Local fair raises money for drug awareness

By Grace Sweeney

For five days, games and rides replaced cars in Holly Hill Mall parking lot as the carnival came to town.

Ricky Williams, who works at the carnival, said he enjoys travelling and meeting new people.

“I like working out here at the carnival,” he said. “You get to meet a lot of beautiful people and you get to make a little money.”

But the fair is not just for fun: 20 percent of the carnival’s profit goes to the D.A.R.E. program.

D.A.R.E., which stands for drug abuse resistance education, educates middle schoolers the effects of drugs and alcohol.

“Throughout the program,” said Corporal Jack Boyles, “we talk about making healthy choices, wise choices.”

Boyles runs the D.A.R.E. program in Burlington, and said the idea of a carnival came up at a conference.

“We got talking to a lot of D.A.R.E. officers in the county,” he said, “and we wanted to promote awareness of the D.A.R.E. program that’s going on here in our county, along with raising funds for the program.”

The carnival gave back to the community by giving some screams.

Free tax help to students from an on-campus organization

By Brandon Marshall

For students who struggle to file their tax returns, Elon is offering a helpful option.

Members of a nonprofit international service organization for accounting and finance students called Beta Alpha Psi are offering their services to help students meet the April 15 deadline.

Jennifer Kirts, president of the organization, said the student volunteers are extremely committed in helping other students. The members must receive training, which consists of  a minimum of 10 hours of reading and testing in order to be IRS-certified tax preparers.

Before April 15 the students are co-sponsoring four free clinics at the Holly Hill Mall Wednesday, March 9 4-6 p.m., Saturday, March 12 10a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday, March 30 4-6 p.m. and Saturday, April 2 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
with a volunteer income taxation assistance program called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).

Holly Hill Mall Brings New Businesses to Burlington

By Grace Sweeney

The renaming ceremony for the former Burlington Square Mall was held Sunday, February 13, in front of a packed parking lot. Holly Hill Mall came to town eight months ago and developer David Morton has opened two successful businesses and is looking to expand even more.

“We’ve leased in the past seven months about thirteen spaces,” he said.

Although Morton has been focusing on bringing family-oriented business to Holly Hill Mall, new additions like Mexican restaurant La Cocina and frozen-yogurt shop Yo Zone, have drawn in Elon students as well.

According to Morton, La Cocina draws in about a thousand people a day.

Sophomore Alyssa Fonsecca is hooked on the self serve yogurt shop, Yo Zone.

“I go probably once a week, at least,” she said.

Now the make-your-own frozen treat shop wants to bring in more students.

“We’re getting set up with Phoenix Cash,” said manager Jim Wood. “And starting to do some advertising towards Elon.” Wood is also Earl Danieley’s, former president and current chemistry professor, nephew.

Morton said more shops geared toward Elon students will move in.

“We’re working with a ladies clothing store right now and a big reason why they’re coming into the mall is because of the Elon ladies,” he said.

Morton is in contact with four other businesses, all which he says could offer good values for families and students alike.