All in Columns
As the fictional Col. John “Hannibal” Smith, leader of the A-Team, was known to say: “I love it when a plan comes together.” These words best describe the intense effort and planning that goes into making Kinston’s BBQ Fest on the Neuse a success year after year. This year marked the 44th year our city has put on the festival.
As we approach Mother’s Day on Sunday May 11, let us rejoice in the opportunity to celebrate the most selfless and nurturing individuals in our lives. Whether you choose to honor your Mother on this day by giving her flowers, cards, money, jewelry, a special meal, family gatherings, or completing special chores for her, remember that the love and appreciation we show her is a reflection of the boundless love and devotion she has showered upon us
As I listened to several friends discuss their plans for Mother's Day celebrations, it struck me how varied they were. Plans ranged from dining in fancy restaurants to outdoor extended family cookouts. One involved a surprise. She didn't know where her children were taking her for brunch because her son told her they didn't want her to know in advance.
Depending on how one quantifies success, the BBQ Fest on the Neuse was either a resounding triumph or a disappointing flop. From the viewpoint of an author hoping to sell books, it may have felt like a failure. But as a columnist, the festival renewed my confidence and reminded me why it's important to keep talking about mental health.
May is my wife’s favorite month. Within two weeks, Sandra has two big days. May 1st is her birthday. The second Sunday is Mother’s Day. So, for two weeks, she is the queen – the center of the universe for each day’s celebration.
The strawberries are finally here, the first real tasty sign of spring, and aren’t we ready?? The juicy red berries hold the title of the most popular berry in the world. They are also quite versatile; you can enjoy them straight out of the patch, or in strawberry shortcake, strawberry pie, strawberry jam, and so much more.
Ancestors of present-day Sutton and Herring descendants of Lenoir County were among the first settlers of greater Bucklesberry in the early to mid-1700s. Joined by many others, an extensive online search (primarily at NClandgrants.com) identified 131 archived deeds and surveys dated 1729 to 1759 for tracts of land in or near Bucklesberry.
Every grade school field day has the same fixture: That one person in charge—usually the PE Teacher—with the bullhorn to amplify their voice so all will hear.
Kinston is gearing up for our area’s largest festival of the year – BBQ Festival on the Neuse. On part of Thursday and Friday and all-day Saturday, the extended Herritage Street downtown area will be packed with activities for all ages.
At about 3:45 AM, I knew I was in no condition to go to work. I held off as long as I possibly could before calling out—because calling in sick always makes me feel guilty. I flipped my phone over to keep the light from waking me and crawled back under the covers. That was the calm before everyone else’s very bad day.
Years ago, my cousin-by-marriage told me about a story that imitates real life. It is called "The Howling Man" and was an episode in The Twilight Zone series.
The CSS Neuse Foundation is hosting this year's first “Breakfast on the Boat” on April 26, 2025. The food will be ready by 7:30 a.m. on Saturday at the CSS Neuse II, the replica gunboat in dry-dock at the corner of Herritage and Gordon streets.
Last Wednesday evening, I was blessed to eat dinner with three of my older grandchildren. Those of you who have read my column for years will remember that I have two sets of grandkids. The “Old Guard” are my first four: Courtney, Haley, Taylor, and Jaxen. The “Young Guns” are the last eight: Isaiah, Abby, Alex, Ben, Hannah, Laney, Alli, and Luke.
Bugs Bunny loves carrots but we should too! It is common knowledge that eating carrots is great for your eye sight, but they have so much more to offer! Believe it or not it is carrot season in North Carolina, generally we think of carrots mostly at Easter, but carrots are readily available year round and very good for you!!
In what feels like another life, my days were strategically planned around working the required eight hours, and then going home to tend to little humans in various stages of chaos. I understood the assignment. As long as they didn’t die of starvation or filicide, I was doing a good job. That was my parenting barometer — survival.
The Lenoir County Fairgrounds may not have a TARDIS or Star Trek Transporter, but during April 12 and 13, you can be whisked back in time to when King Arthur ruled from Camelot and his knights took their place at the roundtable.
Years ago, as I saw the tears at the end of former President George W. Bush's tribute to his late father, former President George H.W. Bush, I related to that son. His father died at the age of 94, and my father, William Lee Dove, died at the age of 94. Ninety-four seems like a long life such as Psalm 91 promises. But it still can feel way too short.
What should have been an exciting announcement about Kinston rising to the occasion and becoming a finalist for the 2025 All-American City Award turned into a gathering of the Out-of-Towner-Hater Club—egged on by people too disillusioned to see what’s in front of them.
Growing up, how many of you remember hearing someone say, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? How untrue is this statement. Words can heal and bring forgiveness or divide and cause discord. Our words can absolutely hurt others as well as ourselves.
Hailing from Bertie County, N.C., the Herrings were among the first early settlers and landowners of Bucklesberry. Brothers Abraham, John, Sr., and Samuel Herring were issued land patents and surveys from 1738 to 1747 that totaled 1,525 acres.
