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The Brunswick County Democratic Women's group (BCDW) is seeking applicants for an unrestricted $1,000 grant. Reflecting the commitment of BCDW to expanding access to educational resources and empowering women to achieve their academic and professional goals, any woman student currently enrolled in a community college or state college who is a Brunswick County resident, is a registered Democrat, is in good academic standing, and has completed one semester (minimum of 6 credit

First published as a Guest Column, Brunswick Beacon, 05.07.26 As of this writing, global oil supply is down about 12 million barrels per day — more than the combined losses during the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo and the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Trump’s Iran War exposed the folly of his efforts to kill renewable energy and make America even more dependent on fossil fuels. Trump went to war for regime change. He demanded “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” and said, “I have to be involved”

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 05.07.26 Farming is the economic backbone of North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District. Its 4,208 farms anchor the regional economy and generate nearly $4 billion in sales. Our district’s 6,427 farmers just got hit with a double whammy thanks to Representative David Rouzer. Rouzer has wanted war with Iran for years. In 2024 he said, “firing off a missile here or there” wasn’t enough. “I think it needs to be substantial in a way that

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 05.07.26 Two months into Trump and Netanyahu’s war finds Americans worse off. 13 Americans are dead, 381 wounded. The Pentagon is spending $2 billion a day and wants another $200 billion. Iran blocked Hormuz Strait and 20% of the world’s oil. Gasoline soared from under $3 to over $4 per gallon. Trump tried to justify their war of choice by claiming that Iran posed an imminent nuclear threat. American Intelligence disagreed. On March 17

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 05.07.26 Donald Trump, who drove three casinos into bankruptcy, went to Las Vegas on April 16 to tout his “snake eyes” economy. Reading from a prepared script, he stopped abruptly at the phrase ‘corner store’ and exclaimed, “What’s a corner store? I’ve never heard that term. Who the hell wrote that?” Corner stores are everywhere in NYC, where Trump grew up so rich he probably never needed one. AAA reports that in January, before Trump

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 05.07.26 After yet another act of political violence, Democratic leaders lowered the temperature. Trump turned up the heat. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said, “violence is never the answer.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said, “I denounce political violence in all its forms.” President Trump accused Democrats of “hate speech” which he called “very dangerous.” But prominent Republicans accused Trump himself

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 04.30.26 As a candidate for the Brunswick County Board of Education, I contest this change is not in the best interest of our county nor our students and educators. The earlier language emphasized constitutional restraint, centralized oversight and clear limits designed to prevent even the appearance of school-sponsored religion. By removing those guardrails and replacing them with affirming language about the shared goals of faith and

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 04.30.26 Why did Trump attack and lie about America’s most popular public figure, Chicago’s Pope Leo? It began when Secretary of War Hegseth led a prayer for “overwhelming violence” against Iran in the “mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.” Pope Leo responded, “Jesus is the King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.” Trump called the

Brunswick County needs to heed complaints about the North Carolina General Assembly’s usurpation of power at the expense of local government. Until local government has the tools it needs to effectively control development, ban clear cutting, end open burning and protect our precious wetlands, county residents can’t expect order to emerge from the chaos Republican aggrandizement has engineered. The solution is simple – end control of the General Assembly by the MAGA majority

At first, the invitation was unsettling. Many veterans, especially those who fought in Vietnam, are reticent about openly discussing their years of active military duty. Some Vietnam vets remain bitter that those who opposed the conflict more than a half-century ago vilified the military as symbols of a savage, unwinnable conflict. So, an opportunity – all these years later – to join around 50 other veterans in the Cape Fear region for a one-day trip to Washington was, for so

BCDW 2nd Vice President, Kendy Taylor (front), addresses attendees at the first annual "Women Saving Democracy" luncheon BCDW Press Release, April 20, 2026 Contact: Claudia Tidwell Over 100 people attended the first annual "Women Saving Democracy" luncheon on April 18, 2026, hosted by the Brunswick County Democratic Women (BCDW). During the luncheon, keynote speaker Dr. Kimberly Hardy (U.S. House of Representatives candidate for NC 7th District) was presented with a campaign

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 04.23.26 Every holy book from religions spanning the globe teaches these sacred lessons: compassion and care for all, honesty, accountability, self-discipline. Basic “Golden Rule” stuff — treat others as you’d want to be treated. Today in the U.S., we find imposters selling “Christianity” as hate — an elite club for the select few. It’s blasphemy plain and simple. “Divide and conquer” is an age-old device. Those using “Christianity” to

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 04.23.26 So said philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Consider Mike Dies’ April 9 letter accusing the president’s critics of “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” It was published just after Trump posted this on Easter Sunday: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the [expletive] Strait, you crazy [expletive], or you’ll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 04.23.26 It started when Trump sent Vice President Vance to Hungary to help Viktor Orban, aka “Putin’s ‘poster boy,” who told Putin, “I am at your service” and blocked European aid to Ukraine. Orban made Hungary Europe’s most corrupt country and its democracy an autocracy — it’s the only European nation to be rated just “partly free.” Vance told Hungarians to “go to the polls this weekend, stand with Viktor Orban.” He dangled Trump’s p

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 04.16.26 Threats by Secretary of Defense Hegseth and President Trump make us less safe by damaging America’s reputation, the “soft power” that makes other nations want to help us. The Department of Defense Law of War Manual Sect. 5.4.7 forbids declarations “that no quarter will be given.” Hegseth ridiculed that as a “stupid rule of engagement” and declared, “no quarter, no mercy for our enemies.” Sen. Mark Kelly, a highly decorated for

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 04.16.26 Congressman Rouzer has long advocated war with Iran. In 2024 he said, “firing off a missile here or there” wasn’t enough, adding: “It needs to be substantial in a way that Iran really feels.” In 2025, when Trump blew up ongoing negotiations and bombed Iran, Rouzer “commended” him, “regardless of any Iranian response which may occur.” Like Trump, Rouzer ignored the fact that Iran could block the Strait of Hormuz and 20% of the

First published in the Brunswick Beacon , 04.09.26 In 1961, JFK inherited Eisenhower’s plan to overthrow Castro, which became the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion. Kennedy observed, “victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan.” Trump is learning that same lesson. Rep. David Rouzer has long advocated attacking Iran. In Feb. 2024, Rouzer said “firing off a missile here or there” wouldn’t do. “I think it needs to be substantial in a way that Iran really feels,” he ad

First published in the Brunswick Beacon , 04.09.26 In his April 2 letter, Larry Demanovich called progressives “deranged,” even as he accused Democrats of “divisive hyperbole.” In his March 5 letter, he called my Feb. 19 letter “preposterous,” claiming the Ramoses are “illegal immigrants who are in our country illegally.” I wrote about 5-year-old Liam Ramos. The photo of Liam in his bunny hat — staring at an ICE van, terrified, surrounded by armed, masked men — shocked Americ

First published in the Brunswick Beacon , 04.02.26 Just one in four Americans supports this war, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. Rep. David Rouzer doesn’t care. He’s wanted it for years. We weren’t at war with Iraq or Iran in 2020, when Trump’s drone strike killed an Iranian General and nine others in Iraq. The U.N. declared the killings unlawful. Iraq issued an arrest warrant against Trump for murder. A bipartisan Congress passed a War Powers Resolution to stop Trump from

First published in the Brunswick Beacon , 04.02.26 North Carolina District 17 needs new representation in our General Assembly. For the past 17 years Frank Iler has been our representative. Mr. Iler is now 84-years-old and it’s time for new representation. Overdevelopment and lack of infrastructure are two problems that are most concerning to local residents. They should be made aware that 40% of Mr. Iler’s campaign donations are from realtors, construction companies and such