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/67756
Enjoy the Sounds of Spring by CAROLINE GOINS What's the enjoyment of warm weather without an outdoor concert? If you have yet to enjoy the magical mixture of sunlight and music, then the concert series at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden should be your next destination. Working in conjunction with PNC Bank the garden is bringing a variety of musical stylings to its grounds. Cape Fear Valley Neuroscience Center and Healy Wholesale Company, Inc., also sponsors of the event, invite you get a jumpstart on your weekend with a Friday evening concert. Enjoy the ambience of an intimate outdoor natural setting as music fi lls the evening sky, with the band performing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. More than 250 people attended the first concert. "It was a wonderful event. It was great to see families on blankets together having a good time, enjoying the music in the gardens," said Iris Goode, development and marketing director at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. On June 8, Old Habits, will sooth the soul with a unique blend of bluegrass, rock and country. Old Habits, a Raleigh-based band, was founded in 2003. Considered to be a cross blend of Bill Monroe and John Prine, this four-person band as been praised all across eastern N.C. "In an area overflowing with top-shelf bluegrass bands, Raleigh's four- piece Old Habits seems to be doing just fine making a name for itself. The fellas have the requisite harmonies, picking skills and influences..." wrote Rick Cornell, of the Independent Weekly. back in a big way. This powerful Raleigh-based orchestra has more than 300 songs in its repertoire ranging from Latin to Blues from the last six decades. The variety of songs is sure to please guests of all ages. Debbie Bennett is the vocalist who rounds out this amazing group. Compared to the great vocals of Ella Fitzgerald and Whitney Houston, this band is a guaranteed party pleaser. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs, or you can rent chairs at the event. Food, drinks and adult beverages will be available for purchase. Along with food that tantalizes refi ned taste buds, there will be kid-friendly food such as popcorn. Please, no pets or outside food and drinks. Come early to stroll the gardens before the concert and enjoy the variety of blooms of the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens. Regular admission to the gardens is $8, military receives a dollar off with I.D. For children ages 6-12, admission is $2.50 and children 5 and under are free. Admission to the concert is free for garden members. For the $30 you can purchase an individual membership or $60 for a household, people can become members of the garden and gain free admission to the spring and upcoming fall concerts. For more information about the summer concert series or The last concert of the spring series will be held on June 22 with music from The Casablanca Orchestra. This eight-piece ensemble brings Big Band Let's Celebrate — Army Style by STEPHANIE CRIDER The Army turns 237 this year, and while most people celebrate birthdays with cake and a party, the Army has another tradition, at least at Fort Bragg. On June 8, join Fort Bragg FMWR for the 16th Annual Army Birthday 10-miler and celebrate with our nation's finest. Steve Johnson is one of the event organizers. He's been a part of this event since its inception. "I've been doing this since 1996," said Johnson. "The commander at the time wanted to have Fort Bragg represented at the Army 10-miler with a team, so we were tasked to find the best runners. Having a 10-miler that would serve as a qualifier is what we came up with." It worked then, and it still works. Each October, Fort Bragg sends a men's team, women's team and master's team (over 40 age group). This year the installation is also sending a sergeant's major team to run the Army 10-miler in D.C. "Last year, we sent three teams and all three won," said Johnson. "The women's team has been really dominant at the Army 10-miler for the last 16 years." While it is a qualifier for the Army 10-miler, the race is also an event to honor Johnson considers the event a success when it is all said and done and everyone has a good time. The Army Birthday 10-miler is a Fort Bragg tradition. soldiers and to celebrate the Army's birthday. Johnson said that for the last three years, about 2,000 runners have showed up and crowds like that require a little support from the installation. The route needs to be secure, which means there are about 150 soldiers guarding parking lots and side streets. The runners require adequate medical coverage, which takes six ambulances and about 40 medical personnel. The many fluid stations and seven aid stations require another 120 people. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM "I think that when participants have an enjoyable experience, that is gratifying for the people who worked to support the event," he said. The public is invited and runners can enter through June 7 up until 5 p.m. There is no registration on race day. Runners report to Sedgewick Stadium at 6 a.m. Pre-race instructions follow at 6:20 a.m. The course starts at Sedgewick Stadium on Long Street, meanders through Keerans, Taylor and Spooner Streets, crosses Long Street onto Ardennes Street and Campbello Street on to Gruber Road. There is a turn around at Gruber Road and Zabitosky Road and runners follow the route back to Sedgewick Stadium. It is a challenging race, which is appropriate for the Army's birthday celebration. Through May 30, runners can register online at www.fortbraggmwr.com, or by completing the registration form and delivering it to Leisure Travel Services, which is located in the mini-mall near Reilly Road and Honeycutt Street. May 31 and June 1 and June 4-7, registration is at Funk Physical Fitness Center, on Gruber Road near Long Street. Along with the 10-miler, the Seventh Annual Army Birthday 4-Mile Walk is scheduled for the same date and time as the run. In fact, the registration process is the same for both events. Walkers will not receive a timing tag, since the walk is non-competitive. Find out more at www. fortbraggmwr.com. STEPHANIE CRIDER, Associate Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com MAY 30 - JUNE 5, 2012 UCW 9 garden membership, visit www.capefearbg.org. CAROLINE GOINS, Managing Editor, Up & Coming Weekly, COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com.