Thanks to the kindness of my son Michael and his wife Pam, Sandra and I were able to take in the Raleigh performance of the Tran-Siberian Orchestra, TSO for short. This group performed only one show at the PNC and then headed to Greensboro.
All in Columns
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Greens, Rings, Pork, and Black-Eyed Peas!
On New Year's Day, superstitious people, and even those that aren’t don’t take a chance; will prepare their good luck recipes in hopes of bringing about a prosperous new year!!
John Hood: Manufacturing Continues to Thrive
With the recent announcements of a new Toyota battery plant in Randolph County, a new Fujifilm Diosynth drug plant in Wake County, a large MasterBrand cabinet facility in Kinston, and a big White River Marine operation in New Bern for making saltwater boats, among other projects, North Carolina’s manufacturing sector appears to be thriving.
Longfellow’s Christmas poem finds hope in despair
Tucked among the Christmas songs of many hymnals is a little-sung carol by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The song is “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Longfellow wrote the poem that provides the lyrics on Christmas Day in 1863. If his words seem almost despairing, a little background will help us understand Longfellow’s somber tone.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Cranberries!
Holidays are time to take advantage of very tangy cranberry for more than just cranberry sauce. Cranberries are terrific in any form, raw, sweetened or dried. They are not only packed with flavor but as healthy foods go, they are at the top of the list due to their high nutrient and antioxidant content.
Dr. Michelle Gooding: Let Love Win
When I was a little girl growing up I used to get on a van that was sent to my neighborhood by the Salvation Army in Kinston NC. We met weekly and I was in a youth group called the “Sunbeams”. I loved going to my Sunbeam meeting.
John Hood: On becoming a Political Advertiser
It’s not personal, it’s just business — or so Facebook assures me.
On this matter, I’m inclined to believe the company (now called Meta by its CEO and nearly a dozen other human beings). That doesn’t make my latest encounter with the social-media giant any less frustrating, however. I just spent many days jumping through its authorization hoops so I could run political ads on a Facebook page I manage. And even after finishing the process, I still had my ad rejected and had to appeal the decision multiple times.
Jason McKnight: On Christmas Carols & Hope
Everyone has a favorite Christmas Carol. My grandmother, who has seen 101 Christmases, loves Silent Night. It fits her personality: warm, inviting, hospitable. What’s yours? And while we’re at it, why are Christmas Carols so well-loved? What is it about this collection of Hymns and Songs that mean so much to so many?
Kristy Bock: Loss of Hope
Earlier this month, and for the third time, a fire ripped through a house in Kinston. A house on Glenwood Avenue didn’t even make the local news. However, this morning, as I sit here in my warm home preparing for Christmas, I can’t help but shed a few tears for the house on Glenwood. For the House of Hope that will no longer be built there.
Mike Parker: “What do you want for Christmas, Dad?”
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.
John Hood: Imperial City Loses on Mandates
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.
Mike Parker: My favorite unsung Christmas carol
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.
Cooking with Tammy: Food gifts to make and take
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!
Neuse Regional Libraries: Ending 2021 on a Good Note
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.
Mike Parker: Unwrapped presents bless grandparents’ hearts
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.
Cooking with Tammy: Healthier Holiday Breakfasts
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!
John Hood: Racial Preferences Are Ending Soon
The state of Washington has it. California has it. Michigan has it. Oklahoma has it. Nebraska has it. Arizona has it. Florida, New Hampshire, and Idaho have a version of it.
Mike Parker: Make ‘Uncle Gabe’ proud and support the Interpretative Center
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.
John Hood: Cawthorn’s handlers got it wrong
When Carolina Journal first reported first-term U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s intention to abandon his current district next year to run in an adjacent one, CJ quoted Cawthorn as saying his decision was part of “a strategy to increase conservativism in North Carolina.”
Dr. Travis Towne: Thankfulness is a choice
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