It’s celebration time! The Best of Fayetteville is here. This is the event we have anticipated all year long. Well, actually, Best of Fayetteville may be a misnomer. It should be titled Best of Cumberland County because it encompasses the best of the best people, services, businesses and organizations county-wide as determined by the readers of our community newspaper, Up & Coming Weekly. This is why we invited Hope Mills Mayor Jackie Warner to represent Cumberland County and cohost the awards party.
Each winning entity has distinguished itself within the community by reinforcing our values, defining our community’s personality and contributing to our quality of life. We received thousands of ballots during the month of June and painstakingly recorded the sentiments of our readers. You need to get to know these people, businesses and organizations. They are the ones who continually impact our community. They are the ones who leave a positive and indelible impression of pride on us and who have laid the groundwork for the success of future generations of residents, visitors and guests.
Granted, this survey is informal and not very scientific. However, with the rules, conditions and restrictions we place on participation, the end results have proven to be accurate, dependable and reflective of our community.
The Up & Coming Weekly Best of Fayetteville edition you are holding in your hands will serve you well throughout the year. It is a valuable visitor’s guide, service directory and cultural and event resource.
The format of and guidelines for this sanctioned, time-tested survey have been designed and audited to provide residents, local businesses and organizations the recognition they deserve for their ethics, dedication and perseverance in their quest for excellence. Every category winner has achieved the highest level of excellence in what they do — no nominations needed.
For 22 years, Up & Coming Weekly has successfully told the winners’ stories and revealed their secrets to success without a single regret or complaint. And, we did it without bogus nominations, gimmicky advertising, ballot stuffing, pay-to-play shenanigans or costly events. There are no second-or third-place winners with Best of Fayetteville. There is only one winner per category.
In this fast-paced and competitive market, only the best of the best survive. This is why we are proud to be associated with and supported by the Greater Fayetteville Chamber. Leaders know the value of a sound foundation in building a better community. Here, that foundation is this community’s best of the best people, businesses and organizations.
Please join me, the Up & Coming Weekly staff and our 2019 Best of Fayetteville sponsors as we begin this yearlong celebration. Pick up extra copies of this special edition of Up & Coming Weekly at any one of our 500 county-wide locations, or stop by our corporate offices at 208 Rowan St.
For 24/7, 365-days-a-year access to the Best of Fayetteville winners list, visit www.upandcomingweekly.com. While you’re there, sign up for our free electronic subscription and receive the Early Bird edition of Up & Coming Weekly every Tuesday afternoon.
I also want to welcome Mark Pezzella and Five Star Entertainment as a corporate sponsor of Best of Fayetteville. Thank you to Jimmy Keefe of the Trophy House and CPA Lee Utley for nearly two decades of supporting and partnering with us in this valuable endeavor.
I hope you enjoy this special edition. Keep it handy and refer to it often. We sincerely thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly and for making us your only locally owned community newspaper.
BILL BOWMAN, Publisher, UP & COMING WEEKLY. COMMENTS? BILL@upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.
Click Here for our complete Winners List: