By: Bill McFadyen                 My dad had a personality trait of keeping his cards close to the vest.  He did not want publicized the specifics of his business or personal life.  That wall came tumbling down, though, when in the presence of women in the work force.  He could not help but to interact openly. […]

Horse race headdress got its start at the grand races in Great Britain such as the Royal Ascot. However, when the Kentucky Derby began in 1875, the trend crossed the pond.  So, channel your inner Kate Middleton and choose a chic fascinator. Or maybe a floppy sunhat or fedora will help you put your best […]

By: Miriam Landru Make your Easter a little more delicious by baking these inspired cupcakes.  Cupcakes are for all kids… including the kid at heart. Here we have some cupcakes for the whole family. It doesn’t matter if you prefer chocolate or vanilla… there’s something for everyone!  Snowball Cupcakes  Don’t let the name fool you… […]

By Melissa Goslin              No matter how many times you’ve stepped inside the doors of Cape Fear Studios, you never quite know what—or who—you’ll find inside.              On a blustery afternoon at Cape Fear Studios, Anette Szczekutek announces tea time in her thick Welsh accent. On break from her canvas, Szczekutek wanders by the other […]

By: Melissa Goslin               A few clicks around the Internet will turn up recipes for just about anything, along with a host of reviews from people who’ve tried it, swear by it or tweak it a little. There’s even a growing number of blogs and social media pages dedicated to concocting homemade health products, […]

By: Marshall Waren Once upon a time, nearly 66 years ago, there was a famous golf match in Fayetteville. And it involved Arnold Palmer. You may have heard of him. He was a senior at Wake Forest College which, at the time, was outside of Raleigh. His playing partner was the great amateur star Harvie […]

By Nathan Walls Crystal Bennett points to a bridge on Cool Spring Street in downtown Fayetteville. “That’s where some of our clients live,” said Bennett, executive director of Connections of Cumberland County. “Some of our clients live in places like that due to exhausting nightly shelter options.” It’s a grim reminder of how some homeless […]

By Miriam Landru One of the most popular fitness crazes within the last five years is not a three-hour drive to Charlotte, but just a few miles east in downtown Fayetteville. That craze is aerial fitness, which is acrobatics in the air performed on silks, trapeze and ropes among other apparatuses.             What became Air […]

By: James Johnson If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a sculpture should be worth at least a half million. Just think how many pictures can be taken of one sculpture. On February 11th through May 7th, Methodist University will play host to not one, but 20 of them, by world renowned French […]

By Katie Crenshaw Ahh, the New Year… That lovely time of year where most of us unitedly make lofty goals of kicking our bad habits, getting into shape, losing weight and eating healthier food.  While research shows that most people will fail at keeping their resolutions… my Fayetteville friends, this year can be different! Why […]

By: James Johnson   When Methodist University’s Associate Dean of Students, Todd Harris and his wife Paulette, moved to Fayetteville in 2013, the decision was considered a compromise, as it was close to Harris’ hometown of Raleigh, while also being close to their former home of Washington D.C. Neither of them were aware when deciding […]

By Miriam Landru   This winter you should super size… and that’s not in the form of a certain fast-food chain’s former huge French fry and soft drink option. And while we all know that’s hearty comfort food perfect for eating in cold weather, what we want to suggest is instead filling your diet with […]

By Miriam Landru Raeford’s Stephen Pate is perhaps Fayetteville’s most sought-after Santa Claus. His past theatre experience and charming personality make him a popular choice for Kris Kringle. In this Q&A, he shares his life as Santa as well as some informational tidbits. Did you know that the idea of Saint Nicholas started in present […]

By Susan Guy & Martha Owen As flu season begins, the risk of area seniors being hospitalized increases significantly. However, according to a study conducted by nurses who primary work with seniors, almost half of all seniors hospitalizations (49 percent) can be avoided with proper prevention. The critical factor in reducing this spike in hospitalizations […]

By: Davis Puryear   Tax refund time is that one special time during the year, after suffering through the arduous task of paying taxes, where we as tax payers get to reverse the roles and have Uncle Sam send us money for a change.  A tax refund gives a great feeling of liberation and relief […]

By Diane Parfitt Pre-School  A Pop-Up Book of Nursery Rhymes: A Classic Collectible Pop-Up by Matthew Reinhart The classic telling of Mother Goose’s most treasured nursery rhymes with gorgeous pop-ups. Dr. Seuss Pops Up by Dr. Seuss             Seven of Dr. Seuss’s classic stories get treated to pop-ups to enhance these favorites. How Many Bugs […]

By: Grant Bennett As the class of 2016 reaches 2nd semester, closing moments of our high school careers begin to unravel. Moments with our friends, teachers and loved ones become more precious and dear to our hearts. Things such as homecoming, ball games and pep rallies have more significance to us, because not only do […]

By: Miriam Landru With over 100,000 followers on Instagram, the Kind Campaign has swept through the country with their school tours for elementary, middle and high school aged girls with a thoughtful lecture with activities catering to kindness. Founders Molly Thompson and Lauren Parsekian were friends attending film school at Pepperdine University in 2009 when […]

By: Melissa Brady & Megan Sell       November is National Diabetes Awareness Month at Better Health. Diabetes is non-prejudice and non-discriminatory of anyone, young or old. By raising awareness and offering services to assist and educate Cumberland County residents, we hope to help reduce the rates of diabetes and help all clients lead healthier lives. The […]

By: Ashlee Garrison Public education in North Carolina has been a hot topic of discussion and debate in the past couple of years. New academic standards have set the bar higher for our teachers and students (which is a good thing), yet funding has decreased and teachers have been leaving the field in droves due […]