News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 
(Jan. 9, 2025) 

A winter storm is expected Friday afternoon into Saturday. Access helpful resources here. Catch the recap of our Elizabeth Cotten Day celebration including some beautiful photos of family members and descendants of the late great Ms. Cotten. Save the date for a youth-led event to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Saturday, Jan. 18, and the Carrboro Film Fest will be underway Jan. 24-26. Stay safe out there, Carrboro! Don't let us catch you buying up all the bread and milk! ❄️😆 

Winter Storm coming to Carrboro

According to the National Weather Service in Raleigh, a winter storm is expected to affect central North Carolina Friday afternoon into Saturday.

There will be enough snow and ice accumulations to result in hazardous travel conditions beginning late Friday and lasting through Saturday. Black ice may be an issue Sunday morning and Monday morning. There may be enough ice accumulation from freezing rain to result in downed trees and power lines, and power outages. 

Residents are advised to prepare now for hazardous travel conditions late Friday through at least Saturday, and the possibility of losing power for a while.

Please access the following helpful info and links:  

• Weather and Local Information - Check for news and weather updates
• Access local resources at Carrboro Ready.
• Be Winter Weather Ready by making a family communications plan, restocking your emergency supplies kit, and bringing your pets inside. Gather flashlights, batteries, blankets and other supplies. Fuel vehicles. Charge phones and laptops. Learn more. 
• Town of Carrboro Public Works is responsible for responding and reducing winter weather related roadway hazards. Public Works crews have applied brine throughout town. This process helps prevent snow and ice from bonding to pavement, making it easier to plow off. 
• Chapel Hill Transit makes every effort to safely operate all services during winter weather. Check for any schedule changes here.  
• Due to the forecast of snow, sleet and freezing rain for central North Carolina, CHCCS schools will dismiss students two hours early on Friday, Jan. 10.

Reporting Power Outages 

A power outage is NOT an emergency. Please call your local power company to report an outage. 

Duke Energy

• Contact the Customer Service line at 800-777-9898 to report and learn why there is an outage. 
• Sign up for text messages to alert you of outages at your home, the estimated restoration time, and (afterward) the cause. Text OUT to 57801. 
• Use the Duke Energy app. 

Piedmont Electric

• Call 800-449-2667 or 800-222-3107. 
• Voice instructions will direct you through the system. 
• Or text “pemc” to 800-222-3107. Then text “#out” to report an outage. For outage updates, text “#status”.

Stay safe out there, Carrboro! 

“Elizabeth Cotten Day” Celebration

Hosted by Mayor Barbara Foushee on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, we enjoyed a very special Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten Day Celebration featuring Brenda Evans, the great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Cotten, for songs and remembrances at the Carrboro Century Center. Also joining Ms. Evans were the great-great grandchildren -- Jordan, Jared and John Evans of Charlotte, N.C. – and the great-great-great grandchildren including Juliana Evans, Kemi Fennell and Myles Fennell.

Video coming soon to share the rich stories of her childhood and family life including the writing of "Shake Sugaree" and how her great-grandchildren all contributed to writing the verses.

Many thanks to NC Rep. Renée Price for presenting during the program, as well as Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis. Thanks also to the great crowd of 100-plus people including Council Members Randee Haven-O'Donnell, Catherine Fray, Town Manager Patrice Toney, and old family friends like Alice Gerrard..

Born on Jan. 5, 1893, Cotten wrote her signature song “Freight Train” about the train she could hear from her childhood home on Lloyd Street in Carrboro, North Carolina. Cotten's talents as guitarist and songwriter came to light while she was working in the home of the Seeger family, who encouraged her career as a professional musician. Cotten toured across the country, recording several albums and winning a Grammy Award and a National Heritage Fellowship before her death in 1987. She was inducted into the 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 

Town Council Update

The Town Council is scheduled to meet next at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 for a work session.  

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

Past Meeting Recap

The Carrboro Town Council met on Tuesday, Jan. 7 to consider an agenda including the following:

• Continuation of Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing for Newbury Architecturally Integrated Subdivision (AIS) at 904 Homestead Road
• Update on Town Race and Equity Initiatives 2024. Read the complete report.

Watch the livestream.

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 

Traffic Alert: Maple Avenue Extension to reopen to traffic on Saturday

Maple Avenue Extension will reopen to traffic on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. 

Maple Avenue Extension will now be a one-way road southbound from Roberson Street to East Braxton Foushee Street.  

It has been closed during the construction of the Drakeford Library Complex. 

Drivers are encouraged to pay attention to new road signs and be cautious as they adjust to the changes.

Join the 2nd Friday Art Walk on Jan. 10

The 2nd Friday Art Walk around downtown Carrboro and Chapel Hill returns on Friday, Jan. 10.

Explore art galleries, artist studios, shops and restaurants. There will also be live music, performances, spoken word poetry and more. Venues are generally open late afternoon and evening hours. Exhibits at Carrboro Town Hall and Carrboro Century Center are open from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Learn about our participating venues and their exhibitions.

Carrboro observes Dr. King Holiday

Town of Carrboro offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.  

Monday’s yard waste collection will be picked up on Tuesday, Jan. 21. 

Join us on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 for a youth-led event that brings the community together to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King. The event will begin at 1 p.m. in Century Hall located in the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510. 

Save the Date: Carrboro Event Honoring 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Join us on Jan. 18, 2025 for a youth-led event that brings the community together to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The event will begin at 1 p.m. in Century Hall located at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510. 

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!  

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.

We are back to business as usual after a few days off for the Holidays. This time of year, we like to take a moment to show our appreciation for all our Town of Carrboro Staff.

Staff gathered on Friday, Dec. 20 at the annual Employee Appreciation Holiday Luncheon. Employees enjoyed a delicious meal and played some fun games.

We also want to celebrate our 5, 10, 15, 25 and 30 Years of Service Award recipients!

5 Years (pictured left from right with Town Manager Patrice Toney): Jonathan Stewart, Tony Legette, Kristen Benoit and Geoffrey Adams. Not Pictured: William Adams, Raid Wahieb, Wesley Winslow and Masten Carr.

10 Years (pictured left from right with Town Manager Patrice Toney): Robert Layton, Weldon Jenkins and Julie Eckenrode.

15 Years (pictured left from right with Town Manager Patrice Toney): Ronald Trombley and Trey Kennedy. Not pictured: Ryan Downs.

25 Years: (pictured left from right with Town Manager Patrice Toney): Ruth Heaton and Chris Atack. Not pictured: Andrew Vogel

30 Years: Not pictured: Gregory Carver.

Carrboro Film Fest

Join us on January 24-26, 2025 at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St., for a weekend of films that celebrate and interrogate southern culture. 

Tickets on sale now! 

Announcing the official lineup and schedule for Carrboro Film Fest 2025! This year we have a captivating lineup of 38 films thoughtfully selected to achieve our mission of celebrating and interrogating Southern culture. Plus we are thrilled to announce we are partnering with Chelsea Theater for a Pre-festival Kickoff event on January 13th!

Visit CarrboroFilm.org for descriptions of the films and events. A limited number of Festival Passes are on sale now for only $25, so get yours while they're still available!

Carrboro Film Fest is made possible by the Town of Carrboro, NC. We look forward to celebrating Southern cinema with you in January!

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.

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.

Registration for Carrboro residents opened at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8.  Registration will open to all other participants on Thursday, Jan. 9. 

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.

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.