By Neal Lemery A response to Laura’s questions … Editor’s Note: After multiple community pages exploded over AI, I sent out a query to all our Pioneer contributors. Here are Neal’s…
Category: Neal Lemery
WORDS OF WISDOM: Are You Registered To Vote?
by Neal Lemery Now is a good time to make sure your voice is heard, and that you are taking on a vital role in our community’s life and our civic…
BOOK REVIEW: Mailman – My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home, by Stephen Grant (2025)
By Neal Lemery Stephen Grant’s memoir of his time as a corporate desk-bound Zoom meeting bureaucrat turned mailman in his hometown in the Appalachian Mountains takes us into not only the…
AMERICA 250: What Does It Mean To Be An American?
By Neal Lemery Celebrating an anniversary of the founding of one’s country is cause for reflection, and, in these times, cautious and thoughtful contemplation. It seems like a time where we are…
BOOK REVIEW: American Men by Jordan Ritter Conn (2026)
By Neal Lemery Being a man in the United States in 2026 is a daunting task, with many obstacles, expectations, and challenges. We don’t make it easy for men to be “successful”…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Spring Cleaning Madness
By Neal Lemery I’ve been on a spree of decluttering, downsizing, and bringing order to my house. I’ve realized I have hoarding tendencies, and that my lifestyle is messy, cluttered, and often…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Adding to the Family
By Neal Lemery My family grew this weekend. A very close friend who I’ve mentored, and who has been a big part of my life, sharing his adventures and many achievements, grew…
WORDS OF WISDOM: The Art of Listening to the Community
EDITOR’S NOTE: As the invitation to our Pioneer Party said – “We couldn’t do this without all of you.” I’m especially proud of our team here at the Pioneer. When I came…
BOOK REVIEW: When the Forest Breathes – Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World by Suzanne Simard
By Neal Lemery Rarely do I anticipate a new book that arrives in my mailbox with such curiosity and eagerness. Yet Suzanne Simard’s newest book has pushed my other reading aside as…
WORDS OF WISDOM: Filling the Bird Feeder
By Neal Lemery One of the satisfying domestic chores at my house is the filling of the bird feeder. There’s instant gratification in watching the feeder suddenly be filled with dozens of…
