All in Columns
You may hear the words "Happy Mother's Day" a lot of times from a lot of directions on May 10th this year. Flowers will be gifted. Restaurants will be filled to the gills. And, despite the prices on gas, many will travel to visit the ones who raised them.
On Thursday evening, April 23, Sandra and I spent a delightful three hours watching students and staff at North Lenoir High School bring “Oklahoma!” by Rogers and Hammerstein to life on stage.
Thank you for taking the time to read my most recent updates from Eastern North Carolina and Washington, D.C. As always, it remains a true honor and a privilege to represent you in Congress! If this email was forwarded to you, you can subscribe to my e-newsletter
Treat Mom on her special day with a delicious morning meal, use seasonal fresh vegetables to create quiches and savory dishes, or pancakes and sweet treats. Hope you will find a recipe that your mom will love!! Happy Mother’s Day to all!!
Hickory Grove was established by 1841 as a Free Will Baptist (F.W.B.) church. After separation from the F.W.B. in 1864, it began leaning Methodist. Supply preachers from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (M.E.C.S.) Conference filled their pulpit during the mid to late-1860s. Prior to becoming a permanent Methodist work, the 1870s brought about a denominational interlude with the Baptists that lasted a dozen years.
Across North Carolina, and especially in small rural districts, teachers and school leaders are facing a level of uncertainty and strain that is becoming unsustainable.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the start of the whole hog cook-off, which has become the largest single event in Kinston and Lenoir County each year. BBQ Fest brings tens of thousands of visitors to this area for food, fun, and music. Those who plan this event include a healthy dose of activities for children, as well.
A prayer partner Minister Linda Greene of New Bern asked me to write about an experience with a flower. A neighbor rang my door bell one day and she and her daughter stood there with a flower to give to me as a a gift.
There is no doubt one of the best things about the changing of the seasons is the abundance of fresh local produce. Meals are much easier to prepare and tend to be much lighter and better for our nutritional health.
At G.I. Joel’s Living History Museum, Veterans, friends and families gather on Saturday morning March 28, 2026. The day before to observe National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29, 2026. G.I. Joe’ s had advertised Pizza with a Vietnam War Veteran, “It is a day specifically set aside to pay tribute to the more than 2.7 million Americans who served in this war, along with 9 million who served on active duty during that era.
This week, I return to Raleigh to begin the legislative short session. For those unfamiliar, the short session is a period where lawmakers convene to shore up laws, bills, and spending priorities carried over from the long session. Historically, it’s a time for relatively routine work — fixing a grammatical error here, moving a comma there. This short session is a bit different.
When residents of North Carolina purchase a new vehicle, they can choose among three standard license plates. The most common plate says: “First in Flight.” Two other choices are “In God We Trust” and “First in Freedom.”
Bright, lemony sweets and desserts are the perfect way top off a Spring meal. I love all things flavored with lemon. Here is a collection of sweet, tangy recipes that is sure to please your family and friends! Warning, these recipes are not low calorie or diet approved, so enjoy in small but delicious amounts!
On March 19th, the G.I. Joe’s Vietnam War Veterans sat down at the LCCOA Senior Center as they provided them with the long-overdue "welcome home". These kinds of community gestures, gift bags, the salutes, and especially the hugs that the veterans received that day meant the world to those who didn't receive that kind of recognition decades ago.
Hickory Grove's Methodist leanings in the mid to late 1860s ended by the close of the decade. Although the Church would eventually become a permanent Methodist work, the 1870s brought about a denominational interlude with the Baptists that lasted a dozen years.
This Saturday, April 18, promises to be a busy day for those interested in food and music. The CSS Neuse Foundation is hosting this year’s first “Breakfast on the Boat” on April 18. The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the CSS Neuse II, the replica gunboat in dry dock at the corner of Herritage and Gordon streets.
The Young Professionals of Lenoir County are sponsoring a KickBall Tournament on April 25, 2026 at Fairfield Park. It promises to be a lot of fun as well as an opportunity for networking.
The observance of Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Good Friday to Easter Sunday is one of the largest of the year. Maundy Monday is the Monday of Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter. It is the day following Palm Sunday. Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum meaning commandment, reflecting Jesus having given a new commandment.
The Lenoir County Farmers Market will resume business beginning Saturday, April 11, at 8:00 a.m., and there is no doubt this is one of the most anticipated dates of the year. Nothing beats fresh, farm-grown local vegetables, and two favorites are always strawberries and asparagus.
Historical records indicate that Hickory Grove Church of Bucklesberry began as a Free Will Baptist (F.W.B.) work. Organized by 1841, it remained F.W.B. until dismissal from the Original F.W.B. Conference in 1864 for reasons unknown. By 1867, evidence suggests it was leaning Methodist through a loose association with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (M.E.C.S.) Conference.
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