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Collard Green With Envy

Out of butter beans? Running low on rhubarb?

West Produce is a third-generation farm that grows fruits and vegetables on 75 acres along Hayes Road in Spring Lake. The farm includes a market that is fully stocked with sweet corn‚ tomatoes‚ squash‚ cucumbers‚ peppers‚ sweet potatoes and melons.

In September and October‚ West Produce hosts tours‚ pumpkin patches‚ hayrides and classes on American agriculture. The market and farm are open from April 15 to Thanksgiving.

I Do, I Do, I Do

Here comes the bride‚ and here comes the groom along with the bridesmaids and everyone else in the wedding party.

Harnett County boasts several matrimonial-based venues from which to choose. Couples can get married at places such as Anderson Creek Country Club‚ Barrington House‚ Dunn Shrine Center‚ Howard House‚ James A. Campbell House‚ Regency Banquet & Conference Center and the Willow Pond Farmstead.

At Barclay Villa‚ couples can enjoy a grand villa package for $7‚500. It includes a three-day‚ two-night stay in the Ava grand suite‚ as well as use of a 250-seat ballroom and full access to a private English garden.

Court Is in Session

Here’s the verdict: Lillington is home to one of the newest courthouses in the entire country.

The Harnett County Courthouse was built in 2003 to replace the old‚ cramped downtown courthouse that had served the community for many decades. The new facility was constructed on a 300-acre tract of land owned by the county‚ and today the courthouse is home to District 11A court along with small claims‚ traffic courts‚ tax records and deeds.

Besides the courthouse‚ the 300-acre government campus is home to the Department of Public Health‚ Department of Aging‚ Department of Social Services and Veterans Memorial Park. A law enforcement center is currently under construction.

Army on the March

Atten-hut. Fort Bragg is advancing.

The military post/city is in the midst of the largest move of U.S. Army troops since World War II. Because of base closures in other parts of the country‚ those troops and their families will be reassigned to Fort Bragg – or have already made the move.

The nationwide Base Realignment and Closure initiative overseen by the U.S. Department of Defense will ultimately increase the population of Fort Bragg by an estimated 25‚000 to 40‚000 people‚ making it the largest Army post in the United States.

Air of Distinction

In June 2006‚ the Harnett County Airport officially became a regional jetport‚ earning the new name Harnett Regional Jetport.

A new runway extension to 5‚001 feet allows the centrally located facility to accommodate corporate business jets. The airfield is home to 55 aircraft along with seven hangars.

Harnett Regional features more than 50‚000 takeoffs and landings each year‚ which is three times the normal activity at U.S. airports of similar size.

This School Is All Wet

When was the last time you went kneeboarding? Never? Feel free to try it sometime at the Coble Ski School in Lillington.

The school offers everything from one-day private lessons to weeklong camps to teach waterskiing‚ wakeboarding and other watersport activities. It is regarded as one of the country’s finest waterskiing training centers.

Coble offers instruction to all ages and levels of water skiers.

Ahh, Serenity Now

Outdoor enthusiasts‚ rejoice. The Dunn-Erwin Rail Trail spans 5.3 miles and is ideal for walking‚ hiking and biking.

The crushed stone trail offers plenty of scenic variety‚ including farm fields‚ a large pond and a couple of bridges that cross the Black River. Potential bird sightings can include blue herons‚ white egrets and red-tail hawks.

Trailheads are located in both Dunn and downtown Erwin‚ with restaurants and shops available at both ends.

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