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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Explore Healing Plants at Lake Rim by ERINN CRIDER Long before supermarkets and grocery stores, people had to identify food by more than the price tag above them. Medicine was a similar story; there was no pharmacy or hospital, only the products of a clever forager. If you've ever wanted to explore old-fashioned cures handed down over generations, you can join a hike at Lake Rim Park on Aug. 30, which will teach you how to identify and collect the many medicinal and edible plants native to North Carolina. This class is not a directory on what plants you should go out into your backyard and chew on, but rather an informative class on the history of the past medical uses of different plants in North Carolina. "I don't want people to go out and say 'Ranger Mike told me to use this for this, I'm going to try it,'" Mike Moralise, the Park Ranger who is leading the expedition explained. It is purely for the sake of knowledge not practicality. The hike will take place along the mile-long border trail that winds If you've ever wanted to explore old-fashioned cures handed down over generations, you can join a hike at Lake Rim Park on Aug. 30. through typical North Carolina wetlands all the way to Bones Creek. It is located in Lake Rim Park where all facilities are generally open to the public. "It's an outdoor program, a hike that takes us about a mile down our border trail. It is to teach people about the uses for plants people have had mainly in the past, Native American, colonial and some modern medicinal uses," said Moralise. "We have more than 230 plants I've identifi ed in the park and a lot of them have had uses prescribed to them at some point in the past. I wouldn't recommend people to try these things or use them, it's just an educational class to teach people how they've been used in the past," he continued. "People used to chew dogwood branches as a precursor to modern tooth brushes. They chewed the ends of the branches and used it to clean their teeth especially in the 1800s and the Civil War era," he noted. "Some of them are being researched by doctors and physicians now, but a lot of them, its older historical uses during Native American and Colonial times, and a lot of the reason for that is that they've been disproven," he said. "Before the advent of medical centers and hospitals, people had to rely on the plants and animals around them to get their food and medicines. Some were based on trial and error and some did show to be useful, but a lot of it was just folklore and beliefs. Perhaps someone took it at sometime and they got better, so people just assumed that it was the plant when they may have been getting better on their own," he concluded. This is a free activity and registration deadline is Aug. 29. The hike begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 10 a.m., and will follow the Border Trail. All ages are welcome, but it is geared more for adults. Lake Rim Park is located at 2214 Tar Kiln Dr. For more information, call the Lake Rim Park center at 424-6134. ERINN CRIDER,Contributing Writer, COMMENTS: editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com Cape Fear River Offers a Variety of Recreation Options by CAREY CLARK As our hot, hot summer is winding down to a close, everyone is looking for a way to capture some fi nal quality summer time with friends and family. Luckily, we have, right here in Cumberland County, one of the fi nest black-water rivers with plenty of opportunities for every age. The Cape Fear River is the only river in North Carolina that fl ows directly into the ocean. Running from just past Greensboro, its 202 miles fl ow to the Atlantic Ocean at Cape Fear, from which it draws its name. The Cape Fear River is a black-water river, a deep slow moving channel that moves through swamps and wetlands. The decaying vegetation stains the water, giving it a color that resembles tea. While the river is acidic in nature, it is safe for fi shing and boating. There are many ways to enjoy the Cape Fear River by boat. If you have your own equipment, you can access the river at the N.C. Wildlife Ramp at the junction of U.S. 301 & Old N.C. 87, or at the ramp at Riverside Sports Center for a $5 fee. For more information, call 910-483-1649. If you need to rent equipment, Cape Fear River Adventures out of Lillington has a variety of packages from a leisurely paddle for a few hours to Two Day Extreme Adventure excursions. Located on the banks of the Hwy. 421/401 bridge, Cape Fear River Adventures can help you plan a canoeing or kayaking package that will meet the skill level of all your participants. Visit www.capefearadventures.com for more information or call 910-891-9348. Would you rather hike or stroll? The Cape Fear River Trail adjacent to the and Rec website at www.fcpr.us for more information. Seniors don't need to be left out of action. At Clark Park, interpretive golf carts tours are available for individuals or groups of up to fi ve people for seniors and persons of limited physical ability. While reservations are required, the tours are free. Call 910- 433-1579 for more information. Looking for more of an educational opportunity? The Cape Fear River is the only river in North Carolina that fl ows directly into the ocean. Located adjacent to the Cape Fear River at 631 Sherman Drive in Fayetteville, Clark Park offers an amazing variety of programs for just about every age and interest. Visit www.fcpr.us and click on Parks, then J. Bayard Clark Park for the complete list of opportunities available. Is fi shing more your thing? The Cape Fear River provides good fi shing for largemouth bass, sunfi sh, catfi sh and American and hickory shad. Caution should river in Fayetteville is a 10-foot wide path that winds through beautiful wildlife for 4.2 miles. It offers spectacular views of the river with several bridges, including one covered bridge, and is open to walkers, joggers and bicyclists. The trail is open 365 days a year from 8 a.m. to dusk. The trail is not a loop, however, so a plan should be made to have transportation wherever you plan to fi nish your trip. Parking lots are available at Jordan Soccer Complex on one end and Clark Park at the other end. Visit the Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM be exercised consuming fi sh caught, however, due to high levels of mercury. Not really interested in breaking a sweat? Freddie Mims with Cape Fear River Boat Cruises offers river cruises from two-hour day cruises to overnight excursions to Wilmington. Mims operates out of Fayetteville at Campbellton Landing. Find Cape Fear River Boat Cruises on Facebook for pricing and contact information. If you'd just like to sit and enjoy a good meal overlooking the river, Campbellton Landing offers restaurants and shopping with a variety of venues. Named after the fi rst settlement to the Fayetteville area, Campbellton Landing is located at 1130 Person Street on the east bank of the Cape Fear River. Whatever your interest or skill, there are plenty of opportunities to capture the last few opportunities for summer fun on the Cape Fear River before we bid this season a fi nal adieu. CAREY CLARK, Contributing Writer, Up & Coming Weekly, COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. AUGUST 24-30, 2011 UCW 13