CityView Magazine

CityViewNC .com | 27 "It really surprised me because I'm used to taking the tree down right aer Christmas," he said. Before too long, he had come to appreciate all the sparkling, colorful and thoughtful trimmings, as well as the hours of work, his wife devoted to turning their Cypress Lakes home into a winter wonderland. On Sundays and on holidays, theirs is the place where friends and family are welcome to make themselves at home and enjoy the good home-cooking for which Anita has become well-known. "I love to decorate," she said. "And I love to cook." "Her pasta salad is to die for," her husband said. For her holiday decorations, Anita Surgeon starts in early November with traditional touches of red and green throughout their home, including the dining room, where the centerpiece is a seasonal arrangement punctuated with red poinsettias. "at arrangement is about 30 years old," she said. "One of my friends had cancer and passed away. She and I worked on it together, so it's very special to me. I keep it right there all the time. I might take the poinsettias out and put in roses or seasonal flowers." While the color theme for the kitchen and breakfast room is bright teal, the living room is a vision in ivory, with a tall tree adorned with angels. "I love angels," Anita said. "I've been collecting them for years. I have angels all over the house." And while the Surgeons traditionally fill their home with thousands of twinkling lights on four Christmas trees, this year they are taking those lights to a different level. at's because they are hosting the inaugural Festival of Lights on their 400-acre Sweet Valley Ranch. Surgeon, a longtime entrepreneur and owner of a series of businesses through his company, Surgeon and Associates, grew up in a farming family in Greensboro. ey bought the blank canvas of land off Cedar Creek Road and added a variety of animals representing five continents, including llamas, quarter horses, goats, ducks, Angus cows, a water buffalo, a Great Pyrenees dog named Bear to 910.868.5131 | 3200 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville, NC 28303 | www.fayacademy.org Fayetteville Academy Fayetteville Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial aid, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Preparing students for college and beyond LIMITED SPACES STILL AVAILABLE LIMITED SPACES STILL AVAILABLE Pre-K through grade 12 STEAM SmartLabs ® The 25 members of the Class of 2020 were offered more than $2.7 million in college scholarships and grants. 89 percent of AP exams taken resulted in a score of 3 or higher. Chromebook 1:1 program | Grades 4-7 LEGO ® Robotics Team More than $500,000 in need-based financial aid awarded annually to qualified applicants. RANKED #1 IN THE NICHE.COM 2021 BEST PRIVATE K-12 SCHOOLS IN THE FAYETTEVILLE AREA www.FayettevilleNC.gov www.FayettevilleNC.gov www.FayettevilleNC.gov

• Cover