All in Columns
For much of the past year, housing markets were ablaze in many parts of North Carolina. Motivated buyers were flush with cash and armed with low-rate loans. Agents were desperate for inventory to sell. Sellers gasped and smiled as competing offers soared upward. Builders broke ground on as many new projects as available labor and materials allowed.
Well, we are into another July 4th Week and it might be an ideal time to let our families and friends know that we appreciate them. As I have said before, I am convinced that three of the most important words in the English language are "I appreciate you."
Over the last few years I have become increasingly patriotic, but I have struggled with how Christians should publicly display their patriotism given the divisive nature of our culture. For many years I wanted to separate my patriotism from my Christian faith as if they were two completely different belief systems. In one sense that is obviously true, but I will argue here that American patriotism is tied to Christian theology.
July 4th is the day we celebrate the birth of our nation. In 1776, Great Britain’s 13 North American colonies had a population of around 3 million people. These colonies had no army – just militias composed of citizen-soldiers. They were facing one of the world’s best-trained and most professional armies.
Celebrate the birth of our great nation this Holiday with food that celebrates the Red, White and Blue!!
Movie sequels are almost always worse than the original films. Notable exceptions, such as this summer’s Top Gun: Maverick, merely prove the rule. For every Empire Strikes Back, there’s a Highlander 2: The Quickening, Halloween Kills, and Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol.
In light of the recent Supreme Court reversal of Roe v Wade, I have a message for three individuals:
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States decided the Constitution does not confer a right to an abortion which overturned rulings for Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, thus returning the power to make decisions on abortion to the states. This is in response to Dobbs, State Health Officer of the Mississippi Department of Health v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Let's talk about Age. I wrote about Emma Morano a few years ago and the example she set for getting the most out of the years we are given on Earth. She had a positive attitude toward life, had devoted friends, and loved her pets. She died on April 15, 2017, at age 117. Until she was 115 she didn't have any live-in caregivers.
Looking for a fun & family-friendly way to celebrate the 4th of July? Look no further than the Great American Cookout happening at Harmony Hall, located in downtown Kinston, NC.
The Heat has arrived in Eastern North Carolina and let’s face it, the last thing you want to do in this heat is to cook over a hot stove. Summertime is the best time to enjoy making (and eating) cool desserts. There are plenty of ways to make cool desserts, give these recipes a try, some are a bit healthier than others, but everything in moderation, right? Stay hydrated
Remember when rapid automation was going to render large swaths of the workforce unemployed? Politicians and other professional worrywarts warned that robots would displace production workers, that self-driving vehicles and drones would displace truckers and delivery personnel, and the algorithms and kiosks would displace service and managerial employees.
Have you ever felt alone, even in a crowd? That is probably one of the most painful times to feel alone, when people all around us are busily involved with each other. Perhaps it might be a good idea to look around us for those who feel alone, and reach out to them.
On Saturday, May 14, auditions for the Road to New York Talent Competition opened at the Kinston High School Performing Arts Center. I asked Capt. Newborn how the auditions went.
Fresh basil is one of the best parts of summer. It’s a great plant to grow at home because it is low maintenance and from July to September there is always abundance. Basil is refreshing and remarkably versatile. It can liven up a pasta sauce or salad, even a cocktail or dessert. There’s pretty much nothing that that you can’t pair with basil.
Some things bear repeating, or at least expanding on, and that's what I am doing today. We recently celebrated Mother's Day, and now Father's Day is coming up on June 19. I want to look at this Day both from the perspective of a son as well of a dad.
Juneteenth is a shortened version of “June Nineteenth.” This date in 1865 marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, TX, to take control of the state and make all enslaved people freed. “Juneteenth” is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday.
This week our community will host a number of activities designed to remember and celebrate the end of slavery.
Did you know that North Carolina growers produce as many as 70 different varieties, each with its own unique flavor? Although the Sandhills region is known for peach production, consumers can find growers all across the state. Peaches are a warm weather favorite and you will find they taste best June-August in parts of the South.
You should receive a mailer from the Friends of the Library in the next week or so. The mailer includes a brochure and a return envelope that makes joining or rejoining the Friends easy. When you receive the mailer, please send in a check for membership dues for the 2022-2023 year.
