Could not have had a better Wednesday visiting with the ladies of the Flora MacDonald Garden Club (circa 1960) and sharing with them news about our daily CityView Today newsletter and monthly City View Magazine. They were inquisitive with many questions about the city, including when the Amazon Fulfillment Center will open on the I-295 bypass, the Crown Event Center planned for downtown and who will be the next city mayor should Mitch Colvin decide not to run for a fifth term. They are quite astute, you can be assured, when it comes to what’s happening in this community. Host Linda Jones, Sharon Ruther, Judy Chavis, Beth Keeney, Bonnie Forsythe, Kathy Johnson, Phyllis Freeman, Gladys Smoot, Toy Brown, Sarah Volkmann, Pat Stang, Lois Ives, Brigitte Niles and Carol Ivey were a delightful group of folks to be with on the second anniversary of our digital publication.
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Jackie Tuckey is leading organization of the 42nd annual Fayetteville Dogwood Festival scheduled for April 26-28 at Festival Plaza Park and other downtown venues. “The Dogwood Festival board is organizing the spring festival,” says Tara Long, immediate past board chairwoman. “Jackie is our longest serving board member and is guiding the board with her love and experience for the festival. We do not plan on hiring an executive director prior to the spring festival. We will evaluate this decision and many others after the spring festival.”
Saragrace Snipes Mitchell resigned after the 2023 festival to pursue a private business interest downtown.
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Our colorful azaleas are budding, and our community dogwoods are not far behind to remind us that spring is almost here.
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It's the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. “Don’t take a chance,” says Mark Ezzell, director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, in a news release about the perils of drinking and driving. “Designating a sober driver or using ride-sharing services and public transportation is the only safe alternative.”
Sound advice.
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“Bill, I am watching the girls play in Greensboro,” writes John McFadyen in an email about the Atlantic Coast Conference women’s basketball tournament held March 6-10 at the Greensboro Coliseum. “The coliseum has tarp over four sections of seats behind one basket and a curtain around the upper deck, except for two rows. I realize this is round two and maybe the other rounds will be different, but I really think Fayetteville could make this a great event with a full arena like we used to do. I remember the days when the Fayetteville Sports Club was hosting, and the fun we had. Has the county coliseum management made a bid recently?”
The ACC women’s event was staged at the old Cumberland County Complex arena from 1983 to 1991, thanks to Fayetteville Sports Club leaders to include the late Fritz Healy, the late Leonard Black and Vance Neal among others. It was a big deal and the club had leaders with a vision. To answer your question, Mr. Fadyen, I seriously doubt it. Perhaps Greg Parks, president of the club should explore it.
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All of the identification lettering across Fayetteville Publishing Co. on Whitfield Street is gone, and except for a state historic marker, you never would know the building once was home of The Fayetteville Observer, the oldest newspaper in the state. That’s “Corporate America” for you.
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All of the aesthetic forest of trees along N. Edgewater Drive at the entrance of the VanStory Hills neighborhood near Morganton Road are gone, thanks to the bulldozers of housing developers. Clear-cutting at its best. Or shall we say clear-cutting at its worst.
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Well, we heard Bed Bath & Beyond at Cross Pointe Center was closing, and much to the chagrin of some of us, Bed Bath & Beyond surely is closed.
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“As an educational leader, Mrs. Tatum actively championed the safety and well-being of both students and staff within her care,” says Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Marvin Connelly, Jr. in a news release about Garda Marie “Dusty” Tatum, the retired principal at South View High School. “Mrs. Tatum’s legacy of excellence, compassion and unwavering support for students and staff will continue to inspire us all.”
Mrs. Tatum died at age 75 on March 7.
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You’ll find unique artifacts from the 82nd Airborne Division Memorial Museum, the JFK Warfare Museum and the U.S. Army Reserve Command History Office as part of the “Opening the Vaults: Treasure of the Fort Liberty Museums” exhibit that will be on display through Dec. 29 at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum downtown. If you haven’t been to the ASOM, you are missing out. It’s a wealth of military history.
Next: A journalist to remember
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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