No doubt about it — starting today, it’s another yearlong celebration of Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s best of the best. Good things last, and Up & Coming Weekly’s Best of Fayetteville readership survey is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It’s a proud tradition of honoring the people, businesses and organizations that have proven themselves to be this community’s finest.

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. You need to know these people, businesses and organizations. They are the ones who will continue to impact our community. They are the ones who leave a positive and indelible impression of pride on us and future generations of residents,  visitors and guests.

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 visitors’ guide, service directory and cultural and event resource. Every page touts the best of the best of what the Fayetteville and Cumberland County community has to offer.

The rules, format and guidelines of this sanctioned, time-tested survey have been designed 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 20 years, we have successfully told their stories and revealed their secrets without a single regret or complaint.

There is no ballot stuffing, pay-to-play shenanigans, presale gimmicky advertising packages or dubious mischief designed to sway the 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 being the case, why not have your business or organization recognized as the best? After all, in a competitive world and tight economy, only the best (and the strongest) survive. This is why we are proud to be associated with and supported by with the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau. To build a better community, real leaders know that success comes from building on a sound foundation. Here, that foundation is this community’s best of the best people, businesses and organizations.

So, please join me, the staff of Up & Coming Weekly and the Best of Fayetteville sponsors as we begin this yearlong 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 St.

For 24/7, 365-day 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 Tuesday afternoons. I promise you will be in the know and stay in the know. I also want to welcome Mark Pezzella and Five Star Entertainment as a corporate sponsor of Best of Fayetteville as well as thank Jimmy Keefe of the Trophy House and CPA Lee Utley for nearly two decades of supporting and partnering with us in this valuable endeavor.

Remember, the next time you hear someone say, “There’s nothing to do in Fayetteville.” Hand them a copy of Up & Coming Weekly and say, “BUSTED!”

Enjoy! And, as always, we sincerely thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly and making us your only locally-owned newspaper.