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: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1042784
8 UCW OCTOBER 24-30, 2018 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM e Senate recently finalized plans for a new leader of U.S. military forc- es in South Korea. e move came in wrap-up work as lawmakers headed back to their districts for a month- long legislative break for midterm campaigning. Senate Republican leaders had threatened to keep their chamber in session for all of October if a deal hadn't been reached on a host of pending judicial nominations op- posed by Democrats. Fifteen such nominees were approved in the deal, the latest in a sizable wave of new judges chosen by President Trump. e Senate also agreed on less con- troversial defense nominations. With- out opposition, lawmakers moved ahead with plans to transfer Army Gen. Robert "Abe" Abrams from the lead role at Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg to head U.S. Forces in Korea. If the general's name sounds familiar, he is the son of retired Army Chief of Staff Creighton W. Abrams Jr., who commanded U.S. forces for four years during the Vietnam War. Abrams will replace Gen. Vincent Brooks as the commander of U.S. Forces Korea. He takes over as a rare public display of discord between the U.S. and South Korea has raised con- cerns about a growing rift over efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. At the heart of the issue are fears that Seoul is moving too fast and letting its guard down by embracing North Korea despite a lack of progress in denuclearization, although the U.S. and South Korea insist they remain in agreement on the final goal. South Korea's foreign minister, Kang Kyung- wha, revealed that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had complained about a recent inter-Korean military agreement. "It was discontent about how he was not briefed sufficiently, and he had a lot of questions," Kyung- wha said. e two Koreas have agreed among themselves to a series of hostility- reduction steps in and around the heavily fortified demilitarized zone that separates the two countries. Steps taken include halting military drills, setting up a no-fly zone and beginning to remove land mines and guard posts. Forces Command Deputy Com- manding General, Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, has assumed command of FORSCOM until a successor for Abrams is selected. Richardson was the first female Army officer to of- ficially hold the No. 2 position of the largest command in the U.S. Army. Fort Bragg is often referred to as Pentagon South since Forces Com- mand headquarters was realigned there 10 years ago. It is responsible for training and preparing active, reserve and National Guard troops to meet the requirements of combat com- manders around the world. "Richardson personifies the highest standards of the Army and our officer corps," said Abrams as Richardson re- ceived her third star. "roughout her distinguished career, she has led by outstanding personal example from the front – in combat and in challeng- ing command and staff positions of great responsibility." Fort Bragg general reassigned by JEFF THOMPSON NEWS JEFF THOMPSON, Re- porter. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. e city of Fayetteville is making its first significant addition to facili- ties for seniors in decades. e city broke ground last week on the much- anticipated Senior Center West. It is being built along the western edge of Lake Rim, in the vicinity of 7510 Old Raeford Rd. Senior Center West is the sixth project to get underway with funds generated by the $35 million Parks & Recreation Bond Referendum secured in 2016. e building will be a 19,000-square-foot lakefront property with a fitness room and a warm-water indoor pool. It is one of two nearly identical facilities funded in the refer- endum. A location for the Senior Cen- ter East has not yet been selected, but "the city is working on partnering with (Fayetteville State University) on the site located at the corner of Murchi- son (Road) and Filter Plant (Drive)," said city spokesman Nathan Walls. "at partnership will be presented to council for consideration soon." e new senior centers will address two growing needs in the community: providing more space and adequate facilities in Fayetteville to assist the heavily used Senior Center on Blue Street and providing quality pro- gramming and activities to a growing senior citizen population. Studies from the National Council on Aging have shown the need for more senior citizen activities as statis- tics have shown that the more seniors remain active, the better quality of life they have and the longer they live. Senior centers focus on several wellness factors in efforts to improve those numbers: emotional, intel- lectual, physical, social, spiritual and vocational wellness. In addition to the Blue Street Senior Center, Fayetteville/Cumberland Parks and Recreation operates the To- kay Fitness Center for Seniors and the Dorothy Gilmore erapeutic Recre- ation Center. Tokay provides residents six treadmills, six stationary bikes, six ellipticals, three lower body and six upper body Nautilus machines, plus an abdominal machine, dumbbells, exercise mats, exercise balls and table tennis tables. Physical Activity Readi- ness Questionnaires must be filled out before using the equipment. e Gilmore Center on Purdue Drive offers "recreation and leisure programs to people with disabilities to improve functional abilities, enhance well-being and facilitate indepen- dence," according to the city's website. e staff of the Gilmore Center uses recreational services and leisure expe- riences to help people with limitations make the most of their lives. e new senior centers are not operated jointly under city/county auspices. Cumberland County Com- missioners chose not to participate in the bond referendum. So now city government keeps separate books for projects undertaken as the result of the $35 million Fayetteville package. Payrolls and other operating expenses for the senior centers have not been publicly discussed. Splash pads at Kiwanis, Massey Hill and Myers Park recreation centers have already been constructed and opened since passage of the bond issue and initial sale of bonds. Other completed projects include Seabrook Park and pool deck upgrades and the new Massey Hill universally acces- sible playing field. It has been utilized by Buddy Sports programs, which have seen a 15 percent increase in enrollment since the field opened. Senior Center West under construction by JEFF THOMPSON Gen. Robert "Abe" Abrams e building will be a 19,000-square-foot lakefront property with a fitness room and a warm-water indoor pool.