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Children's Advocates: 

Giving Children a Voice 

Changing Your Stars: 

From Homeless to 

Harvard 

Hope for Jarred: 

Finding Purpose in 

Tragedy 

N.C.Waterfalls: 

Visit Transylvania 

County

With Take 

your 

a helping stand 

against 

hands, 

children 

can abuse 

have 

a 

today. 

brighter 

future. 

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month 

 

Please join hands with 

 

us and learn how to protect 

 

children from abuse. 

 

www.childadvocacycenter.com 

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2 APRIL 2015 

www.womensviewnc.com

April Fool’s Day 

Good Friday 

April 1: City Market at 

the Museum - Fayetteville 

Transportation and 

Local History Museum. 

Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 

Saturdays at 8 a.m. The City 

Market will be held at the 

Transportation Museum, 

downtown Fayetteville. The 

market will feature local 

artisans, produce, music and 

history. The market will open 

Fourth Friday 6 p.m. - 10 

p.m.   The museum grounds 

are filled with eggs, honey, 

meats, as well as vibrant seasonal 

fruits and vegetables. 

Artisans add to the variety 

of items with soaps, pottery, 

original art, jewelry, and 

more. For more information, 

visit www.facebook.com/ 

CityMarketAtTheMuseum 

or call  (910) 433-1457  or via 

email citymarketassociation@ 

gmail.com. 

Thursday, April 2: 

First Thursdays At The 

Cameo at 225 Hay Street , 8 

p.m. Hank Smith and Shawn 

Chase from Raleigh, NC will 

be performing acoustic and 

bluegrass specialities. Hank 

Smith’s progressive bluegrass 

and Shawn Chase’s mandolin 

and country soul vocals blend 

with improvisation akin to 

jazz to drive the rhythm. 

April 3: 

Sunday, April 5 – Backstage 

at the Gilbert Theater. 

Saturday at 8 p.m. and 

Sunday at 2 p.m. If you are 

into comedy, then Backstage 

is a performance you do 

not want to miss. The play 

is written and directed by 

Stephen Miles. For more 

information, visit www.gilberttheater.com 

or call  (910) 

678-7186. 

April 3: 

Oldies, Rock & Blues Music 

at the Hope Mills Recreation 

Center at 6 p.m. open mic 

oldies, rock and blues music 

every first and third Friday of 

the month. Enjoy live Rock, 

Country and Blues music from 

local artists. Registration to 

perform is the day of the event. 

Sign-up is open to everyone 

on a first come first to perform 

basis. For more information, 

call 910-426-4109. 

April 4: Easter 

Eggstravganza at the Hope 

Mills Recreation Center 

includes Breakfast with the 

Easter Bunny from 8:30 

to 11 a.m., $6. RSVP and 

payment deadline. Menu 

includes: pancakes, eggs, sausage, 

bacon and juice. Easter 

Egg Hunt at Hope Mills 

Municipal Park, free and 

open to the public, inclement 

at the Hope Mills Recreation 

Center. Age Groups and 

Times: Ages 1-3, 11 a.m., 

Field 1; Ages 4-6, 11:15 a.m., 

Field 2; and Ages 7-10, 11:30 

a.m., Field 3. Easter Craft at 

the Hope Mills Municipal 

Park Tennis Courts at noon, 

$6 per person. RSVP and 

payment deadline March 23. 

April 8: 

Celtic Woman on stage at the 

Crown Complex at 7 p.m. 

The 10th Anniversary Tour 

features four sublimely gifted 

Irish women – three angelic 

vocalists and a dazzling Celtic 

violinist – will a full band, 

plus the Anotas Choir, bagpipers 

and Irish dancers. This 

enchanting musical experience 

features Celtic Woman 

performing a treasure chest 

of traditional Irish standards, 

classical favorites and contemporary 

pop songs, in the 

group’s distinctive signature 

style. For more information, 

visit www.crowncomplexnc. 

com or call 438-4100. 

April 9: Augusta Alsina 

with special guest, Kirko 

Bangz at the Crown 

Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. Born 

and bred from the streets of 

New Orleans, Alsina is eager 

to follow in the footsteps of 

the NOLA music legends 

that paved his way. In 2013, 

MTV named him one of 

their Fab 5 Hip Hop artists 

to watch, leading to his 

recent signing with Def Jam 

Recordings. Alsina is currently 

touring with Usher and 

Chris Brown. For more information, 

visit www.crowncomplexnc.com 

or call 438-4100. 

April 9: Raisin’ Cane: A 

Harlem Renaissance Odyssey 

at Seabrook Auditorium on 

the campus of Fayetteville 

State University at 7 p.m. 

Starring Jasmine Guy & the 

Avery Sharpe Trio. In a musical 

tribute to the days when 

Harlem was in vogue, Jasmine 

Guy and the Sharpe Trio 

celebrate and honor the legendary 

voices of the Harlem 

Renaissance. For more information, 

visit www.uncfsu.edu/ 

arts/fine-arts-series-calendar 

or 910-672-1571 

April 11: Fayetteville 

Roller Derby at the Crown 

Arena. Games at 5 and 7 p.m. 

Watch The Rogue Rollergirls 

take on the Marietta Derby 

Darlins. For more information, 

visit www.roguerollergirls.com. 

An Evening With Casting 

Crowns at the Crown 

Complex at 6 p.m. For more 

information, visit www. 

crowncomplexnc.com or call 

438-4100. 

Berlioz Symphonie 

Fantastique in Huff Concert 

Hall on the campus of 

Methodist University at 7:30 

p.m. For more information, 

visit www.fayettevillesymphony.org 

or call 433-4690. 

Through April 20: 

N.C. Faculty/Student 

“Mentor” Exhibit at Cape 

Fear Studios, Monday 

through Friday 11 a.m. and 

Saturday at 10 a.m. For 

more information, visit www. 

capefearstudios.com or call 

433-2986. 

April 9: 

Sunday April 12: The Trip 

to Bountiful on stage at the 

Cape Fear Regional Theatre. 

Shows are at 7:30 p.m. 

Wednesday through Saturday 

and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. For 


cfrt.org or call 323-4234. 

April 10-12: Backstage at 

the Gilbert Theater. Shows 

are at 8 p.m. Friday and 

Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee 

on Saturday and Sunday. 

For more information, visit 

www.gilberttheater.com or 

call 678-7186. 

April 12: 

Cape Fear New Music 

Festival at Hensdale Chapel 

on the campus of Methodist 

University at 7:30 p.m. This 

event features performances 

of new works by regional and 

nationally known composers, 

and a round of paper 

presentations. The festival’s 

guest composers are Brent 

Miller from San Fransisco’s 

Center for New Music, and 

Jan Radzynski from Ohio 

Easter Sunday 

State University. The theme 

for this year’s festival is “Sight 

and Sound,” with many of the 

festival performances focusing 

on the interaction between 

the visual arts and music; in 

addition to our guest composers, 

acclaimed photographer 

Burk Uzzle will be on 

hand. For more information, 

email smarosek@methodist. 

edu or call 630-7100 

April 14: Evening of Voice, 

Strings & Wood Winds at 

Seabrook Auditorium on 

the campus of Fayetteville 

State University at 7 p.m. For 


uncfsu.ed/arts/fine-arts-series 

or call 672-1571. 

April 15: 

Refresh Leadership Seminar 

at the Holiday Inn I-95. 

The seminar is sponsored 

by a number of local businesses, 

including Express 

Employment Professionals 

and Up & Coming Weekly. 

The event begins at 9 a.m. 

and includes a Live Simulcast 

featuring Daymond John, 

CEO of FUBU, Shark 

Branding and ABC’s Shark 

Tank; comedian Dan 

Aykroyd and Liz Murray. 

Following the free simulcast, 

attendees are invited to 

participate in the Keynote 

Luncheon, which features 

former Fayetteville resident, 

now turned motivational 

speaker Denise Ryan. A Shop 

Small Business Expo will also 

be ongoing. For more information 

and to register, visit 

visit http://business.fayettevillencchamber.org/events/ 

details/refresh-leadershiplive-keynote-luncheon-5551. 

April 16: Smokey Robinson 

on stage at the Crown 

Theatre at 7:30 p.m. For 


community-concerts.com or 

call 323-1991. 

April 16-19: Hair on stage 

at Butler Theater on the campus 

of FSU at 7:30 p.m. and 

on Sunday at 3 p.m. For more 

information, visit www.uncfsu.edu/arts/fine-arts-series 

or 

call 672-1571. 

April 18: Spring Lake 

Spring Fling at Mendoza 

Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

featuring vendors, art, food, 

carnival rides, live entertainment 

and baseball. For more 


spring-lake.org. 

April 18: 

East Coast Step Show at 

the Crown Theatre at 6 p.m. 

bringing step teams from 

across the country to benefit 

the Education Endowment 

Fund at FSU. For more information, 

call 438-4100. 

April 19: Duke Ellington 

Sacred Concert at Fort 

Bragg from 1-4 p.m. Concert 

Features the FSU Jazz 

Express and FSU Concert 

Choir. For more information, 

visit www.uncfsu.edu/arts/ 

fine-arts-series or call 672- 

1571. 

April 23: Fayetteville 

Symphonic Band and 

Methodist University’s Jazz 

Ensemble Concert at Huff 

Concert Hall on the campus 

of Methodist University at 

7:30 p.m. For more information, 

visit www.methodist. 

edu/music. 

April 24: 

Monday, may 18: Cape Fear 

Studios Annual Anniversary 

Artists Members’ Exhibit 

celebrating the 25th anniversary 

of the studios. Monday- 

Friday at 11 a.m., Saturday 

at 10 a.m. For more information, 

call 433-2986 or visit 

www.capefearstudios.com. 

April-24 - April 26: 

Dogwood Festival in Festival 

Park, featuring concerts, street 

fair, the midway, car shows 

and KidStuff. For a complete 

schedule, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com 

or call 

323-1934. 

April 24: Berstein- 

Chichester Psalms at Beth 

Israel Congreation, featuring 

the Cumberland Oratorio 

Singers at 7:3 p.m. For more 


SingWithCOS.org or call 

630-7153. 

April 30 – May 10: 

Fort Bragg Fair at the Fort 

Bragg Fair Grounds. Monday 

through Friday gates open 

at 5 p.m.; Saturday through 

Sunday, gates open at 1 p.m. 

for more information, visit 

www.fortbraggmwr.com/fair 

or call 396-9126. 

www.womensviewnc.com APRIL 2015 3

editors’notes 

“April showers 

bring May flowers, 

that is what 

they say. But if 

all the showers 

turned to flowers, 

we’d have quite a 

colorful day!” 

This is the 

opening to one of 

my favorite April 

poems and it’s so 

true! I am sure 

Karla Allen everyone remembers 

as a child making 

colorful art in school filled with images of 

flowers and raindrops and umbrellas and happy 

thoughts of spring. Unfortunately, April also 

reminds us that not all children are in happy 

places. April is National Child Abuse Prevention 

Month. It was first declared Child Abuse 

Prevention Month by Presidential Proclamation 

in 1983. Since then, April has become a time to 

acknowledge and remember the importance of 

families and communities working together to 

prevent child abuse. In this issue of Fayetteville’s 

Women’s View, with the help of our local Child 

Advocacy Center, we explore and identify the 

factors known to prevent and reduce child abuse 

and neglect. I hope through our feature story, 

you feel as though we have provided you with 

resources and information and that you are able 

to participate in protecting children and stopping 

abuse along with family, friends and our 

community. 

Now that spring is in full swing, I’m not 

ashamed to admit that I have already removed 

the top on my jeep (a few times) and broken 

out my shorts and sleeveless blouses. Clocks 

moved forward and believe it or not, I’m actually 

ahead of the game this year on several 

projects!!! Having the longer daylight hours is 

such a blessing when there are so many things 

I need to accomplish outdoors and I will admit 

I am one of those people who tends to go into 

hibernation during the colder winter months. 

When I arrive home from work and it’s dark 

already, I just want to put on my pajamas and 

be a lounge lizard! When I have more sunlight 

in my day, it changes my entire perspective. I 

know this may seem strange but you know the 

saying “busy people get things done” well this 

busy person needs more daylight!!! Now, I can 

get more done!!! 

I am truly excited to start seeing all the trees 

budding; the white and pink of the Bradford 

pears – stinky or not - and the tulips and daffodils 

poking their little heads up out of the 

ground. This is an encouraging and sure sign 

that spring has finally arrived! 

So for now, I’m breaking out my flip-flops 

and enjoying the transition into spring. 

Until next month! 

Spring has officially arrived, all the 

signs are here! Fayetteville is starting 

to bloom all over. Everyone is hitting 

the streets walking, running or biking; 

enjoying the warm sunny days we’ve 

had lately. I have attempted to do 

some spring cleaning in my yard and 

then decided that I really do appreciate 

how hard my lawncare guy works! 

He definitely has job security working 

in my yard. On a beautiful spring 

day I would prefer to be sitting on 

a patio downtown sipping on a nice 

glass of wine, enjoying an appetizer 

Crystal MacClellan 

and good conversation. 

April is going to be an extremely busy month with spring break 

fast approaching and the Easter holiday. Of course, I have nothing 

planned at this point. I don’t know what happened. I used 

to be the most scheduled person on the planet. I guess with age 

you learn to not sweat the small stuff. Speaking of age, I look 

forward to celebrating my birthday with family and friends this 

month. How many times can you celebrate your 29th birthday? I 

think I can pull it off a few more years? 

I’m also looking forward to the Dogwood Festival April 24-26. 

There are a lot of activities surrounding this event. It kicks off 

Friday with a Garden Party fundraiser for The Girls and Boys 

Club of Fayetteville. Don’t forget your ”southern belle hats” 

ladies. You also don’t want to miss out on buying a duck for the 

Duck Derby on April 26 brought to you by Fayetteville Urban 

Ministry. There are so many great non-profit organizations to 

support in Fayetteville. I hope to see you all out and about this 

month, be sure to say hello! 

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Botox and Xeomin - Injections for 

smoothing the lines of the upper face 

including brow frown lines, crow’s feet 

and forehead lines 

Radiesse and Belotero - Filler 

Injections for smoothing the lines of the 

lower face including the nasolabial folds, 

lines around the mouth; filler can also be 

used for smoothing the jawline and 

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Neocutis - A comprehensive collection 

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the signs of aging; contains Processed 

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4 APRIL 2015 


April Contents 

Calendar ..........................................................................................................................................................................3 

Editors’ Notes...................................................................................................................................................................4 

Conversations With Margaret 

A Delicate Balance...............................................................................................................................6 

On The Cover 

April. Child Abuse Prevention Month...................................................................................................7 

Guardian Ad Litem (GAL).....................................................................................................................8 

For A GAL Volunteer, ‘A Little Goes a Long Way’..............................................................................9 

Recognizing and Reporting Suspected Child Abuse....................................................................10 

If You Believe, You can Change Your Stars....................................................................................12 

Jarred’s Story......................................................................................................................................13 

Fitness Spotlight 

Spring Clean Your Health..................................................................................................................16 

i_Lipo. A New Take On Body Contouring........................................................................................17 

Don’t Eat Less, Eat Right....................................................................................................................18 

Money Matters 

The Ugly Stepsister You Are Stuck With!...........................................................................................19 

Globe Trotting 

Let the Water That Has Moved Mountains Shape You..................................................................20 

Dishing it Up 

Stawberry Shortcake, Roasted Bell Pepper & Tomato Veggie Sandwich & 

Strawberry & Basil Margaritas...........................................................................................................21 

Turn the Page 

Hidden In Lies. Lies and Truth Book One..........................................................................................22 

PUBLISHER 

F & B Publications 

bill@womensviewnc.com 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Janice Burton 

editor@womensviewnc.com 

ASSOCIATE EDITOR 

Stephanie Crider 

editor@womensviewnc.com 

SENIOR EDITOR 

Karla Allen 

Karla@womensviewnc.com 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Crystal MacClellan 

crystal@womensviewnc.com 

OFFICE MANAGER 

Kristy Sykes 

info@womensviewnc.com 

ART DIRECTOR 

Sara Smith 

art@womensviewnc.com 

OPERATIONS 

Paulette Naylor 

accounting@womensviewnc.com 

DISTRIBUTION 

Laurel Handforth 

laurel@womensviewnc.com 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Margaret Dickson, Jill Merrill, 

MeMe Novella, Jean Bowden, 

Belinda J. Wilkerson, Steve 

Rogers, Mary Garrigan, Molly 

Hayden, Dr. Shanessa Fenner, 

Deb Doughty, Kia Walker, 

Shawna Green, Teresa 

Warner, Mackenzie Toland, 

Ashley Barrett 

FAYETTEVILLE’S 

WOMEN’S VIEW MAGAZINE 

727 MCGILVARY STREET 

FAYETTEVILLE NC 28301 

PHONE: 910-483-3329 

Fax: 910-222-6199 

Fayetteville Women’s View 

Magazine is for Women, About 

Women, By Women. 

Published by F&B Publications 

in conjunction with 

Media Marketing Management 

910-391-3859 

All Rights Reserved. 

Reproduction or use of editorial 

or advertisement without 

permission is strictly prohibited. 

Horoscopes.....................................................................................................................................22 

Classifieds........................................................................................................................................23 


conversations withMargaret 

By Margaret Dickson 

As a parent, I know of no more exquisite 

torture than watching your child in distress 

and being unable to fix the situation. 

When children are young, parents often 

address whatever the trouble is with relative 

ease. A skinned knee, a broken toy, a spat with 

another child can all be dealt with, resolved, 

and forgotten. As children get older, though, 

the issues become more complex and more 

difficult to understand and to handle. 

School days bring conflicts with those 

in authority, troubles in relationships with 

peers, academic challenges and all the issues 

that come with human maturation. Young 

adulthood continues the complexity with 

broken romances, unfulfilled educational 

and career aspirations and the anticipation 

and apprehension that accompanies taking 

up adult responsibilities. 

Parents naturally want to ease the way for 

their children, no matter what their ages, 

but there is a fine balance between helping 

a child to grow into a productive and 

compassionate person and stunting their 

maturation, risking rendering them childlike 

creatures in adult bodies. 

We all know parents who love their children 

so fiercely, they cannot allow them to suffer in 

any way. These are the parents who do school 

projects while their children play. These are the 

parents who always take their children’s side 

on any issue, without ever acknowledging that 

their child might be in the wrong. These are 

the parents who ask their friends to give their 

children jobs to avoid rejection and failure in 

the open job market. 

Writing in The Atlantic, Jessica Lahey, a 

teacher, tells us why such blind love is not 

a good thing. Her article is entitled, “Why 

Parents Need to Let Their Children Fail.” 

Lahey recounts the story of a mother 

who wrote her daughter’s paper for Lahey’s 

class. The whole episode was unfortunate 

in many respects, of course, but it was 

particularly unfortunate since the mother 

plagiarized entire paragraphs from various 

websites. I shudder to think what the girl 

learned from that behavior! The mother 

confessed, the daughter finally wrote the 

paper herself and Lahey began pondering 

the concept of “over-parenting.” 

She found a study from Queensland 

University of Technology that looks at 

over-parenting, citing such examples as 

children kept so close to home they are 

not allowed to go to camp or to take 

driver’s education; parents who cut up their 

10-year-old’s food, or cook separate meals 

for picky 16-year-olds. Chances are good, 

Lahey says, that such children will eventually 

be just fine once they are out on their 

own in the real world. 

6 APRIL 2015 

Much more problematic are children who 

have never been allowed to take responsibility 

for their own actions; positive or negative. 

When a parent rushes in to save a child from 

a scary or difficult situation, the child does 

not have the opportunity to learn to solve his 

own problems. What is more, the child can 

develop a sense of entitlement that the world 

should always work the way he wants it to. 

Such children often have difficulty working 

with others, cooperating and collaborating in 

group settings. In short, they may not really 

grow up at all, because they have never been 

allowed to fail or to take the consequences of 

their own actions, so they have not learned 

how to cope with real-world situations. 

Lahey correctly asserts that teachers do 

not teach only academics, but much broader 

concepts, which are really the building 

blocks of a mature and successful human 

being. Says Lahey, “We teach responsibility, 

organization, manners, restraint and 

foresight. These skills may not get assessed 

on standardized testing, but as children plot 

their journey into adulthood, they are, by 

far, the most important life skills I teach.” 

Yes, indeed. 

These are also the skills that good parents 

teach children by correcting them when 

they are wrong, holding them accountable 

for their actions and the actions they do 

not take and by modeling these behaviors 

themselves. Good parents seek not only 

to protect their children from pain, harm 

and failure, but to give them the skills and 

experience to cope with the pain, harm and 

failure that inevitably comes to each and 

every one of us. 

In writing this, I have been reminded 

of a friend who, many years ago, when her 

children were young, did a bang-up fine job 

on her child’s North Carolina history project. 

During the process her child popped in 

periodically to find out how “her project” 

was going as her mother labored over a 

scale model of a famous North Carolina 

building, complete with tiny silk azaleas 

under the windows. My friend was so proud 

of the “A” her child received, she called all of 

her friends with the happy news. 

As far as I know, that child has grown 

into a fine young woman, but the delicate 

line between responsible parenting and 

over-parenting was definitely crossed on 

that project. 

The lesson here is apparently not how 

much love is too much but how to love both 

completely and responsibly. 


Child Abuse Prevention Month 

April is Child Abuse Prevention 

Month, but truthfully, every month 

should be Child Abuse Prevention 

Month. Recently our community has 

been appropriately outraged by the 

maltreatment of three dogs — one 

injured and subsequently drowned, 

another starved to death and a puppy 

brutally beaten to death — all three 

at the hands of their owners. 

The irony in all of this is that in 

1874, the first child to be removed 

from abusive and neglectful guardians 

was 9-year-old Mary Ellen 

Wilson. Intervention on her behalf 

occurred after the founder of the 

American Society for Prevention of 

Cruelty to Animals asked his lawyer 

to find a legal mechanism to rescue 

the child as there were no laws at 

that time protecting children, only 

animals. It was not until 1962 that 

the first meaningful legislation was 

passed that mandated the reporting 

and protection of abused and 

neglected children. 

In l974, Congress assumed a leadership 

role with the passage of the Child 

Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act 

authorizing federal funds to improve 

state response to physical abuse, neglect 

and sexual abuse. CAPTA focused 

particular attention on improved investigation 

and reporting of child abuse. 

Additionally, CAPTA provided funds 

for training and for the establishment 

of multidisciplinary centers focused on 

child abuse and neglect. 

Our challenge today is to make 

sure our community is as outraged 

by acts of violence against defenseless 

children as it has been about the maltreatment 

of defenseless animals. If 

we truly believe that our children are 

our future and that they are our most 

precious asset, then we as a community 

must do all we can to advocate 

for them and to protect them. 

North Carolina Law mandates that 

anyone who suspects a child is being 

abused or neglected by their parent, 

guardian or custodian must contact 

the local Department of Social 

Services and make a report. They 

may also contact law enforcement, 

and should contact law enforcement 

directly when they are aware of a 

child being abused or exploited by a 

non-custodian. This law applies to all 

children, including those residing on 

a military base. 

We are fortunate in Cumberland 

County to have established a multidisciplinary 

team approach to the 

investigation of serious physical and 

sexual abuse. This team is made up 

of Child Protective Services workers, 

law enforcement, the district attorney, 

district court representative, mental 

health, medical provider, military 

representatives, the Cumberland 

County School System and Child 

Advocacy Center staff, including a 

child forensic interviewer. The Child 

Advocacy Center takes the lead in 

coordinating the team approach that 

ensures collaboration and the sharing 

of information among team members. 

Decisions are shared by all members 

of the team and may include recommendations 

for removal, prosecution 

of perpetrators and treatment options 

for the child victims and their family. 

So as we remember our children 

during this time, let us also remember 

and support the very difficult job our 

multidisciplinary team members are 

called upon to perform. Let us also 

remember that decisions they make 

are based on information and evidence 

that is gathered during a given 

point in time. It is critical that reporters 

of suspected child abuse provide 

specific information as to why they 

believe a child is being abused so that 

team members mandated to investigate 

can gather the necessary information 

that will allow them to protect 

the child and to provide necessary 

treatment for the child and family. 

For information on initiatives that 

target child abuse prevention, contact 

the Child Advocacy Center at (910) 

486-9700. Training options include 

Stewards of Children Child Sexual 

Abuse Prevention, Recognizing and 

Reporting Abuse and Internet Safety 

and other prevention programs. 

By Rosemary Zimmerman, 

Child Advocacy Center Board of Advocates Chairperson 


Could you be the voice for a child? 

By Janice Burton 

The idea of going to court is scary for an adult; it is even more so for a child 

who enters the judicial system through no fault of his own. Many of those children 

find themselves in untenable situations and thrust into an overburdened 

child welfare system. Alone, confused and scared, they have no voice. 

But thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers, abused and neglected children 

find their voice through the work of a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem. 

The Guardian Ad Litem program is designed to provide legal representation 

for children who find themselves in this situation. In North Carolina, more 

than 1,700 abused and neglected children go to court alone – with absolutely 

no one to stand for them. Children who are fortunate enough to have a Guardian 

appointed have an advocate who speaks for them, conferring with the 

presiding judge to find a solution that is in their best interest. In Cumberland 

County, The Guardian Ad Litem program falls under the auspices of the Court 

Appointed Special Advocates office. The program was established In North 

Carolina in 1983 by the N.C. General Assembly, and pursuant to G.S. 7B-601, 

when a petition alleging abuse or neglect of a juvenile is filed in district court, 

the judge appoints a volunteer Guardian ad Litem advocate and an attorney advocate 

to provide team representation to the child, who is recognized as someone 

having full party status in trial and appellate proceedings. Each volunteer 

Guardian Ad Litem is charged with performing five key tasks: 

• Fulfill state and federal statutory mandates to protect and promote the 

best interests of juveniles in abuse and neglect court proceedings 

• Help the courts work efficiently toward safety and permanence for children 

• Conduct independent investigations to determine the facts, needs of the 

child and the resources appropriate to meet those needs 

• Determine the wishes or expressed preferences of the child and report 

those to the court 

• Provide a voice for abused and neglected children 

In Cumberland County, there are two attorney advocates, four program 

supervisors, a program assistant, a district administrator and approximately 

100 volunteers. 

Dwight Torrey is the district administrator in Cumberland County. According 

to Torrey, GALs represent annually more than 640 children each year. The children, 

who are taken from their homes, are initially placed with a relative or friend 

if the court authorizes it or put directly into foster care. Once placement of a child 

is taken care of, the clock starts rolling to either get the child back home with their 

parents if at all possible or to find a permanent placement for them. 

This is where the Guardian ad Litem steps in. Torrey explains that the 

Guardian’s sole role is to be the voice and advocate for their child. To do that, 

they must understand what the child wants; his concerns, fears and needs. This 

isn’t an easy process. 

“We go into that first meeting and the child is scared. They don’t know what 

8 APRIL 2015 

is going to happen to them. They have been traumatized,” he explained. “We 

tell them who we are and why we are there. We explain that our job is to let the 

judge know their wishes and concerns. It’s a process. Initially, they are seeing a 

lot of people, and in that first meeting, we are just another face.” 

He said the child might be closed down or distant, but as they continue to 

see the Guardian as a consistent presence, as someone who truly cares about 

listening to them, hearing them, helping them, they being to open up. Torrey 

said for most children, this usually happens on the fourth visit. 

Once the volunteer advocate has earned the trust of a child, the main goal 

of the advocate is to determine 

what the child wants and how 

they can best help them. As is the 

case with most child abuse/neglect 

cases, the goal is for the family to 

become whole again. This process 

can up to a year or two years, 

and is largely dependent on the 

progress of the parents and their 

willingness to meet the rulings set 

by the court, such as family therapy, 

child-rearing classes, anger 

management, etc. If the parents 

are successful, the child returns 

home. In Torrey’s experience, that 

happens about 80 to 85 percent 

of the time; however, many of the 

children return back into the system. 

When that happens the court 

may consider permanently removing 

a child from their parents and 

finding them a new home 

With the sheer number of 

children that are entering and 

exiting the system, it is imperative 

that there are number of trained, 

compassionate GALs to step in 

and become the voice of these 

disenfranchised children. 

The GAL program, other than the paid support staff is entirely volunteerdriven. 

Finding volunteers who are willing to step into such an emotionally 

charged situation is not always easily. 

“We are definitely looking for people who can work independently, who are 


For A GAL Volunteer, 

‘A Little Goes a Long Way’ 

high energy, persistent and consistent,” said Torrey. “A volunteer 

guardian may have to make numerous phone calls before they ever 

get it answered or returned. They have to break through and build a 

relationship with a child who really doesn’t trust adults.” 

Being a Guardian ad Litem is not for the faint of heart. But it is 

for those whose hearts are full for children in need. Volunteers to 

the program are mature, stable community residents. There is no 

educational requirement; however, all volunteers must go through a 

training program operated by the state and pass an intensive background 

check and in-depth interviews with the staff. Not everyone 

is suited for this position. 

The training, which occurs the first and third week of the 

month, begins at 8: 30 a.m. in the Cumberland County Courthouse. 

Training consists of a 30-hour class, which covers everything 

from how the system works to how the guardian plugs into 

its community partners. 

“This is where they learn that our job is to be the eyes and ears of 

the court in order to protect a child’s well being,” said Torrey. 

Following the 30-hour training class, volunteers have four hours 

of court observation to see the process in action. Following successful 

completion of the court, the volunteer is sworn in as an officer of the 

court and begins receiving assignments. 

“At that point, everything is done on their time line,” said Torrey. 

“All GALs with an active case must visit the child in their charge at 

a minimum one time a month; however, more visits are better.” 

He explained that the guardian visits the child Monday through 

Saturday in the various places they go, i.e., at school, childcare, 

church, foster placement, etc. This allows the guardian to see how 

the child is progressing and to remain current on what the child 

needs. On average each guardian has two cases at a time; one case 

is active and one case is in monitoring status, following the children 

through permanent placement or unification. 

Torrey said that while the job is not for everyone, there are other 

roles and other ways that people can help. Key to the success is 

getting the word out about the program. Throughout the year, the 

office will participate in different types of events, which are mainly 

aimed at attracting volunteers. 

“We need people who can help us with these recruitment 

events, who can set up at various functions and expos and talk 

about the program and let people know the importance of 

it,” said Torrey. “While we are advocating for the children of 

Cumberland County, 

Lorendy Lugo is a self-professed Army 

Brat and only child, who moved frequently, 

but always found a way to make new friends 

and adapt to her new surroundings. 

As a college student at the University of 

North Carolina Pembroke, she found that volunteering 

was a great way to connect to others. 

“Making sure that I always gave back to 

my community and those who are less fortunate 

was something that my mother instilled 

in me at an early age,” she explained. 

“Growing up, my mother and I would often 

feed the homeless at different shelters in 

our community. I have always been the one 

to lend a helping hand to anyone in need 

and wanted to continue that throughout my 

college career.” 

To that end, Lugo made a visit to the Office 

of Community and Civic Engagement 

at UNC-P during her sophomore year and 

signed up to volunteer for community events. 

“My very first event was a Dr. Seuss 

Reading Party. I asked the Associate Director 

of the CCE, Christie Poteet, what it was 

that I would be doing during the reading 

party and she explained that I would be 

reading to kindergarten through first grade 

students, as well as playing a few activities 

that would encourage them to want to read 

more,” recalled Lugo, who is currently the 

volunteer spotlight for the Cumberland 

County Guardian ad Litem. “I thought to 

myself, ‘That should be a piece of cake!’ 

“The day came, and I was just an hour 

away from being in charge of at least 10 

little bodies. I have always had a love for 

children, so I didn’t think that it would be 

too hard; 11 a.m. hit and about 15 little 

bodies were facing me, waiting for me to 

read Dr. Seuss’, “The Cat in the Hat!,” she 

continued. “I had never been so nervous or 

had to interact with this many children at 

once. So I did what I thought anyone else 

would do; I got into character and tried to 

become Dr. Seuss. By the end of the story, 

the children wanted me to read another 

book; unfortunately, we had to move on to 

the next station. Apparently, I did a great 

job since they wanted me to continue with 

another book, right? My main concern was 

making sure that they were not only having 

fun, but learning as well. By the end of the 

event, they were coming up to me hugging 

me and telling me how much fun they had.” 

That experience had a major impact on 

Lugo’s life, not only did it show her the 

value in volunteering, but it also helped 

her realize how much she genuinely 

enjoyed interacting and helping children. 

That realization lead Poteet to introduce 

her to Michelle Ivy, the program supervisor 

for the Robeson County Guardian ad 

Litem program. 

“After conversing with Mrs. Ivy, I decided 

to obtain the proper training and I even 

brought my roommate along with me so she 

could join in. I was sworn in as a Guardian 

ad Litem Advocate in March of 2013,” said 

Lugo. She worked with the program for a 

while, but was forced to reorder her activities 

to make school her number one priority. 

Upon graduation from UNC-P with a 

bachelor’s in criminal justice, Lugo returned 

to the program. 

“I picked back up with the Guardian 

ad Litem Program here in Cumberland 

County following graduation,” she said. “I 

thoroughly enjoy volunteering with GAL. 

Knowing that I get to advocate for children 

who have been abused or neglected, children 

who without me, would remain voiceless. 

Helping them makes me happy. When 

coming into the GAL office, I always try 

to keep in mind what Christie Poteet has 

always told me, ‘A little goes a long way.’” 


Recognizing and Reporting Suspected Child Abuse 


For many, the picture of child abuse is a child with blackened eyes or broken 

bones. While that may be a very visual indication that a child is suffering abuse, 

there are other, less visible types of abuse that leave deeper scars and have a longlasting 

impact on a child’s life. 

While physical abuse is easily recognized due to the scars it leaves, not all child 

abuse is as obvious. Ignoring a child’s needs, putting a child in unsupervised, dangerous 

situations, or making a child feel worthless or stupid are also child abuse. 

Whichever the case, the earlier abuse is detected, reported and resolved, the 

greater chance the child has to heal. By understanding common signs of abuse 

and knowing what actions you can take if you suspect abuse, you have the ability 

to greatly impact the life of a child. 

In North Carolina, child abuse is a reality that must be dealt with In FY 2013- 

2014, 128,005 children were referred to local Departments of Social Services for 

possible abuse and neglect. During this same time period, 7,103 reports of child 

abuse and neglect were reported in Cumberland County, with male children 

under 5 at highest risk, according to statistics gathered by Prevent Child Abuse 

North Carolina. 

Current resource on child abuse, shows that communities feel powerless to deal 

with abuse when media coverage on abuse and fatalities are widespread. Instead, the 

best way to start a conversation about child abuse is to ensure that people feel that 

they can have an impact on stopping the abuse and or preventing it. Understanding 

child abuse, its impact and how to respond to it, empowers a community to become 

part of the solution by giving them a healthy way to deal with the problem. 

Common Myths About Child Abuse and Neglect 

MYTH #1: It’s only abuse if it’s violent. 

Fact: Physical abuse is just one type of child abuse. Neglect and emotional abuse 

can be just as damaging, and since they are more subtle, others are less likely to 

intervene. 

MYTH #2: Only bad people abuse their children. 

Fact: While it’s easy to say that only “bad people” abuse their children, it’s not always 

so black and white. Not all abusers are intentionally harming their children. Many 

have been victims of abuse themselves, and don’t know any other way to parent. Others 

may be struggling with mental health issues or a substance abuse problem. 

MYTH #3: Child abuse doesn’t happen in “good” families. 

Fact: Child abuse doesn’t only happen in poor families or bad neighborhoods. It 

crosses all racial, economic, and cultural lines. Sometimes, families who seem to 

have it all from the outside are hiding a different story behind closed doors. 

MYTH #4: Most child abusers are strangers. 

Fact: While abuse by strangers does happen, most abusers are family members or 

others close to the family. 

MYTH #5: Abused children always grow up to be abusers. 

Fact: It is true that abused children are more likely to repeat the cycle as adults, unconsciously 

repeating what they experienced as children. On the other hand, many 

adult survivors of child abuse have a strong motivation to protect their children 

against what they went through and become excellent parents. 

Effects of Child Abuse 

Children who have been abused suffer more than broken bones and bumps. 

Abuse can have long-lasting impacts on a child’s life, leaving the child emotionally 

scared and damaging their sense of self worth. Abused children are often 

unable to create or maintain healthy relationships as teens and even over into 

adulthood. These children may have trouble succeeding in school, creating and 

maintaining friendships and later, in adulthood holding down a job and have a 

successful relationship. 

Some effects include: 

• Lack of trust and relationship difficulties. If you can’t trust your parents, 

whom can you trust? Abuse by a primary caregiver damages the most fundamental 

relationship as a child— that you will safely, reliably get your physical and 

emotional needs met by the person who is responsible for your care. Without this 

base, it is very difficult to learn to trust people or know who is trustworthy. This 

can lead to difficulty maintaining relationships due to fear of being controlled or 

abused. It can also lead to unhealthy relationships because the adult doesn’t know 

10 APRIL 2015 

what a good relationship is. 

• Core feelings of being “worthless” or “damaged.” If you’ve been told over and 

over again as a child that you are stupid or no good, it is very difficult to overcome 

these core feelings. You may experience them as reality. Adults may not strive for more 

education, or settle for a job that may not pay enough, because they don’t believe they 

can do it or are worth more. Sexual abuse survivors, with the stigma and shame surrounding 

the abuse, often especially struggle with a feeling of being damaged. 

• Trouble regulating emotions. Abused children cannot express emotions 

safely. As a result, the emotions get stuffed down, coming out in unexpected ways. 

Adult survivors of child abuse can struggle with unexplained anxiety, depression, 

or anger. They may turn to alcohol or drugs to numb out the painful feelings. 

TYPES OF ABUSE 

Child abuse isn’t just about bruises. There are many types of recognized child 

abuse, but all forms go back to the emotional impact of abuse on the child. 

Emotional child abuse 

Emotional abuse can severely damage a child’s mental health or social development, 

leaving lifelong psychological scars. Examples include: 

• Constant belittling, shaming, and humiliating a child. 

• Calling names and making negative comparisons to others. 

• Telling a child he or she is “no good,” “worthless,” “bad,” or “a mistake.” 

• Frequent yelling, threatening, or bullying. 

• Ignoring or rejecting a child as punishment, giving him or her the silent treatment. 

• Limited physical contact with the child—no hugs, kisses, or other signs 

of affection. 

Warning signs of emotion abuse in children include: 

• Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or anxious about doing something wrong. 

• Shows extremes in behavior (extremely compliant or extremely demanding; 

extremely passive or extremely aggressive). 

• Doesn’t seem to be attached to the parent or caregiver. 

• Acts either inappropriately adult (taking care of other children) or inappropriately 

infantile (rocking, thumb-sucking, throwing tantrums). 

Child Neglect 

Child neglect is a pattern of failing to provide for a child’s basic needs, whether 

it is adequate food, clothing, hygiene, or supervision. 

Warning signs of abuse include: 

• Clothes are ill fitting, filthy, or inappropriate for the weather. 

• Hygiene is consistently bad (unbathed, matted and unwashed hair, noticeable 

body odor). 

• Untreated illnesses and physical injuries. 

• Is frequently unsupervised or left alone or allowed to play in unsafe situations 

and environments. 

• Is frequently late or missing from school. 

Physical Abuse 

Physical Abuse involves physical harm or injury to the child. It may be the 

result of a deliberate attempt to hurt the child, but not always. It can also result 

from severe discipline, such as using a belt on a child, or physical punishment that 

is inappropriate to the child’s age or physical condition. 

Many physically abusive parents and caregivers insist that their actions are simply 

forms of discipline—ways to make children learn to behave. But there is a big 

difference between using physical punishment to discipline and physical abuse. 

The point of disciplining children is to teach them right from wrong, not to make 

them live in fear. 

Warning sign of physical abuse include: 

• Frequent injuries or unexplained bruises, welts, or cuts. 

• Is always watchful and “on alert,” as if waiting for something bad to happen. 

• Injuries appear to have a pattern such as marks from a hand or belt. 

• Shies away from touch, flinches at sudden movements, or seems afraid to go home. 

• Wears inappropriate clothing to cover up injuries, such as long-sleeved shirts 

on hot days. 


Sexual Abuse 

Child sexual abuse is an especially complicated form of abuse because of its layers 

of guilt and shame. It’s important to recognize that sexual abuse doesn’t always 

involve body contact. Exposing a child to sexual situations or material is sexually 

abusive, whether or not touching is involved. 

While news stories of sexual predators are scary, what is even more frightening is that 

sexual abuse usually occurs at the hands of someone the child knows and should be able 

to trust—most often close relatives. And contrary to what many believe, it’s not just 

girls who are at risk. Boys and girls both suffer from sexual abuse. In fact, sexual abuse 

of boys may be underreported due to shame and stigma. 

Warning signs of child sex abuse include: 

• Trouble walking or sitting. 

• Displays knowledge or interest in sexual acts inappropriate to his or her age, or 

even seductive behavior. 

• Makes strong efforts to avoid a specific person, without an obvious reason. 

• Doesn’t want to change clothes in front of others or participate in physical activities. 

• An STD or pregnancy, especially under the age of 14. 

• Runs away from home. 

Reporting Child Abuse 

North Carolina law requires that any adult who suspects that abuse is occurring 

must make a report. 

Reporting child abuse can bring up a lot of difficult emotions and uncertainty. You 

may ask yourself if you’re doing the right thing, or question if your voice will even be 

heard. Here are some tips for communicating effectively in difficult situations: 

• Try to be as specific as you can. For example, instead of saying, “The parents 

are not dressing their children right,” say something like, “I saw the child running 

outside three times last week in subzero weather without a jacket or hat. I saw 

him shivering and uncomfortable. He seemed to want to come inside.” However, 

remember that it is not your job to “prove” abuse or neglect. If suspicions are all you 

have, you should report those as well. 

• Understand that you may not learn of the outcome. Due to confidentiality laws 

in the U.S., unless you are a mandated reporter in an official capacity, Child Protective 

Services probably won’t update you about the results of their investigation. The 

family may not broadcast that they have been mandated services, either — but that 

doesn’t mean they are not receiving them. 

• If you see future incidences, continue to call and report them. Each child abuse 

report is a snapshot of what is going on in the family. The more information that you 

can provide, the better the chance of getting the best care for the child. 

What Can You Do If You Believe a Child Is Being Abused or Neglected? 

An excellent way to help improve a situation for a child and create connections 

within your community is to become comfortable involving yourself in the lives 

of others. Whether it is helping to alleviate stressful situations you see in public 

places, such as helping a parent with a small child get through the checkout line 

at the grocery store, or offering to listen to an acquaintance who seems aggravated 

with his or her children, your support in even the smallest ways can make a huge 

difference in preventing possible harm to children. 

Report your suspicions to your local child abuse or child protection hotline. 

Again, everyone has the right and responsibility to report any incidence of suspected 

child abuse or neglect at any time. You do not need to have “evidence” or actual 

knowledge of abuse when you make a report; all you need is reasonable cause, suspicion 

or belief based on your observations. Information to support your concern 

may include your firsthand observations or beliefs, your professional training or 

experience, or statements made to you by the child or parent. The more specific and 

concrete information you can provide, the better. 

It is also important for you to know that all states have laws that protect reporters 

from legal liability as long as reports are made in good faith. 

Whom Do You Call? Then What Happens? 

To report suspected abuse or neglect, contact your local child welfare agency. 

Depending on where you live, this agency might be called Department of Social 

Services, Children and Family Services or Human Welfare. The contact number for 

your local child welfare agency can be found online at http://www.childwelfare.gov/ 

If you feel that the child is in an emergency situation, however, call 911 or your local 

law enforcement agency immediately. 

The person who responds to your call will ask you several questions in order to 

provide the assessment or investigative team with sufficient information. Keep in 

mind that you do not need to know all the answers to make a report; you just need 

to be as comprehensive, specific and clear as possible with what you do know. 

Information for this article was compiled from a variety of sources dealing with 

child abuse in North Carolina. 

*Attend Simulcast, Business Expo, Survival Skills 

for Today’s Leader Seminar, Panel of Experts and Reception FREE! 

& 

An optional $10 donation to the 

Kidsville News Literacy and Education 

Foundation would be appreciated. 

*Must be pre-registered. 

www.refreshleadership.com/live 

Refresh Your Leadership 

Keynote Luncheon 

with Special Guest Denise Ryan 

“Funny, Factual and On Point” 

**Ticketed Event: $45.00. 

Chamber members & guests 

$35.00 in advance. 

Call Mandi at 910-484-6200 / 910-391-3859. 

For more information, contact Express Employment Professionals 

at 910-437-5959 / 910-391-3859. 


If You Believe, 

You can Change Your Stars 

By Stephanie Crider 

Liz Murray is a highly sought after 

inspirational speaker, and in April, 

area residents will have the opportunity 

to hear her speak. Brad Loase, 

the owner of Express Employment, is 

one of many who are excited to hear 

her story in her own words. 

“I think Liz’s story is really great. 

Rather than accepting her situation, 

she saw what she could be and what 

she wanted to be and she went for it 

and committed to it,” he said. “That 

is something we can all learn from.” 

Murray’s presentation is part of 

the Refresh Leadership Live Sumulcast 

on April 15 at the Holiday Inn 

I-95, 1944 Cedar Creek Road. The 

seminar is sponsored by a number of 

local businesses, including Express 

Employment Professionals and Up & 

Coming Weekly. The event begins at 

9 a.m. and includes a Live Simulcast 

featuring Daymond John, CEO of 

FUBU, Shark Branding and ABC’s 

Shark Tank; comedian Dan Aykroyd 

and Murray. 

Following the free simulcast, attendees 

are invited to participate 

in the Keynote Luncheon, which 

features former Fayetteville resident, 

now turned motivational speaker 

Denise Ryan. Ryan travels extensively 

throughout the southeast lighting 

fires of enthusiasm. She has spoken 

for Fortune 500s ,as well as small 

businesses and government agencies 

wanting to boost morale or institute 

change. She specializes in enthusiasm 

— reminding audience members 

that life without passion or purpose 

is empty. FireStar speeches burn, so if 

you’re worried about the heat this is 

one kitchen to avoid! Advance tickets 

to the luncheon are $35. Registration 

at the door is $45. 

Throughout the day, a Shop Small 

Business Expo will be ongoing from 

9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. For more information 

about the day-long event 

or to register, visit http://business. 

fayettevillencchamber.org/events/details/refresh-leadership-live-keynoteluncheon-5551. 

12 APRIL 2015 

Life’s not fair. That’s no secret. Although it seems that fate is 

more unkind to some people than to others. In the end, we all play 

the hand we are dealt and hope for the best. And for some, we 

take the hand dealt and defy the odds to create an amazing 

life, such is the case with Liz Murray. 

Murray was born in the Bronx in 1980 to drug addicted 

parents. Her life, like those of others born into 

her situation, could have followed the path of least 

resistance. She could have followed her parents down 

the path into drug addiction, which leads many to 

sell their bodies on the street for a fix. Or she could 

have engaged in a life of crime to get the things 

she wanted that her parents could not provide. 

Or she could take the road less traveled by those 

in her community; the one that took her out 

of the projects, off the street and to Harvard 

Square. Murray went against the odds and 

chose Harvard. 

In speaking of her childhood, Murray refers 

to her parents as “well-meaning” even in the 

midst of their addiction; that being said, there 

was not a lot for her family to celebrate. Her 

home life was centered around the first of the 

month when the welfare check arrived. In her book 

Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival and My 

Journey from Homeless to Harvard, she writes about the 

excitement of the postman’s visit. 

“The first of the month, the day Ma’s stipend from 

welfare was due, held all the ritual and celebration of 

Christmas morning. Our collective anticipation of the 

money filled the apartment with a kind of electricity, 

guaranteeing that Ma and Daddy would be agreeable 

and upbeat for at least 24 hours each month. ” 

By the end of the week, with the money gone, despair 

would again pervade the home and Murray and 

her sister turned to their standby of egg and mayonnaise 

sandwiches. When that option was exhausted 

and her parents had spent everything on cocaine and 

heroin, she and her sister would eat ice cubes and even 

once split a tube of toothpaste. 

Most people would think her life couldn’t get any 

worse, but Murray, a realist, quietly waited for the other 

shoe to drop. That happened when she was 11-years 

old. Her mother was diagnosed with AIDS. Shortly 

after that, her parents split up. She lived with her dad 

until she was 13, and was placed in the child welfare 

system. Her mother was able to get her back for a short 

period, but at the age of 15, she had dropped out of 

school, was homeless and on the streets. 

She recounts how she slept in doorways and on 

subway cars. When she was 16, her 41-year-old 

mother died. For Murray, who was still living in stairwells, 

it was a turning point. She started writing in her 

Photo courtesy of Sean Gilligan Photography 

journal, and one day, while crouched in the doorway, 

she had a spiritual epiphany and made a pledge to 

her mother that she would excel, which meant going 

back to school, a place where she had been bullied 

for her poverty. Murray became a top student at a 

Manhattan alternative school, and finished it in two 

years instead of four. While there, she wrote an essay 

on her personal journey. That essay was her ticket to 

Harvard, but it didn’t fix everything. It took her nearly 

10 years to finish at the university, but during that 

time she came to realize that she was not a victim of 

fate, but rather that she was in charge of her own life. 

She could decide her future. Much like William in A 

Knight’s Tale, Murray lived this quote from the movie: 

“Can a people change the stars?” 

“Yes, if one believes enough, they can do anything!” 

Murray took that life lesson and turned it into her 

book, which was later made into a Lifetime movie 

Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, which was 

based on her book a New Times Best Seller. Today, 

Murray uses her fame and her life to try to influence 

others to take control of their own lives and to 

recognize that who they become has nothing to do 

with where they started. She travels the nation talking 

to groups big and small, with a particular emphasis on 

homeless teens, changing them one speech at a time. 



“Jarred was a teacher,” said Sparks. 

“I didn’t realize what 

he was doing in our lives until he 

was gone. Hands down he 

has been the most influential 

person in my life.” 

Amy Sparks is a friendly woman. The career educator does not appear 

to meet a stranger. Even over the telephone you feel a warmth emanating 

from her. You hear something in her voice that lets you know she cares 

… about a lot of things. 

A teacher at Vanstory Elementary School, Sparks has been tested by 

fire and it has refined her spirit and strengthened her resolve. 

“Have you ever lost a child?” she asks with a voice that is thick with 

unshed tears. “Losing a child is devastating. It’s a club you definitely 

don’t want to belong to. It is gut wrenching. It is the worst thing that 

could ever happen to you. EVER.” 

For some, the loss of a child breaks them; marriages and families fall 

apart. Dreams die. People struggle just to find the strength to go on, 

to get out of bed, to get dressed. That isn’t the case with Sparks and 

her family. 

On June 10, 2011, the unthinkable happened 

and the Sparks lost their son Jarred 

in a tragic accident. 

“The biggest thing that I can say about 

Jarred’s story, in the least amount of 

words, is that I know my son is telling me, 

‘Mom, let my memory go on by helping 

others,’” she said. “That is where I gain my 

strength. First and foremost from God, 

and in knowing that I am doing what 

Jarred would want me to do and knowing 

that I am going to see my son again. 

When I’m feeling weak or sad, I can hear 

him telling me, ‘Mom, you have a job to 

do. Now get it done.” 

For Sparks, and those who knew and loved Jarred, taking this devastating 

event in their lives and turning it to good is a way to celebrate 

Jarred’s life. 

At the age of two and half, Jarred was diagnosed with severe autism. 

He was non-verbal. 

“Jarred was 5 before I have ever heard him say ‘momma’,” explained 

Sparks. “He was 7, before I heard the words ‘I love you.’ It’s hard to 

know what that means to a momma if you’ve always had it. I had so 

longed to hear his voice.” 

And that’s where Jarred’s story really begins. The Sparks wanted more 

for their son than to see him locked up inside himself. So they started 

researching alternative means of treatment for children with autism. This 

was in the early days, when autism was not very well understood. At that 

time, in Sparks’ opinion, children with autism were pushed aside. 

“So many times people think that children with this kind of 

disability are not going to amount to anything, so why bother even trying,” 

she said. 

Sparks 

believed 

Jarred could 

be so much 

more, so she 

kept pushing, 

even to the extent of suing the Fort Bragg School System in order to get 

advanced therapy implemented for children with autism. 

“For many, many years, my husband I were in this fight alone for 

Jarred. My husband would drive from Pope Air Force Base to Greensboro 

two or three times a week for speech therapy,” she explained. “We 

were the first family in the area to bring Applied Behavioral Analysis to 

Fayetteville.” 

The program, which is based on intense 

behavior modification, had phenomenal 

results with Jarred, who received 50 hours 

a week of one-on-one instruction. 

“Believe you me, it made the biggest 

difference in our lives. It saved our lives,” 

she said. “At that point, I wanted to prove 

that children deserve a quality education. 

We saw that with Jarred and his therapy. 

While children with disabilities at Fort 

Bragg Schools were mastering four objectives 

or less in a year, Jarred was mastering 

400 in four months.” 

Winning the fight with Bragg to bring 

the therapy into the school system was 

a major step forward for Sparks and Jarred. Jarred found his voice and 

was able to connect with those around him. Those are the memories that 

keep Sparks going. 

“Jarred was a teacher,” said Sparks. “I didn’t realize what he was doing 

in our lives until he was gone. Hands down he has been the most influential 

person in my life.” 

And not just in Sparks’ life. 

“I don’t know anyone who didn’t love him,” she continued. “He had a 

way of finding your heart and just stole it. His death was devastating to 

so many people in our lives. That tragedy isn’t just ours.” 

Talking about Jarred’s last days doesn’t come easy for Sparks. 

“It was the last day of school. It was really weird, but Jarred found a 

way of saying goodbye to everybody, we just didn’t know it at that time,” 

she said. 

Two days before he died, Mr. Williams, his teacher (who is also the president 

of the Jarred Bryan Sparks Foundation) had his chance at goodbye. 


Amy Sparks has turned the tragedy of her son Jerred’s death into hope with the 

creation of a new school for children with autism. 

“Mr. Williams loved Jarred like 

a son. When the day was over, he 

would always call out to Jarred to 

come and give him a hug. On that 

day, Jarred walked up and gave 

him a hug without being asked,” 

she said. “My daughter Kelsey and 

Jarred used to do this dance together. 

They did it the day before he 

died. She had the chance to dance 

with her brother one more time.” 

For Sparks, it was the kind of 

moment that all mothers cherish in 

their hearts. 

“I remember he came up to me 

and was smiling at me,” she said. 

“I reached up and put my hands on 

his cheeks and I said, ‘You are such 

a good boy. Momma loves you so 

much.’ And he kept smiling. We all 

had that moment to say goodbye 

without even knowing that’s what 

we were doing, and that’s what 

makes it so special.” 

In the dark days following 

Jarred’s death, the Sparks turned 

to their faith, their friends, their 

church and to each other. 

“My husband is my best friend. 

When I was weak, he was strong, 

and when he was weak, I was 

strong,” she explained. “We both 

helped each other and comforted 

each other.” 

It was then that they realized 

they had a choice to make. 

“Jarred was placed on this earth 

for such a short time, but he had 

such an impact on so many people. 

I believe Jarred was an angel in our 

lives. I was honored to be his mom. 

I feel very blessed that God allowed 

14 APRIL 2015 

him to be my son. That I got the 

opportunity to experience what I 

did. It made me stronger, it gave me 

a reason to live and keep on going. 

I am never going to let his memory 

die and I’m going to let his death 

be in vain.” 

Sparks said she frequently tells 

the children in her classes that they 

have two choices. They can give up 

or get themselves up, dust themselves 

off and start running again. 

“It doesn’t mean I’m not going to 

fall. It just means I’m going to get 

back up and start running toward 

that goal. People are counting on us.” 

The goal Sparks wants to reach 

is the creation of The School of 

Hope, a specialized school designed 

solely for the education of children 

with autism. Sparks goal is to open 

the school in August 2016. The 

school will provide autistic children 

with the kind of therapy and 

education that can open the world 

up for them. 

The School of Hope is a fitting 

legacy of Jarred’s life. 

“About 15 years ago, a military 

newspaper did an article about 

Jarred. The title was ‘A Fight to 

Recover: Hope for Jarred.’ That has 

always stayed with me,” she said. 

“Families with a child who has autism 

need hope to know that what 

they are doing makes a difference 

in their child’s life.” 

With the creation of the school, 

Sparks sees a way of offering hope. 

“We want to start out small; 

quality — not quantity. The school 

is not about making money. It’s 


about serving children and giving them the 

very best education they can get. At the School 

of Hope, we will only employee people who 

understand and get autism. We have to have 

people who understand that no two children 

with autism are alike. You can’t group them. 

You have to find out what makes them tick,” 

she said. “I want people to move to Fayetteville 

to find hope for 

their children. 

“We will be a specialized school. I do not 

know about other disabilities; I know autism. 

Jarred taught me what I need to know about 

autism,” she continued. “Am I going to make 

mistakes? Absolutely. Am I going to learn? You 

bet. I want to give hope to caregivers. I want 

them to know not to quit.” 

Sparks vision for the school is to start small 

with 25 students. 

“One child with autism is like five students 

without autism,” she said. 

For Sparks, the pieces are coming together. 

She has found what she believes is the ideal 

location, and the stars seem to be aligning in her 

favor, with the current tenant moving out just in 

time for her to get ready for the new school year. 

“It would be the perfect place for us,” she said. 

Another hurdle passed was gaining approval 

from the Jarred Sparks Foundation for money 

The Price of Getting Thinner Just Got Slimmer! 

Lose up to 2 Dress Sizes in One Month! 

to get the articles of incorporation 

drawn up. 

With April, also being Autism 

Awareness Month, Sparks 

sees it as another good sign. 

“Jarred’s birthday is April 24. 

He would have been 23,” she 

said. “He loved the water, and on 

April 24, we are going to celebrate 

his life by doing something 

he loved. We will be on the 

water somewhere, somehow.” 

That celebration is personal, 

on April 18, the Sparks and 

their foundation will have a public celebration 

with the 4th Annual Spring Festival, a community 

event that helps showcase what the foundation 

is all about. 

“It’s going to be a great day for families in 

our community — those who have children 

with disabilities and those who do not. We 

are going to have games, face painting, bounce 

houses, vendors. All of the people who loved 

and cherished Jerred and who supported us 

will be there. When I see all of the people who 

come out from teachers and students at Vanstory 

to former students, I know that Jarred is still 

making a difference in the lives of others. 

“Last year, I was standing in the middle of 

the festival and I looked around at so many 

families having fun. And I had to look up, and 

think, ‘This is Jarred. He is still affecting lives 

and changing the people around him. 

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children, families and communities! 


LOVE YOUR FLOOR 

Spring 

clean 

your 

health 

50 % 

OFF 

March 27 - May 11, 2015 

Spring is a time to reevaluate 

your daily routine and reduce any 

unnecessary clutter from your life. It is 

also a time to make positive changes 

for a happy and healthier lifestyle. 

Simple changes, such as resetting 

your sleep pattern, updating your 

oral care routine and refreshing your 

diet can result in big changes to your 

overall well-being. 

1. Get moving outside: Spring is 

a great time to be outdoors, so ease 

back into your exercise routine with 

daily walks outside. This will help 

reduce stress and help lower your risk 

of heart disease and hypertension. 

Get creative and use apps to track and 

challenge your friends to walk at least 

10,000 steps a day. 

2. Reset your sleep pattern: With 

the arrival of spring come longer days 

and more daylight. Beat fatigue by 

setting a goal to keep your waking 

and bed time consistent— even on 

weekends. This will help avoid midday 

burn outs while keeping your 

body in sync with its natural rhythms. 

3. Think about your gum health: 

Most people don’t realize that proper 

oral hygiene can be a good step 

toward helping to improve their 

overall health. In addition to brushing 

your teeth, make sure to take good 

care of your gums — they’re the 

foundation of a healthy mouth. 

4. Travel healthy and be prepared: 

As you begin to make plans for 

spring and summer travel, be sure 

16 APRIL 2015 

to schedule your family doctor and 

dentist appointments and address 

any issues before your trip. Compile 

a list of medications, unique health 

issues or history, and physician contact 

information. This will be important 

and save time if you end up needing 

healthcare while you’re away. 

5. Refresh your diet: Simple changes 

to your diet can bring more sustained 

energy and knock off a few pounds. 

Swap out snacks like potato chips with 

banana chips and replace red meat 

with lean protein from turkey and 

chicken. Also look to incorporate fresh 

fruits and vegetables that are in season 

into your diet. 

6. Declutter your life: Things have 

a way of stressing you out. Do you 

have a list of projects that need to 

be done. Tackle one a week for the 

next six weeks. You will be surprised 

at how much better you feel without 

the weight of your to-do list on your 

shoulders. Is your closet exploding, 

find a charity in need of gently 

used clothing — perhaps one that 

provides business clothes to women 

who cannot afford them to go on job 

interviews. Hanging on to clothes a 

couple of sizes too big, just in case 

you put on a few pounds? Let them 

go, nothing entices failure in a diet 

plan than have a fall back plan! 

With these small changes to your 

lifestyle, you can upgrade your health 

for a better you. 


fitnessspotlight 

i-Lipo: 

A New Take On Body Contouring 

Karla Allen 

According to the website Beauty Redefined, 

in the last decade, there was a 446 

percent increase in the number 

of cosmetic procedures in 

the U.S., with 92 percent 

performed on women 

— the majority being 

liposuction. 

Add the cost of 

voluntary surgeries 

to the $7 billion per 

year U.S. women 

spend on beauty 

products, and the 

United States has 

a population that 

spends $19 billion 

per year trying to 

achieve ideal beauty. 

The weight loss 

and diet industries 

have begun to flourish 

unlike ever before, with 

an estimated $61 billion 

spent on the quest for thinness 

in 2010 — more than twice as much 

as Americans spent on all types of diet 

programs and products in 1992. 

As more and more women become willing to seek 

alternative means to get the body they want, two things 

are happening: 

1. The price of elective beauty procedures are going down. 

2. Newer, less invasive means of achieving change in the 

body are being invented and approved for use. 

As noted above, liposuction tops the list of procedures being 

performed in the United States. The cost of liposuction varies 

depending on the area of the body that is treated, if more than 

one area is treated and the type of liposuction procedure undertaken. 

Usually liposuction surgery will cost between $1,500 

and $3,000, with the national average at $2,578. 

With advancements in medical technology, that number 

is going down. One such advancement is i-Lipo®, which 

is being touted as the “intelligent alternative to liposuction.” 

Unlike liposuction, i-lipo is non-invasive, pain 

free, with no needles and no down time for recovery. 

i-Lipo is usually done in a course of eight sessions, 

performed twice a week, which can result in 

a patient losing one to two dress sizes over the 

course of treatment. 

Sound too good to be true? That’s what I 

thought until I visited the office of Dr. Robert 

Twaddell, a Fayetteville physician who offers 

i-Lipo body contouring. I admit curiosity 

about this procedure, which involves a laser 

to complete body contouring. Clearly, this 

technology is intended for people wanting an alternative to replace more 

traditional forms of body-contouring surgery. 

Personally, I would prefer anything to needles! Prior to making any 

decision concerning treatment, Dr. Twaddell explained the science 

behind the i-Lipo treatment and how and why it works. 

The procedure, established in 2012, is FDA approved and is the latest 

in laser lipolysis. Low-level lasers trigger a chemical in fat cells that 

breaks down stored triglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol. The 

fatty acids and glycerol are released through cell membranes, and the 

fat content is transported around the body to tissues where it will be 

“burned off ” during a period of post-treatment exercise. 

Like every diet program, exercise is the key to success with the 

i-Lipo procedure. Exercise creates a demand in our bodies for extra energy. 

The body responds to this demand by releasing stored fat content 

for use as fuel, but the release can come from anywhere in the body. So, 

through the use of the low level lasers, the i-Lipo procedure mimics 

the body’s natural fat burning process, allowing you to target an area of 

your body for fat release even before you begin exercising! 

After talking with Dr. Twaddell, I decided to give it a try. The i-Lipo 

procedure was administered under his direction and supervision. I 

was skeptical, but there was absolutely no question that a measurable 

change in my waistline occurred within minutes. First I answered a 

full medical questionnaire, then during the treatment, I was measured 

and then strategically fitted with the i-Lipo treatment pads while lying 

comfortably on a treatment table. The entire process took approximately 

30 minutes. 

Following the treatment, Dr. Twaddell sent me to his patient 

workout room for a 20 to 30 minute exercise regimen. Additionally, 

I was encouraged to drink as much water as possible throughout the 

day, which contributes to the effectiveness of the procedure, as well as 

encouraging long-term measurable differences. 

The i-Lipo procedure gives your body a jump start, which serves as a 

motivation to get people exercising. 

Dr. Twaddell is not looking for a quick fix for his patients. He is 

very up front with the idea that his goal is for his patients to become 

healthier through correct diet and exercise. 

The good news about this treatment is that it can be performed on all 

skin types and body areas where unwanted fat is stored and you can return 

to normal activity immediately following the treatment, which includes 

that round of exercise immediately following the procedure. 

I felt extremely comfortable and was able to do my exercise, drink 

my water and felt absolutely fine! 

The recommended number of treatments is structured to eight. Of 

course as with anything that could vary patient to patient depending 

on desired results. The average loss in inches is one to three with one 

treatment and prices can vary with a national average of about $1,800 

per eight-session treatment. 

If you are interested in i-Lipo there are numerous websites that can 

educate you on the procedure, but the best way to get information is 

to visit a physician who actually does the treatment, as I did with Dr. 

Twaddell. Twaddell’s clinic, Fayetteville Laser Therapy is the only 

clinic in the Cape Fear Region that is certified to perform i-Lipo. 

Fayetteville Laser Therapy is located at 1411 Fort Bragg Rd. For more 

information about the clinic and the procedure, you can call 303-2690 

or visit the website at www.faylaser.com. 


fitnessspotlight 

Don’t Eat Less, Eat Right 

There seems to be a myth out 

there that tells people if they 

want to lose weight they need 

to eat less. Trimming down isn’t 

about eating less; many people 

have to eat more when they 

choose to live a healthier lifestyle. 

Shedding those extra pounds 

happens by eating healthier and, 

for some people, more often than 

what they are accustomed to. As 

a personal trainer and nutrition 

coach, I realize this isn’t easy for 

everyone, but it can be done 

with a little bit 

of knowledge 

and preparation. 

The problem with 

eating less is that most 

people associate eating 

less with drastically 

decreasing their calorie 

intake. What many people 

may not realize is that your body 

will actually pack on pounds if it 

is not being fueled with the proper 

number of calories. If one’s body 

doesn’t get the caloric intake it 

needs, it will go into starvation 

mode. This means your body will 

start storing fat because it doesn’t 

know when the next meal is going 

to happen. According to the 

National Lung and Heart Institute 

a very low-calorie diet shouldn’t 

be used unless your doctor is 

monitoring you. Not eating is 

not only going to keep your body 

storing fat, but there are other 

negative side effects associated 

with very low calorie diets such as 

fatigue and nausea. 

In order to steer clear of these 

negative side effects, individuals 

should do a caloric calculation to 

figure out how much weight they 

want to lose prior to changing 

their eating habits, then equate 

themselves on what their meal plan 

will look like, then prepare. It is 

recommended that people do not 

try to lose more than two pounds 

a week. This would equal 1,000 

18 APRIL 2015 

calories per day. So for 

example, an individual 

who typically 

consumes 2,700 calories 

a day and wants to lose 

one pound per week 

would intake 2,200 calories 

or 1,700 calories per day to drop an 

extra two pounds per week. 

Here is the good news... fewer 

calories don’t have to mean less 

food! It means making better 

choices. So rather than eating that 

400 calorie cheeseburger, one could 

indulge in a 4 oz piece of chicken, 

with a serving of broccoli, a serving 

of carrots and a whole wheat dinner 

roll and come in a whopping 110 

calories below a small burger from 

the local fast food restaurant. 

Choosing to drop one soda per day 

would allow for an extra 4 ounces 

of lean protein or two servings of 

fruit and veggies. 

Another great thing about 

making better choices is that 

the amount of calories you will 

be saving from making better 

choices will allow you to eat 

more often throughout the day, 

in turn, allowing for you to have 

a continuous stream of energy 

and keeping you from feeling 

too hungry before you next meal. 

Eating smaller meals, more often, 

will prevent you from indulging in 

unplanned junk food or treats prior 

to your next meal. 

So how does one get 

in the habit of eating 

these five to six small 

meals a day? I have 

some suggestions that 

have helped many of 

my clients and I hope 

will help my readers 

as well. The most 

important thing for 

people to understand 

is preparation is key. 

Each week I sit down 

and right up a meal 

plan for my week. This 

includes all of my meals, including 

snacks. I then make a list and head 

to the grocery store. 

Sound easy? That’s not the hard 

part. It’s easy to have the food 

in your kitchen, the hard part is 

making it user friendly for your 

busy lifestyle. This is where the 

hard part comes in. Each week after 

my grocery shopping is complete, I 

wash and cut my fruits and veggies 

and divvy them out into snack size, 

“to-go” baggies. I boil and peel 

my eggs for the week and cook 

any chicken I will use for salads 

for the week. Not easy enough… 

that’s where Pinterest comes in! 

I have found several quick and 

easy ideas on Pinterest, including 

the salad in a jar. This where you 

layer your salad toppings in a jar 

It’s easy to 

have the 

food in your 

kitchen, the 

hard part is 

making it 

user friendly 

for your busy 

lifestyle. 

in the opposite order as you 

want them to come out (nuts 

and cheese on top, then fruit 

or veggies, followed by salad 

mix), this allows you to grab a 

jar and turn it over on a plate 

for a pre-made salad. I have 

even found several pre-bagged, 

crock pot recipes that are great. 

Package a meal in a gallon bag 

and dump the bag into the 

crock pot in the morning for a 

quick, healthy dinner! 

Again, having these great 

snack options doesn’t mean 

much if you aren’t eating 

the snacks. This is why 

I encourage people 

who are new to the 

small meal idea to set 

alarms for themselves 

throughout the day. 

Once you form 

the habit of eating 

every three hours or 

so, your body will 

become accustomed 

to it and it will be 

natural. Until then 

it takes conditioning 

and planning. 

These are just 

a few ideas that I 

have found that 

work for me. I have 

found when I take 

a few hours at the 

beginning of the 

week (I choose Sundays), I have 

no excuses for snacking on junk 

food. Having prepared meals ready 

for your family via a crock pot can 

also prevent the stop through the 

drive-through on your way home 

from work. There are many options 

to prepare quick and tasty meals 

for yourself and your family on 

Pinterest and other websites; if you 

are willing to take a few extra hours 

to use them you can save a few 

thousand calories a week. 

Cosette Clendenen is a Personal 

Trainer at Gold’s Gym and a Fitness 

and Nutrition Coach with Beachbody. 

For any questions, comments or 

for more information you can e-mail 

Cosette at customfitnessdm@gmail. 

com or visit her website at www. 

customfintessdm.com. 


moneymatters 

The Ugly Stepsister You Are Stuck With! 

By Mackenzie Toland 

Finances — they are like the ugly stepsister that you are stuck with for 

life. Finances are the number two reason why couples get divorced, second 

only to communication. If financial insecurity becomes the topic of discussion 

more often than other topics, then your marriage may be in a downward 

spiral. 

So what can you do to ensure that your family does not get stuck in the 

same place that many other couples do? One of the biggest challenges that 

couples have is living outside their means. It is important to have the right 

tools in your relationship so that you and your partner can work together to 

live within your means in a fair and fiscally responsible way. So here’s the 

question for today: To have joint bank accounts or to have separate bank 

accounts. Which decision is best for your marriage? 

If you can’t decide on a joint account or a separate accounts why not do a 

mix of both? You could have a joint account for expenses and separate accounts 

for spending. Whatever you choose, do yourself and your marriage 

a favor and stay in control of finances. It could be the difference between a 

lasting marriage and a fallen one. You can find me at A New Leaf Therapeutic 

Services PLLC, 910.493.3555, and mackenzie@fayettevillenewleaf.com. 

The Joint Bank Account: Pros 

One of the greatest benefits of having a joint bank account is transparency 

in your relationship. You both have the benefit and security of 

knowing where the money is and where it is going. When couples have 

a joint bank account they are more likely to have clear communication 

about finances. Chances are high that you and your spouse regularly 

communicate about where and how money is being spent or saved. 

Joint checking accounts give the feeling that you are in this together. 

It is one pot of money that you are sharing. So, really, it doesn’t matter 

who pays for what — because both of you are sharing expenses. Also, 

an extra little benefit is that the combined amount in your account will 

be higher and you will be less likely to have to pay those pesky fees associated 

with overspending your checking account. 

The Separate Bank Account: Pros 

As long as the expenses are divided up fairly then you have the freedom 

to spend your money how your please. Try to be fair about how 

expenses will be divided and revisit how to disperse expenses every time 

there is a big life change; like someone get’s a fancy promotion or a nice 

raise. Having separate accounts with the same institution under the 

same login make it easy to be transparent about your expenses while 

still having the independence of separate accounts. 

The Joint Bank Account: Cons 

Everything has pros and cons and unfortunately the joint bank 

account has cons, too. With a joint bank account, one of the partners 

may feel constricted as if they do not have any spending money of their 

own. One person in the relationship is going to have to take care of 

paying the bills and this partner may harbor resentment for having to 

do the extra work. Finally, if one partner is financially irresponsible and 

makes a big purchase without telling the other partner immediately 

then the other partner may find out the hard way: a declined debit card. 

The Separate Bank Account: Cons 

While dividing up everyday expenses may be easy, what happens 

when there is a big car repair or an unavoidable expensive emergency? 

How will that be paid? It is important to have a back up plan for 

emergencies if you and your partner choose to have separate bank 

accounts. Having two bank accounts at different 

institutions is an option, but I do not 

recommend it. 


globetrotting 

Let the Water That Has Moved Mountains 

Located in the southwest 

corner of North Carolina just 

an hour from Asheville and 

two hours from Charlotte, 

Transylvania County is the place 

where water falls and falls. 

Known as the Land of 

Waterfalls, this destination is 

a perfect place to explore more 

than 250 waterfalls, the Pisgah 

National Forest and the endless 

beauty of the surrounding 

Great Smoky Mountains. Some 

of the beautiful waterfalls 

found in this small patch of 

heaven on earth have starred in 

Hollywood movies. Others offer more secluded spots to reflect during 

a memorable hike. 

You could just jump in your car and drive and find the falls on your 

own, or you can use the list below to ensure you see some of the most 

beautiful sites in the state. 

DuPont State Recreational Forest was the setting for filming of 

The Hunger Games. The beautiful falls and lush forests in the park 

made astounding visuals, many of which people thought were created 

through graphic enhancements. But they weren’t. They were real and 

they are right here in North Carolina. Triple Falls, Bridal Veil Falls 

and the covered bridge at High Falls all served as backdrops for scenes 

from the film, and visitors can relive the movie and get a behind-thescenes 

experience. 

Looking Glass Falls is one of the country’s most viewed falls. Looking 

Glass Falls is 35 feet wide and drops 65 feet. It was named for the 

reflective layer of ice that forms 

on Looking Glass Rock during 

the winter. You can view it from 

the observation deck or you can 

walk to its base. 

Rainbow Falls takes its name 

from the constant mist in 

warm weather that sends 

rainbows cascading toward 

the sun. Rainbow Falls, also 

known as High Falls, is on 

the Horsepasture River in 

Transylvania County. 

Looking Glass Falls Sliding Rock is a 60-foot natural 

water slide in the Pisgah National 

Forest. While it isn’t really a 

waterfall, you could say it turns you into one. Wear your cut-off shorts, 

sit down and slide down the rock into the pool below, where 60-degree 

water feels fantastic in the summer heat. 

Turtleback Falls is another favorite swimming spot when the summer 

heat gets to be too much. Moore Cove Falls, which spills over a 

tremendous granite shelf, creating a falls you can walk behind. Twin 

Falls, as the name suggests, features two beautiful falls. 

Whitewater Falls is a 411-foot waterfall, called the “King of 

Waterfalls.” It is the highest waterfall in the eastern United States, 

and has been designated a North Carolina Natural Heritage Area. No 

other waterfall in the East has its combination of water volume, height 

and visibility. 

While you’re in the area, be sure to check out the quaint mountain 

town of Brevard, a Land of Waterfalls base camp of sorts, where you 

can enjoy everything from boutiques and bistros to music festivals. 

20 APRIL 2015 


With the arrival of Spring, most of us break our winter hibernation and find excuses to get outdoors 

and enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures. For many of us, it’s also a time to take advantage of 

fresh fruits like the luscious strawberries that can be found throughout ourcommunity. This month 

check out a couple of great strawberry-based recipes, along with a light sandwich that is perfect for a 

warm afternoon. 

Strawberry 

Shortcake 

For the strawberries 

1 lb. ripe strawberries, hulled 

(about 4 cups) 

2 Tbs. granulated sugar; more 

to taste 

For the biscuits 

9 oz. (2 cups) unbleached allpurpose 

flour; more for rolling 

1/3 cup plus 1 Tbs. granulated sugar 

2-1/2 tsp. baking powder 

1/4 tsp. baking soda 

1/2 tsp. kosher salt 

4 oz. (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 

1 large egg 

1/4 cup heavy cream; more for brushing 

1/4 cup buttermilk 

For the whipped cream 

1-1/2 cups heavy cream 

2 Tbs. granulated sugar 

Prepare the strawberries 

Put one-third of the berries in a medium bowl and, using a potato masher, 

crush them into a chunky purée. Slice the remaining berries 1/4 inch thick 

and stir them into the mashed berries along with the sugar. Taste the berries, 

adding more sugar if necessary. Let the berries sit at room temperature for at 

least 30 minutes. 

Make the biscuits 

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F. Line 

a large heavy-duty baking sheet with parchment.  Sift the flour, 1/3 cup of 

the sugar, the baking powder, and baking soda into a large bowl. Stir in 

the salt. Using a pastry blender, a fork, or your fingertips, work the 

butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse 

cornmeal.  In a small bowl, beat the egg and heavy cream with 

a fork. Mix in the buttermilk. Make a well in the center of the 

flour mixture and pour in the cream mixture. Mix with the fork 

until the dough is evenly moistened and just comes together; it 

will still look a little shaggy. Gather the dough and gently knead it 

three or four times. If the dough seems dry and doesn’t form a cohesive 

mass, work in more cream, 1 tsp. at a time.  Transfer the dough to a lightly 

floured surface and roll it into a 3/4 -inch-thick disk. With a sharp 2 1/2-inch 

biscuit cutter, press straight down to cut the dough into rounds and lift straight 

up to remove (don’t twist the cutter or it will seal the sides of the biscuits and 

interfere with rising). Transfer the rounds to the prepared baking sheet. Gather 

the dough scraps, gently knead them together, re-roll, and cut out more 

biscuits until you have a total of 6.  Lightly brush the biscuit tops with cream 

(about 1 Tbs.) and sprinkle with the remaining 1 Tbs. sugar. Bake, rotating the 

baking sheet once, until the biscuit tops are lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes. 

Let the biscuits cool slightly while you whip the cream. 

Whip the cream 

In a large, chilled metal bowl, whip the heavy cream and sugar to soft 

peaks with an electric hand mixer. (Use immediately or refrigerate, covered 

until ready to serve). 

Assemble the shortcakes 

Using a serrated knife, split the warm biscuits in half horizontally and 

transfer the bottoms to 6 dessert plates. Spoon about three-quarters of the 

macerated berries and their juice evenly over the biscuit bottoms. It’s OK if 

some of the berries spill out onto the plate. Top with a generous dollop of 

whipped cream and cover each with a biscuit top. Spoon more berries and 

cream over each shortcake and serve immediately. 

dishingitup 

Roasted Bell Pepper and Tomato 

Veggie Sandwich 

10 min preparation + 10 min cooking 

Serving Size / Yield –1 sandwich 

Ingredients 

1 yellow bell pepper, sliced in half 

1 red bell pepper, sliced in half 

4-5 tomatoes slices 

3 mozzarella slices 

1 white single baguettes 

1 tbsp balsamic 

2 tbsp vegetable oilOur Readers Also Loved 

   

Directions 

Begin by cutting your baguette in half and toasting it. Then in 

a skillet begin by sautéing the peppers that have been sliced in half. Add 

the oil and balsamic to the skillet and keep sautéing the peppers until they’re tender. 

Start layering your sandwich up on the toasted baguette. Start with one slice 

of yellow and red pepper. Then add the mozzarella cheese, tomato, and then the 

other half of both peppers. Drizzle some balsamic on top and enjoy. 

Strawberry Basil 

Margaritas 

Makes 1 pitcher, or about 8 servings 

1 can (12 ounces) frozen limeade concentrate 10 

strawberries (or 12 if you’re using 

smaller ones from the farmer’s market or your 

backyard.) 8 basil leaves 2 to 2 1/2 cups tequila 

(gold or silver) 

Empty the limeade concentrate into a pitcher. 

Add 2 1/2 cans of water and 1 1/2 (18 ounces, 

or 2 1/4 cups) cans of tequila (or a bit less, if you 

don’t want your drinks to be quite as strong). 

Hull the strawberries, slice lengthwise, and 

add to the pitcher. Crumple the basil a little in your hands (this will help the basil 

flavor release into the drink) and add it to the pitcher, too. Place the pitcher, covered, 

in the fridge overnight, or for at least four hours. 

When you remove the pitcher from the fridge, your margaritas will be a lovely pale pink 

color. Now all you have to do is serve them and wait for the compliments to pour in. 


turnthepage 

LIES AND TRUTH BOOK ONE 

by MeMe Novella 

Welcome back to my 

reading corner. I hope 

so far that you’re 

enjoying getting to know some new 

authors, especially some of our own 

hometown talent. 

This month, I’d like to share 

the work of local author, Rachael 

Duncan. Her latest novel, Hidden 

in Lies, was released in February. 

Duncan, a military wife, enjoys 

writing romance. 

Hidden in Lies Summary; 

Who needs love when you 

have money? 

It used to be enough, but now it’s not. 

Not since he walked into my life 

and made me question everything. 

Now I want more, but I know 

that’s impossible. 

Things aren’t always as they seem. 

My true self is hidden, and that 

works for me. 

Or it did. 

I hide in a bed of deception to 

disguise myself, and I’m good at it. 

Or I was. 

I’m Elizabeth Fitzgerald. 

I’m a Senator’s wife. 

And I hate my life. 

Review: The main character in 

this book is Elizabeth Fitzgerald. 

Her mother’s advice was that she 

should marry for money so she 

found herself married to Senator 

Callahan Fitzgerald. Throughout 

her marriage, she has hidden her 

unhappiness until Alex comes into 

her life. 

Alex has been hired to protect 

the senator’s assets — including his 

wife, Elizabeth. 

Cal, as he is known, is very big 

on himself and keeping up public 

appearances. Behind the scenes; however, 

he is a monster to his wife, abusing her 

both physically and mentally. 

Alex is former military now doing 

private security. He is not only hot; 

but a genuinely nice person. He 

sees things that she’s hiding and 

tries to help her. 

Elizabeth is a very sympathetic 

character, especially when you can 

feel the abuse she lives with daily. 

She is stuck in a loveless marriage 

and knows that she can’t leave 

because of the scandal it would cause 

in the lives of those around her. 

Hidden in Lies was a great read, 

it hooked me from the beginning. 

FYI, it does end with a cliffhanger, 

but I’m sure it won’t be long before 

book two is available. 

I give this book FIVE stars and 

recommend it highly. It is available 

on Amazon in e-book form and 

also in paperback. 

Questions or comments? Contact 

me at memenovella@gmail.com. 

ARIES: March 21-April 20 

Patience is a virtue you must 

have this week, Aries. Others may 

not be able to maintain your pace, 

so exercise patience with those 

who need it. 

TAURUS: April 21-May 21 

Share your thoughts and feelings 

about a particular project wtth 

others, Taurus. The people closest 

to you will provide just the support 

you need to move forward. 

GEMINI: May 22-June 21 

Embrace the competitive nature 

of a coworker this week, Gemini. 

This person might just motivate 

you to reach heights you have yet 

to reach, and this may lead to a 

promotion at work. 

CANCER: June 22-July 22 

Cancer, a heart-to-heart 

talk with a loved one has you 

feeling confident as you move 

forward. Embrace this chance to 

communicate for the opportunity 

it truly is. 

LEO: July 23-August 23 

Leo, allow someone close to 

you to enjoy his or her space this 

week. Find a way to keep busy as 

this special someone does some 

soul-searching. 

VIRGO: August 24-September 22 

Avoid rushing to judgment on 

an issue this week, Virgo. Rather 

than speculating on the “whys” and 

“how comes,” wait until you can get 

some solid facts. 

LIBRA: September 23-October 23 

Luck is on your side this week, 

Libra. Make the most of this lucky 

streak and invite others to join in 

your fortune in the weeks to come. 

SCORPIO: October 24-November 22 

Scorpio, lend a helping hand to 

a loved one who could use some 

words of encouragement. Your 

efforts will be both effective and 

very much appreciated. 

SAGITTARIUS: November 23- 

December 21 

Sagittarius, anxiety about starting 

a new chapter in life is normal. Fear 

of the unknown can worry anyone, 

but look forward to all of the 

positive changes that are in store. 

CAPRICORN: December 22- 

January 20 

Capricorn, thinking outside 

of the box comes easily to you. 

Although others may scoff at your 

unconventional ways, you always 

get the job done and this week is 

no different. 

AQUARIUS: January 21- 

February 18 

Aquarius, peer pressure abounds 

this week, but you needn’t worry 

about succumbing to it. You like to 

march to the beat of your own drum, 

and others look to you as a leader. 

PISCES: February 19-March 20 

Pisces, you may need to take an 

unusual approach to get things 

done this week. Don’t be afraid to 

be aggressive. 

Image courtesy of Matthew Wikstrom 

22 APRIL 2015 


Classifieds 

DISCLAIMER 

Reader Adivorsy: The 

following classifieds 

have been purchased 

by the National Trade 

Association to which we 

belong. Determing the 

value of their service or 

product is advised by 

this publication. In order 

to avoid misunderstandings, 

some advertisers 

do not offer “employment” 

but rather supply 

the readers with manuals, 

directories and other 

materials designed to 

help their clients establish 

mail order selling 

and other businesses 

at home. Under NO 

circumstance should 

you send any money 

in advance or give the 

client your checking, 

license ID or credit card 

numbers. Also beware 

of ads that claim to 

guarantee loans regardless 

of credit and note 

that if a credit repair 

company does business 

only over the phone, it’s 

illegal to request any 

money before delivering 

its services. All funds 

are based on US dollars. 

800 numbers ma or may 

not reach Canada. 

THE FOLLOWING 

ADS HAVE NOT BEEN 

SCREENED BY THE 

SOUTHEASTERN 

ADVERTISING ASSO- 

CIATION; therefore, any 

discrepancies thereof 

shall not be the responsibility 

of the aforementioned 

association. Your 

publisher has agreed to 

participate in this program 

and run these ads 

at no charge as a service 

to the Southeastern 

Publishers Association. 

Classifieds compiled by the 

following organizations: 

ADOPTION 

A LOVING, handson, 

childless couple 

seeks to adopt. Warm, 

laughter filled home. 

Financial security. Expenses 

Paid. Judi & 

Jamie at 1-888-426- 

6077. SAPA 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

SOCIAL SECURITY 

DISABILITY BENE- 

FITS. Unable to work? 

Denied benefits? We 

Can Help! WIN or Pay 

Nothing! Contact Bill 

Gordon & Associates 

at 1-800-371-1734 to 

start your application 

today! 

ADVERTISE YOUR 

BUSINESS and reach 

1.7 million readers 

with a classified ad in 

100 N.C. newspapers! 

A 25-word ad is only 

$375. Call this newspaper 

or 919-516- 

8009 for details. 

Beware of loan fraud. 

Please check with 

the Better Business 

Bureau or Consumer 

Protection Agency before 

sending any money 

to any loan company. 

SAPA 

AUCTIONS 

REAL ESTATE AUC- 

TION- April 25th. Historic 

Double Shoals 

Mill- 6 miles from 

Shelby, NC. 45,457sf+ 

14.7 Acres+ 1,478ft 

River Frontage. 

$295,000 Reserve. 

www.ModernBrokerage.com 

704-502- 

0388 NCAF#9792 

CONST -TRUCK- 

FARM AUCTION- 30 

Containers. Fri, April 

17th @ 8am. Lumberton, 

NC. www. 

meekinsauction.com. 

NCLN858 - 10% BP 

EDUCATION/INSTRUCTION 

GET YOUR COM- 

PUTER CERTIFICA- 

TION ONLINE! Train 

at home to become a 

Help Desk Professional 

or MCSA certified! 

NO EXPERIENCE 

NEEDED! Call CTI 

for details! 1-888-734- 

6712. Visit us online at 

MyCTI.TV 

MEDICAL BILLING 

TRAINEES NEEDED! 

Doctors & Hospitals 

need Medical Office 

Staff! NO EXPERI- 

ENCED NEEDED! 

Online Training gets 

you job ready! HS Diploma/GED 

& Computer 

needed. Careertechnical.edu/nc. 

1-888-512-7122 

FINANCIAL 

Sell your structured 

settlement or annuity 

payments for CASH 

NOW. You don’t have 

to wait for your future 

payments any longer! 

Call 1-800-316-0271. 

Beware of loan fraud. 

Please check with 

the Better Business 

Bureau or Consumer 

Protection Agency before 

sending any money 

to any loan company. 

SAPA 

Delete Bad Credit In 

Just 30-Days !Legally 

& Permanently †remove 

negatives to 

raise your credit score 

fast. Free to start! A+ 

Rating W/BBB Call 

Now! 855-831-9712 

Reduce Your Past Tax 

Bill by as much as 75 

Percent. Stop Levies, 

Liens and Wage Garnishments. 

Call The 

Tax DR Now to see 

if you Qualify 1-800- 

396-9719 

HEALTH/MEDICAL 

Struggling with 

DRUGS or ALCHO- 

HOL?† Addicted to 

PILLS? Talk to someone 

who cares. Call 

The Addiction Hope 

& Help Line for a free 

assessment. 800-511- 

6075. SAPA 

Safe Step Walk-In 

Tub. Alert for Seniors. 

Bathroom falls can 

be fatal. Approved by 

Arthritis Foundation. 

Therapeutic Jets. Less 

Than 4 Inch Step- 

In. Wide Door. Anti- 

Slip Floors. American 

Made. Installation Included. 

Call 800-807- 

7219 for $750 Off. 

Medical Guardian- 

Top-rated medical 

alarm and 24/7 medical 

alert monitoring. 

For a limited time, get 

free equipment, no activation 

fees, no commitment, 

a 2nd waterproof 

alert button for 

free and more - only 

$29.95 per month. 

1-800-615-3868. 

HELP WANTED 

Can You Dig It? Heavy 

Equipment Operator 

Career! 

R e - 

ceive 

Hands On Training 

And National Certifications 

Operating 

Bulldozers, Backhoes 

& Excavators. Lifetime 

Job Placement. Veteran 

Benefits Eligible! 

1-866-288-6896 

ìCAN YOU DIG IT?î 

Heavy Equipment 

Operator Training! 3 

Week Program. Bulldozers, 

Backhoes, excavators. 

Lifetime Job 

Placement Assistance 

with National Certifications. 

VA benefits 

Eligible! 1-866-985- 

1448. SAPA 

$1,000 WEEKLY!! 

Mailing Brochures 

From Home. Helping 

home workers since 

2001. Genuine Opportunity. 

NO Experience 

Required. Start Immediately. 

www.Mailing- 

Members.com SAPA 

FTCC - Fayetteville 

Technical Community 

College is now accepting 

applications 

for the following positions: 

Coordinator- 

Military Business 

Center. Dept. Chair/ 

Instructor, Gunsmithing 

(10-Month Contract) 

For detailed 

information and to 

apply, please visit our 

employment portal 

at: https://faytechcc. 

peopleadmin.com/. 

Human Resources 

Office. Phone: (910) 

678-8378 Internet: 

http://www. 

faytechcc.edu. CRC 

Preferred Employer. 

An Equal Opportunity 

Employer 

25 DRIVER TRAIN- 

EES NEEDED! Become 

a driver for Stevens 

Transport! NO 

EXPERIENCE NEED- 

ED! New drivers earn 

$800+ per week! PAID 

CDL TRAINING! Stevens 

covers all costs! 

1-888-748-4137. 

drive4stevens.com 

ATTN: Drivers- Avg. 

$55k/yr. $2k Sign-On 

Bonus. Family Company 

w/Great Miles. Love 

Your Job and Your 

Truck. CDL-A Req. 

888-303-9731 www. 

drive4melton.mobi 

AVERITT EXPRESS 

Start Pay: 40 to 43.5 

CPM + Fuel Bonus! 

Get Home EVERY 

Week + Excellent 

Benefits. CDL-A req. 

Recent Tractor Trailer 

School Grads Welcome. 

Call Today: 

888-602-7440 OR Apply 

@ AverittCareers. 

com. Equal Opportunity 

Employer - Females, 

minorities, protected 

veterans, and 

individuals with disabilities 

are encouraged 

to apply. 

CDL-A DRIVERS: 

Earn up to $0.44 per 

mile, $2,500 Sign 

On Bonus PLUS up 

to $0.02 per mile in 

bonus! Call 866-291- 

2631 or SuperServiceLLC.com 

Call 

910-391-3859 

Want to advertise in the Women’s View Classified Section? 

Email: info@womensviewnc.com

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