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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.

Letter: Vote Beattie and Walsh (9/3/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: My family and I moved to Mathews County several years ago to be close to family and friends. We became involved with a number of community organizations and…
Letter: Remember in November (9/3/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: There have been several things in the last 20 years that have shaken my trust in government. Most alarming was witnessing President Joe Biden become obviously more feeble…
Letter: A change of heart? (9/3/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I am pleased to see that candidate for governor Winsome Earle-Sears has had a change of heart. She is now comfortable with, and willing to embrace, an openly…
Letter: GOP piracy (9/3/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: “If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it.” – Lord Kelvin Budgets, gauges, meters, and scales surround us. Measurement developed as a means of survival, so there…
Editorial: On being prepared (8/27/2025) - A large section that is part of this week’s paper contains a lot of information about being prepared for some of the things that life throws at you. These include,…
Editorial: Honoring labor (8/27/2025) - And, while you’re enjoying the long Labor Day weekend, take a moment to think about the men and women who gave the holiday its name. Labor Day is much more…
Letter: Chevron Deference (8/27/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: At the Aug. 19 joint work meeting, the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission in unofficial acts, unconstitutionally used Chevron Deference, preventing people’s instruction, welcoming ‘agent’…
Letter: Virginia grandparents (8/27/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: As 2024 came to a close, it marked the end of an era with the passing of our beloved family friend Mr. Dennis Patterson. His wife, Mrs. Frances,…
Letter: A word for the animals (8/27/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Why do we think it is no big deal to dispose of trash along the highway? Do we throw out litter because it is convenient? Is it inconvenient…
Letter: The first Market Days (8/27/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Let’s circle up and try to remember the first Market Days, with Mildred P. Hudgins, our county Extension Agent, and her office staff working with Bill and Lil…
Editorial: School days return (8/20/2025) - Temperatures are dropping a little (although we’re not out of the woods yet as far as the oppressive summer heat is concerned), kids are back on the gridiron getting ready…
Letter: G.I. park neither needed nor wanted (8/20/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal Converting the FEMA property on South Bay Haven Drive on Gwynn’s Island into a county park is neither needed nor wanted. Such a park would be an obtrusive…
Letter: We the People (8/20/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: The following letter I am writing as a private citizen, not as a school board member. Many of our founding fathers sat in the pews beside people like…
Letter: Remembering Charley Johnson (8/20/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: It’s that time of year again. Football is right around the corner. In 1969, a young engineer came to work at NASA Langley. Not too unusual, you say?…
Letter: Schools like St. Margaret’s are vital (8/20/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I had the privilege of serving as the School Librarian at St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock around the turn of this century. During my time there, I saw…
Letter: Thank you for your support (8/20/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Concerts By The Bay would like to thank you for your continued support. Your past support, whether through purchasing an ad for our concert program, donation, or a…
Letter: Remove Trump from office (8/20/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: We need to concentrate on one or two issues to remove Trump from office. He has committed, and is still committing, so many illegal and unconstitutional actions that…
Editorial: Summer shorts (8/13/2025) - Summer fun Texans are having a lot of fun with congressional districts, as their legislature redraws the map to produce more Republican seats. Democratic-leaning states, including New York, Illinois and…
Letter: The truth of the BBB (8/13/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Congressman Wittman is desperately trying to cover his voting record tracks by insisting in his constituent emails that his support for the Big Beautiful Bill was meant to…
Letter: Are tariffs really good? (8/13/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: I’m trying to understand why we are supposed to think that tariffs are a good thing for America. They sound tough till you actually look at what tariffs…
Letter: Speak out! (8/13/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Trump supporters, are you ok with the deportation of thousands of Hispanic immigrants, many who are legally here and who were born here? Have you asked yourself what…
Letter: A successful 36th season (8/13/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Arts at Abingdon held its final reception of the season in July to celebrate a successful 36th season of music and to thank our outgoing committee members. We…
Letter: A bridge too far (8/13/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Several previous articles in this paper talked about working together, getting along, finding common ground. Considering today’s political landscape, this may be a bridge too far. It’s certainly…
Editorial: At last (8/6/2025) - Commuters who make the daily trip back and forth across the York River will finally get a respite, as the tolls on the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge will be…
Letter: The bill is reckless (8/6/2025) - Editor, Gazette-Journal: Phillip Bazzani’s recent letter defending the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” (Readers Write, July 17) wasn’t just misleading—it relied on tired stereotypes and political spin to justify ripping healthcare…

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