News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC (May 25, 2023) 

Here's what's new in Carrboro This Week: The third floor concrete pour happened this week at the new library and civic building under construction on S. Greensboro Street. This is the last floor before crews begin building the roof. Be sure to congratulate Will Potter on his promotion to fire chief for Carrboro.  Coming up is Memorial Day Weekend.  We honor those who have died in service to our nation. 

May community update for the 203 Project

CARRBORO, NC -- Crews are currently working on forming up the third and final floor of the building.   Concrete for the third floor was poured on the morning of Tuesday, May 23. Once the third floor is complete, construction of the roof will begin and the building will be topped out.  View a video update on the progress of the 203 Project.

Focus will then shift to the building of the concrete parking deck.   

Duke Energy is currently scheduled to perform some aerial utility work on S. Greensboro St this week.  This may involve a lane closure and short power interruption to some customers. Utility work is ongoing, please follow the Town’s social media for the latest utility work notifications.

Background 

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

For more information and the latest drone videos, please visit www.the203project.org

Town Offices Closed for Memorial Day

Town of Carrboro government offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday. 

A Memorial Day program with guest speaker Sgt. Maj. Devell “Bo” Durham, the American Legion (AL) National Security Commission Member, Chairman AL Department of North Carolina Internal Affairs Commission, Chairman AL Department of N.C. War on Terror Committee, is scheduled at 10:45 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the Veterans Memorial Site, 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC. 

FREIGHT TRAIN BLUES CONCERT SERIES 
The Blue Ridge Opry hosted by Kelley Breiding

Enjoy Blue Ridge Opry hosted by Kelley Breiding at this week’s Freight Train Blues Concert, Friday, May 26, 2023. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main Street. Bring your picnic, lawn chairs, and blankets for an evening of live music on the lawn. 

The concert series runs every Friday night through June 23 and is a collaboration among Music Maker Foundation; the Town of Carrboro; WUNC 91.5 FM; and The Forests at Duke.

Public parking is available and free in downtown Carrboro.

The Blue Ridge Opry is a nostalgic country music variety show inspired by the early days of the Grand Old Opry and the heyday of classic country stars like Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Uncle Dave Macon, The Carter Family, Loretta Lynn, and the like. The program is hosted and produced by singer and multi-instrumentalist Kelley Breiding and features a variety of musical guest stars including Martha Bassett, Jim Lloyd, Larry Sigmon, Wayne Dye, Asa Nelson, and Kelley and The Cowboys as well as comedy and dancers from the Blue Ridge Mountains.

More information: www.freighttrainblues.com 

Celebrate Black Community & Culture 

Save the date for Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s Juneteenth celebration set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Hargraves Community Center, 216 N. Roberson St. in Chapel Hill. 

Here are a few highlights:

• The day starts at 10 a.m. with a dedication ceremony for the new Hargraves Historical Marker, part of the NC Civil Rights Trail.
• The stage will feature live music all day long, with gospel singers, steel drums, rap artists, and R & B. A DJ will keep the party – and the dancing – going between sets.
•  Black businesses will be on display throughout the event, from the food truck zone to the small business fair.
• Local non-profits will be showcase their good works and spread the good word about all they do.
• The Kids Zone will keep the young ones happy with face painting, street performers, mural-making and the CHPL Circulator.

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro proclaimed the observance and commemoration of Juneteenth on June 19, 2020 and encourage residents and employers to recognize the holiday.

Celebrate Small Town Pride this June!

Carrboro and Chapel Hill are pleased to host Small Town Pride this June! Save the dates for special events and join in our local traditions to celebrate the Pride community. 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month is celebrated nationally and locally each year in June. 

Through Small Town Pride, we affirm community values ensuring that all residents, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, are treated with respect and dignity. Local events in Carrboro and Chapel Hill will recognize local LGBTQ+ leaders, artists and activists, and highlight history, resources and businesses.  

Small Town Pride Events in June 2023

• Chapel Hill Pride! Promenade | Saturday, June 3 from 2-4 p.m. (downtown Chapel Hill)
• Poets Open Mic Night | Tuesday, June 6 from 7-9 p.m. (via Zoom)
• Drag Story Times | Dates to be Announced
• ORGULLO LATINX PRIDE | Saturday, June 10 from 5-9 p.m. (Carrboro Town Commons)
• Pride Piper Walk | Friday, June 30 at 4:30 p.m. (Carrboro Century Center)
• Pride Food Truck Rodeo & Dance Party | Friday, June 30 from 5-8 p.m. (Carrboro Town Commons)

Read the full Small Town Pride News Flash to learn more about the events offered throughout June.

New Fire Chief Announced for Carrboro

Town Manager Richard J. White III has announced the selection of Will Potter as the new Fire Chief. 

Chief Potter began his career as a firefighter with the Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department in 2007 and has progressed through the ranks for the last 16 years, most recently serving as the Interim Fire Chief. He began his career as a volunteer firefighter with the New Hope Fire Department.

He holds numerous fire service, emergency medical service, and emergency management certifications. He currently serves on multiple boards, committees, and commissions in the fire service, including serving as a principal member on two National Fire Protection Association Technical Committees.

“After a national search process, I am excited to have Will lead our talented team at the fire department,” Town Manager White said. “From his very first visit to a firehouse at the age of five, Chief Potter knew that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of both of his grandfathers by becoming a firefighter. From that time, he has continued to build lasting relationships within the community and with our emergency response partners.” 

In 2001, Chief Potter began participating in the Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department’s Ride-Along program, which allows civilians to participate and respond to calls with the department. From that point on, he knew that he wanted to spend his career with the Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department specifically and dreamed of being the chief of the department one day. Chief Potter completed his Eagle Scout project with the department, which included adding reflective bands to fire hydrants throughout Carrboro.  

“This is truly a dream come true,” Chief Potter said. “The last fire chief that came up through the ranks in Carrboro was Chief Jake Hardee in 1973, so this means a lot for our department and our community.”

“I look forward to continuing to serve our community and continuing to grow with the department and the Town.”

The Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department employs 37 men and women who are dedicated to protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Carrboro and Orange County. The department operates three companies out of two fire stations. 

Carrboro Music Festival accepting performer applications

The Carrboro Music Festival is accepting performer applications for the 2023 Carrboro Music Festival through Thursday, June 1. Apply at http://carrboromusicfestival.com/321/Application---Performers 

The 2023 festival is Sunday, October 1, 2023, with a kickoff show scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. Musical acts selected by the Music Festival Planning Committee to perform in the event will receive an honorarium in the amount of $250.

The Carrboro Music Festival is a free one-day event (plus a kickoff show) showcasing Triangle-area performers and their varied musical styles.  

The event is coordinated by the Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department and the Carrboro Music Festival Planning Committee. This program is supported by the Town of Carrboro and the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority.  Generous support is also provided by the local business community.

Learn more about the Carrboro Music Festival: http://carrboromusicfestival.com/311/Carrboro-Music-Festival

Carrboro Mayor Proclaims June to be Immigrant Heritage Month

Mayor Damon Seils has proclaimed June 2023 to be Immigrant Heritage Month in Carrboro.

According to American Community Survey estimates in 2020, more than 1 out of every 8 Carrboro residents was born outside the United States. Our town is home to nonprofit organizations like El Centro Hispano, the Refugee Community Partnership, and the Refugee Support Center that support immigrants, migrants, and refugees through community building and organizing, language access, legal assistance, after-school programs, job training, distribution of food and essential goods, and more.

Generations of immigrants, migrants, and refugees from around the world have built the nation’s economy and shaped the character of our communities. Immigrants have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights and access to equal opportunity, but also in creating a fairer and more just society for everyone.

“I encourage all residents to celebrate the many contributions that immigrants have made in Carrboro and across the country, to learn more about immigrant communities and histories, and to offer assistance to local organizations that support local immigrant, migrant, and refugee communities,” said Mayor Seils.

Read more in our news flash about Immigrant Heritage Month.

Carrboro Announces Green Neighborhoods Grant Program

As part of its Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) implementation, the Town of Carrboro is pleased to announce the Green Neighborhoods Grant Program that offers grants for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance ecosystem resiliency or contribute to climate action awareness or engagement. The maximum grant award is $2,500.

Applications are due by June 9, 2023 at 3 p.m. 

Read more information on the Green Neighborhoods Grant Program.

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

Poetry in the Park with Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis

Come write poetry in the park with Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis this summer.

Free ecopoetry workshops are offered from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays on June 5, July 10, and August 7 at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1120 Hillsborough Road in Carrboro. The group will gather in the pavilion located inside the park (the pavilion furthest from the parking lot, located on the right-hand path).

Ecopoetry is poetry about the planet and our relationship to Earth. It supports ideas of conservation and sustainable living. Anyone can write ecopoetry and participants are welcome to write about whatever comes to them and whatever moves them. All are welcome. 

For more information, email lizawolff.francis@gmail.com

Mayor Proclaims Period Poverty Awareness Week in Carrboro

Mayor Damon Seils has proclaimed the week of May 22-28, 2023 to be Period Poverty Awareness Week in Carrboro.

Approximately half the population will have a period every month for decades of their lives. Period supplies are a necessary product for millions of people across the country, however national surveys and research studies report that one in four people who have a period struggle to secure enough period supplies due to a lack of income.

Carrboro is proud to be home to trusted community-based organizations, including Period Power, a program of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, that recognizes the importance of period products and distributes period products through various channels.

“I encourage residents to share appreciation for local period supply banks and their staff, volunteers, and donors, and to contribute generously to period supply banks, product drives, and organizations that collect and distribute period products,” Mayor Seils said.

Read the full Period Poverty Awareness Week News Flash.

The 2023 Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources

Summer Brochure is now available 

This session also includes registration for our youth Fall Baseball and Flag Football programs. Registration for Carrboro residents begins on May 3, 2023, and for all others on May 4, 2023. 

View the full PDF Brochure to learn more

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 https://www.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 Carrboro Town Council will hold the next Council Meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, 2023. The agenda will be available at https://carrboro.legistar.com/   

This 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 YouTube.com/CarrboroNC OR at https://carrboro.legistar.com/  OR Cable TV 18 (in Carrboro). 

Past Meetings 

The Carrboro Town Council met Tuesday, May 23, 2023, for a Council Meeting and took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://carrboro.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1088373&GUID=64B42A7D-0932-4141-8174-42CB702EC7DC&Options=&Search= 

Watch the video at  https://www.youtube.com/live/ev97HlrGHiU?feature=share  

• Recognized a 2023 Immigrant Heritage Month Proclamation - https://www.carrboronc.gov/2630/Proclamations-and-Resolutions  
• Amended the 203 S. Greensboro Street Project Ordinance to include Orange County Sustainability Grant Funds and additional Stormwater Enterprise Funds.
• Amended the Land Use Ordinance to allow certain multi-family residential uses into the M-3 zoning district with a special use permit, subject to certain criteria. The change responded to a petition to amend the M-3-CZ district at South Green. 
• Held a quasi-judicial public hearing for consideration of a Special Use Permit-A request for property at 8522 Old NC 86. This public hearing will be continued on June 13. 
• Held a public hearing to consider amendments to the Land Use Ordinance to revise notification associated with attendance requirements.
• Authorized the Town Manager to enter into a comprehensive participation agreement with the Transit Governance Interlocal Agreement (ILA) Parties. Participation is necessary to continue to receive transit funding for town infrastructure projects.
• Considered amendments to the Advisory Board Recruitment and Appointment Policy document, and the Rules of Procedure for Town of Carrboro Boards and Commission Administrative Policy. Proposed amendments to these policies were identified at the March 14, 2023 Town Council work session. The Council requested additional information and that this matter be brought back for further consideration on a later agenda. 

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 https://www.carrboronc.gov/248/Town-Council

Gun Violence Awareness Day Rally on June 2

The Town of Carrboro will join with the Town of Chapel Hill at its Gun Violence Awareness Day event at 12:30 p.m. Friday, June 2, at Peace & Justice Plaza. The plaza is located in front of the Chapel Hill Courthouse at 179 E. Franklin St. 

Attention Food Truck Operators!

We are accepting application for the 2023 Freight Train Blues Concert Series at Carrboro Town Commons. 

Contact Michelle Blume at mblume@carrboronc.gov or 919-918-7367