At Hanging Rock Animal Hospital, to encourage our employees to vote in elections we give one paid personal day off (to be used any time in the next year) to all employees that vote (they bring us their sticker from their polling center to prove they’ve voted). When we announced the plan this year, it was interesting (and encouraging) to have a couple of employees that were initially not very interested in the election (and had voiced their apathy toward voting) suddenly become interested in who was running and what the issues were and asked where to get info.

We pointed everybody toward the candidates' Web sites, and well as several of the “fact checking” Web sites so they could make an informed decision based on which candidates best fit their views and needs. It was good to see and hear the intelligent conversations this started amongst employees as they discussed the most recent information they had heard and what their thoughts were (to avoid influencing them to vote like they thought I would want, I, of course, stayed out of most of the conversations unless asked directly, and then I often encouraged them to do further research on the fact checking websites). I was very proud that 100 percent of our employees voted as I feel this is a very important right that should not be taken for granted!

 -- Cinthia L. Honeycutt, DVM, owner of Hanging Rock Animal Hospital

Vets' day

The Veterans’ Day activities were heart-warming for all who attended. I am so proud of our students’participation in such an honorable day! They did a wonderful job on their presntations and were truly showing their respect for our great country and its heroes. We were honored to have so many military service personel in attendance, as well as veterans. Thank you Angela, Mrs. Smith and all of the other workers behind the scenes who made this memorable day possible. You are great!

-- Barbara, commenting on the Veterans Day events at Mason’s Cove Elementary School