UNC Chancellor to speak at Veterans Day Ceremony at Orange County Veterans Memorial

The 2022 Orange County Veterans Day Ceremony will take place Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at Southern Human Services Campus, 2501 Homestead Drive, Chapel Hill.

For the first time, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will join Orange County leaders in a joint ceremony. All of the University’s ROTC programs (Army, Navy and Air Force) will be represented at the ceremony.

Live music will be provided by Russell Howard of The Auxiliary. The event is free and open to the public. Parking is available at site.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz, will speak. Guskiewicz, a neuroscientist, academic leader and concussion researcher, is the 12th chancellor of the university.

Special guest speaker is Major General George Alan Higgins, US Army (Ret.). General Higgins entered West Point in July 1968 and graduated in June 1972, commissioned a second lieutenant of infantry. General Higgins holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Virginia and a Master of Military Art and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Transportation Services Title VI Plan Update to be presented at public meeting on Nov. 11

Orange County Transportation Service is a recipient of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Orange County Transportation Service establishes this Title VI Nondiscrimination Plan for the purpose of complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as required by FTA Circular 4702.1B, and related requirements outlined within the FTA Certifications & Assurances, “Nondiscrimination Assurance.” This document details the nondiscrimination program, policies and practices administered by Orange County Transportation Service, and will be updated periodically to incorporate changes and additional responsibilities as they are made.

Presentation of the OCTS Title VI Plan Update and associated policies will be provided at a public meeting held by OCTS staff Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, from 5-6 p.m. in Orange County Transportation Services Administration Building, 600 NC 86, Hillsborough, NC 27278. The public will have the opportunity to comment on the Title VI Update.
The updated plan will be available for review on the OCTS website (http://www.co.orange.nc.us/transportation/); in the administrative office located at 600 Highway 86 N, Hillsborough, NC, 27278 during the 30-day public comment period starting Thursday, Nov. 10, and ending Friday, Dec. 9.

The Orange County Board of County Commissioners will consider action on the Title VI Plan, Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Whitted Building located at 300 W. Tryon St, Hillsborough, NC 27278, at which time public will be given additional opportunity to comment on the Title VI Plan.

For further information on the plan or to submit comments, please contact Nishith Trivedi, Orange County Transportation Services Interim Director at (919) 245-2007 or email at ntrivedi@orangecountync.gov.

Vendors who would like to sell crafts or other holiday gift items need to call the Passmore Center at 919.245.2015 for vendor details and application.

Sign up now for winter basketball

November means that winter is right around the corner, and for many of our young athletes that means the start of Orange County Recreation Basketball winter season. Registration is ongoing through Nov. 12 for Youth Winter Basketball for boys and girls ages 5-12.

The season runs Dec. 5 through Feb. 25. Teams will meet twice per week on weekday evenings and Saturday afternoons. In the preseason, teams will practice twice per week. Once games begin, regular season teams will have one practice and one game per week. For divisions 9-10 and up, the season will conclude with a single-elimination tournament. Please note this is subject to change due to the cancellation of games or practices due to weather or any other reason.

All team meetings will be held at the Central Recreation Center, 302 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough.

In-Person Registration is available at the Bonnie B. Davis Environment and Agricultural Center, Suite 140, 1020 US 70 West, Hillsborough during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Online registration is available at www.orangecountync.gov/activityregistration. If you or your family has participated with us before and you do not know your account information, call 919.245.2660 during regular office hours for further assistance.

Orange County Recreation relies on volunteer coaches to grow a love of sport in our community. Coaches must exhibit the ability to teach good sportsmanship and sport fundamentals, as well as organize practices, prepare for games, and communicate effectively with players, parents and Recreation Division staff. All coaches must complete an application and pass a background check. Anyone interested in coaching may contact Kevin Bradsher at kbradsher@orangecountync.gov or 919.245.2672 for more information.

Orange County Solid Waste survey graphic

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OCAC presents Makers at the Mill Holiday Bazaar

The Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC) and Orange County Arts Alliance (OCAA) present Makers at the Mill Holiday Bazaar Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Eno Arts Mill.

Artists, crafters and artisans of all types are invited to apply to the inaugural Makers at the Mill Holiday Bazaar. In addition to the show vendors, the event will feature open Eno Arts Mill Artist Studios, the Orange County Artists Guild Deck the Walls Holiday Show in the gallery, live music, and more.

The Arts Mill is a multipurpose arts space that opened in October 2021. It includes a gallery, classroom and 17 artist studios.

This event will be a juried showcase of high-quality fine art and crafts. All artists must submit an online application with images to be considered. If accepted, a booth fee will be required. No commission of sales will be collected. Artists residing in Orange County will be given preference, but artists within the Triangle and surrounding communities are encouraged to apply.

Important Dates

Application Deadline: Monday, Nov. 7, 2023, 11:59 p.m. EST
Notifications emailed: No later than Friday, Nov. 11
Fees due: Friday, Nov. 18

OCAS reminds residents of legal requirements for using dogs and guns to hunt deer

Orange County Animal Services is promoting awareness of the legal requirements and responsibilities of using dogs and guns to hunt deer.

The season opens on Saturday, Nov. 12, and ends on Jan. 2. At the direction of the Board of Orange County Commissioners, County staff hopes to mitigate health and safety concerns through public outreach.

An Orange County brochure is available that provides general information about using dogs to hunt deer. This is lawful in northern Orange County - specifically, the portion of the County north of Interstate 85. The brochure also describes the process for reporting concerns or issuing complaints about unlawful hunting practices.

It is important to note that hunters, residents, and landowners all have rights and responsibilities. Responsible conduct by all parties can minimize conflict and ensure public health and safety during the upcoming gun hunting season.

One responsibility is that written permission must be obtained to hunt on someone’s private property. In Orange County, written permission is required whether or not private property is posted as “No hunting.” This differs from other counties in North Carolina, which requires written permission only when hunting on posted property.

For more information about deer hunting with dogs in Orange County, please visit http://www.orangecountync.gov/303/Hunting-Deer-with-Dogs.

More information is also provided by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at https://www.ncwildlife.org/Hunting/Hunting-in-North-Carolina. Wildlife Dispatch may also be reached at 1-800-662-7137 for any hunting-related conflicts.

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.

To learn more, click here.

Department on Aging to host Death Café event

The Orange County Department on Aging and the Project EngAGE End of Life Choices Senior Resource Team invite the public to attend a Death Café: Death and Dinner discussion on Nov. 16.

Our fear of speaking about death doesn’t stop it, fear only stops life. Learn more about what Death Cafés are and discover a safe place to discuss mortality. The Project EngAGE End of Life Choices Senior Resource Team welcomes you to join Sara Williams, founder of Shrouding Sisters www.shroudingsisters.com, for Chapel Hill’s first Death Café.

The event will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 16, from 5-7 p.m. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m.

Please register by Friday, Nov. 11, with the Seymour Center front desk at 919-968-2070.

www.orangecountync.gov