Have you ever played a team sport? If so, you understand it takes everyone working together to be successful. You win as a team, and you lose as a team. In soccer, you have eleven players on the field at a time.
All in Columns
Mike Parker: Are we seeing the rebirth of Nazi mentality?
According to an April 5th report by the BBC, on the morning of October 7, waves of Hamas gunmen stormed across Gaza’s border into Israel, killing about 1,200 people. Hamas also fired thousands of rockets into Israel
Ev Dove-Coleman: Temporary Bumpiness
There are new strips going across the road on one of my neighborhood streets. There was no warning that they were coming. They just appeared one day without any public notice or explanation. They make a lot of noise when driven over and they create a bumpy ride for a few feet
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Fun Facts About Fresh Cucumbers
It’s cucumber season and who knew the “cool” cucumber is good for more than just your salad!
Kristy Kelly: Meeting my parents
Under normal circumstances, it’s often hard to understand our parents and why they made the decisions that ultimately sculpted us to become the people we are today. I think I am who I am today in spite of mine.
Mike Parker: “Gwanny will pick me up”
My grandmother, Lady Belle Parker, was one of the most significant influences on my life. She reminds me of the story of seminary students discussing their favorite translations of the Bible. After several students mentioned a variety of translations, one student told his fellow scholars:
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Make the most of peach season
Bursting with flavor, the juicy, sweet peach signifies the fresh fun of summer!! Great news, peach season is here! Whether you enjoy yours fresh, canned, or cooked enjoy them while you can. It is no secret a grocery store peach cannot hold a candle to a fresh in season juicy one.
Kristy Kelly: Navigating without a degree
My son is going to get his associates degree from LCC this year. I’m so proud of his accomplishments and how hard he’s worked at finishing the course work. It wasn’t easy, for either of us. As he’s my youngest, his impending graduation has left me feeling out of sorts. Incomplete.
Caroline Lafone: Dear Class of 2024
As we approach graduation, it's truly remarkable to reflect on the journey we've shared.
Mike Parker: Our public library: A living legacy
In the next week or so, you will likely receive a letter asking you to join or renew your membership in the Friends of the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library. Although libraries receive support in the form of state-tax revenue, the Friends provide much support for the programming our library features.
Bucklesberry, Back in the Day: Introduction
Arguably the oldest named farm community in Lenoir County, NC, Bucklesberry is nestled along the north side of the Neuse River, a few miles south of the town of La Grange. Its geographic location has remained the same over time, but its boundaries have modified and county affiliation has varied as North Carolina's counties were formed and renamed during the last half of the eighteenth century.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Super Snacks for Sunny Beach Days
School is almost out for summer and most of you at some point will be heading for the Crystal Coast. There’s no secret that hanging out at the beach just naturally makes you extra ready to snack! Be prepared with some healthier options and you will breeze through the summer and keep up your healthy habits!!
Kristy Kelly: I didn't know what I didn't know
This is my last column for Mental Health Awareness Month. I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for joining me on this journey of self-awareness. It took me a long time to understand that the world I read about growing up and the reality I lived in are not the same.
Jessica Anderson: Quintessentially Southern: The Hydrangea
I have come across people who absolutely love them, and those that shudder at the thought. The hydrangea is a gorgeous, cloud-like bloom, that in my opinion is quintessentially the definition of a southern home landscape. Probably most known for their changing colors to match soil pH, they are a great cut flower, and can do well in a variety of conditions. They are a great addition to any home if you follow a few basic guidelines.
Justin Tilghman: Path to Purpose – Part 4 – Building Resilience
Welcome to the fourth part of our series, "Path to Purpose." After diving into self-confidence last month, we now turn to a crucial aspect of personal development and well-being: building resilience.
Mike Parker: Remember the reason for Memorial Day
Today is Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember and reflect. In its beginning, this day bore the title “Decoration Day” because of the post-Civil War practice of decorating the graves of the fallen from that war.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Celebrate Memorial Day with flags and fresh local produce
Memorial Day is an American Holiday always observed on the last Monday of May, the day serves to honor the men and women who dies while serving the United States military.
Kristy Kelly: Finding purpose beyond survival
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, I embarked on a series of personal columns detailing my journey toward improved mental well-being. Having spent a lifetime in survival mode, envisioning the future's potential remains a challenge for me.
Mike Parker: Reading about my ‘mid-life crisis’ made me feel even older
The other day I was skimming some of my old columns when I came across one that made me feel genuinely ancient. I wrote this particular column in 1991 – right around the time my oldest daughter Sara was preparing to leave the state – and me – to start a new life with her husband.
Cooking with Tammy Kelly: Freshen Up Your Spring Recipes with Mint!
Several years ago, I purchased fresh mint from the Master Gardeners at the very famous Annual Plant Sale, and to my surprise and delight the mint has returned each year looking better than the year before!! The very popular fresh herb is currently in season and is no longer used just for Derby parties and making julips!!