Thank you, teachers, for your vital work

As our nation celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–10), I want to say a personal thank you to each and every one of our Rowan-Salisbury School System  teachers and staff for all they give in providing the best teaching and learning environment for our children. Whatever hat you may wear, your part is vital to the success of our children’s experience as they grow through their learning years at Rowan-Salisbury.

It takes all our talents and skills blending together to create an extraordinary learning experience for our students. When you stop and think about it, we have the added bonus of doing the “job” we do for children. Whether it is teaching, driving, cooking, directing, nursing, counseling, reading, delivering, fixing, coaching, cleaning, greeting, painting, volunteering, instructing or facilitating,  it is all focused on challenging our children to discover their own talents, skills, possibilities and dreams.

I encourage every staff member, as you move through each day, to take a brief moment to look at everyone you encounter and think about how the work they perform benefits and touches the life of a child. Then extend a smile of thanks and appreciation to that individual.

May you each know how much you are appreciated for the special job you do for the accomplishments of our children.

— Lynn Moody

The writer is superintendent of the Rowan-Salisbury Schools.

Milk: Got facts?

I would like to know where Shane Papadopolous (A.K.A., “Milk Nazi”) gets his facts about the dairy industry. Having worked in the dairy industry many years, and having been married to a dairy farmer, as well, I can assure readers that these “facts” are just not.

First, if all baby calves were ripped away from their mothers and made into veal cutlets, there would be no new cows later. Only the males are sold or raised for beef.

While it is true that cows are brought into the milking barn as soon as possible, it is because they produce much more milk than the calf can consume, and not to do so can cause mastitis.  The calves are first fed the remaining colostrums, and then milk or a milk replacer which is made from milk. This is standard practice.

Secondly, cows do not spend their lives chained to a floor. They are only indoors during milking, and then they are free to eat, perhaps lie around in free stalls in a covered barn or lot and have access to an exercise lot or pasture. This is standard practice.

Third, cows are bred artificially for genetic diversity, not to keep the milk flowing. It is not practical to have a bunch of bulls wandering around

Dairy farmers know that cows need to be calm, cool and comfortable in order to produce well. They also know that you can’t “take” milk from a cow, she has to “give” it. Therefore it is in farmers’ best interest to make sure their cows are happy cows.

Shane needs to accept that not everyone is going to go vegan. He does more harm to his cause than good by trying to pass off propaganda as fact

And by the way, milk does not come from beans or nuts. That’s just stewed out juice.

— Cynthia Hoffner

Mt. Ulla

Pianos are ready for you

Thanks have been given to those who made Tickle the Ivories happen. Today music flowed into Salisbury Wine Shop as a gentleman sat and played. It was wonderful. He says he is benefiting from the pianos being available because he can play many pianos and experience the different feeling with each one.

Thanks to those who are taking advantage of this project. It makes many people smile when they hear well-played music as they walk up Main Street.

— Sue Davis

Salisbury