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: https://www.epageflip.net/i/599598
NOVEMBER 11-17, 2015 UCW 9 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM The greater Fayetteville commu- nity can take a great deal of pride in the opening of the new $120 million Veterans Affairs Healthcare Center off south Raeford Road. It's one of seven new VA centers in the nation. Three of them are in North Carolina. The other North Carolina centers are nearing completion in Charlotte and Kernersville. The 260,000 sq. ft. Fayetteville out-patient facility will serve military veterans in Southeast- ern North Carolina and a small area of South Carolina. Wait times for veterans to see their doctors and clinicians will be reduced according to VA Director Elizabeth Goolsby. But, it's a process, she notes. It will take time, and hope- fully a budget that will more realistically provide the agency with the medical profes- sionals it needs. Goolsby says the local VA Medical Center and Healthcare Center are operating on last fiscal year budget levels. Congress has not yet agreed on a budget for the new fiscal year. Fortunately, a law championed by Veterans' organizations shields the VA health- care system from the harmful effects of budget stalemates, continuing resolutions and government shutdowns. It authorized advance appropriations for VA healthcare, providing the funding one year in advance, but does not address future needs. . North Carolina's members of Congress should be in the forefront of efforts to improve funding for the VA rather than blaming the agency for its problems. What can we expect of our delegation? Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) has been on the outs with veterans groups for more than a year. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is the only member of Congress serving the area who sits on the Veterans Affairs Committee. Rep. Renee Elmers (R-2nd), Rep. David Price (D-4th) and Rep. David Rouzer (R-7th) all repre- sent portions of Cumberland County in the U.S. House, but their record advocating for veterans is sparse. Unlike many areas of the country, Goolsby says the veteran population in greater Fayetteville continues to explode, growing at a rate of 7 percent annually. Many veterans prefer to retire in military communities like Fayetteville. In May of this year, Liveability.com rated Fayetteville the best city in the United States for veter- ans to live. According to the University of North Carolina Population Center, more than 736,000 veterans call North Carolina home, representing nearly 10 percent of the state's total population. Approximately 18 percent of Fayetteville's population is made up of veterans. The median age of N.C. veterans is 61. The majority of veterans are 45 or older: 41 percent are ages 45-64 and 38 percent are 65 or older. Ninety-one percent of N.C. veterans are male, while 9 percent are female. Fayetteville VA Director Elizabeth Goolsby is herself a veteran, having served as an Army nurse. She's a retired colonel. More than a decade of war has left its mark on tens of thousands of troops who are now veterans. The scars of those who served and their loved ones are under- standable, complex and concerning. They deserve recognition and appreciation for the sacrifices they have made. The Department of Veterans Affairs' task is to continue its efforts to reach those in need and provide the care and support that will allow them to heal from the painful wounds of war. Veterans Healthcare Gets a Boost With Opening of New Facility by JEFF THOMPSON JEFF THOMPSON, Senior News Re- porter. COMMENTS? news@upand- comingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. Showcasing Women in the Fayetteville Area The Fayetteville Ladies Power Lunch has successfully cared for and about WOMEN in our community for 5 years!! Please join us for lunch on December 10, 2015 as we inspire, educate, empower and celebrate YOU! Speaker - Mary Lee Cudd, PA-C, Owner, Elan Med Spa Location: Holiday Inn I-95 at Exit 49 1944 Cedar Creek Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28312 Luncheon: Noon-2:00pm Shopportunity Expo Opens at 10:00 am Cost: $35 per person Attendees must pre-register by Friday November 28, 2015 ONLINE!!! Vendor Opportunities Available for $75 (includes 1 lunch ticket) Please visit our website for more information! www.fayettevilleladiespowerlunch.com Hours: 9am-6pm Mon-Fri 3006 Bragg Blvd. 910.323.1791 Personalize your Christmas gifts for men, women, children and babies! The new $120 million Veteran's Affairs Healthcare Center, one of three in North Caro- lina will serve military veterans in Southeastern North Carolina and a small part of South Carolina.