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/589083
8 OCTOBER 21-27, 2015 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Each f loor of the Courthouse will have three or four access points to provide full Courthouse coverage. The Wi-Fi service is accessible on any laptop computer or mobile phone and can serve 25-50 users depending on what they are doing online. The wireless net work is: cumberlandwireless. Count y employees use a separate Internet system. The court system has posted signs reminding the public that all cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off and put away upon entering the courtrooms. Court officials do not allow cell phones and electronic devices to be held af ter entry into the courtrooms. Providing wireless Internet service to the public in the Courthouse fulfills one of the Count y's strategic objectives of advancing the Count y's automation and technolog y capabilities. The equipment was installed and will be maintained by the Count y's Information Services Department. The installation followed a feasibilit y study by the Count y's Information Services Department. Visitors Bureau Books 20 Events in First Quarter In the first quarter of the 2015/16 fiscal year, the Fayet teville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (FACVB) secured 20 future meetings, tournaments and group tours for Cumberland Count y in the coming months and years. These events, which represent 8,349 room nights at count y hotels, will impact Cumberland Count y's economy at $3,141,108. Additionally, in the first quarter of F Y 15/16, the FACVB: At tended three trade shows where staff made 53 contacts and secured 7 leads for future business. Serviced 4,174 inquiries at three visitor centers, distributed 58,600 Fayet teville Area Destination Guides and fulfilled 86 group service requests. Promoted 680 area events in trade magazines and on media websites. Distributed four themed e-promos to nearly 10,000 recipients. Issued 7 press releases, facilitated three travel writer visits and secured 31 pieces of publicit y in travel and local media. Introduced a new glossy guide for sports tournament recruitment. Coordinated and led Cumberland Count y representation at t wo Partner Days at I-95 Welcome Centers. "Travel is serious business for Cumberland Count y," says John Meroski, FACVB president and CEO. "Our organization works hard to increase the number of visitors, expenditures and, in turn, taxes collected." Health Department Offers Flu Shots For Adults And Children The Cumberland Count y Department of Public Health is offering f lu shots to children and adults. Free f lu shots are available to uninsured children six months to 18 years old. Individuals with insurance may receive a f lu shot at no out-of-pocket cost if they have Medicare, Medicaid, North Carolina Health Choice or Blue Cross Blue Shield. Hours at the Health Department's Immunizations Clinic are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Tuesday until 7 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. Friday af ternoon service is limited and available by appointment only. The Health Department is located at 1235 Ramsey St. For more information, call the Immunizations Clinic at 910-433-3633 or 910-433- 3657. W hile f lu can have serious implications, even for healthy people, f lu complications are most common among very young children and people over 50, as well as people with chronic health conditions and pregnant women. In addition to vaccinations, you can prevent f lu and other illnesses by: • Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discarding the tissue properly. • Washing hands frequently with soap and water or, if not available, with an approved hand sanitizer. • Staying home when you are sick. Stay home until you are fever free for at least 24 hours. If you would like more information about the Cumberland Count y Department of Public Health's programs and services, health-related data, or communit y resources, please call 910-433-3600 or visit with someone at the information desk, or visit our website at co.cumberland.nc.us/health. aspx#. Comments are welcome and can be submit ted on our website at co.cumberland.nc.us/health/commentsform.aspx. The Health Department is located at 1235 Ramsey St. Fayet teville. Red Cross Offers Scholarship Opportunities Students can now sign up to host winter Red Cross blood drives and become eligible for scholarships Yout h blood dr ive coordinators needed Dec . 15 t hrough Jan. 15 T his w inter high school and college st udent s c an help save lives and be elig ible to w in a scholarship of up to $2, 500 by host ing an A mer ic an Red Cross blood dr ive. Reg ist rat ion is now open t hrough Nov. 15 to host dr ives bet ween Dec . 15, 2015, and Jan. 15, 2016. "Winter is a difficult time to collect enough blood to meet patient needs with inclement weather and seasonal illnesses reducing the number of volunteer donors that come out to give," said Red Cross director of recruitment, Ryan Corcoran. "Our Leaders Save Lives program gives students an opportunit y to learn valuable leadership skills and help ensure blood is available for patients in need of lifesaving transfusions by recruiting their friends and family to give blood." The Leaders Save Lives program encourages communit y-minded high school and college students to host blood drives to help maintain the blood supply around the winter holidays. Blood donations made at high school, universit y and college blood drives account for as much as 20 percent of blood donations through the Red Cross. Around the winter holidays, when school is not in session, blood donations of ten decline. Students who host a drive can be eligible to win a scholarship up to $2,500 for higher education and earn a gif t card. A total of six scholarships will be awarded to students who host a blood drive collecting 25 blood donations or more. All students who collect at least 25 pints at their blood drive will receive a gif t card to gif tcertificates.com. For more information and to register to host a Leaders Save Lives blood drive, visit redcrossblood.org/leaderssavelives. How to donate blood: Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org. Courthouse Offers Free Wifi COMMUNITY NEWS