County extends state of emergency through Oct. 31

Orange County has extended the State of Emergency through and including October 31. This extension is an important procedural action that allows governing bodies to continue to meet virtually. It also authorizes Orange County to extend emergency procurement procedures as well as request state and federal aid as needed. Read the Emergency Declaration.

Orange County Board of Commissioners Meeting Change for Sept. 1

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes, NCGS § 153A-40, the Orange County Board of Commissioners provides notice of the following change in the 2020 meeting calendar.

The Business Meeting of the Orange County Board of Commissioners that was previously scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at the Whitted Building will now be held as a virtual meeting with the BOCC connecting into the meeting remotely starting at 7:00 p.m.

Instructions for participating/speaking in the meeting will be provided with the agenda. The agenda will be available on the Orange County website no later than August 28, 2020. http://www.orangecountync.gov/1707/BOCC-Agendas

Orange County Board of Commissioners’ meetings and work sessions are available for viewing via live streaming video at orangecountync.gov/967/Meeting-Videos and Orange County Gov-TV on channels 1301 or 97.6 (Spectrum Cable).

Orange County Animal Services offers advice and guidance on what to do if you find a lost kitten.

Orange County COVID-19 Updated Data August 21, 2020

The Orange County Health Department has provided the following information about COVID-19 cases in Orange County as of 9:00 a.m. today:

TOTAL CASES: 1,650
TOTAL DEATHS: 49

Data Considerations:
1. Any demographic groups with very small numbers have been suppressed to protect
patient confidentiality.
2. We are missing race and ethnicity data for between 30-40% of confirmed cases.
3. We don’t know who may have COVID-19 that wasn’t able to get tested, and we don’t know what groups the patients with missing data fall under.
This data should not be used to make generalizations about who may or may not have higher rates of infection.

Click here to download the entire release.

BoE encourages voters to submit absentee requests early

Orange County voters interested in Absentee Voting By Mail are encouraged to make their request well before the deadline due to anticipated high demand, said Orange County Elections Director Rachel Raper.

All by-mail civilian absentee ballot requests must be submitted on the State Absentee Ballot Request form and must be signed by the voter or a near relative who is making a request on behalf of a voter. The form is available on the Orange County website (www.orangecountync.gov/1104/Absentee-Voting-By-Mail).

Requests may be mailed (PO Box 220, Hillsborough 27278), emailed (vote@orangecountync.gov), faxed (919-644-3318) or hand delivered to the Board of Elections office (208 S Cameron Street, Hillsborough).

Requests must be received by the BoE by 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election (Oct. 27). Postmarks do not qualify.

Click here for more information.

HRC Summer Community Read examines voter suppression

This year is the 150th Anniversary of the 15th Amendment and the 55th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, yet the struggle for the ballot continues for African Americans.

The HRC’s Community Read for this summer is “Give us the Ballot: A Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America” by Ari Berman, a senior reporter for Mother Jones and a fellow at Type Media Center. He was the first reporter to cover voter suppression efforts in 2012, bringing national attention to the issue. He has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Rolling Stone and other national publications and is a frequent contributor to MSNBC, C-SPAN and NPR.

“Give Us the Ballot” chronicles the history of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as it transformed the American democratic process, while counterrevolutionaries sought to suppress voting rights that, “target[ed] African Americans with almost surgical precision.”
In 2013, the Supreme Court declared a key provision of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional. As lawmakers continue to devise new strategies to suppress minorities’ voting rights the battle over race, representation, and political power rages on in America.

The HRC is hosting a Community Read event on Sept. 13, from 3-5 p.m.
This event is free and open to the community and will include a discussion of the Voting Rights Act, attempts to suppress voting rights and the ways we as a community can address the issues presented in the book. The discussion will be led by members of the Orange County Human Relations Commission. Click the link below to register.
https://orangecountync.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0K47Z5YgQTSV4CICCnddWw

Pre-registration is required for this event.

Census data collection efforts to end Sept. 30

Census takers are in Orange County visiting households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. According to the latest stats from the Census, Orange County ranked second among North Carolina counties in response rates through Aug. 16 with 70.0% of households responding.

The Census Bureau will cease data collection efforts on Sept. 30, a month earlier than the original extended deadline.

“It is important that we get an accurate count in Orange County because Census data determines federal funding for many programs that assist our most vulnerable residents,” said Renee Price, Vice Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners and Chair of Orange County’s Complete Count Committee. “School nutrition programs, services for the elderly, education programs and many others rely on Census data to determine each community’s share of funds. An accurate count with everyone participating ensures that Orange County receives its share of federal and state assistance.”

Residents can avoid the knock by responding to the Census either online or via phone. If you respond online, you must complete the census in one sitting, as you don't have the ability to save your progress.

Even if you did not receive an invitation to respond from the Census Bureau, you may respond online with your address. Visit www.my2020census.gov to respond online.

Residents may also phone in their responses in a variety of languages. Representatives are available daily from 7a.m. to 2 a.m. ET.

English (for 50 states and Washington, D.C.): 844-330-2020
Spanish (for 50 states and Washington, D.C.): 844-468-2020
TDD (Telephone Display Device): 844-467-2020

Census takers will soon be visiting households in Orange County that have not responded to the 2020 Census. it's not too late to keep the census takers away. Click the graphic to fill it out online or find the phone number to call to fill it out over the telephone.

Orange County VITA Program Recognized for Innovation

Orange County Department on Aging is proud to announce that the Orange County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) has received national recognition for innovative services.

VITA has been providing free income tax preparation services to low and moderate-income taxpayers for over 25 years. The program was recently recognized by the Internal Revenue Service for its innovative work continuing to assist taxpayers during the past extended tax season.

Like many services, this program and its 75 volunteers were forced to stop providing in-person assistance in mid-March due to the Coronavirus outbreak. But instead of simply shutting down, the program immediately transitioned to a virtual program, providing taxpayers the opportunity to electronically send in their tax documents and allowing volunteers to work from home to complete tax returns beginning April 1.

As the program leaders saw an ongoing need to help those without the technology to participate in this Virtual VITA program, they started a second innovative program in June which allowed taxpayers to drive up and drop off their tax documents, returning a week later to pick up the completed returns.

Through the ongoing commitment of the program leaders and volunteers, Orange County VITA was able to assist an additional 350 taxpayers in meeting the July 15^th filing deadline.

To learn more about the Orange County VITA program, visit www.orangecountync.gov/ocncvita or contact the VITA program coordinator, Jeanne Chamberlin.

OCAC awards $57,850 in Relief Grants through Orange County Arts Support Fund

The Orange County Arts Commission has awarded a third round of emergency relief grants totaling $16,400 to 25 members of the Orange County arts community and two arts-related nonprofit organizations. Grant amounts for individuals ranged from $500-$600 and will help recipients with essential needs such as groceries, bills, and healthcare expenses. Two organizations also received relief grants to help with operating expense including the Chelsea Theater and Daylight Community Arts Foundation. In total, the fund has provided $57,850 in relief funds through 98 grants for artists and 9 grants for organizations.

“Being a recipient of this grant is very helpful; during the last 5 or so months of reduced income, I've had to defer some essential financial obligations and this will enable me to cover some outstanding bills. I'm very grateful," states Carrboro musician Tim Carless.

Funds have been collected through the Orange County Arts Support Fund, an online fundraiser to benefit artists, arts industry workers, and arts organizations in Orange County. Almost $65,000 has been raised to date, made possible by 171 individual donors as well as contributions from the Triangle Community Foundation, Manbites Dog Theater Fund, Orange County Artists Guild, Women’s Voices Chorus and the North Carolina Arts Council.

The loss of audiences has made the arts one of the most hard-hit industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Orange County is home to approximately 4,000 creative industry workers and 170 arts and cultural nonprofit organizations that contribute $131M to the local economy each year*.

Future rounds of grants will open as funds become available. Donations can be made online or by check and are tax deductible. For more information, visit www.artsorange.org/supportfund.

Orange County Solid Waste Mulch for Sale

Orange County Solid Waste is hosting a half-price mulch sale at $12.50 for three cubic yards. Compost is available at $30/cubic yard.

The Orange County Landfill is located at 1514 Eubanks Road, Chapel Hill and is open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. - noon. Solid Waste will deliver any amount for a delivery fee ($50 within 10 miles, $75 10-20 miles).

Call ahead to arrange delivery and payment at (919) 968-2788.

Orange Works offers employment and training assistance

Orange Works Employment & Training Center is part of the Department of Social Services and is adjacent to the DSS Hillsborough location at 113 Mayo Street. Orange Works provides a variety of workforce development resources to the public, including resume review, assistance with NC Works registration, interview prep, career counseling, virtual job search assistance and career counseling. Staff can provide referrals to employment & training programs offered by DSS and to partner agencies that provide other valuable career services.

Although Orange Works is currently closed to the public, a lot of these services are offered virtually, including some great online workshops. If you would like to learn more about the programs and services available through Orange Works, or get information about the employment and training programs available at DSS, follow their Facebook page or contact Orange Works at 919-245-4354.

Orange County DSS has a new Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Eligible recipients must be receiving FNS/SNAP benefits or meet income guidelines.
Distributions for this program will occur on the last Wednesday of each month
Due to limited supplies and to ensure social distancing, appointments will be required.
Appointment slots will be issued on the day prior to distribution only, on a first-call/first-served basis, until all slots are filled, and can be obtained by calling (919) 245-4354.
Pick-up will be in the patio area adjacent to Orange Works beside the Department of Social Services in Hillsborough at 113 Mayo Street.
Recipients should park in designated parking lot spaces and walk up to the patio to sign in. There will be staff to assist with vehicle loading.

www.orangecountync.gov