Commissioners approve two projects for climate tax funding

The Orange County Board of Commissioners approved two initiatives at its Feb. 4, meeting to receive funding from the Climate Change Tax that was added to the county budget for 2019-20. The Board authorized $150,000 towards weatherization of homes for lower income people and $19,272 to provide LED light bulbs for those who can’t afford them.

As part of the FY 2019- 20 budget, the Board of Orange County Commissioners authorized an additional 1/4 cent property tax to provide an estimated $469,272 dedicated to accelerating climate change mitigation through the new Climate Change Mitigation Project in the Capital Investment Plan.

When the tax was authorized, the BOCC stated that it would decide the final prioritization of projects to be funded, and the Board requested that the Commission for the Environment (CFE) provide feedback on prospective projects in advance of BOCC review. The BOCC has emphasized the need to consider racial equity first, so that those who benefit most directly from the proposed action are the people who most need assistance.

Click here for more information.

Registration for Orange County Recreation Summer Camps begins Feb. 15

Registration for the Orange County Recreation Division's always popular summer camps begins Saturday, Feb. 15. In-person registration begins at the Central Recreation Center (302 W. Tryon St., Hillsborough) at 8 a.m. Online registration will commence at 2 p.m.

Click here to download a copy of the 2020 Summer Camps Guide (PDF)

If registering in person, please bring the completed Summer Camp Registration Form and a 25 percent deposit for each camp. Check or credit card (MC, VISA and Discover) accepted. Click the link to download and print out copies. Hard copies are available for pick up at Central Recreation Center from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Regular Online Registration begins at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 15. Payment is due in full. Link: server4.orangecountync.gov/wbwsc/Webtrac.wsc/search.html?module=AR

Regular In-person Registration begins at 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17 at the Central Recreation Center. Payment will be due in full. Check or credit card (MC, VISA and Discover) accepted.

Pauli Murray Awards
presentation set for Feb. 23

The Orange County Human Relations Commission is holding the 30^th Annual Pauli Murray Awards on Sunday, February 23, 2020 from 3-5 p.m. at the Whitted Building (300 W. Tryon St., Hillsborough). The award is presented annually to an Orange County adult, business and/or youth that embody the attributes and spirit of Dr. Pauli Murray by serving the community with distinction in the pursuit of equality, justice and human rights for all citizens. The public is invited.

This year’s ceremony will honor Mae McLendon as the adult awardee and Thea Barrett as the youth awardee. Ms. McLendon is a long-time resident of Orange County and has served the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area for over 40 years through elected positions, civic volunteerism and the ministry. Ms. Barrett is a senior at East Chapel Hill High School, and is an advocate for sensible gun control, ending mental health stigma, and bettering the world for all through her service.

The keynote address will be given by Ed Pavlic, Ph.D., Distinguished Research Professor of English and African American Studies at the University of Georgia. In addition to his many published works in publications like The New York Times, Boston Review, Harvard Review, and Callaloo, Pavlic has written 11 books of poetry, scholarship, fiction and non-fiction. Pavlic’s awards include the Albert Christ-Janer Creative Research Award (2015), the National Poetry Series Open Competition (2012, 2014), the The American Poetry Review / Honickman First Book Prize (2001), the Writer of the Year Award from the Georgia Writer’s Association (2009), and the Darwin Turner Memorial Award from African American Review (1997).

Come out to honor the legacy of Dr. Pauli Murray and show appreciation for this year’s winners and the quality contributions they make to Orange County. A reception will follow the ceremony.

Orange County HOME Consortium seeking public input on community development and housing needs

The Orange County HOME Consortium is hosting public input sessions to gather citizen input, comments and views on community development and housing needs in Orange County. Public participation will play an important role in the development of the 2021-2025 Consolidated Plan, which identifies the priorities for the use of federal HOME funds to expand affordable housing for low-income residents.

The Consortium has scheduled three public meetings (schedule below) and two webinars. The first webinar will be held Friday, Feb. 14, from 1-2 p.m. To join the webinar, please visit https://zoom.us/j/582269451. You can also participate via phone by calling (646) 558-8656. The webinar ID No. is 582 269 451.

The second webinar will be held Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 1-2 p.m. Link: https://zoom.us/j/692893469. To participate via telephone, dial (646) 558-8656. The webinar ID is: 692 893 469.

Recordings of the webinars will be available on the County website when they become available.

Click here for more information, including a schedule of public meetings.

Sherri and Gerald Schultheiss from Knightdale adopted "Choco Taco," one of the seized dogs.

Almost 19k applications received for first groups of bulldogs

Orange County Animal Services has already rehomed 20 dogs and it has received almost 19,000 applications for the rescued bulldogs and other breeds being made available through a special adoption process.

Animal Services wishes to take this opportunity to thank the community for all of its patience and support during the past several months. A large-scale animal seizure of this kind could not be undertaken and completed without such support. “The seizure of these dogs depends upon donations of food and treats, as well as new homes,” according to Bob Marotto, Director of Animal Services. “It also depends upon pro bono and discounted services as well as some extraordinary efforts from volunteers and staff.”

To facilitate the rehoming of so many dogs in an orderly and humane manner, Animal Services created a special adoption process. Dogs are being made available weekly in batches ranging from 6 to 12. More details about this special adoption process are available at http://www.orangecountync.gov/2321/Special-Adoptions.

Interested individuals are urged to review all of the information provided on that page, which includes information about how people are notified if they are selected to adopt an animal and the timetable on which the process of adoption must occur.

Donations are still being received to help offset the costs of care for these dogs, which became almost 80 in number after the birth of three litters from dogs that were pregnant when they arrived at Animal Services. Food, treats and other assorted items may be dropped off at Animal Services during regular business hours. See more details about items needed at http://www.orangecountync.gov/364/Donations. Monetary donations should be identified as donations to help care for the seized dogs. They may also be sent to the Animal Services Center at 1601 Eubanks Road in Chapel Hill, or they may be made online via Orange County’s Community Giving Fund at http://www.orangecountync.gov/1649/Community-Giving-Fund.

Seymour Center offers classes on Scottish language, music

Learn introductory Scottish Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, with a fluent speaker in a relaxed, informal environment. The first hour will focus on basic conversational phrases, the second hour on traditional songs from Highland tradition.

Sign up for one or both hours. The class meets second and fourth Saturdays in March, April and May (March 14 and 28, April 11 and 25 and May 9 and 23).

2-3 pm: Beginner’s level Gaelic conversation (354122-02)
3-4 pm: Scottish Gaelic songs (354122-03)

Instructor: Michael Newton, Ph.D. in Celtic Studies
Fee: $10 for one hour, $20 for two. Pay in full prior to each class.
Location: Seymour Center (2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill)

Register at the Seymour Center or click here to register with the class ID numbers.

www.orangecountync.gov