All tagged mike parker
I had not seen him for a good while. One Sunday, he entered King’s Restaurant and took a seat in a booth. I had to go speak to him. He smiled at me, and we chatted for a few minutes. Buddy made a deep impression on me from the time I first met him. He seemed filled with positive vibes and energy. To me, he represented what is best in Kinston and Lenoir County.
On Saturday, November 16, two living history programs will be offered in Kinston. From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on November 16, the CSS Neuse II, the full-scale replica of the CSS Ram Neuse on the corner of North Herritage and West Gordon Streets, will host a living history program titled “Naval Rendezvous.”
Did you know that nearly one out of 11 citizens of this county are U.S. military veterans? In fact, according to the United States Census Bureau, Lenoir County veteran population is more that 2.5 percent higher than the state as a whole. More than 4,000 veterans live in this city and county. Nationwide, roughly 18 million veterans are still living in our nation.
As part of sorting through items so we know what to keep and what to toss, Sandra has been going through the thousands of photos we have taken and maintained throughout our married years. She has found a ton of photos of our kids when they were small, and we have a starry host of pictures of our grandkids.
As I was working on completing the writing assignment my son gave me - “Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story” - some of the prompts asked me to outline the events that took place near the time of my birth in 1950. As I looked at the advancements made since then, I started wondering what changes had taken place in my mother’s life.
The third Saturday in October has become another major event day along Herritage Street. Three events will allow people to eat, run or watch races, and then enjoy music while celebrating the life of a Kinston entrepreneur.
I told some of my friends that I had to be at least 1,700 years old because I had seen three 500-year flood and two 100-year floods – all courtesy of hurricanes. I am getting ready to put in my claim as the new Methuselah.
I am usually not a pageant guy, but on Saturday, Sept. 21, I found myself in the Lenoir County Performing Arts Center at Kinston High School to watch the competition for Distinguished Young Woman of Kinston and Distinguished Young Woman of Lenoir County.
Until Cathy Holder met with me recently, I did not know Kinston High School – and before that Grainger High School – has had a course in Bible history since 1942. This year marks the 82nd year the class has existed in Kinston. Since 2017, all three high schools have offered the course. The Bible History class in our area is the longest-running public high school Bible class in the entire state.
I live about a half mile from the North Lenoir Volunteer Fire Department across from Smith’s Café, so I am within easy ear-shot of the fire alarm that summons the volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel. That alarm can go off at any time – day or night – and during any kind of weather.
Much of my family has been involved in education. My wife Sandra and I were both teachers at one point. I have five others in my family who began their careers in education in the classroom. The conversations around our dinner tables often turns to educational needs.
As of Friday, September 6, North Carolina’s election process kicked off with mailing absentee ballots to those who request them. The deadline for voter registration is 5 p.m. on October 11. In-person early voting, with same-day registration, begins on October 17 and runs through 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 2. Of course, November 5 is in-person voting in the General Election.
You may recognize this information from the beginning of last school year. For the past several years, I have shared tip for succeeding in school that I gleaned from 37-plus years as a classroom teacher. Nothing brought me greater joy than seeing my students take themselves and their work seriously.
On May 6 of this year, I heard a report of a school bus crash in Johnston County. My concern was immediate and poignant. Two of my grandchildren attend school in Johnston County. Although I was relieved to learn the crash did not involved with of my grandkids, I was still sadden to learn that eight children were injured when the driver ran off the road for a split second and then lost control of the bus.
A few weeks ago, my son Michael gave me a special gift. The book was titled “Dad, I Want to Hear Your Story: A Father’s Guided Journal to Share His Life and His Love.”
