News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(Dec. 17, 2024) 

The countdown to the holidays begins! Please note that Town of Carrboro offices will be closed Dec. 24-26. Check the changes to the residential trash collection schedule. Enjoy our recaps of Carrboro's Annual Holiday Tree Lighting, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade, and the Braxton Foushee Day of Service. Best wishes to all for a joyous holiday season! 

Happy Holidays

It may have been a cold 19 degrees on Saturday, Dec. 7 – but the Carrboro Team turned up the heat! We had a blast at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade with our staff team led by Town Manager Patrice Toney and joined by community members like Oscar Garcia and others.

We celebrate the festivals and special events brought to the community by the Town of Carrboro throughout the year – from Black History Month special events to the Carrboro Film Fest, West End Poetry Festival, Carrboro Music Festival – and many more! 

Huge thanks to the many staff who worked behind the scenes for the parade, supporting public safety and planning efforts. Check out our fun video - https://youtube.com/shorts/AECQuCKgsTg?si=uDD2flgQ2oaMwb3d 

December Holiday Service Schedule

The Town of Carrboro will observe the holidays Dec. 24-26 and Jan. 1.

Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed. 

Please note the changes to residential trash collection: 

• If your regular collection day is Wednesday - Your trash will be collected on Monday, Dec. 23.
• If your regular collection day is Thursday - Your trash will be collected on Friday, Dec. 27.
• If your regular collection day is Friday - Your trash will be collected on Monday, Dec. 30.
• If your regular collection day is Wednesday  - Your trash will be collected on Tuesday, Dec. 31

Yard waste and bulk waste will not be collected for the week of Dec. 23-27.

For changes to recycling collection visit: https://www.orangecountync.gov/1741/SWM-2018-Holiday-Schedule

Carrboro's Holiday Trees Light Up the Night

Mayor Barbara Foushee (joined by Mayor pro tem Danny Nowell and Council Members Catherine Fray and Jason Merrill) welcomed a huge crowd of parents, friends and community members, gathered together to listen to local schoolchildren from Carrboro and McDougle elementary schools sing festive songs celebrating the festive season.

Despite the chilly weather, cheers and laughter filled the front lawn of Town Hall as Mayor Foushee led the countdown, and the trees were lit.

A video recap of the evening is coming your way soon! 

Eliazar Posada Honored with Centennial Under 40 Impact Award

Town of Carrboro Council Member Eliazar Posada has been named among the inaugural recipients of the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Centennial Under 40 Impact Award. The award recognizes and celebrates the achievements of elected officials under the age of 40 from NLC member cities, towns and villages. 

The winners were chosen from a competitive pool of nominees and are recognized for their outstanding contributions to public service, governance, and community development. These dynamic leaders are shaping the future of local governance, demonstrating excellence through impactful initiatives, and fostering positive change in their communities.

“These incredible young leaders embody the spirit of innovation and dedication that defines the National League of Cities,” said Dr. Robert Blaine, senior executive and director of NLC’s Center for Leadership, Education, Advancement & Development. “Their work is not only inspiring but also vital to addressing the challenges and opportunities facing our cities today. As NLC enters its second century, it is leaders like these that will guide the next 100 years of growth for both NLC and our country.”

The winners were announced during the NLC’s Centennial City Summit in Tampa, Fla., on Nov. 13, 2024. The event gathers municipal officials and industry leaders from across the country to celebrate achievements and explore solutions to key issues facing municipal leaders.

View the full list of Centennial Under 40 Impact Award Winners.

Chief Sustainability Officer selected for the Town of Carrboro

Town Manager Patrice Toney has created a new Office of Sustainability under the Manager’s Office and announced the selection of Amy Armbruster as the Town of Carrboro’s a new Chief Sustainability Officer. The new position will develop policies and foster collaboration to achieve the Town’s ambitious climate action goals while prioritizing strategies to increase the resilience of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), low-income, and other residents who are disproportionately impacted by climate change.

Armbruster comes to the Town of Carrboro from the City of Durham, where she served as Sustainability Manager. She developed the Income Qualified Solarize project there and served as a technical advisor on successful Federal grants that brought more than $9 million to Durham.  

“Amy’s collective professional experience around sustainability and environmental justice initiatives are very well aligned with Carrboro’s climate action and race equity pillars,” Town Manager Patrice Toney said. “I look forward to Amy taking the lead on our sustainability efforts and moving us closer to meeting our climate action goals.”   

“As a resident of Carrboro, I am particularly excited about the opportunity to serve my hometown,” Armbruster said. “I look forward to collaboration with the Town Manager and community stakeholders to develop high-impact solutions to prevent planet-warming carbon emissions and prepare our community to be more resilient to the impacts of climate change, prioritizing those neighbors who have been hurt first and worst.” 

Previously, Armbruster held positions with Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) as a sustainability program coordinator, UNC-Chapel Hill’s Office of Sustainability as a research and outreach manager, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association as a communications coordinator, and Triangle Transit as a marketing manager.

Armbruster has a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa., and a master’s degree in applied geography with an emphasis on social marketing from UNC-Greensboro.

Her first day with the Town of Carrboro was Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.

To all who are celebrating...

The Town of Carrboro recognizes our diverse community and the many observances meaningful to our residents this month.

Carrboro Celebrates Braxton Foushee Day

In honor of Braxton Foushee Day on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, the leadership team for the Town of Carrboro visited the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service at 110 W Main St, Carrboro, NC. 

Our morning was spent sorting pantry staples and hygiene items at the Community Market, as well as meeting some wonderful volunteers and staff members. 

Many thanks to Executive Director Jackie Jenks for providing a tour including the Community Kitchen and providing information about its many programs including Activate! IFC, a voting, advocacy and leadership development project. 

Learn more about the IFC and ways that you can get involved.

“Libba Cotten Day” Celebration in Carrboro

Legendary North Carolina musician Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten is being feted by her hometown with her very own day on her upcoming birthday anniversary. 

Mayor Barbara Foushee is officially proclaiming Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, as “Libba Cotten Day” in Carrboro. 

The Town of Carrboro invites community to enjoy a special event featuring Brenda Evans, the great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Cotten, for songs and remembrances at 1 p.m. Sunday, at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. Evans was only 11 years old when she performed as a vocalist featured on the album Shake Sugaree.

The Town of Carrboro is also pleased to announce that joining in music, song, and the sharing of family stories are the great-great grandchildren of Ms. Cotten -- Jordan, Jared and John Evans of Charlotte, N.C. Join us for this special celebration of her life and legacy! 

Learn more about Carrboro's Libba Cotten celebrations.

Save the Date: Carrboro Event Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Join us on Jan. 18, 2025 for a youth-led event that brings the community together to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. in Century Hall located at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510. 

Loose leaf collection services delayed

Due to unexpected equipment failures on two of three loose leaf vacuum trucks, loose leaf collection services will be delayed. Our team is working diligently to repair the equipment and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time. Updates will be provided through the Town's website and social media channels as more information becomes available.

Residents are encouraged to use alternative methods for leaf recycling during this delay:

• Placing leaves in paper bags or yard waste roll-out carts.
• Utilizing composting options.
• “Leave the Leaves” to support biodiversity, improve water quality, and reduce pollution.

For further inquiries or updates, please contact the Carrboro Public Works Department at (919) 918-7425 or email pworks@carrboronc.gov.

Traffic Alert: Paving work on E. Winmore Avenue

Milling and paving work will be taking place on E. Winmore Avenue between Jewell Drive and Homestead Road.

Work is part of the annual resurfacing project and is expected to start around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, possibly extending into Thursday, Dec. 19. 

Please be patient, watch for workers, obey all flaggers and traffic control devices.

Don't miss the last Q&A session for human services funding

The Town of Carrboro, along with the Town of Chapel Hill and Orange County, is hosting one more virtual Q&A Session. This session offers an opportunity for applicants to ask questions and receive clarification on any aspects of the application process. 

The application will be available via an online portal on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.

Q&A Session:

•  Monday, Jan. 6 from 9 -10 a.m.

For more information contact Anne-Marie Vanaman at 919-918-7321 or Malia Summey at 919-918-7318, or email humanservices@carrboronc.gov.

Provide Input on the Eno-Haw Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan

- Carrboro and its regional hazard mitigation planning partners are seeking public input as part of the five-year update of the Eno-Haw Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.  The plan includes information about natural and man-made hazards, associated risks, and actions we can undertake to reduce exposure.  An up-to-date plan is required for the participating counties, municipalities, and tribes to maintain eligibility for pre- and post-disaster mitigation funding from the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). 

Take the online survey through the end of December.

Learn more about the project.

Apply Now for Carrboro's Residential Stormwater Assistance Program

The Town of Carrboro is pleased to announce the re-launch of the Town’s Residential Stormwater Assistance Program to offer no cost assessments to Carrboro homeowners interested in stormwater drainage improvement projects on their lots.  

Applications are available starting on Monday, Nov. 25, and site assessments will begin in January 2025.  Interested residents are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. 

The program provides technical advice regarding possible solutions to flooding, drainage, erosion, or other stormwater or stream related concerns.  Examples of technical advice include rain gardens, bioswales, impervious surface reduction, rainwater harvesting, and conceptual plans.

Learn more about the Residential Stormwater Assistance Program.

Orange County Cold Weather Shelters

Cold weather shelters are available every night from November through March at IFC. The Orange County Shelter is available on the evenings when the temperature drops below 32 degrees. 

For more information visit the Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness Resources page.

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!

Check out the Monthly Newsletter.

Traffic Alert: Maple Avenue to be closed for repaving

Beginning next week, (Monday Dec 2), E. Braxton Foushee Street will return to two-way traffic.  At the same time, work will begin on Maple Ave Extension.  Maple Avenue Extension will be closed for about four weeks (the month of December) while it is regraded and repaved.

Access to houses on Maple Avenue, the houses and businesses on E. Braxton Foushee Street, as well as the parking lot at the end of East Braxton Foushee will be maintained by two-way traffic on E.  Braxton Foushee Street.

Read more information about this roadwork which is part of the construction of the 203 Project, newly named the Drakeford Library Complex. 

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.