News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(June 6, 2024) 

It's Pride Month in Carrboro! This Saturday, El Centro Hispano hosts Orgullo Latinx Pride, and the Town is putting on the Carrboro Pride Dance Party on Friday, June 28 -- fantastic events at Carrboro Town Commons! Also, in this issue you'll find a Community Update from Mayor Foushee, so click on the video to catch up on even more local news. This June, enjoy our free Freight Train Blues live music concerts on Friday evenings. You'll also want to save the date to celebrate Juneteenth, a jointly hosted Chapel Hill-Carrboro event set for Sunday, June 16. Enjoy the weekend!  

Celebrate Small Town Pride this June!

June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month in the Town of Carrboro, as proclaimed by Mayor Barbara Foushee.

Celebrated nationally each year in the month of June, this month was chosen to commemorate the riots that took place at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan on the morning of June 28, 1969, often viewed as the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. 

Carrboro is committed to standing with and supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and to working to ensure that all of its residents, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, are treated with respect and dignity.

Carrboro has a proud history of advancing the rights of its LGBTQ+ residents, including:

• being the first municipality in the state to create a domestic partner registry on October 11, 1994
• the first to extend eligibility for employment benefits to same-sex partners of Town employees
• the first to elect a gay mayor, a lesbian mayor, a Latinx LGBTQ+ council member, and a non-binary council member
• being among the first (with the Towns of Hillsborough and Chapel Hill and Orange County) to adopt a local ordinance prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations and employment in 2021

The Town of Carrboro and the Town of Chapel Hill will co-host “Small Town Pride,” a series of celebrations that will include community partner events. 

ORGULLO LATINX PRIDE | Saturday, June 8 from 5-9 p.m. (Carrboro Town Commons)
Celebrate Latinx Pride! Come out for local food trucks, drag shows, music, and crafts for the kids. This is a space to celebrate and share the diverse cultures, identities, and experiences of the local Latinx LGBTQ community. Organizers from El Centro Hispano aim to create an event that fosters unity, inclusivity, and empowerment by showcasing our community’s talents while providing social, healthcare, and advocacy resources, and family fun. Learn more about Orgullo Latinx Pride.

Pride Piper Walk | Friday, June 28 at 4:30 p.m. (Carrboro Century Center)
Join local officials to help roll Rainbow Ram down Weaver Street from the Century Center to Town Commons for the Carrboro Pride Dance Party. Learn more about the Pride Piper Walk.

Carrboro Pride Dance Party | Friday, June 28 from 5-8 p.m. (Carrboro Town Commons) 
Join the party for food, dance and frolicking on the lawn. Live drag show performances and music by WXYC Radio DJs. Food trucks, dancing and tables with resources, support and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. Learn more about the Carrboro Pride Dance Party.

If you’re interested in participating as a vendor or by setting up a table at the Carrboro Pride Dance Party, fill out the online application form.

Engage Carrboro! Check for the postcard

and community updates

Calling all Carrboro residents! Check your mail for a postcard from the Town of Carrboro for community updates.

Check out our new webpage Engage Carrboro, a resource for all the hot topics and engagement opportunities underway in the town. Click on the Community Update from Mayor Barbara Foushee to watch a video message.

There’s always so much going on in town! There are many ways to stay informed and opportunities to participate and provide input on topics that are important to us.

Visit Engage Carrboro to ... 

• Provide input on various projects  
• Conveniently find information through our A-Z Guide to Services
• Sign up for recreation programs or locate a park facility
• Get Carrboro This Week delivered to your email
• Sign up for OC Alerts for emergency alerts

Check the schedule for our Town Council Meetings. These occur most Tuesdays at Town Hall and livestreamed via YouTube.com/CarrboroNC  The next Council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 18.

You can also stay updated by visiting one of our Town Information Centers, outdoor kiosks around town.  

For more information, contact Communication & Engagement Director Catherine Lazorko at clazorko@carrboronc.gov or call 919-918-7314.

Traffic Alert: E. Braxton Foushee Street Temporary Closure

Beginning this Wednesday, June 5, E. Braxton Foushee Street between S. Greensboro Street and Maple Avenue Extension will be temporarily closed. The closure is necessary so the contractor for the 203 Building in coordination with OWASA can make a utility connection at the southeast corner of the building.  

Work will happen from approximately 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is scheduled to take about three days (Wednesday to Friday).  During this time, flaggers will be positioned at the Maple Avenue Extension intersections to allow alternating one-way traffic.  East Braxton Foushee Street will open back up to normal traffic flow in the evenings.  

Dominion Energy will also perform work that temporarily closes East Braxton Foushee Street in June. Updates will provided as soon as possible. 

Freight Train Blues to feature Orquesta GarDel

The upcoming  concert of the Music Maker Foundation’s Freight Train Blues series is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 7, at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main Street. 

Featured this Friday are the following artists:

Orquesta GarDel

Orquesta GarDel is a modern salsa group from North Carolina. Formed in 2006 by David Garcia and the late Nelson Delgado, Orquesta GarDel has evolved into a salsa-fusion group, blending various musical backgrounds including jazz, funk, blues, and R&B.

More Information:

The Town of Carrboro proudly presents the Music Maker Foundation’s Freight Train Blues series of live concerts every Friday evening between May 3 and June 21, 2024, at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main Street. Concerts start at 6:30 p.m.  The series is a collaboration among  Music Maker Foundation; the Town of Carrboro; WUNC 91.5 FM; and The Forests at Duke. Funding for this year’s series was also provided by Spark the Arts.

Bring your picnic, lawn chairs and blankets for a free evening of live music on the lawn. Beer and food will be available for purchase at the events. 

Find more about free public parking available in downtown Carrboro.

Check out the full line up and learn more about Music Maker Foundation and Freight Train Blues.

Gun Violence Awareness Day in Carrboro

Carrboro recognizes Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday, June 7, as proclaimed by Mayor Barbara Foushee.

Gun violence prevention is more important than ever as we see an increase in firearm homicides and nonfatal shootings across the country, increased calls to domestic violence hotlines, and an increase in gun violence.

Towns and cities across the nation, including Carrboro, are working to end the senseless violence with evidence-based solutions. Protecting public safety in the communities they serve is local government’s highest responsibility.

Support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns away from people with dangerous histories. Elected officials and law enforcement officers—in partnership with local violence intervention activists and resources—know their communities best, are the most familiar with local criminal activity and how to address it and are best positioned to understand how to keep their citizens safe.

In January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, an honor student, was tragically shot and killed at age 15 and on June 7, 2024, to recognize the 27th birthday of Hadiya, people across the United States will recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day and wear orange in tribute to her as well as victims of gun violence and their loved ones.

The idea was inspired by a group of Hadiya’s friends, who asked their classmates to commemorate her life by wearing orange. They chose this color because hunters wear orange to announce themselves to other hunters when out in the woods, and orange is a color that symbolizes the value of human life.

Anyone can join this campaign by pledging to wear orange on Friday, June 7 to help raise awareness about gun violence and honor the lives of gun violence victims and survivors.

We renew our commitment to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the hands of people who should not have access to them and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our families and communities safe.

Read the full proclamation: https://www.carrboronc.gov/2630/Proclamations-and-Resolutions

Local Government Career Expo

The Town of Carrboro will participate in the first ever Local Government Career Expo on June 8, 2024, at the NC State McKimmon Center in Raleigh. 

Called the “LOGO Career Expo,” the event focuses on broad career exploration, professional networking, skill development, and long-term career planning, with a focus on transferable skills.

Local government employers from more than 40 cities and counties – including the Town of Carrboro – will spotlight a number of careers in a variety of fields, including construction, business administration, environmental sciences, public health, public safety, technology, and more.

Pre-event workshops will focus on resume building, dressing for success, and elevator pitch tips. Day-of information sessions will cover a variety of topics.

The event is aimed at anyone interested in career growth and advancement, mid-career professionals, those looking to switch careers, or anyone interested in exploring new opportunities and learning more about the local government profession.

Registered attendees will be entered into a drawing for unique gifts and should expect to be contacted by participating employers.

For more information or to register, visit logocareerexpo.com.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth Celebration

In celebration of Black history, culture and liberation, the towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill will host their annual Juneteenth Celebration on Sunday, June 16 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Hargraves Community Center, 216 N. Roberson St. in Chapel Hill. The event will feature music, food, art and historical experiences. 

The parking lots at Hargraves Community Center will be reserved for vendors, event staff, and ADA spaces. Parking for attendees will be available at nearby Northside Elementary School or public lots downtown, which are free on Sundays. For more information about downtown parking, visit parkonthehill.com. Attendees are also encouraged to walk, bike, or take Chapel Hill Transit. The A Route has direct service to Hargraves and a number of other routes run nearby. Best routes from Carrboro are the J Route and CW Route. There will also be shuttles running between Hargraves and Northside Elementary School.

For more about the Juneteenth celebration, visit chapelhillcarrborojuneteenth.org  

Assessment of Underground

Stormwater Infrastructure

Over the next few weeks, the Town of Carrboro Stormwater department will be working with Vision NC to perform condition assessment work on our underground stormwater infrastructure. You may see crews throughout town Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For more information visit the Carrboro Stormwater webpage.

Town of Carrboro Announces Family Financial Assistance Program (Round 2)

The Carrboro Family Financial Assistance Program (Round 2) will begin accepting applications on June 24, 2024 for Carrboro families facing financial challenges with food, housing, utilities, transportation,  childcare and internet access.  

The second round of this program has been approved by the Town Council.  Partnering on the program are the Town of Carrboro Racial Equity Commission, Race and Equity team, Orange County Department of Social Services, Empowerment Inc. and the Carrboro Housing and Community Services Department.  

Pick up and drop off completed applications (English or Spanish) at the following: 

• Access applications on the program webpage.
• Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
• Hillsborough Commons, 113-B Mayo Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278 
•  Fax completed applications to 919-644-3305 

The Carrboro Family Financial Assistance Program will receive applications through Friday, July 26, 2024.

For more information, contact Anita Jones-McNair at amcnair@carrboronc.gov or 919-918-7381 or Kannu Taylor at ktaylor@carrboronc.gov or 919-918-7351. 

Name That Building!

The Joint Orange County -Town of Carrboro Naming Committee is looking for public input as it considers a name for the civic building under construction in Carrboro. 

Commonly called The 203 Project for its location at 203 S. Greensboro St., this is the future home of Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources; Orange County Southern Branch Library; Orange County Skills Development Center; WCOM Radio; a teen center and performance/multipurpose uses.

Please take the survey:

• Survey in English
• Encuesta en Español

Community members are asked for a name suggestion and to share if the name falls under either geographic, historical, ecological or functional categories or a memorial category.

Public engagement for this process will be underway through June 14. The committee will review communitywide suggestions and provide a recommendation for consideration to the Orange County Board of Commissioners and the Carrboro Town Council. 

Naming Committee members are Catherine Fray and Eliazar Posada from the Town of Carrboro; Anna Richards and Sally Greene from the Orange County Board of Commissioners; and Alex Brown and Nerys Levy from the Friends of the Library. 

The Naming Committee will follow the Orange County Property Naming Policy, which states that the public facility’s name be based on geographical, historical, ecological, functional, or other factors as deemed appropriate. If a geographical reference of locational value is derived from a person's name, such as a street name, it may be used in naming the facility.

Memorial naming of this facility, in addition to the official title of the facility, may be bestowed based on the following:

• The person who is being honored by such a memorial shall have made a significant contribution to the well-being and betterment of Orange County.
• The party requesting a memorial shall submit a brief biography of the person.
• The Orange County Property Naming Policy

Celebrate Pollinator Week in Carrboro

Mayor Barbara Foushee has proclaimed June 17 – 23, 2024, to be Pollinator Week in Carrboro.

The Town of Carrboro recognizes that human health ultimately depends on well-functioning, biodiverse ecosystems. Pollination provides significant environmental benefits and plays a vital role for trees and plants, producing much of our food supply, creating recreational and economic development opportunities and enhancing our quality of life.

Bees and other pollinators around the globe have experienced dramatic declines due to a combination of habitat loss, use of pesticides and the spread of pests and diseases, with grave implications for the health of flora and fauna.

In October 2014, the Town of Carrboro became the third municipality in the nation to be recognized as a Bee City USA. Mayor Foushee also signed the 2024 National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ monarch Pledge, committing the town to take meaningful action to protect the monarch butterfly. A goal of these initiatives is to promote healthy, sustainable habitats for bees, monarchs and other pollinators.

The Town has worked to create pollinator habitats by installing native bee nest boxes, establishing a pollinator garden, and planting pollinator-friendly vegetation to restore a riparian buffer.

Celebrate Pollinator Week:

• Enjoy a fun pollinator activity at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market on Wednesday, June 12, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St.
• Watch a pollinator movie screening on Sunday, June 23, at 3 p.m. at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St.

Read the full Pollinator Week Proclamation:  http://www.carrboronc.gov/2630/Proclamations-and-Resolutions

Greene Tract Community Workshop

The public is invited to the Greene Tract Community Workshop from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 9 at Morris Grove Elementary School, 215 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC. 

Come out to provide feedback on the Greene Tract Master Plan at this "Creating a Shared Vision for Our Community" workshop. 

The Greene Tract is a large parcel of land located off of Eubanks Road in Chapel Hill, near the Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood. The governments of Orange County and the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro jointly own the 164 acres which make up the tract.

Register online for the workshop or request interpretation services.

Learn more about the Greene Tract.

Western Triangle Planning Organization Seeks Public Feedback on Inclusive Transportation

and Mobility

From the DCHC MPO

If you’re interested in transportation access in the Triangle region, now is your chance to provide feedback on any existing mobility issues and transportation needs. 

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) recently hosted a series of public workshops to update the regional Coordinated Plan and the draft is available for YOUR review.

How to Participate

• Take the Survey
• Read the Draft Plan.

What is the Coordinated Plan?

This plan is designed to improve mobility by removing barriers and expanding options for transportation.  It is tailored to the needs of older adults, individuals with disabilities, and those with limited incomes who are considered transportation-disadvantaged.

What Feedback Has Been Collected So Far?

The DCHC MPO held four public workshops this spring where participants were asked to identify gaps and needs in services, identify solutions, and then prioritize those solutions. Feedback can be found starting on page 33 of the draft plan and includes high priority projects such as:

• Better transportation access across County lines (i.e. between Durham and Orange Counties)
• Increased transportation services for seniors in Durham
• Greater flexibility in scheduling rides for demand services (i.e. not having to book so far in advance)

Accommodations

Persons who require Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) assistance to review website materials, take the online survey, or to request a print copy of the survey, should call or email Colleen McGue by June 15, 2024.

Carrboro 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.

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 meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 18. The agenda will be available at https://carrboro.legistar.com 

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 YouTube.com/CarrboroNC  OR at https://carrboro.legistar.com/

Recap of Past Meeting 

The Council met on Tuesday, June 4, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://ecs.page.link/aqVeW

• Approved minutes from Town Council Meetings held on June 20, 27, July 12, September 12, 19 and 26, 2023.
• Appointed Melody Kramer to the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) board.
• Authorized a contract with GFL Environmental, Inc. for disposal of municipal solid waste.
• Approved a contract with Greenscape Inc. for mowing along Highway NC-54 and Town properties.
• Approved a request to issue a Street Closing Permit for the LATAM Street Fest 2024.
• Terminated the agreement to grant use of public works site to Carolian Biodiesel, LLC formerly Piedmont Biofuels, Inc.
• Awarded the 2024 Resurfacing Project to Daniels Inc. of Garner.
• Awarded American Recovery Plan Act Funding for the Carrboro Family Financial Assistance Program (CFFAP) second round.
• Authorized a change to the erosion control and grading plan for Lot 2 within the South Green development project at 501 South Greensboro Street.
• Held a public hearing on Carrboro Land Use Ordinance Text Amendment to update and clarify water quality buffers, road buffers, setback exceptions and fences. The amendment to the ordinance was approved.
• Received a presentation on the results of the Carrboro Community Survey. Learn more at https://townofcarrboro.org/1096/Biennial-Community-Survey-Reports
• Received a presentation with updates on the Downtown Area Plan scope and schedule.
• Received an update from OWASA Representatives.
• Received a presentation on the Recommended Budget for FY 2024-25. Access the budget document at https://townofcarrboro.org/250/Financial-Documents

Watch the livestream at https://www.youtube.com/live/bsWBSN9WZss?si=l3_H7I_Jpz4fKJKl

Language Access
The Town of Carrboro offers free language translation and interpretation services to residents. Information: 919-918-7391 or info@carrboronc.gov

La Ciudad de Carrboro ofrece servicios gratuitos de traducción e interpretación de idiomas a los residentes. Información: 919-918-7391 o info@carrboronc.gov

Council Meeting Schedule 

 View the 2024 Council Calendar.

Town Council 

The Town Council, which is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, comprises Mayor Barbara Foushee, Mayor Pro Tempore Danny Nowell, Council Member Catherine Fray, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Jason Merrill, and Council Member Eliazar Posada. More information is available on the Council webpage.

Carrboro Police Seek Witnesses to Homicide

The Carrboro Police Department continues to investigate a shooting that occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at Estes Park Apartments located at 306 Estes Drive Ext. When officers arrived on the scene, they located a deceased adult male.

Currently, the police department believes this is an isolated incident, and there is no current danger to the surrounding community. The investigation is ongoing and active.

The police department is seeking to locate and speak with witnesses to this homicide.  If you are a witness, know of a witness, or have additional information on this incident, please contact

Investigator R. Trombley with the Carrboro Police Department at (919) 918-7415, or Crime Stoppers at (919) 942-7515. Crime Stoppers allows tipsters to remain anonymous if they wish. 

Media point of contact:  Captain R. Daniels 919-918-7418

Do you use the Baldwin Park Playground?

We want your input!

The Town of Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department is planning to replace the playground area amenities at Baldwin Park, 400 Broad St.

Take a survey and tell us how you use the park: 

• Survey In English
• Encuesta En Español

The survey is open through Friday, June 28, 2024.

For more information, email info@carrboronc.gov .

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.