News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(October 3, 2023) 

Here's what's new in Carrboro: Expect traffic delays with the Carrboro 10K race through neighborhoods on Saturday. Feel free to cheer on the runners! Celebrate Community Planning Month, Fire Prevention Week and Walk & Roll to School Day. Save the Date for the West End Poetry Festival! Check it all out in this issue! 

Carrboro Music Festival 

Huge THANKS to all the diverse bands and talented musicians , amazing crowds and wonderful weather that made the 2023 Carrboro Music Festival such a success on Sunday, Oct. 1. 

Be sure to  put on your radar more fall cultural events coming up in Carrboro -- including the West End Poetry Festival set for Oct. 19-21 (see story in this issue) and the Carrboro Film Fest scheduled Nov. 17-19! 

"Carrboro has a proud tradition with these longstanding festivals, which have been offered for 15 to nearly 25 years running,” Mayor Damon Seils said. “Collaboration is key to our success, and we’re grateful to our partners for their commitment to cultural offerings that are shared so widely and are part of Carrboro’s arts legacy.”

https://www.carrboronc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2496

Carrboro 10K set for Saturday

A Carrboro 10K road race is scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. 

Expect traffic delays around this time on N. Greensboro Street and Hillsborough Road. The race begins in front of McDougle Middle School, winds through downtown Carrboro and its neighborhoods, and finishes on the McDougle track. Feel free to cheer on the runners! 

The Carrboro 10K is the second race of the Le Tour de Carrboro race series, sponsored by the Cardinal Track Club.  

Learn more at https://runsignup.com/Race/NC/ChapelHill/Carrboro10K

Carrboro Fire-Rescue Truck Dedication Ceremony

Join the Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department at the dedication ceremony for their new engine. 

The ceremony  will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at Carrboro Fire-Rescue Station No. 2, located at 1411 Homestead Rd., and will include the wet-down and push-in ceremony.

Town Council Update 

Meeting agendas and updates are issued from the Town Clerk’s Office. To receive these by email or text, sign up for Carrboro Town News at https://www.carrboronc.gov/list.aspx 

Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. Reach the Town Council with your ideas, views, and questions at Council@carrboronc.gov

Coming Up

The Carrboro Town Council will hold a Council Meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. The agenda is available at https://carrboro.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1109796&GUID=BFC4B294-EA98-44E1-92A0-F4A0D4D022C7&Options=&Search=

The Town Council meets at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or can view the livestream at YouTube.com/CarrboroNC  OR at https://carrboro.legistar.com/ OR Cable TV 18 (in Carrboro). 

Watch the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/live/lWXq2AaHMqM?si=OZyj4jUoz_8XI3rb

Meeting Recap 

The Council held a Council Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, and took the following actions:

• Received the Mayor’s Proclamation for Community Planning Month.
• Reviewed the Lloyd Broad Neighborhood Overlay District Provisions.
• Received an update on the status and implementation of the Carrboro Connects Comprehensive and other priorities.
• Considered an amendment to Chapter 2 of the Carrboro Town Code to allow remote participation by Council Members at official Town Council meetings.

Watch the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/live/MbIiTYzy8VI?si=STh7WCwA313L4-mr

Town Council 
The Town Council, which is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, comprises Mayor Damon Seils, Mayor Pro Tempore Susan Romaine, Council Member Barbara Foushee, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Danny Nowell, Council Member Eliazar Posada, and Council Member Sammy Slade. More information is available at https://www.carrboronc.gov/248/Town-Council

Planning Department to Host Open Houses

Throughout the next month, the Carrboro Planning, Zoning, & Inspections Department (PZI) will be hosting a series of Open Houses for Carrboro residents:

• 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4 at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. 
• 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5 at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. 
• 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 7 at Carrboro Farmers Market (Town Commons, 301 W. Main St.) 

We will be talking about:

• Residential and Neighborhood Parking Maximums (Upcoming Town Council Public Hearing – Oct 24)
• Comprehensive Plan & Implementation
• Climate Action
• Opportunities to join the Solarize the Triangle ’23 Campaign
• Composting Program and Food Waste
• Carrboro Transportation Planning
• Public Transit Accessibility
• Infrastructure Projects
• Development Review
• Volunteer opportunities

We would love to chat with you about how these upcoming topics, opportunities, and changes may relate to you and answer any questions you have for planning staff.

Carrboro observes Community Planning Month

The American Planning Association has designated the month of October 2023 as National Community Planning Month, and the Town of Carrboro is on board! Mayor Damon Seils has proclaimed the observance locally.

In the past year, the Town’s planning staff has worked to implement Carrboro Connects, focusing on identified priorities while continuing to carry out the regular services provided to the community. These implementation efforts have included:

• drafting revisions to the Town’s Land Use Ordinance to align the Town’s regulations with identified goals
• beginning the process of creating a new downtown area plan
• identifying areas for improvement in the development review process
• completing a racial equity analysis of the traffic calming process
• launching the Green Neighborhoods Grant Program
• expanding transportation demand management grant programming
• coordinating with NCDOT on roadway and infrastructure improvements to enhance safety and accessibility for pedestrians and people on bicycles, including the completion of resurfacing and restriping projects to add bike lanes on East Main Street and Merritt Mill Road and planning for similar improvements on North Greensboro Street and Jones Ferry Road in the coming year.

The planning staff also hosted and participated in countless community events and conferences to forward the Town’s goals through community engagement and coordination with partners and stakeholders while continuing to implement the Community Climate Action Plan and Bicycle Plan, among many other projects and events.

“I encourage all residents to celebrate the contributions made by the professional planners of Carrboro and our neighboring communities; and to recognize the dedication of the members of our numerous advisory boards and other community members who contribute their time and talents to the improvement of Carrboro,” Mayor Seils said. “Furthermore, I encourage residents to become advocates for and participants in the implementation of our award-winning Carrboro Connects comprehensive plan.”

• Read the full proclamation at https://www.carrboronc.gov/2630/Proclamations-and-Resolutions
• Watch our video celebrating the award for the Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan! https://youtu.be/Yv9_PqtVN3Q

Annual Africa Fest Comes to Carrboro

The African Studies Center at UNC-Chapel Hill will hold its third Africa Fest on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, from noon to 2 p.m. in collaboration with Weaver Street Market and the Town of Carrboro.

Africa Fest is a celebration of African culture, art, and history. This family event offers an annual immersive opportunity to engage with the rich contemporary cultures of the continent.

This annual event focuses on sharing culture, fostering unity, and celebrating the beauty of diversity. We hope that it will empower our community to celebrate and learn while gaining an enduring appreciation for diversity and inclusivity.

Opening remark by Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils. Food by Weaver Street Market!

Check out Golden Fig next door for bestselling African books.

Learn more at https://africafest.unc.edu

Fire Prevention Week in Carrboro

The National Fire Prevention Association has designated Oct. 8-14 as Fire Prevention Week and Mayor Damon Seils has proclaimed the observance locally. 

Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department’s core mission includes protecting lives, property and the community from the destructive effects of all hazards. The department uses a multifaceted community risk reduction model to achieve this mission, which includes education, engineering, fire code enforcement, economic incentives and emergency response.

“I encourage all residents to ensure everyone in their home understands the sounds of the smoke alarms and knows how to respond, to make a home fire escape plan, and to ensure their smoke alarms are working and meet the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities,” says Mayor Seils. “I also encourage residents to share their appreciation for Carrboro Fire-Rescue’s dedicated first responders and to learn more about the community risk reduction services the department provides.”

Read the proclamation to learn more about the activities, efforts and successes of the Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department at https://www.carrboronc.gov/2630/Proclamations-and-Resolutions

Tampering with Political Campaign Signs Is a Crime

The public is reminded that anyone who knowingly removes, alters, or defaces a campaign sign is guilty of a crime. It is a misdemeanor for a person to steal, deface, vandalize, or unlawfully remove a political sign that is lawfully placed. 

 Those running for elected offices deserve the opportunity to display campaign signs in a legal manner without fear of damage or theft.

 The Carrboro Police Department encourages anyone who sees someone tampering with political signs, or has information regarding individuals who have stolen or defaced campaign signs, to contact 911 to file a report.

Celebrate Walk & Roll to School Day with Carrboro

The 27th annual National Walk & Roll to School Day will be celebrated on Oct. 4, 2023 and communities across the U.S. will celebrate on various days in October. Carrboro is celebrating on Wednesday, Oct. 11 as proclaimed by Mayor Damon Seils.

“I encourage all students in Carrboro who are able to do so safely to walk, roll, or take the bus to school on this day and to consider doing so as often as possible during the school year,” Mayor Seils said. 

Communities participate in Walk & Roll to School Day to encourage all forms of active transportation to school and to inspire local action to create habits, policies, and environments that support students walking to and from school. 

The mayor and other members of the Town Council will lead a walk, ride, and roll to school on Oct. 11 with students from Wilson Park to Carrboro Elementary School. Town staff will count students walking, biking and rolling to school at McDougle Elementary & Middle Schools and Morris Grove Elementary School.

Anyone looking to participate in a group Walk & Roll to School should meet at the bike repair stand at Wilson Park, 110 Wilson St., between 7 and 7:15 a.m. There will be a group photo before the group begins to Walk & Roll to School at 7:20 a.m. The Walk & roll should arrive at Carrboro Elementary by 7:35 a.m.

Teaching children to walk, roll, or bike to school safely can help create lifelong travel habits and offer opportunities for students to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines, which is associated with improved academic performance.

• For more information on year-round walking, biking, and rolling to school visit: https://www.walkbiketoschool.org/
• Read the full proclamation at https://www.carrboronc.gov/2630/Proclamations-and-Resolutions

Carrboro to feature 18th Annual 
West End Poetry Festival: Community

The 18th Annual West End Poetry Festival returns, Oct. 19-21, 2023. All events are free and open to the public.

Thursday, October 19 - Luna (307 E. Main St. Carrboro, NC 27510)

 5:45-8:00 p.m.  Carrboro Poets Council Feature and Open Mic

Fred Joiner, Former Carrboro Poet Laureate

• Gideon Young
• Chad Knuth
• Susan Spalt
• Liza Wolff-Francis, Carrboro Poet Laureate, as MC

Friday, October 20 - The ArtsCenter 
(400 Roberson St. Carrboro, NC 27510)

4:30-5:30 p.m. Youth Workshop with Jaki Shelton Green

7-8 p.m. Carrboro Poet Laureate, Liza Wolff-Francis in poetic conversation with Ina Cariño and Len Lawson

8-8:30 p.m. Open Mic

8:30-9:30 p.m. Wine Reception (cash bar)

Saturday, October 21 -   Carrboro Century Center 
(100 N. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510)

10-11:15 a.m. Coffee, biscuits and Poetry in the Round

11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Break for lunch. Go explore the many delicious restaurants around downtown Carrboro!

12:45 p.m. Welcome from Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils

1 p.m. Poets Laureate Reading

• Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis
• Chapel Hill Poet Laureate Cortland Gilliam
• Piedmont Poet Laureate Dasan Ahanu
• Durham Poet Laureate DJ Rogers
• Charlotte Poet Laureate Jay Ward
• North Carolina Poet Laureate: Jaki Shelton Green

2:45-3:45 p.m.  Poetry Writing Generative Workshop with Ross White

3:45-4:30 p.m. Coffee and snacks provided

4:30-5:30 p.m. New Book Poets Reading

• Corrie Lynn White
• Ross White
• Len Lawson
• Ina Cariño
• Jan Harington

5:45 p.m. Light dinner fare provided by Carrburritos

6:45 p.m. Community Poem Reading: We need your words to help create the 2023 Carrboro Community Poem! This year's theme is COMMUNITY. Submit your words for the 2023 Carrboro Community Poem here.

Saturday, October 21 -   Steel String Brewery 
(106A S. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510)

7-9 p.m.  Poetry Slam hosted by Dasan Ahanu

For more information on the events and poets please visit the West End Poetry website: westendpoetryfestival.org

The West End Poetry Festival is sponsored by the Town of Carrboro and is planned by the Carrboro Poets Council (currently comprised of Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis, Gideon Young, Susan Spalt, Jay Bryan, Fred Joiner, Abigail Browning, Chad Knuth and Paul Jones) with the assistance of the staff of Carrboro’s Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department and the support of the Carrboro Arts Committee and the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority.

Click the above image to view our Monthly Events Newsletter and discover all of the exciting programs and special events that are coming up! Registration for our fall programs is underway. 

Fall Registration Open for Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Resources 

The Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department’s Fall program brochure is now available! Click the image above to learn more.

Put your ideas into action! 
Apply to serve the Town of Carrboro

The Town of Carrboro is seeking volunteers to provide a fresh perspective on important local issues.

Carrboro local government has various advisory boards and commissions that advise the Town Council on a wide range of issues. We are currently looking to fill vacancies!

When you serve, you become an advocate for the Town of Carrboro, provide feedback to the Council, and help strengthen the community with your unique perspective. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people as you put your ideas into action.

Learn more about the openings available.