News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC (March 14, 2023) 

Maybe it snowed last weekend, but spring is in the air! This week is UNC-Chapel Hill's spring break, St. Patrick's Day is Friday and the first day of spring is coming on March 20! Stay in touch with local government news and information! Read the Town Council update, attend a poetry reading and open mic night, mark your calendar with Creek Week events, and learn more about festivals and apprenticeships for artists. 

Carrboro Poets Council Reading and Open Mic

Come hear members of the Carrboro Poets’ Council read their poetry and sign up to read at the community open mic at Flyleaf Books on Wednesday, March 15  from  6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at Flyleaf Books, 752 M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC. Featured poets: Jay Bryan, Paul Jones, Susan Spalt, Alex Benedict, Davis Lensch, Giddeon Young, and Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis. 

The Poets Council is a volunteer-based group that organizes poetry in Carrboro, including the West End Poetry Festival and poetry for Carrboro Day and informs the Town of Carrboro of poetry needs, and it is also comprised of published poets. 

Please come enjoy their poetry and sign up to read a poem of your own. 

In April, look for announcements of live workshops out in nature!

State Grant to Fund Social Worker 

A $1.2 million state grant will enhance how Orange County law enforcement agencies interact with individuals during a mental health crisis.

The grant award from the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services was finalized in January. It will create a community care and diversion response team to increase and expand pre-arrest and post-charge diversion opportunities, clinical care, peer support and person-centered case management for individuals with serious mental health issues who come into contact with law enforcement.

The program will be administered by the Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Department and will fund four social worker positions, one each for Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough police departments and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The Carrboro Town Council voted on Tuesday, March 7, to accept the grant for the Carrboro social worker position.

“I’m excited that we have this opportunity to add a social worker to our police department,” Carrboro Police Chief Chris Atack said. “Addressing root causes of behavior and connecting people directly to supportive services is one of the pillars of an effective public safety model.”

Read more at https://www.carrboronc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2370 

This just in: We have a floor!

Earlier today (3/14/23), crews poured the concrete floor for The 203 Project, the new library and civic building under construction on S. Greensboro Street in Carrboro.

Duke Energy will be performing utility work around the construction site on March 16-17 which will have traffic impacts between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Roberson Street traffic will be detoured to use the Main Street intersection instead of S. Greensboro Street. Maple Avenue residents will continue to use E. Carr Street and Maple Avenue Extension. Flaggers and temporary signs will be used to direct traffic.  

In other updates, the site foundations and footings are nearly complete with more construction trades beginning to mobilize onsite.

Find more info at https://www.carrboronc.gov/1151/The-203-Project

Orange County’s Creek Week is March 17-26

Show your love for Orange County’s streams, lakes, and rivers during Orange County Creek Week, scheduled for March 17-26. The annual event is part of the Clean Water and Education Partnership’s (CWEP) third annual Regional Creek Week. This year’s theme is “Water Connects Us.” The initiative will engage the public on the importance of clean and healthy waterways.

“We had so much fun during last year’s events,” said Heather Holley, Stormwater Specialist with Town of Carrboro Stormwater Division. “We've been working with staff and our partners to plan some exciting events and activities to celebrate our creeks and promote waterway stewardship. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone out there!”  

Visit our Creek Week webpage to learn more about all the great events coming your way this month.

Sign Up for Creek Week Kid's Buffer Ball Activity

Join Town staff on Saturday, March 25 for this fun, kid friendly hands on activity at Martin Luther King Jr Park.

Kids will learn about wetlands and vegetative water quality buffers while making seed balls with wetland buffer seed mixes. We will be launching the Buffer Balls into the  wetland buffer in the park to help add diversity and habitat to the parks natural wetland. 

• When: March 25, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Where: Dr. MLK Jr Park Amphitheater, 1120 Hillsborough Road, Carrboro, NC 27516
• Who: Kids K-5^th Grade

This activity is free and RSVP only, space is limited to 20 kids, so please sign up early. 

Parents must be present. Suitable for Kindergarten through 5th grade age group. 

To sign up use this form or contact Heather Holley at  hholley@CarrboroNC.gov or 919-918-7426.

Uproar Festival Call for Artists: Deadline Extended

Artists have until March 15 to apply to the first-ever Uproar Festival of Public Art – happening July 14-Aug. 12 – by going to uproarfestnc.com.

Don’t miss out on:

• The opportunity to win $27,500 in prize money.
• A $500 honorarium for each selected applicant.
• Four nights complimentary lodging for artists living further than 60 miles from Chapel Hill, NC, at one of our partner hotels.
• A mileage stipend for up to 200 miles based on artist’s location.
• The opportunity to sell your work featured at Uproar.

For additional information on submission guidelines, the selection process, and how to apply, visit the Uproar Festival of Public Art webpage.

Get Ready for Carrboro In Motion

This Spring we are bringing the party back to Carrboro neighborhoods. Come Zumba with us, learn how to load your bike onto a Chapel Hill Transit bus, visit the bike fix-it station, watch a dance performance, enjoy games and snacks, and so much more! Our next event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at the Berkshire 54 Apartments. 

The event series aims to advance goals of the Inclusive Carrboro Communications and Community Engagement Plan by creating a method for the Town to establish a presence in communities and neighborhoods, building relationships, offer multiple ways for residents to contribute input and feedback, and advance a neighborhood liaisons network. 

Learn more at https://www.carrboronc.gov/2735/Carrboro-In-Motion  

2023 Jacquelyn Gist Summer Apprenticeship in the Arts

The Carrboro Arts Committee is offering an award of up to $1,000 to assist emerging young artists in developing their talent through the Jacquelyn Gist Summer Apprenticeship in the Arts program.  A total of up to three (3) apprenticeships are available.

Purpose:
To encourage and support emerging young artists who are residents of Orange County by facilitating a summer apprenticeship with an Orange County artist or arts organization. 

Eligibility:
Apprenticeships are available to rising high school juniors and seniors, graduating seniors, as well as college students and those who have graduated from college within the past year.

Applicants must live in Orange County. Carrboro residents will be given priority consideration.  Applicants must have an interest in the arts (visual arts, performing arts, arts administration, etc.) and have secured an apprenticeship with an Orange County artist or arts organization. The apprenticeship must be for at least 15 hours a week for at least 5 weeks. Students who may need assistance finding a local artist or arts organization may contact arts@carrboronc.gov

Additional Information:
Prospective applicants should seek out artists and arts-related organizations for potential sponsorship of their apprenticeship.  Some past organizations have included The ArtsCenter, local dance studios, local metalsmiths, and more.  Additional administrative apprenticeship opportunities, such as the creation of a public art inventory, may also be available directly through the Arts Committee.

Application:
An online application is available at https://www.townofcarrboro.org/FormCenter/Recreation-Parks-Department-3/Summer-Apprenticeship-Application-166

PDF/Word copies of the application are available upon request.

Applications will also be accepted via email, mail, or by dropping off at the Carrboro Century Center.

Please include two (2) letters of reference with your application. 

Carrboro Arts Committee
c/o Charles Harrington
100 N. Greensboro St.
Carrboro, NC 2751
Email: arts@carrboronc.gov

Deadline: May 1, 2023 at 5 pm

Do You Want to Appeal Your Tax Valuation?

If you disagree with your tax value, you can appeal it. To submit an appeal: 

• Online www.orangecountync.gov/appeal
• In-person 228 S. Churton St., Hillsborough
• Email: reval@orangecountync.gov

Mail: PO Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278

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

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 Town Council will meet next for a Work Session at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2023. The agenda is available at https://bit.ly/403Ujne and at https://carrboro.legistar.com/  The work session will be focused on two topics – 1. Parking Study and 2. Advisory Boards and Commissions. The Council will gather for work sessions the second Tuesdays of most months. Public comment is generally not accepted during work sessions. 

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

To download a copy of the full meeting calendar click here.

Past Meeting 

The Carrboro Town Council met Tuesday, March 7, 2023, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://bit.ly/3Jk5tPi  

• Accepted the Police and Mental Health Collaborations for Diversion Programs Grant to provide a social worker in the Carrboro Police Department. The grant runs through September 2025, and formalizes another collaboration among law enforcement agencies, the Criminal Justice Resource Department and Freedom House to serve individuals at risk of criminal legal system involvement. The Community Care and Diversion Response Team will focus specifically on diverting the growing population of individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders from arrest and incarceration. Read more about this at https://www.carrboronc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2370 
• Appointments to Board of Adjustment (Jenifer Wolfe, John Baker - Orange Co rep)
• Appointments to Carrboro Fire-Rescue Firefighters’ Relief Fund Board of Trustees (Forrest W. Lacock and Jefferson R. Dunn)
• Appointments to Northern Transition Area Advisory Committee (Edward Witkin - Orange Co rep, Meg McGurk)
• Appointments to Appearance Commission (David Markiewicz, James Scott)
• Appointments to the Recreation and Parks Commission (Andrew Kelley, Maggie Funkhouser, Deborah Filer, Chris Colvin)
• Appointments to the Transportation Advisory Board (Elyse Keefe, Roby Plenge, David Salvesen, Nicholas Sailer)

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

Registration Opens for the 2023 Orange County Senior Games

Orange County Senior Games is one of 53 sanctioned programs of North Carolina Senior Games, Inc.  They are pleased to announce registration for the 2023 Games is now open through March 24, 2023.

Orange County Senior Games will be held April 13 – May 10.   Anyone interested in participating in the Senior Games Sports or SilverArts activities please visit www.ncseniorgames.org/orange or contact Local Coordinator, Dana Hughes at 919-918-7372 for more information. The deadline for registration is Friday, March 24, 2023.

North Carolina Senior Games is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing year-round health promotion and education for adults 50 years of age and better.  NCSG is sponsored statewide by the North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services. For more information visit www.ncseniorgames.org.

The coordinating agencies for Orange County Senior Games include the Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department, Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department, Orange County Department on Aging, and the Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation.

Sporting Events

Archery, Badminton, Basketball Throw, 3 on 3 Basketball, Billiards, Bocce, Bowling, Cornhole, Croquet, Cycling, Golf, Horseshoes, Pickleball, Shuffleboard, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis and Track and Field

SilverArts

Heritage: Basket Weaving, Crocheting, Knitting, Jewelry, Needlework, Quilting (hand-stitched), Pottery (hand-built and thrown), Stained glass, Tole/Decorative Painting, Wood Carving, Woodturning, Woodworking

Performing: Cheerleading, Comedy, Drama, Dance, Instrumental, Line Dance, Vocals

Visual: Acrylics, Drawing, Mixed Media, Oil Painting, Pastels, Photography (Digital and Film), Sculpture, Watercolor

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