Sunday, April 1, 2018
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Friday, March 30, 2018
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Friday, March 23, 2018
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Why I, as a black man, attend KKK rallies. | Daryl Davis | TEDxNaperville
Daryl Davis is an example of someone building bridges between races and people and his efforts should be applauded.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Monday, March 19, 2018
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Friday, March 16, 2018
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Monday, March 12, 2018
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Friday, March 9, 2018
Thursday, March 8, 2018
My Franklin, North Carolina Sojourn
By JIM PURCELL
I first laid eyes on Franklin, North Carolina during a business trip in July, 2013. I was here about a month but, when my job was done, it was back to New Jersey with me. Yet, it made such an impression that I knew I would return when (or if) I ever retired.
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| MAJESTIC: It actually looks like that in Western North Carolina. |
I love New Jersey, don't get me wrong. It is where I am from. But, it is a busy place, where life moves very fast, everything is so expensive, taxes (don't get me started about those), and there is this inertia there to cover every square inch of soil, grass or dirt with a road, parking lot, business, house, apartment building or office complex. Though New Jersey is called "The Garden State," that seems to be more nostalgia than fact anymore. Still, there will always be a place in my heart for my home-state.
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| A small town with a big heart: Franklin, North Carolina. |
What drew me to Franklin was that it was everything New Jersey is not. Life moves slower here. People are friendly and helpful. It's not that people in New Jersey aren't; it might just be that they are going as fast as they can just to keep up with the pace of their own lives. Anyway, in Franklin, the sights and scenes of the Great Smoky Mountains are everywhere. Of course, the same could be said everywhere in Western North Carolina. I think it was the hometown feel that Franklin had, though, and its quiet beauty that drew me back. The Little Tennessee River rolls through the town, adding its luster to Fraklin.
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| The BBQ is awesome! |
There are any number of antique stores in town, and discount furniture places, lovely small restaurants and natural wonders. Prices are reasonable, not only for housing and utilities, but just in stores. Though I live on a fixed income, with my wife, we can actually live comfortably. In New Jersey, it's just a lot more expensive to live. And, living on our fixed income would probably result in my wife and I living near the poverty level.
There are four seasons here, though winter is much more mild than in the North. There are plenty of doctors offices and medical facilities, and quite a few retirees from around the United States.
During the spring and summer, Franklin is a popular destination for hikers treking along the Appalachian Trail and I've met quite a few tourists.
I have lived here for six months so far and it is everything I thought and hoped it would be. I have yet to see a nightclub or anything seedy in town. It's a nice little place with a church on almost every corner and nature's beauty just about everywhere you look. I'm glad I came and I'm glad I stayed.
I think, especially for retirees coming from urban areas, even if it isn't Western North Carolina, it would pay to take a look at the South and consider a slower way of life for their Golden Years.
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Monday, February 26, 2018
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Friday, February 23, 2018
Thursday, February 22, 2018
2018 Winter Olympics Recap Day 13 (USA Hockey) I Part 1 I NBC Sports
2018 Winter Olympics Recap Day 13 (USA Hockey) I Part 1 I NBC Sports
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Shaun White wins halfpipe gold with epic final run
Shaun White wins halfpipe gold with epic final run
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Monday, February 19, 2018
Sunday, February 18, 2018
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Friday, February 16, 2018
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Monday, February 12, 2018
Sunday, February 11, 2018
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Friday, February 9, 2018
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Monday, February 5, 2018
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Friday, February 2, 2018
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Saturday, January 27, 2018
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
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Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Sunday, December 31, 2017
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Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Sunday, December 24, 2017
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Friday, December 15, 2017
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Friday, December 8, 2017
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Macon County News reports on LWV disbandment
By JIM PURCELL
It is being reported by The Macon County News, in a story titled "Macon Chapter of LWV dissolves due to lack of interest," in its November 21, 2017 edition, by Brittney Lofthouse, that a chapter of the League of Women Voters is being disbanded.
This is alarming for many reasons. According to the article, the Macon County Chapter of the League was established in the Spring of 1990 and "...fast forward 27 years and as of this year, the organization has disbanded."
Susan Ervin and Maethel Shindelman were co-coordinators of the group and it is reported they began to talk about dissolving the league after membership declined and a lack of attendance by the public at forums and meetings began to decline.
Ervin said the group tried to hold events at different times and places, but it didn't make much difference.
Ervin and Shindelman said the local league focused on presenting accurate information to voters about local government, candidates, issues, activities and organizations, and held forums for local races -- for county commissioners, town board and mayor, sheriff, school board and N.C. House and Senate.
Younger members were not joining the league and, according to the co-coordinators, members in the league "aged out" and were not replaced with new volunteers. In addition, Ervin and Shindelman believe that, in these very partisan times, non-partisan groups are not as attractive as they once were to people.
Thursday, November 23, 2017
MACY'S Thanksgiving Day Parade LIVE STREAMING THANKSGIVING 2017
MACY'S Thanksgiving Day Parade LIVE STREAMING THANKSGIVING 2017
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Friday, October 27, 2017
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Friday, October 13, 2017
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Boy Scouts Consider Recruiting Girls
The Boy Scouts of America have turned page and are making plans to recruit girls into the organization. This is a controversy, especially given the fact that there is a Girl Scouts of America. My opinion: Break down walls and welcome inclusion. The measure of strength in the world of the 21st century is how much any person, organization or entity can cooperate -- and anything that builds bridges is better than anything that creates walls.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
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