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Good morning neighbors,
I was getting my daughter ready for bed last night when we noticed very strong winds blowing through the trees. The sky got eerily dark and then, so did our house.
“Uh-oh!” she said.
We were among the more than 3,500 customers without power in Alamance County, according to Duke Energy’s outage summary. Severe storms caused wind damage to power lines and trees in our region.
But the rain over the past 10 days hasn’t been enough to get us out of a drought advisory. Parts of the Triad and the Triangle are under “exceptional drought” conditions in our state, according to the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council.
The cities of Graham and Mebane have issued “voluntary water conservation requests,” encouraging water customers to reduce non-essential water use. Measures include limiting or delaying watering lawns and filling swimming pools. Water provider Aqua North Carolina has issued mandatory restrictions for subdivisions located in unincorporated Alamance, like Altamahaw and Cane Creek.
Water isn’t the only thing that seems to be running short in our county. So is money.
Remember when I shared that we could see a repeat of last year’s school-board-county-commissioner-funding-kerfuffle?
Well, it’s happening.
The process all started the day after the budget passed last week when the school board called a special meeting to allege that the county is underfunding schools. Yesterday morning, county commissioners held a special joint meeting with the school board and a mediator to try to reach a compromise. After nearly eight hours in closed session, the mediator shared that both parties hadn’t reached an agreement. Now they’ll rely on a state-mandated formula to determine the district’s operating expenses. That will be the final amount appropriated and leaves no room for further legal action.
We’re breaking it all down in this week's feature story, which you’ll find below.
On another note: Are there any issues that you think we should look into? Do you have ideas for ways we can help fill news and information gaps in our community? I’d love to hear them! Come meet me at Fourth Fridays in Downtown Burlington on June 26. I’ll have a table behind the Historic Depot building, beside the opening band stage. I hope to see you there.
Thanks for reading, |
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Mediation continues as boards at odds over capital funding of about $11 million. |
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SUPPORT THE ALAMANCE FABRIC |
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Your gift ensures that Alamance Fabric and NC Local can make complex policies understandable for Alamance residents. Every contribution helps readers stay informed, engaged and connected.
NC Local is an IRS-approved tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. |
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A round up of key local headlines (from our partners and other news organizations) that are defining life in Alamance right now. |
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Here is the latest statewide reporting from the NC Local team on the big-picture issues that impact us all. |
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Sheriff Terry Johnson, who is battling for a seventh term in Alamance County, was investigated for profiling Latinos long before Trump. His opponent says he’d rebuild trust with local immigrants. |
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Republican state lawmakers started moving one bill through the legislative process in a matter of days, then abruptly removed it from consideration following protests. |
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Jackson County election decisions in the spotlight as state lawmakers introduce measures that could affect WNC voting. |
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SUPPORTED BY |
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The Alamance Community Foundation |
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We're grateful to The Alamance Community Foundation for financial support for The Alamance Fabric's community spotlight section.
Interested in becoming a sponsor for our newsletter? Contact us. Check out our current sponsors and view our funding policy, which states that NC Local retains full editorial responsibility. |
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In this segment, we spotlight one of the neighbors shaping our community's future. This summer, we are highlighting recipients of the Alamance Community Foundation's 2026 Spring Community Grant. |
Transplanting Traditions Community Farm |
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(Contributed: Transplanting Traditions Community Farm) |
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In a few words, describe your organization and its mission.
Transplanting Traditions Community Farm works to support refugee and immigrant farmers and families to access land, grow healthy food, and access education and agricultural entrepreneurial opportunities.
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What do you wish more people knew about your organization?
We are statewide! Beyond working with farmers at our incubator site in Orange County, we also provide workshops, training, technical assistance and host agricultural gatherings for beginning immigrant and refugee farmers across the state.
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How can the community stay in touch and get involved?
The best way to stay in touch and learn about opportunities to get involved is through signing up for our newsletter. You can sign up on our website.
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Any big accomplishments or goals this year?
We are excited to receive funding from the Alamance Community Foundation to specifically serve farmers who are participating in our programming and are residents or land owners of Alamance County and/or seeking to expand their markets into Alamance County, about 20% of our Triangle-area participants and growing.
This year, our goal is to focus on building increased partnerships in Alamance County, with farming and food access partners, so we can continue to support immigrant and refugee farmers to thrive and contribute to a stronger local food system in Alamance County.
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Whether you’re searching for family-friendly fun, a way to support local creators, or to get civically involved, here are a few ideas from the Visit Alamance events calendar. |
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Sunset Paddle
Tuesday, June 23 at 6:45 p.m.
Guilford Mackintosh Park & Marina
1345 NC-61, Whitsett, NC 27377
Registration required; admission $10-$26
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Mexico vs. Czechia FIFA World Cup Watch Party
Wednesday, June 24 at 8:30 p.m.
Apollo Field at Graham Middle School Athletic Complex
489 Goley St., Graham, NC 27253
Free
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Thursdays at Seven Concert Series: The Mighty Saints of Soul
Thursday, June 25 at 7 p.m.
Downtown Graham
118 N. Main St., Graham, NC 27253
Free
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Fourth Fridays
Friday, June 26 at 5:30 p.m.
Historic Depot
200 S. Main St., Burlington, NC 27215
Free
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Gatsby Gala
Friday, June 26 at 7 p.m.
May Memorial Public Library
342 S. Spring St., Burlington, NC 27215
Registration required; free
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Let's Grow Together: Free Garden Workshop
Saturday, June 27 at 10 a.m.
Celo Faucette Community Garden at North Park
817 Sharpe Rd., Burlington, NC 27217
Free, open to the public
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Preservation Alamance: Children's Chapel UCC Tour
Saturday, June 27 at 1 p.m.
Children's Chapel UCC
334 E. Harden St., Graham, NC 27253
Registration required; free
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