News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC (January 9, 2023) 

Find stories here about Carrboro's event this Saturday to honor Dr. King, the first Town Council meeting of the new year, a recap of Libba Cotten Day, free poetry events and more! 

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Carrboro

Join us in Carrboro for a youth-led event celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We will have guest speakers featuring illustrator Keith Knight and historian Danita Mason-Hogans; Council Member Barbara Foushee; Nevaeh Hodge, a Carrboro Youth Council and Chapel Hill- Carrboro NAACP Youth Council Member; and a presentation of student artwork and videos.

The event starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, in Century Hall of the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St.

Learn more at https://ecs.page.link/ZFz2B

The event is planned by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Youth Council, Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board, and the Carrboro Youth Council. 

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year.

Carrboro Celebrates Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten on Her Birthday 

Mayor Damon Seils officially proclaimed Thursday, Jan. 5, as “Libba Cotten Day” in Carrboro. 

The day's special event included a proclamation by Mayor Damon Seils, remarks from NC Representative Allen Buansi, a new poem by Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis, and local musician Josh Kimbrough played his version of "I'm Going Away." Also attending the program was Carrboro Mayor Pro Tem Susan Romaine. 

“Libba Cotten continues to inspire musicians around the world and occupies a special place in Carrboro’s history and our vibrant and enduring local music culture,” Mayor Seils said. “I invite you to join us in this opportunity to celebrate her life and legacy.” 

Born on Jan. 5, 1893, Cotten wrote her signature song, “Freight Train,” about the train she could hear from her childhood home on Lloyd Street in Carrboro, North Carolina. Cotten's talents as guitarist and songwriter came to light while she was working in the home of the Seeger family, who encouraged her career as a professional musician. Cotten toured across the country, recording several albums and winning a Grammy Award and a National Heritage Fellowship before her death in 1987.

Find more about the celebration including a new poem about Libba Cotten : https://www.facebook.com/CarrboroTownGov/posts/pfbid08Lfz9CUPhmtFUu98qqfGJBX1n41GozyMwBhfbBX7b9f78BhCtFEHURFXveuPga4Ql

Save the Dates for Poetry Events this January

Two special events to dig deeper into poetry and connect with community are scheduled this January! All are invited to come celebrate Carrboro's rich arts history and meet community members at these free and open events. 

Unearthing Ourselves! is a one-hour poetry workshop led by Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis. The workshop will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in Room 110 at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. 

Poets’ Party: An Evening of Community Poetry is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. The Town of Carrboro and the Poets' Council will recognize the longstanding Carrboro Poet Laureate program with former poet laureates reading as well as a few guest poets; a special thanks to Fred Joiner, Carrboro's outgoing poet laureate; and a welcome to Liza Wolff-Francis, Carrboro's newest poet laureate. 

Everyone is welcome!

Carrboro Seeks Volunteers to Serve Community

Consider applying for a Town of Carrboro Advisory Board or Commission. We need your voice at the table!

Please especially consider volunteering if you represent any of the following underrepresented groups: Black/African-American, Hispanic/Latinx, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and Subcontinent Asian Americans, Senior Residents, Ages 20-34, Differently Abled, LGBTQ+ , and Families of Incomes of $50,000 or Less.

Learn more and apply: https://www.carrboronc.gov/228/Advisory-Boards-Commissions

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 carrboronc.gov/signup
 
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 Town Council will meet next at 7 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 10, 2023, to consider an agenda posted at http://bit.ly/3VWDhF4
 
This in-person meeting will be held at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or can view the livestream at carrboro.legistar.com OR YouTube.com/CarrboroNC OR Cable TV 18 (in Carrboro). 
 
To submit a comment on this agenda, please contact publiccomment@carrboronc.gov to reach the Town Clerk.
  
Past Meeting 
The Carrboro Town Council's last meeting was Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. The Council took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://bit.ly/3UG7OGI 

• Approved the January 2023 Town Council Meeting Schedule.
• Authorized the Town Manager to execute supplemental agreements with NCDOT for the Homestead Road-Chapel Hill High School Multi-Use Path to reflect later milestones related to project completion.
• Authorized the Town Manager to execute a supplemental agreement with NCDOT for the Morgan Creek Greenway to reflect later milestones related to project completion.
• Authorized the Town Manager to execute a supplemental agreement with NCDOT to extend project milestones for the Bike Loop Detector Project and authorized staff to submit a request to the DCHC MPO for a NCDOT STIP amendment to increase its allocation of STBG-DA funds to the project to provide for additional funding up to $120,000.
• Requested staff reconsider options for office space.
• Received an update on the status of the recently adopted Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan 2022-2042. The update provided a progress report on several key projects and a timeline for the next fiscal year. Learn more about the Comprehensive Plan here: https://www.carrboronc.gov/2389/Carrboro-Connects-Comprehensive-Plan . 

About the 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  http://carrboronc.gov/248/Town-Council

Stormwater Rolls Out New Residential Assessment Pilot Project

The Stormwater Division is rolling out a new Residential Assessment Pilot Project to perform assessments and provide technical advice to homeowners regarding possible solutions to flooding, drainage, erosion, and other stormwater and stream related concerns. Applications from homeowners are now being accepted and will be screened and scheduled for assessments as they are received and as capacity allows. 

You can apply online at http://townofcarrboro.org/FormCenter/Public-Works-Department-23/Application-for-Stormwater-Residential-A-214, obtain an application from Town Hall or contact Stormwater Staff at stormwater@carrboronc.gov or 919-913-2999.

For more information on the pilot project visit www.carrboronc.gov/2752/Residential-Assessment or contact Stormwater staff at stormwater@carrbornc.gov or 919-913-2999.

203 Project Update 

Construction is underway on the 203 Project at 203 S. Greensboro St., the project to complete a new library and civic building. You've likely noticed the new crane. And now, the project has its first building foundation since crews made the big pour on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022! A significant project milestone! 

The $42 million development will be the future home of the Orange County Southern Branch Library. The facility will also provide a permanent home for the Orange County Skills Development Center; Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department; WCOM Radio; and performance/multipurpose uses. The 203 Project will provide opportunities for education, art and community connection.

More information:

• The Town of Carrboro posts regular updates to the community on the Town website and through social media. Sign up to receive Carrboro Town News updates at www.carrboronc.gov/signup 
•  If you would like to be included on a neighborhood email distribution list, which includes residents living in the adjacent neighborhood and the local business community, please notify the203project@carrboronc.gov
• More information is available at https://www.the203project.org/