Columns

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NEWS 11/26/23 9:50pm

Graham, Faucette fire crews knock out hotspots after Carolina Mill blaze

By Joseph Navin

A caller reported a fire inside the Carolina Mill at roughly 4:03 a.m. on Nov. 25, and the mill was fully engulfed in flames by the time fire crews were on scene — according to Chief Jimmy Westbrook from the Faucette Township Volunteer Fire Department. Twelve fire departments from across Alamance County, including those from Graham and Burlington, responded to assist crews from the Faucette Township Volunteer Fire Department. Westbrook said at the height of the response, around 75 people were on scene.The Carolina Mill was a former cotton mill which was built in 1869.

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LIFESTYLE 11/26/23 2:51pm

Alamance County’s art community rebounds

By Cailey Cetani

In a county marked by its rural character and economic differences, Alamance County has had a slow start to bring together the art community once more after the pandemic restrictions were lifted. Artists and event organizers alike have been eager to revive the art scene in Alamance, but have faced challenges in their quest to do so. With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, Burlington Recreation & Parks Department is able to resume events at pre-pandemic capacity. Echeverria said they are now able to revamp and improve the events put on. The only problem is getting the attendance to match the improvements. 

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LIFESTYLE 11/23/23 6:31am

Elon University alums dance through New York City in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

By Sarah T. Moore

Hannah Kevitt ’23 graduated from Elon University in May and made her Broadway debut in “Back to the Future: The Musical” shortly after. Kevitt will be performing alongside the cast of “Back to the Future: The Musical" at the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Nov. 23 in New York City — broadcast on NBC. “How to Dance in Ohio,” with Elon junior Marina Jansen, is also in the parade lineup.

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LIFESTYLE 11/22/23 6:16pm

Finding folk: the North Carolina “Festival of Discovery”

By Jenna Manderioli

For North Carolina Folk Festival’s director of operations, Lynn Witherspoon, this festival is “no Coachella.” Rather, she refers to it as the “festival of discovery.” People don’t attend the three-day festival in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina because they know all the words to every song. The festival’s goal is to expand its audiences’ music palette. The National Folk Festival was founded and started in Greensboro in 2015. In 2018, the National Folk Festival disbanded into different faceted festivals around the country. The “North Carolina Folk Festival” is still hosted in Greensboro and is in its 6th year.

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LIFESTYLE 11/20/23 9:13am

Irazú supports Elon University community with family values

By Lilly Molina

Irazú started out as a dream for Rod Salazar. He had pitched the idea of opening a coffee shop in the Burlington community to his mother Rosario Villalobos in 2004. The pair quit their jobs and rented a space on Church Street that required intense renovations. Villalobos said at the time, there were no coffee shops in Burlington, so they were eager to open the shop and fill this need in the community. However, when they opened in 2004, so did the Starbucks on Church Street. Becky Villalobos, Rosario’s daughter and current manager of Irazú, said how this deeply hurt the business. 

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SPORTS 11/18/23 10:41pm

No. 17 UNC dominates Elon University women’s basketball

By Jack Prahinski

The Elon University women’s basketball team fell on the road against No. 17 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels handed the Phoenix a 68-39 loss Nov. 18 and dominated the second half at Carmichael Arena — doubling Elon’s scoring output en route to their fourth victory to remain undefeated this season. UNC’s scoring efforts were led by junior forward Maria Gakdeng, senior forward Alyssa Ustby and senior guard Deja Kelly. The trio combined for 42 of the Tar Heel’s total points. Gakdeng and Kelly were both named to the preseason all Atlantic Coast Conference team.

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SPORTS 11/18/23 1:37pm

Elon University football senior takes pride in heritage during Native American Heritage month

By Mason Willett

As Elon football wraps up the regular season Nov. 18, one athlete is taking the month to celebrate his heritage on the field. For football fifth-year senior Chandler Brayboy, the month of November means much more than just the end of the regular season. Brayboy, a North Carolina native, celebrates Native American Heritage Month as a proud member of the Lumbee Tribe located in the Pembroke area. As a kid, Brayboy was exposed to many activities in the tribe, including dancing and drumming, but decided that football was the route he wanted to run with. 

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LIFESTYLE 11/17/23 1:37pm

From McCrary to Manhattan: Elon University’s presence on Broadway

By Sarah T. Moore

From May 5, 2022 to April 27, 20 actors from Elon performed in a Broadway show. According to Playbill, a national magazine and website for theatergoers, Elon is the 13th most represented college on Broadway in 2023 — a three-place drop from Playbill’s 2022 list of represented colleges and universities. As Elon University junior Marina Jansen joined Elon’s cohort of Broadway performers, they also became one of four people from Elon to make their Broadway debut in 2023, alongside Steven Telsey ’18 in “Harmony,” Nick Martinez ’15 in “Moulin Rouge” and Hannah Kevitt ’23 in “Back to the Future: The Musical.”

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NEWS 11/17/23 8:22am

Invicta Water collaborates with Elon University students to combat PFAS

By Miles Hayford

Invicta Water, a private water treatment company, is working to remove PFAS from water sources along with the help of Elon students. Elon and its surrounding area has recently faced multiple chemical leaks into nearby water sources such as the Haw River. Additionally, drinking water in the Alamance County area has PFAS levels higher than the Environmental Protection Agency recommends. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — otherwise known as PFAS — is a group of chemicals that is used in products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. 

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NEWS 11/16/23 7:53pm

Elon University recognized by Institute of International Education

By Jenna Rudolph

Elon University has been recognized for the 18th year as the leading university for highest percentage of students who study abroad among doctoral universities, according to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Report. This year also had the highest percentage of undergraduate students who study abroad at Elon in University history at 87.8%. Additionally, Elon ranked No. 12 nationally among doctoral universities in the total number of students who completed mid-length study abroad programs and No. 26 among doctoral universities in total number of students studying abroad.

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NEWS 11/16/23 8:03am

Law enforcement copes with increase in Alamance County overdoses

By Abigail Hobbs

From 2000 to 2022, over 36,000 North Carolinians died from overdose and 3,875 deaths in 2022 alone. Cpt. Chris Crain from the Alamance County Sheriff’s Department said he has responded to more calls of overdose in Alamance County than he can count — at least two to three a week. Alamance County saw 34 opioid-related overdoses in 2020, 50 in 2021 and 40 in 2022, according to the NCDHHS. Town of Elon Sgt. Chris Miles said he is seeing more younger people overdosing from fentanyl since it is being laced in drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. 

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LIFESTYLE 11/15/23 9:29pm

Elon University digital art showcase displays importance of recognizing Indigenous artists, history

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon University’s Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education hosted a beading workshop, as well as an Indigenous digital art showcase, as part of its Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month celebration. The workshop was led by Vickie Jeffries, a tribal administrator for the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, and took place in the CREDE office Nov. 13. “Inventive Minds: An Indigenous Art Showcase” displayed a variety of artworks from different time periods. Set up in the CREDE office on the second floor of Moseley, viewers walked around and looked at art from museums, caves and more. 

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NEWS 11/15/23 5:20pm

Town of Elon permanent plaza set for Dec. 2

By Miles Hayford

The launch date for the permanent plaza in downtown Elon has been set for 6 p.m. Dec. 2, according to Elon’s Downtown Development Director Jill Weston. The construction of the new gathering space began Aug 3., and after three months of construction, it is expected to debut at the town of Elon’s Hometown Christmas event. The plaza will include dining tables, umbrellas and a stage area for events and musical performances.

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LIFESTYLE 11/15/23 1:19pm

Student-written play at Elon University explores nuances of LGBTQ+ identity, significance of safe spaces

By Sarah T. Moore

In her sophomore year, now junior Laney Lynch was sitting in an acting class when she got the idea to write “Cardboard Boxes.” Lynch said the class was going over Anton Chekhov, a 19th century Russian playwright whose work included Elon University’s 2022 spring play “The Cherry Orchard.” “Cardboard Boxes” is a contemporary play that follows a group of college students learning how to be true to themselves. Lynch said this theme stemmed from wanting to explore the nuances of being LGBTQ+ in college. 

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NEWS 11/15/23 7:46am

Elon University Student Health Services hires registered nurse

By Madison Powers

After a monthslong gap, Elon University Student Health Services has hired a registered nurse who can provide allergy shots, patient care and other treatment. Becky Amash, who previously worked with the Alamance County Health Department, is joining as a full-time RN after Registered Nurse Cynthia Moore retired at the end of the 2022-23 school year after working at Elon for over 14 years. Dr. Ginette Archinal, university physician and medical director of student health at Elon, said there is a shortage of registered nurses which made it difficult to fill the position at the university. 

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NEWS 11/14/23 8:59pm

Abandoned Graham mill continues to smolder

By Joseph Navin

The former Culp Weaving Mill continues to burn after fire crews from across central North Carolina — including Alamance, Guilford and Orange Counties — responded to a fire at 300 E. Parker St. in Graham overnight Nov. 12. According to Graham Fire Chief Tommy Cole, the fire department was called to the former Culp Weaving Mill around 7:55 p.m. Nov. 12. The Graham Recreation Center on College Street served as a temporary shelter for those affected in the community, according to Graham Mayor Jennifer Talley. 

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NEWS 11/14/23 4:17pm

Elon University hosts multifaith panel to discuss the Israel-Gaza war

By Cassie Weymouth

A panel of Elon University’s multifaith chaplains gathered in the Sacred Space of the Numen Lumen Pavilion. The panelists discussed the Israel-Hamas war and how to navigate the conversations around it, particularly with the holidays drawing near. The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, the Rev. Julie Tonnesen, Imam Shane Atkinson and Rabbi Maor Greene spoke at the event Nov. 13. During the event, Greene said because the attack on Oct. 7 happened on Shabbat and the festival of Sukkot — a Jewish holiday —, there was extra shock and grief felt by the Jewish community. 

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NEWS 11/14/23 1:21pm

Haggard Avenue expected to close for 3 weeks

By Lilly Molina

East Haggard Avenue — from North Williamson Avenue to North Antioch Avenue — will be closed for three weeks starting on Nov. 15 and opening again on Dec. 6. In addition, part of North O’Kelly Avenue located north of East Haggard will be closed as well. Dooley sent an email from Senior Director for Facilities Management Raymond Fletcher, who said the closure is due to a project conducted by the Town of Elon focused on water system improvements. During non-work hours, the roadways are expected to resume back to normal, and most of the sidewalks will remain untouched by the roadwork.  

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NEWS 11/14/23 11:04am

Fire engulfs abandoned mill in Graham as nearby homes evacuated

By Jenna Manderioli and Joseph Navin

Fire crews from across central North Carolina, including Alamance, Guilford and Orange Counties responded to afire at 300 E. Parker St. in Graham. This marked the second major fire at the complex in roughly a year after an October 2022 fire. According to Graham Fire Chief Tommy Cole, the fire began the night of Nov. 12 and continued into the morning on Nov. 13. Fire crews are continuing to work to put out remaining hot-spots around the facility. The source of the fire has not been identified, according to Beau Russell at the Graham Fire Department.

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NEWS 11/14/23 7:58am

Elon University students welcome Wawa expansion into North Carolina

By Lilly Molina

For Emma Puleo, an Elon senior from Maryland, Wawa was her life. Wawa is a major gas station chain that sells food and beverages such as hoagies, club sandwiches, milkshakes and smoothies.The company originated in Pennsylvania and has since expanded all over the East Coast but has bypassed North Carolina, until now. Wawa announced its expansion into North Carolina on Oct. 25 at the Greenville Convention Center and Casita Brewing Company in Wilson. In a statement, Wawa said they plan to open 15 more stores in North Carolina by 2025 and are investing $7 million for each store.  

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