Governor Cooper and Congressman Price Visit Carrboro's Community School
Carrboro enjoyed a visit Thursday from NC Governor Roy Cooper and US Representative David Price. Learn more about the announcement https://bit.ly/3aejVpD of new funding for early childhood educators like Anna Mercer-McLean, Director of Community School for People under Six, a Carrboro nonprofit.
The investment aims to help childhood educators recover from the pandemic, get parents back to work, and grow the state’s economy.
Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrR4q1LI9n4
Mayor Lavelle Proclaims October Domestic Violence Awareness Month
“I encourage residents to show support for victims and survivors of domestic violence, and to work toward a future when all people can feel safe in their relationships and their homes,” said Mayor Lydia Lavelle who has proclaimed October Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Carrboro.
Read proclamation: https://www.townofcarrboro.org/DocumentCenter/View/9835/2021-Domestic-Violence-Awareness-Month
Carrboro Celebrates Marriage Equality Day
Sunday, Oct. 10, is Marriage Equality Day in Carrboro!
On Oct. 10, 2014, Federal Judge Max Cogburn struck down NC’s gay marriage ban as unconstitutional. Advocates for marriage equality rejoiced, and the Town of Carrboro hoisted the rainbow flags. The love that brings and binds two people of the same, or opposite sex, together transcends gender.
Read the resolution written about The Day Love Won at https://www.townofcarrboro.org/DocumentCenter/View/8121/Marriage-Equality-Day.
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 townofcarrboro.org/signup
Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. Reach the Town Council with your ideas, views, and questions at council@townofcarrboro.org
Coming Up
The Town Council will meet virtually at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, to consider the agenda at https://bit.ly/3BpsmdB that also will be posted at carrboro.legistar.com
Past Meeting
The Carrboro Town Council met virtually Tuesday, Oct. 5, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://bit.ly/3D5qR4M
- Amendments of Town Code Chapter 11 to Allow Managed Natural Landscapes: The Council adopted a town code amendment to allow managed natural landscapes.
- Request for a CUP Permit Extension for 300 East Main: Town Council approved a request for an extension of the date when a Conditional Use Permit would otherwise expire for the 300 East Main Conditional Use Permit. The new expiration date for the permit will be Oct. 9, 2023.
- Discussion of the Advisory Board Recruitment and Appointment Policy and Consideration of Appointments to the Climate Action Team: The Council discussed the Advisory Board Recruitment and Appointment policy and postponed making appointments to the Climate Action Team.
- Work session on Preliminary Draft of Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan: The Council reviewed and discussed the preliminary draft plan. Carrboro Connects, the Town's Comprehensive Planning process has been underway since June 2020. It continues to move forward with plan development and community engagement. A public hearing on a draft plan has been set for Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. Learn more and see the draft plan at https://www.carrboroconnects.org/prelim-draft-plan
- Energy and Climate Protection Plan and Community Climate Action Plan Implementation Update: The Council received an update that included progress on the installation of two electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on Town property and the submission of two proposals to the Orange County Community Climate Action Grant Program. The proposals requested funding for solar photovoltaic panels and a green roof for the 203 Project as well as funding for a part-time staff member to monitor organics collection at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market. See this full report at https://bit.ly/3uRuSXq
About the Town Council
The Town Council is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, consisting of seven elected members: Mayor Lydia Lavelle, Mayor Pro Tempore Barbara Foushee, Council Member Jacquelyn Gist, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Susan Romaine, Council Member Damon Seils, and Council Member Sammy Slade. More information is available at http://townofcarrboro.org/248/Town-Council
Where to Vote Early in Carrboro
Information from the Orange County Board of Elections
Election Day is Nov. 2, 2021.
Orange County offers early voting to all registered Orange County voters who wish to vote early, in-person rather than voting absentee by mail or on Election Day.
If you miss the deadline, don't worry. Voters will have the chance to register and vote at early voting locations from Oct. 14-30.
Early Voting Locations:
Orange Works at Hillsborough Commons (in lieu of BOE office): 113 Mayo St. Hillsborough
- Carrboro Town Hall Complex: 108 Bim St., Carrboro
- Carrboro Chapel of the Cross: 304 E Franklin St., Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill Seymour Senior Center: 2551 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill
Carrboro Town Hall Complex, Chapel of the Cross and Seymour Senior Center:
- Thursday – Friday, October 14 – 15 CLOSED
- Saturday, October 16 CLOSED
- Sunday, October 17 CLOSED
- Monday – Friday, October 18 – 22 8 am – 6 pm
- Saturday, October 23 8 am – 3 pm
- Sunday, October 24 12 pm – 4 pm
- Monday – Friday, October 25 – October 29 8 am – 6 pm
- Saturday, October 30 8 am – 3 pm
Orange Works at Hillsborough Commons, 1130 Mayo St.
- Thursday – Friday, October 14 – 15 8 am – 6 pm
- Saturday, October 16 CLOSED
- Sunday, October 17 CLOSED
- Monday – Friday, October 18 – 22 8 am – 6 pm
- Saturday, October 23 8 am – 3 pm
- Sunday, October 24 12 pm – 4 pm
- Monday – Friday, October 25 – 29 8 am – 6 pm
- Saturday, October 30 8 am – 3 pm
For more information on early voting, please visit https://www.orangecountync.gov/1116/Early-Voting
Questions? Call 919-245-2350 or email vote@orangecountync.gov
Indigenous People’s Day in Carrboro
The Town Council of Carrboro recognizes Monday, Oct. 11, as “Indigenous People’s Day” in Carrboro.
The Council strongly supports the proposition that Indigenous Peoples' Day shall be an opportunity to celebrate the thriving cultures and values of the Indigenous Peoples of our region. The resolution declaring the day as such was adopted unanimously by the Town Council (then known as the Board of Aldermen) in 2015 and continues to be recognized each year.
Read the resolution at bit.ly/3nGabtC.
West End Poetry Festival
The United Poetry Service - Poems for the People
Join us Oct. 15-16 for online and outdoor events for our 2021 Festival
The Carrboro Poetry Council presents the West End Poetry Festival Oct. 15-16, 2021. The Council is composed of current Carrboro Poet Laureate, Fred Joiner, local poets Susan Spalt, Maura High, Abigail Browning, Gideon Young, and former Carrboro Poet Laureates, Gary Phillips and Jay Bryan. Technology consultant is poet/UNC Professor Emeritus Paul Jones. This year the Council has created both virtual and live presentations.
Friday, Oct. 15 - 7–8:30 PM - Zoom Poetry Writing Workshop
In this interactive workshop, take your poetry to the next level with guest poet Crystal Simone Smith. Crystal is the author of two poetry chapbooks, Routes Home, Finishing Line Press (2013) and Running Music, Longleaf Press (2014). She is also the author of Wildflowers: Haiku, Senryu, and Haibun (2016). Her work has appeared in numerous journals.
Saturday, Oct. 16 Events - All activities will be outside. Masks are required to keep everyone safe.
Poetry in the Round - 3-4:45 PM
Join us at the Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St., for an open mic, featuring YOU! Former Carrboro Poet Laureate Gary Phillips will host as we share one poem per person as we travel around the poet’s circle.
Community Poem - 3:45 PM
The Council is inviting members of the community to submit one line of poetry that will be compiled into a Community Poem. “United”, “Service”, and “People” are the prompts. The poem will appear and be read at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday. To participate, a form on the website should be completed by October 15 at 9pm.
Poetry Readings – 5-6:30 PM
Current and past area Poet Laureates, William Davis, Patrick Herron, Fred Joiner, Gary Phillips, Celisa Steele, and CJ Suitt will participate in a reading curated by prize-winning poet, Gideon Young. The readings will be posted on-line after the festival. For more information about these poets, please go to the website.
Zoom links to the performances will be available on the Festival’s website at the time of the event.
For more information, please consult the Festival website: westendpoetryfestival.org.
The festival is funded by the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority and the Town of Carrboro, and organized by the Carrboro Poets Council (Abigail Browning, Jay Bryan, Maura High, Paul Jones, Gary Phillips, Susan Spalt, Gideon Young, and Carrboro Poet Laureate Fred Joiner), with the assistance of the staff of the Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department of the Town of Carrboro.
Provide Your Input on the Draft Plan by Oct. 15
Carrboro Connects, the Town's Comprehensive Planning process has been underway since June 2020. It continues to move forward with plan development and community engagement. The Town Council reviewed the draft plan at a work session on Tuesday, Oct. 5.
The Town is also seeking input from the entire community, and your comments will directly inform the next round of revisions. Please share your thoughts by Oct. 15. After that date, the draft will be revised and presented for review at a Public Hearing on Nov. 16.
Learn more and see the draft plan at https://www.carrboroconnects.org/prelim-draft-plan
Thank you, as always, for your participation and ideas for improving Carrboro’s future!
Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
Vaccines are free, and no ID is required! If you are coming for your second dose, please bring your vaccination card with the record of your first dose. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccine page for the most up-to-date information: www.orangecountync.gov/getyourshot.
***Need a third shot because you are immunocompromised?***
Visit our Chapel Hill location Monday through Friday from 8:30am - 4:30pm at 2501 Homestead Rd.
The Hillsborough location is not currently offering third shots.
Pop-Up Walk-In Vaccine Clinics
In addition to our regularly scheduled walk-in clinics (see graphic above), the Orange County Health Department is pleased to offer pop-up vaccine clinics to all community members ages 12 and older. No registration required, these are walk-in clinics.
- Farmer's Market Pavilion in Hillsborough (next to the Courthouse)
- CHCCS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration (Carrboro Farmer's Market)
- Last Fridays (at the old Courthouse in Hillsborough)
- Farmer's Market Pavilion in Hillsborough (next to the Courthouse)
- Farmer's Market Pavilion in Hillsborough (next to the Courthouse)
- Hillsborough Walk-In Clinic Location Change on October 5th!
- The clinic will be located at the new Bonnie B. Davis Building at
- 1020 U.S. 70, Hillsborough. This is directly across the street from the DMV.
- New Hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm.
- Start Date: 10/5/2021
- Days of the week: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
- Vaccine type: Moderna and Pfizer
The ArtsCenter to host Blood Drive
On Tuesday, Oct. 19, The ArtsCenter is having a blood drive with the American Red Cross!
Sign-up for a time shot: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give