Faith Phillips (Director, Cumberland County Public Library Systems)Carla Brooks (Director of Programs, Cumberland County Public Library)

Faith Phillips and Carla Brooks introduced the 2022 Summer Reading Program, entitled “Oceans of Possibilities.”  There are separate lists for school children, teens and adults.  While recommended book lists for children and teens are universal across the eight County libraries, the lists for adults vary by literary genre from library to library.  There are prizes and commemoratives for achievement by each age group.  The idea is to encourage reading.

The library is also encouraging use of its materials with its “Fine Free”, “Brainfuse,” “Novelist” and “Cardinal” programs.  With Cardinal, your Cumberland County Library Card is good at participating Library systems across North Carolina.  The libraries’ “Chat” system – putting patrons and knowledgeable librarians together – is also available to enhance the library experience.  A timely update.     

PWC (Fayetteville’s Municipally-owned and operated power,  water and water-treatment Public Works Commission) Employees showcased Power and Water Utility Services and money-saving conservation possibilities at PWC’s 8th Annual Power and Water Conservation Expo at Skyview and Hay St. in Historic Downtown Fayetteville (back after a two-year absence due to Covid-19).  These included Courtney Lucas on PWC’s Ecological Efforts, Adrian Clark (Human Resources) on job and career opportunities within PWC, Lucille Phillips on sophisticated but user-friendly web-based Energy Saving software tools for PWC Electric Customers and Jason Greene, PWC Water Treatment Specialist on stewardship measures PWC takes to assure plentiful and adequate reliable, clean water supplies for its users.  

Barry Bowden, Army Veteran (34 years) and former Army Chaplain (22 years) and professional therapist/counsellor.

With a raft of recent polarizing happenings in the U.S. (controversial Congressional hearings, Supreme Court rulings and disturbing headlines) we, as a nation, seem more divided than ever.  Barry Bowden discussed how a given individual can find peace of mind and faith where it appears to be in short supply.