Ian impacts causing changes to Orange County events

The remnants of Ian are expected to bring heavy rains and wind gusts to Orange County during the day on Friday, Sept. 30. As a result, several events have been postponed or cancelled.

Friday's Movie in the Park of Sonic 2 has been cancelled.
The National Recovery Month Gathering scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m. at the Freedom House Recovery Center in Chapel Hill has been postponed to Friday, Oct. 7.
All Recreation soccer activities are cancelled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ian may also cause power outages. Here are four ways to prepare yourself for an extended power outage:

Find Alternate Power Source. Plan for batteries and alternative power sources to meet your needs when the power goes out, such as a portable charger or power bank. Have flashlights for every household member. Determine whether your home phone will work in a power outage and how long battery backup will last. Remember, never use a generator indoors.
Appliances. Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges. Install carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup in central locations on every level of your home to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Food Storage. Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. A refrigerator will keep food cold for four hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. If you are in doubt, monitor temperatures with a thermometer and throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher. Maintain a few days’ supply of nonperishable food and water.
Know Your Medical Needs. If you rely on electricity for any medical needs, make a power outage plan for medical devices or refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.

For more information on how to be prepared for a power outage, visit Ready.gov.

Orange County BOCC Business Meeting to be held Monday, Oct. 3

The Orange County Board of Commissioners will conduct its first monthly meeting of October on Monday, Oct. 3, instead of its normal Tuesday schedule. The meeting will be held at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough and will begin at 7 p.m.

The agenda for the meeting can be found at the link below.

Agenda

Stay informed with OC Alerts messaging service

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OCAS offers grant program for animal welfare initiatives

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 for that purpose. This is the seventh year the award has been offered, and it will be awarded for initiatives up to $500. Applications must be received by Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.

The grant can be used for a wide range of pilot or seed projects or to supplement other programs, projects, and grants that support companion animals, including those animals used in recreation or therapy. It is available to individuals, groups, and organizations.

Recipients do not have to live in Orange County, but 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, Carolina Boxer Rescue, and Our Wild Neighbors.

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 and helped expand the APS twice. 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.

Orange County Arts Commission fall classes graphic

The Orange County Arts Commission offers many classes for youth and adults. Fall classes are accepting registrations now. Financial assistance is available.

Applications open for Longtime Homeowners Assistance property tax relief program

Applications are now being taken for the Longtime Homeowners Assistance (LHA) program for 2022. In 2021, the LHA was a pilot program created by the Board of Commissioners that provided grants to homeowners for assistance in paying property taxes. The goal of the LHA is to provide property tax bill assistance to help people stay in their homes.

The board approved several changes for 2022 to boost participation, including reducing the requirement to have owned and lived in the home from 10 years to five years. The changes formalized policies for heir’s properties and those owned by Family Trusts to provide assistance based on the income of the persons who live in the household and not all the heirs or members of the trust.

The Orange County Housing Department administers the LHA program in collaboration with the Orange County Tax Office and Finance Departments. Homeowners can submit applications and supporting documents between August 1 through December 1, 2022 in a few different ways:
ONLINE: Applications and materials can be submitted online
DROPOFF: Paper Applications and drop-off boxes are available at Orange County Housing offices
Hillsborough- Whitted Building, 300 W Tryon St
Chapel Hill, Southern Human Services Center, 2501 Homestead Rd
GET HELP: Contact the Housing Helpline for assistance in completing LHA applications

919-245-2655
housinghelp@orangecountync.gov

www.orangecountync.gov