Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM NOVEMBER 6-12, 2019 UCW 23 Hope Mills News & Views NEWS Golden Knights highlight Hope Mills Heroes Homecoming by EARL VAUGHAN JR. A special appearance by the United States Army's Golden Knights parachute team highlights this year's observance of Heroes Homecoming in Hope Mills. Scheduled on Monday, Nov. 11, the Hope Mills obser- vance will be held at and in the vicinity of the Hope Mills Town Hall complex on Rockfish Road. Jim Morris, secretary for the Veterans Affairs Committee of the town of Hope Mills, said the ceremo- ny will begin at 11 a.m. at the bell tower near Town Hall. The end of World War I will be remembered there with a ringing of the bell. From there, events will move to the Veterans Memorial Park nearby, where various members of the Veterans Affairs Committee will mark the 75th anni- versary of the D-Day invasion at Normandy on June 6, 1944, by reading the names of North Carolina residents who took part in the landings in France. Morris said committee members will take turns read- ing the names. Small American flags will be planted around the memorial park as part of the ceremony. Following the ceremonies at the 11 a.m. hour, there will be a break until 3 p.m. when the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10630 holds its annual Veterans Day cer- emony. Weather permitting, the Golden Knights will jump in at the Brower Park baseball field across the street from the Town Hall Complex. They will bring with them a wreath that will be used during the VFW ceremony. Morris said the jump will recall major airborne opera- tions of World War II, including the jumps at Normandy and later in the war in Operation Market Garden. Morris said that now more than ever, it is important for Americans to pause on Veterans Day and appreci- ate the sacrifices the military has made on behalf of the average citizen during this country's long history. "We are involved in some of the longest wars America has ever been involved in,'' he said, noting the extended conflict in Afghanistan as part of the war on global terror. Morris noted that since the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States, there have been some tremendous sacri- fices by America's active duty military. "Some of these guys have done seven, eight, nine year-long rotations,'' he said. "They are just flat worn out, their families are worn out, the caregivers that take care of them are worn out.'' Morris said with the rise of suicides by some in the military, the psychological effects of all those years of strain are becoming evident. "I believe it's important to thank them and have a separate day of remembrance when we just look at all the blood, sweat and tears they've given for our coun- try,'' he said. Family events added to annual chili cookoff by EARL VAUGHAN JR. The annual Hope Mills Chili Cookoff is expanding this year to include a fall festival that will offer a variety of events for the entire family. The event is scheduled Saturday, Nov. 9, from 1-5 p.m. at Dirtbag Ales. For the second straight year, the chili cookoff will be held at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom at 5435 Corporation Drive just off Interstate 95. The chili cookoff used to be held in conjunction with Ole Mills Days. This is the second year it's been hosted by Dirtbag Ales and the first since the relatively new Hope Mills business has completed construction at its new location. Kelly Spell of the Hope Mills Area Chamber of Commerce said the chamber decided to make the event more family-friendly by adding a vari- ety of carnival-style activities to the agenda. There will be face paining, cornhole boards, potato sack races and music from a live band. Other activities include a hula hoop contest, a candy apple station and a hot chocolate bar. Some of the event sponsors will also offer other games. But the centerpiece of the activities will be the chili cookoff itself. Spell said entries are still being sought for the competition. The fee is $20 per entry, and each entrant needs to bring a prepared crockpot of chili containing at least five quarts. To enter into the competition, go to hopemillsa- reachamber.com and click on the menu option for Event Ticket. The cookoff also welcomes vendors who would like to purchase a table to promote their business for $100 per table. There are two categories of chili cookoff compe- tition — mild and spicy. Three cash prizes will be awarded in each category. There will also be a people's choice award presented. All those entered in the chili cookoff need to arrive no later than 12:30 p.m. to allow time to set up all the tables for the entries. Both the judges and public involved in the people's choice award will taste-test each chili without knowing who made which batch. The deadline for submitting an entry in the chili cookoff is Friday, Nov. 8, to allow chamber officials time to determine how many tables will be needed for the competition. All contestants need to make sure to label their chili mild or spicy so it is entered in the correct competition. For further information, call Kelly Spell at the chamber office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The phone number is 910-423-4314. You can also email her at hmacc@hopemills- chamber.org. The chili cookoff will be held at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom. Attendees can look forward to a variety of events, but the chili cookoff will be the main event. The ceremony, is scheduled for Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.