All in Columns
It’s Super Bowl Season, did you know that the Super Bowl and Thanksgiving vie for spot number one and two in favorite food seasons of the year? Yes, while all of you football fans are glued to the TV, the rest of the gang is busy sampling the yummy treats on the food table!!
The Protestant reformer John Calvin once lamented, “If they had only looked into my books.” Calvin came to know the pain of being a symbol. The reality of what he thought and taught was buried beneath interpretations imposed on him by others.
Yes, your dreams have come true…research reveals that chocolate CAN be part of a Healthy diet! Studies show that eating chocolate, primarily dark chocolate, may contribute to improved cardiovascular health. Packed with natural antioxidants, dark chocolate and cocoa sit in the same good-for-you category as green tea and blueberries. I SAY HURRAY!!
Interesting Fact, when Popeye the Sailor Man cartoons touted spinach as giving him a superpower to save Olive Oyl from danger, American spinach consumption increased by over a third.
As I reflect on how I came to Kinston, it strikes me how perceptions determine the narrative of any town. Unfortunately for Kinston, the folks with the worst perceptions have the loudest voices. I’ve found a home in this quirky little community. If I’m being honest, I’m a little tired of people speaking so poorly about the place I call home.
The Friends of the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library is still in the process of recruiting new and renewing former library supporters. Our local Friends group is a collection of unsung heroes who work in the background to provide funds for programs that would not be available otherwise.
Sadly it’s the time of year again when germs are running rapid, fight back the threat of flu and other infectious disease by boosting your immune system. Keeping your immune system strong is one of the best ways to prevent winter colds and flu. Plan your meals to include these 15 powerful immune boosting foods!
One of the hardest things about getting to be my age is coping with the death of people who are dear to me. Since March 31, 2023, three friends I worked with and valued have left this life and moved into eternity. On March 31, David Mooring passed away. On October 30, Gary Hines went to be with the Lord.
On a quiet day near the end of 2023, I walked around downtown Kinston with no particular destination or purpose in mind. Art 105 was open, and I entered. Upon reaching Bruce D. Ziegler's space, the artist greeted me cheerily, and we began a conversation about artmaking. As we walked around the art-filled space, Ziegler showed me several pieces he had made over the years, and I began to see a pattern, or a style, emerge from the many displayed on the walls and floor.
Seems we all start off the new year full intentions of days filled with salads and smoothies, then life gets busy, things happen, and sometimes we're faced with indulging in a big, juicy cheeseburger—and that's okay! The key to healthier habits is keeping a few easy recipes and ingredients on hand to whip up when there is little time!!
Many of us bring in the New Year with resolutions that include healthy eating. Keep these superfoods in your diet to help prevent disease, control your weight and maintain overall good health.
This political protest occurred on December 16, 1773, at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. American colonists, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing a tax on tea – then the favorite beverage of British colonists – called the action “taxation without representation.” The protesters dumped 342 chests of British East India tea into the harbor.
One of the Holiday traditions I share with my very best friends each year is to host a “Drop by Brunch” on one of the last shopping days before Christmas. It’s a fun way to share recipes and the Holiday with friends as they head out to do last minute shopping.
One thing I like most about this time of year is the seasonal music that plays everywhere I go. While I enjoy songs such as “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Frosty the Snowman,” I much prefer songs and carols that capture the celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus.
