All in Columns
Most who have read my columns through the years know I am a retired high school English teacher. I spent 37½ years in the classroom, so I consider myself somewhat of an authority on what parents need to do to help their children succeed in school. In addition, I have four adult children, all college graduates, who have become productive citizens. They work, raise families, pay mortgages, and do a good job “adulting.”
It’s that wonderful time in summer when eggplants, in their many shapes and colors have taken over more than a few tables at the farmer’s market. While eggplant is readily available throughout the year, its peak season is right now, from early August through October.
Just 39 years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, with the “slave experience” still fresh in the memories of black Kinstonians, a number of black businesses sprang up with tenacity and industry, creating three all black business districts in Kinston.
Do you have more banana peppers than you think you possibly could ever eat? I am here to help!! Banana peppers are so versatile you can freeze, stuff, fry, pickle, or even grill them. Bananas are sweet, and sometimes even hot.
COVID impacted many elements of our community’s life during the past 18 months. In addition to schools, churches, restaurants, and stores taking hits, the Friends of the Kinston-Lenoir County Library also saw its fundraising efforts thwarted.
One of my guests this week on my television show is George Whitfield, and it is a pleasure to be in his presence. The main reason I wanted to write today about George is that he epitomizes the "rags to riches" theme of being the best that we can be. He is a "local boy,' so to speak, who excelled, but it was not without a lot of effort. A. J. Carr wrote, "Coach Whitfield produced a glittering record for more than 40 years, helped thousands of kids, and still promotes the sport of baseball with unbridled fervor."
In 2018, North Carolinians went to the polls to cast ballots for congressional, legislative, and local candidates. They also voted on several constitutional amendments. One of them required the presentation of a photo ID in order to vote. The measure was extensively debated for months. Some 1.6 million voted against it. Just over 2 million voted for it. By a 55% to 45% margin, North Carolinians added a photo-ID requirement to the state constitution.
Before I get into the issue for today, I want to let everyone know that the opening of the Gizella Gross Abramson Center for Holocaust and Civil Rights scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 22, at Queen Street Methodist Church has been postponed because of concerns over the latest variant of the COVID-19.
North Carolina growers became a factor in blueberry production over 60 years ago, starting with 100 acres of the bearing bushes. Today that production has grown to over 200 harvestable acres from the coast to the mountains.
Sweet, juicy, and crunchy, it’s hard to think of a fruit that provides the unique goodness of a fresh fig. A fig's unique flavor makes it a wonderful treat all on its own, but when added to a recipe, the results can be very tasty. Super nutritious, the low-calorie fruit is an excellent source of calcium, potassium, and fiber, one large, raw fig has just 47 calories.
I remember a few years ago when I was expecting someone to come in for a very important meeting, and the time for the meeting came and he wasn't there. After a few minutes, I said to one of our associates, "I'll bet that guy will be late for his own funeral."
Circle Sunday, August 22, on your calendar, and make plans to be at the Queen Street United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. for the opening of the Gizella Gross Abramson Resource Center for Holocaust and Civil Rights Education. The church is at 500 North Queen Street in Kinston. The opening ceremony will begin with a service featuring presenters and music and culminating in the Center’s dedication. After the initial festivities, attendees will be able to socialize and tour the facility.
Over the last two and a half years I have had the privilege of working with the best team in Lenoir County. I was 15, almost 16, when I applied for the 2019 Summer Internship. All I knew was that I loved social media and I loved Kinston. Not only did that summer change me for the better, but I was lucky enough to officially join the team, and I have been here ever since.
In last week's Column I talked about commitments made by a class in Roanoke Rapids to go out and live with enthusiasm in a specific area of their lives and then to come back and report on the experience. It was GREAT!
How much say should the public have about public education? Parental revolts against “wokeness” fads in the classroom are all the rage right now, but gaps between public preferences and the practice of public education didn’t suddenly begin a few months ago. They’ve been around for decades.
National Farmers Market Week, established 22 years ago, will be celebrated August 1st-7th, 2021. This annual celebration was established by the National Farmers Market Coalition to highlight the vital role farmers markets play in the nation’s food systems. The year 2020 and the nationwide pandemic, brought about societal change, and it is now more important than ever for farmers markets to bring people together.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” Determination can express itself in different forms. Sometimes determination manifests itself on battlefields. Other times, the determined spirits work in the background, going almost unnoticed.
There are at least as many different ways to explain the origins of political disagreement as there are political commentators. I, for one, think such factors as cultural traditions, religious views, family background, educational experiences, and interpersonal relationships all help to shape how we choose our preferred political candidates or “sides” – and how we choose to act on those preferences.
