If your car broke down today, whom would you call?This can be a tough question for some members of the military community. According to the 2020 Military OneSource demographics report, an annual survey published in part by the Dept. of Defense, 43% of active-duty U.S. Army members are single (including divorced, annulled and widowed) with […]
Aria Spears
Aria Spears joined CityView as a HomeFront columnist in 2023. She is a freelance copywriter, civic leadership enthusiast and current graduate student at Duke University. A Missourian-turned-Army spouse, she loves a good float trip and exploring the Fayetteville–Fort Liberty region with her family and Jack Russell Terrier, Renny.
Posted inMagazine
Shades of inspiration
I am cloistered in dusty pink azaleas and magenta Japanese maples, only minutes from the spark of clarity I need. I’ve felt stuck, lately. I feel stopped in a holding pattern, ever hovering without resolution. Over time, I’ve learned a change of routine and scenery can electrify creativity. I decided to take the risk. Relocating […]
Posted inHomeFront, Culture, News, Features
Midday mocktails and getting through PCS season
FROM THE HOMEFRONT | Aria Spears Midday mocktails and getting through PCS season How a sparkly glass with a foamy tangerine-coconut midday mocktail became my personal lifeline (everyone has …
Posted inHomeFront
Local support for graduating military kids
With high school graduation on the horizon, Fort Liberty students and parents are preparing for a new chapter.
Posted inMagazine
Finding ‘home’ in routines
When it comes to creating a beautiful and peaceful home, rituals can help create a sense of stability in the midst of a mobile life. Instead of identifying “home” as a place, I’ve …
Posted inHomeFront, Culture, Features
Military life friendships: Cultivating a chosen family
Waving across the street, they waved back and averted their gaze. Oh no, I thought. Did we scare them off? It was the fall of 2020; we were at our first duty station and everything extra was shut down.
Posted inUncategorized
Finding child care for military kids
Fort Liberty Army spouse Holly Crenshaw’s search for child care began weeks before accepting an offer of employment. She got her two children on waitlists and patched together temporary …
Posted inHomeFront, Culture, Features
Pinto Bean Cake and Cumberland’s rich African American heritage
“Pinto bean cake? You mean … an actual cake made from pinto beans?” I gazed wide-eyed at Ammie McRae Jenkins, founder and Executive Director of the Sandhills Family Heritage Association, waiting for an answer.
Posted inHomeFront, Faith & Religion
The meaning of spiritual readiness
Ask a room to define “spiritual readiness,” and you’ll likely get as many different answers as there are people.
Posted inHomeFront, Culture, News, Features
How to grow local roots as you work remotely at Fort Liberty
Remote work has opened up new opportunities for military-affiliated workers, as many remote jobs can travel state to state. As you build a life here in the Fort Liberty area, here are some ways to …