Needed: People who care about horses
I am a junior at Gray Stone Day School. For my senior project, I am raising money and spreading awareness about the Horse Protection Society (HPS), located on Miller Road off N.C. 150.
The HPS is a non-profit organization owned and run by Joanie Benson. It “provides a sanctuary of last resort for unwanted, neglected and abused equines.” Currently, the HPS is home to 44 horses but has held more than 50 in the short time I have been volunteering.
The HPS needs help. Horses require a great deal of care, including veterinary visits, exercise, feed, pastures for grazing, stabling and the proper attention any pet deserves. They want to be loved and shown attention; they want to know someone cares. For all this to be possible, HPS relies on donations and the volunteer work of fellow animal lovers who come out in the mornings and evenings to feed and care for the horses. No matter the time of year, the demand for both is high.
I volunteered as much as I could over the summer and met many others who volunteered. Some days, we would have a full staff of people, and other days, only one or two would show up. Two people feeding, watering and applying meds for 44 or more horses, before it gets too dark, is a very difficult task!
The easiest ways to help are by donationg through the Equine Angel Donation Program or by volunteering a few hours a week. You don’t have to have prior experience with horses. There is plenty for everyone to do — trust me. If you find you cannot help, I ask that you simply spread the word. Tell your friends, neighbors, coworkers, church members etc.
If you need more information, feel free to contact me at samantha.wright@graystoneday.org or visit the HPS website at www.horseprotection.org.
— Samantha Wright

Salisbury

Lip service at top
Not long ago, I was listening to some reporters talking with President Obama about the economy. In a half-sarcastic tone, a reporter suggested something to the effect that maybe we should limit the amount of money an individual or business be allowed to make. Instead of laughing politely and dismissing the notion, the president sidestepped the issue by saying this is a topic for another day.
It wouldn’t surprise me that he might entertain such an idea. The president’s primary solutions for economic woes are increased spending and higher taxes. He makes lots of pretty speeches about people working together and taking a balanced approach, which includes spending cuts along with increased taxes. Yet at the end of the day, the cuts are nowhere to be seen.
As soon as he leaves the podium after one of his speeches, he goes on his merry way as if he had never said anything at all. It’s as though he’s just paying lip service to the American people, and I find it extremely insulting, condescending and arrogant.
We do need a balanced approach for solving our problems, and I don’t care which party does it. If we don’t get a handle on this soon, we won’t have to worry about how much someone should make or keep. We won’t be able to make any.

— Allan Gilmour

Salisbury