NCDOT accepting public comments on I-40 widening, exit 266 improvements through Feb. 8

The N.C. Department of Transportation is accepting public input on the proposed widening of 11.4 miles of I-40 between I-85 and the Durham County line.

The interstate would be widened by one lane in each direction to bring the highway up to three lanes each way, improving traffic flow along that corridor and helping relieve heavy congestion that develops during commuter times. The project would also improve the N.C. 86 exit (exit 266) and sections of that highway for several hundred feet both north and south of the interchange.

Maps of the proposed options may be viewed at the NCDOT's Public Information Portal established for this specific project. Residents interested in submitting comments may do so through the portal. The public is encouraged to submit comments no later than February 8.

For additional information please contact Gene Tarascio of the NCDOT Project Management Unit at (919) 707-6046 or gtarascio@ncdot.gov or Consultant Project Manager Eric Midkiff at (919) 858-1820 or emidkiff@calyxengineers.com.

Symposium to explore Orange County’s history of lynching

Orange County Department on Aging invites the public to attend a symposium Examining Historic Lynching in Orange County.

Between 1865 and 1941, more than 150 men and women in North Carolina met their fate at the hands of “Judge Lynch.”

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Northern Orange Branch of the NAACP, Free Spirit Freedom, and scholars from North Carolina Central University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will examine this act of violence in microcosm, highlight what gave rise to a “lynch mentality,” and explore the anatomy of a lynching, racial terror and monuments of hate and measures to curb these acts of violence.

The symposium will take place on Saturday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Passmore Center located at 103 Meadowlands Drive in Hillsborough. Refreshments will be served.

The event is free and open to the public..For more information, call 919-245-2015.

Department on Aging offers free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

The Orange County Department on Aging is offering IRS Certified VITA volunteers to provide FREE federal and state income tax preparation, including free electronic filing, to eligible individuals with low-to-middle income. Clients are not restricted by age or county residency, but must meet eligibility guidelines.

The service will be offered beginning Feb. 6 through April 13. Schedule your appointments online at www.orangecountync.gov/OCNCVITA or call 919-245-4242 today!

Locations:
Passmore Center – 103 Meadowlands Dr., Hillsborough, NC 27278
Seymour Center – 2551 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Soil & Water annual blueberry plant sale begins

Orange Soil & Water's Annual Blueberry Plant Sale is going on now. All profits from the plant sale are used to send local students to our Resource Conservation Workshop held at North Carolina State University.

Orders are pre-pay only with payment due by Friday March 1, 2019
Plants are $10 each and vary in height from 16" to 20"
Three varieties to choose from
Place order online or by phone 919-245-2750

Registration opens for Orange County 4-H Summer Sizzle Camp

The Orange County 4-H Cooperative Extension Service is accepting registration for its annual five-week Summer Sizzle Camp. The summer camp is available Monday - Friday from 7:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., from June 24 - July 26. Parents can register for camp on a weekly basis.

The program offers action-packed activities for rising 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Each week will feature field trips and hands-on activities in areas such as Arts & Crafts, Health and Fitness, Cooking and activities that focus on the Environment. The campers will explore science, technology, engineering and math, while also participating in bowling, skating, swimming and much more.

For more information or to register, please contact Shelia Beasley at 919.245.2056, or visit orange.ces.ncsu.edu.

www.orangecountync.gov