fayetteville

Violence in our schools and the thinking that leads to accepting the culture of bullying.

I know there's a sort of do-no-harm sensibility in talking about some of our leaders. In fact, I don't post much here because of it. But I think there's a place and time for asking questions and ensuring that accurate information gets shared.

So there's an ad on television that says strange things about Bev Perdue's legislative record. And the topic of the ad is education, which is, candidly, Perdue's strongest suit. Her credentials, her professional career and her legislative work all point to a leader who's for education.

I read Gary Pearce's blog post on Thursday, and read James's post on Thursday night, that included a response note from Perdue or the people who work for her.

Our organizational meeting on March 10th drew a good crowd and we are on our way! We hope to be making local calls for Hillary within the week! Please join us!

On Thursday February 28th, the Fayetteville Observer published an opinion article entitled "On point: Congressional vigilance is needed to ensure educational excellence." The article discussed the need for members of Congress, in particular those that represent the areas around Fort Bragg, to appropriate additional impact aid to support the burden that Fort Bragg's future growth will put on the communities around it. Although members of Congress are responsible for federal education appropriations, there must be accountability and sound policy from state and local officials as well. State and local officials decide how those appropriations are used. It is up to the constituents of these officials to hold them accountable for their education policies. If there is a valid documented fear that the entrance of new students from Fort Bragg families will harm the education system, then local and state officials need to prepare for such a situation. Setting aside funds, cutting programs, and submitting requests for additional funding are some steps that can be taken before it becomes a real problem.

The Breast Care Center at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center is going to help save and improve the lives of many women. As the son of a breast cancer survivor, I appreciate and understand how important these efforts are to breast cancer screening and treatment in Fayetteville. Nevertheless, I think about my father and two brothers. According to recent cancer statistics,1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 6 will have prostate cancer. To make matters worse, North Carolina has one of the highest rates of prostate cancer in the nation. Locally, Fayetteville Mayor J. L. Dawkins lost his repeated battle with prostate cancer in 2000. My only conclusion is that Fayetteville needs a companion Prostate Care Center for men.

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE DISSEMINATION

OLIVERA FILES FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Contact:

Luis "Lou" Olivera

(910) 624-3110

LJOlivera@msn.com

www.LuisOlivera.com

Fayetteville, NC - Today Luis "Lou" Olivera filed for District Court Judge in Cumberland County, NC. The seat was newly created by the NC Legislature in July 2007 and effective January 2008, to assist with the increased number of criminal and civil case filings in Cumberland County District Courts. Cumberland County has a total of 10 District Court Judges.

Olivera ran for District Court Judge in 2006 and was narrowly defeated in a seat which was vacated by retiring Judge Dougald Clark. Olivera won 49% of the votes out of almost 40,000 Cumberland County voters.

Olivera brings a wealth of experience and community service to include being a Prosecutor and a Private Attorney practicing in Juvenile, Criminal and Civil District Courts. He has also been an Adjunct Professor at Methodist College and Fayetteville Technical Community College, teaching in the areas of Civil and Criminal Law. Olivera is also active in the community having served on such boards as Cumberland County United Way, Rape Crisis, the Hispanic/Latino Center of Fayetteville, the Cumberland County Heartwalk and others.

In 2006, Olivera was named one of "20 People Under 40" making a difference in our community by the Fayetteville Observer and in 2005 was named "Volunteer of the Year" by the Hispanic/Latino Center of Fayetteville. Furthermore, in 2004 he was selected as a fellow by the Institute of Political Leadership in Raleigh who selects only 20 individuals throughout the state annually. He is also a graduate and selected class leader of 2005 Leadership Fayetteville.

He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Fayetteville Business and Professional League, the Fayetteville Area Minority Lawyers Association and the Cumberland County Bar Association. He has also been a member of the Fayetteville Rotary Club and has assisted such organizations as the Fayetteville Arts Council and the Fayetteville Academy as a coach with the trial advocacy team.

Olivera arrived in Cumberland County in 1989 while stationed here at Ft. Bragg as a Counterintelligence Special Agent in the US Army and serving combat tours in Iraq and Saudi Arabia where he received an Army Commendation Medal for his work in counterterrorism. He was honorably discharged after 8 years of decorated service.

"I have served my community for almost 20 years and want to make it a better place for all our families. I strive to do that every day and hope that our citizens will allow me to continue to do so" said Olivera. He continued "with Ft. Bragg being one of our largest military installations in the nation and with the increase of military personnel with BRAC, there is a definite need for someone who can relate to the specific experiences of our military servicepersons and their families." Additionally, Olivera stated "It is important that our District Court Judges have experience not only in our courts but in our community with the ability to relate to the citizens they represent."

Olivera is an attorney and partner at Godwin & Olivera, PC in Fayetteville with fellow attorney Chris Godwin. Olivera is also a Commissioner with the Public Works Commission, serving since 2003.

For more information or to assist his campaign you may visit www.LuisOlivera.com or email LJOlivera@msn.com

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Military families at heavily deployed bases like Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune are communities at war without their country. Never in our history have so few been asked to sacrifice so much while so many are asked to do nothing at all. Too many Americans hear about the war in Iraq on the evening news, switch off their TV's and sleep well at night confident that the yellow ribbon magnet they bought for their car last week is a sufficient sacrifice. My two military children have sacrificed more before age 10 than the grown men in Washington four times their age who beat the loudest drums to send their Daddy off to war...

I worked the 2000 Census and have been fascinated by the process ever since. In those days we went out with our maps and lists of addresses. I carried those thick forms into every corner of Jackson County, North Carolina. The Jeep J-10 took me up roads without names to people who didn't see many other people. It was a charming and awkward way to get to know people.

Anyway, enough woolgathering, the US Census Department has decided to come to Fayetteville to warm up for the decennial, and they've brought new toys:

I thought some folks here might be interested in this:

Sunday, June 10, 4-6 p.m.
speakers: Steve Woolford and Harvey Tharp
Durham Friends Meeting, 404 Alexander Ave., Durham NC

Iraq Vet Harvey Tharp is a former Air Force Arabic translator and Navy JAG who worked in Iraq outside the wire in close contact with Iraqis. Steve Woolford is a GI Hotline Counselor for Quaker House, who work helps military personnel grappling with their military problems, many of them issues of conscience. The speakers will tell of their vivid personal experiences and interact from their distinct perspectives.

Quaker House offers unique support to American troops. It counsels women and men in the military who have decided, usually for reasons of conscience, that they will not engage in armed violence as an instrument of national policy. It also offers accurate information about recruiting practices to those considering enlistment. Located just minutes away from one of the nation’s largest army bases in Fayetteville/Fort Bragg, NC, it is the only Quaker and peace witness of its kind in the world.

The largest city in Cumberland County, North Carolina is Fayetteville. The butt of bad jokes, the city fathers have been working hard to lose the “Fayette-Nam” designation.

Fayetteville is a military town, and proud of it. It has been the home of Ft. Bragg, one of America’s largest bases since 1918. Col. E.P. King and Dr. T. Wayland Vaughand scouted the area and found it to be a good location for a military base. First named Camp Bragg for Braxton Bragg who served in the U. S. and Confederate armies, the name was later changed to Ft. Bragg.