News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(October 24, 2023) 

Here's what's new in Carrboro: Get your costume ready for the Halloween Carnival this Friday,  feel free to Leave the Leaves, Save the Date for the Carrboro Film Festival, and get out there and vote when early voting starts Thursday. Find all the details here ...

Don't miss all the Halloween events in Carrboro 

Each October, the Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department organizes a range of Halloween events. Get ready with your pumpkins, costumes, and friends to be a part of the excitement this year!

Virtual Pumpkin Carving/Decorating Contest

Enter our Virtual Pumpkin Carving/Decorating Contest for 2023!

How to Enter:

• Submit a photo of your carved or decorated pumpkin to dhughes@carrboronc.gov
• Include in your photo, a sign that reads: “Carrboro 2023”
• Submit photo by 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 27

Photos will be posted, and the “Best of Show” winner will be announced on the Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/carrbororec/ on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Please remember that this is a kid-friendly event and CRPCRD reserves the right to deny entries deemed inappropriate.

Halloween Carnival

You and your family are invited to come out and enjoy a fun night of carnival games on Friday, Oct. 27 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W Main St.

We boast a host of carnival style activities that reward the children’s participation with a wickedly good price bag (children under 10, while supplies last).

Popcorn, water, hot chocolate and apple cider will be sold at the concession booth.

The unofficial mascot of Carrboro Halloween, pictured below, might be in attendance. We can't wait to see their costume this year!

Housing & Community Services Director Announced 

After a national search, Town Manager Richard J. White III has selected Anne-Marie Vanaman as director of the Housing & Community Services Department. 

“Anne-Marie’s local affordable housing experience combined with her extensive nonprofit background and knowledge of the community make her ideal for this role,” Town Manager White said. “She brings value to our organization through her teamwork, collaboration, and resident-focused orientation.” 

Vanaman joined the Town of Carrboro in 2018 and has served in the role of interim director of the Housing & Community Services Department since September 2022. Previously, she supported advancing the Town’s affordable housing goals first in the Town Manager’s Office, and later as a coordinator for the Housing & Community Services Department. 

In her more than 20-year non-profit and local government career, Vanaman has held a variety of roles -- including 10 years as development director for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from UNC-Greensboro and a bachelor’s degree in English from UNC-Chapel Hill. 

Some of her career accomplishments include the successful completion of two capital campaigns that supported the development of two new affordable housing communities in Orange County. At the Town, she worked to increase accountability in Carrboro’s human services nonprofit funding program by strengthening reporting requirements and data collection. Additionally, she led the racial equity assessment of Carrboro’s Affordable Housing Special Revenue Fund and, in collaboration with the Town of Chapel Hill, of the Outside Agencies/Human Services funding program, implementing recommended short- and long-term changes in both programs.   

“I look forward to continuing the important work to advance the Town’s affordable housing goals and to help provide safe and affordable housing for all residents.,” Vanaman said. “This work and the collaborative relationships with community partners and peers required to do it well are extremely rewarding, and I’m delighted to be able to contribute toward improving and enriching the lives of all community members.”   

More poetry events this weekend

 Are you already missing the inspiration and creativity that filled the poetry reading and writing sessions at last week’s West End Poetry Festival?

Join Carrboro’s Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis at two new poetry events this weekend and scratch that poetry itch!

Liza Wolff-Francis will host an evening full of poetry and art fun on Friday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the new ArtsCenter located at 400 Roberson Street in Carrboro, N.C.  An Open Mic night will follow the Ekphrastic reading.

Come write Haikus in the sculpture garden located at 100 Hillsborough Road from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28. Artist Mike Roig is opening up his garden to help inspire your poetry and haikus. Be sure to enter the garden from the East Poplar Avenue entrance. Please do not knock on the house door. Writing will be guided by Jean Earnhardt and Liza Wolff-Francis.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Orange County Board of Elections: early voting and voter ID information

Recent changes in state law require voters to show an acceptable photo ID when checking in at their voting site during early voting or on Election Day. Absentee-by-mail voters must include a photocopy of their acceptable photo ID when sending in their ballot. Learn more about the voter ID requirement on the state Board of Elections website.

To obtain a voter ID, voters will complete an ID request form at the Board of Elections office that includes date of birth, name and the last four digits of their Social Security number. Voters may obtain a free ID weekdays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

No appointment is necessary.

Read more about elections and obtaining a voter ID on the Orange County Board of Elections website.

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/list.aspx 

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 hold a Council Meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. The agenda is available at https://carrboro.legistar.com/

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

Meeting Recap 

The Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 17, and took the following actions:

• Received the Mayor’s Proclamation for Minority Enterprise Development Week
• Held a public hearing to receive comment on the Town’s use of Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) for Emergency Housing Assistance.
• Approved an Update to Bolin Creek Greenway Conceptual Master Plan following a presentation of results from the community engagement process for Phases 3 and 4 of the Bolin Creek Greenway and a review for new technical and regulatory challenges. Read more at https://www.carrboronc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2549

Watch the meeting at https://youtube.com/live/6MIDVpPMLWY?feature=share

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

Carrboro Celebrates Minority Enterprise Development Week

Mayor Damon Seils proclaimed Oct. 22-28 as Minority Enterprise Development Week in Carrboro at the Oct. 17 Town Council Meeting. Siddisee Hirpa with Kumon of Carrboro - South Green, was in attendance to accept the proclamation.

Minority Enterprise Development Week, often referred to as MED Week, serves to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of minority-owned businesses and to recognize individuals who have excelled as entrepreneurs and business leaders.

“I encourage all residents to honor the achievements of minority business owners, to consider purchasing goods and services from minority-owned businesses, and to commit ourselves to creating a truly equitable economic system so all people can share equally in the promise of our community and our nation,” said Mayor Seils.

According to the Census Bureau, Carrboro is home to at least 55 minority-owned businesses, providing jobs for more than 1200 people.

Carrboro’s Economic Development Department has worked to promote minority-owned businesses through the PIOC Business Roundtable discussions, the BAG Business Accelerator Program, and the development of the New Business Resource Center.

Read more about MED Week

Free Shred-A-Thon scheduled for Oct. 28

Bring your confidential documents to the Orange County Shred-A-Thons for free and safe destruction and recycling. Orange residents, small businesses, and local government employees only (including Chapel Hill in Durham County). Drive-Thru service only; no walk ups. Wearing a mask is optional.

• Saturday, October 28th, 2023, at the Eubanks Park & Ride Lot, 1768 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

The event will run from 10 a.m. to  2 p.m., or until capacity is met.

You must handle your own paper. Paper must be in clear plastic bags, paper bags, reusable bags (up to 13 gal) or boxes (no larger than a banker box). No black trash bags. Limit 4.

One trip per household or organization. Confidential paper only. No newspapers, receipts, junk mail, or catalogs. No plastic folders, plastic notebook covers, large metal clips, notebook rings, credit cards, or electronic media.

Carrboro Film Fest Celebrates Southern Cinema

The Carrboro Film Fest marks its 18th year this Nov. 17-19 with screenings of 2023’s films at The ArtsCenter, 400 Roberson St.

55 films. 9 screenings. 3 days. 1 venue.  Festival passes are only $50 now through Oct. 27. Tickets for individual screenings on sale Oct. 28.  

Carrboro Film Fest embraces its identity as a Southern institution and presents exclusively Southern films in a non-competitive setting.

Every year the fest leans into its mission to showcase the best, new Southern Films, and this year will be no different. Filmgoers can expect full-length films, Q&As with directors and actors after the screenings, and short films clustered around various themes which celebrate and interrogate Southern identity and culture.  

Carrboro has always been a little different. In Carrboro, Southern hospitality means everyone is welcome, and the folks here are curious about the world, engaged in their community, and lovers of the arts. That’s why our town is a great place for a film festival.

The Carrboro Film Fest has an established history as a dynamic event that brings filmmakers and audiences together for a heartfelt celebration of independent cinema.

Carrboro Film Fest is made possible with support from the Town of Carrboro and the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority.

Check for the festival schedule and ticket information at https://www.carrborofilm.org/events

West End Poetry Festival Recap and Community Poem

The West End Poetry Festival Poetry once again illustrated the power of poetry as a uniting force, expressing common human experiences – a vital force for connection in difficult times. 

Carrboro’s festival venues saw high participation in a variety of events over three days -- Oct. 19-21! There were small writing groups and intimate discussions at The Arts Center, an open mic night at Luna Rotisserie and Taproom; a youth workshop with NC Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green; conversations with writers, readings by poets laureates and a writing seminar at the Carrboro Century Center; and a poetry slam at Steel String Brewery on Saturday night.

Many thanks to the poets laureate who gathered for a photo following their readings at the West End Poetry Festival 2023 in Carrboro, pictured here are (l-r) Cortland Gilliam (Chapel Hill), Liza Wolff-Francis (Carrboro), DJ Rogers (Durham), Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils, Jaki Shelton Green (North Carolina), Dasan Ahanu (Piedmont), and Jay Ward (Charlotte).

Shout-out to those who entertained the audience at the Poetry Slam -- Poetic Zae, Jordan Bailey, Asma, Megan Blackwood, Lee and Ashley Lumpkin – with thanks to Dasan Ahanu for emceeing. 

The West End Poetry Festival is sponsored by the Town of Carrboro and is planned by the Carrboro Poets Council (currently comprised of Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis, Gideon Young, Susan Spalt, Jay Bryan, Fred Joiner, Abigail Browning, Chad Knuth and Paul Jones) with the assistance of the staff of Carrboro’s Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department and the support of the Carrboro Arts Committee and the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority.

Learn more and read the 2023 Community Poem.

Check Out the Orange County Solid Waste App

Solid Waste has a FREE app called Orange County NC Recycles where you can:

• View the recycling collection calendar and receive reminders
• Learn about the Waste and Recycling Centers
• Use the A-Z guide to find out the right way to dispose of your materials

Available in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

203 Project October 2023 Community Update

An early morning concrete pour occurred Wednesday, Oct. 18.  This was pour number 6 of 9 for the parking deck structure.  The next concrete pour (7 of 9) is scheduled for the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 31.

AT&T will continue working on Greensboro Street this week.

Crews remain busy with interior construction.  The first-floor library has been roughed-in and crews are working on completing the rough-in on the second and third floors.  The roof is nearly finished and the brick will start to go up soon.  

The project is on track to finish next summer.  

For more information and the latest drone videos taken by the Carrboro IT department, please visit  The 203 Project  Website

Click the above image to view our Monthly Events Newsletter and discover all of the exciting programs and special events that are coming up! Registration for our fall programs is underway. 

Fall Registration Open for Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Resources 

The Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department’s Fall program brochure is now available! Click the image above to learn more.

Put your ideas into action! 
Apply to serve the Town of Carrboro

The Town of Carrboro is seeking volunteers to provide a fresh perspective on important local issues.

Carrboro local government has various advisory boards and commissions that advise the Town Council on a wide range of issues. We are currently looking to fill vacancies!

When you serve, you become an advocate for the Town of Carrboro, provide feedback to the Council, and help strengthen the community with your unique perspective. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people as you put your ideas into action.

Learn more about the openings available.