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Opinion

Letters to the Gazette-Journal on any subject of public interest are always welcome. Letters should be 300 words or shorter, and all submissions must include the writer’s complete home mailing address, email and phone number should we need to reach you (this information is not published).

We favor letters that thoughtfully respond to or offer perspective or content published in the Gazette-Journal, and on local or state issues. The Gazette-Journal will not accept letters which comment on articles published in other periodicals; and we may not use letters which have appeared in other publications. We do not accept letters that are primarily broad endorsements or attacks on political candidates or parties. Also, space limitations often prevent publication of thank-you letters.

The right is reserved to refuse letters and to limit letters from individual contributors to one per month, to limit to one the number of candidate endorsements an individual can make, and to edit letters for length, accuracy, clarity, tone, style and other considerations. The newspaper requires a physically signed copy for our records. That can be accomplished by sending a digital image, such as a JPEG, to the editor.

Editorial: Declining school enrollments (4/15/2026) - We are not alone. Gloucester and Mathews public schools enroll fewer students each year. This situation confronts school boards and administrators with knotty problems. How large a budget? How many…
Letter: A lack of compassion (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I was very upset to discover sad news about Ms. Carol Steele’s sudden termination in your newspaper. Thank you for covering this matter. I contacted one of the…
Letter: Just plain wrong (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: As a lifelong resident of Gloucester Court House, I was very upset to learn about how four members of our board of supervisors treated Carol Steele by abruptly…
Letter: Is Gloucester still the Land of the Life Worth Living? (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Forty years ago, the appeal of living in Gloucester, to the middle-income family, was affordability, the people, schools, safety, pride and cleanliness. Today, when entering Gloucester, the highways…
Letter: Enjoy the view! (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: This week, April 13-20, is Dark Sky Week, an annual international reminder to look up. So, go outside tonight, take a child with you, and enjoy the view!…
Letter: Crossing a line (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Virginia’s redistricting referendum is less than a week away. Voters are being asked: “Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt…
Letter: Vote No (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Who will represent us? In the proposed Virginia redistricting, the D.C. suburbs will have an unassailable majority of voters in five Congressional districts. Those majorities come at the…
Letter: Vote Yes (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I have seen many signs in our area reading, “Vote No, End Gerrymandering.” That slogan is misleading. A “no” vote will not end gerrymandering—it preserves it. President Trump…
Letter: Some NGOs impede ICE (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: The exceptionally long front-page article in last week’s paper (“Cobbs Creek resident sees first-hand result of ICE arrests,” April 9 Gazette-Journal) featuring a Cobbs Creek resident who expresses…
Letter: Grateful for volunteers (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: In reference to the April 9 Gazette-Journal article, “Cobbs Creek resident sees first-hand the result of ICE arrests.” After reading the article, I asked what can I do…
Letter: How do we determine what is true? (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: To find truth, we must look at the history of our country. If we do not have the facts, how can we possibly make an informed decision—Knowledge is…
Letter: Washington’s warning (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: George Washington’s first address to Congress was more than a celebration of a new nation—it was a checklist for keeping a free republic free. He pointed to unity,…
Letter: Disappearing democracy (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Two hundred and fifty “years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are…
Letter: ‘The Digital Delusion’ (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I never thought I would write a letter to the editor of any newspaper, much less with a book recommendation. Although I am a retired teacher, my interest…
Letter: Generosity of spirit (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: On behalf of the Board of Directors of GUEST (Gloucester United Emergency Shelter Team), I want to extend our thanks and appreciation to the many volunteers and church…
Letter: Honoring the spirit of Pocahontas (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: It was a profound privilege to gather at the Pocahontas Memorial Service to honor those who have dedicated themselves to preserving our history. We wish to formally recognize…
Letter: Stepping down as festival coordinator (4/15/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: While this letter is a little bittersweet, I made this decision over a year ago. I considered saying goodbye to my role as the Daffodil Festival coordinator then,…
Editorial: Reaching for the stars (4/8/2026) - On Monday afternoon, humankind reached a milestone in space. Just before 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, the four astronauts aboard the Artemis II traveled farther from the Earth than any…
Letter: Wrongful dismissal (4/8/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I join so many Gloucester residents in being very upset with the dismissal of Carol Steele. This county has benefitted from her service for more than 39 years.…
Letter: Sad times in Gloucester (4/8/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Thanks to Mr. Hutson, Dr. Orth and Mr. Nicosia for standing up for what is right and just. Last week reintroduced dark times in Gloucester that I hoped…
Letter: Unjust, unnecessary (4/8/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: The Gloucester Board of Supervisors’ recent action to dismiss County Administrator Carol Steele in the manner chosen was unjust and not necessary. It is understood that boards have…
Letter: A slap in the face (4/8/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: The action of the four Supervisors who voted to fire County Administrator Carol Steele—Dr. Leming, Mr. Chriscoe, Ms. Hanson and Mr. Bonniville—was about politics. With the election in…
Letter: Intentionally cruel behavior (4/8/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: What sort of people are we in Gloucester County? A majority of our Board of Supervisors last week voted to peremptorily and capriciously terminate the contract of our…
Letter: What drove this decision? (4/8/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I am writing in strong support of County Administrator Carol Steele. Throughout her years of service, she has demonstrated consistent professionalism, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to…
Letter: Fact over fear: A note on battery storage (4/8/2026) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Misinformation can be harmful in many areas of public life, but when communities are making decisions about local infrastructure and improvements to the electrical grid, discussions must be…

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