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Good morning neighbors,
Welcome to the second edition of The Alamance Fabric. It’s also the second week I’m greeting you after winter weather.
Government buildings remained shuttered or delayed opening to allow for safe clearing of sidewalks and entryways, as did the school system.
Our county was spared from severe damages, and community members made a push on social media to support local businesses affected by folks staying home. This Facebook group in particular has kept me in the loop about food spots weathering the frigid conditions and serving dine-in and take out.
While we ride out this cold weather, we are looking towards spring. We are officially one month away from the March 3 primary election. National headlines often dominate the conversation, but the decisions being made right here in Alamance will shape our daily lives long after the campaign signs come down.
With elections on our minds, we take a look back at the most recent day at the ballot box: the municipal elections in November. We chat with Beth Kennett, who recently made history as the first woman elected to serve as mayor of Burlington.
Beyond the mayor’s desk, here are some things we’re keeping an eye on as we head toward the polls:
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Early voting sites: With the state board’s recent decisions, make sure you know where you can cast your ballot starting Feb. 12. Find your voter registration on the state board page and sample ballots on the county board page.
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Infrastructure, investment & innovation: There’s been lots of discussion about changes in our municipalities as they continue to grow. The biggest question: How much can they handle?
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Local initiatives and other grassroots efforts to encourage civic participation, get out of the vote efforts and how you can get involved.
Have an election-related question? Email me at laura@alamancefabric.org.
Whether you’re here for the policy deep-dives or just to see what your neighbors are up to, we hope this edition helps you feel a little more connected to the place we call home.
Before you scroll down, a correction: The City of Graham council approved $140,000 to reimburse Burlington for emergency water and $250,000 for repairs at the Graham-Mebane Water Treatment Plant. A previous version of our article on Chantal recovery attributed these funds to another municipality. Read NC Local's Corrections policy here.
Now, let's get to it. |
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Beth Kennett sits for a portrait in the City Council Chambers located inside the Municipal Building in downtown Burlington, N.C. on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (Photo: Laura Brache/NC Local) |
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Before she held the gavel in the council chambers, Burlington mayor Beth Kennett’s career was defined by balancing the spiritual with the strategic. Kennett serves as an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and as director for the Center for Congregational Health. Having "difficult conversations" became a cornerstone of her 2025 campaign, which focused on a promise of "deep listening.”
On Nov. 4, 2025, Kennett made history with her election as the City of Burlington’s first female mayor, defeating former mayor Ronnie Wall by securing approximately 54% of the vote. Since assuming office a month later, she has a candid admission: She does not have all the answers, but she is committed to asking the right questions.
"Every meeting, every work session is a learning opportunity," Kennett said of her first weeks in office in an interview with The Alamance Fabric.
While she navigates the complexities of rezoning, infrastructure overhauls and a shifting city budget, Kennett said she has deliberately avoided a top-down approach in favor of collaboration.
"I don’t want people to feel like they have to apologize for being in a space," she shared, referencing a goal to make city government more accessible. "This space is yours. This is the city’s space.”
While she still balances her professional coaching work with her mayoral duties, she said she views her transition from the pulpit to the dais as a natural extension of her life’s work: building a community where every resident feels they truly belong.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Laura Brache: What is one thing about running a city – it's a group effort, but you're at the helm – that surprised you once you took that oath of office?
Beth Kennett: I think the thing that has surprised me most is how much support there is so that I do not feel like it is dependent on just me. The city staff is amazing. City council is a council that is willing to work together, or at least as we're getting started we are.
Read the full story... |
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What's shaping Alamance |
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A lot can happen in a week. To help you stay on top of the conversations driving our county forward, we’ll regularly round up key local headlines from our partners and other local news outlets that are defining life in Alamance right now. |
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While our focus is right here at home, what happens in Raleigh often ripples into Alamance County. Here is the latest statewide reporting from the NC Local team on the big-picture issues, from healthcare to elections, that impact us all. |
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The fabric of Alamance County isn’t only woven in its landmarks, but in the people who live, work, and create here. In this segment, we’ll spotlight one of the neighbors shaping our community's future —brought to you in partnership with The Power + Place Collaborative, a community-based oral history and storytelling initiative from Elon University's Center for Design Thinking. Below is an excerpt of this profile. Click the video for more. |
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Elois Lettley |
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“Food is love.” |
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"Elois Lettley is the owner of Occasions, a country-cooking restaurant in Burlington, North Carolina. Growing up learning how to cook from her mother, Elois developed both her culinary skills and her passion for uniting people from all corners of Alamance County through food.
After graduating high school, Elois left the tobacco farm she grew up on and moved to New York with one of her sisters. It was here that she was introduced to the restaurant industry. Eventually, Elois and her husband returned to North Carolina to raise their two children, but they struggled to adapt to the slow pace of life. Then, Elois decided to open a restaurant of her own. Carrying the skills her mother taught her into her business, Elois opened Occasions with the knowledge that, “very seldom you can find a restaurant that’s going to give you pinto beans and collard greens.”
Elois continues to run this hub for community life with the belief that “food is love” and finds joy in comforting and connecting with every person who walks through the door." |
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Whether you’re searching for family-friendly fun, ways to support local creators or become more civically involved, here are a few ideas on Visit Alamance’s Upcoming Events calendar, plus some other events around the area. |
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A Soldier from the Looks of Him: Orange County Militia Muster
Sat, Feb 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Alamance Battleground State Historic Site
5803 NC-62, Burlington, NC 27215
Free
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Get Hiking! Haw River Trail at Longmeadow
Sat, Feb 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Longmeadow Trail
1120 Valley Dr, Graham, NC 27253
Free, registration required
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Burlington City Council - Cancelled
Tues, Feb 3 at 7:00 PM
Burlington Municipal Building - City Council Chamber
425 S. Lexington Avenue, Burlington, NC 27215
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Alamance Burlington Schools Board Work Session
Tues, Feb 10 at 12:30 PM
ABSS Administrative Offices Building Auditorium
1712 Vaughn Road, Burlington, NC 27217
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