Town of Carrboro to Commemorate George Henry White as part of Black History Month
CARRBORO, NC – The Town of Carrboro will be hosting a virtual program to commemorate the 120th anniversary of George Henry White’s historic farewell address to Congress. The online event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1.
After serving in the North Carolina State Legislature, George Henry White represented the State of North Carolina in the United States House of Representatives for two consecutive terms from 1897 to 1901. Congressman White was a leader in the introduction and the fight for anti-lynching legislation.
At the time of his farewell address, White was the only African American Congressman, and he would be the last until 1929. It would not be until 1992 that another African American was elected to represent the State of North Carolina in Congress. Following his last term, White went on to practice law and eventually moved to Philadelphia where he ran a land development firm and founded the city’s first African American owned bank.
The event, which is part of the Town of Carrboro’s annual Black History Month celebration, will be emceed by retired chief public defender for Orange and Chatham Counties, James E. Williams Jr. Opening remarks for the event will be provided by special guest and current U.S. Congressman G. K. Butterfield.
The featured presenter will be noted George Henry White biographer, Benjamin R. Justesen. Dr. Justesen will lead a discussion of his new book, Forgotten Legacy: William McKinley, George Henry White, and the Struggle for Black Equality.
Following the discussion, local oral historian and documentarian Danita Mason-Hogans will introduce three student guest speakers, who will read from George Henry White’s farewell address to Congress. Malkam Hawkins is a junior majoring in electrical engineering, and Milosh McAdoo is a sophomore majoring in animal science. Both students attend North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Joining Hawkins and McAdoo will be Ania Hairston, a junior political science major from North Carolina Central University. All three students are members of the Cheatham-White Scholars program, which honors Henry P. Cheatham and George H. White.
The event will be held via Zoom and will be simulcast to the Town of Carrboro’s YouTube account at www.youtube.com/CarrboroNC To register for the Zoom webinar, please visit: https://townofcarrboro.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-lorm6uDSauaS23HIFNzvQ
Please note that the Zoom call is limited to the first 100 registrants. Those who do not register can view the program via YouTube.
If you have any questions about the event, please contact the Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department at 919.918.7364 or via email at recparks@townofcarrboro.org
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Black History Month
The Town of Carrboro’s Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department will be celebrating Black History Month throughout February.
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 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, Jan. 26, to consider an agenda https://bit.ly/3iDSb0L
To view, livestream at carrboro.legistar.com OR YouTube.com/CarrboroNC OR Cable TV 18 (in Carrboro). To speak at the meeting email publiccomment@townofcarrboro.org
View this complete update including a summary of the Jan. 29 meeting at http://townofcarrboro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1590
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Police Chief Walter Horton Day in Carrboro
CARRBORO, N.C. -- Monday, Feb. 1, is Police Chief Walter Horton Day in the Town of Carrboro, as proclaimed by Mayor Lydia Lavelle.
“I want to offer my thanks and appreciation to Chief Horton for his twenty-seven year career with the Town of Carrboro; for the leadership, service, and protection we have received from him during this time; and best wishes for many years of joy in retirement,” said Mayor Lavelle.
Chief Horton was first sworn-in as a Carrboro Police Officer on Sept. 9, 1993, and promoted to Lieutenant in 2009 and to Captain in 2011; and after a nationwide search for a chief, selected and sworn-in as Police Chief for the Town of Carrboro in 2013.
Read the Proclamation of Police Chief Walter Horton Day in Carrboro at http://townofcarrboro.org/DocumentCenter/View/8713/2021-Walter-Horton-Day
Read the retirement announcement news story at http://townofcarrboro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1553
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Summary: Town CARES Support to Carrboro Residents and Businesses during Pandemic
CARRBORO, N.C. -- Congress passed the federal stimulus package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), in March 2020 to aid individuals, business and communities throughout the U.S. affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19. Orange County provided the Town of Carrboro with a total of $554,737 in CARES Act funds between March 1 and December 30, 2020. To supplement these funds, the Town of Carrboro allocated additional local resources.
In the continued interest of transparency and accountability, the Town of Carrboro has released a summary this January 2021 detailing its 2020 efforts to assist the Carrboro community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Town Council wanted to ensure that relief funding assisted residents who have been hit the hardest by the pandemic,” said Town Manager David Andrews. “Our staff members have worked closely with nonprofits and community partners to facilitate assistance, always with an eye toward maximizing the impact across the community.
"It’s been a year unlike any other due to overwhelming need and high demand for local response.”
The Town awaits additional information on the second major stimulus bill of the pandemic, which Congress passed in December 2020 for the current 2021 year.
Read this story at http://townofcarrboro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1587
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Carrboro Fire-Rescue to participate in a digital community risk assessment program
CARRBORO, NC -- The Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department has been selected by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) www.nfpa.org to participate in the second phase of a pilot program to build a digital community risk assessment (CRA) tool. Aligned to NFPA 1300, Standard on Community Risk Assessment and Community Risk Reduction Plan Development www.nfpa.org/1300, the tool, or “dashboard,” enables community leaders to gain valuable insights and make data-informed decisions around fire prevention and other risk-reduction activities in their communities.
"We are thrilled to be participating in this important project,” said Ray Enoch, Deputy Fire Chief, Carrboro Fire-Rescue. “Not only will access to the tool give us invaluable information about our community’s needs, but it’s rewarding to know that using the tool will increase its effectiveness and help other fire departments in the long run.”
More details at http://townofcarrboro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1580
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Update on the South Greensboro Street Sidewalk Project
Please join us for an update on the South Greensboro Street sidewalk project!
The Town of Carrboro is holding remote public meetings on the installation of a sidewalk along South Greensboro Street from the north end of Old Pittsboro Road to Public Works Drive. Come hear from engineering consultant team Ramey Kemp Associates, Inc. (RKA) on the proposed design for the sidewalk and anticipated schedule for completion.
The next meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30.
To receive an invitation to participate, please email Tina Moon at cmoon@townofcarrboro.org
If you are unable to participate, have questions or would like more information, please call Tina Moon at 919-918-7325.
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Chapel Hill Transit Provides Access to Vaccination Sites
Chapel Hill Transit is committed to assisting with access to vaccination sites in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and UNC Health in Hillsborough. Chapel Hill Transit is waiving the EZ Rider certification process. Here are the details from Chapel Hill Transit:
Learn more at http://townofcarrboro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1581
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Orange County Health Department Recognizes Local Businesses with Upcoming Contest
The Orange County Health Department would like to recognize local businesses that have been vigilant in ensuring that their staff and customers feel safe, secure and well-served during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognition for these businesses will happen through a contest where Orange County residents can vote.
Each winner will receive a trophy and $1000 in advertising support in the form of advertising on Chapel Hill Transit buses.
Voting is open until Sunday, Feb. 28.
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Traffic Alert: Greensboro-Estes Roundabout
The NCDOT contractor plans weekend work on the Estes-Greensboro roundabout project. There will be lane closures from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30. Lane closure will be performed with a flagging operation and all modes of traffic will be allowed to pass through the work area.
The work will consist of grading, prior to 60” pipe installation. The contractor is not currently planning to drill or hammer rock. However, there may be a need for drilling or hammering as the contractor proceeds with installing the 60” pipe next week.
Learn more at http://www.townofcarrboro.org/2249/Estes-Dr-North-Greensboro-Roundabout
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