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Howling cicadas and fresh cherry pie
I couldn’t help but stare out the window at the bright-red, beautiful, luscious cherries hanging from the boughs of my aunt’s cherry trees. I had driven over to Austin to pay her a too-infrequent visit. I’d never paid much attention before to the row of trees across the driveway and along the edge of a field. But on this trip 17 years ago I did. The trees were loaded. I admit I sat there and coveted my aunt’s cherries. Now, when I was a...
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Is learning better with A box?
In the field of K-12 innovation, the digital device dominates. An increasing number of school districts nationwide are leveraging electronic platforms to deliver educational content to students. No child is too young for screen-based instruction: Districts in states from Maine to South Carolina to California now give iPads to kindergartners, claiming the tablets boost literacy and technology skills. As we race toward technology immersion ...
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The arrogant power-grabbing continues on Jones Street
The General Assembly is always chaotic during the week of the crossover deadline and this session is no exception with rushed committee meetings, late night sessions, and supplemental calendars issued for the House and Senate floor listing what will be debated and voted on. Even for legislative insiders like lobbyists, reporters, and staff members, it’s difficult to keep up. For the general public, the people lawmakers are supposed to be wo...
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Past time for common sense regulatory reform
North Carolina businesses have struggled mightily against the 15,000+ new regulations, amendments and rules that have been implemented in our state over the past decade. Our high unemployment rate and stagnant growth are proof that you cannot regulate an economy into riches. However, relief is on the horizon. The recent Senate bipartisan passage of SB612, the Regulatory Reform Act (RRA) of 2013, offers hope to struggling job-creators in our...
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The Bottom Line on Tax Reform
Already this year, seven different tax reform bills have been introduced in the General Assembly, and countless organizations on both sides of the aisle have staked out a position on the highly complex issue. So it’s understandable that many North Carolinians feel overwhelmed by the partisanship, unsure about where to turn for the facts. That’s why the North Carolina Association of CPAs decided to take action by launching the “Tar Heel Tax ...
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All children need equal access to quality education
Darrell Allison, president of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina made the following comment regarding the second reading of House Bill 269 (Children with Disabilities Scholarship Grants), which was approved 74-37 in the House: “At the end of the day, a parent knows what is best for their child, but unfortunately for many families knowing what is best and doing what is best is a canyon separated by financial inability. Our cit...
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Good books you won’t see on Bookwatch
Here are some important new books you will not learn about on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Bookwatch. Before I explain, let me tell you a little bit about the books. Popular novelist Clyde Edgerton’s “Papadaddy’s Book for New Fathers: Advice to Dads of All Ages” is based on what he has learned as the older father of three young children. He will be 69 on May 20. Edgerton embraces the opportunities young children present to an older parent an...
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McCrory Plan Uses Highway Dollars Wisely
In April, the McCrory administration outlined a new state transportation policy. While as always, the devil is in the details, this plan is a welcome step forward for transportation policy in North Carolina. The last time the state seriously rethought its road policy was in 1989 with the creation of the Highway Trust Fund. The idea was that for a limited period the state would increase the gasoline tax to fund certain road projects. These f...
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A great staycation available here
OK, it’s vacation-planning time. More than a few times I’ve heard people from elsewhere say what a gem is North Carolina come vacation time. With mountains and beaches, both. And plenty of stuff packed in between. One lifetime is not enough to hit even the highlights, not to mention branching out into our fine, neighboring states and then further out into America. But this upcoming vacation time finds me a little weary, the vehicles with ...
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Stone Mountain Trail workday at Wells Knob — Join us
The second Saturday in May is coming up next Saturday 5/11/13. Over several work days we have made great progress in this section up and over Wells Knob. I have planned some actual “foot bed” building at the foot of Wells Knob located just off Roaring Gap CH Road. This is the same place where the first EVTA work day on this sectioin, was held in March and half was “roughed” out that day. We will begin just off a private drive where the trai...
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Letter to the editor
While we are all making our plans for Mother’s Day, I’d just like to remind everyone of their chance to make a big difference for people in need on the day before — Saturday, May 11. That is the day for the 21st annual Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Letter carriers walk through the community every day, coming fact to face with a sad reality for too many: hunger. Taking part in the food drive is easy. Your letter carrier will ...
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Sex Trafficking Puts on a Human Face
A human face was put on sex trafficking in a recent Senate Judiciary 1 committee meeting. Anna, a young lady who was the victim of sex trafficking when she was a teenager, gave powerful testimony before the committee. She told the senators how as a teen she was raped hundreds of times, as well as being photographed and videotaped by a pornographer. Anna showed the committee a somewhat graphic picture of herself that she never remembers bein...
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Celebrating the end of the Charlotte curse
What is one thing we can do for Charlotte now that that former Mayor Pat McCrory has been elected governor of North Carolina and his successor, Anthony Foxx, has been nominated for U.S Secretary of Transportation? We can stop referring to the Charlotte mayor’s job as a dead end or curse for politicians aspiring to statewide or national office. It might take some getting used to. The previous three Charlotte mayors who tried for statewid...
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Mortgage Interest and Property Tax Deduction
Tax reform is a big buzz-word in Raleigh these days as the North Carolina General Assembly looks at reforming how the state collects revenue from its citizenry. As President of the North Carolina Association of REALTORS®, which represents 31,000 REALTORS® in every community and county in our state, I want to voice our support for tax reform measures. Our only word of caution is don’t pass tax reforms that are going to hurt our fragile housi...
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The most precious tape in the world
The metal spring broke in the back of one of my old radio and cassette-tape players last fall. Young people, you may look up “cassette tape” on your Internet, under ancient history. When I opened the back cover to check on the C batteries the spring just fell out. So I can no longer run the unit on battery power. Now when I want to take it outside on one of these beautiful May days I have to connect the unit to an extension cord for power...
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