Election Day is Nov. 2, 2021
Information from the Orange County Board of Elections
Orange County offers early voting to all registered Orange County voters who wish to vote early, in-person rather than voting absentee by mail or on Election Day.
If you miss the deadline, don't worry. Voters will have the chance to register and vote at early voting locations through Saturday, Oct. 30.
Early Voting Locations:
Orange Works at Hillsborough Commons: 113 Mayo St. Hillsborough
- Carrboro Town Hall Complex: 108 Bim St., Carrboro
- Carrboro Chapel of the Cross: 304 E Franklin St., Chapel Hill
- Chapel Hill Seymour Senior Center: 2551 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill
Carrboro Town Hall Complex, Chapel of the Cross and Seymour Senior Center:
- Monday – Friday, October 25 – October 29 8 am – 6 pm
- Saturday, October 30 8 am – 3 pm
Orange Works at Hillsborough Commons, 1130 Mayo St.
- Friday, October 29 8 am – 6 pm
- Saturday, October 30 8 am – 3 pm
For more information on early voting, please visit https://www.orangecountync.gov/1116/Early-Voting
Questions? Call 919-245-2350 or email vote@orangecountync.gov
Halloween Carnival 2021
The Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department would like to invite you and your family to come out and enjoy a fun night of carnival games Friday, Oct. 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Carrboro Town Commons.
We boast a host of carnival-style activities that reward the children’s participation with a wickedly good prize bag (while supplies last)! Popcorn, hot chocolate, and apple cider will be sold at the concession booth and Ta Contento Mex Fast Food Truck will be onsite!
Our event will be more spaced out this year. Please follow the directional signs and remember to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.
Boosters for All Vaccines Available Now
News from Orange County Health Department
To strengthen and extend protections against severe illness, North Carolinians who have been fully vaccinated with the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines may now be eligible to receive a booster dose.
Moderna: If you were vaccinated more than 6 months ago with the Moderna COVID-19 shot, boosters are now available for people:
- 65 years or older,
- 18 years or older who:
- live or work in a nursing home or long-term care facility,
- have underlying medical conditions; or,
- who work in high-risk settings like healthcare workers, teachers and childcare providers or food workers.
- live or work in a place where many people live together (for example, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, migrant farm housing, dormitories or other group living settings in colleges or universities).
Johnson & Johnson: It is recommended that anyone 18 or older who was vaccinated more than 2 months ago with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster dose.
Pfizer: Pfizer-BioNTech (COMIRNATY) booster shots continue to be available to anyone at high risk for serious illness or exposure, and who received their second dose at least six months ago.
To find a COVID-19 booster visit MySpot.nc.gov to search vaccine locations near you.
Related Links
Community Bike Ride Set for Friday, Oct. 29
The Town of Carrboro will participate in a community bike ride starting from Carrboro Town Hall (301 W. Main Street) at 4:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29.
The route of the bike ride is from Carrboro Town Hall and down Jones Ferry Road to the Willow Creek shopping center, where the group will turn around and then cruise back up the new protected bike lane and return to Town Hall.
Should anyone like to join the Community Bike Ride on Oct. 29 and need a bike, or would like to try out an electric bike, folks are welcome to borrow one from The Clean Machine Bike Shop just before the ride. Contact tamara@thecleanmachine.com to make arrangements for borrowing a bicycle.
Road Closure Expected for Portion of Jones Ferry Road Friday Night (Oct. 29)
OWASA crews and contractors are continuing work on the Jones Ferry Road Water Line Resiliency Improvements project -- https://www.owasa.org/project/jones-ferry-road-water-treatment-plant-improvements/
As part of this project, a full road closure of Jones Ferry Road is anticipated overnight Friday, Oct. 29, between Bim Street and the entrance to the OWASA campus at 400 Jones Ferry Road. The closure is expected to be in place between 8 p.m. Friday (Oct. 29) and 6 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 30).
A detour will be in place throughout the road closure. The detour will use Davie Road, West Poplar Avenue, and West Main Street to travel around the work area.
Greene Tract Community Open House
Please join us for a Community Open House on the future of the Greene Tract. Two opportunities to participate are scheduled:
- First meeting: In-Person Sunday, Nov. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the RENA Community Center located at 101 Edgar Street. (rain date of Sunday, Nov. 14)
- Second meeting: Virtual meeting online Monday, Nov. 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Participants must register for the session in advance. For those individuals who may not have internet access, there are phone options available to join. Participants may register at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2mqpi9kjSMyEfHJ-rVZbyQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Topics will include:
- Background and history of the Greene Tract
- Environmental Assessment
- Connectivity
- Future development and land uses
- Next steps
Orange County, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill have been collaboratively planning for the future of the jointly-owned 104-acre Greene Tract and permanent preservation of the Orange County owned 60-acre Headwaters Preserve. In 2020, the three respective boards voted to utilize the remaining lands as follows:
- Approximately 66 acres housing/mixed use
- Approximately 22 acres to be preserved
- Approximately 16 acres for public school site and public recreational site
The Greene Tract is a place of immense historical, cultural and natural resources, and all three governmental entities are committed to a thoughtful and inclusive site planning process that respects the people and resources of the area, while reflecting the shared goal of increasing affordable housing for our community. Additional information on the Greene Tract can be found at the following link: https://www.orangecountync.gov/2127/Greene-Tract. For questions, contact Ashley Moncado, Orange County Planning and Inspections Department, by email (amoncado@orangecountync.gov) or by phone (919-245-2589).
Please help us with social distancing.
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 next at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, to consider the agenda that will be posted at carrboro.legistar.com
Past Meeting
The Carrboro Town Council met virtually Tuesday, Oct. 26, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://bit.ly/3D5qR4M
- Affordable Housing Advisory Commission Funding Recommendation – The Town Council approved recommended funding for four nonprofit affordable housing applications to the Affordable Housing Special Revenue Fund. Funding was approved for the Alliance of Aids Services ($20,000), Pee Wee Homes ($60,000), Rebuilding Together of the Triangle ($19,312), and Weaver Community Housing Association ($60,000).
- 203 South Greensboro Project Update – The Council received an update on the project status including the utility plan and current estimated project costs. The 203 Project is a collaborative effort of the Town of Carrboro and Orange County to develop a new public building and associated parking on Town property at 203 S. Greensboro Street. The new building will house the Orange County Southern Branch Library, the Town of Carrboro Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Resources programs, WCOM Radio, the Orange County Skills Development Center, and more.
About the Town Council
The Town Council is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, consisting of seven elected members: Mayor Lydia Lavelle, Mayor Pro Tempore Barbara Foushee, Council Member Jacquelyn Gist, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Susan Romaine, Council Member Damon Seils, and Council Member Sammy Slade. More information is available at http://townofcarrboro.org/248/Town-Council
Carrboro Farmers’ Market Hours Changing Soon
Mark your calendars - the Carrboro Farmers' Market hours are changing soon!
- The last day of Saturday main season hours, 7 am to noon, will be Saturday, Oct. 30
- Saturday winter hours, 9 am to noon, begin on Saturday, Nov. 6, and run through next spring
- The last Wednesday afternoon market of the year is Wednesday, Nov. 17
- The special Pre-Thanksgiving Market will be Tuesday, Nov. 23 from 3-5 pm
Use SNAP/EBT benefits at the Carrboro Farmers' Market! The Market offers unlimited Double Bucks to SNAP/EBT customers: for example, $20 from your EBT card = $40 to spend at the market. Stop by the Welcome Booth for more information. Se habla Español!
Visit carrborofarmersmarket.com for more information.
Shop Local Goods at The Bazaar
The November Bazaar is scheduled for Sunday, Nov 14, from noon to 5 p.m. at Carrboro Commons (301 W. Main St.). Dine on local food & drink and shop handmade goods from 30+ local vendors.
Masks & social distancing encouraged. Kids and leashed dogs welcome!
More information: https://bit.ly/3jqjHjY
2021 Artist Studio Tour
More than 100 members of the Orange County Artists Guild will open their studios for visits Nov. 6-7 and Nov. 13-14.
For many Orange County artists, this event is the highlight of their year, with the opportunity to meet art-lovers from across the Triangle and to share their years’ creative input.
For details, visit ocagnc.org
Carrboro Film Fest Scheduled for Nov. 19-21
Carrboro Film Fest is bringing the movies back to Carrboro this November! Now in its 16th year, Carrboro Film Fest begins with a special Early Fest Screening of the local documentary We Are Here at the Varsity Theatre on Nov. 5th. The film documents the 20th season of the acclaimed, Chapel Hill-based theater troupe Paperhand Puppet Intervention.
The main festival will run Nov. 19-21, at The ArtsCenter, and includes six feature films and four blocks of short films.
Our features include the heartwarming drama Drought, the beautiful road-trip film Landlocked, and the world premiere of the local documentary Captain Scott B and the Great Adventure.
Attendees will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, and masks will be required.
Longtime Homeowner Assistance program
The Longtime Homeowner Assistance program will provide property tax bill assistance to longtime homeowners who have been impacted by the 2021 property tax revaluation. To be eligible for assistance, homeowners must:
- Live in Orange County
- Have lived in their homes for at least 10 years,
- Have experienced an increase in property taxes due to the 2021 revaluation,
- Meet certain income requirements
Three ways to apply:
- Online Application Portal
www.orangecountync.gov/LHAP_Portal
Pick up a paper application at the Orange County Housing and Community Development Department offices:
Hillsborough Office:
300 West Tryon Street, 3rd Floor, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Chapel Hill Office:
2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Housing Helpline staff can help people complete and submit applications and to give information on the supporting documentation needed.
Call 919-245-2655 or email HousingHelp@orangecountync.gov.
Applications for assistance will be accepted at https://orangecountynchousing.submittable.com/submit through Dec. 15, 2021.