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/894958
NOVEMBER 1 - 7, 2017 UCW 7 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM HIT (Festival) – Fayette- ville's Dogwood Fall Festival was certainly a "hit." Culi- nary offerings were aplenty: 39 food trucks. A popular children's zone was a first this year. Local bands entertained from the stage. A haunted house was popular given the time of year. And the weather couldn't have been better. MISS (Mediocrity) – Many of us suspect we know one of the reasons that Greater Fayetteville hasn't grown in recent years. The buzzword is "medioc- rity." Not all business and civic leaders may agree, but many locals, past and present, who've been successful know exactly what we're talking about. Some are so frustrated they're talking about moving, and Southern Pines and the Triangle are popular potential destinations. HIT (Gratitude) – The Cumberland Count y Disas- ter Recover y Coalition was founded by Steve Rogers in t he aftermat h of t he tor- nado t hat ripped t hrough much of Cumberland Count y in 2011. Last mont h, t he coalition held a "Heart of Matt hew" luncheon to honor communit y heroes who helped ot hers recover from Hurricane Matt hew a year ago. "This is what we do when we love our neigh- bor as ourselves," said Chip Grammar. MISS (Roadway Sign Clutter) – The median in the newly-paved section of Bragg Boulevard between Filter Plant Drive and Pearl Street has two dozen little signs to distract drivers' attention. They are unnecessary instruction signs that only add clutter to the streetscape. Some of them tell motorists not to make U-turns – despite the fact the medians have made U-turns necessary and completely legal. MISS (Sidewalks) – Forty years ago, the developers of Montclair off Raeford Road built houses and sidewalks, but to this day, sidewalks are few and far between in new Fayetteville neighborhoods. When businesses are built in commercial areas, they're re- quired to put in sidewalks or pay a fine. A section of Syca- more Dairy Road between Morganton and McPherson Church Roads is missing a sidewalk between the State Employees Credit Union and a hotel a hundred yards away. Why? It's a vacant lot, and the city hasn't seen fit to fill in the gap. Progressive thinking? Hardly! HIT (Tally wood Shopping Center) – The developers of the new Publix Mega Mar- ket on Raeford Road had the good sense to retain the Tally wood name. The iconic Tally wood Tower remains, too, as does Mi Casita. It was the only existing store to sur- vive the other wise total makeover of the center. Tally wood, whose name was derived from the family that developed one of Fayetteville's first strip malls, has a dozen or so storefronts for businesses. MISS (Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce's choice for a Candidate Forum moderator) – Tim White White is The Fayetteville Observer's only remaining editorial page editor. Understanding that The Fayetteville Observer's new owner, Gatehouse Media, has cut its local professional journalistic talent down to the bone helps us un- derstand the void this community is experiencing in balanced, comprehensive and informed local news coverage. After all, it's one thing for a resident invested in Fayetteville and Cumberland Count y to be vocal and critical of issues concerning our com- munit y, leadership, qualit y of life and economic development initiatives. However, when you don't live here, you lose the right to pass judgment on the people, policies and processes that affect our local citizens and communit y. Tim W hite not only doesn't live in Fayettev ille, he lives in a different count y 50 miles from here – Chat ham Count y – on t he western edge of t he aff luent Triangle. So, for W hite to be passing his judgments, critiques and criticisms on our residents, policies and politics is insulting. Posing ques- tions and drilling communit y political candidates who have stepped up to ser ve as potential governmental leaders of t his communit y and who care about t he future of Fayettev ille and Cumberland Count y is beyond ironic. It's disrespectful to our communit y. HIT (Comic Con Convention) Congratulations to event organizer Michael Chauduri, Crown Coliseum general manager Jim Grafstrom, Crown staff and Linda McAlister of Up & Coming Weekly community newspaper for making the two-day Comic Con such a wonderful, pleasant and memorable experience for the thousands of whimsical, fun and fantasy fans who attended. Not only was it a great event and huge success, but the local outreach of friendliness and hospitality toward the attendees is just what this community needs more of to ref lect positively on the Fayetteville community and help us develop our brand. They sent thou- sands of visitors home saying great things about the Fayetteville community. Hits and Misses OPINION Steve Rogers with Cumberland County Commissioner Glenn Adams