All in Columns
Next Monday, November 10, the U.S. Marine Corps will celebrate its 250th anniversary. The first version of the Marines began on November 10, 1775, when Congress adopted a resolution creating the Continental Marines. The Second Continental Congress sent a resolution of Gen. George Washington that read – in part –
I have never been the biggest fan of turnips, but I have discovered over the past few years that if prepared in the right way, they will take on a variety of unique flavors depending on your recipe. Turnips are often mistaken for a member of the root family, in reality the turnip belongs to the cruciferous family whose cousins are Brussels sprouts, kale and broccoli. Even so, most often consumed is the bulbous root of the turnip.
On October 28, 2025, around 9:07 p.m., KPD’s D-Squad responded to a terrifying call, a 4-month-old infant choking.
Friday morning, I opened an email informing me that Beth Newton passed away Monday. Just a few days before her passing, Beth had sent me a letter that explained – in medical terms – the deteriorating condition of her heart. I sent a photo of her note to my daughter Sara, who is a cardiac nurse, because I am not fluent in medical terminology. In that note, Beth said that she might not live long. I never expected the end to come so soon.
As my family prepares to move just outside of La Grange, I realize this election season marks the last time we’ll vote in a City of Kinston mayoral race. That simple fact carries some weight. For me, it’s more than a change of address. It’s a moment to pause and reflect on what’s happening to the city I still love. So, here’s some real talk.
Rutabaga is another one of those “love ‘em or hate ‘em” vegetables, I am not on the love ‘em side but I know many who are. I have tried them every way I know how and roasting was the best but you must eat them hot! So, what do you do with a rutabaga?
In Kinston (Kington) 250 years ago in October 1775, Dobbs County (now Lenoir County) was a time for Patriot political organizing and militia preparations for the American Revolution. While both Patriots and Loyalists initially declared loyalty to the King, they differed on the terms for remaining British. Patriots believed in their natural rights and the British Constitution, arguing for fair treatment and reconciliation, but prepared for armed resistance if those terms were unmet. Loyalists, in contrast, were often intensely loyal to the Crown and feared the anarchy that might result from a break with British rule.
In the 2025 Trends Report retro lives on! Home Chefs and trained Chefs alike are continuing to modernize retro ingredients and dishes. Retro dishes provide familiarity and give us comfort. One Chef quoted, “Elevated nostalgia will always be on trend. The definition of nostalgia is a sentimental longing for the past”, making the unrelatable, relatable.
I have a colleague who does not watch the news. He says it makes him feel down to listen to them talk about all the bad things happening around the world. And he does not appreciate how some media flit from one story to another without sticking to important things in depth.
There are a number of websites on the internet which outline the various stages of grief people normally go through when someone passes away. They vary from denial to acceptance. The Cleveland Clinic says "Grief is never easy.
When the season turns to cooking all things pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice, the continuous debate begins, fresh versus canned. Some local bakers swear by the convenience and consistency of canned, others prefer the natural sweetness and texture of fresh pumpkin. Both options have a set of advantages and disadvantages, but are they essentially the same?
Tyler Perry's movie called "Temptation" is not new. It was made available in 2009 I believe. But I just got a chance to sit down and watch it. It is three hours long. But it takes a whole lot of action for that one movie to maturely weave its way. UNC was way behind in the football game, so I turned to BET to watch the movie.
In the last two Faith Forward columns, we have talked about forgiveness and how to walk in it. Like gravity is a universal truth in the realm of physics, forgiveness is a universal necessity in the realm of interpersonal community. There is no human flourishing without the practice of forgiveness.
The landscape of Bucklesberry has changed dramatically since the beginning of its colonization in 1720-1730. Notably, there are considerably fewer wooden clapboard and lap siding structures, although they were commonplace in the South for several centuries. The countryside today is speckled with farm buildings finished mostly with laminate veneer, vinyl, or metal siding.
October first is just around the corner and that means the countdown is on for Halloween!! Children of all ages look forward to the time honored tradition of wearing a great costume and trick-or-treating! There is no excitement quite like coming home with a bag full of free candy, but it is still important to keep your kids safe and the inevitable “sugar rush” manageable.
Katharine Lee Bates wrote these words to "America the Beautiful." O beautiful for spacious skies. For amber waves of grain. For purple mountain majesties. Above the fruited plain. America. America. God shed his grace on thee. And crown thy good. With brotherhood. From sea to shining sea
North Carolina ranks 7th in the US in apple production and is home to over 9,000 bearing acres of apple orchards equaling over 200 commercial apple operations. There are thousands of apple varieties grown across the United State but there are 4 major varieties grown here in North Carolina, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauty and Galas.
When my former Sunday School teacher was in a Rehabilitative Assisted Living Center, I visited her to sit and chat for a little while. As we drove to Greenville, my sister and I pondered whether Mrs. Nannie Best-Hargett would recognize us as adults.
In the last Faith Forward column, we began to talk about the single way to healing and wholeness when we’ve been wronged or unjustly treated: forgiveness. You can access that here [insert link]
No matter which team you are cheering for, don’t let the absence of a trip to the stadium stop you from cooking up a win worthy tailgate spread. You will always come out a winner while serving up delicious food and drink for tailgating at home or at the stadium.
