CityView August 2026

ERIC BRACY’S NORTH STAR

The Cumberland County Schools superintendent reflects on his first year and his priorities going forward.

• Well Child Visits

• Sick Child Visits

• Vaccine & Immunization Schedule

• 2026-2207 Guide to the Flu

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Vaccines & Immunizations

• ADHD Testing & Treatment

• Asthma Symptoms & Treatment

• Urinalysis

• Strep and Mono Screen

• Vision and Hearing Tests

• School, Sports, & Camp Physicals

• Breastfeeding Support

Jose Buenaseda, MD, FAAP

Leamor Buenaseda, MD, FAAP

Sreelekha Sashidhar, MD, FAAP

Christine Arnold, CPNP-PC

Melanie Pitts, DNP, NP-C

Beverly de La Rosa, CPNP-PC

Danielle Trigg, CPNP-PC

Rachelle Olson, FNPC

Ashley Monroe, PA-C

Sarah Lewis, PA-C

Brooke Phelps, PA-C Pediatric Services We Provide Check Ups, Sick Child Visits & More in Raeford and Fayetteville

Marlena Syvertsen, CPNP-PC

• Business Intelligence and Data Analytics

• Digital Enterprise and Cloud Management • Entrepreneurship

• Finance • General Business

• Healthcare Management

• Health Informatics • International Business • Marketing

• Management • Project Management

12 Concentrations: 12 Concentrations:

• Business Graduate Certificate

• Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Graduate Certificate

• Cyber Security Management Graduate Certificate

• Digital Enterprise and Cloud Management Graduate Certificate

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System Management Certificate

• Health Informatics Certificate

• Healthcare Management Graduate Certificate

• Project Management Graduate Certificate

Help Keep Local News Rooted Here.

AUGUST 2026

Publisher Kyle Villemain

Editor-in-Chief Matt Hennie

Director of Operation & Sales Talmadge Rogers

Operations

Coordinator Caitlin Malson

Distribution

Jennifer Baker Wayne Robinson

Photographers

Tony Wooten

Matthew Wonderly

Dasia Williams

Contributing

Writers

Claire Mullen

Diane Parfitt

Dasia Williams

Teri Saylor

Tim White

Claudia Zamora

Caitlin Malson

Graphic Designer

Ellie Bruno

Sales Team Leader Dawn Denham

For

10

Eric Bracy's North Star

After navigating school closures, budget pressures, and the launch of a new strategic plan, he reflects on the lessons of his first year leading Cumberland County Schools.

20 A New Home for Healthy Skin

Cape Fear Valley Dermatology brings advanced skin care services in Cumberland County.

24 Back to School

From updated chellphone rules to new school leaders and attendance expectations, here's what parents should know before the 2026-27 school year begins.

Eric Bracy in his office on Gillespie Street in Fayetteville on July 15, 2026.

is starting his second year as the leader of

the

Classroom Nostalgia

BY MATT HENNIE

I get a little nostalgic thinking back to being a kid, growing up in public schools in Savannah, Georgia.

The picturesque—and long—ride on the snub nose bus along a two-lane U.S. 80 from my home on Wilmington Island to the small, three-building elementary school on Tybee Island. The long route took us through the marsh that separated the two islands before reaching the campus, which sat next to City Hall and just a few traffic lanes across from the Atlantic Ocean. Maybe that unwittingly sparked my interest in local government and politics.

A bus driver who sometimes allowed me to sit on the engine block next to her and wipe down the windshield when it was covered with fog. It was the ’80s, after all. She was the same person who didn’t hesitate to call my dad on the few occasions when I misbehaved.

I had the same teacher for grades 3, 4, and 5, a former telephone operator and history buff who spent as much time exploring Savannah’s rich history as she did teaching cursive writing and multiplication tables. The field trips she led downtown fueled my never-ending curiosity as we studied historic structures dating back to Georgia’s founding as the 13th colony in the 18th century. Elementary school is where I also discovered a love for music and learned how to play saxophone.

The cafeteria doubled as the band room, but it also was the place I learned to love pizza—the rectangle kind that at the time was a staple of many elementary school lunch menus.

In middle school, my language arts and social studies teachers loved what they did. It came through in the books we studied—of course, Gone with the Wind was among them—and the material they taught. My social studies teacher rewarded top performers with a subscription to a history magazine, the likes of which started my fascination with glossy print publications that carried through to the start of my career in the heyday of print journalism.

When I reached high school, the classes were more intense and the extracurricular activities were all

Matt Hennie is CityView ’s editorin-chief. He can be reached at mhennie@cityviewnc.com. EDITOR’S TAKE

consuming. Those four years are full of memories of passionate educators, from an Army veteran in his second career as a chemistry teacher, to an English teacher who gave me the foundation on which to build my journalism career, and a band teacher who developed my love of jazz. There was also the basketball coach who taught me the value of teamwork and the math teacher who helped me through the painful discovery that calculus was not for me.

It’s those memories that came flooding back as I worked on this “Back to School Issue” of CityView magazine. Inside, you’ll find our interview with Superintendent Eric Bracy and a Back-to-School Guide for the 2026-27 school year. Our columnists also reflect on teachers, education funding, parenting with students, and books to help students navigate the school year.

Also in this issue: A story sponsored by Cape Fear Valley Health exploring the health system’s new dermatology practice, The To-Do List filled with outdoor events, and Seen @ the Scene from our inaugural Fayetteville Newsmakers event.

As we all prepare for the return of tens of thousands of students to classrooms on August 24, keep this in mind: Stay in the know about education in Cumberland County by subscribing to our newsletter. On Tuesdays, it’s focused on education. Go to cityviewnc.com and scroll until you see the signup box. Add your email and click “Sign Up.” It’s that easy.

Thanks for reading!

Pay the Teachers

BY TIM WHITE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DASIA WILLIAMS

Back to school? Already? Didn’t summer vacation just start, maybe a week or two ago?

I finished high school 60 years ago, but that’s how I always felt. Still do. Summer vacation was short. School was long.

Even today, I’m startled to learn that the school buses will be back on the roads before the end of August. When summers are this hot, of course, short is good. But vacation time? Short isn’t better.

Still, I really did enjoy school. It set me on the road to becoming a lifelong learner, curious about people and things, wanting to know things—the more esoteric the better. Hint: My favorite “sports” were archery and the debate team. That’s one big reason why

I chose a career in journalism.

I was fortunate to have a good education at every level. Even more fortunate to get most of that education at excellent private schools with high, challenging standards. My parents were far from wealthy. We were a blue-collar family, lower middle class at most—my dad a steelworker, my mom a part-time secretary. There were no vouchers in those days, but they scraped tuition together anyway. Maybe it’s that memory that makes me believe it should still be that way, that vouchers are an unwarranted siphon of public funds for private purposes. I don’t know—there are compelling arguments on both sides.

But I am certain of this: Despite North Carolina lawmakers’ passion for

school vouchers, they don’t have the same dedication to properly educating our children. Just a generation ago, public school funding and teacher salaries here were at the middle of the national pack, and among the best in the South. Support was universal— Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, Blue Dogs and Yellow Dogs.

Governors and legislators made education a big priority, correctly understanding that having a welleducated population was a key to success in a state where the traditional economic engines—agriculture and textiles—were waning and needed quality replacements. It’s that thinking that made the state university system one of the best in the country. It’s

also the reason for the creation of the Research Triangle Park, which became a magnet for high-tech economic development and made the RaleighDurham-Chapel Hill community thrive. That provided plenty of trickle-down success in surrounding communities. Our well-prepared workforce was the key.

Still is.

But for how much longer? Public funding for public education—required by our state constitution—hasn’t kept pace with our needs in the past two decades. We’ve got to look a long way up to see the middle of the pack again. We’ve been stuck with the bottom feeders.

For the past few years, I’ve often driven past a highway billboard near Greensboro that exhorts the state to “pay the teachers.” UNC basketball legend Roy Williams has joined the fight, and the sign now reads, “Pay the Dadgum Teachers!” We failed that.

North Carolina ranks 46th in teacher pay, according to the National Education Association. Teachers can make better money by moving to any of our surrounding states. They can double their salary by moving to

California, where educator pay is the best, and get a big raise by moving to any of dozens of states.

The state budget that lawmakers finally passed this summer gives teachers an 8% raise, which is a nice boost. But I’m not sure it will do what some legislative leaders suggest—give North Carolina the best teacher pay in the South. It certainly won’t send us back to our former position in the midpoint of all American public education pay ranks. It’s a start, not a job completed.

No matter where our state stands in the national rankings of teacher pay and per-student education funding, we’ve still got daunting mountains to climb. Our competitors aren’t just other states. Our economy depends on having a workforce able to lead the world. We don’t just compete with Arkansas or Iowa— our real competition is spread over the world, and we need to raise generations of kids who can take on their global peers. We’ve got too much room for improvement. The most recent comparisons of educational achievement in the world’s industrialized nations puts American

students 12th in science, 6th in reading, and a woeful 28th in math.

I’m happy to see North Carolina increasing funding for public education. I’m delighted teachers will see raises. I’m pleased to see our Cumberland County commissioners agree to meet our school system’s budget request.

But I’m still worried, and not just about North Carolina schools. I’m worried about American competitiveness in the world marketplace, worried that our education system is falling behind its global peers.

We need to keep talking about how we fund education, but we also need to expand that conversation to include academic rigor. Paying the dadgum teachers is just the beginning.

Plowing to the End of the Row

BY CLAIRE MULLEN

When I was a student at Vanstory Hills Elementary School in the early ’90s, our principal, Donald Dixon, had a catchphrase that he would repeat just about every chance he would get. During his speech at open house, at every assembly throughout the term, and at our end-of-the-year award ceremony. Anyone who ever worked at or attended a school under his leadership can probably still recall his signature mantra.

“Plow to the end of the row.”

As an eight-year-old girl, I never fully understood what he meant when he concluded each and every principal’s address with, “And don’t forget, Vanstory students, to plow to the end of the row.” I always just envisioned my grandfather, an eastern North Carolina farmer, driving his tractor up and down rows of peanut plants, but didn’t really see how plowing had much to do with third grade math, science, social studies, or reading.

I hadn’t thought about Dixon in years, until one afternoon toward the end of the last school year when my children’s school called. I answered to the distressed voice of my daughter, informing me that something had leaked all over her lunch, soaking her sandwich, sogging her potato chips, and rendering her snack cake

completely inedible. I thought back to packing her lunch the night before and remembered how I’d desperately tried to find something semi-healthy to add to her box.

We'll see how long this new-schoolyear enthusiasm lasts, and if all four Mullens can truly “plow to the end of the row.”

The menu was a sandwich made from the last two pieces of bread in the bag—one being the highly offensive heel piece, spread with liquidy strawberry jelly squeezed from the bottom of the bottle, and the overlydry remnants of peanut butter scraped off the sides of the nearly empty jar, potato chip crumbs poured into a

compartment from a rumpled bag, and one of the two Swiss cake rolls from the last pack I’d split between my daughter and her brother.

In the hustle and bustle of Maycember, I’d remembered at bedtime that I’d forgotten to pick up my grocery order that day, leaving me to scrounge the far corners of the pantry for something edible. I’d discovered a neglected jar of mandarin oranges in the fridge, tucked behind the milk and apple juice, checked the expiration date, and spooned a few segments into their own compartment and called it a day, not knowing that the leakproof promise of the bentostyle lunchbox would not apply to mandarin orange juice.

As I threw an even more pitiful second lunch of a spotty banana, halfeaten bag of beef jerky, popcorn, and a sad bagel with no cream cheese into a Ziploc bag, I felt a wave of mom guilt wash over me. It was akin to the same feeling I’d had when my son’s sweet reading teacher had, not long before, sent me a gentle text letting me know that her copy of the book “Flora & Ulysses”, which my son had borrowed from her classroom earlier in the year, had not been returned.

After tearing apart both my house and my car looking for the lost book,

I’d thrown in the towel and ordered her a new copy from Amazon. When the book arrived, I gave it to my son with specific instructions to immediately hand it to his teacher at school. He took one look at the book and said, “Mom? Why does the title say, ‘Flora y Ulysses’?” Yes, I had inadvertently purchased the Spanish version for a classroom of English-speaking thirdgraders.

I thought of a field trip permission slip I’d forgotten to sign, a meeting that I’d put on the wrong calendar day, and the shame of having to pull two school uniform shirts off the top of my children’s dirty clothes piles because I was hopelessly behind on laundry. A voice in my head said, “You are not plowing to the end of the row.” And just like that, I remembered Dixon’s words

and finally understood what he meant all those years ago.

Just like every other school year before, I’ll start this one strong. There will be lunches packed full of fresh fruit, neatly-cut vegetables, customized deli sandwiches on seedy, multi-grain bread that my kids will have temporarily forgotten that they hate, and low-sugar organic fruit strips. I will help my children neatly label their binders and organize their pencil pouches.

I’ll purchase snazzy new uniforms and enthusiastically develop a new system to help me remember to stay on top of laundry. I’ll actually remember to pick up my online grocery orders during the assigned time window. I’ll enforce bedtimes, prep overnight oats for a quick yet healthy before-school

breakfast, and meal-plan nutritious dinners. I will designate a special spot in our home to store miscellaneous school items—like borrowed classroom books—and color code our family calendar to make sure that not one single meeting or event is forgotten.

We’ll see how long this new-schoolyear enthusiasm lasts, and if all four Mullens can truly “plow to the end of the row.”

Ten months seems like an awfully long time to have to drive the tractor.

Eric Bracy’s North Star

AFTER NAVIGATING SCHOOL CLOSURES, BUDGET PRESSURES, AND THE LAUNCH OF A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN, HE REFLECTS ON THE LESSONS OF HIS FIRST YEAR LEADING CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DASIA WILLIAMS

LLong before Eric Bracy became superintendent of one of North Carolina's largest school districts, education was simply part of everyday life. Bracy grew up in a family of educators.

His mother spent more than four decades teaching kindergarten, while his father served as a high school principal. Together, they shaped the philosophy he said still guides his leadership today.

His mother believed helping children learn to read could shape the rest of their lives. His father focused on ensuring students graduated prepared to be employed, enrolled in college, or enlisted in the military.

"Those two perspectives still shape me today," Bracy said. "Education, for me, has always been about both foundation and future. We have a responsibility to meet students where they are, give them what they need, and help them leave us prepared for life."

Bracy, 53, began his career as a fourth-grade teacher before serving as a principal, central office administrator, and superintendent in several North Carolina school districts. He said every role reinforced the same lesson: student achievement improves when adults are focused,

aligned, and willing to do the work together.

Before arriving in Fayetteville, Bracy spent more than 25 years in public education, including superintendent roles in Johnston, Sampson, and Northampton counties. During his tenure in Johnston County, the district improved its statewide grade-level proficiency ranking while reducing the number of low-performing schools.

In Sampson County, the district climbed from the state's 66th- to 15th-highest-performing school system, while leaders also implemented long-term strategic planning and secured voter approval for major school bond initiatives.

"What led me to Cumberland County Schools was the opportunity to serve a district with tremendous potential," he said. "CCS is a large, diverse, and important district, not just for this region but for our state. I saw a school system that had already made meaningful progress and was ready for its next level of excellence."

Cumberland County Schools (CCS) declined an inperson interview with Bracy, but the school district provided written responses to questions. They have been lightly edited for style.

Superintendent Eric Bracy, a former teacher, starts his second year with Cumberland County Schools as the district prepares to open the 2026-27 school year.

You officially stepped into this role on July 1, 2025. What has your first year taught you about both the opportunities and challenges facing one of North Carolina's largest school districts?

This first year has confirmed what I believed when I arrived: Cumberland County Schools has the talent, heart, and capacity to be one of the top-performing districts in North Carolina. I have visited schools, met with principals, listened to staff, talked with families, and engaged with community partners. What I have seen is a district filled with people who care deeply about students.

At the same time, leading one of the state's largest school districts comes with real challenges. We are managing aging facilities, enrollment shifts, staffing needs, budget pressures, and the responsibility of serving students with a wide range of needs. Those challenges are real, and we cannot ignore them.

But I am encouraged by the direction of the work. Official accountability results from the 2025-2026 school year will be released this fall, but preliminary results indicate that we are on the right track. We are seeing signs that the strategies we have put in place are beginning to make a difference.

Now, the work is to stay focused. We have to keep the main thing the main thing. That means high-quality instruction, strong leadership, safe and supportive schools, and accountability for results. We will celebrate progress, but we will not become satisfied. Our students deserve our best every day.

One of the most difficult decisions made during your first year was closing Manchester Elementary and J.W. Coon Elementary schools as part of the district's broader facilities plan. How did you personally navigate leading through a decision that generated such strong emotional responses from families and communities?

Any decision involving a school community is deeply personal. Schools are not just buildings. They hold history, relationships, memories, and pride. I understand why families, staff, alumni, and community members felt strongly about those decisions.

As superintendent, my responsibility is to listen with respect, provide accurate information, and help the board and the community look at both the immediate impact and the longterm needs of the district. That is not easy work, and it should not be easy. When people are emotionally connected to a school, that tells you the school has mattered in their lives.

At the same time, we have to make decisions that are responsible for the entire district. We have aging facilities, changing enrollment patterns, and significant capital needs. Avoiding difficult decisions today can create bigger challenges for students and staff tomorrow.

I tried to lead through that process by being present, listening, and staying grounded in what is best for students. Even when people disagree with a decision, they deserve to know they were heard and that the decision was made with care.

Throughout those school closure discussions, some families raised concerns about equity, arguing that consolidation decisions once again disproportionately affected historically Black school communities. How do you respond to those concerns, and what responsibility do district leaders have in rebuilding trust when communities feel unheard?

When families and communities raise concerns about equity, we have a responsibility to listen carefully and not dismiss what they are saying. History matters. Community experiences matter. Trust is not built by asking people to simply accept a decision and move on.

I understand that some of our school communities carry deep historical significance, particularly in communities that have experienced change, consolidation, or loss over time. When people feel unheard, district leaders have to do more than explain the process. We have to continue showing up, continue communicating, and continue demonstrating that every child, every neighborhood and every school community matters.

For me, that means making sure all students have access to quality instruction, safe and supportive learning environments, and opportunities that prepare them for success.

Cumberland County Schools continues facing major financial pressures, from enrollment declines to long-term facility needs and budget challenges tied to operating one of the state's largest districts. How do you balance making difficult decisions in the present while also planning for the district's long-term future?

The balance comes from having a clear plan and being disciplined enough to follow it. We cannot make decisions one issue at a time without understanding how they connect to the larger direction of the district.

That is why the Strategic Plan 2026-2031: The Path to CCS Excellence is so important. It gives us a roadmap. Our North Star is clear: Cumberland County Schools will be the highestperforming district in North Carolina. That is an ambitious goal, but it helps align our decisions around student achievement, people, learning environments, and community partnerships. Financial pressures require us to be thoughtful and responsible. We have to protect classroom instruction, support our employees, and plan honestly for the facilities our students and staff need. Sometimes that means making difficult decisions now so that we can create a stronger, more sustainable district for the future.

My goal is not simply to manage the challenges in front of us. My goal is to position CCS for long-term excellence.

Superintendent Eric Bracy talks with La'Shanda

the school district’s area superintendent of school support–middle grades, on July 15, 2026.

Leadership often looks very different from the outside than it feels internally. During your first year, was there a moment or challenge that tested you personally as a leader and forced you to grow in ways you did not expect?

The first year in any new district requires you to listen, learn, and lead all at the same time. That can be challenging because people are looking for direction, but you also need to understand the culture, history, and needs of the district before moving too quickly.

The facilities conversations were certainly among the most difficult because they involved emotion, history, and real concerns from families and communities. Those moments remind you that leadership is not just about making decisions. It is about how you carry yourself through those decisions.

This year has reinforced the importance of staying calm, staying focused, and not taking things personally. You have to listen to criticism, separate emotion from information, and keep asking, "What

is best for students?" That question keeps me grounded.

I have also learned even more about the strength of the CCS team. There are outstanding educators, principals, support staff, and district leaders here. When you surround yourself with strong people and keep the focus on students, you can move through difficult seasons and still make progress.

Public education is facing workforce challenges, from teacher recruitment to retaining specialized staff and support personnel. What have you learned this year about the people side of leading a district, and what are Cumberland County Schools' biggest needs moving forward?

The people side of this work is everything. You can have the best plan in the world, but it will not succeed without strong people carrying it out every day.

Our educators and staff all play a role in student success. One of the things I have emphasized is that we have to know our staff, support our

staff, and create the conditions where they can do their best work.

Our biggest need moving forward is to continue recruiting and retaining high-quality educators and staff, especially in hard-to-fill teaching areas, specialized support roles, and school-based positions that directly affect students' daily experiences. We also have to continue strengthening leadership because strong principals help create strong schools.

People want to be valued, supported, and part of something meaningful. We have to make sure CCS is a place where talented people want to come, stay and grow.

Beyond some of the more difficult conversations this year, what are one or two accomplishments or moments from your first year that made you feel optimistic about the future of Cumberland County Schools?

I am encouraged by the academic progress we are seeing. Official accountability results will be released this fall, but our preliminary results indicate we are moving in the right direction. That kind of movement does not happen by accident. It reflects focused work by principals, teachers, staff, students and families.

I am also encouraged by the energy around our new strategic plan. The Path to CCS Excellence is not just a document. It reflects the voices of our students, families, staff and community. It gives us a shared direction and a clear standard for the work ahead.

The other thing that gives me optimism is what I see when I walk into schools. I see students learning. I see teachers pushing students to think. I see principals who know their data and care about their people. I see staff members who go above and beyond. Those moments remind me that CCS Excellence is already present in many ways. Our job now is to make it consistent across every school.

Looking ahead to year two, what priorities will define your leadership moving forward? What do you hope students, families, and educators begin to understand more clearly about the kind of superintendent you intend to be?

Year two will be about focus, implementation, and results. We have a strategic plan. We have our North Star. Now we have to execute.

My priorities are clear: increase student achievement, ensure every student has access to quality instruction, strengthen school leadership, support and retain employees, create safe and welcoming learning environments, and deepen family and community partnerships. Those are not separate efforts. They all connect to student success.

For the 2026-2027 school year, we will stay focused on improving proficiency, meeting or exceeding growth, celebrating successes along the way, and refusing to accept excuses. That does not mean we ignore challenges. It means we acknowledge them, address them, and stay focused on solutions. It also means we cannot become complacent because of the progress some of our schools have made. Progress should encourage us, and it should also remind us to keep building on that momentum so every student, in every classroom and at every school, has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

What I hope people understand about me is that I am going to continue to be visible, engaged, and focused on students. I believe in accountability, but I also believe in support. I believe in data, but I never forget that every number represents a child. I believe in high expectations because our students are capable of high achievement.

I want families, staff, and the community to know this: I am committed to CCS. I believe in this district. I believe in our students. I believe in our people. And I believe that together, we can make Cumberland County Schools the highestperforming district in North Carolina.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dasia Williams is CityView's K-12 education reporter. Before joining CityView, she worked as a digital content producer at the Chattanooga Times Free Press and also wrote for Open Campus Media and The Charlotte Observer.

CityView Magazine is Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s premier lifestyle and local news magazine. Choose between our two convenient and affordable subscription options.

HEALTH

A New Home for Healthy Skin

Cape Fear Valley Dermatology brings advanced skin care services to Cumberland County.

BY TERI SAYLOR I PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY WOOTEN

CCape Fear Valley Dermatology, a new Fayetteville clinic dedicated to providing comprehensive skin care services throughout the region, is open for business.

By the time the clinic celebrated its ribbon-cutting on June 22, it had already welcomed 134 new patients and is still growing.

The clinic, located at 3526 Village Drive, officially opened its doors on June 15, expanding access to expert dermatologic care close to home for

patients in Cumberland County. It’s also the region's first dermatology clinic to feature a Mohs-certified provider for specialized skin cancer treatment. Mohs is micrographic surgery that meticulously eradicates cancer cells while conserving as much healthy skin as possible.

Dr. Mariah Owusu-Agyei, a doubleboard certified Mohs micrographic surgeon and dermatologist, leads Cape Fear Valley Health’s Mohs program, accepting community referrals and

delivering personalized, evidencebased care to patients of all ages.

“I’m excited to be here, and I’m excited to help grow this practice,” she said, noting that the feedback she has received from patients has been nothing but positive.

“I just love the fact that we can serve as a convenient clinic for our patients,” she says.

Owusu-Agyei, who was born in Ghana and grew up in the Bronx, New York, brings expertise in dermatologic

oncology, facial reconstruction, and general dermatology. Starting with a patient’s first exam, to their diagnosis and later treatment, she is qualified to do it all.

“I'm both a Mohs surgeon and pathologist,” she said. “That means when we remove a suspected skin cancer, we can process it in our lab right there in the clinic, then examine the slides to see if we've cleared the tumor or if we need to do more.”

Owusu-Agyei completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where she explored interests in finance and worked as a financial analyst in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

Despite her success in finance, she always harbored a passion for medicine and returned to Penn for her medical education. She completed

her dermatology residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

When patients arrive at the clinic for an exam or treatment, they can expect a personal approach to dermatology, Owusu-Agyei said.

“We take care of not just your disease but you as a person too,” she said. “I like to learn about my patients’ lives because I really want to know them as people and know about their family and their work.”

Emily Townsend, a dedicated dermatology certified physician assistant, also provides comprehensive skin care at Cape Fear Valley Dermatology.

A Fayetteville native, Townsend has been practicing since 2016 and has a strong passion for medical and cosmetic dermatology. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin

Skin health is really for all patients, male or female, children and geriatric populations, and people with all types of skin.

- Emily Townsend

We take care of not just your disease but you as a person too.

- Dr. Mariah Owusu-Agyei

cancer, acne, psoriasis, and eczema, as well as cosmetic procedures to help patients achieve healthy skin.

She earned her physician assistant degree from Methodist University.

Townsend enjoys the variety that comes with her profession, from diagnosing skin conditions and treating them to getting to know her many patients. Keeping them healthy is her number one goal.

“Skin health is really for all patients, male or female, children and geriatric populations, and people with all types of skin,” she said. “Anyone can get skin cancer, no matter their gender, skin type or age.”

Dermatology specialists at Cape Fear Valley Health emphasize core tips for

keeping skin healthy, protected and hydrated during summertime and all year long:

• Prioritize daily sun protection by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily. Reapply every two hours, especially during summer, to prevent skin damage.

• Keep skin hydrated with highquality moisturizers to maintain its natural barriers.

• Schedule annual professional skin cancer screenings, especially if you have a history of sun exposure.

Routine skin checks are essential to regularly monitor moles and spots for changes in size, shape, or color. Never ignore early warning signs.

Before opening the new Cape Fear Valley Dermatology clinic, patients had to travel to Duke, UNC, and other hospitals outside the region for surgery and special care, OwusuAgyei said.

Over time, the new clinic will expand to serve a larger patient population.

“We’re hoping to grow the practice here, especially when it comes to procedures like Mohs surgery,” Owusu-Agyei said.

Moving from New York’s urban center to the Sandhills region of North Carolina has been an easy transition, Owusu-Agyei said. She already feels at home in the diverse Fayetteville community, viewing the city as a melting pot.

“I feel like there's so many people from so many different parts of the world in Fayetteville, and I’m just excited to be here,” she said.

Her family is quickly falling in love with the wide-open spaces their new home offers and are already feeling welcome in their new neighborhood.

“It has been a huge move, but I enjoy being here with my two little girls and my husband,” she said. “We love the fact that there's so much more space, and my kids get to run around in the backyard, which they really didn't get to do in New York.”

Her family also enjoys Fayetteville’s food scene.

“Being able to find our local foods from Ghana has been easy,” she said. “We have checked out a couple of African markets and, just like Fayetteville, they have everything we need.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teri Saylor is a freelance writer based in Raleigh.

Back-to-School:

Everything Cumberland Families Should Know Before the First Bell

From updated cellphone rules to new school leaders and attendance expectations, here’s what parents should know before the 2026-27 school year begins.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DASIA WILLIAMS

TThe backpacks are packed. New shoes are by the door. Alarm clocks are about to ring a little earlier than they have all summer.

But before students walk through the school doors, there are a few important updates parents should know.

Cumberland County Schools begins every school year with new faces, updated policies, and resources designed to help students succeed.

Whether your child is entering kindergarten or beginning their senior year, here's a quick guide to what's new—and what every family should know before the first bell rings.

The first day for students on the traditional school calendar is August 24, while the final day of school is scheduled for May 28.

Families should also note that students will have holidays, teacher workdays, and early-release days throughout the year. The complete academic calendar is available on the Cumberland County Schools website.

Know Your School Board

The Cumberland County Board of Education is the governing body for the school district. The board is responsible for setting district policy, approving the annual budget, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, and making major decisions involving academics, facilities, transportation, and student services.

The board consists of nine nonpartisan members

elected to staggered four-year terms. Six members represent geographic districts, while three serve the entire county.

Board members also serve on committees:

Budget and Finance

Curriculum

Personnel

Student Support Services

Policy and Student Assignment

Legislative Affairs

Auxiliary Services

Regular board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Central Services office located at 2465 Gillespie St. Community members may attend meetings, watch online, or sign up in advance to speak during public comment.

Following the death of board chair Judy Musgrave in June, one of the board seats is vacant. Vice Chair Jacquelyn Brown is currently serving as the board's presiding officer.

Current board members are:

Chair (At-Large): Vacant

Vice Chair (At-Large): Jacquelyn Brown

At-Large: Greg West

District 1: Mary Hales

District 2: Deanna Jones

District 3: Delores Bell

District 4: Jackie Warner

District 5: Susan Williams

District 6: Terra Jordan

Several Schools Welcome New Leadership

Several Cumberland County schools will begin the year under new leadership, while a broader series of administrative transfers will place experienced educators in new schools and district roles.

New principals:

Beaver Dam Elementary School: Carrie Blanchard College Lakes Elementary School: Quantisha Spencer

New Century International Elementary School: Belinda Proctor

Cumberland Academy K-5 Virtual School: Estella Johnson

Long Hill Elementary School: Emily Richards

Administrative transfers for principals:

A.B. Wilkins High School: Ayanna Richard

Mac Williams Middle School: Brooke Griffie

Walker-Spivey Elementary School: Shanessa Fenner

Ed V. Baldwin Elementary School:

Elizabeth Blue Westover High School: Tremaine Canteen

Families from recently closed schools may also recognize familiar faces in new roles.

Ebony Johnson, former principal of Manchester Elementary, is now principal of W.T. Brown Elementary School.

Constance Thomas, former principal of J.W. Coon Elementary, is now serving as Advanced Teacher Roles coordinator in the district's Academic Services Department.

Attendance Matters

District leaders continue emphasizing the importance of regular attendance and revising policies to address chronic absenteeism.

Some of the biggest reminders for families include:

• Elementary and middle school students are limited to 10 parent or guardian notes per school year.

• High school students are

limited to 10 parent or guardian notes each semester.

• Parent or doctor's notes generally must be submitted within five school days of a student's return.

• Students with excessive unexcused absences may face academic consequences, though waivers are available in qualifying circumstances.

Know When Report Cards Are Coming

Parents don't have to wait until the end of the semester to monitor academic progress.

For traditional-calendar schools: Sept. 24: First progress reports

Oct. 30: First report cards

Dec. 4: Second progress reports

Jan. 27: Semester report cards

Feb. 19: Third progress reports

Apr. 7: Third-quarter report cards

Apr. 30: Fourth progress reports

June 4: Final report cards available Families can also monitor grades throughout the year using the Campus Parent/Student Portal.

A student completes a first-day activity as the

Cellphone Rules Tightening

Students should expect stricter rules surrounding cellphone use this school year.

Under the district's cellphone policy, elementary students must keep phones and personal devices turned off and stored throughout the school day. Middle and high school students may use devices during non-instructional times, such as lunch and class transitions, but not during instructional time unless authorized by a teacher or required through specialized instructional or health plans.

The Board of Education also approved revisions prohibiting students from recording or photographing identifiable students or employees without consent while on school property, on school buses, or at school-sponsored events. District leaders said the change is intended to create a safer learning environment and discourage students from recording conflicts instead of reporting them.

Most Student Meals Remain Free

Students in 70 of the district’s schools will receive free school meals this year through a federal program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. .

For the 2026-27 school year:

Elementary schools (K-5): Free breakfast and lunch

Middle schools (6-8): Free breakfast and lunch

High schools (9-12): Free breakfast; lunch is $2.75 for students who do not qualify for meal benefits. Families can still complete meal benefit applications through Child Nutrition Services if they believe they qualify for additional assistance.

Here Comes the Bus

If your child recently enrolled, moved or changed schools, families should contact their school as soon as possible to request transportation and ensure addresses are up to date. Families requesting transportation for traditionalcalendar students should submit requests by August 13, according to Cumberland County Schools.

The district also encourages families to download the Here Comes the Bus app, which provides real-time bus tracking and transportation updates once service begins. Parents whose students were already assigned transportation last school year can view bus information in the app beginning Aug. 18.

Students should arrive at their bus stop at least 10 minutes before their scheduled pickup time, wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching, and always remain alert when crossing the street.

Mental Health Resources Available

Cumberland County Schools continues expanding access to mental health services for students and families. Every school has counselors available, while many campuses also offer school psychologists, social workers and behavioral specialists.

Through the district's School Behavioral Health Program, eligible students can receive services such as:

Individual counseling

Family counseling

Group counseling

Mental health assessments

Medication management through partnering providers

New this year, students in grades 6-12 can also access Alongside, a free AI-powered mental health support app that provides 24/7 emotional wellness support, journaling tools, goal-setting features, and self-guided resources. Parents must grant permission before students can use the app.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dasia Williams is CityView's K-12 education reporter. Before joining CityView, she worked as a digital content producer at the Chattanooga Times Free Press and also wrote for Open Campus Media and The Charlotte Observer.

Family-Owned Businesses

The family-owned businesses featured on these pages reflect years of hard work, integrity and vision, all while steeling themselves against the possibility of failure.

Businesses like these have an immeasurable positive impact on our community. They are a reflection of our city’s history, and they enrich all of us who live here. Our community would not be the same without them. We salute each of these businesses and wish them continued success for generations to come.

We will be profiling real estate professionals in our October issue. Call CityView at 910-423-6500 or email sales@cityviewnc.com to reserve your spot.

Lindy's Diner

Lindy’s, led by Pete Skenteris and his friendly team, offers affordable and delicious food in a warm, family environment. Known for its diverse breakfast options and daily lunch specials, Lindy’s serves up beloved comfort foods like chicken and pastry, pot roast, country-style steak, spaghetti served 10 ways, and even kid-friendly Mickey Mouse pancakes. With a focus on providing quality meals at reasonable prices, Lindy’s ensures that every customer is treated like part of the family. Whether you’re craving a hearty breakfast or a satisfying lunch, Lindy’s is dedicated to delivering a satisfying dining experience that leaves you feeling right at home.

910-485-6247

Callahan & Rice Insurance Group

Mark Rice, former president and CEO of Callahan & Rice, has worked in the insurance industry since 1987. He is licensed in property and casualty, as well as life, health,longterm care and Medicare supplements. His son-inlaw, Landon Bentham, joined the agency in 2015 as a sales producer, assisting clients with personal and commercial insurance coverage. Landon later advanced to director of sales and, in 2025, took over the agency. He now owns Callahan & Rice and serves as its president and CEO.

910-484-6171 | callahanrice.com 129 Franklin St., Fayetteville, NC 28301

Box & Dolly LLC

Box & Dolly LLC

Box & Dolly LLC is a faith-based, family-owned, full-service moving company located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is registered with the NC Utilities Commission.

Box & Dolly LLC is a faith-based, family-owned, full-service moving company located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is registered with the NC Utilities Commission.

Owners Ika and Renee Gibbs have provided quality service for commercial and residential moves across NC since 2015.

Owners Ika and Renee Gibbs have provided quality service for commercial and residential moves across NC since 2015.

Their slogan is, “We Help Take the Load Off!” and every move is done with the utmost care, treating you like family.

Their slogan is, “We Help Take the Load Off!” and every move is done with the utmost care, treating you like family.

At the end of every move, if allowed, Ika prays blessings over each home/business.

At the end of every move, if allowed, Ika prays blessings over each home/business.

They look forward to helping you “Take the Load Off!” your next move, so call them at 910-922-2907. They look forward to serving you.

They look forward to helping you “Take the Load Off!” your next move, so call them at 910-922-2907. They look forward to serving you.

boxanddolly.com

3001 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28303 boxanddolly.com

Blue Laser Events

What do you get when two people who love celebrating life together decide they want to celebrate life with everyone? You get Blue Laser Events, a 3601 square feet venue and event space with a light, fun, and airy feel to it. Dinah and David Goodman dreamed up Blue Laser Events as a way to help people mark and celebrate their most precious moments with those they love. Their love of events culminated into a dream venue that people are lining up to book. As you walk in, you are surrounded with a bright, well-lit, open and airy facility with white walls and a big lobby with white shiny castle tiles. In the lobby sits a velvet royal blue sitting area and zebra print king and queen chairs, fit for royalty. A grassy lush wall adorns the left side of the lobby and prince and princess bathrooms with lighted makeup mirrors wait to meet

As you walk through fresh, white shears toenter the main room, 2 chandeliers hang above the middle of the room, and a fireplace stands surrounded by mirrors on each side of the back of the room. White sheer linens drape the walls and ceilings, waiting for different colored lights to reflect off of the blank but beautiful canvas. A kitchenette with a bar awaits in its own room, with lighted palm trees giving off a feeling of rest and surrender.

The motto of Blue Laser Events is “Memories are made where we gather”. Blue Laser specializes in weddings, baby showers, conferences, birthdays, graduations, and any celebration one can think of. Book now and let's create memories together.

910-889-1155

1707 Owen Drive, Suite B2 Fayetteville, NC 28304 www.bluelaserevents.com

What do you love celebrating want to celebrate get Blue Laser venue and ev and airy feel Goodman dreamed a way to help their most precious they love. Their into a dream up to book. surrounded and airy facility lobby with white lobby sits a and zebra print for royalty. left side of the princess bathrooms mirrors wait As you walk enter the main above the middle fireplace stands each side of sheer linens waiting for reflect off of canvas. A kitchenette its own room, giving off a The motto of “Memories

BuzzFit BootCamp

As you enter the award-winning BuzzFit BootCamp, you are immediately drawn to the decorative grassy wall adorned with bees and a lighted BuzzFit logo that will instantly remind you that you are in a different type of gym now. "You can do easy at home," co-owner Dinah Goodman says. Co-owner David Goodman is seen working out and laughing with the gym family.

David and Dinah love to deliver the jokes as easily as they deliver the challenging workouts. "It's a family affair here," Dinah says. "We have been in fitness longer than we have been in the military, which was over 20 years. We have been doing this over 39 years and counting." Dinah and David understand what it takes to get in shape, stay in shape, and enjoy being the healthiest version of yourself you can be. "We want to always have quality of life with a twist," claims David. David retired from the Army and Dinah retired from the Navy. Using their military and fitness background, they launched BuzzFit BootCamp after having two previous successful gyms, and have not looked back since.

Thirty-minute High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts, nutrition, and personal training are the keys to fitness. They offer a free week to try it out.

Foust Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.

Mike and Kim Foust founded Foust Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. in 2002. The company started as a two-man crew that immediately grew with the need for expansion. Today, Foust Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. consists of three departments: new and existing construction, services, and sales, specializing in residential and light commercial systems. The company currently has 23 employees including service technicians, installation teams, a duct fabricator, administrative assistants, comfort specialists, an installation manager, and a superintendent who oversees each installation project along with Mike Foust. They appreciate their employees and the dedication they give to each job. They have several employees who have been with them for 15-20 years.

Foust Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. holds both H-2 and H-3 Heating and Air Conditioning licenses with the state of North Carolina and an SP-PH Electrical license with the state of North Carolina. They are a Customer Care Dealer with American Standard and a Pro-Partner with Rheem. Their number one goal is to provide their customers with complete satisfaction and peace of mind. They treat their customers like family. They genuinely believe in the philosophy of honesty and integrity.

When you call Foust Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., you are not calling a chain business owned by different investors, you are calling a family-owned company that is working for the next generation. With over 35 years of experience, Mike and Kim Foust have made Foust Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. a reputable name by providing exceptional service throughout Cumberland and surrounding counties and by bringing “COMFORT ALL YEAR LONG WITH HONEST, RELIABLE SERVICE.”

OYE, ¿CÓMO VA?

Education as a Bridge to the Future

BY CLAUDIA ZAMORA

August always arrives speaking its own language. It carries the scent of brand-new notebooks, freshly sharpened pencils, neatly prepared backpacks, and the mix of excitement and butterflies that comes with the beginning of every school year. It is the season when hallways fill once again with laughter, questions, discoveries, and quiet emotions that rarely make their way into a lesson plan.

For many children, returning to school means the beginning of a new year of learning and friendship. For many parents, it is another opportunity to watch their children grow, trusting the educators who will guide, inspire, and help them reach their fullest potential.

This month, we celebrate two extraordinary educators whose journeys began in different corners of Latin America but whose commitment to children found a shared home in our community.

Laura Cruz and Mercedes Rodríguez Saa understand both the tremendous responsibility and the incredible privilege of helping shape the next generation.

Cruz, originally from Colombia, teaches some of the youngest students at St. Pauls Elementary School. Beyond her work in the classroom, she has become a true cultural ambassador, helping children develop curiosity, respect, and appreciation for cultures beyond their own.

"Every child walks into the classroom with a different story,” Cruz said. “When they learn to listen to and value someone else's story, they are doing much more than learning

about another culture, they are learning how to become better human beings. My greatest hope is that they grow up knowing that our differences do not divide us; they enrich us."

Her words reflect something our world needs now more than ever.

Today's children will grow into communities, universities, and workplaces that are increasingly diverse. Learning to appreciate different languages, traditions, and perspectives is no longer simply an educational goal, it is an essential life skill.

When children learn to honor their own roots while respecting the roots of others, they begin to understand that diversity is not something to fear but something to celebrate. Differences become bridges instead of barriers.

True education begins long before academic achievement. It begins when a child feels safe. Real learning happens when a child feels safe enough to make mistakes, confident enough to speak up, and proud enough to carry their story, their language, and their identity into the classroom, knowing they all belong there.

"If a child doesn't feel safe, they cannot learn. Before we teach any subject, we have to help them feel seen, respected, and valued,” Cruz said.

For many families in our community, the beginning of the school year also comes with uncertainty. Financial pressures, immigration journeys, life transitions, and everyday worries often travel quietly alongside parents and children.

It is about preparing them for life.

If a child doesn't feel safe, they cannot learn. Before we teach any subject, we have to help them feel seen, respected, and valued.

- Laura Cruz

Children notice far more than we sometimes realize. They feel the stress. They see the concern. They carry emotions they often do not yet know how to express.

That is why classrooms can become something extraordinary. They can become places of stability. Places where children feel they belong. Safe spaces where they are reminded that they are capable, valuable, and worthy of being heard.

Rodríguez Saa, originally from Argentina, teaches third grade at Montclair Elementary School. She walks alongside her students during one of the most important stages of their development, a time when confidence begins to grow, and children start discovering not only how to learn, but also who they are becoming.

As an immigrant herself, she deeply understands the importance of feeling welcomed and connected within a community. That understanding is reflected every day in her classroom.

"The most inspiring part of my work is watching a child begin to believe in themselves,” Rodríguez Saa said. “They may not remember every lesson we teach, but they will always remember how someone made them feel. If we can help them feel valued, heard, and capable, we've planted something that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."

Her words remind us that education is about far more than preparing children to pass exams.

It is about cultivating confidence, curiosity, resilience, and hope.

Because teaching is much more than delivering information. It is about building trust, one day at a time. It is about helping every child discover their potential. It is about opening windows where the world too often seems determined to build walls.

As this new school year begins, we recognize educators like Cruz and Rodríguez Saa, who understand that teaching is one of the most powerful ways to build community.

At a time when so many things seem to divide us, they remind us that the future is still built the same way it has always been built: one child at a time, one relationship at a time, one act of kindness at a time.

Because a classroom can be so much more than a place where academic subjects are taught, it can become the first place where a child truly feels they belong—where they feel seen, accepted, and valued for who they are. And very often, that is where the future of an entire community begins.

Oye, Como va? It is growing in classrooms where dreams, curiosity, and hope still have room to flourish. It comes alive every time a child finds a hand willing to guide them, a smile that says, "I see you," and a heart that believes in them, even before they are able to believe in themselves. Because, in the end, education has never been only about teaching knowledge.

It is about planting confidence, awakening possibility, and reminding our children that they are capable of building a future far greater than they can imagine today. And perhaps it is in that simple act of believing in a child that the greatest change of all truly begins.

Claudia Zamora is an Argentinian author, mental health and wellness coach, and passionate community advocate. Since 2011, she has made Fayetteville her home, uplifting the Hispanic community.

Surviving and Thriving the First Day of School

BY DIANE PARFITT

The most important day of a person’s education is the first day of school, not Graduation Day.

- Harry Wong

The First Days of School

School starts in a few weeks in schools around our community. Some children are excited to get back to school and see their friends. Some are sad to see summer vacation end, dreading going back to school. Parents may have mixed feelings, glad to have the kids back in school but also a bit misty-eyed to see them leave after a summer together. Reading can help the family address any concerns and help prepare for a new school year.

For younger children, parents can read together with them. Older students can pick out some great reading just for themselves. All of it will help reverse the summer slide where they might have lost some of the reading progress they had achieved. Reading is a good way to help them focus on the coming school year and ease back into it. Here are some selections for each age group to do just that.

1. Getting Ready for First Grade: A First Day of School

Book by Vera Ahiyya and illustrated by Debby Rahmalia What better way to get ready for the first day of your child’s school year than to read about another student who is nervous for the same reason? Leilani is both excited about going to first grade and also a bit nervous. With the help of her wonderful family and her new teacher, she learns about the many things she will get to do in first grade. As Leilani gains the confidence that will help her succeed, so will the rising first graders who read about her along with their parents.

2. The Truth About My Unbelievable Summer by Benjamin Chaud and Davide Cali

Do you remember coming back to school after summer vacation and the teacher asking everyone to either get up and tell what they did over the summer or write a paper about it? Here is a story about one student’s fantastical summer vacation that started with a treasure map found in a bottle that takes him all over the globe with a mischievous bird, a giant squid, a submarine, and a desert island. Was it real or all in his imagination? Either way, it’s a wonderful ride for him and for you.

3. Surviving Middle School: Navigating the Halls, Riding the Social Roller Coaster, and Unmasking the Real You by Luke Reynolds

Veteran teacher Luke Reynolds brings some adventures from his teaching days to help rising middle school students learn not only how to survive, but to thrive and enjoy the ride through middle school. With humor and honesty, Reynolds offers ways to navigate the challenging times in those years between elementary and high school. With his real-life experiences and a genuine affection for students of this age, he covers topics such as bullying, peer pressure, study habits, and romantic relationships that can begin during this adolescent period.

4. The High School Survival Guide: Your Roadmap to Studying, Socializing, and Succeeding by Jessica Holsman

This book is a great gift for a student starting high school. It is a handy guide to help teens navigate entering high school with valuable ideas on time management, study habits, and personal growth. It also has tools for dealing with stress and anxiety to help students enjoy the journey ahead. There are some strategies for balancing academics and the fun of teenage life. It is a helpful guide with specific ideas on managing this exciting journey.

5. 99 Things to Do Before You Finish High School

by Steven Jenkins and Erika Stalder

“Being in high school is about a lot more than going to high school,” the authors write in their opening to this revised and updated version of a book first published in 2008. In this book, high school students will find many interesting ideas about things to consider doing before graduation. These are things they don’t teach in high school that can help prepare students for coming adulthood, enhance their high school experience, and provide a positive effect many years afterwards. A good example is “Get a Passport.” After all, college is right around the corner and the opportunity to travel and study abroad may be here before you know it. The book is something teens can share with their parents and friends. Parents should not feel like their child should do all 99 things, but instead let them decide which ones resonate and then encourage them to discuss their ideas with you.

6. School is Wherever I Am by Ellie Peterson

School might not be so scary if you realize that learning can take place anywhere. This is a great book for the whole family to read together and find out the many ways they can learn new things anywhere. We can learn together with our family on nature outings, trips to museums and historical sites—or just curled up reading. The book reinforces and expands on what is taught in the classroom. It can help all members of the family think about learning as a lifelong adventure and not a chore.

Diane Parfitt owns City Center Gallery & Books in downtown Fayetteville. She can be reached at citycentergallerybooks@gmail.com.

AUGUST 2026

THE TO-DO LIST

Here are just some of the things happening in and around Fayetteville this month. Scan the code with your phone for more events, additional information, and to post your event on our website. Events are subject to change. Check before attending.

August 1

Mean Girls Jr: Session 3 Performances

Cape Fear Regional Theatre 1707 Owen Drive cfrt.org

August 4

Cumberland County Coffee with the Commissioners Bethany Rural Fire Dept. 2140 Wade-Stedman Road cumberlandcountync.gov

August 5

Gary Allan Crown Theatre 1960 Coliseum Drive crowncomplexnc.com

August 6

Cumberland County Data Center Community Input Session Stedman Baptist Church 7750 Clinton Road cumberlandcountync.gov

August 5-7

Hugs & Kisses Consignment Sale Crown Expo 1960 Coliseum Drive crowncomplexnc.com

August 7

First Friday on Main Main Street, Spring Lake townofspringlake.com

August 7

Family Fishing Workshop–Lake Rim Park

John E. Pechmann Fishing Center 7489 Raeford Road license.gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com

August 7, 14

Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon

FSU Planetarium 1200 Murchison Road uncfsu.edu

August 8

Dogwood Nights: Back to School Bash

222 Hay St. thedogwoodfestival.com

August 8-9

CFRTeen Summerstock: Lucky Stiff Performances

Cape Fear Regional Theatre 1707 Owen Drive cfrt.org

August 10-14

Weird & Wonderful Plants

Summer Camp (ages 8-10)

Cape Fear Botanical Garden

536 N. Eastern Blvd. capefearbg.org

August 11

Cumberland County Data Center

Community Input Session

J.D. Pone Recreation Center 2964 School Road cumberlandcountync.gov

August 11-16

Fayetteville Woodpeckers vs. Fredericksburg Nationals

Segra Stadium

460 Hay St. milb.com

August 11-27

Making Our Voice Heard: North Carolinians Fighting for Civil Rights

Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex

801 Arsenal Ave. museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov

August 13

Trails & Tours Guided Tours in the Garden

Cape Fear Botanical Garden 536 N. Eastern Blvd. capefearbg.org

August 15

X Marks the Spot 5K

Presented by Fort Bragg Family and MWR

Fort Bragg Fairgrounds

Blackjack Street / Howell Street bragg.armymwr.com

August 17-21

Galactic Gardeners Summer Camp (ages 10-12)

Cape Fear Botanical Garden

536 N. Eastern Blvd. capefearbg.org

August 19

Cumberland County Coffee with the Commissioners Hope Mills Public Safety Center 5788 Rockfish Road cumberlandcountync.gov

August 19

Free Haircuts by FTCC’s Barber Students Continuing Education Building Fayetteville Technical Community College 220 Hull Road faytechcc.edu

August 20

Fun with Fungi

J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center 631 Sherman Drive fayettevillenc.gov

August 20

Sip & Stroll Tasting: Country Squire Winery

Cape Fear Botanical Garden 536 N. Eastern Blvd. capefearbg.org

August 22

Fayetteville Metro Kappa Foundation 3rd Annual Food & Music Festival

Festival Park 335 Ray Ave. distinctlyfayettevillenc.com

August 22-23

Repticon

Crown Expo 1960 Coliseum Drive crowncomplexnc.com

August 24

Park Chats at Lake Rim Park: Beaches in NC

Lake Rim Park 2214 Tar Kiln Drive fayettevillenc.gov

August 25-30

Fayetteville Woodpeckers vs. Salem Ridge Yaks Segra Stadium 460 Hay St. milb.com

August 27

Garden Match Game Night

Cape Fear Botanical Garden 536 N. Eastern Blvd. capefearbg.org

August 28

Cool Spring Downtown District’s 4th Friday

Downtown Fayetteville 222 Hay St. visitdowntownfayetteville.com

August 29

Mocktails in the Garden: All Sip, No Spirit

Cape Fear Botanical Garden 536 N. Eastern Blvd. capefearbg.org

August 29

Fayetteville State University

Broncos vs. Shaw University Bears

Luther Nick Jeralds Football Stadium 1401 Murchison Road fsubroncos.com

August 30

Voices of Freedom Community Choir

Crown Theatre 1960 Coliseum Drive crowncomplexnc.com

SEEN @ THE SCENE

Fayetteville Newsmakers

More than 150 business leaders, elected officials, academics, students, and young professionals gathered July 15 at Fayetteville State University for the inaugural Fayetteville Newsmakers. The civic dialoguet—presented by CityView and the News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville—centered on a single question: Where is Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s next economy going to come from? The event was made possible by support from the event’s anchor partners—Cape Fear Valley Health, Fayetteville Public Works Commission, Fayetteville State University, and Greater Fayetteville Chamber.

Photography by Matthew Wonderly

Want CityView at your event for Seen @ the Scene? Email us talk@cityviewnc.com.