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.
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4 UCW DECEMBER 7-13, 2016 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Forward Ho!! No doubt about it, this community has much to look forward to. The groundwork has been laid for a myriad of projects that will make a real difference in the quality of life for local citizens. However, we must be prepared and capable of mobilizing and utilizing our resources, time and talent in the most positive and productive way to bring these to fruition. This means assessing our options and opportunities countywide to achieve a better community and getting into the proper mindset and achieving these objectives in a timely manner. Sure, it will take hard work, a forward- thinking group of leaders and, most of all, cooperation between our city and county elected officials who will need to focus on the opportunities at hand. Both would be well advised to stop playing "old school" politics where important leadership positions are concerned. Currently, many observers are scratching their heads at the county's recent assignments and appointments, perceiving them as gratuitous "go along to get along" entitlements. Not good. To move Fayetteville and Cumberland County forward, both entities must come to grips with 21st century realities that will directly impact this community's future. There is so much to do and so many needs that should be addressed. And, we need to do it – NOW! It begs the question: What are they waiting for? They, of course, being our city and county elected officials and staff. Does anyone in local government realize that at the snail's pace we are operating at to address local issues that a child born in January 2017 will be in high school before the completion of projects already approved or deemed vital for the success and betterment of the community: i.e. splash pads, tennis courts, athletic fields, senior centers, swimming pools, river parks, a baseball stadium, a downtown performing arts center (or new Crown Theatre), the Civil War History Center, a 911 consolidated call center, storm water-sewer extensions and, in view of the sheriff 's recent retirement, consideration and feasibility of countywide policing? Whew! Again, what are they waiting for? My final point: We need jobs! We need business and industry. We need to reverse Cumberland County's declining population trend. We desperately need to attract economic development, and we need to set priorities. Now. Does anyone really think splash pads will attract businesses and economic development to our community? Or, that industry will locate here on the "if we build it, they will come" promise of a performing arts center? The answer is no! We need new energy and a strategy from our leadership. We need new ideas. We need people with vision who are focused on doing things and getting things done. And, we need to replace those elected officials whose definition of success is making sure we maintain status quo, meaning everything stays the same. Well, that's pretty poor foresight and neglective pathetic management. We deserve better and should demand better. Vision 2026 is a movement in the making. Its purpose is to accelerate these essential projects, to recognize and acknowledged true leadership and to hold the rest accountable. Vision 2026: The time is now. Stay tuned. Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly. PUBLISHER'S PEN Vision 2026: Because we deserve better. by BILL BOWMAN STAFF PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/EDITOR Stephanie Crider editor@upandcomingweekly.com SENIOR REPORTER Jeff Thompson news@upandcomingweekly.com ART DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sara Smith art@upandcomingweekly.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D.G. Martin, Pitt Dickey, Margaret Dickson, John Hood, Erinn Crider, Jim Jones, Shanessa Fenner, Heather Griffiths BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Keri Dickson keri@upandcomingweekly.com SALES ADMINISTRATOR/ DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Laurel Handforth laurel@upandcomingweekly.com ACCOUNTING Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com MARKETING/SALES Nicki Hart nicki@upandcomingweekly.com Linda McAlister Brown linda@upandcomingweekly.com ––––––––––– Up & Coming Weekly www.upandcomingweekly.com 208 Rowan Street 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 infor- mation 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 pub- lication consideration, but assumes no respon- sibility 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 distrib- uted at indoor and outdoor locations throughout Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, Pope Air Force Base, Hope Mills and Spring Lake. Readers are limited to one copy per person. ©2007 by F&B Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or advertisements without permission is strictly prohibited. Fayetteville's Weather Forecast Call 910-354-1679 for more info. December 8 AM Showers December 9 Sunny December 10 Sunny December 11 Parly Cloudy December 12 Partly Cloudy December 13 Showers THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY HIGH 61 HIGH 44 HIGH 46 HIGH 54 HIGH 63 HIGH 63 LOW 33 LOW 24 LOW 28 LOW 42 LOW 52 LOW 47 BILL BOWMAN, Publisher, UP & COM- ING WEEKLY. COMMENTS? bbowman@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.391-3859. In Our Future? Downtown Performing Arts Center? Downtown Baseball Stadium?