Going green is likely the last thing on the minds of those living in lower-income households. A family with an income at 200 percent below the federal poverty guidelines is understandably more concerned with paying the bills, than reducing their carbon footprint.

Thanks to the expansion of the Weatherization Assistance Program, administered through North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services Office of Economic Opportunity, lower-income households can go green and save green simultaneously.

Through this program, the homes of qualifying families are upgraded with better sealing and insulation, a water-heater tank wrap and/or other general weatherization measures to become more energy efficient. Each home is audited and diagnos... Read More

Washington, North Carolina, just 22 miles east of East Carolina University's School of Art and Design, now has the distinction of hosting a major showing of multiple works of art, by multiple artists, and in just a 3 hours period hundreds folks were entertained, fed and in some instances, plied with wine. Downtown Washington on the Water (DWOW) planned the event, and the owners of these shops pulled it off. The event was a huge success.

The people wandering the streets, looking for the next group of exhibits in the next shop, certainly appeared to be enjoying themselves. The artists showing their works were happy to have the extra patronage and the shop owners were ecstatic to have the potential present and future customers. Hopefull... Read More

In 1837, poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “Concord Hymn” regarding the battle of North Creek Bridge on April 19, 1775 in Concord, Massachusetts. This battle, where the Massachusetts Militia were drastically outnumbered by three companies of British Regulars, was one of the first battles of the American Revolution. The heavy losses inflicted upon these well trained, well equipped British Regulars, as they fell back to seize refuge in Boston, was the initial clash of not only the American Revolution, but commenced the 11 month Siege of Boston, which eventually drove these British soldiers from Massachusetts rocky soil.

It was truly the “Shot Heard ’Round the World” as coined in Emerson’s tome, and as geo... Read More

In the first hour of the campaign season, on Feb. 8 at high noon, six early birds officially filed as candidates for various Beaufort County offices. Of the six were five incumbents: Sheriff Alan Jordan, Clerk of Court Marty Paramore, County Commissioner Stan Deatherage (Republican), school board members Cindy Winstead and Teresa Banks; and one newcomer: Jerry Evans, who is running for a Democratic seat on the county commission.

At first glance, Evans and Deatherage, candidates on opposite sides of the isle, seemed to share a vision for the future of jobs in Beaufort County. Both said they were more interested in helping local companies thrive and expand, than in trying to attract nonnative companies to the area.

Evans, who owns two ... Read More

Don’t you just hate getting letters from politicians or their political hacks that begin Dear Friend, Dear Friends or just Friend …

Well, I’ve been a very conservative Republican county commissioner for nearly 14 years. I have angered so many liberals; many of whom have rarely experienced a rational thought, and certainly if they did, on that very rare off chance occasion, they, more often than not, cannot discuss / debate the issues that put them into their tizzies, without cussing, condescension or slander. This is why it is so remarkably odd that I must tell you: Since the 2008 General Election season, I have received a continuous stream of Democrat communiqués as if I were a member of their inner circle. ... Read More

I am accepting commentary from the public on any issue that interests you, and that you believe may interest others.

I will, however, at my sole discretion, reserve the right to not publish any article that may be of wanton slander, or just plain stupid. I do not "suffer fools galdly" here at NHCN, or any of our other publications for that matter - so come with your "A game."

In the month of February, we averaged 265 unique visitors per day, and we are growing at a rate of about 15% per month, so you will be read. If you are good, really good, I may ask if you would like to submit your work for further publication, and share in the eventual profits.

Think about it... and if you are interested, please send your commentary / opinion piec... Read More

I Always Wanted to Know an Atticus Finch

And yet I never quite met him. I never found him in any of my coaches, my teachers, my friends, the fathers of my friends and even my beloved father never had that perfect pitch of character while he still ranks as the greatest inspiration to my manhood. I once had a minister that came close, who was also the father two of my friends, but he could never turn a phrase like Atticus. Ronald Reagan seemed about the closest, but I never actually met "The Great Communicator," so I'll have to strike "The Gipper" from contention.

No, I think I may go to my grave never knowing an Atticus Finch, but I am so very thankful that Harper Lee had a father, who helped her live such a life to inspire her to write ... Read More

I had just made my way topside onto the weather deck of a sixty-five foot harbor tug. It was a blustery, chilly, late-March day. My shipmates and I rigged the ship for sea as my Commanding Officer stormed fore to aft, barking orders and cursing at us. I could feel the deck vibrating beneath my boots as the ship’s diesel engine began to rumble. I grabbed hold of the vessel’s forward mooring line, called out to the pier to disconnect all lines and heaved around as ordered. The ship’s whistle let out a booming, prolonged blast, reverberating throughout the harbor as it steamed away from its berth. I was underway on my maiden voyage aboard my first assigned unit, United States Coast Guard Cutter Chock. Our mission: Trav... Read More

It's gorgeous outside today. Beyond and above my computer monitor, I can tilt my head back to look up through the large window facing me and see shapes move across my vision: an albino alligator smoking a hookah, a white motorcar blowing exhaust, a blank void turning into a glittery peep show. I don't care what kind of fancy piece of technology you have; nature, plus a good imagination, always steals the stage.

I'm convinced, now more than ever, that spring was named after what it inspires: unbridled, spontaneous action. And so it is, that at the tail end of winter, with just a hint of the season to come, on a Tuesday, I'm going to make a lifestyle shift that will free up huge banks of airtime for all my spring adventures. I'm going to gi... Read More

Last night, while thousands lived out the Easy Rider fantasy on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, I was perfectly sober in the fluorescence of my small-town grocery, hunting for fresh-caught salmon.

Like I promised in yesterday's blog, I was using Mardis Gras to prep for my date with righteousness, rather than to have one last Hoorah, and be hungover for it.

(If you are truly ready to be married, Brandia, there will be no desire to have a bachelorette party.)

So, I'm at Food Lion and all I can find is farm-raised salmon from Canada, as if I haven't ingested enough of the Great White North after watching the Vancouver Winter Olympics all week.

Even though the salmon was raised on a farm, however, the pricing machine still felt it was wort... Read More

Walt Disney Adventures: Part I, Animal Kingdom

Whether one loads up the family into the minivan and heads down Interstate 95, or they pile into the SUV and head down Interstate 75 to the sunshine state of Florida, what they have in common is that they're heading south ... deep south: where the air is hot, the men well fed and the women are better looking. Where the hordes often congregate is Central Florida, and there are advantages. Advantages such as: Interstate 75 and Interstate 95 converge at Orlando, the accommodations are plentiful, and there is much to do for energetic folks.

In and around the Orlando area, there is a plethora of theme parks; most notable among them are Sea World, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and D... Read More

There?s absolutely nothing wrong with not being able to buy a house. I am a Realtor and an advocate of home ownership, who is currently renting a home. Of course, I would love to build equity, feel the security of having title to my own piece of earth, or simply have a real interest in remodeling my kitchen, but I am financially unprepared for such a responsibility.

Instead I?m happily setting myself up to take on this responsibility by working hard, paying off debt, saving money and getting my files in order. One day I will have everything in place so that when I enter into the home-buying process, I will have all the right bargaining chips.

I?ve seen firsthand, through the experiences of my clients, how not having one?s affairs in order... Read More

Aboard the Elizabeth II, modeled after the 16th-century sailing vessel that brought the colonists to Roanoke Island, one writer finds himself buoyed by excitement and history.

I arrived at the dock on Silver Lake in Ocracoke just after dawn carrying my duffel bag, cameras, and a cup of steaming coffee. Although it was still very early, a small crowd had already gathered at the dock to take in the hustle and bustle involved in preparing the Elizabeth II, a 16th-century replica sailing vessel, for sail across the Pamlico Sound toward Bath — and I had been invited to come aboard.

The Elizabeth II at its mooring in Manteo, North Carolina: Above.

While the crew was engaged in some of the same duties their forefathers handled hundreds of... Read More

Bearfoot are a Breath of Fresh Air as they Breezed through Town

The bluegrass / traditional country band Bearfoot came to Washington’s Turnage Theater and gave a near perfect performance of the music that steels my will to consider the talent that could stir my soul. And what a resounding success it was?

Bearfoot is a group of five young folks, ranging in ages of 22 to 26 years of age, who have grown preciously wise in their approach to an American genre of music that is becoming some of the best music made today. Their music is born from the traditional tunes of Americana and the hybrid of the ancient folk blend that is the American bluegrass music, born right here in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Bearfoot: Jason Norris, m... Read More