row seats, and signed autographs.

“We are excited for the tournament, not only do we get to compete but we’re able to show our appreciation for our military heroes,” said Master Michael Brown, ATA Martial Arts of Fayetteville. “We invite the community to come join us and show their support for the military, as a portion of sales will go to the Army’s Army, a military support organization, to help them do what they do best.”

The Army’s Army operates three websites strictly devoted to supporting soldiers, veterans and their families:

• FayettevilleWantsYou.com – A site that provides resources for military families relocating to Fayetteville/Cumberland County to help make their transition easier.
• MilitaryDiscounts.com – A blog that houses hundreds of military discounts, in one convenient place.
• BriefFromTheFront.com – The Army’s Army, Executive Director’s blog that covers local news and events of interest to soldiers and their families.

Currently, the organization is made up of over 1,500 volunteers and dozens of partners that provide various types of military support through programs, such as relocation fairs, and events geared towards soldiers, veterans and their families, including children of fallen soldiers.

The Regional Tournament: Hometown Heroes will feature highly-skilled sixth, seventh and eighth degree black belts, as well as some of the younger Tiny Tigers, and white, orange and yellow belts working their way up to black belt. Spectators will be able to see competitors trained in Combat BME, Songahm forms and sparring, ATA Extreme Weapons, and ATA Extreme Forms.

To view photographs from last year’s event: Home Town Heroes: Regional ATA Martial Arts Tournament, click here .

About The Army’s Army:
Fayetteville/Cumberland County is America’s first sanctuary community for the Military and their Families. The Army’s Army is the world’s only volunteer organization of citizens and businesses who have pledged their moral, physical and spiritual support to those in the military. We do everything we can to make soldiers, veterans and their families feel welcome, appreciated and safe. The Army’s Army is dedicated to “watching over those who watch over us©.” For additional information, visit www.armysarmy.com.

About ATA Martial Arts:
The American Taekwondo Association (ATA) is the premier North American organization dedicated to the martial arts discipline of taekwondo, and is the founding organization of other international affiliates that include the World Traditional Taekwondo Union (WTTU) and the Songahm Taekwondo Federation (STF) . Counting both the U.S. and worldwide, our organizations have over 1,500 independently owned and operated licensed schools and clubs , and have registered over one million students since the ATA’s inception in 1969.

Fayetteville, NC (Grassroots Newswire) January 10, 2012 — Calling all kids,
and their parents, too. The Little Gym of Fayetteville is opening its doors
to the local community to tour its facility and get more information about
its programs. It invites local residents to experience first hand the
center’s gymnastics classes and other programs that help kids develop
lifelong skills.

The free open house will take place on January 21, 2012 from 2-5 pm at The
Little Gym of Fayetteville, located at 4011 Sycamore Dairy Rd, Suite 105.

Offering a curriculum-based core program of gymnastics as well as karate,
sports skills, dance,camps, Awesome Birthday Bashes, and Parents’ Survival
Nights to promote coordination, balance, rhythm and flexibility, The Little
Gym is based on a philosophy of allowing kids to experience success in a
fun, caring and non-competitive way. Children’s listening, social and
intellectual capacities are all enhanced in the process, as students are
encouraged to progress at their own pace.

“We are really excited to show the community the awesome classes that we
provide for children ages 4 months to 12 years old,” said Connie Tator,
owner of The Little Gym of Fayetteville. “We are sure the parents in the
local community will immediately see the benefits of our programs.”

The open house is an opportunity for the community to check out the facility
and get a better understanding of the many benefits The Little Gym has to
offer.

According to Tator, the staff members at The Little Gym of Fayetteville
encourage children to try their best during the programs at the facility.
The programs are designed to introduce children to physical activity in a
fun and nurturing environment, Tator said. “During our open house event, we
hope parents will see how their child can become more confident, more
willing to take prudent risks, and being challenged in ways they never have
before through our programs,” Tator said.

For more information about enrolling your child in a program at The Little
Gym of Fayetteville, please contact Connie Tator at (910) 223-3496.

About The Little Gym
The Little Gym is the premier developer of physical skills in children
worldwide. The very first location was established in 1976 by Robin Wes, an
innovative educator with a genuine love for children. The Little Gym
International, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., was formed in 1992
to Franchise The Little Gym concept. Today, The Little Gym International
has more than 300 locations in 21 countries. For more information, visit
The Little Gym at www.TheLittleGym.com.

CIHN is a 17 year old organization dedicated to the elimination of homeless and encouraging those towards self-sufficiency. The organization serves 130 children and their parents daily through its 4 programs. The partnership development provides multiple levels of opportunities. The Re-Store Warehouse is not only financially supporting CIHN but also providing employment opportunities to provide sustainability for the families.

An employee at The Re-Store Warehouse Inc. is currently involved in the Interfaith program. Because of the new partnership Ms. Giles was able to set up an interview for the young man and The Re-Store Warehouse hired him on as a full-time employee. The Re-Store Warehouse employee added: “This was a blessing in disguise, it has enable me to spend more time with my family and reach new goals” His goals include owning his own house after leaving the program and going back to school. He states: “Bill McMillan empowers you to better yourself”.

Denise Giles sees a bright future for CIHN with the help of The Re-Store Warehouse Inc. She states: “we both see an end goal and have only begun to scratch the surface”. Future plans include additional employment opportunities between Interfaith families and The Re-Store Warehouse workforce development and job training.
The Re-Store Warehouse’s has already given $10,000. Cumberland Interfaith Hospitality Network was able to use the donation to fix vans in order to assist homeless transportation. Ms. Giles explains: “Because of the money, we did not have to have a break in service and could easily fix a problem”.

The Re-Store Warehouse is excited about the new commitment and look forward to the future with CIHN. Executive Director, Bill McMillan explained, “Our partnership is one piece of our strategic plan to raise and donate $1 million dollars in the next 5 years to Fayetteville area charities who are helping those who are less fortunate.”

The Re-Store Warehouse is a sustainable provider of new and used home and building products to the residents of Cumberland and surrounding counties. Fayetteville’s New and Used Home Improvement Super Store operates an 80,000 square foot warehouse at 205 Forsythe St, just off Raeford Road at Robeson Street. In addition to the best selection of used merchandise in town, The Re-Store Warehouse also stocks new home improvement products providing some regularity to their irregularity. Their inventory, which is always changing, includes kitchen cabinets, appliances, lighting, furniture, flooring, tile, bathroom accessories, toilets, bathroom vanities and tops, windows, doors and more. Since 2006, The Re-Store Warehouse has donated almost $700,000.00 to area charities who benefit the poor of Cumberland County. Learn more about The Re-Store Warehouse at www.TheRestoreWarehouse.org or on Facebook at The Restore Warehouse.