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/619254
8 DECEMBER 23 - 29, 2015 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Parks Bond Issue Supported Come the first of the year, the Fayetteville City Council is likely to better define the scheduled March 15 bond referendum. So far, officially, the council has only agreed to hold a referendum asking for voter approval of up to $35 million in bond debt. The projects included for funding are not outlined in the bond issue by state law. Passage would result in a two-cent tax rate increase. The city administration has packaged a two-fold plan to expand and improve recreation and parks facilities. Only part of the plan is included in the referendum. Another part is a proposed public/private lease agreement by which the city would have a $28 million combination multi-purpose and senior center built, with the city leasing the facility from the developer. Recreation Director Michael Gibson says it would be about the size of a Wal- Mart Superstore. According to Reuters, the average Wal-Mart Superstore is about 178,000 square feet in size. Some members of council, like Jim Arp, Mitch Colvin and Bill Crisp, ap- pear ready to avoid confusion and separate the two projects. They believe voters will be more likely to support the bond issue if they clearly under- stand that the multi-purpose senior center would come later, and could be downsized to avoid another tax increase. Build It and They Will Come… Fayetteville City Manager Ted Voorhees, Deputy Manager Rochelle Small- Toney and City Councilman Larry Wright spent several days in Nashville earlier this month to learn more about whether it would make sense to build a baseball stadium near downtown. Minor League Baseball, Major League Baseball and their affiliated parties gathered at Gaylord's Opryland Resort & Convention Center for their 114th annual meeting. The Fayetteville representatives did not return with concrete answers. "Physical facility requirements were not discussed, as it is premature at this point," said Small-Toney. "If a stadium is built, these standards would be included in the design of the facility." When asked whether any baseball franchise was prepared to make a commitment if the city agrees to build a stadium, she said, "We are not in this phase of the process." Small-Toney did say a stadium that would meet baseball standards would cost between $30 million and $60 million. She elaborated, "What could be a possibility is joint ownership of the facility, which would likely mean splitting the cost of building and main- taining the stadium. Small-Toney is on record that Major League Baseball considers Fayetteville a viable market for a single A or double A minor league team. Maverick's Arson Investigation Ongoing Fayetteville Police have been stymied in their efforts to solve an arson fire at a small lounge in September. Detectives are still seeking information about the fire that destroyed Maverick's Saloon on McPhee Drive near Raeford Road. "There are no new developments," says Police Lt. David McLaurin. The preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was intentionally set. Fire of- ficials indicated the place may have been fire bombed. An adjacent club, Paddy's Irish Pub, is expanding into the former saloon whose owner decided to sell rather than rebuild. News Digest by JEFF THOMPSON JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Reporter. COMMENTS? news@upandcomingweekly. com. 910.484.6200. NEWS It may not be fashion week in New York, but the catwalk is heating up in Fayetteville as An Affair to Remember, owned by Kathy Jensen, brings its annual Runway Extravaganza to the Crown. The local dress shop strives to provide the community with beautiful and unique dress options for life's most exciting and important events. But more than just beautiful dresses, Jensen and company want to help make beautiful memories. "We want to give mothers and daugh- ters who come here the opportunity to shop together. Some people even give cer- tificates to their daughters, granddaugh- ters and nieces when they don't know what to get them," Jensen said. Perhaps one of the most memorable and exciting ways to experience the dresses that An Affair to Remember will offer this year is at its an- nual Runway Extravaganza at the Crown on Jan. 7 and 8. It is much more than a fashion show. It is a perfect opportunity for a girl's night out. In addition to beautiful dresses, the show will have vendors, music and food. Collections from national designers are presented by lo- cal women. Jensen explained, "We bring the latest prom fashions and formal wear for 2016 to the show. We will have local girls, our customers, as models. Miss North Carolina will model as well. Attendees can take a turn on the red carpet and have pictures taken. There are tables for a girls' night out. Vendors will sell everything from clothing to jewelry to makeup and food. We will raffle three prom dresses. VIP seating in the front row is available and general admission is $10. This is really a first class fashion show," she said. The Runway Extravaganza offers formal wear options for women and girls of all ages. "We offer clothes for girls from the ages of 6 to about 65 during the show. We will have a lot of traditional trendy prom dresses and some more sophisticated dresses as well, all of which are available in the store," Jensen said, "This is a great night out, not just about prom. It's for girls all around. Even younger girls will have a ball." Jensen also said that there are layaway options available for people look- ing to get a head start on their favorite dress. This year the show will also feature formal wear for boys. "Last year we had boy's clothing added at the last minute and it worked out really well," Jensen explained. The Runway Extravaganza will feature prom and formal wear from design- ers like Jovani, Sherri Hill and many more. Jonathan Kayne from Project Runway will be on hand to present his newest designs. The Runway Extravaganza is Jan. 7 and 8 at the Crown Expo Center lo- cated at 1960 Coliseum Dr. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. VIP seating is available. For more infor- mation, call 910-486-5323 or visit www.aatrnc.com. Runway Extravaganza at the Crown by ERINN CRIDER ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910.484.6200. An Affair to Remember's Runway Extrava- ganza is about more than pretty dresses. It is about making memories