November is a time when we traditionally reflect on gratitude for our many gifts, including the gift of family. As we approach Thanksgiving, which will be celebrated differently from any other time in our memory due to COVID-19,... — Updated 11/23/2020

The following briefs are from Thursday, Nov. 26, 1970, edition of The Transylvania Times. Lewis F. Whiteside Sr., a mathematics and science teacher at Brevard Junior High School, has been named as one of America’s Outstanding... — Updated 11/23/2020

As your mayor, now is the time for leaders to offer hope. As Andy Dufresne in the movie, “Shawshank Redemption” said to his friend, “Red,” in a letter, “Hope is a good thing, may be the best of things, and a good thing ne... — Updated 11/23/2020

Dear Citizens of Transylvania County: 2020 has been a year like no other and we want to thank you for participating in the wellness of our community. In this season of Thanksgiving, we want to take a moment and thank you for your g... — Updated 11/23/2020

“I’m not a racist.” Really? Just look around. Where are the African American doctors, nurses, dentists, lawyers, waiters, clerks, teachers? Where are county legislators (we have one African American on City Council)? Where... — Updated 11/23/2020

Have you ever seen a bird fly with only one wing? Apparently there are some among us who believe that such a thing is possible. But it is, at least according to folk tales and legends. The oozlum bird of Australian and British... — Updated 11/23/2020

In Mr. Mockridge’s letter in the Nov. 19 paper, he compares Obama and Trump and the treatment each has received. I would only say that most of the things he references were simply political maneuvering and both sides do that to... — Updated 11/23/2020

Am I missing something on this election cycle? I am trying to use logic, rationality, and facts when I see things I do not understand…all of these thinking tools used to be called the positive character trait colloquialism of... — Updated 11/23/2020

My father is my hero. A self-made man who worked as a short-order cook to support his siblings and mother during the Depression, he attended college on the GI bill after serving in the Army Air Corps during WWII and retired in... — Updated 11/23/2020

The coronavirus pandemic has laid much of the American economy on its back — but a bright spot made the disaster less crippling than it might have been. That is the Paycheck Protection Program, which funneled money to workers... — Updated 11/23/2020

Sometimes it is utterly impossible to understand positions taken in the Opinions of the Readers section of The Transylvania Times. Charles Brendle’s last letter is a prime example. Brendle castigates the Democrats for not... — Updated 11/18/2020

Neurological research shows that long-term exposure to opioids leads to permanent changes in the user’s brain. As the most recent study concluded, it is “the course of repeated use over time that does the indelible damage.... — Updated 11/16/2020

This pertains to our most recent presidential election. Be not afraid! The people my husband and I met while we were working the poll at the VFW were impressive, and we actually had fun while we learned more about Transylvania... — Updated 11/16/2020

We are now in the midst of a crisis that could soon escalate to the “insurmountable” level. To stop it, enablers in Washington must stop coddling Donald Trump. His refusal to concede and his insistence on hiding behind a pile... — Updated 11/16/2020

Well, it appears that the Democrats have finally achieved what they have been trying to do for four years. They have brought Trump down. Their efforts started on the day he was elected and they have been relentless. There has been... — Updated 11/16/2020

If it seems like we are “beating a dead horse” when it come to COVID-19, that’s because the COVID-19 horse isn’t dead. It’s not even been corralled. In fact, it has once again has broken out, has multiplied and is... — Updated 11/16/2020

Earlier this month Transylvania County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff McDaris presented the Board of Education with information regarding college and career readiness in the county and state. That information came from... — Updated 11/12/2020

On Nov. 16, Alice Wellborn will end her Transylvania County school board term. She was defeated on Nov. 3, but “defeated” is a bizarre word to apply to this community servant. For four years Alice has worked tirelessly for the... — Updated 11/11/2020

Yesterday, after picking up my 5-year-old granddaughter from school, I thought a visit to the new Jameson’s Joy Fitness Park was in order, especially due to the fact that Ninja moves are her latest interest. What I observed the... — Updated 11/11/2020

It is difficult not to gloat. I am not as forgiving as our next president, and, I suppose, if it were up to me, one of the earliest calls I would make as president would be to the director of the Bureau of Prisons and order... — Updated 11/9/2020

A few thoughts as I reflect on the election. If one were to try to predict the election results from the letters submitted by readers, one would think that all of our local elected officials would be left-wing progressives. My... — Updated 11/9/2020

Since COVID-19 became a major part of our lives, every organization, whether it is for profit or nonprofit, has been forced to adapt and to make changes in their business, operations and customer engagement. With winter and what... — Updated 11/9/2020

On Oct. 28, I learned how helpful people in Brevard could be to a stranger. I was pulling into a parking lot when an auditory signal went off in my car and smoke came pouring up from the right front of my car. I was afraid it was... — Updated 11/9/2020

Where was Mr. Law and Order when a bunch of Trump hooligans surrounded a Biden bus in Texas. This is as low as it gets, but I am not surprised. This is the class of people that are his supporters. Better yet, where was Texas law... — Updated 11/9/2020

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m., many Transylvanians will gather in front of the county courthouse to honor our veterans. Similar scenes will take place across the nation. We should use this time not only to honor our veterans... — Updated 11/9/2020