News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(Oct. 23, 2024) 

Early Voting is underway now through Nov. 2. The Carrboro Halloween Carnival is Friday. A Downtown Area Plan Community Input Session is set for this Wednesday evening at The ArtsCenter. Save the Date for the Carrboro CD & Record Show. Get all the details here! 

Early Voting Underway 

General Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting is underway. Orange County offers early voting to all eligible, registered Orange County voters who wish to vote early, in-person. Absentee voting by mail is available to all registered Orange County voters who wish to vote by mail rather than at a one-stop early voting site or on Election Day. 

If you decide to vote on election day, November 5th, you must vote at your assigned polling place. To find out your assigned polling place and view a sample ballot on Election Day, use the Voter Search Tool located on the Orange County Elections Webpage.

Gather your pumpkins for carving or decorating and put on your favorite costumes! The Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department invites you to participate in the 2024 Carrboro Halloween Events and Activities.

Music and Stories Under the Stars

MUSIC & STORIES UNDER THE STARS, an annual tradition of the Town of Carrboro with co-sponsor Weaver Street Market, was klezmer-ific on Friday, Oct. 18! Thanks to everyone who came out for stories, costuming, treats, and music from the band Zoltar's Fortune!

Halloween Carnival

Come enjoy the Carrboro Halloween Carnival on Friday, Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W Main Street.  We boast a host of carnival style activities for all ages that reward the children’s participation with a wickedly good prize bag. Popcorn, water, hot chocolate, apple cider and coffee will be sold at the concession booth. No registration required.

Virtual Pumpkin Carving/Decorating Contest

Submit a photo of your carved or decorated pumpkin by 5 p.m. ,Tuesday, Oct. 29. Photos will be posted on Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Recourses Department’s Facebook page. and The “Best of Show” winner will be announced on Thursday, Oct. 31. 

• Send photos to dhughes@carrboronc.gov. 
• Please include a sign that says “Carrboro 2024” in your picture. 
• Only one pumpkin in a photo. 
• Please remember that this is a kid-friendly event and CRPCRD reserves the rights to deny entries deemed inappropriate.

West End Poetry Festival Recap 

OK, we were feeling overwhelmed with it all – but then we SLOWED DOWN FOR POETRY! That’s what happens at the WEST END POETRY FESTIVAL held Oct. 17-19, 2024 in Carrboro!

From the poetry readings at Luna Rotisserie on Thursday to the youth poetry workshops at The ArtsCenter on Friday led by NC Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green, there was something for everyone! If you attended the music jam poetry lounge on Friday night (also at The ArtsCenter), help us thank the wonderful musicians Alison Weiner and Mahalo Jazz.

Many thanks to Mayor Barbara Foushee for welcoming festival participants on Saturday at Carrboro Century Center, followed by readings from our talented youth poets (see group photo of Hannah Reeves-Cowell from Carrboro High School, Patrice, Annora Leaf from Cedar Ridge High School, Liza Wolff-Francis, Alice Stuckey, Mayor Foushee and Tyler Kamya). 

Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis opened the book poets readings featuring her own work, followed by readings from John Hoppenthaler, Fred Joiner, Debra Kaufman, Ashley Lumpkin and Ralph Earle. Special thanks to the North Carolina Hall of Fame poets reading and conversation with Joseph Bathanti and Lenard Moore.

And Saturday night’s Poetry Slam hosted by Josephus Thompson III was a blast at Steel String Brewery!!

The West End Poetry Festival is sponsored by the Town of Carrboro and is planned by the Carrboro Poets Council (see group photo of Susan Spalt, Liza Wolff-Francis, Chad Knuth, Mayor Foushee, Gideon Young, 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. We are also grateful for the support from Open Eye Cafe and Blair Publishing. 

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

Town Council Update

CARRBORO, NC -- The Town Council is scheduled to meet next 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 for its regular business meeting. 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/

The livestream will be available at YouTube

New Council Meeting Time 
A new meeting time has been set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday meeting dates through 2024. The Council wants to hear from the community about if the new time works well! Let us know at Engage Carrboro.

Past Meeting Recap 
The Carrboro Town Council met on Tuesday, Oct. 15, and considered an agenda posted at https://carrboro.legistar.com/ 

Council actions included the following:

• Adopted resolutions/proclamations including Minority Enterprise Development Week and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Read Carrboro Proclamations and Resolutions
• Received the Police Department Equity Report. 
• Authorized a contract not to exceed $227,000 for a playground replacement project at Baldwin Park, 400 Broad St. 
• Passed a resolution to name the 203 Greensboro Building the Drakeford Library Complex. The Orange County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to vote on the building naming on Thursday, Nov. 7.
• Held a legislative public hearing on Land Use Ordinance text amendments relating to advisory board and commission consolidation and attendance. Since March 2023, the Town Council has been examining various provisions relating to advisory boards and commissions. The Council authorized changes to add the duties of the Appearance Commission to the Planning Board and to make the Northern Transition Area Advisory Committee a subcommittee of the Planning Board. Duties associated with the Climate Action Team and the Environmental Advisory Board are to be combined into a new Climate and Environmental Advisory Commission. The Transportation Advisory Board and Greenways Commission are to be consolidated into a new Transportation, Mobility and Greenways Advisory Commission.
• Approved the Greene Tract Master Plan, which designates and defines the following: mixed income housing opportunities with rental and ownership choices and options for seniors and veterans; 22 acres of jointly owned property as preserve; network of transportation facilities; recreation opportunities; makers-space, small business opportunities, and community space for seniors, teens, and/or veterans; 16-acre public school and public recreation site. The Master Plan was developed through an engagement process designed to create a shared vision with the community and elevate the voices of the Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood.
• Watch the livestream on YouTube.

ABOUT CARRBORO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. You can reach the Town Council with your ideas, views and questions anytime at Council@carrboronc.gov Meetings are open to the public to join in person at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. OR via Livestreaming at YouTube.com/CarrboroNC  

Regular business meetings are generally held the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Work sessions are generally held the second Tuesdays of the month. Public comment is not accepted during work sessions, and votes are not taken. 

• Agendas (and meeting videos) are posted at https://carrboro.legistar.com/
• The Town of Carrboro offers free language translation and interpretation services to residents. Information: 919-918-7391 or info@carrboronc.gov
• Sign up to receive Council Updates with meeting agendas and post-meeting recaps at www.carrboronc.gov/signup (choose Carrboro Town News)
• Learn more about your Town Council at https://www.carrboronc.gov/248/Town-Council
• Questions? Reach Town Clerk Lamar Joyner at 919-918-7309 or townclerk@carrboronc.gov

In the Spotlight: Carrboro Fire-Rescue 

The Town of Carrboro Human Resources Department organizes a monthly program that shines the light on individual Town departments to help inform staff of the functions of various departments, to encourage sharing and inter-departmental communication, and to foster innovation and collaboration. 

In a recent spotlight program on Tuesday, Oct. 22, fire personnel (pictured here, left to right Fire Chief Will Potter, Dirk Brown, Luis Galdamez and Marcos Ochoa) shared a brief history of the department while highlighting current programs and initiatives. Staff then toured the fire trucks and tested some of the life saving tools the Fire-Rescue Department utilizes in their day-to-day work. 

Deciding not to rake leaves is a simple way to support the environment and local biodiversity while also making yard maintenance easier and more sustainable. 

Pledge to Leave Your Leaves  online or in-person at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. and pick up a free yard sign! Yard signs measure 18 x 24 inches, are made of sturdy, weather-resistant materials, and are printed with low-VOC vegetable-based inks. There is a limit of one free yard sign per household per year.   

The Town of Carrboro is partnering with the Towns of Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, Orange County, the New Hope Bird Alliance, and Keep Durham Beautiful to encourage community members to Leave the Leaves, support biodiversity, improve water quality, and reduce pollution. 

Did you know that leaves are natural fertilizers and help protect wildlife? Nature’s bounty provides an opportunity to put fallen leaves to good use. 

Leaving Your Leaves has several important benefits: 

• Wildlife Habitat: Leaves provide winter habitat for native wildlife that are essential to a healthy ecosystem and biodiversity. Insects and pollinators such as bees and butterflies depend on leaves for shelter which in turn will boost gardens in the spring. Leaves also serve as a habitat for other wildlife such as lizards and birds.  
• Soil Health: Leaves prevent soil erosion, retain moisture, act as a natural mulch by providing ground cover, and improve soil fertility by adding essential nutrients as they decompose.  
• Less Pollution: Blowing and moving leaves often involves fossil fuel-powered equipment which produces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Leaving the leaves reduces this environmental impact and the noise associated with this equipment. 
• Water Quality: Leaves are natural fertilizers and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers that pollute waterways and kill beneficial fungi.  
• Time Savings:  Spend your days relaxing, hiking, or visiting with friends and family instead of cleaning up loose leaves.

Carrboro Celebrates Minority Enterprise Development Week

Mayor Barbara Foushee proclaims Oct. 20-26 as Minority Enterprise Development Week in Carrboro.

Minority Enterprise Development Week, often referred to as MED Week, serves to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of minority-owned businesses and to recognize individuals who have excelled as entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Despite a history of institutional and systemic racism that restricted access to capital, property, markets, advertising and other aspects of commerce and economic life, minority entrepreneurs have used their talents, ideas, passions, hard work and tenacity to build successful business enterprises throughout our nation’s history.

According to the Census Bureau, Carrboro is home to at least 55 minority-owned businesses, providing jobs for more than 1200 people.

Carrboro’s Economic Development Department has worked to promote minority-owned businesses through the BAG Business Accelerator Program, the development of the New Business Resource Center, BIPOC Business Pop-up Program, and the Boost Carrboro Business Training initiative.

2024 will see a variety of MED Week events throughout the United States and North Carolina, including the Minority Business Development Agency’s annual MED Week Conference on October 20-26, and the North Carolina Statewide MED Week Celebration & Expo on October 31 in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is free to attend.

More information:  

Photo -- The Boost Carrboro Business Summit, held in August 2024 by the Carrboro Economic Development Department, is one of the ways the Town of Carrboro works to support businesses, and help create networks among entrepreneurs, engage in meaningful conversations, and explore growth opportunities. 

Community Input Sessions

on Downtown Area Plan

The Town of Carrboro invites community input as it prepares The Downtown Area Plan. The study focuses on the Main Street and Jones Ferry Road corridors, as well as the downtown business districts and surrounding neighborhoods. 

Thanks to everyone who dropped by last week to share what you love, your ideas, and your vision for the downtown area. 

How to Participate:

• TAKE THE SURVEY –  Take our online survey.
• JOIN A COMMUNITY INPUT SESSION –  Drop by The ArtsCenter, 400 Roberson St., on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.  You can participate in an interactive session to share ideas and preferences for public realm improvements and development character areas envisioned for downtown. Expect to meet your neighbors and Town staff members. Share ideas while noshing on pizza and other snacks! 
• LEARN MORE at Engage Carrboro.

Save the Date: CD & Record Show

The 35th Biannual Carrboro CD and Record Show will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3 in the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. in downtown Carrboro. Admission is free.

The event will feature more than 40 tables of new and used CDs, vinyl records, and music memorabilia. Feel free to stop by and browse through what the vendors have to offer. You never know what you may find!

Carrboro Street Resurfacing and Rejuvenation Project Underway

The Town of Carrboro has contracted with Daniels Inc. of Garner for the 2024 Carrboro Street Resurfacing and Rejuvenation Project. 

Work coming up will target areas of Rock Haven Road (Oct 22-25).

Learn more about the resurfacing and rejuvenation project.

Turn Your Clocks Back: Sunday, November 3

We will “fall back” on Sunday, Nov. 3, turning the clocks back an hour. It's also a great time to change batteries in smoke and CO detectors if you haven't done so lately!

The good news is we get an extra hour of sleep. The downside is it’s going to get dark much earlier.

We urge drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists to use extra caution as everyone adjusts to the time change. For pedestrians and cyclists, enhance your visibility at night. Walk and bike in well-lit areas. Always carry a flashlight or wear something reflective, such as stickers or armbands, and use bike lights or reflective mirrors. For drivers, before making a turn, be sure the path is clear of any pedestrians or bicyclists. Slow down in areas where you are likely to find pedestrians, such as near bus stops, schools, and playgrounds. Avoid distractions such as food, passengers and using mobile devices. Talking and texting while driving is both dangerous and illegal in many places.

Carrboro recognizes

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Mayor Barbara Foushee proclaims October 2024 Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Carrboro.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, on average nearly 20 people per minute are abused by an intimate partner in the United States. In North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, at least 73 individuals were murdered by a current or former intimate partner in 2023 and at least 63 have been murdered so far in 2024. At least two Orange County residents have been murdered so far this year by a current or former intimate partner or family member.

Domestic violence encompasses not only physical abuse, but also emotional, verbal, financial, sexual, or digital abuse, isolation and/or stalking.

Domestic violence disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities, undocumented people, women, trans and gender non-conforming people and disabled people.

Read more about Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Carrboro Celebrates American

Pharmacists Month

Mayor Barbara Foushee proclaims October 2024 as American Pharmacists Month in Carrboro.

There are over 10,000 pharmacists licensed in North Carolina and 300,000 pharmacists in the United States providing services to assure the rational and safe use of all medications.

Pharmacists provide both expertise and accessibility which are crucial to patients fully optimizing access to medications. They also provide patient care that ensures optimal medication therapy outcomes.

Read more about American Pharmacists Month in Carrboro.

Lights Out for Birds

The Town of Carrboro encourages everyone to go lights out 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. now through Nov. 30 to help save birds migrating through North Carolina. 

Birds play a crucial role in Carrboro’s local ecosystem. They help with seed dispersal, pollination and pest control. Additionally, their nutrient-rich droppings contribute to natural balance of nutrient cycling, enriching the soil and having a significant impact on the entire ecosystem. Preserving these species aligns with Carrboro’s Community Climate Action Plan.

Contribute to Lights Out

• Turn off exterior decorative lighting
• Extinguish pot and flood-lights
• Substitute strobe lighting wherever possible
• Reduce atrium lighting wherever possible
• Turn off interior lighting especially on higher stories
• Substitute task and area lighting for workers staying late or pull window coverings
• Down-shield exterior lighting to eliminate horizontal glare and all light directed upward
• Install automatic motion sensors and controls wherever possible
• When converting to new lighting assess quality and quantity of light needed, avoiding over-lighting with newer, brighter technology

Learn more from the North Carolina Audubon Society .

Provide Input on Eno-Haw Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan

Alamance, Durham, Orange, and Person Counties and their incorporated communities are updating the Eno-Haw Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Local governments are required to prepare and update hazard mitigation plans to be eligible for FEMA hazard mitigation assistance grants.

Public input is critical to the planning process. Please take a few minutes to complete a brief public survey to provide your input on hazard risks and mitigation options. Click here for the survey.

For more information about the plan update, visit the project website at www.enohawhmp.com. On this site you will find information about upcoming and past Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meetings and public meetings, a link for the public survey, draft documents, and other mitigation planning resources.

Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources

Monthly Events Newsletter

View the Monthly Events Newsletter and discover all of the exciting programs and special events that are coming up!

Check out the Monthly Newsletter.

2024 Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade Participant Application Now Open

Walk, dance, bike, and scoot your way through the 2024 Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.!

We’re looking for local organizations with diverse cultural, faith, and community traditions to participate. We hope you’ll consider joining. A few things to keep in mind:

• Get festive. Decorate your parade unit with a winter theme and add entertainment value. Be a spectacle!
• Get creative. Describe how your unit will entertain/engage spectators. Show us what you got!
• Get ready. This year’s parade will be non-vehicular. Stay on foot, bike, or scooter.
• Please, no ads. No entries for strictly advertising, fundraising, or recruitment activities. No political campaigning or electioneering.

Apply online today to participate in the 2024 Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade.

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.