Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1386020
4 UCW JUNE 23-29, 2021 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM STAFF PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com EDITOR April Olsen editor@upandcomingweekly.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dylan Hooker art@upandcomingweekly.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Keyuri Parab STAFF WRITER Audrey Hogue REPORTER Jeff Thompson MARKETING ASSOCIATE Linda McAlister Brown linda@upandcomingweekly.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER/SALES ADMINISTRATOR Laurel Handforth laurel@upandcomingweekly.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Margaret Dickson, Pitt Dickey, D.G. Martin, John Hood, Jim Jones, Shanessa Fenner, Crissy Neville COVER Cover photo by April Olsen. –––––––––––- Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan St. P.O. Box 53461 Fayetteville, NC 28305 PHONE: 910-484-6200- FAX: 910-484-9218 Up & Coming Weekly is a "Quality of Life" publication with local features, news and information on what's happening in and around the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Up & Coming Weekly is published weekly on Wednesdays. Up & Coming Weekly welcomes manuscripts, photographs and artwork for publication consideration, but assumes no responsibility for them. We cannot accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or material. Opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy submitted for publication. Up & Coming Weekly is free of charge and distributed at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Army Airfield, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per person. © 2020 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. Various ads with art graphics designed with elements from: vecteezy.com and freepik.com. PUBLISHER'S PEN Civil War History Center is one step closer to reality by BILL BOWMAN 82 64 82 83 79 82 63 64 83 66 64 65 THU JUN 24 FRI JUN 25 SAT JUN 26 SUN JUN 27 MON JUN 28 TUE JUN 29 86 67 87 70 88 72 90 73 90 73 91 73 Thunderstorms Thunderstorms Thunderstorms Thunderstorms Thunderstorms Thunderstorms Association of Community Publishers It was a beautiful warm summer day at Arsenal Park last week when residents, state dignitaries and local of- ficials gathered to break ground for the North Carolina Civil War & Reconstruc- tion History Center's History Village. e ceremony marked the beginning of the next stage of development of the statewide Civil War History Center. e ceremony was an impressive "who's who" of those who genuinely care about North Carolina's history, heritage and Fayetteville's future. ese are the peo- ple who understand the importance of embracing history as it pertains to hu- man rights and the freedoms we enjoy today as Americans, but, unfortunately, many times, we take for granted. e keynote speaker was Clemson University history professor Orville Vernon Burton. Burton is an award- winning author of the book "e Age of Lincoln." In addition, former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt was in attendance and currently serves as the honorary chairman of the history center. How- ever, locally and for over a decade, the hard work, dedication, perseverance and leadership for bringing the NCC- WHC to Fayetteville is the History Cen- ter's Foundation Chairman Mac Healy and long-time resident and Fayetteville advocate Co-Chair Mary Lynn Bryan. Together, they represent a tour de force of spirit, enthusiasm and heart for what constitutes a healthy and robust com- munity. ey understand that American history cannot be changed or altered — only studied, appreciated and under- stood as it pertains to humanity. is $80 million center will be part of the North Carolina state museum sys- tem. It is a godsend to the Fayetteville community, and we should be proud and grateful that the state has chosen our community for this honor. We, as citizens, should be Fayetteville proud that over $30 million in private funding has been secured for this Fayetteville and Cumberland County project. And, everyone should be overly excited about the economic impact this facility will have on our community in terms of consumer spending, creating new jobs and increasing tourism. ese are all the things you would think our local mayor and city council would embrace. Well, unfortunately, Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin's absence at the groundbreaking was conspicuously noticeable. is once-in-a-lifetime Herculean accomplishment could be the pinnacle and highlight of Colvin's mayoral ca- reer. After all, being an integral part of bringing an $80 million state-supported museum to the Fayetteville community would be a pretty impressive accom- plishment when pursuing a political career. However, to make that happen, one must set self-serving politics aside, and all city residents' welfare must become a priority. And that takes coop- eration, communication and flawless leadership. e mayor and our city and county leadership will never again have a more opportune time to showcase their lead- ership skills or demonstrate their love of this community than by providing this museum. Everyone would be proud of an institution that would provide valuable learning and educational ex- periences for future generations. ey, the mayor and city officials, have the power to make it happen. In closing, history is history. It cannot be changed, altered or modified. ank goodness that telling the truth has never been a bad thing. at being said, this is Fayetteville's chance to make his- tory! Let's do it! ank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. Artist rendering of the planned N.C. Civil War & Reconstruction History Center. BILL BOWMAN, Publisher, UP & COMING WEEKLY. COM- MENTS? BILL@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200.