Animal Services join "Clear the Shelters" campaign

Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) has joined NBCUniversal Local’s Clear the Shelters™ 2021 pet adoption campaign. This is the seventh consecutive year that NBC and Telemundo-owned stations present their popular pet adoption campaign to communities nationwide in partnership with affiliate stations and shelters/rescues.

This year's Clear The Shelters will run Aug. 23 to Sept. 18. Adoption fees will be waived for all adoptable pets at OCAS during that time. Also, OCAS encourages donations by asking that everyone check out the opportunities listed on their donation page. Donations always make a difference, but they are especially helpful during these challenging times. OCAS depends upon monetary and material donations to continue to care for the thousands of animals that come to the shelter each year.

A special reservation event will be held at OCAS on Saturday, Sept. 18, to help finalize this year’s Clear The Shelters campaign. The Animal Services facility will be closed with the exception of those who make an appointment in advance. During these appointments, people may view, meet and adopt pets. More information will be provided on this page closer to the event date.

Clear The Shelters™ / Desocupar Los Albergues® is an annual, nationwide pet adoption campaign that is spearheaded by NBCUniversal Local, a division of NBCUniversal. Every year, NBCUniversal Local’s NBC and Telemundo-owned stations, plus affiliated stations, partner with animal shelters and rescues in their communities to host Clear The Shelters events.NBCUniversal Local’s Clear The Shelters campaign was inspired by a 2014 North Texas pet adoption event hosted by NBC 5/KXAS and Telemundo 39/KXTX and dozens of area shelters that resulted in the most adopted pets in one day for North Texas. Since 2015, NBCUniversal Local’s Clear The Shelters pet adoption campaign has resulted in more than a half-million pets finding new homes.

Visit ClearTheShelters.com and DesocuparLosAlbergues.com for more information. For more information about OCAS, please visit www.orangecountync.gov/animalservices.

Curry named 2021 Outstanding Tax Employee of the Year by NC Tax Collector’s Association

Valerie Curry, a Collections Manager with the Orange County Tax Department, was named the 2021 Outstanding Tax Employee of the Year by North Carolina Tax Collector’s Association (NCTCA). Curry received this award Aug. 19, 2021, at the annual NCTCA banquet.

Curry was nominated by her tax peers across the state and her co-workers. She has been employed with Orange County Tax Administration for 23 years, beginning as a paralegal and advancing to her current position. Valerie was described as helpful to others, dedicated, hardworking, open-minded, supporter, encourager, leader and friend.

"Valerie shares her knowledge with other taxing authorities and her co-workers to ensure processes are understood to do the best job possible," said Orange County Tax Director Nancy Freeman. "She is an invaluable asset to Orange County."

The North Carolina Tax Collectors’ Association is a professional organization made of tax revenue directors and personnel representing counties and municipalities from all over the state of North Carolina.

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.

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.

www.orangecountync.gov