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.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/815469
APRIL 26 - MAY 2, 2017 UCW 15 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Spring has arrived with cool evenings and warm afternoons. People all over Cumberland County are taking to the outdoors to enjoy the fresh air and warm weather. For many area residents, enjoying an afternoon outside poses little threat to their health — but for others, an afternoon in poor air quality can cause respiratory distress. The Environmental Protection Agency provides a useful website for daily air quality conditions. In addition to a website there is a mobile phone application. The app sends notifications directly to your phone letting you know what the quality of the air will be for the day. The Airnow app and Airnow.gov use a color-coded system. Green means the air quality is good for everyone. Yellow means moderate or that specific sensitive groups may be affected. Orange means those with respiratory illnesses like lung diseases or asthma should stay inside. Red means the air is unhealthy and everyone is at risk of health problems from poor air quality. Finally, purple means the air is very unhealthy. Recently, some Cumberland County Schools have adopted the Air Quality Flag Program. The Air Quality Flag Program is designed to communicate air quality conditions and appropriate activities to students and teachers. The program uses the same color- coded system as Airnow.gov. Students and staff at schools check Airnow.gov each day and a corresponding color pennant is raised on the school flag pole. This program is not limited to just schools. The program can be adopted by businesses, local governments, libraries, fire departments and others. The EPA is hosting the annual Air Quality Flag Challenge, where schools, government offices, fire departments, libraries and other entities can sign up. Qualifying organizations may also receive a free set of flags. Organizations interested in the program are encouraged to contact Denise Bruce, Cumberland County Air Quality Coordinator, by emailing greenaction@sustainablesandhills.org before May 31. The Heritage Square Historical Society invites the public to enjoy the third annual Wine, Brews & Silent Auction Thursday, May 4, from 6-9 p.m. HSHS President Elaine Kennebeck said this year's silent auction is bursting with steals, in part because it was originally scheduled for last October but was delayed due to Hurricane Matthew. With the extra months, extra items have continued to accumulate, totaling over 250 pieces, according to Kennebeck. And the items are not yard sale fare. A 50-inch Smart TV will be up for nabbing. There will also be a huge assortment of gift certificates from Fayetteville's finest restaurants and entertainment venues, from Bonefish Grill to Roland's Dance Studio, along with specialty wine and pet-themed gift baskets. Rounding out the huge collection are all kinds of original artwork, vintage and new jewelry, antiques and furniture, chinaware, lamps, quilts and pillows. The HSHS usually starts bidding at about 40 percent of the value of an item. So, for a $400 item, the bidding would start at around $150 — and Kennebeck said she's never seen anything at their auctions sell for more than the actual value. More likely, she said, is that a buyer could get the item for the starting price or very close to it, due to there being so many items in this sale. Kennebeck said one of the most perennially enjoyable aspects of the evening is the food and drinks. Large tents are set up and attendees enjoy unlimited food and drink as they participate in the auction. The $40 ticket required for admittance covers unlimited top-shelf wine, assorted brews and ales, and food catered from Fayetteville's finest dining establishments. Gourmet desserts will be provided by The Sweet Palette, New Deli and more, including an array of homemade desserts. Live music provided first by a Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra quartet and later by Paul Saunders Jazz Group will add to the festive atmosphere. All proceeds from this event will be used to help maintain and preserve Historical Heritage Square, which is Fayetteville's largest historical property. Two of the three buildings on this property, the Sandford House (dating back to 1797) and the Oval Ballroom (1808), are open to the public for their enjoyment and education. Kennebeck said one of the Society's current goals is to put an education center in the Sandford House. "There are so few historical properties left in this city … it's important for our school children," she said. "Our goal is to take things out of the archives and have them framed so school children can come and have a tour of the grounds and see how people lived back then." Bidding stops around 8:15 p.m., and the event technically ends at 9 p.m., "but really there's no deadline … typically it's way after 9 p.m. that anyone leaves," said Kennebeck. "People just stay, and it's great. Come and have a good time!" The Wine, Brews & Silent Auction will be held at Heritage Square, 225 Dick St, May 4 from 6-9 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, call (910) 483-6009. DENISE BRUCE, Sustainable Sandhills Air Quality Coordinator. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910.484.6200. EVENTS LESLIE PYO, Assistant Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910.484.6200. Be Air Aware by DENISE BRUCE Embracing Local History at Heritage Square's Wine, Brews & Silent Auction by LESLIE PYO "The Air Quality Flag Program is designed to communicate air quality conditions and appropriate activities to students and teachers." There are several items up for auction at Wine, Brews and Silent Auction.