All in Columns
Of all living creatures only we have the gift of laughter, and it's ours to use whenever we choose. So I'll cultivate the habit of laughter. I'll smile, and my digestion will improve. I'll chuckle, and my burdens will be lightened. I'll laugh, and my life will be lengthened. That's the great secret of long life, and now it's mine.
At the October 5th Kinston City Council meeting, the elected members unanimously approved two motions allowing city employees new vacation days for June 19 and Election Day. With roughly less than five minutes of discussion, both motions passed.
The City of Kinston has 378 positions on payroll and have about 350 positions filled at this time. Let’s assume all 350 are eligible to vote. If 70% take the time to vote, that will equate to approximately 245 employees exercising that right. Since 61.2% have already cast their ballots in our area, it would mean about 214 employees have already done so.
Based on historical numbers, the cost per vote on Election Day (31) is roughly $1,729, plus time and a half for our police, fire and other essential employees.
Whatever happens, North Carolina’s legislative contests will be part of an important but underreported national story of partisan battles over control of state governments going into 2021 — a pivotal year when COVID-era budgets will be set, states will struggle to emerge from the COVID recession, lawmakers will fashion post-COVID changes in education and health-care policy, and new sets of legislative and congressional districts will be drawn around the nation, usually (but not always) by state legislators.
As with everything else affected by the COVID pandemic, the annual Salute! festivities have been modified to allow us to honor veterans while practicing behaviors that help prevent the spread of the virus.
In 2019, NC Sweet Potato production was valued at $ 647,736,000, and provided over 70% of the nation’s sweet potatoes. NC remains the leading sweet potato producer in the United States. North Carolina’s Official Vegetable is the sweet potato.
Politicians are notorious for making wild claims or exaggerating what they have done on behalf of those who elected them. President Trump is a master of puffery and routinely makes false or misleading statements about his political accomplishments. But one claim has gotten the attention of Black voters, a loyal Democratic voting bloc; some Black voters are questioning the president's assertion that he has "done more for the Black community than any other president."
I’ve read that 1918 was one of the worst years throughout recorded history. The First World War was raging in Europe while an unseen enemy, the Spanish Flu, was spreading across the earth. The illness began in the spring and seemed to subside during the summer months. It lasted until late 1919 and consisted of “waves” of varying intensity.
The first victim of the Spanish Flu Pandemic I have found in Kinston was in late summer 1918. The victim was State Sen. William Durward Pollock. In October the height of the Spanish Flu Pandemic was in full swing in Kinston. Three died that first week. There were some days when 15 to 20 victims died.
As you know, Early Voting will continue through Saturday, with Election Day falling on Tuesday, November 3. There are many very important contests to be decided this year. Let's make our voices heard!
Many domestic violence victims fear if they attempt to leave, their abuser’s actions may become more violent, even lethal. Many women have no idea that programs such as SAFE in Lenoir County exist. Before a woman can leave a dangerous situation, she must have somewhere she can go – and somewhere she can take her children.
There are about 300,000 fewer jobs in North Carolina today than there were in February, before the start of the COVID-19 recession. That’s a 7.5% drop in total employment — the biggest decline in the southern United States.
If the turnout of voters in this first week of Early Voting continues to grow, we are in the process of witnessing the largest election turnout ever, both in North Carolina and throughout the country. Another interesting development is the rapid growth of independent voters.
Folks, our nation as we have known it since our founding some 244 years ago is at a cross roads that we have never seen before. As I mentioned to our church congregation this past Sunday, this is the most important election in the history of our country. Let me tell you why – at least in this one man’s opinion.
Local restaurants are working with SAFE to generate funds for fighting domestic violence. During the week of Oct. 18 through Oct. 24, these restaurants will be displaying table tents that include information about SAFE and a QR code to allow patrons to make donations to our local domestic violence prevention program.
November 3rd will be a defining and pivotal day for America. Reality tells us there is a “binary choice this election between America and radicalism”. The America as we have known it, is a Constitutional, orderly and civilized America where everyone has a chance to live the “American dream”. The alternate America we are facing is a chaotic, violent America, one where mob rule and tyrannical government control reigns. We live in a Republic, not a Democracy. Democracy is mob rule, but the media would have you believe differently. Not once in the Constitution of United States of America is the word “Democracy” mentioned. That is reality.
North Carolina, like most of the country, has become increasingly polarized in our political thinking and behavior. But what does that really mean? Well, we know it doesn’t mean that all North Carolinians are so rigidly partisan they support only candidates of one major party or the other. Split-ticket voters do make up a smaller share of the electorate than they did generations ago. They’re rarer. That doesn’t make them extinct.
All contests on the ballot this year are very important, but the races for the N.C. Supreme Court are ultra-important. As John Guze, director of legal studies at the John Locke Foundation pointed out, voters need to keep in mind that the NC Supreme Court has become a super-legislature as a result of judicial doctrines adopted in the second half of the 20th century.
It’s no surprise that Halloween, like many other Holidays, will be celebrated quite differently this year. Halloween traditions like choosing costumes, decorating pumpkins, and getting special treats, may look a little different, but it can still be great fun!
Before I get to my main topic today on happiness, I want to highlight some deadlines pertaining to our big and very important election this year. Be sure that you are registered to vote. Regular Voter Registration forms must be postmarked or delivered to your county board of elections office by 5 p.m. this Friday, October 9. However, voters may also same-day register at any one-stop early voting site from October 15 to October 31.
You may laugh at the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but much about that is rooted in truth. Apples provide multiple nutrients and compounds that help promote good health and weight management.
