News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(Oct. 29, 2024) 

Early Voting is underway now through Nov. 2, and Election Day is Nov. 5. Exercise your right to vote and let your voice be heard. Stay alert on the roads for trick-or-treaters this Thursday -- and Happy Halloween!  The Carrboro CD & Record Show is this Sunday. Don't forget that we fall back on Sunday,  turning the clocks back an hour. 

Halloween Carnival 2024 Recap

Nearly 400 treat bags were distributed at the annual Halloween Carnival held Friday, Oct. 25 by friendly staff from the Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department. Thanks to the estimated 1,000 or so people who came out to play carnival games, meet neighbors, and enjoy a beautiful fall evening at Carrboro Town Commons! Get those costumes ready again as Halloween is coming up this Thursday!  Stay safe and have fun!

Early Voting Underway 

General Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Early voting is underway. Orange County offers early voting to all eligible, registered Orange County voters who wish to vote early, in-person. Absentee voting by mail is available to all registered Orange County voters who wish to vote by mail rather than at a one-stop early voting site or on Election Day. 

If you decide to vote on election day, November 5th, you must vote at your assigned polling place. To find out your assigned polling place and view a sample ballot on Election Day, use the Voter Search Tool located on the Orange County Elections Webpage.

The 203 Project Update: October 2024 

Construction continues to progress on The 203 S. Greensboro Street Project in Carrboro.

Work performed in last 30 days:

• Installation of pavers at terraces 
• Installation of coping on roof parapets
• Signage installed in parking deck
• Installation of restroom fixtures
• Carpet installed on all levels
• Ceiling tiles, ceiling baffles, and cabinetry nearly complete
• Wall finishes and final painting in process 

Work upcoming in next 30 days:

• Continuation of sidewalk, curb and gutters
• Installation of landscape lighting and irrigation
• Installation of exterior benches
• Install handrail and plant material for terraces
• Audio visual systems will begin installation
• Fire alarm system to be completed and tested

Utility work, site work, and traffic impacts: 
 Installation of sidewalks, curbs and gutters around the site is in progress and will continue.  Periodic road closures of East Braxton Foushee, Maple Avenue Extension, and Roberson Street will continue as needed to accommodate. Road closures will occur during the day and reopen each evening.

Completion of project:
We look forward to welcoming everyone at the new public center in Carrboro that will be both a library and civic building. After construction is completed, it will take some time for services to move in and become operational. The grand opening date will be announced broadly when it is confirmed. 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 materials.

Background:
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.carrboronc.gov/1151/The-203-Project

Town Council Update

The Town Council is scheduled to meet next 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 for its regular business meeting. The agenda will be 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 YouTube.com/CarrboroNC OR at https://carrboro.legistar.com/

The livestream will be available at YouTube

New Council Meeting Time 
A new meeting time has been set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday meeting dates through 2024. The Council wants to hear from the community about if the new time works well! Let us know at Engage Carrboro.

ABOUT CARRBORO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: Civic involvement is a valued tradition in our community. You can reach the Town Council with your ideas, views and questions anytime at Council@carrboronc.gov Meetings are open to the public to join in person at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. OR via Livestreaming at YouTube.com/CarrboroNC  

Regular business meetings are generally held the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Work sessions are generally held the second Tuesdays of the month. Public comment is not accepted during work sessions, and votes are not taken. 

• Agendas (and meeting videos) are posted at https://carrboro.legistar.com/
• The Town of Carrboro offers free language translation and interpretation services to residents. Information: 919-918-7391 or info@carrboronc.gov
• Sign up to receive Council Updates with meeting agendas and post-meeting recaps at www.carrboronc.gov/signup (choose Carrboro Town News)
• Learn more about your Town Council at https://www.carrboronc.gov/248/Town-Council
• Questions? Reach Town Clerk Lamar Joyner at 919-918-7309 or townclerk@carrboronc.gov

Deciding not to rake leaves is a simple way to support the environment and local biodiversity while also making yard maintenance easier and more sustainable. 

Pledge to Leave Your Leaves  online or in-person at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. and pick up a free yard sign! Yard signs measure 18 x 24 inches, are made of sturdy, weather-resistant materials, and are printed with low-VOC vegetable-based inks. There is a limit of one free yard sign per household per year.   

The Town of Carrboro is partnering with the Towns of Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, Orange County, the New Hope Bird Alliance, and Keep Durham Beautiful to encourage community members to Leave the Leaves, support biodiversity, improve water quality, and reduce pollution. 

Did you know that leaves are natural fertilizers and help protect wildlife? Nature’s bounty provides an opportunity to put fallen leaves to good use. 

Learn more about Leave Your Leaves.

Take the Downtown Area Plan Survey

The Town of Carrboro invites community input as it prepares The Downtown Area Plan. The study focuses on the Main Street and Jones Ferry Road corridors, as well as the downtown business districts and surrounding neighborhoods. 

How to Participate:

• TAKE THE SURVEY –  Take our online survey The survey closes Friday, Nov. 1.
• LEARN MORE at Engage Carrboro.

Thanks to everyone who dropped by the Community Input Sessions last week to share what you love, your ideas, and your vision for the downtown area. 

Save the Date: CD & Record Show

The 35th Biannual Carrboro CD and Record Show will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3 in the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. in downtown Carrboro. Admission is free.

The event will feature more than 40 tables of new and used CDs, vinyl records, and music memorabilia. Feel free to stop by and browse through what the vendors have to offer. You never know what you may find!

Turn Your Clocks Back: Sunday, November 3

We will “fall back” on Sunday, Nov. 3, turning the clocks back an hour. It's also a great time to change batteries in smoke and CO detectors if you haven't done so lately!

The good news is we get an extra hour of sleep. The downside is it’s going to get dark much earlier.

We urge drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists to use extra caution as everyone adjusts to the time change. For pedestrians and cyclists, enhance your visibility at night. Walk and bike in well-lit areas. Always carry a flashlight or wear something reflective, such as stickers or armbands, and use bike lights or reflective mirrors. For drivers, before making a turn, be sure the path is clear of any pedestrians or bicyclists. Slow down in areas where you are likely to find pedestrians, such as near bus stops, schools, and playgrounds. Avoid distractions such as food, passengers and using mobile devices. Talking and texting while driving is both dangerous and illegal in many places.

Provide Input on Eno-Haw Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan

Alamance, Durham, Orange, and Person Counties and their incorporated communities are updating the Eno-Haw Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Local governments are required to prepare and update hazard mitigation plans to be eligible for FEMA hazard mitigation assistance grants.

Public input is critical to the planning process. Please take a few minutes to complete a brief public survey to provide your input on hazard risks and mitigation options. Click here for the survey.

For more information about the plan update, visit the project website at www.enohawhmp.com. On this site you will find information about upcoming and past Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meetings and public meetings, a link for the public survey, draft documents, and other mitigation planning resources.

20th Annual Gallop & Gorge 8K is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day

The final race of the 20th annual Le Tour de Carrboro series is the Gallop & Gorge 8K scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28.

The race will begin and end on Weaver Street in downtown Carrboro so expect traffic delays in that area. View the full race route below. 

There will also be an opportunity to give back to your community.  Collection boxes will be available for non-perishable food items to be donated to the Interfaith Council Food Pantry.

Grab a cup of coffee, some non-perishable items to donate, and come out to cheer on the runners before you begin your Thanksgiving festivities at home.

The race's 2024 Community Partners include Carrboro Boy Scout Troop 845, Carrboro Family Garden, Meals on Wheels of Orange County, Optimist Club of Chapel Hill, Orange County Rape Crisis Center, Table and UNC Get Real & Heel Cancer Exercise Program.

Learn about the race.

Message from Western North Carolina about Donations & Volunteers 

Buncombe County wants to say a big “thank you” to everyone who has donated items like clothes, shoes and water to the survivors of the Helene disaster. Because of your incredible outpouring of support, they no longer need physical donations. Due to space and resource limitations, they don’t have anywhere to store and distribute any additional items. The best way to assist the recovery effort is to make financial contributions to reputable organizations helping Buncombe County residents impacted by the storm. Thank you for understanding! #OneBuncombe   

The wave of support Buncombe County has received is amazing, and they appreciate the people who’ve volunteered their time to assist residents in need following Helene. As the county shifts into the recovery and resiliency phases, they ask that volunteers only come to Buncombe County if they have pre-arranged opportunities. Examples include being asked by a government agency or a local organization to assist with specific duties. If you don’t fit into one of those categories, you can always show support by donating to a reputable group helping survivors of the storm. 

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.

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.