All in Columns
G.I. Joe’s is a local museum of military pictures and related items. From day one we thought of it as a bridge. We want it to be a connecting bridge between Lenoir County veterans and their local community. A place where space was offered for recognition and reflection and camaraderie.
Most citizens who drive through this city have little awareness that the street names preserve and reflect the city's history prior to the American Revolution. In December of 1762, the General Assembly passed an act to establish the town of Kingston on land belonging to William Herritage at Atkins Bank. Herritage, for whom Herritage Street is named, donated the first 100 acres of what became “Kingston” and later “Kinston.”
The exact year that Hickory Grove Church was established remains uncertain. Nonetheless, historical records available online, not readily accessible until recently, confirm that it was organized as a congregation about two decades before the construction of its building in 1860. The definitive evidence, buried deep in various church conference meeting minutes, indisputably indicates Hickory Grove had formed as a church assembly by 1841.
Cauliflower is known as the culinary chameleon, making its way into your menu as cauliflower rice, cauliflower mashed potatoes, and even pizza crust. Cauliflower picks ups flavors from savory to sweet, and is super versatile for main dish, side or dessert. Here are some basic ways to use cauliflower in your recipes. You can vary any of these recipes in several ways.
The LCCOA Senior Center was excited and eager as their bus pulled into the parking lot the G. I. Joe’s Military Living History Museum in Kinston. For many of the seniors, this wasn't just a field trip; it was a journey through time.
I love what I do for a living. Pastoring a local church is a whole lot of fun. But, as everyone who is part of a local church (or part of any lodge, supper club, travel team), the more time you spend with people, the more opportunity there is for miscommunication.
The morning air was cold, but the G.I. Joe’s Veteran’s Museum was warm, filled with murmur of stories shared. The museum was usually loud in the mornings due to veterans sharing stories and jokes, but on Monday morning, it got very quiet.
If you are a little leery of eating kale, thanks to one of our local farmers, I have found your answer to adding Kale to your diet. It’s Lacinato or Dinosaur kale is a dark green leafy vegetable. Dino kale has an earthy, nutty flavor. It doesn't have the same strong bitterness as other varieties of kale, though it is still there. The sweetness helps offset that and makes it more approachable.
A church is formed, established, and founded when a group of people organize for the purpose of meeting together for worship. Although a permanent place to assemble is a goal for most fledgling churches, a building is not required for people to worship. Further, the year a church erects a building does not necessarily align with the year it is organized.
After a decade in call centers, nothing makes me turn into the stereotypical entitled, middle-aged, woman quite like a bad customer service experience. Last month, my youngest son was involved in an accident while riding the monster bike. Apparently, a red pickup truck side swiped him, sending him and the bike over a curb. He’s fine, the bike is banged up, but fine, so he goes home.
Every school child knows – or should know – about Dr. Martin Luther King’s importance to the Civil Rights Movement. We have all heard stories about his fight for equality. We know he died on April 4, 1968, struck down by an assassin’s bullet as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.
Since darkness still lingers when you return from work and begin to prepare your family dinner, you want to cook something that is fast, easy and still super healthy! Meanwhile, celebrate that we get an additional 38 minutes at the end of the day during the month of January!!
This week, I’ve been flat on my back. Six days ago, I torqued the wrong way moving a pile of books. That was on top of an earlier morning tweak while exercising. Which resulted from a bad night of sleep for some unknown reason. That book torque was the kill-switch: “This guy’s going down.”
As we contemplate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we cannot overlook one of the most significant works written not only to support the push for independence, but a work that also plainly argued that anything less than independence from Great Britain placed the colonies as second class citizens as long as that bond existed.
Food trendsetters seem to agree that the flavor of the year as we move into 2026 are the dark sweet cherry and the black currant. These dark red berries are sweet but also tangy. They can be used in sweet and savory recipes, providing a hint of acidity.
As 2025 ended and 2026 was being born, I had the opportunity to spend a week with my children and grandchildren at North Myrtle Beach, SC. Each year, we try to travel somewhere together to put aside our jobs and daily demands and focus on family. This year, all my children and all but one of my grandchildren made the trip.
During the years when Bucklesberry had no local church, evidence suggests community residents worshipped at the original Bear Creek Meeting House. As the only established church in the area, albeit some ten miles away, it certainly was not "local." Bear Creek Church's new building, however, was a bit closer for Bucklesberrians. Located directly by the railroad where the old depot formerly stood in Moseley Hall township (now La Grange), the new Church building was completed and dedicated in 1857, which, interestingly, was only three years before Hickory Grove Church was built in Bucklesberry in 1860.
As 2025 draws to a close, I have realized how much complaining I have heard – and done – this year. I confess that fault to my shame. I have so much in my life that brings me joy. Yet, too much of the time I focus on the negatives.
The new year means a clean slate, a time to set new goals and make positive changes. The best way to take the first step is to start with small daily mindful changes. One of the biggest mistakes we often make to set our goals to high too fast. Here are a few healthy habits to add to your resolution.
“Who’s your favorite character in the Christmas story?” A great question. Well, aside from Baby Jesus, who we all probably should name! Many reverence Mary for her quiet faith and willingness to obey, or Joseph for his stepping up when needed. Others love Zechariah and Elizabeth or Simeon, or even the Wise Men.
