By Duane Galloway

Dear Neighbor,

Since the early cave drawings, humans have used storytelling as a way to caution and instruct. I have recently enjoyed and admired the style with which “Lady Whistledown” writes her whisper-worthy tales for the popular series, “Bridgerton.” As such, I have imagined her visiting North Carolina and providing revelations and insights to her dear friends in Rowan County. Imagine this being read in Julie Andrews’s quintessential voice… and take heed!

Dear Tar Heel readers,

I greatly anticipated visiting your state on my travels, and its reputation for beauty is well-earned. Your sublime seacoasts, majestic mountains and powerful Piedmont with its sparkling cities and quiet hamlets are simply visionary.

Though high above these attributes, I understand you value your freedom and I heartily concur. However, I have learned of a scandal so darkly sinister that it defies even my sensibilities. Your state legislature is in the process of quashing your freedoms and opportunities!

It has pilfered a sizeable sum from your public schools, who serve everyone, and bestowed it upon schools that may reject whom they please.

Fleeting whispers, for it was not well publicized, divulge that the Legislature diverted control of local community college boards from your friends, the county commissioners to itself. The better to control you with, my dears!

A myriad of companies are establishing themselves in your area, tis true. However, the discerning may wonder where they will find educated workers!

Now, everyone knows that I am a great admirer of secrecy but also its most formidable foe. For behind every secret is a glowing misdeed! The state legislature has decreed that you shall have no access to the representative’s documents, emails, agendas and meeting calendars. You can have no idea what backroom deals and correspondence with “outside agitators” may occur along with any discussions regarding you at all. You are in the dark and there do search for even the smallest semblance of light. But you will be lost.

Now, surely, Rowan County’s elected representatives to the state legislature would bulwark the county from such malfeasance. Yet, and here is the most salacious scandal of them all, Misters Warren and Ford are complicit in the chicanery. They claim to represent you all the while robbing you of your autonomy.

Scandal indeed seems to follow me to every corner of the Earth! But in this, your democracy, the future, dears, is in your humbled hands.

Rest assured your urgency is warranted.

Yours truly,

Lady Whistledown

“Dear Neighbor” authors are united in a belief that civility and passion can coexist. We believe curiosity and conversation make us a better community.