News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(Sept. 11, 2024) 

Lots for your calendars in this issue! On Thursday, the Town Council resumes regular meetings.  We're looking forward to starting the weekend this Friday with the 2nd Friday Art Walk, and Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis is throwing a book release party next Friday! On Saturday, there's Clean Up Day in Carrboro -- as well as a Carrboro in Motion event! Next week, you're all invited to the Downtown Area Plan Visioning Workshop. There will be pizza! All this and more in Carrboro This Week. 

Join us for National Clean Up Day in Carrboro!

We need your help to clean up the town! Meet at the Century Center on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. and join us as we walk through town, removing trash and recycling debris along the way.

Registration preferred, so please call to let us know you are attending and remember to dress in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. 

If you, your family, or group would like to help with the annual cleanup, contact Galen Poythress at (919) 918-7392 or email jpoythress@carrboronc.gov.

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024
• Time: 9 - 11:30 a.m.
• Location: Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro, NC 27510

Town of Carrboro receives national

award for resident satisfaction

The Town of Carrboro has been honored with the prestigious "Leading the Way" award from ETC Institute, recognizing the Town’s exceptional performance in delivering services to residents. This award places Carrboro in the top 10% of all local governments in the United States for the summer of 2024, as assessed by ETC Institute's DirectionFinder® Survey.

The award reflects Carrboro’s top-tier performance across three core areas:

• Overall Quality of Services: Carrboro residents expressed high satisfaction with the comprehensive quality of services provided by the Town of Carrboro. 
• Customer Service: The Town’s employees received exceptional marks for their customer service, reflecting a strong dedication to serving the community.
• Value for Taxes and Fees: Residents of Carrboro appreciate the value they receive for the local taxes and fees, underscoring the Town’s effective and efficient use of public funds.

Carrboro’s performance outpaced the national average by more than 20% in numerous areas, including as a place to live, as a place to raise children, as a community advancing racial equity, quality of services, quality of customer service, publics works, and police services.

Town Manager Patrice Toney expressed her pride in the recognition, stating, "This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Town staff, elected officials, and community members who strive daily to make The Town of Carrboro an outstanding place to live, work and raise a family." 

ETC Institute's "Leading the Way" award was established to honor local governments that demonstrate superior achievement in service delivery. Since its inception, the award has become a benchmark for excellence, highlighting communities that set the standard for others to follow.

Conducted by ETC Institute, the Carrboro Community Survey was mailed to a random sample of 2,000 households in Carrboro between February and April 2024.  A total of 407 respondents completed the survey. The mailing was followed up by emails and phone calls inviting responses. The survey is conducted every other year.  

• Review the results of the Carrboro Community Survey
• See the Carrboro Community Survey Summary
• View more details about the Leading the Way Award

• Photo Captions: Carrboro Town Manager Patrice Toney (pictured above) gathered department directors and leaders from the Management Team at Town Hall for a recent photo. Pictured (l-r) are Trish McGuire (Planning, Zoning & Inspections), J.G. Ferguson (Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources), Anita Jones-McNair (Race & Equity), Kevin Belanger (Public Works), Lamar Joyner (Town Clerk), Marie Parker (Assistant Town Manager), Anne-Marie Vanaman (Housing & Community Services), Town Manager Patrice Toney, Will Potter (Fire-Rescue), Catherine Lazorko (Communication & Engagement), Julie Eckenrode (Human Resources), Jon Hartman-Brown (Economic Development), Chris Atack (Police), Darrell Keyes (Finance), and Reilly Stahl (Assistant to the Town Manager). Not pictured is Andy Vogel (Information Technology).    

Join the 2nd Friday ArtWalk on Sept. 13

The 2nd Friday Art Walk around downtown Carrboro and Chapel Hill returns on Friday, Sept. 13.

Rain or shine, Downtown Carrboro and Chapel Hill will showcase The Carrboro-Chapel Hill 2nd Friday Art Walk. 

Explore art galleries, artist studios, shops and restaurants. There will also be live music, performances, spoken word poetry and more. Venues are generally open late afternoon and evening hours. Exhibits at Carrboro Town Hall and Carrboro Century Center are open from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Learn more about the participating venues and their exhibitions.

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.

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 meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. The agenda will be available prior to the meeting.

The Town Council meets 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 on Legistar. 

Watch the livestream via YouTube here.

Language Access

The Town of Carrboro offers free language translation and interpretation services to residents. Information: 919-918-7391 or info@carrboronc.gov

La Ciudad de Carrboro ofrece servicios gratuitos de traducción e interpretación de idiomas a los residentes. Información: 919-918-7391 o info@carrboronc.gov

Town Council 

The Town Council, which is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, comprises Mayor Barbara Foushee, Mayor Pro Tempore Danny Nowell, Council Member Catherine Fray, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Jason Merrill, and Council Member Eliazar Posada. Learn more about the Carrboro Town Council.

Draft Short Range Transit Plan in Orange County - Provide your feedback!

News from Orange County, NC

Orange County is seeking feedback from community members on the draft Short Range Transit Plan. Take the online survey at https://orangecountysrtp.com/ any time through Sept. 11. 

The project team will be conducting popup events throughout Orange County throughout  September. These events will provide transit riders and residents with an opportunity to hear about the plan and provide input.  Events are as follows: 

• Efland Cheeks Community Center – 117 Richmond Road, Mebane, NC 
  Friday, Sept. 6 --    9:30-11:30 a.m.  
• First Fridays at Eno Arts Mill – 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd, #17, Hillsborough, NC 
  Friday, Sept. 6 --   6-9 p.m. 
• Mebane Farmer’s Market – 102 E Ruffin St, Mebane, NC 
  Saturday, Sept. 7 --   8:30 a.m. - Noon 
• Cedar Grove Community Center – 5800 NC HWY, NC-86, Hillsborough, NC 
  Tuesday, Sept. 10 --   11 a.m. - Noon 

For more information about the Short Range Transit Plan and upcoming engagement opportunities, please visit: https://orangecountysrtp.com

Carrboro In Motion is on the way!

The Town of Carrboro together with community partners is hosting Carrboro In Motion events this fall to increase neighbor-to-neighbor participation and engagement with the community. 

The events leverage community assets and strengths from public agencies and partners, including Chapel Hill Transit, Orange County Government, Carrboro Fire-Rescue, Carrboro Police, El Centro Hispano, Red Ridge NC Bike Share,  Orange County Public Library, and Carrboro Transportation Choices. 

The upcoming Carrboro in Motion events are as follows: 

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 outside Willow Creek Laundromat at 602 Jones Ferry Road.
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 at Fitch Lumber & Hardware parking lot, 309 N. Greensboro St.

Stop by to join the free event - no registration required. 

Carrboro In Motion will feature the following:

• Zumba led by Oscar Garcia. Come join in!  
• Bike and ped resources including repair for bicycles (during Oct. 12 event only), map and routing resources, and reflective gear and bike lights 
• Voter registration information 
• Town of Carrboro programs and services 
• Orange County services including housing and public health departments
• Recreation Programs: The Town’s Party Trailer will provide games and activities for children
• New Resident packet information

Learn more about Carrboro In Motion.

Downtown Area Plan

Get Involved! Carrboro Downtown Area Plan kicks off this fall  

CARRBORO, NC -- The Town of Carrboro invites community input as it prepares The Downtown Area Plan. The study focuses on the Main Street, Jones Ferry Road and Greensboro corridors, as well as all of Downtown Carrboro.

Over the next 13 months, the Town will host a variety of meetings, events, and engagement opportunities that will be open to the public.

Get involved! Here’s what you can do … 

1. Check out the webpage about the project at https://engage.carrboronc.gov/
2. Subscribe to receive updates and stay involved (including a survey coming soon!)
3. What is your vision for Downtown Carrboro? Let us know - https://engage.carrboronc.gov/carrboro-downtown-area-plan
4. Come out for the Community Visioning Workshop set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St.

Initial outreach in the yearlong planned engagement for the Carrboro Downtown Area Plan kicked off on Sunday, Aug. 25, at the Festival Latinoamericano organized by El Centro Latino on Weaver Street in Carrboro. Thanks to everyone who dropped by to share what you love or think needs improvement in downtown Carrboro and the areas immediately adjacent.

This Downtown Area Plan is a specific implementation step identified in the Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan to help guide decisions related to:

• Public spaces
• Land use
• Downtown Infrastructure and Streetscapes
• Branding and Urban Design
• Building Appearance
• Redevelopment and Infill Opportunities

Background about the Plan 

The Downtown Area Plan is part of the implementation of the Carrboro Connects 2022-2042 Comprehensive Plan, unanimously adopted by the Town Council in June 2022.

The Downtown Area Plan is a study with the goal of creating a multi-modal friendly downtown that is inclusive and inviting for all residents.

The planning and engagement process and its recommendations will support and advance Race and Equity and Climate Action in the Town of Carrboro.

Carrboro Poet Laureate releases

new book of poetry

Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis is hosting a book launch party for her new book of poetry “48 Hours Down the Shore.” 

The public is invited! It’s being held at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Steel String Brewery, 106 S. Greensboro St.  

 The collection is about going "down the shore" with two poet friends from North Carolina. They look at a Southern identity versus Northern identity, look at America through a lens of Atlantic City, and touch on social issues like the climate, human rights, and day-to-day survival.

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

Carrboro brings some of Triangle's

most beloved community festivals

• Carrboro Music Festival: Sept. 28-29, 2024 
• West End Poetry Festival: Oct. 17-19, 2024 
• Carrboro Film Fest – Jan. 24-26, 2025

Carrboro is proud to continue to showcase a diversity of musicians from the Piedmont with FREE concerts at Town Commons, the Cat’s Cradle, and venues across the town with the return of the Carrboro Music Festival (opening afternoon on Saturday, Sept. 28 with Open Mic from 2 to 4 p.m. at Town Commons, with a full day of outdoor concerts on Sunday, Sept. 29); followed in October by the West End Poetry Festival (Oct. 17-19) featuring Poetry in the Round and a Community Poem Reading. 

The Carrboro Film Festival which has historically occurred in November will shift to January (Jan. 24-26, 2025) and continue offering a lineup of independent films that challenge and expand our understanding of Southern culture.

Read more details about our Fall Festivals

See the Carrboro public parking map

Are you ready? Carrboro Music

Festival coming up!

On Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, the Carrboro Music Festival will host 100 acts all over Carrboro, all for free. The music festival begins at 1 p.m. and runs all day. 

One of the largest free music festivals in North Carolina, the festival marks its 27th year. Established in 1998, the festival was originally held on June 21 as an official affiliate of the Fête de la Musique, which is also known as 'Make Music Day'. 

The kickoff event on Saturday, Sept. 28, is Open Mic at Town Commons, 301 W. Main St, from 2 to 4 p.m. Later in the evening Saturday, Dawn Landes and Chessa Rich will be featured at the Cat’s Cradle backroom. No tickets are required, and all shows are free! 

Get the complete list of shows at the festival website or download the festival app. DON’T MISS the hip-hop show from 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday at the Cat’s Cradle backroom! 

This year, the Carrboro Music Festival is featuring free educational workshops starting at 10:30 a.m. at Town Commons, the Century Center and other locations! These include learning about synthesizers, recording, accordions and more! (some workshops require registration and have limited availability). Register online and look under "Special Events". If you don't have an account, you will need to create one before registering.

To sign-up for a workshop, please go to carrbororec.org then click on online registration. Our workshops can be found under Special Events. 

For all other Carrboro Music Festival information please visit Carrboromusicfestival.com  You can also download the free Carrboro Music Festival App on your smartphone.

The event is a product of a coordinated effort 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.  Please visit the sponsorship page for a complete list of sponsors.

Quick links for more information:

• To see the music lineup, visit www.carrboromusicfestival.com .  A festival guide and map will be available soon, along with a sortable Excel database to search bands by name, genre, location, and time.  Any changes that occur after the Festival Guide & Map is published will be reflected on the Excel file.  
• Download the Carrboro Music Festival phone app.!  The phone app. will be a standalone app. available by searching 'Carrboro Music Festival' in your phone's app. store.  
• FREE park & ride shuttle from the Jones Ferry Road Lot. See the Festival Shuttle Map
• There will be limited public parking. Please check the parking map.

Festival Parking, Shuttles and Alternative Transportation

Each year, the festival draws a large number of attendees.  Please consider alternative modes of transportation when accessing the event.

We highly-encourage festival attendees to walk or bike to the venues if possible.  We need to be able to accommodate our performers and allow them to park in designated areas near their respective venues, so public parking may be limited in some lots.  If attending the festival by car, please utilize the FREE park & ride shuttle from the Jones Ferry Road lot.

The Town of Carrboro has partnered with Chapel Hill Transit to provide a free shuttle for festival goers.  The shuttle will run on Sunday from 12 noon to 9 p.m. from the Jones Ferry Road Park & Ride Lot, located just south of the intersection of Old Fayetteville Rd. and Jones Ferry Rd., across from the entrance to Poplar Place Apartment Homes and beside University Lake Rd.

Shuttle service will run approximately every 15-20 minutes and drop-off locations exist near most of the music venues.

Greene Tract Community Workshop

The public is invited to the Greene Tract Community Workshop from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22 at Morris Grove Elementary School, 215 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC. 

Come out to provide feedback on the Greene Tract Master Plan at this "Understanding the Shared Vision for Our Community" workshop. 

The Greene Tract is a large parcel of land located off of Eubanks Road in Chapel Hill, near the Historic Rogers Road Neighborhood. The governments of Orange County and the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro jointly own the 164 acres which make up the tract.

• Register online for the workshop or request interpretation services.
• Learn more about the Greene Tract.

Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources

Monthly Events Newsletter

View the Monthly Events Newsletter and discover all of the exciting programs and special events that are coming up!  Registration for  Fall programs begins on Aug. 28 for Carrboro residents and Aug. 29 for all others. 

Check out the Monthly Newsletter.

Early Voting Begins on October 17

Orange County offers early voting to all eligible, registered Orange County voters who wish to vote early, in-person rather than voting absentee by mail or on Election Day at your assigned polling place.

Please note that the early voting location in Carrboro will be at the Carrboro Town Hall Complex at 108 Bim St. 

Previously the plan was to use the new Carrboro Library, but the opening has been delayed past the first day of early voting.

Learn more about early voting in Orange County.

Public parking available in downtown Carrboro

It’s easy to find free two-hour public parking in Carrboro, where you can access convenient parking at 10 public lots all over town.

Please remember that the Carr Mill Mall parking area is for mall customers and is not a public parking lot. Leaving the mall premises after parking risks towing. When in doubt, always park in public lots, and enjoy a hassle-free and relaxed shopping and dining experience.

Find more information including an interactive parking map on our Downtown Parking webpage.