pubpennewWow! No doubt about it, starting today it’s a yearlong celebration of Fayetteville’s best of the best. Good things last and Up & Coming Weekly’s Best of Fayetteville readership survey is a 19-year-old tradition recognizing and honoring the best people, businesses and organizations in the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community. 

These entities have distinguished themselves by defining our community’s personality and contributing to our quality of life. You need to know these people. They are the ones who continue to impact our community. They are the ones that leave a positive and indelible impression of pride on us and future generations of residents, visitors and guests.

Yes, the Up & Coming Weekly Best of Fayetteville edition you are holding in your hands today will serve you well throughout the year. It is a  valuable visitors guide, service directory and cultural and event resource. Every page touts the “best of the best” of what the Fayetteville community has to offer. 

And, why not? The rules, format and guidelines of this sanctioned, time-tested survey have been designed, tested and audited to provide residents, local businesses and organizations the recognition they deserve for their dedication and perseverance in their quest for excellence. Every category winner has achieved the highest level of excellence in what they do. For 19 years, we have successfully told their stories and revealed their secrets without a single regret. 

No ballot stuffing here, no popularity contest or dubious chance to sway the end result. Each winner is distinguished in its own way. There is no faking it when the community consensus selects you as the best in your field. This means you are performing at the highest level of excellence as recognized by your peers. This being the case, why not declare the business or organization the best? After all, in a competitive world and tight economy, only the best survive.

In building a better community, leaders know that success must be built on a sound foundation. Here, that foundation is our community’s best people, businesses and organizations all striving for extreme excellence.

 So, please join me, the staff of Up & Coming Weekly and our Best of Fayetteville event sponsors and local leaders as we begin this year-long celebration. Pick up an extra copy of this special edition of Up & Coming Weekly at any one of our 500 countywide locations, or stop by our corporate offices at 208 Rowan Street. For 24/7, 365-day access to The Best of Fayetteville winners go to www.upandcomingweekly.com. This is a year-round celebration! And, as always, we sincerely thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly and making us your only locally owned newspaper.