Opinion
Cherishing memories of the old ways
It was a Friday afternoon a few weeks ago, and I was chafing. Perhaps you saw me. I was that 65-ish guy with sunglasses and a ball cap standing outside the REACH second-hand store in downtown Hazelwood. My lovely wife, my beautiful daughter and my spectacular three-month-old grandson are inside, browsing.
Social connection is a lifesaver
What’s the point of human existence if we’re not part of something bigger than ourselves?
Our need for connection is rooted deep within our biology — as important as food, water and shelter. In fact, a 2023 report by the U.S. Surgeon General stated that the mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to smoking 15 cigarettes a day and supersedes the negative impacts of obesity and physical inactivity.
Moves to silence the press are concerning
To the Editor:
I write as a concerned citizen of Western North Carolina to draw attention to the growing encroachment on press freedom under the current Trump administration, and the implications this has for our local democracy.
A robust and independent press is a cornerstone of accountability in a free society. The First Amendment guarantees that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”
I believe our republic is in danger
To the Editor:
Donald Trump has exerted power as no previous president has in our history. His actions raise a chilling question. Is Peggy Noonan right? She recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal that our republic is in jeopardy because of the actions of our president.
No trust for Jackson County commissioner
To the Editor:
I just finished reading The Smoky Mountain News article about the proposed amendments to the FRL agreement. In the article quotes Todd Bryson: “the [FRL] Board of Trustees, they have more authority than what they realize to make some of these changes that need to be made.”
Food is the ultimate tie that binds
About a month ago, my neighbor sent a text asking if I wanted some of her fresh basil which was growing in abundance. Together, we clipped a bagful of the herb, then she loaned me her “Moosewood Cookbook” so I could use the basil to follow the book’s pesto recipe. That afternoon, I made the most delicious homemade pesto pasta that even the pickiest eater in the house loved.
Honor our heritage, protect our libraries
To the Editor:
The decision facing Jackson County’s leaders is more than an administrative matter. It is a test of values. Will our commissioners uphold the long tradition of education, cooperation and integrity that has defined our community, or will they yield to a small, insistent minority determined to restrict access to educational information under the false banner of protecting children?
The unlawful use of force
The recent history of international relations is fraught with examples where the sanctity of law has been compromised for political expediency. Among the most troubling instances is the Trump Administration’s alarming approach to countering drug cartels — a response that not only skirts the boundaries of legality but also risks undermining the United States’ long-standing commitment to the rule of law on the global stage.
Rep. Edwards talks the party line
To the Editor:
Recently three Haywood County citizens long involved in issues of public concern met with Congressman Chuck Edwards at his office in Hendersonville. Issues focused on were SNAP, medical insurance, research cuts and the federal match for Medicaid payments to hospitals and nursing homes.
