Last week, to use a phrase coined by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, the It Takes a Village Project at Elon University, "kicked it up a notch." That's why on a Wednesday night in December several hundred Alamance County students who are part of a tutoring program at Elon found themselves making soup, cornbread and chocolate … Continue reading Something cooking in the Village
Elon University
Departing the best job ever for an even better one
Last spring I was working on a writing project about the Numen Lumen Pavilion at Elon University. While I was interviewing a student about the role the building plays on campus he had a question for me. "So, do you talk to students and professors about things here at Elon and write feature stories about … Continue reading Departing the best job ever for an even better one
Maurice Koury was always comfortable in the background and still is at Schar Center
https://twitter.com/i/status/1061082322391437312 When University of North Carolina men's basketball coach Roy Williams agreed to bring his nationally ranked and highly popular team to Elon for the opening game in the university's brand new Schar Center a lot of thoughts probably went through his mind. Typically coaches in major conferences don't like to go on the road … Continue reading Maurice Koury was always comfortable in the background and still is at Schar Center
Good homes for Don Bolden’s images of Alamance County
My one-time newspaper editor and longtime friend Don Bolden had by his own estimation more than 2,000 photos in his possession at the time of his death. They are images of Burlington, Graham, Elon and other points in Alamance County dating to his start in media as a photographer for his high school newspaper just … Continue reading Good homes for Don Bolden’s images of Alamance County
The Little College that Could, eventually did
This is a column I wrote for the Burlington Times-News in August, 2016, before I moved my career from newspapers to writing for higher education at Elon University. I thought about this the other day when the university held an inspirational inaugural week for its ninth president, Dr. Connie Ledoux Book. I remembered writing this … Continue reading The Little College that Could, eventually did
A new era of glory for Elon football
Last spring I decided to do something I had never really even considered before: Attend a college spring football game. It was a nice day -- almost summerlike -- so I thought, "why not?" I figured it might be interesting to see the result of spring workouts for the Elon University football team. In all … Continue reading A new era of glory for Elon football
How old are schools in Alamance County?
How old are the schools in Alamance County? Let's start with very, very old and work from there. In fact, at least one is far older than most would believe and the others aren't all that far behind. Think pre-World War I, old. That's old. The last high school was built here 48 years ago. … Continue reading How old are schools in Alamance County?
New buildings appear like magic at Elon
About six or so years ago -- back when my spouse, the lovely and talented Roselee Papandrea, first started working at Elon University -- I began to notice something that hadn't occurred to me before. Every building on the Elon campus looks like, or very much like, it has been there for decades. Everything matches, … Continue reading New buildings appear like magic at Elon
The life of Don Bolden: Editor emeritus, citizen emeritus
I wrote this news obituary about my one-time boss and longtime friend Don Bolden for the Burlington Times-News in advance of his death. I was asked if I would take on this assignment so the newspaper would have something substantial in hand when the end came. I sent this to city editor Tom Jones in … Continue reading The life of Don Bolden: Editor emeritus, citizen emeritus
Don Bolden, Jan. 19, 1933-Aug. 2, 2018: There will never be another like him
NOTE: Please follow this link to read the comprehensive obituary story about Don in the Times-News. I walked through the entrance to Alamance Regional Medical Center and headed toward the reception area. I applied hand sanitizer from the nearby dispenser and asked the woman behind the counter which room Don Bolden was in. "He's in … Continue reading Don Bolden, Jan. 19, 1933-Aug. 2, 2018: There will never be another like him
Madison's Avenue 