News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 

(Feb. 4, 2026) 

The Carrboro Town Council had its official 2026 Portrait taken at its Tuesday night meeting by photographer Jonathan Drake. Catch up on their discussions via the Carrboro YouTube channel. Black History Month programming kicks off with a lecture featuring Dasan Ahanu and Dr. Freddie Parker on Monday, Feb. 9. Are you planning to vote in the Statewide Primary Election?  Register to vote now through Friday, and learn more about this election from the Orange County Board of Elections in this issue. Help us thank the Carrboro Public Works Department and the Public Safety Team for their hard work during back-to-back wintery weekends! 

Carrboro Public Works in the SPOTLIGHT  

With this weekend’s clear weather forecast, it will be the first days off for some Public Works staff in 26 days.

Yes, you read that correctly. With back-to-back weekend storms, some staff came to work on January 12^th and have not had a day off since.

During winter events, staff shift to two 12-hour shifts. Some staff that typically operate solid waste trucks take the evening shift and operate snowplows and spreaders instead.   

• Central services staff make sure the snow is cleared from the outside of buildings and walkways around the buildings are clear.
• Streets and grounds staff brine, plow, salt and sand, clear roadways, sidewalks, and greenways.
• Fleet also shifts to two 12-hour shifts so there is always a mechanic on hand to repair equipment.

Public Works has a traditional five-day work week except for weather and other emergencies.  With so much to do, it is hard to schedule it all and get staff scheduled time off. Some staff work continuously until the job is done. With back-to-back weekend winter events, it has been a long four weeks.  

As Director, I appreciate the efforts of the entire team and all their efforts through this stretch of winter weather.   

--Carrboro Public Works Director Kevin Belanger 

Our Thanks to the Carrboro Public Safety Team! 

Join Us for Black History Month in Carrboro

The Town of Carrboro is proud to recognize and celebrate Black people and Black history in Carrboro and across the nation during Black History Month.

We invite and encourage all Carrboro residents to participate in local Black History Month events and to learn about and celebrate the lives, history, and contributions of Black people during February and throughout the year.

Check out all the great events planned and organized by the Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department.

Carrboro Celebrates Black History Month - Our Event Schedule

Please note events that have been rescheduled from previously announced times. We look forward to seeing you at this year's Black History Month Celebration in Carrboro! 

• Wednesday, Feb. 4: Black History Month Senior Bingo
  10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510
• Friday Feb. 6: Hayti Heritage Center Trip
  10 a.m.  to 3 p.m. meet at Town Commons Parking Lot, 301 W. Main St. Carrboro NC 27510
• Monday, Feb. 9:  “A Century of Black History Commemorations” with Dasan Ahanu and Dr. Freddie Parker
  6 to 8 p.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510
• Sunday, Feb. 15: Black History Month Concert featuring Melodies for Healing
  4:30 p.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510
• Sunday, Feb. 15: "Black History Hall of Fame" Theater Production
  3 p.m. at Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510
• Monday, Feb. 16: “A Century of Black History Commemorations” with Amos Quick III and Dr. Ivy Taylor
  6 to 8 p.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510
• Sunday, Feb. 22: Black History Month Concert featuring The Four Seasons
  3 p.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510
• Saturday, Feb. 28: Health & Wellness Fair
  10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510
• Sunday, March 8: Black History Month Concert featuring Kay Marion & The Neo Symphony
  3 p.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510

Circulating Black History: Community Spend Week

Join the Town of Carrboro, the Chapel Hill–Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, and the Black Business Alliance for Circulating Black History: Community Spend Week, a community-wide effort to celebrate Black History Month through collective economic action.

Throughout the week, we will gather at Black-owned businesses to intentionally spend, connect, and support—bringing forward a long tradition of economic cooperation by turning history into present-day impact. By showing up together, we help generate immediate revenue for local businesses and strengthen our shared community economy.

Community Spend Week stops include:

• Monday, Feb. 16 | 12 - 2 p.m.  — The Flying Pierogi (101 Two Hills Dr #140, Carrboro)
• Wednesday, Feb. 18 | 12 - 2 p.m.— Tonya’s Cookies (400 S Elliott Rd C, Chapel Hill)
• Thursday, Feb. 19| 10a.m. to 4 p.m.  — Carolina Car Wash (414 E Main St, Carrboro)

Registration is free, and participants are encouraged to bring cash for the most direct economic impact, though all forms of payment are welcome. You may register for one, two, or all three stops based on your availability.

REGISTER HERE

Come be part of a meaningful way to honor Black history—by putting it into action today. We hope to see you throughout the week.

Join us as we honor the past by showing up in the present.

Carrboro Announces Redesigned Website

The Town of Carrboro is pleased to announce that it has launched a website redesign that streamlines the homepage with commonly accessed pages, useable and relevant features, and improves accessibility for all users.  

The website at www.carrboronc.gov just underwent a redesign process by CivicPlus, the Town’s government website provider. 

The website now has improved functionality as well as a cleaner, easier layout to navigate. In addition to the primary government website, the Town of Carrboro offers an engagement platform at https://engage.carrboronc.gov/ ;

“A modern, mobile-friendly, and intuitive site enables faster access to services, reduces administrative costs, and meets the high expectations of our residents for online interaction,” said Town Manager Patrice Toney. “Our efforts at modernizing online platforms are essential for fostering trust, ensuring legal compliance, and improving operational efficiency.” 

Learn more about the redesign.

Launch Local accepting applications for new cohort

The Town of Carrboro is pleased to announce Launch Local, a new program for aspiring founders and early-stage businesses in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. 

This 10-week series of in-person evening seminars will take place from early March through April 2026. The series will be facilitated by Jordan Meier, a Launch staff member and certified CO.STARTER facilitator, a nationally recognized curriculum that covers topics such as business financing, scaling, and marketing. The program cost is $100 for accepted applicants and applications are due by Feb. 18, 2026. 

Launch Local is a collaboration among Launch Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill Economic Development, and Carrboro Economic Development. Chapel Hill and Carrboro are the primary funders, contributing $7,000 each for program costs and materials, including subsidizing participant costs. Launch Chapel Hill, a 501(c)3 is providing staff and program coordination.

Learn more about Launch Local.

Carrboro Film Fest rescheduled to Feb. 27-March 1, 2026 due to Winter Storm

The Carrboro Film Fest, which celebrates its 20th festival this year, has made the decision to reschedule due to an extreme winter weather forecast that is expected to bring icy and hazardous conditions to Central North Carolina this coming weekend.

The festival, which was originally scheduled to take place Jan. 23-25, will now take place Friday, Feb. 27 through Sunday, March 1, 2026. The event will continue to be held at the Drakeford Library Complex in downtown Carrboro, without any change or modification to the festival program.

“As excited as we are to share these great films at the Carrboro Film Fest, what’s most important is the safety of our community, and in looking at the forecast for this weekend’s weather, we made the difficult decision to reschedule the festival” shares Festival Director Bryan Reklis. “We want our friends and neighbors to prioritize their immediate needs in preparation for this weather. We look forward to gathering together in February to celebrate Southern film.”

For more information about the new dates and ticket details, visit the Carrboro Film Fest at www.carrborofilm.org  

Join the 2nd Friday Art Walk on Feb. 13

Join the 2nd Friday Art Walk around downtown Carrboro and Chapel Hill on Friday, Feb. 13.

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 the Drakeford Library Complex are open from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Check out the participating venues and their exhibitions.

Carrboro Announces Green Neighborhoods Grants: Apply Today!

The Town of Carrboro is officially inviting residents to help lead the charge against climate change. Applications are now open for the Green Neighborhoods Grant Program, offering up to $25,000 to fund community-driven projects that make Carrboro a greener, more resilient place to live. 

Empowering Local Action 

Rooted in the Carrboro Community Climate Action Plan adopted in 2017, the program is designed to move climate action from the Town Hall directly into neighborhoods. The grant prioritizes projects that benefit low-income communities and communities of color—groups often disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change. 

“What makes this program truly unique is that instead of telling neighborhoods how to fight climate change, it empowers neighbors to work with neighbors to address the issues that they care about most in ways that they know will be successful,” said Chief Sustainability Officer Amy Armbruster.

What Can the Funds Be Used For? 

Neighborhoods are encouraged to dream big. The program seeks projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve ecosystem resiliency, or spark climate awareness. Successful past recipients have used funds to: 

• Launch neighborhood compost drop-off programs. 
• Construct rain gardens to mitigate local flooding. 
• Plant native trees and community gardens to cool neighborhoods and support pollinators. 
• Start education campaigns to empower neighbors to take action. 

How to Apply 

The Town is looking for projects that demonstrate strong neighborhood participation and a clear plan for environmental and social impact. 

• Maximum Award: $25,000 
• Deadline: Feb. 18, 2026, at 5 p.m. 
• Application & Details: Visit the Green Neighborhoods Grant Webpage

Support is Available 

The Town of Carrboro is committed to making this process accessible to everyone. If your neighborhood needs help with language translation, finding a fiscal agent, or one-on-one application support, the Sustainability Office is ready to assist. 

Contact Information: For questions or assistance, please contact Amy Armbruster at aarmbruster@carrboronc.gov or call (919) 918-7345. 

Take the Triangle Bikeway Survey

The Triangle Bikeway is a planned, 23-mile bikeway that would connect Raleigh, Cary, RTP, Durham, and Chapel Hill. 

This bikeway could potentially connect to a future extension of the Morgan Creek Trail in Chapel Hill, which will be extended to connect with Carrboro’s soon-under-construction Morgan Creek Greenway.

A survey is being conducted by the Capital Area MPO (CAMPO) on the eastern portion of the bikeway, which will connect Raleigh to RTP and be funded by Wake County and the Research Triangle Foundation. 

As this is the first portion of a bikeway that could connect to Carrboro in the future, we encourage you to learn more about the project and take the survey at https://monkeylink.co/3442b8.

Statewide Primary and Orange County Schools Board of Education Election Day is March 3

Orange County offers early voting to all eligible, registered Orange County voters who wish to vote early, in-person. Those who missed the registration deadline may register and vote during the early voting period with proof of residency.

Orange County offers absentee voting by mail to all registered Orange County voters who wish to vote by mail rather than at a one-stop early voting site or on Election Day.

If you decide to vote on election day, Tuesday, March 3, you must vote at your assigned polling place. To find out your assigned polling place and view a sample ballot on Election Day, use the Voter Search Tool.

More information about Elections in Orange County.

Important Voting Deadlines/Dates:

• Register to Vote Now Through Feb. 6
• Request Your Mail-In Ballot Now through Feb. 17
• Early Voting from Feb. 12 through Feb. 28

Contact the Board of Elections

• Website: https://www.orangecountync.gov/1720/Elections
• Physical Address: 208 S Cameron Street, Hillsborough,NC 27278
• Mailing Address: P.O. Box 220, Hillsborough,NC 27278
• Phone: 919-245-2350
• Fax: 919-644-3318

Town Council Update

The Carrboro Town Council will meet next for a work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Public comment is not accepted during work sessions, and votes are not taken.

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 www.YouTube.com/CarrboroNC  

• The agenda is available at  https://carrboro.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
• Access the livestream direct link to view the meeting at  https://www.youtube.com/live/td1veBHyGWA?si=pE3esKOHEdN4LIgZ

Past Meeting Recap 

The Carrboro Town Council met on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and took the following actions: 

• Heard proclamation for Black History Month. See https://www.carrboronc.gov/2630/Proclamations-and-Resolutions
• Set a public hearing for March 17 to consider an amendment to the Land Use Ordinance to clarify density and dimensional standards for existing residential uses in the OR-MU district
• Received an update on the Comprehensive Plan Update and Performance Measures 

Watch the meeting livestream at https://www.youtube.com/live/aeCMHCcIqVg?si=Iwy3F3PAczJxHLeG

Check out our Monthly Events Newsletter to discover all the exciting programs and special events that are coming up!  

Seasonal Brochure

Registration for programs occurs during three different registration sessions throughout the calendar year. Each registration session is accompanied by a program brochure that becomes available to the public at least two weeks prior to the start of the registration session.

View a copy of the current program brochure here.