School is out for summer, and that means one thing for Youth Services Librarians – it is time for the Summer Reading Program. The Summer Reading Program is a fun way to incorporate reading and literacy-related activities into summer family time.
All in Columns
Mike Parker: Community concern gave birth to North Lenoir VFD
Shortly after Christmas in 1964, a kitchen fire spread in to blaze that ravaged Winston Wheeler's home. At the time, the City of Kinston provided fire protection for county residents, but only one fire truck – Fire Engine No. 3 – was dedicated for use in fighting fires in the county.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Pointed head cabbage!
Pointed Head or Sweetheart Cabbage is currently the star at local Farmers Markets, get it while it is still available!! Like its’ name describes the pointed head cabbage is conical in shape, and generally has a milder flavor. Its season tends to come earlier and it can be used raw in fresh salads, or steamed, stir fried, or pickled, in many recipes!!! Cabbage is truly a dieter’s friend, it has less calories the least fat of any vegetable. Full of fiber, this vegetable is a must for those of you trying to lose some pounds!
John Hood: Will hybrids drive the economy?
I’m not talking about motor vehicles. I’m talking about work schedules. With so many North Carolinians having experienced months of doing their jobs from home, will they want to come back to the office full-time? If so, there won’t be meaningful changes in traffic patterns, consumer behavior, and the market for commercial and residential real estate.
Reece Gardner: The assault on the 2nd Amendment is intensifying
The assault upon the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution is intensifying, targeting not only "Assault" weapons but also weapons such as the Glock 9MM pistol. Also, we are seeing more aggressive "Defund the Police" movements in various cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland, New York, and others, leading to major increases in crime and violence, destroying lives and property on a massive scale. And even on the International Front the calls for less military preparedness are being heard.
Kristy Bock: The trouble with change
My youngest son graduates from Kinston High School this week. While this is a momentous occasion in his young life, for me it's the end of a long chapter of mine. Though I have worn many hats over the years, the one that got the most wear was the mother hat. What do all the other parents do when their children transition to adulthood?
Gracie Herring: Once a Hawk, forever a Hawk
Graduation season is always a bittersweet time, but it is a lot different when you are going to be the one walking across the stage. Graduating means different things for everyone.
The 14 graduating seniors in the Class of 2021 at Lenoir County Learning Academy had to come up with a great many answers on the way to earning diplomas, but the educator who keynoted the commencement ceremony Wednesday asked them to ponder some important questions as they step out into the world.
Mike Parker: Memorial Day a mix of celebration and sorrow
Today is Memorial Day, a day that honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. At first, this observance was called Decoration Day. Citizens would decorate the grave of the fallen soldiers in the years following the Civil War. That grueling four-year blood bath claimed the lives of almost half of all the war dead from all the wars throughout our nation's history.
Taylor Fussell: This is not a final goodbye
Graduating from the best school in the county is bittersweet (I may be slightly biased). From meeting my lifelong friends to learning more about myself than ever before, North Lenoir has given me the best four years of my life.
Tammy Kelly: Blueberries the Nutritious Little Blue Bite!
Not only are blueberries a favorite springtime snack; they also pack a lot of nutritional punch into one little bite. While a cup of the little blues is only 80 calories, you’ll get 14 percent of your daily fiber and a boost of heart-helping antioxidants. Blueberries have also proven to keep you fresh, active, fit, sharp and in a great mood!!
Nikole Hannah-Jones wasn’t cancelled
In a few weeks, New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones will join the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media, as the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism.
John Hood: Unemployment news isn’t so rosy
The latest estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show about 251,000 North Carolinians unemployed as of April, down about 58,000 since the beginning of 2021.
Reece Gardner: Where there is smoke, there is fire
You've probably heard the expression, "Where there's smoke, there's fire," and smoke seems to linger around the continuing speculation about voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Spice it up with fresh radishes!
Are you convinced that you don’t like radishes, or maybe you are afraid to try them?? If this is you, here is why you should give them a try and make them a part of your regular diet. Radishes are the perfect vegetable to add spice to your recipe when fresh or a savory taste when cooked. They also have a variety of health benefits!
Mike Parker: North Carolina: birthplace of soil and water conservation
After attending the awards ceremony honoring winners of the Lenoir Soil and Water Conservation District on May 12, I left the ceremony with a desire to learn more about the practice of conservation and its history in North Carolina. Despite the push for many years to add industrial and manufacturing facilities to our state economy, the Number 1 industry in North Carolina is still agriculture.
Reece Gardner: How happy do you want to be today?
How happy do you want to be today? You can make that decision. We all have so much to be happy about and thankful for, but we seem inclined to dwell on the perils of today, such as our current gas shortages, price increases, Covid-19, civil unrest, election irregularities, etc., to the point that we find ourselves longing for the "good old days." But just how "good" were those days?
Mike Parker: Students take top prizes in Lenoir Soil & Water Conservation competition
Thursday evening I attended the 2021 Annual Education Celebration at the Lenoir County Livestock Arena. Not only did I have the opportunity to see students recognized for posters, speeches, and computer products, but I also learned a bit about the purposes of these competitions and their organization.
Reece Gardner: Everyday is Mother's Day
Another Mother's Day has come and gone but, actually, every day is Mother's Day because, as the old saying goes, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." Mothers know that children are influenced by what they see and hear, starting in the home.
Mike Parker: Mother’s Day … and the rest of the story
Multiplied thousands – perhaps millions – across this country heard Mother’s Day messages this past Sunday. The story of Mother’s Day usually focuses on Anna Jarvis. Following her mother’s death in 1905, Jarvis had the idea of establishing a day to honor the sacrifices mothers make for their children.