It has taken a community of people working together to accomplish everything that the Eno River Association has over the past four decades, including protecting over 6,600 acres of land, many miles of stream and river banks, 33 Festivals for the Eno, numerous education programs for all ages, and publications such as the newly released 2013 Everyone’s Eno calendar.

Calendars are available through the association and at retailers listed on the website, enoriver.org. The calendar is about everyone who had a story to tell and a memory to share about the Eno River. The images and writing were selected from submissions made during our calendar contest earlier this year. Stunning photos, moving poems, and even short Tweets about a day on the Eno tell a vivid tale about how much people care about the Eno.

We hope this calendar serves to inspire you with its captivating images of the Eno while it helps you keep up with your daily tasks throughout this new year. Your purchase of this calendar, your attendance at our Festival for the Eno on July 4th weekend, your membership in the Eno River Association, your contribution of financial resources, and your help on stewardship workdays are just a few of the ways you can further our efforts in preserving the Eno River and its watershed.

Much work remains to be done to ensure the protection of the entire Eno corridor and the natural and cultural treasures contained within. Please continue to join your efforts with ours in celebrating our common heritage, for after all, “A River Runs Through Us.”

The Eno River calendar reminds us each day of the year that we can appreciate and enjoy the river and continue to protect it for the future. The Eno River Association – a nationally accredited land trust – has been protecting land and water in Durham and Orange County for more than 45 years. Purchasing the Eno River calendar is one way you can help continue this work.

Liz Stabenow

Education director

Eno River Association

Blinged-out Benzes

It always amazes me that for the cost of a couple used Yugos – in “contributions” to committees and postcards to voters – someone can make profits you would measure in blinged-out Benzes. Meanwhile, the cost to the public in spoiled natural resources and lost trust in our institutions is uncountable.

If you believe in good government, even if you are voting straight party ticket, please take the time to move across the bottom of the ballot to vote for Wendy Jacobs, Fred Foster and Ellen Reckhow for Board of County Commissioners.

Pat Carstensen

Durham

Brave president

America is fortunate to have the president who has been brave enough to reconsider U.S. foreign policy and America’s role in the world.

When President Obama took an office in 2008, U.S. image and prestige on the international arena was badly damaged by very unpopular in the world war in Iraq. It was an unprecedented event that even close U.S. allies from NATO haven’t supported America in this war, except for the U.K. And this support cost Tony Blair, back then British prime minister, his post. The international community sent a clear message that they expect from America peaceful policy and not confrontation and military intervention. And this message came in 2009 as a Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” as it was stated by Nobel Prize committee.

President Obama’s view of America’s role in the world is to promote understanding and cooperation between the nations, and encourage democratic development through diplomatic means. He and his team ended the war in Iraq, set up a schedule for withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, strengthened ties with European allies, and improved relations with Russia and China. A new U.S.-Russia START nuclear arms control treaty was signed and ratified in both countries in 2011. It reduces the number of each side’s strategic warheads by one third and opens the door for further negotiations on nuclear arms reduction.

Mitt Romney has a different view on American leadership in the world. He stresses military power and domination. He has already proclaimed Russia a “geopolitical foe” of America, called China a “currency manipulator,” unequivocally promised Prime Minister Netanyahu to back up Israel in case of its military strike on Iran. Does America need another war? Moreover, Romney opposes military spending cuts, proposed by President Obama. His rhetoric recalls that of the Cold War era that ended more than two decades ago and sounds confrontational. This foreign policy is the policy of the past.

Elena Eliseeva

Durham

Combining efforts

The Boy and Girl Scouts of Durham and Orange Counties will be combining their efforts to fight hunger in their local community in The Annual Scouting for Food Drive, from Nov. 3-10.

This is the first joint-activity between the Boy and Girl Scouts in Durham and Orange counties, notes Elaina Cossin, district chair of civic service and activities for the Durham Boy Scouts of America. The Girl Scouts were extremely receptive to the idea, and we are all very enthusiastic to continue this effort on an annual basis.

This is not just a wonderful opportunity to give back to our local neighborhoods, but also provides the Boy and Girl Scouts an opportunity to work together on this wonderful learning experience. Youth will be walking through neighborhoods and placing Scouting for Food bags at each front door, totaling approximately 6,000 bags; the goal is to have community members fill the bags with non-perishable, non-expired food items. Residents should place the filled bags on their front porch the morning of Nov.10 for collection.

All donated food will go to The Salvation Army of Durham, Orange and Person Counties and The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to prepare for the upcoming holiday season. Both of these organizations have experienced higher demands for food assistance during the current economic crisis. We have been seeing clients who have never had to seek assistance before.

We have seen an increased need for help, not only for food but also financial assistance, due to people losing their jobs, having a decrease in their work hours, or finally exhausting all their unemployment benefits, says Debbie Avolin, director of social services at the Salvation Army. Dealing with trying to navigate the different systems [of assistance] is so complicated and it’s a really tough time for everyone, which is why the community support we are privileged to provide is so important.

For more information on how to help The Salvation Army by donating or volunteering, please contact our office at 919-688-7306 or visit our website: salvationarmydurham.org.

Martin Banning

Resource development director

Salvation Army