News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(March 27, 2024) 

Carrboro has an official new street name -- Braxton Foushee Street! Community celebrated the renaming with a dedication event on Wednesday with well wishes shared from many leaders, including Gov. Roy Cooper and U.S. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. Help welcome new Town Clerk Lamar Joyner, who started this week! Let everyone know that Carrboro is the best in the South and cast your vote.  Friday is a Town holiday -- and to those celebrating, Happy Easter! 

Carrboro Celebrates: The Braxton Foushee

Street Dedication

The Town of Carrboro celebrated the renaming of Carr Street during the Braxton Foushee Street Dedication on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The event was livestreamed on the Town of Carrboro’s Facebook and YouTube channels. Watch the video.

Due to rain, the event moved indoors to the Carrboro Century Center, which quickly filled with more than 100 community members. The street dedication celebration included remarks from community leaders, poetry by Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis, music by Brentton Harrison, and refreshments.

In addition to Braxton Foushee, the featured community leaders for this event included Mayor Pro Tem Danny Nowell, N.C. Rep. Allen Buansi; Chapel Hill Town Council Member Paris Miller-Foushee; the Rev. Prince Raney Rivers of Union Baptist Church of Durham; Dave Mason Jr., president of the Lincoln High School Alumni Association and member of the Chapel Hill Nine; Charles Alston, friend and member of the Orange County Training School (OCTS)/Lincoln Alumni Association; Nevaeh Hodge, 2024 Pauli Murray Award Winner; Danita Mason-Hogans, president of Bridging the Gap DMH; Delores Bailey, vice president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP and executive director of EmPOWERment Inc.; Stancil Clark, scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 411; Mayor Barbara Foushee; and the Rev. Dr. Rodney Lavon Coleman of the First Baptist Church of Chapel Hill. 

About the Street Renaming

Braxton Foushee is a local civil rights leader, a current Planning Board member, and the first Black member of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen (now the Town Council).  The street renaming in his honor was proposed last fall on Oct. 17, 2023, when the Council heard a request from Dave Mason, president of the Lincoln High School Alumni Association, Pat Mason and Herman Murrell Foushee. The Council voted to approve the street name change on Nov. 29, 2023. The change became official on March 27, 2024.

Carr Street is named for Julian Carr, a noted white supremacist. The namesake of Carrboro, he was an active and influential participant in Jim Crow era efforts to create a system of racial segregation. A Truth Plaque at Town Hall reads, in part: “Although the town continues to bear his name, the values and actions of Carr do not represent Carrboro today.”

The event was livestreamed on the Town of Carrboro’s Facebook and YouTube channels. Watch the video.

For photos from the event, contact Carrboro’s Communication & Engagement Department at communications@carrboronc.gov

Find more information here.

March Community Update for the 203 Project

Construction continues to progress on The 203 S. Greensboro Street Project in Carrboro.

Work performed in last 60 days:

Exterior brick is complete on the west side and has begun on the east side.  Roofing work is nearly complete.  Exterior glass has been installed with the exception of a few sections which will remain open to allow access of materials into the building.  The interior walls have been framed and insulated on the west side and installation and finishing of drywall is in process.  The interior stairs have been installed and interior parking deck walls are being built.  Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler work has all begun.  

Work upcoming in next 30 days:

Exterior brick work will continue along sections of the parking deck.  Interior mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler installation will continue throughout. Interior walls, insulation and drywall will continue on east side.  Wear surface slabs will be poured in the parking deck.  Roofing will be finished. 

We are currently expecting construction to wrap up late summer. An opening date has not yet been determined. This will be set in coordination between the Town of Carrboro and Orange County, following the completion of construction, and the move-in of furniture and library supplies. 

Traffic impacts during the Braxton Foushee Street Dedication 

A street dedication ceremony for the renaming of Carr Street to Braxton Foushee Street is scheduled at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 27. The ceremony will take place outside the Arete Studio at 203 E. Carr Street. The event is anticipated to cause some intermittent traffic delays along Carr Street from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Learn more about the street dedication.

Read more about The March Update for the 203 Project

Vote Carrboro as your favorite

small town in the South!

Carrboro has been nominated for a USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice 2024 award. The South is known for its charm, hospitality, and rich history. But it also has some of the most beautiful and diverse small towns in the country. Relaxing getaways, cultural immersion, outdoor adventures, and culinary delights await across the region in these 20 small towns — each with a population of less than 25,000 — that have been nominated by an expert panel.

Let everyone know that Carrboro is the best in the South! Vote once per day until polls close on Monday, April 1 at noon ET. The winning small towns will be announced on Wednesday, April 10.

Click here to vote for Carrboro.

Town of Carrboro Announces New Town Clerk

After a national search, the Town of Carrboro has selected Lamar Joyner as Town Clerk for the Town of Carrboro. 

“Mr. Joyner is a great addition to our organization and community, the Town Council welcomes him and looks forward to working with him,” said Mayor Barbara Foushee.

Joyner most recently worked for the past six years as Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for Buncombe County Government, where he managed and coordinated all administrative business for seven commissioners including maintaining all official records, developing agendas, and supervising a deputy clerk. Previously, he was Deputy Director for Forsyth County’s Board of Elections, where he worked for more than a decade.

 A resident of Burlington, Joyner enjoys spending time with his family and friends, being outdoors, and participating in athletic activities.

 “I am confident that I can be an asset to the organization and help the Town meet its goals,” Joyner said.

 The Town Clerk for the Town of Carrboro maintains official Town records, prepares agendas and minutes of Council meetings; prepares updates to the Town Code; and provides support to the Mayor and Council members. The position also supervises a deputy town clerk position. Learn more here.

Town Offices Closed for the Spring Holiday

Most Town offices, including Town Hall and all non-emergency Town operations, will be closed to the public on Friday, March 29. Friday's household trash collection will be collected on Monday, April 1.

Green Neighborhoods Grant Program 

As part of its Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) implementation, the Town of Carrboro announces a call for applications for the 2024 Green Neighborhoods Grant Program!

Residents can receive up to $2,500 to complete a project that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance ecosystem resiliency, or contribute to climate action awareness or engagement.

The Carrboro Town Council accepted the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) in 2017 to expand the Town’s existing climate action efforts and emphasize measures that community members can implement to help achieve greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. The plan’s goal is to raise the community’s awareness and involvement in climate action and the enhancement of ecosystem resilience. In 2020, the Town updated the CCAP goals to recommend an 80% reduction of 2010 emissions levels by 2030. To achieve this goal, widespread community participation in every aspect of the plan is essential. 

The Green Neighborhoods Grant Program seeks to benefit low-income households and residents of color by bringing neighbors together to pursue projects which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create natural areas that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change, ultimately benefiting the entire community.  

The maximum grant award is $2,500. Applications are due by May 1, 2024 at 3:00 pm. Visit the Green Neighborhoods Grant Program webpage for more information.

For questions, contact Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Laura Janway at ljanway@carrboronc.gov or (919) 918-7326. 

To all who are celebrating...

The Town of Carrboro recognizes our diverse community and the many observances meaningful to our residents this week.

Carrboro Celebrates Farmers’ Market Week

Mayor Barbara Foushee has proclaimed April 1-7 to be Farmers’ Market Week in Carrboro.

The proclamation was received by Maggie Funkhouser, market manager of the Carrboro Farmers' Market. 

Founded in 1979, the Carrboro Farmers’ Market celebrates its 45th anniversary this year.

The mission of the Market is to create and sustain a vibrant and innovative Market that supports local farmers and artisans, while extending the benefits of local food to the greater community.

“Locally Grown, Nationally Known,” the Market is one of the oldest and most well-established producers-only farmers markets in North Carolina, with everything grown and produced by the Market’s farmers and artisans.

The Market operates year-round and begins its Main Season in April with extended hours on Saturday mornings and a mid-week market on Wednesday afternoons.

Learn more about Famers' Market Week in Carrboro.

Photo caption: Maggie Funkhouser, market manager of the Carrboro Farmers' Market, received the Farmers’ Market Week in Carrboro Proclamation from Mayor Barbara Foushee. 

Spring Events in Carrboro

Maybe it's because we're coming out from a cold winter, but spring definitely brings out the weird and wonderful in us. Which means it's prime time for you to experience only-in-Carrboro festivals and events. Join us in spring as we play in our public spaces, celebrate Elizabeth Cotten, and feel that small town pride. Who’s ready to play Giant Jenga?

Open Streets – 12 noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 7, 2024  

Weaver Street in Carrboro, NC 

The Town of Carrboro closes east and west Weaver Street to vehicles and reopens this public space for recreation!  Come out to dance, do yoga, ride their bikes, climb a rock wall, make smoothies on a bike blender, and generally ‘re-create the street’! 

More info about Carrboro Open Streets.

Freight Train Blues Concert Series – Friday night outdoor concerts from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. from May 3 to June 21, 2024 

Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St., Carrboro, NC 27510

This is a free concert series. Food and beer will be available for purchase. 

Freight Train Blues celebrates the life and legacy of Piedmont blues legend and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2022 Inductee Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten, born in 1893 in Carrboro, NC.  

Sponsored by Town of Carrboro, Carrboro Tourism and Development Authority, Music Maker Foundation, and WUNC 91.5FM. 

More info about Freight Train Blues Concert Series.

Carrboro Day – 1-5 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 2024

Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St., Carrboro, NC 27510 

This free event is about meeting neighbors, learning about the Town, and celebrating Carrboro. It features live music, poetry, art, history, kids’ activities, a walking tour and more. Games such as Giant Jenga and Giant Connect 4. 

More info about Carrboro Day.

For a full list of our events, be sure to check our our Community Events Calendar.

Doing Business with the Town of Carrboro - Public Input Session

A public input session is set for this April for people doing business or wanting to do business with the Town of Carrboro. All are invited to provide input on their experiences with the Town of Carrboro.

The input session is scheduled as follows via Zoom:

• Wednesday, April 10 – from 6 to 7 p.m.  Join this zoom meeting here.

The public input session is a part of the engagement process to be incorporated in a Disparity Study of the Town’s contracting and procurement practices. The Town of Carrboro is working with Griffin & Strong P.C., a nationally recognized law and public policy consulting firm, to conduct the study.

The study aims to provide insights into the Town's utilization of minority-owned and women-owned businesses compared to its availability to identify any potential disparities. The study's findings will inform the Town's decision-making process and enable it to develop policies and strategies to promote equitable access to contracting opportunities.

The Disparity Study is a critical step forward in advancing the Town's racial equity goals.

For more information, contact carrborostudy@gspclaw.com or visit carrborodisparitystudy.com.

Carrboro’s Community Survey Underway

Consultants working on behalf of the Town of Carrboro are currently reaching out to local residents, selected at random, to solicit their opinions on how well Carrboro’s government works for them. If you have received a survey, please take time to express your views! 

Residents have options to complete the survey in paper or online, and consultants will conduct follow-up outreach by phone. Residents will be asked to spend about 20 minutes answering 40 questions for the scientific survey, which will be conducted through April. Topics will include safety, service, communications, transportation, and recreation.

A second survey is being conducted of residents who live in the town’s Qualified Census Tracts. These tracts have 50 percent of households with incomes below 60 percent of the Area Median Gross Income (AMGI) or have a poverty rate of 25 percent or more. Respondents will be provided interpretation services upon request to answer the survey in their preferred language.  

  “The Town of Carrboro performs this survey every two years so that we can continually gauge how our residents feel about what we are doing, and what is important to them. Your feedback is essential. The survey helps us understand your experience with Carrboro's services and what matters most to you. This valuable information guides our decisions and shapes how we move forward as a community,” said Interim Town Manager Marie Parker. “I hope people will take the time to participate to consider the quality of services they receive in their day-to-day lives as town residents."

Read more about this year's community survey.

Carrboro Mayor Proclaims April as

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

 Mayor Barbara Foushee has proclaimed April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the Town of Carrboro.

The proclamation was received by Rachel Valentine, executive director of the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. 

Over half of women and almost one-third of men in the United States have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact in their lifetimes. Women and racial and ethnic minority groups, trans and gender-nonconforming people, people with disabilities, and children experience a higher burden of sexual violence.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a national campaign aimed at raising awareness about sexual abuse, harassment and assault. The campaign seeks to educate communities about the realities of sexual violence, offer support to survivors, and encourage communities to take action to prevent sexual violence.

Find additional resources and information here.

Photo caption - Rachel Valentine, executive director of the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, receives Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation from Mayor Barbara Foushee.

Save the Date: CD & Record Show

The 34th Biannual Carrboro CD and Record Show will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 21  in the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. in downtown Carrboro. Admission is free. 

The event will feature dozens tables of new and used CDs, vinyl records, and music memorabilia. Although vinyl records will be the majority of the items for sale, there will also be quite a large number of CDs, cassettes, and 45 RPM records.

Save the date to stop by and browse through what the vendors have to offer.  You never know what you may find!   

2024 Carrboro Music Festival

Performer Application Now Open

The Town of Carrboro is now accepting online applications for the 2024 Carrboro Music Festival. The application deadline for submissions is May 31, 2024. 

The Carrboro Music Festival is a celebration of local musicians throughout Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County.  The festival also includes performers from surrounding counties located between the Triangle and Triad regions of the state. 

For more information, visit: www.carrboromusicfestival.com

Apply now: https://www.carrboronc.gov/321/Application---Performers

Public parking available in downtown Carrboro

It’s easy to find free two-hour public parking in Carrboro, where you can access convenient parking at 10 public lots all over town.

Please remember that the Carr Mill Mall parking area is for mall customers and is not a public parking lot. Leaving the mall premises after parking risks towing. When in doubt, always park in public lots, and enjoy a hassle-free and relaxed shopping and dining experience.

Find more information including an interactive parking map on our Downtown Parking webpage.