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

Come share and celebrate climate and earth friendly practices on Earth Day this Monday, April 22, at Town Commons. It must be springtime because events are blooming all over town. Save the Date for the Mildred Council Community Dinner, Carrboro in Motion at Collins Crossing,  CD & Record Show, Virtual Business Resource Expo, Minority Vendor Summit, and the 10th Annual Freight Train Blues Concert Series. Poetry Month events continue with an upcoming poetry workshop and open mic night. This Saturday, we're looking for volunteers to Keep Carrboro Beautiful! 

Celebrate Earth Day in Carrboro

Town staff and members of the Climate Action Team will be at Town Commons, 301 W. Main Street,  for an Earth Day Event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 22.

Come share and celebrate your climate and earth friendly practices. Stop by for bike-on-bus demonstrations and learn more about pollinators, food choices, biking, electric transit buses and more of Town’s climate action initiatives! 

Carrboro 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.

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 meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23.  The agenda will be available on Legistar.

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 YouTube.com/CarrboroNC  OR at on Legistar.

Recap of Past Meetings  

The Council met on Tuesday, April 16, for a work session to receive an update on the 2024-2025 FY Budget development, recommend strategies and actions related to Council priorities outlined in the Council Retreat, explain budget considerations for FY 2024-2025, and seek Council direction in preparation for May’s Budget Work Session.

Watch the livestream of the April 16 Council Work Session. 

Council Meeting Schedule 

 View the 2024 Council Calendar.

Town Council 

The Town Council, which is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, comprises Mayor Barbara Foushee, Mayor Pro Tempore Danny Nowell, Council Member Catherine Fray, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Jason Merrill, and Council Member Eliazar Posada. More information is available on the Council webpage.

Carrboro Town Council Adopts

Language Access Plan

The Carrboro Town Council unanimously passed a Language Access Plan on Tuesday, April 9, that will help make our town a more welcoming and inclusive place for all.

Carrboro's Language Access Plan represents the culmination of a year-long, collaborative effort among Town of Carrboro staff from the Race and Equity Division, Communication & Engagement, Human Resources, Housing & Community Services and Economic Development; representatives from the Refugee Community Partnership; and expert consultants from the Building Integrated Communities initiative of the Institute for the Study of Americas at UNC-Chapel Hill who have developed similar plans for cities and counties across the state.

About 15.6% of Carrboro residents speak a language other than English. Speakers of non-English languages demonstrate various levels of English language proficiency. In total, around 6.5% of Carrboro residents speak English less than “very well."  

Given that Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Karen, Burmese, and Arabic are the languages that are most spoken and have higher proportions of individuals who report speaking English less than “very well”, these are the languages identified as Carrboro's community languages.

Over the next year, Town staff will be implementing the plan’s goals which are to increase the availability of written translations of vital documents and information, starting with Spanish; to develop an internal language access committee;  to increase availability of interpretation at public events and meetings; and to strengthen recruitment, support and management of multilingual staff members. 

As part of its successful grant application to the Building Integrated Communities program, the Town of Carrboro has benefited from a strong partnership to develop its Language Access Plan, as well as anticipated additional grant funds to support the first-year implementation of the plan.

Learn more about the Town of Carrboro Language Access Plan.

Photo caption – Following the adoption of the Language Access Plan, members of the Building Integrated Communities team gathered in the Town Hall lobby. They are (back row l-r) Catherine Lazorko, Madison Hayes, Emily Spangenberg, Brianna Gilmore, Hannah Gill; and (front row l-r) Lama, Huda Muhnaia and Eve Greene. 

Carrboro In Motion rides in next Saturday

Carrboro In Motion is bringing the party back to Carrboro neighborhoods next Saturday, April 27 at Collins Crossing Apartments.

Join us!  Meet Town of Carrboro staff and learn about our services, take your kids out to see the fire engine, sign up for a library card, and enjoy a free sno-cone from Pelican's. 

We will offer information on upcoming Town events, services and engagement opportunities. There will be bike and ped resources, map and routing resources, and reflective gear, and Carrboro stickers. Town staff will showcase volunteer opportunities and ways to connect with programs. Our community partners will offer bike and ped resources. Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis will lead a poetry writing table in honor of Poetry Month! Staff from Carrboro Fire-Rescue and the Carrboro Police Department will provide public safety resources and services information. 

The block party will be at Collins Crossing Apartments (501 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro, NC 25710) next Saturday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  All are welcome! 

Learn more about Carrboro In Motion.

Traffic Alert - Roberson Street from Maple Avenue to S. Greensboro Street closed evenings

Roberson Street from Maple Avenue to S. Greensboro Street will be closed in the evenings beginning on Tuesday, April 16, and continuing for about a month during utility work. The temporary closures will take place in the evenings from 6 p.m. until about 3 a.m. Monday to Friday. Roberson Street will reopen every evening at 3 a.m. and remain open to traffic during the day. 

The utility work underway is associated with The 203 Project, the new library and civic building under construction at 203 S. Greensboro St. 

Mildred Council Community Dinner

scheduled for April 28

The 24th Annual Mildred Council Community Dinner will be held Sunday, April 28, at 1 p.m. in the McDougle Middle School Cafeteria, 900 Old Fayetteville Rd. in Chapel Hill, NC. 

The Community Dinner is a community building event, crossing economic, racial, religious and ethnic barriers and presenting a wealth of wonderful, culturally diverse food and entertainment from our own community.  In 2014, The Community Dinner was a winner of a National League of Cities Award for Cultural Diversity

Mildred Council, aka "Mama Dip," was the creator of this event and our source of inspiration and partner for 21 Community Dinners, celebrating our community's cultural diversity. She is sorely missed by all who knew her. Her legacy continues through her children and grandchildren.

This event is supported by the Town of Carrboro as well as many other community partners. 

Visit the Community Dinner website to find more information and purchase tickets.

Carrboro Fire-Rescue is hiring

Ready to join our team? Fill out the application now or visit our website for more information.

Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED at time of hire
• US citizen or permanent resident
• 18 years old or older at time of hire
• NC Driver's License

Application period closes May 1, 2024.

CD & Record Show scheduled for April 21

The 34th Biannual Carrboro CD and Record Show will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 21  in the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. in downtown Carrboro. Admission is free. 

The event will feature dozens tables of new and used CDs, vinyl records, and music memorabilia. Although vinyl records will be the majority of the items for sale, there will also be quite a large number of CDs, cassettes, and 45 RPM records.

Save the date to stop by and browse through what the vendors have to offer.  You never know what you may find!   

10th Annual Freight Train Blues

Concert Series Returns to Carrboro

The Town of Carrboro proudly presents the Music Maker Foundation’s Freight Train Blues series of live concerts every Friday evening between May 3 and June 21, 2024, at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main Street. Concerts start at 6:30 p.m. 

The series is a collaboration among  Music Maker Foundation; the Town of Carrboro; WUNC 91.5 FM; and The Forests at Duke. Funding for this year’s series was also provided by Spark the Arts.

Bring your picnic, lawn chairs and blankets for a free evening of live music on the lawn. Beer and food will be available for purchase at the events. 

Find more about free public parking available in downtown Carrboro.

Check out the full line up and learn more about Music Maker Foundation and Freight Train Blues.

Save the date: Carrboro Day 2024

Join us at the Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St. Carrboro, NC 27510 from 1 to 5 p.m.  on Sunday, May 5, 2024 for Carrboro Day.

This free event is about meeting neighbors, learning about the Town, and celebrating Carrboro. It features live music, poetry, art, history, kids’ activities, a walking tour and more. Games such as Giant Jenga and Giant Connect 4. 

More info about Carrboro Day.

Volunteer to Keep Carrboro Beautiful

Celebrate Earth Day and help clean the Town of Carrboro and prevent trash from entering our local streams. Feel free to bring your work gloves and dress to potentially get dirty. 

Volunteers will meet in front of the Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro, NC, 27501, at the statue in the grass on Saturday, April 20 at 9 a.m.  We will have extra gloves and trash bags available.  Groups are welcome to participate but please let us know you are helping. 

Please register your family or group by calling 919-918-7392. This event is free.

Town of Carrboro receives

Excellence in Communications Awards

The Town of Carrboro was among 24 North Carolina jurisdictions to earn recognition in the North Carolina City & County Communicators (NC3C) 2024 Excellence in Communications Awards. The Town of Carrboro won two second place awards in citizen participation and brochure categories. 

The awards were announced on April 11, 2024, during NC3C’s annual conference. A total of 175 award program entries were judged by professional communications peers from the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators.

"To win an award within our community of exceptional communicators is truly a remarkable achievement,” said NC3C President Kaisha Brown, communications coordinator for the City of Salisbury. “Each submission is a testament to the dedication and excellence of city and county professionals. On behalf of the NC3C board, I extend a sincere congratulations to those who work to engage and connect with their communities through creative and impactful ways.” 

The Town of Carrboro received a second-place award in the category of Citizen Participation for the Bolin Creek Greenway Community Engagement project. The Town noted that following the engagement process, the Council approved the creekside alignment for the greenway and reaffirmed its support for the continued pursuit of greenway development throughout the community. The judges commented that the Town was to be commended for conducting a complete grassroots effort with easy-to-read visuals.

In addition, Carrboro won a second-place award for the Bilingual (English/Spanish) 2024 Calendar. The calendar features free community events and was hand delivered to residences at apartment complexes, mobile home parks and households in historically Black neighborhoods. One contest judge said: “This is a brilliant and robust way to connect with your residents beyond a basic brochure. Informative and engaging - and bilingual! Very nicely done.”

The communication projects receiving statewide recognition were created by the Town of Carrboro Communication & Engagement Department with Director Catherine Lazorko and Communication and Engagement Specialist Eve Greene. 

About NC3C

The purpose of North Carolina City & County Communicators is to encourage professional development and networking among local governmental communications professionals. The organization was formed in March 2007, and consists of professional government communicators from around the state. For more information about NC3C, visit www.nc3c.com.

To all who are celebrating...

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

Boost Carrboro Initiative set to host online business resource expo April 29

Get ready for the Boost Carrboro Virtual Business Expo, an empowering event for local businesses and entrepreneurs in Carrboro and nearby areas.

Scheduled online on April 29, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., this virtual expo offers invaluable resources, networking opportunities, and expert insights to fuel business growth and success.

Part of the Boost Carrboro initiative, a collaboration between the Town of Carrboro and Infinity Bridges Inc., the expo focuses on actionable strategies, networking connections, and essential resources to uplift local businesses.

Attendees will benefit from a dynamic workshop with Funding Strategist LaTasha Best-Gaddy, along with informative sessions tailored to the needs of established business owners. Connect with reputable organizations and service providers through speaking sessions and virtual exhibitor booths to explore partnership opportunities and access valuable insights.

"We're excited to unite Carrboro's vibrant business community at the Boost Carrboro Virtual Business Expo," said La-Tasha Best-Gaddy. "This expo equips local businesses with the tools, knowledge, and connections for success in today's competitive landscape."

Registration is free at www.giveittothepeople.com/boostcarrboro. For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or partnerships, contact conference curator Chisa Pennix-Brown at giveit2thepeople@gmail.com or 336-809-8851.

Minority Vendor Summit scheduled for May 3

Join the Town of Carrboro, the Town of Chapel Hill, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA), UNC Facilities Services HUB and UNC Procurement on Friday, May 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a Minority Vendor Summit.

These public organizations are looking to meet local vendors that can fulfill their procurement needs. The event will feature speakers that can address questions about how to do business with these organizations. Meet the staff you could be working with and learn how to stay up-to-date on contract opportunities.

Learn more about the summit.

April Community Update for The 203 Project

AT&T will be installing new conduit under Roberson Street and extending across South Greensboro Street. This work will begin April 15 and take about a month to complete. During this work, there will be daily, temporary street closures of Roberson Street between Maple Avenue and South Greensboro Street.  There will also be temporary lane closures of South Greensboro Street. 

Work performed in last 30 days:

Exterior brick is almost complete and has been washed on west side.  Roofing work is still being finished in a few small areas. Drywall installation continues and primer paint is beginning to be applied.  The interior stairs treads have been installed.  Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler work is continuing.  

Work upcoming in next 30 days:

Interior mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler installation will continue throughout. Interior walls, insulation and drywall will continue east side.  Wear surface slabs will be poured in the parking deck.  Spray foam insulation will be installed on east side. Tile and light fixtures will begin to be installed.

We are currently expecting construction to wrap up late summer. An opening date has not yet been determined. This will be set in coordination between the Town of Carrboro and Orange County, following the completion of construction, and the move-in of furniture and library supplies. 

Traffic impacts due to AT&T conduit installation:

AT&T will be installing new conduit under Roberson Street and extending across South Greensboro Street. This work will begin April 15 and take about a month to complete. During this work there will be daily, temporary street closures of Roberson Street between Maple Avenue and South Greensboro Street.  There will also be temporary lane closures of South Greensboro Street.  A more detailed traffic plan will be released from the contractor and shared with this group soon. 

Read more about the 203 Project.

Carrboro Celebrates Poetry Month

April is Poetry Month in Carrboro, proclaimed by Mayor Barbara Foushee. 

Residents are encouraged to celebrate poetry and poets by reading, listening to, and sharing poems. Free local poetry events organized by Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis are continuing throughout April, including: 

• ‘Writing Together’ workshop on April 1 with Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis
• the monthly Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources’ Poets’ Open Mic Night via Zoom on April 2
• the Lanza’s Café bi-monthly Poetry Open Mic Night on April 12 and April 26
• Poetry, Popcorn & Pie event at the Century Center on April 15, featuring local poets including Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis and an open mic
• an Earth Day seedling giveaway at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market on April 20, where young people can contribute a line to this year’s community poem
• a workshop with former Poet Laureate Gary Phillips on April 25
• a youth poetry writing workshop as part of Carrboro in Motion at Collins Crossing Apartment on April 27

Learn more about Poetry Month in Carrboro.

Photo Caption - Mayor Barbara Foushee and Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis

Food Waste Prevention Week in Carrboro

Mayor Barbara Foushee proclaims April 1 -7 to be Food Waste Prevention Week, urging all residents to commit to reducing food waste.

Food is the single largest category of material placed in municipal landfills and municipal landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States. Over one-third of the food produced in the United Stated is never eaten and North Carolina residents generated about 2.7 billion pounds of food waste in 2021. 

While North Carolina ranks ninth in the nation for food insecurity, particularly among minority and low-income populations, a family of four could save an average of $1,500 a year on uneaten food.

Preventing and reducing food waste presents opportunities to increase food security for all, foster productivity and economic efficiency, preserve our natural resources, promote energy conservation, and address climate change.

Preventing food waste will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, supporting Carrboro’s Community Climate Action Plan goal for the Town and community to reduce 2010 levels of greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2030. A reduction is also integral in meeting the goals of the Carrboro Connects comprehensive plan.

Read the full proclamation.

Green Neighborhoods Grant Program 

As part of its Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) implementation, the Town of Carrboro announces a call for applications for the 2024 Green Neighborhoods Grant Program!

Residents can receive up to $2,500 to complete a project that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance ecosystem resiliency, or contribute to climate action awareness or engagement.

The Carrboro Town Council accepted the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) in 2017 to expand the Town’s existing climate action efforts and emphasize measures that community members can implement to help achieve greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. The plan’s goal is to raise the community’s awareness and involvement in climate action and the enhancement of ecosystem resilience. In 2020, the Town updated the CCAP goals to recommend an 80% reduction of 2010 emissions levels by 2030. To achieve this goal, widespread community participation in every aspect of the plan is essential. 

The Green Neighborhoods Grant Program seeks to benefit low-income households and residents of color by bringing neighbors together to pursue projects which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create natural areas that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change, ultimately benefiting the entire community.  

The maximum grant award is $2,500. Applications are due by May 1, 2024 at 3:00 pm. Visit the Green Neighborhoods Grant Program webpage for more information.

For questions, contact Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Laura Janway at ljanway@carrboronc.gov or (919) 918-7326. 

2024 Carrboro Pride Vendor Application Open

Carrboro is planning for its Pride Dance Party to be held from 5 to 8 PM Friday, June 28, at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St.

Join us for food, dance, and frolicking on the lawn. This is a free, family-friendly, festival celebrating all that unites us and makes us unique.

If you’re interested in participating as a vendor or by setting up an information or resources table, fill out the application form.

Please Note: Selections for tablers will prioritize groups, organizations or businesses providing support and resources for our LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community.

2024 Carrboro Music Festival

Performer Application Now Open

The Town of Carrboro is now accepting online applications for the 2024 Carrboro Music Festival. The application deadline for submissions is May 31, 2024. 

The Carrboro Music Festival is a celebration of local musicians throughout Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County.  The festival also includes performers from surrounding counties located between the Triangle and Triad regions of the state. 

For more information, visit: www.carrboromusicfestival.com

Apply to be a performer at the 2024 Carrboro Music Festival.

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.