Photo of stocking stuffed with toys and candy

DSS needs toys, volunteers for holiday event

Orange County Department of Social Services needs volunteers and donations for its annual Toy Chest. The event will be held Dec. 13-17 at Orange County DSS (113 Mayo Street, Hillsborough) and provides assistance to low-income families for the holiday season.

The Toy Chest attempts to provide new toys to each eligible child in Orange County. The number of eligible children continues to increase each year and the Department of Social Services relies on individuals, businesses, community groups, schools and churches to meet all these needs.

Orange County DSS wish list

Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks, including folding flyers, stuffing envelopes, setting up the toys and keeping the toy room organized and stocked during the event. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Theresa Collosso at (919) 245-2862 or via email at tcollosso@orangecountync.gov.

Burn ban issued for all North Carolina counties due to hazardous forest fire conditions

Due to increased fire risk, the N.C. Forest Service issued a ban on all open burning and canceled all burning permits statewide effective at 5 p.m. Nov. 29 until further notice.

“It is fall wildfire season in North Carolina, and we are seeing wildfire activity increase due to dry conditions,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With these ongoing conditions, a statewide burn ban is necessary to reduce the risk of fires starting and spreading quickly. Our top priority is always to protect lives, property and forestland across the state.”

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

The statewide fire ban does not include fires within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Orange County Fire Marshal Elizabeth Farnan extended the ban to cover the buffer within 100 feet for the unincorporated areas of Orange County and Hillsborough. The ban includes all burning, including but not limited to:

Charcoal and gas grills
Recreational burning to roast marshmallows, etc.
Any outside “warming” fires
Any yard debris

Visit the N.C. Forestry Service website for more information.

Longtime Homeowner Assistance Program provides relief for homeowners impacted by property revaluation

Orange County's new Longtime Homeowner Assistance Program (LHAP) provides property tax bill assistance to assist households affected by the 2021 countywide property revaluation.

The Orange County Board of Commissioners initiated the LHAP on June 15, 2021, by allocating $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to . To qualify, homeowners must:

Live in Orange County;
Have lived in their home for at least 10 years;
Have experienced an increase in property taxes due to the 2021 tax revaluation; and
Earn no more than 80% of the area median income (see income chart below).

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Dec. 15, 2021. Applications are available on-line or via paper.

Online Application Portal: orangecountynchousing.submittable.com/submit

Paper Applications: Pick up a paper application at the Orange County Housing and Community Development Department offices:

Hillsborough Office: 300 West Tryon Street, 3rd Floor, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Chapel Hill Office: 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Completed paper applications can be dropped in the drop boxes outside of the Housing and Community Development offices or mailed to:

Orange County Housing and Community Development
P.O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278

Housing Helpline staff can help people complete and submit applications and to give information on the supporting documentation needed. Call 919-245-2655 or email HousingHelp@orangecountync.gov.

For more information about the LHA Program, visit the webpage https://www.orangecountync.gov/2813/Longtime-Homeowner-Assistance-Program.

Graphic for Tax Office closing on Dec. 31.

Orange County’s Rectrac/Webtrac to be Upgraded

Online registration for classes or activities and reservations for Orange County facilities will be temporarily unavailable on Monday, Dec. 13, due to a planned system upgrade. The downtime is scheduled for 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

During that time, Orange County's RecTrac and WebTrac client and facility reservation system will be offline. The web-based system is used by Aging Services, Asset Management, the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation (DEAPR), and the Library.

Orange County apologizes for the inconvenience as we strive to improve the service we offer to our residents.

If you experience any issues after 1 p.m., please check with the county by phone at 919-245-2280, option 1. or email helpdesk@orangecountync.gov.

Graphic for food drive and toy drive at Orange County Libraries

Raleigh-based writer named 2022 Piedmont Laureate

Heather Bell Adams, a Raleigh-based fiction writer, has been selected as the region’s 2022 Piedmont Laureate. During 2022, Bell Adams will appear at virtual and in-person programming, including workshops, reading programs and speaking engagements throughout Wake, Durham and Orange counties.

The Piedmont Laureate program is dedicated to building a literary bridge for residents to come together and celebrate the art of writing. Co-sponsored by the City of Raleigh Arts Commission, Durham Arts Council, Orange County Arts Commission and United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County, the Piedmont Laureate program’s mission is to “promote awareness and heighten appreciation for excellence in the literary arts throughout the Piedmont region.”

The program focuses on a different literary form each year, including poetry, novels, creative non-fiction, drama/screenwriting, children’s literature, short fiction, speculative fiction, and mystery fiction.

As Piedmont Laureate, Bell Adams will receive an honorarium and serve until Dec. 31. Her duties will include presenting virtual programming, which includes public readings and workshops, virtual participation at select public functions and creating at least one original activity to expand appreciation of the work of fiction.

A schedule of the Laureate’s 2022 activities will be posted on the sponsoring agency websites and on the Piedmont Laureate website at www.piedmontlaureate.org.

Her novels, Maranatha Road (West Virginia University Press 2017) and The Good Luck Stone (Haywire Books 2020) appear on reading lists for Deep South Magazine, Writer’s Bone, The Big Other, and Buzz Feed.

Do you know what to do in an emergency before first responders and emergency personnel arrive? Would you like to be certified in CPR and First Aid? Sign up today!

Q&A sessions planned for human services outside agencies funding process for 2022-23

Orange County, the Town of Carrboro, and the Town of Chapel Hill's Joint Human Services/Outside Agencies Funding Application for FY2023 is available. Applicants must download the application and requested worksheets and complete them electronically. Handwritten or late applications are not accepted.

Click here for information about the process.

The application deadline for FY23 is Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, at 5 p.m. Applications must be submitted electronically and timestamped prior to the deadline. Please review the submission requirements in the application and contact the staff representatives with any questions prior to the deadline. For questions, please contact Melissa Allison.

UPCOMING AGENCY WORKSHOPS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021
Subject: Performance Measure Workshop
Virtual | Pre-Registration is Required | PowerPoint (PDF)
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Date: Thursday, November 18, 2021
Subject: Application Orientation Workshop
Virtual | Pre-Registration is Required | PowerPoint
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Date: Thursday, December 9, 2021
Subject: Question and Answer Session
Virtual | Pre-Registration is Required | Registration Link TBD
Informal No Agenda | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Date: Thursday, January 6, 2022
Subject: Question and Answer Session
Virtual | Pre-Registration is Required | Registration Link TBD
Informal No Agenda | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Boosters for All Vaccines Available Now

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended booster vaccine shots for all adults 18 and older to help strengthen and extend protections against COVID-19.

If you received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you can get your booster six months after your second shot. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you can get your booster two months after your shot.

Anyone over 50 or at high risk, as well as those 18 or older who were vaccinated more than two months ago with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, should get a booster dose now. Additionally, fully vaccinated people who received their first COVID-19 vaccine outside of the U.S. or in clinical trials with a brand not currently authorized can now receive a Pfizer booster shot when they are eligible.

To find a COVID-19 booster visit MySpot.nc.gov to search vaccine locations near you.

Home for the Holidays pet adoption graphic

Upcoming events at the Department on Aging

Festive Folk with Blumora
Come out and enjoy this talented local duo with their beautiful acoustic arrangements inspired by folk, country, bluegrass and Americana. You'll hear strong melodies and harmonies, along with the sound of guitars, mandolin, and electronic foot percussion. Min. 10 / Max 30. This performance will include virtual live stream.

Fee: FREE
Date : Fri, Dec 17
Time: 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill with Virtual Option
Phone: 919-968-2070
Activity Code: 313118-01
Register by: Friday, Dec. 10

Sounds of the Season
Enjoy the sounds of the season with talented musician Paula Snyder. Nothing is better than listening to popular holiday classics, favorites, and more with friends. Enjoy warm, delicious soup to go after the performance. Min: 15/ Max: 25

Fee: FREE
Date: Tue, Dec 14
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Passmore Center, 103 Meadowlands Dr., Hillsborough
Phone: 919-245-2015
Activity Code: 213012-01
Register by: Tuesday, Dec. 7

www.orangecountync.gov