All in Columns
The things I really want for Christmas are never tangible objects. For instance, I would really like to have a good night’s sleep. Now, you must be pushing 50 from one side or the other to appreciate this wish. A good night’s sleep consists of two key ingredients: 1) comfort during the sleeping process, and 2) no aches and pains after the night is over and the alarm clock sounds.
On September 15, I wrote a column responding to President Joe Biden’s announcement of a new federal mandate that large employers, federal contractors, and certain other business establishments require their employees either to be vaccinated or to undergo frequent COVID-19 testing.
One reason I take such delight in the Christmas season comes from the pleasure I derive from Christmas music. “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” “Away in a Manager,” and “Angels We Have Heard on High” spring immediately to mind.
The Holidays are a terrific time to say a big thanks and of course Merry Christmas to friends, family and co-workers. What better way than to give the gift of food! Here are several ideas, some are a bit healthier than others, but all are fun and will be enjoyed by those special to you!
The Neuse Regional Libraries (NRL) are excited to announce that they have been awarded three out of five awards for the medium-sized library category as part of the 2021 North Carolina Public Library Directors Association (NCPLDA) Awards as well as recognition for the Pink Hill Public Library facility refresh project.
We held our annual “Thanksmas” celebration on Thanksgiving Day. I cannot remember when we first started this tradition, but I doubt any of the grandchildren can recall a time when we did not do Christmas on Thanksgiving.
During leisurely Holiday mornings, breakfast often has a chance to take center stage. Most of these recipes can be made ahead and all of them have been redesigned to include healthier ingredients!
On Saturday, October 16, craftsmen began building a 14-foot skiff as part of the CSS Neuse Interpretative Center’s “Shipbuilding Saturday.” The program ran from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. that Saturday as builders worked to construct an example of “Uncle Gabe’s Flattie Skiff,” a type of boat built by the thousands in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
My social studies students at the Lenoir County Early College High School often hear me provide an affectionately titled “Dr. T Rant” when I feel strongly about a particular topic or situation
In recent years this effort has grown, leading many to believe that we should enact a voucher program that would give parents throughout the state a choice in how and where their children are educated. This could lead to freedom of choice in education, putting education in the market place and requiring educational outlets to compete with each other to attract students to their facilities. Schools would have to be competitive, and most of us will probably agree that competition tends to bring out the best in all of us.
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I am wondering just how thankful we truly are. We know not everything is perfect, but we live in a nation and in an age where we enjoy benefits in our lives that few have ever known.
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I am wondering just how thankful we truly are. We know not everything is perfect, but we live in a nation and in an age where we enjoy benefits in our lives that few have ever known.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it is time to start making out menus and deciding on which pie recipes to use. As you cook for Thanksgiving, remember Buy Local produce whenever possible!! All of these recipes are traditional favorites with a slightly lighter twist!! The recipes promise not to skimp on flavor!
With Thanksgiving Day coming up next week we would all benefit by recognizing the many blessings that come our way and by being thankful for those blessings. For example, just this past week I had the good fortune of being included in the festivities surrounding the celebration of the birthday of my two identical grandsons, Patrick Robert Nix and Davis
Roughly three years before the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education on May 17, 1954, ordered the end of segregation in U.S. public schools, students at Adkin High School demonstrated their disgust with inadequate educational facilities and materials by planning and executing the Adkin Walkout of November 20, 1951.
Recently I heard a conversation between a talk show host and his guest. In discussing the present run-away inflation and the many failed policies of the present administration, the guest observed that, “I can’t think of anything positive about the Biden administration. It’s all going in the wrong direction. Even those who hate Trump must admit that at least we had a lot of good things going our way.”
This month Neuse Regional Libraries are unveiling exciting new resources to our library users that will help them make 21st century digital content and explore new potential hobbies and career paths.Staff have been hard at work preparing our new Digital Media Lab at the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library and we are now ready to start helping library users create their own digital media projects such as music, video, 3D animation, and podcasts.
It seems that every day we are reminded of the evil in our world, so much so that we might overlook the goodness all around us. In that spirit, I decided to look for some acts of kindness on display, and I found that they are in abundance.
