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/836409
4 UCW JUNE 14-20, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM PUBLISHER'S PEN STAFF PUBLISHER Bill Bowman Bill@upandcomingweekly.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/EDITOR Stephanie Crider editor@upandcomingweekly.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Leslie Pyo leslie@upandcomingweekly.com SENIOR REPORTER Jeff Thompson news@upandcomingweekly.com SENIOR SPORTS EDITOR Earl Vaughan Jr. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Elizabeth Long art@upandcomingweekly.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS D.G. Martin, Pitt Dickey, Margaret Dickson, John Hood, Erinn Crider, Jim Jones, Shanessa Fenner, Paul Hall SALES ADMINISTRATOR/ DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Laurel Handforth laurel@upandcomingweekly.com ACCOUNTING Paulette Naylor accounting@upandcomingweekly.com MARKETING/SALES 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 pub- lisher. 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 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. Cover art designed with various elements from: vecteezy.com and freepik.com. I am encouraged by our young people today. I know we don't hear much about the good things they do. In fact, we hear way too much about the negative things attributed to them. But look around. Here in Fayetteville there is a rising tide of inspiring young men and women willing to face the chal- lenges, responsibilities and leadership op- portunities that adulthood has promised. What young people need most now is willing mentors and much encourage- ment. Recently, I addressed a group of Fayetteville's Young Professionals at their monthly professional development luncheon. I'll admit, I'm not usually the nervous type when it comes to public speaking, but this group made me quiver. ey would be looking at me as if I were their father. Or even worse, their grandfather. I panicked. It was sheer desperation that drove me to Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop (a fun retro candy and novelty store). Once there, I consulted with owner Ann Sims. Being sympathetic to my cause, she readily assembled a rare assortment of retro candies that were older than I am: Necco Wafers, Mary Janes, Sugar Babies, Goo Goo Bars and more. It was a confec- tionery "blast from the past." I used the candy to make a point with this impressive group of young profes- sionals. I asked them what they thought a successful and rewarding career would have in common with these popular can- dies that have survived five decades. ey were stumped! e answer is simple: Good things last! I assured them that they, and they alone, are the architects of their future successes, and like the basket filled with candy, "good things last." e message was received well. ese young people get it! Expect their involvement in future business, civic and governmental issues affecting their lives and the Fayetteville community. Don't think for one moment these young people are disengaged. ey have vision and goals. ey want the good life. ey want clean and safe communities, and most of all they want to see real leadership in action — leadership that demonstrates vision and produces measurable and tangible results. Young people are not impressed with terms like "revenue neutral" when taxes and fees continue to increase, the unem- ployment rate hovers at 6 percent and our county population is dwindling. Here's a warning to the old guard of our city and county: Don't think you are going to shore up your old-school political ranks by using naive, enthusiastic young profes- sionals. ese upstarts have independent thoughts, dreams and aspirations of their own. More importantly, they have no political baggage and a determination to make a difference. How refreshing! Keep your eyes on this aggressive and talented group of young people. Like all good things, they'll be around for a long time. Fayetteville's Young Professionals, Rocket Fizz and Rising Stars by BILL BOWMAN BILL BOWMAN, Publisher, UP & COMING WEEKLY. COMMENTS? BILL@upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. HIGH 90 LOW 72 HIGH 94 HIGH 84 HIGH 87 HIGH 91 HIGH 91 LOW 72 LOW 67 LOW 69 LOW 70 LOW 71 JUNE 15 JUNE 16 JUNE 17 JUNE 18 JUNE 19 JUNE 20 Thunderstorms Thunderstorms Scattered Thunderstorms PM Thunderstorms PM Thunderstorms Scattered Thunderstorms I am encouraged by our young people today. Learn more about Fayetteville Young Professionals by visiting www.fayyp.org. Good things last.