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/1503133
4 UCW JULY 5 - 11, 2023 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM STAFF PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com MANAGING EDITOR April Olsen editor@upandcomingweekly.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Hannah Lee assistanteditor@upandcomingweekly. com ART DIRECTOR Courtney Sapp-Scott art@upandcomingweekly.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Isaiah Jones graphics@upandcomingweekly.com STAFF WRITERS Alyson Hansen Kathleen Ramsey Chayenne Burns Katrina Wilson Aubrette Reid Laura Browne CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Margaret Dickson, Rep. Richard Hudson, Pitt Dickey, Megan Brown, Lynne Smith, Cynthia Ross, Audrey Hasslocher MARKETING ASSOCIATE Linda McAlister linda@upandcomingweekly.com SALES ASSISTANT Sheila Barker salesassistant@upandcomingweekly. com COVER Cover design by Courtney Sapp-Scott Photos courtesy Vision Resource Center 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. 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. Association of Community Publishers Letters to the Editor Do YOU have something to say? We want YOU to be heard! We want EVERYONE to be able to voice their opinions on current community events. Let us be a place to start much needed conversations. ALL VOICES WELCOMED! EMAIL: editor@upandcomingweekly.com CALL: 910-484-6200 BILL BOWMAN, Publisher. COMMENTS? BILL@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. PUBLISHER'S PEN Chamber is on the move, literally by BILL BOWMAN e newly installed president of the Greater Fayetteville Cham- ber of Commerce, Nat Robert- son, is wasting no time setting the course to make the "New" Fayetteville Chamber a tour de force advocacy for business in the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. Hitting the ground running, Robertson is revamping and overhauling Chamber programs to create more value for its members. He is developing new policies, streamlining operating procedures, and hiring competent staff who embrace the organization's mission and have the skill sets and work ethic to create, implement and execute effective value-added pro- grams for Chamber members. In just weeks, the Chamber will re- locate its Ray Avenue office to Bronco Square at 1047 Murchison Road, Suite 120, across from Fayetteville State University, putting Robertson on the fast track to turning the Chamber of Commerce into a relevant organiza- tion that supports local businesses by taking an active role in their success. Vibrant businesses and healthy economic growth foster a vibrant city. Being the former Mayor of Fayetteville, Robertson knows the im- portance of competent and trustwor- thy leadership. He also understands that the Chamber of Commerce must actively recognize and nurture such leadership. is is why Robertson's latest innovative program exempli- fies its high priority on well-informed leadership. at program is the Greater Fayetteville Chamber's first Can- didates Academy on July 29. For one day, the Chamber invites ev- eryone seeking an elected office in Fayetteville to attend a free pre- election program to get "up close and personal" insights into the city's oper- ation, making them better informed candidates. Robertson has assembled an impressive and diverse faculty of a dozen local business, political and community leaders who will share their experience and knowledge of city government concepts and inner- workings, including the realities of policy making. e topics being covered are as diverse as the facility itself. ey include e Downtown District, City Wants vs. Needs, Economic Develop- ment, Public Utilities, Arts & Culture, Crime and Safety, and other topics that are vitally important to enhanc- ing our quality of life and assuring that Fayetteville lives up to its reputa- tion as a All America City. According to Robertson, "I believe by educating the candidates before taking office, we have a better oppor- tunity of them understanding exactly what we do, and why. Often after tak- ing office, the candidate's perspective changes … if we can have an honest exchange prior to that time, it may be beneficial for all the residents of Fayetteville." e Chamber will invite all the candidates filing for a mu- nicipal office in Fayetteville. Based on attendance, they may open it up to other Cumberland County munici- palities if room allows. e Chamber of Commerce will later host the Fayetteville Candidates Forum on Oct. 17. Many topics covered during the Academy will be presented as questions during the Forum. Up & Coming Weekly supports and applauds Robertson's efforts and the Chamber's new, refreshing, long- overdue outlook on Fayetteville. We desperately need competent leadership to move Fayetteville forward. For nearly a decade, our city has suffered from a deficit of municipal leadership plagued with ignorance, incompetence and many suspicious allegations of corruption. Robertson's commitment to the community and innovative programs like the Candidates Academy is what Fayetteville needs to attract and develop competent leadership, new businesses, and organizations to the Chamber of Commerce. Keep your eye on Robertson and the "New" Greater Fayetteville Cham- ber of Commerce. Fayetteville and Cumberland County need a strong Chamber and competent leadership for a prosperous future. No doubt, we are moving in the right direction. ank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.