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Old-time games highlight apple festival at Heller Orchards

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Letter to the Editor: Self-centered Donald Trump not likely to change if elected to presidency

<p>It isn&#8217;t often that we meet a person who stands out in as many ways as Colleen Slocum, president of the Dallas School Board.</p><p>She is a leader&#8217;s leader, a person who goes far beyond mere talking to real doing. She is an outstanding administrator who is also a creative organizer, noted for her problem-solving accomplishments, and a person who brings stakeholders together in her community to make it better.</p><p>Colleen and her family are relocating, leaving many devoted friends and colleagues in the Back Mountain. She leaves with us a treasure of values and achievements that we hope will flourish here for generations after her departure.</p><p>For example, she knew the importance of &#8220;readiness for school, readiness for life,&#8221; and thus spearheaded a unique initiative to create the Dallas High School Career Awareness Program. The program aims to expose students to objective testing of their aptitudes, career counseling to help them identify occupations best-suited to their abilities and interests, and hands-on work experience to test any compatible career options in order to make their education personally, intensely relevant. Identifying their talents and passions, and having reasons to learn, motivates students and makes learning meaningful and easy.</p><p>This visionary program was Slocum&#8217;s special gift to the high school students, their caregivers and our entire community &#8211; a genuine expression of &#8220;caring for children through education&#8221; to enhance lifetimes in the most valuable possible ways.</p><p>Thank you, Colleen, for all of your hard work, leadership and commitment to our area youth. We wish you and the Slocum family all the best in North Carolina!</p><p><strong>Bernard Walter</strong></p><p><strong>Eric Lee</strong></p><p>and</p><p><strong>Joe DeVizia</strong></p><style>
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Letter to the Editor: Departing Dallas School Board president leaves ‘special gift’ to district