Come help us find all the lost eggs!
Saturday, April 16 will be the date of not one, but two community egg hunts this year. The Carrboro Community Egg Hunt originally scheduled for Saturday, April 9 has been moved to Saturday, April 16. The start time for the event remains 12 noon. The event is open to children from ages 2 through age 10. The location is Hank Anderson Community Park, located at 302 NC Highway 54 West, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. Participants should bring their own bag or basket.
The Teen/Tween Flashlight Egg Hunt will also be held on Saturday, April 16 -- but at Wilson Park located at 101 Williams St. in Carrboro. Registration begins on site at 7:45 p.m. and the hunt begins at dark. This event is open to youth ages 11 through 14. Participants should bring their own bag or basket and flashlight.
Both events are free for participants. There will no rain date for either event.
If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department at 919-918-7392.
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Town Offices to be closed on Friday
Town of Carrboro government offices will be closed in observance of the Good Friday holiday on Friday, April 15.
Residents who normally receive solid waste collection on Friday will be serviced on Monday, April 18.
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April is Native Plant Month in Carrboro
At the April 5 Town Council meeting Council Members resolved to designate April as "Native Plant Month" in Carrboro. The designation recognizes the benefits of native plants to our town's environment and economy. Read the full resolution here https://www.townofcarrboro.org/DocumentCenter/View/10988/Native-Plant-Month-2022-Resolution
You are invited to celebrate Native Plant Month by planting more native plants in your yard and common spaces. Each seedling does its part to help feed birds, bees and butterflies and to create a more resilient ecosystem, and so can you. A list of native plant recommendations can be found here https://townofcarrboro.org/986/Pollinator-Habitat
Get up to speed about the value of native plants as pollinator habitats by visiting https://townofcarrboro.org/986/Pollinator-Habitat
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Test your garden soil this spring
A lush lawn, beautiful flowers, and bountiful crops are every gardener’s goal. Regrettably, some achieve these by applying fertilizers that often wind up washing right into our streams and creeks. Excess nutrients from these chemicals can cause drinking water contamination, undesirable algal blooms, and fish kills; contamination can result in waters that are not fishable or drinkable. One way you can avoid excess nutrients from entering our creeks and streams is to have you soil tested. Soil testing not only ensures your plants have the correct soil pH and nutrient levels, but it prevents the over-application and runoff of excess fertilizers into our waterways.
The Soil and Water Conservation District has soil test boxes at the Hillsborough office (1020 US 70 West, Hillsborough, NC). The boxes are mailed to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture in Raleigh for testing. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture analyzes the samples, and the results are usually placed on its website. Soil test boxes are also available at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, Piedmont Feed and Southern States Cooperative. From April through November, routine NCDA&CS soil tests are provided at "no direct cost" to N.C. residents and from December to March the cost is only $4 per sample.
Follow these tips to help minimize the effects of fertilizer in stormwater runoff from your yard:
- Test your soil. Verify what your soil needs prior to applying fertilizer. Only apply what is needed.
- Read labels carefully. If you must apply, pay attention to the label. Look for the words slow-release, time-release fertilizer with water-insoluble or slowly available soluble nitrogen. Avoid using combination fertilizer/herbicide/pesticide products, which have excess chemicals that can pollute our water.
- Pay attention to where and when you work. Avoid using fertilizers near wellheads or within 75 feet of waterways. Check the weather forecast, and don’t apply fertilizers when there is rain predicted and the likelihood of runoff is high.
- Fertilize sparingly; use organic/low impact practices. Apply fertilizers and pesticides as directed. The Cooperative Extension Service has recommendations for application rates if you decide to use inorganic products. Using less is good for the water supply and will save you money, too! If you use a lawn care company, ask them about environmentally friendly options and certifications. An alternative to chemical fertilizers are organic fertilizers, for more information visit NC Cooperative extension webpage on Soil Testing and Choices of Amendments.
- Cover or store items that may contain pollutants. Avoid leaving any items outside that could release pollutants into the stormwater system or nearby waterways. This includes machinery and equipment, paints and stains, cleaning solutions, etc.
- Practice low-impact yard care. Mow high and leave grass clippings on the lawn, which supports health and quality and reduces the need for fertilizer. Hand-pick weeds whenever possible. If you must use herbicides or pesticides, spot treat rather than dousing the entire lawn. Look for plants that thrive in those conditions. Use the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox to search for plants that thrive in your soil type, pH, and yard conditions using their “Find a Plant” feature.
- Replace part or all of your lawn with native vegetation. Native plants increase water infiltration due to their deeper roots and provide habitat for native pollinators and other animals. Replacing part (or even all!) of your grass lawn with native shrubs, herbaceous plants and flowers can be one of the most beautiful ways to manage stormwater on your property.
Helpful Links:
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Show our planet some love this Earth Day
Come on out and enjoy Earth Day in Carrboro! The Earth Day Celebration will be held Friday, April 22 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Carrboro Town Commons at 301 W. Main St. Join us for food vendors; information tables, displays and demonstrations; and a Children’s Parade at 6 p.m.
This year, organizers from the Orange County Chapter of the Climate Reality Project have partnered with the Town of Carrboro to line up some fabulous vendors. Come learn about food-waste composting, native plants, electric vehicles, edible gardens on the UNC campus and so much more. There will be lots of kid-friendly activities like Earth Day crafts, seed-planting and a Children's Parade at 6 p.m. Children (and any game adults) are invited to come in costume as a favorite animal or plant. There will be small costume add-ons to make at the event and loaned items from The Paperhand Puppet Intervention will lend a festive spirit to the parade.
Climate Reality says, “Please join Climate Reality on Earth Day. The group's overriding goal is to make sure than no one feels they are alone in the climate movement. Together, we can create a strong sense of community as we work to better our Earth. So come get inspired. The Earth is in our hands.”
Organizations and vendors who wish to participate in the Earth Day event may apply at https://www.carrboronc.gov/FormCenter/Communication-and-Engagement-Department-31/EARTH-DAY-and-PRIDE-Events-at-Carrboro-T-201.
Learn more about Carrboro’s efforts to reduce carbon pollution and fight climate change at https://www.townofcarrboro.org/781/Community-Sustainability
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E. Main Street closure April 19-20
A contractor conducting work on the railroad that intersects near the 200 block of E. Main Street in Carrboro will close this portion of the roadway on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 19-20. Detours will be set up for local traffic, but commuters are encouraged to look for alternate routes to their destination.
A contractor notified the Town of Carrboro that they plan to replace wooden railroad ties and do other work. The same contractor is also completing nearby work on Homestead Road. The town will share updates on the status of the closures on its social media channels.
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Carrboro participates in Black Restaurant Week from April 22-May 1
It was too hard to celebrate all the flavors of African American, African, and Caribbean cuisine in just one week. That's why the Triangle event has now been expanded to a 10-day showcase. From April 22 to May 1, you are invited to discover and enjoy Black-owned restaurants and culinary businesses throughout the Triangle. Participating restaurants will be offering weekly specials including prix-fixe brunch, and lunch and dinner specials for dine-in or take-out.
Find participating restaurants here. https://blackrestaurantweeks.com/carolinas-directory/
As always, you can find and support local businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and entrepreneurs of color by visiting our Town of Carrboro listing at http://www.carrboronc.gov/2582/Buy-BIPOC-Listing
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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 carrboronc.gov/signup
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 Town Council will meet next at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, to consider an agenda posted at https://bit.ly/3jm5qV0 and carrboro.legistar.com
This in-person meeting will be held at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or can view the livestream at carrboro.legistar.com OR YouTube.com/CarrboroNC OR Cable TV 18 (in Carrboro).
To submit a comment on this agenda, please contact publiccomment@carrboronc.gov to reach the Town Clerk.
Past Meeting
The Carrboro Town Council met virtually Tuesday, April 5, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://bit.ly/3LX75Nl
- The Council set a public hearing for 7 p.m. April 26 for consideration of a minor modification to the Winmore VMU Conditional Use Permit. The modification would allow conversion of Lot 179 to three single-family lots and assign the community pool to serve as civic use for the VMU.
- The Council approved the addition of administrative leave as a leave type to the Town’s Personnel Policies.
- The Council held a public hearing to take comments from the public on a proposed financing contract for the Town’s share of the acquisition, construction, and equipping the planned 203 South Greensboro Street Project. The Council then adopted a resolution supporting an application to the Local Government Commission.
- The Council authorized the Town Manager to execute contract with Barnhill Contracting Company for the construction of the 203 South Greensboro Street Project.
- The Council authorized the Town Manager to execute an amendment to the existing development agreement with Orange County for the 203 South Greensboro Street Project.
- The Council endorsed the County-Wide Manufactured Homes Action Plan, which was created to address the redevelopment threats facing manufactured home communities in Orange County. The plan is a collaborative effort among the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough, and Orange County that outlines specific objectives, strategies, action steps, partners, and resources needed to address the redevelopment threat facing manufactured home communities.
About the Town Council
The Town Council is the legislative and policy-making body for Carrboro, consisting of the following: Mayor Damon Seils, Mayor Pro Tempore Susan Romaine, Council Member Barbara Foushee, Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, Council Member Danny Nowell and Council Member Sammy Slade. More information is available at http://carrboronc.gov/248/Town-Council
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Early Voting Information
Early voting in Orange County begins April 28. For more information about the upcoming May 17 primary, including a list of candidates and early voting locations, visit the Board of Elections website at https://orangecountync.gov/1116/Early-Voting
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Passport Fair
The Orange County Register of Deeds will host a passport fair on Saturday, April 23, at the office located at 228 S. Churton St. For more information about what is required to obtain a passport, visit the website at www.orangecountync.gov/passports or call 919-245-2681.
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Three Summer Arts Apprenticeships available
The Carrboro Arts Committee is offering an award of up to $1,000 to assist emerging young artists in developing their talent through the Jacquelyn Gist Summer Apprenticeship in the Arts program. A total of up to three (3) apprenticeships are available. More information here https://townofcarrboro.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2051
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Participate in Poetry Month
Poetry has always held a special place in Carrboro. Join in as we celebrate Poetry Month with the following activities:
- Carrboro Poet Laureate Fred Joiner will invite special guests to read poems at the beginning of upcoming meetings of the Town Council for April 5, 12, 19, and 26. Access the poems read at previous Council meetings at https://www.carrboronc.gov/2593/Poetry-Readings-During-Town-Council-Meet
- “Poem in Your Pocket Day,” takes place on Friday, April 29, encouraging people to select a poem and carry it with them to share with others.
- The Town of Carrboro established the position of poet laureate in 2002 to enhance the presence of poetry in the social and civic life of Carrboro. Poet Laureate Fred Joiner was selected as a Laureate Fellow of the Academy of American Poets in 2019, one of 13 poets of literary merit chosen from across the United States to “enable them to undertake meaningful, impactful, and innovative projects that engage their fellow residents, including youth, with poetry, helping to address issues important to their communities, as well as create new work.”
- The Town’s signature poetry event, the West End Poetry Festival, is held over one weekend every October to bring together poets of diverse styles, backgrounds, and stages of development to share poems and their love of poetry. Learn more at https://westendpoetryfestival.org/
- Read Mayor Seils' Poetry Month Proclamation at https://www.carrboronc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10966/Poetry-Month-Proclamation-April-2022_Mayor-Seils
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Take advantage of the fun planned in our Recs & Parks April Newsletter
This past Sunday proved to a perfect day for our first Bicycle Pump Track Clinic for girls at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. We had a full clinic and hope to offer more in the future. Check out what else we have in the works for the rest of April in our Recs & Parks Monthly Newsletter https://www.townofcarrboro.org/DocumentCenter/View/1913/Monthly-Events-Newsletter
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