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Good morning neighbors,
February moved rather quickly, didn’t it? Here we are in its final week. I know it’s a short month anyway but writing this newsletter on a weekly basis really makes time zip right by. Time flies when you’re having fun and all that 😊
Today, we take a look at something that may seem complicated but is super important to our community: the Alamance County budget process. With a projected $12.9 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, county leaders face decisions that could lead to property tax hikes or cuts to “non-essential services.” We provide a full calendar of the budget cycle and show you how to have your voice heard before the final vote in June.
We’re also following PFAS contamination in Eli Whitney, where a well at the volunteer fire station recently tested for levels higher than the EPA allows in our drinking water. Learn more about “forever chemicals,” who is eligible for state-funded testing and how impacted residents can access filtration systems.
Also this week, we’re sharing a report from our partners at The Assembly. Reporter Jacob Biba (whose byline you’ve also seen on NC Local stories) sheds more light on some of the nuance behind Sheriff Terry Johnson’s recent decision to end the county’s long-standing contract with ICE.
Beyond these headlines, you will find a curated list of local events, from town council meetings in Mebane and Gibsonville to a Black History Month celebration in Saxapahaw.
On Thursday, please join me on the Roundabout Burlington feed at 7:00 p.m. for an AMA (Ask Me Anything) about The Alamance Fabric! From our reporting that’s published to what’s on tap, this is your chance to ask me whatever questions you have about what we’re doing and why. See you there.
And, as always, thanks for being here.
Sincerely, |
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The main entrance to the Alamance County Office Building. (Credit: Alamance County, North Carolina) |
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In January, Alamance County leaders alerted commissioners about a projected $12.9 million deficit for the fiscal cycle starting July 1, 2026. For residents, this could create a choice between a property tax hike or elimination of what some county leaders deem “non-essential services.”
In the past, some commissioners have discussed potentially closing library branches in Graham, Mebane, and North Park, and cutting funding for non-profit rescue and family services. There have been protests about these proposed cuts in the past, with a lengthy public comment section at a commissioners meeting last summer.
Here’s what Alamance County residents need to know about the budget process.
Read the full story...
Coming soon: A landing page for The Fabric! In the meantime, you'll be redirected to nclocal.org. |
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Citizens and local leaders listen to Jeffery Warren of the NC Collaboratory during a public meeting on PFAS
levels at the Eli Whitney Community Building on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Credit: Alex Nettles) |
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Dozens of concerned citizens packed the Eli Whitney Community Building in February to learn from state officials and experts about the health risks of “forever chemicals” found in a local well. Testing of the well, which serves both the community building and the local volunteer fire department, found levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s stated safe level.
The cumulative PFAS level found in the well was 4,173 parts per trillion. In contrast, the maximum levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency range between 4 to 10 parts per trillion, depending on the chemical.
Tanked food-grade water has temporarily replaced the well at the fire station and community building to support all water use needs, the county shared in a press release.
Jeffrey Warren, a geophysicist and the executive director of NC Collaboratory, said the testing was in its early stages, so it was hard to say for certain where the PFAS came from.
But Duke University civil and environmental engineering professor Lee Ferguson said one culprit was likely.
“The abundant compounds we have seen are indicators of firefighting foam,” Ferguson said.
Fire stations stock and use aqueous film forming foam, also known as AFFF, to put out highway fires and burning oil.
“When this stuff gets out in the environment and out in the ground water, it does not take much,” Ferguson said.
Here’s how impacted Alamance County residents access state-funded testing, filtration to protect their health and homes and secure safe drinking water.
Read the full story... |
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What's shaping Alamance |
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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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In this segment, we spotlight one of the neighbors shaping our community's future —brought to you in partnership with The Power + Place Collaborative from Elon University's Center for Design Thinking. Below is an excerpt from the profile. Click the video for more. |
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Lewis Summers, Sr.
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“There’ve been obstacles in my life that I’ve had to overcome
and I use those as stepping stones.”
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"Lewis Summers’s story is anchored in his faith that has grown deeper with every challenge he has faced. Beginning with his time in the military in Vietnam, he made a promise to surrender his life to God if he ever made it back home. From that day forward, Lewis has lived with that promise in mind, wearing a cross as a physical reminder of his purpose.
When he returned to the U.S. in the 1970s, Lewis was unsettled by the racism that permeated society. With the resilience that he gained in his time serving in the Marine Corps, and a calling for ministry, Lewis became involved with Elon First Baptist Church.
Lewis seeks to lead by example, holding himself and his fellow ministers to a high standard as leaders within the church and the surrounding community. He recalls how his grandparents’ influence and his life experiences have contributed to the perseverance and faith he has developed today. “If I did it then, I can do it now,” he states as he looks back on the obstacles he has overcome. Lewis’s inspiring words remind anyone who is faced with a challenge to find their purpose that gives fighting the battle meaning."
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Here are a few ideas from the Visit Alamance events calendar, plus some other events around the area. |
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Graham Historical Museum Advisory Board Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Graham Historical Museum
135 West Elm Street, Graham, NC 27253
Open to the public
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Coffee & Conversation: Trails & Treats with Palmer McIntyre & Hollis Oberlies
Thursday, Feb. 26 at 6:00 p.m.
Graham Civic Center
503 McGee Street, Graham, NC 27253
Free; registration required
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Rap & Spades: Black History Month Celebration
Friday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m.
Haw River Ballroom
1711 Saxapahaw-Bethlehem Church Rd, Saxapahaw, NC 27340
Tickets $13.70
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The Vienna Boys Choir
Friday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
508 W Davis St, Burlington, NC 27215
Tickets $41.98; limited number of seats remaining
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Burlington City Council Work Session
Monday, March 2 at 5:00 p.m.
Municipal Building
425 S Lexington Ave, Burlington, NC 27215
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Haw River Town Council Meeting
Monday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m.
Municipal Building
403 E Main St, Haw River, NC 27258
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Mebane City Council Meeting
Monday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m.
Municipal Building
106 E Washington St, Mebane, NC 27302
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Gibsonville Board of Aldermen Meeting
Monday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Municipal Building
129 W Main St, Gibsonville, NC 27249
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Burlington City Council Meeting
Tuesday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Municipal Building
425 S Lexington Ave, Burlington, NC 27215
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