Today is the day our Cumberland Board of County Commissioners should hear from Scott Flowers of the Hutchens Law Firm about issues that on March 5 prompted Commissioners Chair Kirk deViere, Vice Chair Veronica Jones, Glenn Adams, Marshall Faircloth, Henry Tyson and Pavan Patel to call for an outside review of the $145 million Crown Event Center scheduled to be built downtown across from the county courthouse. Of concern, CityView has reported previously, is an additional $1.9 million architectural fee that resulted in a 30-day moratorium. It will be interesting to hear what Flowers has to say, and more interesting, to learn what commissioners have to say.
***
No question about the status of the estimated $25 million Cape Fear Regional Theatre, with a groundbreaking scheduled at noon Monday for what will be a remodeling of the theater on Haymount Hill.
***
Speaking of new buildings in the community, I’ve suspended construction of a birdhouse in my backyard, because Donald J. Trump’s global tariffs war is wiping out my Investment Retirement Account, and Thursday’s numbers were staggering. The birds aren’t singing, either.
***
Lt. Gen. Gregory Anderson, commanding general of the 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, is wasting no time following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Gen. Christopher Donahue, in getting to know the Fayetteville community. “I’m a huge believer in creating synergy between the installation, soldiers and families with the local community, particularly the local colleges,” Anderson said in a news release after a tour on March 26 of Fayetteville Technical Community College, which has been recognized, according to another news release, as a Top 10 Military Friendly School by an independent media organization that connects the military community to civilian employment and educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. FTCC was rated No. 5 among community colleges nationwide. On his tour, Anderson met with a number of FTCC students, which included many in cybersecurity studies. “Fort Bragg is a strategic partner of FTCC,” said Mark Sorrells, the FTCC president. “We are pleased to be working in concert with Fort Bragg and the U.S. Army to train a future-ready workforce aimed at strengthening our national security posture, assisting with the development of cutting-edge innovations to prepare and increase safety for our soldiers and equipping those transitioning from the military with credentials and skills for good paying jobs.”
***
Dr. Sanford Hawkins-Rivers and Dr. Fred Caruso have been honored as Physicians of the Year by the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Caduceus Society during a recent celebration of 2025 Doctors’ Day at the Center for Medical Education and Neuroscience Institute, according to a news release. Others honored were Dr. Thomas Bainter as Resident of the Year and Family Nurse Practitioner Ashley Marlow as Advanced Practice Provider of the Year. Hawkins-Rivers is a surgeon at Harnett Surgical Associates. Caruso is a pediatric radiologist at Cape Fear Medical Center. Bainter is chief resident of psychiatry and works at the medical center. Marlow practices family practical nursing at Bladen Medical Associates in Elizabethtown. The Caduceus Society honors Cape Fear Valley Health System health providers.
***
On the subject of health, bursitis of the shoulder can be a pain and limit your movement range, and I surely know all about bursitis in the left shoulder. Physical therapy is helping, but it’s all a pain … and not just in the shoulder, if you get my drift.
***
Good news for what often has been a flooding issue after storms and heavy rainfall along Ray Avenue and Maiden Lane. “This project is part of our ongoing commitment to improving infrastructure and protecting our community from stormwater impacts,” Deputy Public Services Director Byron Reeves says in a news release about installation of 300 feet of a new 42-inch stormwater pipe and 450 feet of 12-inch water supply piping along Ray Avenue, between Maiden Lane and Cross Creek. And 400 feet of a 24-inch stormwater pipe was also installed along Maiden Lane from Ray Avenue to Burgess Street. “With multiple stormwater projects underway, we’re working to enhance storm drainage and reduce flooding.” Yep, that’s good news.
***
“Thanks for the fire station details,” Lou Brooks writes in an email about our Kirby File column of March 28 regarding the delayed construction of the $9.44 million state-of-the-art station No. 4 at 4210 Bragg Blvd. that has been caught up in legal wranglings between contractors and the city. “A fiasco indeed.” Yes, Mrs. Brooks, you are not alone in your opinion.
***
If you’re looking for a good lunch or early dinner, you might be inclined to head over to the Exchange Club of Fayetteville’s annual fundraising Bar-B-Que plate sale, which is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today adjacent to the Masonic Center at 2900 Village Drive. Plates are $10 and include barbecue, potato salad, slaw and a roll. The good old boys from the Exchange Club will treat you like family.
***
“The Fayetteville-Saint-Avold Friendship Alliance is rolling out the welcome mat again for some visitors from France,” Kris Johnson says about six Saint-Avold residents, who are scheduled to be in Fayetteville from April 9-11. “We have a tour of our downtown and a tour of Fort Bragg planned, but the highlight of the visit will be a screening of the movie, ‘The Girl Who Wore Freedom.’ This exclusive movie screening will mark the first time it has been shown in the Fayetteville-Fort Bragg area.” Film producer Christian Taylor, Johnson says, will be on hand after the film for a question-and-answer discussion, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 10 at the downtown Cameo Art House Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for FSAFA members and $10 for non-members. “I’m thrilled that we have an active visit exchange happening with our friends in France,” says Johnson, who is president of the Fayetteville-Saint-Avold Friendship Alliance. “As political leaders and their relationships ebb and flow, the constant is the citizen-to-citizen friendships we have with our Sister City.” The film is about the untold WWII stories of the men, women and children of Normandy, France, who lived through German occupation, the D-Day invasion and the liberation by Allied forces.
Coming Sunday: Military veteran is Small Farmer of the Year
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
We’re in our third year of CityView Today, and so many of you have been with us from day one in our efforts to bring the news of the city, county, community and Cape Fear region each day. We’re here with a purpose — to deliver the news that matters to you.
