Extension horticulturist Cutting knows her stuff

My son and a friend have, as well as myself, muscadine vines growing on our respective properties. Not knowing exactly how and when to prune these was providing us with small if any results as far as fruit.

I contacted Danelle Cutting at the Rowan County Agriculture Extension office for help. She agreed to come to Gold Hill on Wednesday and show us proper maintenance for our vines. Her expertise and demonstration of proper pruning is much appreciated by us all and have given us hope that our plants will bear abundant fruit this year.

I found Danelle to very personable and answer our numerous questions in a very professional manner. I would encourage those that purchase and set out any fruit-bearing plant/tree to contact Danelle for advice that could only enhance your production level.

When Darrell Blackwelder recently announced his retirement, I was sad, as I had attended several of Darrell’s classes and would miss his expertise. However, we in Rowan County are in very capable and most qualified hands as far as Darrell’s replacement, Danelle. Hats off to the county for making a wise choice for its citizens who enjoy the outdoors and plants.

Keep up the good work, Danelle! Job well done.

— Randall Smith

Gold Hill

Will seniors be winners?

I haven’t heard Donald Trump mention Medicare, Social Security, retirement or anything pertaining to senior citizens.

Remember what he tried to do to Suzanne Blackmer. She and her husband, Sidney, had gotten an apartment in New York at a low rate and a ceiling price in the 1940s. Both were in movies and show business, so having an apartment in New York was convenient. They still had their home in Salisbury.

Suzanne spent most time up there after Sidney died and her house in Salisbury burned.

Her apartment overlooked Central Park. Later, “The Donald” Trump owned it and tried to evict her, but she and her lawyer son, Jonathan, fought him and won. After her death, the apartment went back to Trump.

If he can do that to one senior citizen, what will he do to the rest of us?

— Margie Payne

Salisbury