A few hours after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper unfurled the new and slightly confusing "Safer at Home" phase two plan for reopening the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants and other impacted businesses in Alamance County began their own rollouts for how to serve customers safely in the weeks and months ahead. And it's … Continue reading Just a phase: What’s reopening and how in downtown Burlington
Uncategorized
A prediction that was eerily accurate
Several years ago, just about a year before we got married, Roselee created a really cool gift for me. It was a bound booklet of nearly two years worth of my columns published in the Jacksonville Daily News when I was managing editor there. It took a lot of work to put it together. She … Continue reading A prediction that was eerily accurate
From the Wayback Machine: Tribute to a true sports writing legend
The other day I wrote about the sad departure of Burlington Times-News sports editor Bob Sutton after 25 years due to corporate layoffs related to the merger of GateHouse Media and Gannett. I noted then that I had worked with the best sports editor in the newspaper's history -- the late Bill Hunter -- and … Continue reading From the Wayback Machine: Tribute to a true sports writing legend
Adjusting to our new abnormal normal
Sunday morning was the first time I woke up unsure of what day it might be. Saturday, perhaps? Didn't seem like Saturday. Then again, what does Saturday feel like anymore? Monday? Nah, it was too late in the day to be Monday -- 9 a.m. is past my normal 8:30 a.m. weekday telephone meeting with … Continue reading Adjusting to our new abnormal normal
Burlington, Elon downtown food and drink operations lead during coronavirus situation
When North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper decreed Tuesday morning (March 17, 2020) that bars and restaurants statewide close for dine-in or in-house service in response to the rapidly spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) it was probably no major shock. Other governors took similar action after a weekend pre-St. Patrick's Day spree of jammed bars in major cities … Continue reading Burlington, Elon downtown food and drink operations lead during coronavirus situation
Updated: Elon fills gap by providing local candidates forum in commissioners race
UPDATE: Carrie Eaves, assistant professor of Political Science at Elon, will moderate the forum. The new regional editor for area Gannett newspapers, including the Burlington Times-News, Donnie Fetter is expected to take part. Admission is free. The Moseley Center is located across from the McMichael Parking Lot off North O'Kelly Avenue on the Elon campus. … Continue reading Updated: Elon fills gap by providing local candidates forum in commissioners race
Life at Elon: Heading into year four of this experiment
Today I enter my fourth year of working as a development writer at Elon University. To say leaving newspapers for higher education radically changed my life for the better is still a massive understatement. In fact my first day on the job was a clear indicator of just how different life would be. On the … Continue reading Life at Elon: Heading into year four of this experiment
The planned Burlington Food Hall gets a lead restaurant
Last summer it was announced that a food hall would be going into the former site of the Company Shops Market co-op on Front Street in downtown Burlington. Now we know what will go in it. I got a call around lunchtime today (Jan. 7, 2020) from Wellsley Robinson, president of Core Properties, the leading … Continue reading The planned Burlington Food Hall gets a lead restaurant
I wish I could shake hands with Vicente Hernandez at Prego’s Trattoria a last time
The last time I saw Vicente Hernandez he was busy. That wasn't unusual. He was always busy doing one thing or another at the restaurant he owned in Burlington, Prego's Trattoria. Watching Vince at work was a lesson in what operating a locally owned restaurant is truly like. He had a hand in everything -- … Continue reading I wish I could shake hands with Vicente Hernandez at Prego’s Trattoria a last time
An anniversary of the beginning of the end . . . a newspaper story
I don't remember much about how Nov. 20, 2014 began. I only know it was a Thursday because I looked it up. Almost everything else is a big blank. I was still working in those days for the Burlington Times-News, where I was executive editor. I imagine I came into the office shortly after 8:30 … Continue reading An anniversary of the beginning of the end . . . a newspaper story
Madison's Avenue 