The Town of Carrboro’s Annual Community Fourth of July Celebration is scheduled to be held on the Carrboro Town Hall grounds on Monday, July 4th from 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Kickoff Event activities will be held at Weaver Street Market beginning at 9:30 a.m., followed by The People’s Parade from Weaver Street to Town Hall at 10:50 a.m.
Kick-Off Event (Co-sponsored by Weaver Street Market) @Weaver Street Market Lawn
- 9:30 a.m. – Pre-Event Activities Begin with music with The Guilty Pleasures (https://www.theguiltypleasures.net/)
- 9:45 a.m. – Designing & Decorating Booths (Patriotic Tattoos, Hat Making & Decorating, Patriotic Flag Coloring, Bike & Wagon Decorating)
- 10 -10:15 a.m. – Registration for Costume Contest
- 10:30 a.m. – Costume Contest Winners Announced
- 10:40 a.m. – Parade Assembly on East Weaver Street
- 10:50 a.m. – The People’s Parade from Weaver Street Market to Carrboro Town Hall led by The Bulltown Strutters (http://bulltownstrutters.org)
Live Music on the Main Stage @ Carrboro Town Hall
- 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – The Maggie Valley Band (http://themaggievalleyband.com)
- 12:45 - 1:45 p.m. – Onyx Club Boys (http://onyxclubboys.com)
- 2 -3 p.m. – Sensory Expressions (http://www.sensoryexpressions.com)
Fun Zone Stage @ Carrboro Town Commons
- 11 -11:45 a.m. – The Bulltown Strutters
- 12 noon -1 p.m. – Pamlico Joe & Clean Water Flow
- Pie-Eating Contest (2-3 pm)
- 2 p.m. – Ages 6-8
- 2:15 p.m. – Ages 9-12
- 2:30 p.m. – Ages 13-17
- 2:45 p.m. – Ages 18 & Up
Note: Registration for the pie-eating contest is on-site at the Information Booth from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Registration is first-come, first-served and a maximum of 8 participants will be accepted. There is no registration fee, but a waiver must be signed by a parent or guardian.
Senior Bingo
Senor Bingo will occur in the Town Council Chambers from 1 - 2:30 p.m.
More Activities!
Join us for more activities including inflatables, kids games, face painting, food/beverage vendors, non-profit booths, and more!
For updates, please visit http://www.carrborojuly4th.com
In the event of inclement weather, a decision regarding the status of the event will be made as soon as possible on Monday morning. If the event is canceled, a message will be placed on the Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department’s Weather Information Line at 919-918-7373. A message will also be posted in the News Flash section of www.carrbororec.org.
The Ninth Annual Community Reading of Frederick Douglass’ essay “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” will be held rain or shine. The reading will occur in the Carrboro Century Center from 12 noon – 1:30 p.m.
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Town of Carrboro offices closed for Independence Day
The Town of Carrboro's administrative offices will be closed Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Emergency police, fire and rescue services may be reached by calling 9-1-1
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Joint Statement from Orange County Mayors
June 27, 2022
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The decision effectively reverses Roe v. Wade, contradicting nearly 50 years of settled law. As a result, abortion is no longer federally protected as a constitutional right.
As the mayors of Hillsborough, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill, we share the alarm, sorrow, and outrage that so many in our communities are feeling. We share your dismay about what this decision means for the advances women and girls have made over the past 50 years, for the rights and dignity that gay and trans people have secured, and for the struggle to ensure all people have access to safe, high-quality health care. We share your anger in recognizing that attacks on these fundamental rights bring the greatest harm to the most vulnerable among us.
We also want to offer information about the consequences of this decision for North Carolinians and some ways you can take action.
First, abortion is still legal in North Carolina, but there are state laws restricting the conditions under which an abortion may be obtained. If you or someone you know needs information about when or where to access abortion or other reproductive health care, you can get information from one of the attached resources.
Although abortion remains legal in North Carolina, we now face the grim reality that the right of people to make their own health care decisions and to choose whether and when to have children has been stripped away. The effect has been immediate for people in states with “trigger laws,” like Mississippi and Tennessee, where access to abortion disappeared overnight. The long-term consequences for millions more Americans will be just as devastating. What’s more, this erosion of a fundamental right to privacy places other protections at risk, including the right to have sex with the partner of our choosing, the right to same-sex marriage, and the right to contraception.
We sign this statement in our shared commitment to building communities where everyone feels safe and welcome and has the ability to thrive.
Mayor Jennifer Weaver, Hillsborough
Mayor Damon Seils, Carrboro
Mayor Pam Hemminger, Chapel Hill
Resources Regarding Legal Access to Abortion
Most Americans and most North Carolinians support legal access to abortion. Here's what you can do to help protect this right:
Learn more about and consider volunteering with or donating to:
Contact your state legislators, and join them in the fight to prevent more restrictive state laws:
Contact your U.S. senators and congressperson and ask them to support federal legislation that protects the rights of women and LGBTQ persons:
Resources Regarding Legal Access to Abortion (PDF)
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Carrboro Presents Frederick Douglass Community Reading
CARRBORO, N.C. -- Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils is pleased to announce that the Town of Carrboro will hold its Ninth Annual Community Reading of the Frederick Douglass essay “The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro” on Monday, July 4, 2022.
The reading will occur from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. Introductory remarks will be provided by NC Central University Professor Irving Joyner. From 1984 to 1992, Professor Joyner served as the Associate Dean of NCCU School of Law. He regularly teaches courses in criminal law; criminal procedure; civil rights; and race and the law.
Frederick Douglass’ essay reflects a sobering point of view about what is commonly considered to be America’s Independence Day, and is a part of the history of this country that should be recognized and remembered. The community is urged to attend and listen to the reading of this compelling work.
Four on the Fourth
A Carrboro road race is scheduled for 8 a.m. Monday, July 4. Expect traffic delays around this time, and feel free to cheer on the runners!
The race begins in front of McDougle Middle School, winds through downtown Carrboro and its neighborhoods, and finishes on the McDougle track.
McDougle Middle School is located at 900 Old Fayetteville Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
Four on the Fourth is the first race of the Cardinal Track Club's three-race series, Le Tour de Carrboro. The local road races support nonprofits and their work to provide people with access to healthy food, mental and health services, rehabilitation, and more! Learn more at https://www.cardinaltrackclub.com/
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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 is on a summer recess until early September.
Past Meeting
The Carrboro Town Council met Tuesday, June 21, and took the following actions on the agenda posted at https://bit.ly/3MgTPmt
This meeting was videoed and can be viewed at carrboro.legistar.com OR YouTube.com/CarrboroNC
- Adopted the Town of Carrboro Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-23. This complete agenda item with attachments is available at https://bit.ly/3OI6ZKG Highlights of the adopted budget totaling $90.87 million for fiscal year 2023 are as follows:
- There is no property tax rate increase. The budget sets a property tax rate of 60.44 cents per $100 in property value. The town tax bill for the owner of a home valued at $400,000 will be $2,417.60. Carrboro property owners also pay county and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district taxes. Affordable Housing tax rate remained at 1.5 cents, and ARPA funds will be used to raise additional ½ cent.
- The budget includes funding for The 203 Project, the new civic and library building at 203 S. Greensboro St. (Debt service on building.)
- The budget includes allocations to the Interfaith Council housing assistance program in the amount of $92,950; and, Orange County Partnership to End Homelessness in and amount of $129,976. Funding amount for one year and anticipated discussion on potential long-range funding model.
- The budget sets a living wage of $15.85 an hour and provides for $3,000 to be added to all fulltime employees’ salaries and prorated for part-time positions. Health insurance costs will increase by 15 percent.
- Employee recruitment and retention are high priorities of the budget due to the increased competition for talent in the local government employment sector. To be better prepared to meet this challenge, the Town has a compensation and classification study underway which is expected to be completed by the fall of 2022.
- With the adoption of Carrboro Connects, the five-year comprehensive plan, staff will be engaged in implementing the new plan which may require additional resources. The Town will continue to implement the Energy and Climate Protection Plan and the Community Climate Action Plan. The Energy and Climate Protection Plan seeks to reduce Town greenhouse gas emissions, become more energy efficient and generate more renewable energy. The Community Climate Action Plan articulates the Town’s community greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and emphasizes measures that the broader community is asked to take to achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets.
- The Stormwater Utility Enterprise Fund, established in 2017, to comprehensively address stormwater management and flood remediation needs throughout the Town is supported by user fees. The current user fee for stormwater ranges from $75 to $90 based on portion of property affecting stormwater management. Staff plans to conduct a comprehensive stormwater infrastructure assessment during fiscal year 2023.
- Approved a development application for a new commercial building at 201 N. Greensboro St. Development plans call for a three-story, 16,186-square-foot commercial building and an adjacent 40-space parking lot at 201 N. Greensboro St. Learn more at https://www.beaconpropertiesgroup.com/properties/detail/downtown-carrboro-201-n-greensboro-st
- Adopted a resolution to award a service sidearm to a retiring police officer to recognize his dedication to duty and his service to the Town of Carrboro. Carrboro Police Captain Anthony Westbrook II will retire from the Town of Carrboro Police Department on July 1, 2022 after 20 years of service with the Town and 30 years of total law enforcement service.
- Received reports from the Police, Fire and Economic Development departments, and the Stormwater Utility Division. These are reports are available from the link above.
- Approved a request for an extension of the date when a Conditional Use Permit would otherwise expire for a Mixed-Use Building at 603 Jones Ferry Road.
- Approved revised assignments of Town Council Members to various committees.
- Authorized the Town Manager to accept payment for damages to Fire Station 2 by Utility Line Construction Services, LLC (ULCS) and sign the Release for Property Damage Only.
- Designated the fund balance for Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Items not yet spent or encumbered.
- Approved a Reasonable Accommodation Request for 714 West Main St. or construction of an access ramp. Reasonable accommodation requests are processed in accordance with Land Use Ordinance.
- Accepted the Racial Equity Commission’s Annual Synopsis and approved a change in the commission make-up.
- Modified the contracting authority for the Town Manager to provide for uniformity and more efficient contracting.
- Appointed Melody Kramer and Dr. Elmira Mangum to the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) Board of Directors.
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, Council Member Eliazar Posada, and Council Member Sammy Slade. More information is available at http://carrboronc.gov/248/Town-Council
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Small Town Pride in Carrboro
We're beaming with Small Town Pride this Pride month! We loved seeing everyone in Carrboro for the Food Rodeo and Dance Party on Friday, June 24, 2022, the culminating celebration of #LGBTQIA events across our Carrboro and Chapel Hill community!
Thanks to KiKi Diamond and the beautiful performances of the drag queens, WXYC 893 for the music, Steven Ray Miller and the Chapel Hill-Orange County Visitors Bureau for the Rainbow Ram, the Bulltown Strutters for getting the party started -- and all of you for coming out!
Photo credit: Town of Carrboro / Jonathan Drake
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Carrboro Music Festival accepting applications
The Carrboro Music Festival is now accepting performer applications for the 2022 event. All performers must submit an official application by the July 1 deadline to be considered for the event.
The 2022 Carrboro Music Festival is scheduled to occur on Sunday, Oct. 2, with kickoff events on Saturday, Oct. 1.
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Update on the E. Main Street Resurfacing Project
The NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) resurfacing project for E. Main Street and W. Franklin Street is underway; Carolina Sunrock is the project contractor.
The subcontractor Fulcher continues to cut traffic signal sensor loops at intersections within the Carrboro limits of the project (E. Main Street from Jones Ferry Road to the Carrboro-Chapel Hill town limits at Merritt Mill Road and Rosemary Street).
To limit disturbance on local businesses and traffic, work will occur at night 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday; and 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday. No work to occur after 6 a.m. Friday or any time on Saturday. All work will be performed with single lane closures which will allow continued flow within multilane portions of the work zone and flagging operations through the two lane portion.
At this time, the milling and resurfacing is anticipated to begin the week of July 5. The milling and resurfacing work will also take place during the night.
Drivers should use caution and stay alert. Sidewalks should remain open.
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NOTE FROM CARRBORO COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT:
Carrboro This Week will be taking a break from its weekly publication over the summer. Town of Carrboro news and updates will issued on a normal basis. Stay in the know by signing up for Carrboro Town News at www.carrboronc.gov/signup Enjoy your summer and stay cool!