Friends, family and community leaders turned out for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center in Hillsborough.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony held for new Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center

Orange County celebrated the life and legacy of Bonnie B. Davis at a special ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center on Friday, Aug. 20.

Family members, friends and community leaders gathered to honor a woman who served the county as an extension agent for 40 years. Davis was Orange County’s first Black agricultural extension agent, but her impact went well beyond her duties for Cooperative Extension. She died in 2018 at the age of 92.

“Today we are remembering, honoring and celebrating a remarkable and beautiful woman, the late Bonnie B. Davis,” said Orange County Chair Renee Price. “Oftentimes buildings are named for individuals who have donated a sum of money to an institution. Ms. Bonnie B. Davis gave something of greater value. She gave us her heart, her soul and her love to the family, friends and community of Orange County.”

Price noted the center is the first county building to be named for a Black woman in Orange County, a fitting tribute to a person who dedicated her professional and personal life to improving the lives of others. After retiring, she remained active in the county, serving as one of the founding members of the Friends of Orange County DSS and winning the Pauli Murray Award for her service in pursuit of justice, equality and human rights for all citizens.

“She was a trailblazer, breaking barriers and making our world more just and equitable,” said Price. “Naming this building in honor of Mrs. Davis is but one way we can keep her spirit alive.”

The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously in March to name the building for Ms. Davis after a community-driven campaign led by many of her former students, colleagues and friends.

Photos from the event.

:Photo of crowd at ribbon-cutting event.

Photo of Chair Renee Price and Bonnie Davis's family member.

Face coverings graphic update for August 2021

Orange County Commissioner Sally Greene, far right, was one of five commissioners honored by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners for their work on the state's response to the national opioid settlement.

Greene wins statewide honor for work on Opioid settlement

Orange County Commissioner Sally Greene received statewide recognition Aug. 14 when she was named one of five winners of the 2021 North Carolina Outstanding County Commissioner Award by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC).

Greene was recognized for her contributions as a member of the 555 Committee, which was organized by the NCACC and helped develop the Memorandum of Agreement on the use of North Carolina’s share of national opioid settlement funds.

“I feel deeply honored to receive this recognition by my peers,” said Greene. “I’m also exceedingly grateful to Kevin Leonard, Executive Director of the NCACC, and attorneys Amy Bason and Paige Worsham for their tireless leadership.”

The 555 Committee is comprised of five commissioners, five county managers and five county attorneys and began meeting in March 2020. The NCACC provided staff support and guidance throughout the process.

“My experience in setting policy for improving criminal justice and mental health interventions and housing opportunities for those suffering from all kinds of substance use disorders had opened my eyes to the terrible consequences of the opioid epidemic--certainly for individuals and their families, and also for the community as a whole,” Greene said. “Two members of the committee are parents of young men who lost their lives to opioid overdose. These tragic losses were always in front of us, and this is what kept us motivated.”

Click here for more information.

Animal Services offers grant program to support animal welfare initiatives in Orange County

Orange County Animal Services is offering The Pat Sanford Animal Welfare Grant, a program to support animal welfare initiatives and projects in Orange County, thanks to a generous donation from Friends of Orange County Animal Shelter. This is the sixth year the award has been offered, and it will be awarded for initiatives up to $500. Applications must be received by Friday, Oct 15.

The grant can be used for a wide range of pilot or seed projects or to supplement other programs, projects, and grants which support companion animals, including those animals used in recreation or therapy. It is available to individuals, groups, and organizations and although the recipients do not have to live in Orange County, the funds must be used to aid animal welfare efforts in Orange County. Past recipients include Hope Animal Rescue, Independent Animal Rescue, NC Therapeutic Riding Center, Pet Pals, Trestle Leaf Web Design, and Carolina Boxer Rescue.

The program honors Pat Sanford, former Executive Director of the Animal Protection Society of Orange County (APS). Sanford served there for 17 years, where she pushed for spay/neuter to combat the county’s pet overpopulation problem, helped expand the APS twice, and created a wildlife rehabilitation component that would carry on beyond her retirement. After her retirement in 2002, Sanford continued her work for Orange County animals and served on the county’s Animal Services Advisory Board for several years.

Ms. Sanford’s accomplishments are vast and her contributions helped Orange County become one of the leading counties in the state and country for animal placement, recovery, and overall well-being. The grants awarded in her honor will support efforts that exemplify the same dedication and commitment to animal welfare in Orange County. The initial donation will sustain the program for a 10-year period. Additional donations are welcomed to increase the annual award amount and to extend the period in which the grant is awarded.

For more information on the grant, to find the application, and to find out more about giving opportunities for this program, visit http://www.orangecountync.gov/368/Pat-Sanford-Animal-Welfare-Award.

N. C. Agriculture Cost-Share funds for non-point source pollution control available soon

The Orange Soil and Water Conservation District expects to receive its cost-share allocation from the state for non-point source pollution control from agriculture activities in the next couple of weeks.

These funds are available to improve water quality by assisting farmers in implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs), which help decrease the amount of sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus, animal waste, chemicals and other pollutants entering the surface and ground waters of the State.

Landowners and operators may apply for technical and cost-share assistance to install BMPs such as animal waste storage facilities, mortality management systems, wells, and watering troughs in conjunction with livestock exclusion fencing from streams, heavy use areas, animal trails and stream crossings, closure of waste impoundments, cropland conversions, sod-based rotations, grassed waterways, field borders and diversions.

For a complete list of BMPs available and other cost-share programs to improve water quality and enhance an agriculture operation, go to Orange County Soil and Water Conservation’s website at www.orangecountync.gov/soilwater (See Financial Assistance).

An initial sign-up will be held through Aug. 21, 2021, for those landowners and operators wishing to request technical and cost-share assistance on practices.

Request for technical assistance will be provided throughout the year and cost-share assistance for as long as funding is available.

To apply for cost-share assistance and other agricultural funding programs, please contact Kenny Ray or Todd Roberts at (919) 245-2750.

DCHC MPO seeking public feedback on transportation improvements

If you're interested in highway, bicycle, multi-use paths, and transit projects for our region, you're invited to give your feedback on scenarios of our future transportation system.

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) is seeking public feedback on the transportation improvements that should be included in the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). The 2050 MTP identifies future highway, transit, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and other transportation projects for this region over the next 30 years.

The DCHC MPO is updating the 2050 MTP this fall, and will use the public input received on the Alternatives Analysis to identify where roadway, public transportation, bicycle, pedestrian, and other transportation investments will be needed in the coming decades.

Residents and other stakeholders are asked to review the Alternatives Analysis at the DCHC MPO website and provide comments by email no later than Wednesday, Sept. 15. And, take a few minutes to complete our SURVEY.

For more information about the 2050 MTP, contact DCHC MPO Principal Planner Andy Henry at (919) 560-4366, ext. 36419 or by email.

Department on Aging Direct Care Worker Award nominations now open!

Since 2015, Orange County Department on Aging and the community group, Senior Health Advocacy and Resource Partners of Orange County (SHARP) have presented SHARP Direct Care Worker Awards each year to honor Direct Care Workers (nurse aides, personal care aides, companion caregivers, etc.) who affect their clients’ lives on a daily basis.

Awards are presented in the following categories: Client Impact, Longevity, Leadership, Going the Extra Mile, and Rising Star. One person will be chosen as the “Direct Care Worker of the Year.”

To be eligible, direct care workers must have served clients in Orange County within the past year. Each person may be nominated in two categories. Nominees must have provided direct care to clients and have at least six consecutive months of service in the past year.

Nominations will remain open through Sept. 24. For more information about the awards or to nominate a direct care worker, please visit us online or contact Kim Lamon-Loperfido at 919-245-4253.

Deadline to appeal property values extended to Sept. 1

On June 15, 2021, the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to extend the 2021 Orange County Board of Equalization and Review Formal Appeal adjournment date from June 30, 2021, to Sept. 1, 2021.

The purpose of this extension is to allow additional time for property owners to formally appeal their 2021 property values to the Board of Equalization and Review.

Instructions and the Formal Notice of Appeal to the Board of Equalization and Review are available on the Orange County website: http://www.orangecountync.gov/806/Appeals.
Property owners may file a formal appeal online at https://appeals.spatialest.com/nc-orange.

To receive a paper copy of the form, email reval@orangecountync.gov or call 919-245-2100, option 2. All formal appeals must be submitted prior to the Board’s adjournment on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021.

www.orangecountync.gov