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/24822
COMMUNITY NEWS a STAFF REPORT Cumberland County Commissioner Ed Melvin and Wade Mayor Huell Aekins were recognized by the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments at its annual meeting on Jan. 27. The offi cials were honored for their outstanding commitment to public service. Commissioner Melvin received the M.H. “Jack” Brock Memorial Award for his work as an elected county offi cial. Brock was a founder and leader of the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments who served three terms as chairman of the council’s board of directors. The awarded cited Commissioner Melvin’s work on the Southeastern Economic Development Council, the Cape Fear Valley Health System Board and the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. He is currently a delegate to the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments and has previously served on the board of directors. Mayor Aekins received the Ensley Kennedy Purple Heart Recipients to be Honored at American Taekwondo Association Tournament On Saturday, Feb. 12 at the Crown Coliseum Expo Center, the American Cumberland County Commis- sioner Ed Melvin. Memorial Award for elected municipal offi cials. Ensley Kennedy was a longtime mayor of Clinton. Mayor Aekins is the chairman of the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments. Juvenile Justice Community Forum Set North Carolina is one of only two states that automatically prosecute all 16- and 17-year-olds through the adult criminal system, no matter how minor the offense. It is the only state that does not allow youth the ability to appeal for return to the juvenile system. The state’s century-old approach to juvenile justice ignores the fact that youth incarcerated with adults are more likely to be reconvicted of crimes, that adult convictions present life barriers that many youth cannot overcome and that the current system is not consistent with latest scientifi c research on adolescent brain development. On Friday, Feb. 11, at noon in the Rudolph Jones Student Center on the campus of Fayetteville State University, Action for Children North Carolina, the Cumberland County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council ,CommuniCare Inc. and the Center for Community Justice & Service Learning will host a juvenile justice community forum. Representative Rick Glazier, The Honorable A. Elizabeth Keever, 12th District Chief District Court Judge, Dr. David Barlow, dean of Arts and Sciences at Fayetteville State University and Brandy Bynum, director of Policy, Action For Children North Carolina will discuss North Carolina’s juvenile justice system. The forum speakers will discuss best practices for steering youth away from crime, the consequences of sending youth to the adult criminal system, results of the Youth Accountability Planning Task Force, ways to engage communities in the public policy debate and local options for juvenile justice service programs. The premise of the juvenile justice system is that many adolescents can be reformed and rehabilitated while being held accountable for their alleged crimes. CommuniCare, Inc. and Juvenile Crime Prevention Council funded programs serve youth ages 6 to 17 years of age in our community that are either involved in the juvenile court system or are at-risk of becoming involved in the juvenile court process. CommuniCare provides family strengthening, delinquency/ drug/alcohol treatment, prevention and youth development services for children ages 6-17 in Cumberland County through collaboration and comprehensive service coordination. Please join us for this important community forum. For more information about the juvenile justice system in North Carolina, read Putting the Juvenile Back Into Juvenile Justice. The forum is free and open to the public. Space is limited. If you are interested in attending the forum, please contact Sarah Hallock at 910.222.6089. 12 UCW FEBRUARY 9-15, 2011 Taekwondo Association (ATA) Martial Arts of Fayetteville will dedicate its Home Town Heroes: Regional ATA Martial Arts Tournament to members of the local Fort Bragg Chapter 2226 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). A portion of all proceeds from ticket and T-shirt sales will also be donated to the MOPH fund to further help the organization provide support programs for its members. One of the area’s largest martial arts competitions for youth and teenagers, the Regional Tournament: Hometown Heroes is giving spectators and competitors an opportunity to show support and say thank you to the many combat-wounded veterans living in the Fayetteville community. “With Fort Bragg, the largest populated military installation in the world, right in our backyard, we have our share of local heroes and we are honored that we can use this tournament as a platform to recognize them for their bravery and sacrifi ce,” said Master Michael Brown, owner of the ATA Martial Arts of Fayetteville. “I’m thankful I was able to partner with the Army’s Army to help us recognize local Purple Heart recipients that have given so much for our country and freedom.” “We are glad we were able to connect with ATA Martial Arts to honor local Purple Heart recipients during their tournament,” said Janine West, executive director for the Army’s Army. “It’s refreshing to work with people in the community, like Master Michael Brown, and the academy, who truly care for and support the military like our organization. This is a great example of how Fayetteville/Cumberland County truly supports.” More than 1,000 people will be on hand to watch as nearly 30 Purple Heart recipients are recognized for their bravery and sacrifi ce to our country. These soldiers represent every war our nation has engaged in, from World War II to present day, represent every branch of service of our Armed Forces and are active duty, reserve, medically or time-in-service retired or honorably discharged after a shorter time in service. Each of the honorees will be publicly acknowledged, enjoy tournament action from their front row seats and have the opportunity to sign autographs. The Regional Tournament: Hometown Heroes will feature highly- skilled sixth, seventh and eighth degree black belts, as well as some of the younger Tiny Tigers, and white, orange and yellow belts working their way up to black belt. Spectators will be able to see competitors trained in Combat BME, Songahm forms and sparring, ATA Extreme Weapons, and ATA Extreme Forms. For tickets and information, visit www.crowncoliseum.com. Admission price is $10, children under the age of four are admitted free. Transfer Center a Win-Win for FAST and Mall The Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) and Cross Creek Mall have partnered to provide customers an improved, safer transfer center at the mall. The partnership with FAST represents a unique public-private venture that benefi ts a large number of citizens who visit the mall near the food court. As part of a three phase project, which Cross Creek Mall is undergoing to improve vehicular traffi c, congestion, pedestrian safety and customer experience, the transfer center was paid for in full by the mall. “We are grateful for the work Cross Creek Mall has done to improve our riders’ experience visiting their facility,” said Tony Means, FAST operations superintendent. “We are also happy to be part of such a great partnership that promotes safety for all our citizens and that’s a win-win for everyone who participated in this project.” Instead of fi ve or six buses double parked and taking up two lanes, which was the previous situation, now buses park in a dedicated, single-fi le lane for access to the facility. With four buses visiting Cross Creek Mall every hour between 5:30 a.m. and 10:20 p.m., for a total of 17 times a day, it presented a challenge for customers entering the food court, said Matthew Holligan, general manager of Cross Creek Mall. Now, that’s not the case. “The transfer center has improved overall customer experience and pedestrian safety,” Holligan said. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM COMMUNITY NEWS Local Elected Officials Honored for Public Service