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This Week in TOWNnews: New Engagement Hub, Employee Appreciation Month, Downtown Streetscapes

In this issue, we are so excited to introduce to you our new engagement hub: Engage Chapel Hill. It's a space for you to learn and share feedback about major Town projects and initiatives.

Post Date:09/26/2024 3:59 PM

September 26, 2024

In this issue, we are so excited to introduce to you our new engagement hub: Engage Chapel Hill. It's a space for you to learn and share feedback about major Town projects and initiatives. Check it out! We're also excited about some upcoming events: opportunities to tell us what you think about downtown streets, sidewalks, and gathering spaces; Coffee with a Cop; Banned Book Club at the library; and Walk and Roll to School days.

There's a New Way to Engage with Us

We heard you, Chapel Hill. Sometimes it's hard to follow along or engage with major projects around town. Today we are launching a new platform, Engage Chapel Hill, to do just that. On it you will find these four ongoing or upcoming projects:

Rewriting Our Rules: A LUMO Update - Learn about how we're updating our Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO).
Vision Zero Chapel Hill - Support our initiative to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2031.
Downtown Streetscape - Participate in this process to enhance public safety and foster economic vitality downtown.
Bolin Creek Greenway Extension - Read about this project extending Bolin Creek Greenway from Umstead Park to Estes Drive.

Parks and Rec Facilities Annual Maintenance Wrapping Up

Several Parks and Rec facilities will undergo annual maintenance. Here's the current schedule:

Community Center, its indoor pool, and its gym: closed Monday, Sept. 16 - Sunday, Sept. 29.
Nate Davis, Sr. Gym at Hargraves Center: closed Wednesday, Sept. 25 - Monday, Sept. 30.

Sept. 23 and 25 Council Meeting Highlights

Council met twice this week for a work session and regular meeting. Read the highlights here. At their Wednesday meeting, they declared October 2024 as National Cyber Security Awareness Month, urging community members to learn more about cyber security and put their knowledge into practice.

They also proclaimed October 2024 as Employee Appreciation Month to recognize our more than 800 employees’ commitments to the community.

Building a Community with Access to Affordable Housing

Affordable housing is important to us all. Learn about how our Affordable Housing and Community Connections team works hard with community partners to continue advancing Council's goals to build an inclusive community where all residents have access to affordable housing and opportunities to thrive.

Tonight, Sept. 26! Good Neighbor Initiative Cookout

Grab a burger or ice cream and meet your neighbors. The Good Neighbor Initiative cookout is tonight, Sept. 26, at Hargraves Community Center. Meet staff and community partners to promote positive living experiences in neighborhoods where students and non-students live close to each other.

Is Saxsquatch Real? Join Us for Cryptids with a Cause to Find Out

Saxsquatch is heading to town for an epic flash mob on September 28. Dress as your favorite cryptid and meet at the 100 block of E. Franklin St. (What's a cryptid?) At 5:15 p.m., this block of Franklin St. will close to safely kick off the fun. At 6 p.m. it’ll reopen, and we’ll make our way down to 140 W. Franklin Plaza for a live DJ, community, and more. Bring canned goods for PORCH's food drive.

Have a Coffee on Us!

Join some of our Guardians of the Hill for a cup o' joe at Sutton's Drug Store for Coffee with a Cop. The mission of Coffee with a Cop is to break down the barriers between police officers and the community they serve by removing agendas and allowing opportunities to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers in your neighborhood.

Movie Under the Stars Will Put a Spell on You

Grab your brooms, mops, and vacuums and come watch Hocus Pocus with us. We'll be at the Carolina Square lawn on Friday, Oct. 4. Pre-show trivia and costume contest begin at 6 p.m., and the movie starts at sundown.

Get the details.

Banned Book Club - Beloved by Toni Morrison

In honor of Banned Books Week, Chapel Hill Public Library chose Toni Morrison's classic Beloved. Need a copy of the book? See staff at the main desk. See you on October 5 from 1 to 2 p.m. to join us for community and discussion. Register here.

'Tis the Season to Walk and Roll to School

In early October, school communities and families join together to celebrate the joy and community of walking and rolling to school during Walk & Roll to School Days, whether it's on foot, on bike, or other active travel device. Learn about how our Safe Routes to School program supports initiatives like this!

Drop in for a Fun Fall Carnival

Feeling like you want to skip the frights and goblins of Halloween? Join us for a fun-filled Fall Carnival at Hargraves Community Center on Friday, Oct. 11. From 5 to 7 p.m., your kids aged 6 to 12 can play carnival games that earn them a treat. This family-friendly event is open and free to all! Learn more.

It's Free. It's Fun. It's Festifall!/Es gratis. Es entretenido. ¡Es el Festifall!

Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture's 51st annual arts markets return on October 26 and November 2, from 12 to 5 p.m. in downtown Chapel Hill. New this year each date has a unique theme.

October 26 market: Carolina Day, highlighting all things NC and Tar Heel nation
November 2 market: Día de los Muertos, uplifting the Triangle's Latino/a/e communities

More Information

Tell Us What You Think about Downtown Streets, Sidewalks, and Gathering Spaces

In November 2022, Council allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for several downtown projects, including a two-part streetscape enhancement and mobility plans that create a vision for public right-of-way improvements downtown. We want your input! Join us for a charrette to provide your ideas:

Monday, Sept. 30, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at The Story Venue (450 W. Franklin St.)
Monday, Sept. 30, 3 - 4 p.m. at Peace and Justice Plaza (179 E. Franklin St.)
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 1 - 5 p.m. at The Story Venue
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 1 - 5 p.m. at The Story Venue

Can't join in person? Learn more online.

Visit our new engagement hub project page.

Are You Hurricane Ready?

With a storm brewing in the Gulf, now is a great time to check on your hurricane preparedness.

Build a kit.

Make a plan.

Stay informed.

Spread Some Holiday Cheer!

Applications are open for the 2024 Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade. We're looking for local organizations with diverse cultural, faith, and community traditions to participate. Walk, dance, bike, and scoot with us on Saturday, Dec. 7. Apply by Oct. 14.

Check the Town calendar for a variety of public meetings. The upcoming schedule includes:

Tuesday, October 1: H uman Services Advisory Board, Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board
Friday, October 4: Council Committee on Economic Sustainability

New for Week of September 29

Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. near Northfield Dr. underground utility work

September 30 - October 11, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Crews will close one lane at a time as they work from one side of the road to the other. Crews won't work over the weekend, and sidewalks will be open.

Fordham Blvd. near Morgan Creek Rd. night utility work

October 2, 8 p.m. - October 3, 6 a.m.

Crews will close the right-hand, eastbound travel lane.

Manning Dr. at Hospital Dr. night utility work

October 2 - 3, 7 p.m. - 5 a.m.

Traffic lights will be off, and officers will be on site to manage traffic.