When the mayor and four City Council members fail to lend their voice to why the $97 million Fayetteville Forward bond referendum is important for this city’s municipal well-being and its future well-being, that’s reason enough to dissuade some of us from voting for any of the three bonds. City residents are being asked to approve $60 million for public safety, $25 million for public infrastructure and $12 million for housing opportunities. Council members Kathy Keefe Jensen, D.J. Haire, Shakeyla Ingram, Courtney Banks-McLaughlin along with Mayor Mitch Colvin all voted to place the $97 million bond referendum on Tuesday’s ballot, but they did not respond to an Oct. 18 deadline from CityView requesting their respective thoughts on the bonds. Only Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Dawkins responded about the significance of the referendum. Now, perhaps, you may understand why the Vote Yes Charter Referendum is on the Nov. 8 ballot to change the structure of the City Council from a mayor and nine districts to a mayor and five members elected from districts and four at-large.
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Those who like to gather to watch Election Day returns can gather Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Crown ballroom, according to Angie Amaro, director of the Cumberland County Board of Elections. Unofficial results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections website will be projected on large screens in the ballroom. Candidates, supporters and the general public are welcome to await results from the Cumberland County Board of Elections. Election tracking also will be available at cumberlandcountync.gov/elections or ncsbe.gov.
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There are 128,852 city residents who are registered to vote, Amaro says, and 9,459 already have cast early-voting ballots as of Thursday. That’s just a little more than 7.4%. Early voting ends Saturday.
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Most people in the community remember Bo Thorp for her work as the first artistic director and co-founder of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre. Thorp also led the way in the founding of the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County. Olga “Bo” Thorp was 89 when she died on Oct. 14.
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“Thanks, Bill, for weaving my grandfather into Coach Yeager’s article,” Fayetteville City Council Mayor Pro Tem Johnny Dawkins writes in an email about our Oct. 30 profile on Bill Yeager, the longtime football coach at Terry Sanford High School, who was honored on Oct. 21 when Bill Yeager Field was named in his honor. “You’ll make a lot of folks smile with all the names of former players and coaches.”
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“Howdy Bill, that sure was a good story about Ronnie McLeod,” Steve Gasper writes in an email about our Oct. 19 column about The Fayetteville Observer newspaper delivery carrier who retired after 40 years. “I enjoy reading interesting stories about everyday people. Just think of the discipline it takes to do the same thing over and over again for 40 years. I've been reading Up & Coming Weekly and CityView. Those two pubs have the local news and happenings in and around this area. I'll never forget that little comical article you wrote years ago about the mouse that ate your Otis Spunkmeyer muffin.” Yes, Mr. Gasper, quite a career for Ronnie McLeod. And, yes, I remember that critter that I caught eating my muffins.
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“Good job, Billy,” Michael Little writes in an email about our Oct. 16 column on former Cumberland County Commissioner Kenneth Edge, who grew up along Breezewood Avenue. Michael Little grew up on Breezewood Avenue as well, along with his brothers Lee Little and the late Jimmy Little. Their home was where the CityView offices are today. Those days of the 1950s and the 1960s were the best days of our lives. “Amazing how Breezewood has stayed alive, in large part thanks to you Billy.” Not me, Mike, but because of good kids with parents like Jimmy and Lucy Little, who taught their children well.
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The Heritage Square Historical Society has scheduled a yard sale fundraiser from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 12 at its Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House, where you can find furniture, antiques, housewares and holiday items. “The last two years with the COVID shutdowns did not help’’ the society’s mission to preserve the Sandford House, the Oval Ballroom and the Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House, says Kris Johnson with the historical society on Dick Street downtown, “and the organization is trying to make up financially for lost time.” Johnson also says the historical society is staging its annual Christmas Tour of Homes from 1 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 4. Tickets are $25. The Heritage Square Historical Society is the former Fayetteville Women's Club.
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“This hour took us by surprise,” the Rev. Scott Perkins would say Tuesday at the Celebration of Life for Coryonna Treasure Young held at Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. “It astonished us. It’s shocked us. But you, God, were the only one who knew that we would be here at this place, at this time, on this day to celebrate the life of Coryonna Treasure Young, and Lord, we thank you. We thank you for Treasure, and we thank you for the treasure of her life.” The Rev. Christopher Stackhouse later would say in his uplifting eulogy that Miss Young’s light will shine beyond her tender years. Coryonna Treasure Young, 15, a sophomore at Seventy-First High School and daughter of Fayetteville City Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, died of a gunshot wound on Oct. 21.
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Tammy Brocato was a woman who in spite of her hopes for a kidney transplant never lost her faith in her Lord and savior and that tomorrow would be better than her days and nights of struggling with Type II diabetes, with her mother Emma Lou Pereira always there for her daughter’s health issues. She grew up in Robeson County and graduated from St. Pauls High School in 1986. She became a licensed practical nurse, later working at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton and at Bladen County Hospital in Elizabethtown in labor and delivery, the intensive care unit and the emergency room. She loved the beach. She loved the mountains. Tammy Michelle Brocato was 54 when she died Monday.
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Steve Parker’s longtime friends from the Greater Exchange Club of Fayetteville will be hosting the Stephen Roy Parker Memorial Celebration from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Highland Country Club, and while the evening will be one of fond remembrance, it will be bittersweet. “For over 30 years, he served as the social chairman for the Exchange Club of Greater Fayetteville,” Steve Smith says. “The parties and oyster roasts he orchestrated weren't just gatherings, they were events. If you attended one of these festivities, you couldn't wait for the next. Steve meticulously planned a memorable affair, sparing no expense.” The evening will feature Chairmen of the Board and Classic Soul providing musical entertainment. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased on the Eventbrite website. “It was never really intended to be a money maker, but a tribute,” Smith says. “If there happens to be a profit, it would go to our scholarship fund.” Steven Roy Parker died at age 68 on June 26 after a courageous battle with dementia.
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Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at bllkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
