a little more than a year ago I wrote about the sad demise of Company Shops Market, a grocery co-op that opened with great promise in May of 2011. The market was seen as an anchor for Burlington's then-struggling downtown and a symbol of hope for a bright future filled with locally produced food and … Continue reading Now we know what’s coming to the old Company Shops Market
Author: madisontdawg
Bringing home a piece of Charleston
We visited Charleston, South Carolina for the first time five or six years ago. That's when we met W. Hampton Brand, an artist who offers pieces of that historic and beautiful waterfront city that folks can take home if they want to, you know, pay a few dollars. So we did. Last week Roselee and … Continue reading Bringing home a piece of Charleston
Review: ‘The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys’ the story of an N.C. political dynasty
The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys: North Carolina's Scott Family and the Era of Progressive Politics; By Rob Christensen; University of North Carolina Press; 2019; 322 pages. In today's polarized political environment it is almost impossible to imagine a time when elected leaders worked to solve the day-to-day problems of average people struggling … Continue reading Review: ‘The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys’ the story of an N.C. political dynasty
Update: Concerned about the death of local news
UPDATE: This seems to be about as good a time as any to provide links to recent stories about a likely merger between the two largest newspaper chains in the U.S, one of which owns several newspapers in North Carolina, including the Burlington Times-News. A deal combining GateHouse Media and Gannett is in the works … Continue reading Update: Concerned about the death of local news
Meeting neighbors downtown for coffee
The first, First Tuesday Downtown Coffee Talk -- downtown Burlington's version of Elon University's College Coffee -- went pretty much as expected. A crowd of 30 was predicted to attend the initial 9:30 a.m. event at the Historic Depot downtown and that's almost exactly what we got. It was a nice mixture that included city … Continue reading Meeting neighbors downtown for coffee
Speaking of journalism: What I told a civic club in 2014
This is the basic text of a speech I gave to the Burlington Kiwanis Club five years ago -- May 29, 2014 -- back when I was editor of the Burlington Times-News. I was coming to the end of my journalism career then and I knew it. But I had seen a lot in terms … Continue reading Speaking of journalism: What I told a civic club in 2014
Making things happen at Elon
When I talk to people at Elon University about the intersection of business, science, engineering and the arts the expression I hear most is cross-disciplinary. It's about meeting the growing demand by students for multiple fields of study often in wide-ranging disciplines. By extension there is also a demand by employers for students with a … Continue reading Making things happen at Elon
Making the most of . . . making
To say that Ben Harris is interested in creating things would be a massive understatement, like saying the Grand Canyon is just a hole in the ground or that "Game of Thrones" developed something of a following. He's truly passionate about creating, innovating, tinkering, educating and, well, making. It's his life's work. It led him … Continue reading Making the most of . . . making
Still standing by my tips for a successful marriage after five years
Five years ago our friend and former newspaper colleague Molly McGowan married her college sweetheart Jamie Gorsuch. Both are Elon University grads who met as first-year students. At the time I wrote a column with my own tips for success in marriage -- not that I'm an expert or anything, just very fortunate to have … Continue reading Still standing by my tips for a successful marriage after five years
Tim Conway was always funny, always likable
This is a review I wrote in 2013 about Tim Conway's autobiography in 2013. The comedian passed away today at age 85 after nearly a lifetime of making people laugh. Rest in peace, Mr. Conway and signature characters like Dorf, Mr. Tudball and the world's oldest man. “What’s so Funny? My Hilarious Life,” by Tim … Continue reading Tim Conway was always funny, always likable
