Memorial Day Holiday

Town of Carrboro government offices will be closed on Monday, May 31, in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday.

The Orange County Veterans Memorial will host a special ceremony on Memorial Day at the Veterans Memorial Site on Homestead Road. The guest speaker will be Nick Palmisciano, CEO of Diesel Jack Media, Founder of Ranger Up, Former United States Army Captain, and Ranger. Please arrive at 7:45 a.m. for the Posting of Colors promptly at 8 a.m.

In case of inclement weather, it will be inside at the Seymour Center Theater.

To learn more about the memorial and to make a donation to make this become reality, please visit https://ocveteransmemorial.com/memorial/

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Message to the Community from Mayor Lydia Lavelle

Lydia Lavelle announced on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, that she will leave office at the end of her current term as Mayor of Carrboro, a position she has held since 2013.

“It has been a great honor to serve Carrboro, the town I consider the most progressive in North Carolina,” Lavelle said. “Carrboro’s core values have been my lodestar as mayor. With the support of this small-but-mighty community and the hard work of my colleagues on the Town Council, we have translated Carrboro’s progressive reputation into leadership and action on important statewide issues. We were the first town to push back against the now-repealed HB2, and I continue to organize and consult as governing bodies across the state craft local non-discrimination ordinances. Additionally, we are known for our condemnation of anti-immigrant policies, our priority of racial equity initiatives, and our pursuit of policies and practices addressing climate change.” 

Read more at https://www.townofcarrboro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1736

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Freight Train Blues Features Sacred Soul

JOIN US at 6:30 p.m. Friday for the Freight Train Blues virtual concert series, presented by the Town of Carrboro, @WUNC, @musicmakerblues, @soul_bag_mag and @stream_artarie

Access link to the concert at FreightTrainBlues.com 

Freight Train Blues celebrates the life and legacy of Piedmont blues legend Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten, born in 1893 in Carrboro, N.C.

May 28 – Johnny Ray Daniels – Farmville, North Carolina-based sacred soul artist Johnny Ray Daniels is best known for his lifelong stint as guitarist and vocalist for the legendary Glorifying Vines Sisters. The Glorifying Vines Sisters, a group composed of five sisters, their husbands and children toured the church circuit throughout the South from the 1950s to present. Several of their singles recorded for regional labels including Pinewood and Shurfine remain prized finds among rare 45 collectors. More recently they have played Telluride Blues and Brews and Switzerland’s premier blues festival Blues to Bop. Daniels’ first recording under his own name, “Somewhere to Lay My Head” was recently released on the critically acclaimed Hanging Tree Guitars compilation. Pop Matters called it a “momentary reprieve from the worries of the world,” continuing, “Daniels’ music is rooted in the South, with intersections of the blues and gospel.” Opening archival video: the legendary Piedmont master Etta Baker.

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Vaccine Clinic Offered at Rogers Road Community Center This Saturday

The Orange County Health Department is offering a COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 29. Free and no I.D. required.

For information and to find more free and convenient vaccine options at http://orangecountync.gov/GetYourShot

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Fire Strikes Apartment Building

On Monday, May 24, 2021, at 6:10 a.m., members of the Carrboro Fire Rescue Department responded to a report of a fire in the 600 block of Jones Ferry Road. 

Responding fire crews arrived just over three minutes after dispatch and found a three-story apartment building with smoke and fire showing from the roof and upper floor of the building. 

As the fire crews were initially deploying hoselines to fight the fire, they experienced a roof collapse in the third floor hallway/breezeway. The crews were safety able to extricate themselves from the collapsed roof and return to the ground floor. At this point, ladder trucks from Carrboro and Chapel Hill began to fight the fire with elevated large caliber water streams from above the roof. 

After the main body of fire was extinguished, fire crews entered the apartments to extinguish hidden fire and confirm the fire was fully extinguished. The fire was officially declared under control at 7:02 a.m. Because of the number of occupants and the amount of fire visible, the alarm was quickly upgraded to a second alarm to bring additional personnel to the scene.

“This was a challenging fire for personnel because the fire was able to enter the attic and spread laterally across the entire building,” Fire Chief David Schmidt said. “The crews did an outstanding job adjusting to the roof collapse and adjusted their tactics and strategies to be able to continue safely fighting the fire.”

Read more at https://www.townofcarrboro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1734

Learn more about efforts to raise funds for the displaced families at https://elcentronc.networkforgood.com/projects/132229-help-carrboro-families-that-lost-everything-due-to-fire

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Around Carrboro Pop-Ups Coming This June

Did someone say pop-up?!? Swing by Carrboro Connects Pop-Up booths taking place Thursday, June 10 through Saturday, June 12, 2021, to share input on our Town's very first Comprehensive Plan!

Join your neighbors to talk about transportation, housing, jobs, and more. Refreshing popsicles will be on-hand for all who share, and we will be practicing safe physical distancing.

Carrboro Connects is a comprehensive planning effort of the Town of Carrboro that is addressing climate action, race and equity, affordable housing, and economic and fiscal sustainability. 

Unable to make the in-person events? Visit our Virtual Pop-Up (open 24-7 rain or shine!) at carrboroconnects.org/pop-up

Feel free to share our flyer at https://www.townofcarrboro.org/DocumentCenter/View/9188/Around-Carrboro-Pop-Ups-June-2021

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Small Town Pride Is On!

Feel Small Town Pride this June! The towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill are collaborating to show LGBTQ+ Pride, and to affirm community values ensuring that all residents, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, are treated with respect and dignity.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated nationally and locally each year in the month of June.   The origins of Pride stem from the Stonewall Riots that occurred in June of 1969, when attendees of the Stonewall Inn in NYC clashed with anti-LGBTQ police.  Marches and protests popped up in some major US cities in June of the following year to commemorate the event, and the tradition has continued.  The purpose of celebrating Pride is to promote the equality of the LGBTQ+ communities, as well as increase visibility, challenge anti-LGBTQ legislation, and bring awareness to other LGBTQ issues. Progress for true equality requires the support of everyone, including straight allies who know that support for LGBTQ+ people strengthens the entire community.

Through a mix of in-person and virtual events, Small Town Pride will promote equality and celebrate diversity and acceptance in the towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill. It will involve the entire community, with local businesses, artists, volunteers and community partners. Everyone is welcome! 

Small Town Pride Events Include: 

• Proclamations of PRIDE MONTH by each municipality 
• Raising of PRIDE flags in our downtowns 
• Social Media campaign to highlight local LGBTQ+ leaders, history and milestones
• Small Town Pride Video: You’re invited to take a trip down memory lane and sample the Pride vibe that took place in Carrboro in 2019 through the film Small Town Pride from Richard Jaimeyfield, a local filmmaker. Watch for this on social media! 
• Area business specials
• Thursday, June 24 –  Pride Food Truck Rodeo and Dance Party at Carrboro Town Commons from 5 to 8 p.m. 
• Monday, June 28 – Pride Book Club will meet virtually from 6:30 to 7:30 pm 
• Post your pride to #SmallTownPride #CarrboroPride #ChapelHillPride #PRIDE2021
• Draq Queen Story Time, special guest speakers, and more!

Do you have an idea to contribute to the next Small Town Pride? Reach us at clazorko@townofcarrboro.org or mdebellis@townofchapelhill.org

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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, June 1, to consider the agenda https://bit.ly/3p0KPrF that will be posted at carrboro.legistar.com

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

Read the summary of the May 25 meeting and find more information at https://www.townofcarrboro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1738

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Carrboro Recreation Opportunities This June

Check out all the recreation opportunities in this month's newsletter from the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department at http://www.ci.carrboro.nc.us/DocumentCenter/View/1913/Monthly-Events-Newsletter?bidId=

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Period Poverty Awareness Week

Recognizing that period poverty is a public health issue, Mayor Lydia Lavelle has proclaimed May 24-30 to be Period Poverty Awareness Week in Carrboro.

National surveys and research studies report that one in four women and girls struggle to secure enough period supplies due to a lack of income and, this lack of period supplies, known as period poverty, can adversely affect the health and well-being of menstruators. 

“I encourage the residents of Carrboro to donate generously to period supply banks, product drives, and those organizations that collect and distribute period products to those struggling with period poverty so that all of Carrboro’s people can thrive and reach their full potential,” Mayor Lavelle said. 

Carrboro is proud to be home to trusted community-based organizations, including On the Spot, a program of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina. These period supply banks and their staff and volunteers served on the front lines of Carrboro’s COVID-19 pandemic response helping families in our communities weather the crisis.

Read the Mayor’s proclamation at https://www.townofcarrboro.org/DocumentCenter/View/9163/2021-Period-Poverty-Week

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Call for Applicants: Human Services Advisory Commission

The Town of Carrboro Human Services Advisory Commission http://townofcarrboro.org/292/Human-Services is seeking new members. 

Each year the Commission helps the Town award grants to support nonprofit agencies who provide important services to Carrboro residents.  

By recommending funding for nonprofits who focus on improving education, livelihood security and health, the Human Services Advisory Commission plays a key role in the Town's work toward its goal of economic and social wellbeing for all residents. Interested Carrboro residents can apply online at http://townofcarrboro.org/228/Advisory-Boards-Commissions 

Feel free to share our flyer at https://www.townofcarrboro.org/DocumentCenter/View/9175/Human-Services-Flyer- 

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Call for Applicants: Safe Routes to School Committee

The Town of Carrboro is looking for people to serve on its Safe Routes to School Committee. 

We're interested in filling the following seats: 

• Two (2) students of either an elementary or middle school (from different schools) located in Carrboro
• One (1) parent of an elementary or middle school student attending school in Carrboro
• One (1) administrator, faculty, or staff working at an elementary or middle school in Carrboro.

Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis and appointments will be made by the Town Council.

You can apply to be on the Safe Routes to School committee via the link below:

https://www.townofcarrboro.org/FormCenter/Planning-Zoning-Inspections-Department-24/Safe-Routes-to-School-Subcommittee-Appli-163   

Interested applicants are invited to attend the Town’s Transportation Advisory Board meeting on Thursday, June 17, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Future meetings are expected to occur on the third Thursday of January, March, June and September of each year.

Learn more about the Town’s Safe Routes to School Plan at http://townofcarrboro.org/741/Safe-Routes-to-School 

Questions? Contact the Town’s Transportation Planner at zhallock@townofcarrboro.org or 919-918-7329. 

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