News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC (January 17, 2023) 

There is always an event to attend in Carrboro. Open Carrboro This Week to read a recap of this past Saturday's celebration honoring Dr. King, free upcoming poetry workshops and readings, the Town Council Update, and more! 

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Carrboro

Save the Dates for Poetry Events this January

Two special events to dig deeper into poetry and connect with community are scheduled this January! All are invited to come celebrate Carrboro's rich arts history and meet community members at these free and open events. 

Unearthing Ourselves! is a one-hour poetry workshop led by Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis. The workshop will take place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in Room 110 at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. 

Poets’ Party: An Evening of Community Poetry is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. The Town of Carrboro and the Poets' Council will recognize the longstanding Carrboro Poet Laureate program with former poet laureates reading as well as a few guest poets; a special thanks to Fred Joiner, Carrboro's outgoing poet laureate; and a welcome to Liza Wolff-Francis, Carrboro's newest poet laureate. 

Everyone is welcome!

Carrboro to observe National Day of Racial Healing

Mayor Damon Seils has proclaimed Jan. 17, 2023, the Tuesday following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as “National Day of Racial Healing” in Carrboro and encourages all residents to share ideas, knowledge, and points of view related to truth, racial healing, transformation, and racial equity. 

“National Day of Racial Healing” is an annual observance initiated as part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation program and promoted by the program’s many community partners across the United States. It is a way to promote relationship-building, truth telling, and racial equity; healing and solidarity; and transformative action. 

The Carrboro proclamation states: “We understand and recognize that we all must work earnestly and intentionally to heal the wounds created by racial, ethnic, and religious bias and build an equitable and just society in which all people can thrive and in which children have the opportunity to learn and grow in nurturing environments that safeguard their safety, dignity and humanity.” 

View more information and the full proclamation here.

Calling All Youth Artists!

We are inviting you to submit original artwork that expresses what "Black History Month" means to you for our Virtual Youth Art Exhibit. Select artwork will be displayed on Carrboro Recreation Parks, & Cultural Resources Department's website through the month of February.

For information on how to submit your artwork, contact Dana Hughes at dhughes@carrboronc.gov

Artwork must be submitted by January 25, 2023 and there is no submission fee.

National Mentoring Month in Carrboro

The Carrboro Town Council passed a resolution on Tuesday, Jan. 10, recognizing National Mentoring Month in Carrboro and encouraging residents to encourage and celebrate mentoring throughout the community.

Mentoring programs like the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program, Volunteers for Youth, Musical Empowerment, the Reintegration Support Network, Triangle Bikeworks, and the Refugee Community Partnership, and capacity-building agencies like the Youth Mentoring Collaborative make our communities and our state stronger by driving impactful relationships that increase social capital for young people and provide invaluable support networks.

The Town honors volunteer mentors who support young people by showing up for them every day and demonstrating their commitment to helping them thrive.

View more information including local mentoring resources and opportunities here.

Solarize The Triangle Webinar for Homeowner Associations

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

New Uproar Festival of Public Art to Feature 60 Large-Scale Work sin Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough

Together with its community partners, the Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) announces a new arts festival coming summer 2023. From July 14 to Aug. 12, Uproar Festival of Public Art will showcase 60 large-scale, bold works of art throughout the downtown areas of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough. Cash prizes will be awarded to Southeastern artists chosen by both the public and a jury panel of experts.

“Uproar will allow our community to serve as the backdrop for fantastic, awe-inspiring works of art while lauding, supporting, and welcoming the participating artists,” says Katie Murray, OCAC director.

Find more information about this exciting new festival here.

Black History Month in Carrboro

Black History Month in Carrboro is coming up in February, and a series of events are being organized by the Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department. 

From music and dramatic performances to history lectures, there will be an array of programs. There’s something of interest to all, so everyone can get involved in learning about and celebrating the lives, history and contributions of Black people. 

View the event schedule at https://www.carrboronc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2338 

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 at 7 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 17, 2023, to consider the agenda available at https://bit.ly/3QMNfIa and posted at https://carrboro.legistar.com/
 
This in-person 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 submit a comment on this agenda, please contact publiccomment@carrboronc.gov to reach the Town Clerk.
  
Past Meeting 
 The Carrboro Town Council met Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at http://bit.ly/3VWDhF4

• Adopted a resolution for National Mentoring Month 
• Received the 2021-2022 annual report from the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO)
• Amended the Town Code establishing a loading zone in front of a portion of the north bound shoulder at 100 South Greensboro Street
• Reviewed and endorsed the North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) Municipal Advocacy Goals and Other Legislative Priorities 

About the 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 

Stormwater Rolls Out New Residential Assessment Pilot Project

The Stormwater Division is rolling out a new Residential Assessment Pilot Project to perform assessments and provide technical advice to homeowners regarding possible solutions to flooding, drainage, erosion, and other stormwater and stream related concerns. Applications from homeowners are now being accepted and will be screened and scheduled for assessments as they are received and as capacity allows. 

You can apply online at http://townofcarrboro.org/FormCenter/Public-Works-Department-23/Application-for-Stormwater-Residential-A-214, obtain an application from Town Hall or contact Stormwater Staff at stormwater@carrboronc.gov or 919-913-2999.

For more information on the pilot project visit www.carrboronc.gov/2752/Residential-Assessment or contact Stormwater staff at stormwater@carrbornc.gov or 919-913-2999.

203 Project Update 

Construction is underway on the 203 Project at 203 S. Greensboro St., the project to complete a new library and civic building. You've likely noticed the new crane. And now, the project has its first building foundation since crews made the big pour on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022! A significant project milestone! 

The $42 million development will be the future home of the Orange County Southern Branch Library. The facility will also provide a permanent home for the Orange County Skills Development Center; Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department; WCOM Radio; and performance/multipurpose uses. The 203 Project will provide opportunities for education, art and community connection.

More information:

• The Town of Carrboro posts regular updates to the community on the Town website and through social media. Sign up to receive Carrboro Town News updates at www.carrboronc.gov/signup 
•  If you would like to be included on a neighborhood email distribution list, which includes residents living in the adjacent neighborhood and the local business community, please notify the203project@carrboronc.gov
• More information is available at https://www.the203project.org/