A few weeks ago I had an exchange on Twitter. It came during the often contentious debate over public education funding in Alamance County, it was a fight the pro-education folks – let’s call them the “good guys” – lost by a whisker to forces that, well let’s face it, have a stake in forging … Continue reading Political aspirations . . . thanks but no thanks
Community
Throwback Thursday: Our bug-infested megalopolis to be
This is something I wrote in 2014 after reading a very revealing study about what North Carolina might look like in the year 2060. Think a bug-infested wasteland -- something like "Blade Runner meets the Andy Griffith Show." This column actually sparked a Community Connections discussion at Elon. Here it goes ... --- It’s almost … Continue reading Throwback Thursday: Our bug-infested megalopolis to be
How I survived summer camp in the Village, maybe even thrived — a little
Every day during the Summer in the Village camp at Elon University we opened our class of rising eighth and ninth-graders by asking them to write a brief essay or short commentary about a subject selected the night before. We gave them 10 minutes or so to write and then all were asked to read … Continue reading How I survived summer camp in the Village, maybe even thrived — a little
A glimpse of a next generation of voters
Suddenly, I don’t feel so anxious about the long-term future of the nation. I’m in the second week now of a two-week volunteer morning gig with the Village Project summer camp at Elon. It’s a cliché to say I’ve learned as much from the 12 to 14 rising eighth and ninth-graders in our class as … Continue reading A glimpse of a next generation of voters
Summer camp in the Village
Monday I got my summer camp T-shirt. Like the dork that I am, I pulled it immediately over the button-down shirt I put on before leaving home in the morning. Not the best visual impression on a crew of rising eighth and ninth graders, I suspect. I'll do better Tuesday. This T-shirt -- without the … Continue reading Summer camp in the Village
What’s that smell? Of school bathrooms, hygiene and memorable speeches
A headline in today’s Burlington Times-News caught my eye. It was stripped across the front page and looks to be in about 70-point type. Not quite WAR DECLARED or NIXON GUILTY, but not that far off. Here’s what it said. Board considers cleanliness Not exactly “Stop the presses!” kind of material but still pretty interesting. … Continue reading What’s that smell? Of school bathrooms, hygiene and memorable speeches
What’s next for Alamance County Public Libraries? We now have a road map
The ink was barely dry on the brand new Alamance County Library Strategic Plan when I saw a new report from the Pew Research Center. The lead paragraph summed it up. Millennials in America are more likely to have visited a public library in the past year than any other adult generation. Interesting. That was … Continue reading What’s next for Alamance County Public Libraries? We now have a road map
And another light goes dark …
When I was a newspaper editor, that time dating all the way back to eight months ago, we had loyal readers who fit into too many categories to adequately list here. Let's just say it was a diverse bunch who either loved us, hated us, or didn't really care one way or another as long … Continue reading And another light goes dark …
Throwback Thursday column: Memories of two leaders and their sacrifices
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I wrote this column in June of 2015 upon the death of J.A. Freeman, the longtime educator, first principal at integrated Cummings High School and a political leader. It reminded me of a similar figure from my youth growing up in Stokes County -- John L. Hairston. When I heard last Sunday about … Continue reading Throwback Thursday column: Memories of two leaders and their sacrifices
Putting the education cards on the table
In what has a emerged as a government budget showdown, the time for bluffing is nearly over. After a public hearing Monday at the Williams High School auditorium -- a cavernous post-World War II facility -- members of the Alamance County Board of Commissioners will have to put their cards on the table when it … Continue reading Putting the education cards on the table
Madison's Avenue 