Now that we are fully into the New Year, I want to share some true-to-life examples of how people are constantly and consistently reaching out to others in a positive way. Events like impeachment and Iranian hostilities can wait for another day.
All in Columns
Jon Dawson: Scissors, Tax Deductions, and Neil Peart
We were watching Jeopardy (I refuse to add the exclamation point), and there was a question about scissors. This prompted The Wife to look up the history of scissors on her phone, which for some reason annoyed our 15-year-old daughter to no end.
"I can't say anything without starting an investigation!" she said
Mike Parker: Quality of K-12 education needs to improve – but how?
According to some measures, test results for North Carolina’s public schools demonstrate stagnant progress, at best, or a slight decline in academic preparation. From my perspective as someone who spent more than 37 years as a 7-12 classroom teacher and another 28 years as a part-time college instructor, weaknesses in the education of students stem from multiple problems.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: A kale you will love
For all of you Kale haters out there, thanks to one of our local farmers, I have found your answer to adding Kale to your diet. It’s Lacinato or Dinosaur kale is a dark green leafy vegetable.
Reece Gardner: Updates on Soleimani and impeachment
Two items today. First, intelligence has revealed that planned attacks against U.S. interests in Syria and Lebanon were what brought about the "taking out" of one of the leading anti-American terrorists in the entire world, Qassem Soleimani. Second, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is introducing legislation to dismiss the impeachment "trial" being pursued by the U.S. House, calling Speaker Pelosi's withholding of the Articles of Impeachment an "Abuse of the Constitution."
Jon Dawson: La Grange woman blamed for UNC basketball woes
Burroughs has won the Lenoir County Demolition Derby a record 17 times, four of which were without the use of a vehicle.
Mike Parker: Flashes from the past frozen in time
Neuse News columnist Mike Parker shares a couple of photos from Kinston’s past, including what Vernon Avenue used to look like, and admonishes our readers to document photos for history’s sake.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Foods to boost your health in the new year
It’s January and the diet plan commercials are already flooding the media, each claiming to be the best. If you want to boost your health instead of a diet plan that will want you to “cheat” or drop after a couple of weeks, try introducing some new health-boosting foods into your regular diet plan. Here are some of the best foods to choose and why!
John Nix: Voter ID provision diverted
Federal Judge Loretta Biggs filed a preliminary injunction halting the Voter ID law in NC on Dec. 27, 2019. What does that mean to North Carolina voters?
Sarah Jo Sever: Announcing new changes at Neuse Regional Libraries
Happy New Year from Neuse Regional Libraries! We’re convinced that this is going to be our best year yet and to start things off right we’re rolling out some wonderful changes, starting with a brand new logo and Library website with a special thank you to Lenoir Community College.
Reece Gardner: A lighthearted start to the new year
I want my first Column of the New Year to be rather lighthearted, starting with humor, then with one of the many examples of those who do so many good things for us on a regular basis, and then an example of the sacredness of wisdom. I believe that some significant events are about to break on the impeachment saga, and I will look forward to commenting on that in next week's column.
Jon Dawson: Grease, laziness and yogurt mats
Most adults I know are busier than a rented mule, so it was a revelation to feel the ol' brain untense. By the time I get back to work I'm sure I will have forgotten every computer password and quite possibly my own name, but it will have been worth it.
Mike Parker: My after-Christmas wish for you
Now the rush of “Christmas” is over, I hope you can take some time to relax and to rest. We can easily lose ourselves in the activity of the season. Ironically, a time of year supposedly focused on family becomes a time when true family ties are often neglected.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Recipes using the beautiful, tart cranberries
Cranberries are often a popular part of Holiday celebrations in the form of cranberry sauce, cranberry drinks and dried cranberries added to stuffing, casseroles or dessert.
Psychology helps explain Political divide
Because I spend much of my time these days encouraging constructive engagement across political difference, through such programs as Duke University’s North Carolina Leadership Forum, readers sometimes ask me if I think political differences are more appearance than reality — that if we just tried hard enough, we could reach a broad public consensus on many seemingly contentious issues.
Reece Gardner: One of the greatest Christmas reunions ever
I am so blessed to be spending this Christmas with my precious children and grandchildren. This is one of those special times that will remain clearly in my mind on into eternity.
Jon Dawson: Sleeping bag vending machines introduced at airports
A flight attendant assured me it was just "pockets of air" that were causing the trouble. I told him I was worried the "pockets of air" might cause the plane to "hurdle to the ground". No one likes a whiner, but what kind of airline chooses The Buddy Holly Story as the Inflight movie?
Rudy Coggins: Holiday season holds a different meaning
Before that glorious afternoon this past August, my world had been turned upside down, inside out and flipped backward with the passing of my dad and my mom in 2018. They died 8 1/2 months within each other. This is the second holiday season without them. And the 12th without my only brother, who passed away in 2008.
What do you want for Christmas? (2019 version)
I stumbled across a column I had written around Christmastime in 1999. “Sometime around Thanksgiving, wives and children begin firing the question that never seems to end until Christmas Day. What do you want for Christmas, Dad?”
Justin Stout: Free entrepreneurship program offered at the library
The Neuse Regional Library System is committed to opening the door to opportunities for residents in Lenoir, Greene, and Jones Counties by making informational resources and programming freely accessible to them. One of the ways we have recently done this is through the ICE HOUSE Entrepreneurship Program, a free three-week course sponsored by the NC IDEA Foundation designed to inspire and engage participants with the determination and perseverance of an entrepreneurial mindset.