Up & Coming Weekly

October 10, 2017

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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OCTOBER 11 - 17, 2017 UCW 29 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Hope Mills News & Views What's With all the Hype? by ERICA WALLS I don't know about you, but I am getting along with my fellow Americans. No mat- ter the angle — race, culture, religious belief or anything else — that the mainstream media tries to use to divide us, I am getting along with my fellow Americans. e reason is quite simple. It's respect. It's treating oth- ers the way you want to be treated. e majority of people want to go through their day with little fuss and little drama. Most people smile back when you smile at them. ere are racists, misogynists and cruel people in every culture. It doesn't matter the skin color, the gender or religious or political background. I was once the only Caucasian in my line of work and was constantly harassed and abused. For example, I was chased off the road and almost driven off the overpass by my coworker. When I reported her, HR asked her for her reasoning and she pointed at my skin. Yet she was not fired — only reprimanded. I moved into a neigh- borhood in Fayetteville in 2001, and someone wrote a vulgar message on my mailbox in reference to my race. ey threatened my life and the lives of my family members. But I chose to not let those experiences create a belief that everyone from the same race is bad because of what a few of them chose to do. How we respond to such behavior can either provoke more hatred or stop it. What we see online and on TV and what we hear on the radio could lead us to believe there is no unity in America, that we hold each other in contempt and that we choose to fight hate with hate. at has not been my experience — in fact, quite the opposite. Walk into Sammio's or Food Lion, and people of all backgrounds will greet you. Drive down Main Street and watch as cars allow others out of the parking lot to Rose's or Lowe's. Each car has someone in it who is different than you. It happens every day. Strangers — people of different genders, races, religions, lifestyles — treat each other with kindness and respect. It's wonderful when you think about it. All these people have a story to tell. Some may be sad. Some may be tragic. Some may be exhilarating. Yet each one is a small part of something that leads to a greater community. For the most part, Americans want peaceful lives. ey want to be able to go to work and provide for themselves and their families. ey want to be able worship how they choose. ey want to be able to ex- press their opinions, rightfully so, without being harassed or threatened. Don't let the news on TV or radio lead you into believing that everyone is against you because of who you are. Please note, I am in no way, shape or form, diminishing the evil actions of people like the Vegas shooter or the Orlando shooter. I am not in denial. I'm not looking through rose-colored glasses. I see the evils of this world. I do believe in being aware of the world around you. But I also believe in living each day to the fullest and not letting the hatred that the media is trying to spread overshadow what is truly going on in my community. And when you stop and look at how the majority of the people within this community treat each other, the reality sets in. So please don't feed into the hype. What's 'Up & Coming' in Hope Mills? A STAFF REPORT • Oct. 2 - Nov. 18 Registration for Youth Basket- ball at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Center, 5766 Rockfish Rd. e center is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ere is instructional basket- ball for ages 5-6 and regular basketball for ages 7-17. e cost is $30 per child. Address and birth certificate must be presented when registering. Call (910) 426-4105 for details. • Oct. 13 Kiwanis BBQ Fundraiser in the grassy area between the Hope Mills Main Street Wal- Mart and Food Lion across from the gas station, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monies raised will go toward ALMS House, Shop-with-a-Cop, Bicycle Pre- sentation for Terrific Kids, Boys and Girls Club of Cumberland County, Boys and Girls Homes of Lake Waccamaw and many other community services. Call (910) 426-7256 for details. • Oct. 14. Community Clean Up from 9 a.m. to noon at Hope Mills Parks and Recreation Center, 5766 Rockfish Rd. Gloves, safety vests, trash bags, water and lunch will be provided to volun- teers. Call (910) 426-4109 for details. • Oct. 19 Hope Meals Food Truck Rodeo at 5770 Rockfish Rd. from 5:30-8:30 p.m. • Oct. 19-21 Ole Mill Days Festival Celebrate the Mills Way! Details: (910) 429-4109. • Oct. 31 Trunk 'R Treat at Hope Mills Municipal fields 1 and 2, 6-8 p.m. Ages 1-12. Call (910) 426- 4109 for details. • Nov. 4-12 Heroes Homecoming V at the Hope Mills Public Library, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 4 is the first day of a nine-day ceremonious event to honor veterans. On this day, the focus will be on Vietnam Veterans. Visit www.heroeshomecom- ing.com for more information. e event is free and open to the public. • Nov. 5 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ceremony and Flag Display hosted by e Hope Mills Veterans Advisory Commission at the Hope Mills Veterans Memorial from 3-4:30 p.m. Special guest speaker will be retired Lt. Col. Walt Brinker. Free and open to the public. • Nov. 6 Bench Dedication at Hope Mills Lake by the Hope Mills VFW Post 10630. e dedication starts at 5 p.m. and is free and open to the pub- lic. Visit www.heroeshomecoming.com for details. • Nov. 8 Veteran Movie Extravaganza Millstone 14 on Camden Road in Hope Mills will honor veterans by presenting an evening of military-themed movies. e event is free for veterans and their families. e event begins at 4 p.m., and space is limited. Call (910) 354-2124 or visit www.heroeshomecoming.com for details. OPINION Don't let the news on TV or radio lead you into believing that everyone is against you because of who you are.

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