News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(Jan. 22, 2025) 

Snow day! The National Weather Service described Tuesday's snowfall as light and fluffy, but the ice is still nasty in areas, so please travel with caution. Cold weather days are perfect for movie watching, and the Carrboro Film Fest is happening this weekend at the Century Center.  February is nearly here, and the Town of Carrboro has planned a concert and lecture series in celebration of Black History Month that you are certain to enjoy! Save the date for the Drakeford Library Complex Grand Opening on Friday, Feb. 21. Find more news and updates in this issue! 

Snow Day!

While it didn’t last long, residents saw a beautiful, powdery snowfall across Carrboro late on Tuesday, Jan. 21. 

Many of us enjoyed outdoor time on a sunny but cold Wednesday, traveling on local bikeways that were cleared, thanks to our Public Works Department. Crews applied a blend of salt and sand the night before to improve road conditions. Trash collection will resume on Thursday for routes that were missed. 

The National Weather Service described the snowfall as very light and fluffy. But the ice is still nasty in areas, so please travel with caution. Extremely cold weather is expected to continue. 

• Check the National Weather Service for the latest forecast 
• Access Carrboro Ready for information resources during inclement weather

Carrboro Film Fest Celebrates

Southern Cinema Jan. 24-26

Now in its 19th year, Carrboro Film Fest celebrates Southern cinema throughout the weekend, Jan. 24-26, 2025, at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. 

Now in its 19th year, the Carrboro Film Fest continues its mission to showcase an entertaining and thought-provoking variety of new Southern films and provide a venue to both celebrate and interrogate Southern culture. This year’s lineup includes four blocks of short films and two features, representing diverse filmmakers from across the South. The full schedule of events can be found at CarrboroFilm.org. Individual tickets to each screening are $8.

Carrboro Film Fest continues its mission to showcase an entertaining and thought-provoking variety of new Southern films and provide a venue to both celebrate and interrogate Southern culture. The festival brings to the big screen a distinct combination of award-winning and Southern films, including many made in North Carolina. This year’s lineup includes four blocks of short films and two features, representing diverse filmmakers from across the South. Carrboro Film Fest is made possible by the Town of Carrboro.

“This year we’ve tried to focus and enhance the overall festival experience by slightly reducing the number of film blocks we’re showing, while adding a free film workshop and a meet-the-filmmakers dinner,” says new festival director Bryan Reklis. “We’re really excited about the attending filmmakers and the opportunities for audience-filmmaker engagement. That’s always been a great part of Carrboro Film Fest, and we want to keep that going.”

Learn more and view the full lineup.

Carrboro Honors Martin Luther King Jr.

Saturday, January 18, 2025, Carrboro honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose dream continues to inspire us all. The community heard from both the established and emerging leaders of our community about how they are inspired today. 

Thanks to the Carrboro Youth Council and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Youth Council, Mayor Barbara Foushee and Town Manager Patrice Toney, who participated in the youth-led Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Life and Legacy Celebration of Saturday, January 18, 2025, in Carrboro, NC.

Mayor Foushee Proclaims Day of Racial Healing

Mayor Barbara Foushee has proclaimed Jan. 21, 2025, the Tuesday following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as the National Day of Racial Healing in Carrboro and encourages all residents to share ideas, knowledge, and points of view related to truth, racial healing, transformation, and racial equity.

Members of the Town’s Youth Advisory Board, the Carrboro Youth Council, and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Youth Council held a special celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Watch a recap of the celebration .

The National Day of Racial Healing is an annual observance initiated as part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation program and is promoted by the program’s many community partners across the United States. It is a way to promote relationship-building, truth telling, and racial equity; healing and solidarity; and transformative action.

The Town of Carrboro understands and recognizes that we all must work earnestly and intentionally to heal the wounds created by racial, ethnic, and religious bias and build an equitable and just society in which all people can thrive and in which children have the opportunity to learn and grow in nurturing environments that safeguard their safety, dignity and humanity.

The proclamation lists several actions that the Town of Carrboro has taken in its commitment to advancing racial equity.

Learn more about Town of Carrboro efforts to center, elevate and honor the voices and experiences of Black people and other people of color.

The Town of Carrboro has provided a platform for community members to share their thoughts about racial healing. It is available now at https://engage.carrboronc.gov/racial-healing A phone line is also available for community members to respond at 919-913-3182.

Town of Carrboro seeks community voices for National Day of Racial Healing

The National Day of Racial Healing is held the Tuesday after Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 21, 2025. Mayor Barbara Foushee will present the annual proclamation.  

The Race and Equity division of the Town of Carrboro has provided a platform for community members to share their thoughts about racial healing. It is available now online.

The National Day of Racial Healing is an annual observance initiated as part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation program and promoted by the program’s many community partners across the United States. It is a way to promote relationship-building, truth telling, and racial equity; healing and solidarity; and transformative action. 

Questions are posted on the Engage Carrboro website for people to respond to and begin the conversation.  A phone line is also available for community members to respond at 919-913-3182. 

• More information is available at  https://engage.carrboronc.gov/racial-healing
• Please share with others across the community!  

Holocaust Remembrance Day proclaimed in Carrboro

Mayor Barbara Foushee has proclaimed Monday, Jan. 27, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

The purpose of International Holocaust Remembrance Day is to serve as a date of the official commemoration of the victims of the Nazi regime, and to promote Holocaust education throughout the world.

This year, the day commemorates the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Mayor Foushee encourages all community members to reflect on the need for respect of all peoples, and to overcome intolerance and indifference through learning and remembrance.

• Read the proclamation.
• Learn more at International Holocaust Remembrance Day - United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Photo caption – The proclamation was read at the Jan. 21 meeting of the Town Council by Council member Randee Haven-O’Donnell. Receiving the proclamation was Rabbi Solomon Hoffman of Kehillah Synagogue in Chapel Hill.

Everywhere to Everywhere Greenways Projects Kicking off Soon in Chapel Hill

NEWS FROM TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL -- Join Chapel Hill Town staff and their project consultant for an open house to learn about the Bolin Creek Greenway Extension and Estes Drive Ext.  bike-ped projects.  Chapel Hill invites you to ask questions, share your opinions on different designs, and review maps, renderings, and technical details about the options. 

Here are the event details:

• January 23, 2025, 6 - 8 p.m.
• Chapel Hill Public Library, Meeting Room B
• Visit the Bolin Creek Greenway Ext. project page
• Visit the Estes Drive Ext project page

Save the Date: Drakeford Library Complex Grand Opening

Save the date for the grand opening of the Drakeford Library Complex at 203 S. Greensboro St. 

The event is set for 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 and will feature speakers, a ribbon cutting and light refreshments. Tours will be offered following the event throughout the day until 6 p.m. 

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 Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department;  the Orange County Skills Development Center; and performance/multipurpose uses. The Town of Carrboro/Orange County public facility 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.

Find more information about the project history and construction.

Town Council Update

The  Carrboro Town Council is scheduled to meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025

The 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 www.YouTube.com/CarrboroNC OR at https://carrboro.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

The agenda for this meeting will be available at https://carrboro.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Access the livestream direct link to view the meeting.

Past Meeting Recap 

The Carrboro Town Council met on Tuesday, Jan. 21, and took the following actions on this agenda .

• Received proclamations for the National Day of Racial Healing and  for Holocaust Remembrance Day.
• Appointed Council member Danny Nowell to continue serving as mayor pro tem.
• Held a quasi-judicial public hearing for the South Green Mixed Use Project at 101 Two Hills Drive, 100 and 110 Two Hills Drive, and 120 Two Hills Drive. The Council directed Town staff to prepare a decision document including a number of conditions for future Council consideration.
• Received a presentation on the Disparity Study Findings & Recommendations from consultant Griffin & Strong, which conducted a comprehensive review of the Town's procurement procedures and practices.

Watch the livestream via YouTube.

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/Calendar.aspx
• 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.

Questions? Reach Town Clerk Lamar Joyner at 919-918-7309 or townclerk@carrboronc.gov 

Carrboro recognizes Mentoring Month

Mayor Barbara Foushee has proclaimed January as National Mentoring Month in Carrboro, recognizing the contributions of volunteer mentors, who link youth to economic and social opportunity, while also strengthening our community.

National Mentoring Month helps raise awareness and celebrates the powerful impact of mentoring relationships, while encouraging institutions to integrate quality mentoring into their policies and practices.

Mentoring programs like the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program make our communities stronger by driving impactful relationships that increase social capital for young people and provide invaluable cultural and social enrichment and engagement.

January 2025 will mark the 22nd anniversary of National Mentoring Month and the 30th year of the flagship award-winning Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program.

National Mentoring Month is the time of year to acknowledge, celebrate, elevate, encourage and honor mentoring across our state and to recruit caring adult mentors in Chapel Hill and Carrboro and beyond.

Learn more about National Mentoring Month.

Coming Soon: Black History Month 2025

The Town of Carrboro is proud to recognize and celebrate Black people and Black history in Carrboro and across the nation during Black History Month.

We invite and encourage all Carrboro residents to participate in local Black History Month events and to learn about and celebrate the lives, history, and contributions of Black people during this month and throughout the year.

Check out all the great events planned and organized by the Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department.

• We continue to update the Black History Month webpage, so please check back! More details on all the performances are available on this webpage.  
• Graphics and photos are available for downloading.
• For more information, please contact Recreation Supervisor Michelle Blume at mblume@carrboronc.gov 

2025 Winter-Spring Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Program Guide Now Available

The 2025 Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Winter-Spring Program Guide is now available!  This guide covers programs and events from January through April, including Spring Athletic Leagues, and registration for 2025 Summer Camps.

Register at the Carrboro Century Center at 100 N. Greensboro St. during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and online via RecConnect at www.carrbororec.org  

If you are a new participant who wishes to register online, please be sure to set up via our online registration site (linked below).  Please allow at least 3 business days for account review and approval.

If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department at 919-918-7364.

Learn more about the Program Guide and How to Register.

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.

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.