Weekly Update, November 13

Carrboro, we must bid goodbye to the growing season. With snow in the higher elevations in the state, winter has arrived in North Carolina. The State Climate Office at NCSU announced this week that we've got a "super El Niño" brewing in the Pacific and that only time will tell if it ends up being the strongest on record. In our area, we're likely looking at above-average temperatures, above-average precipitation, and little snow. In the meantime, we're facing extreme drought, and the OC Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation has this advice:

This weekend Chapel Hill High School's long-awaited production of The Odyssey opens at Hanes Theatre (High School Road, Chapel Hill). CHHS drama teacher, author, and actor Thomas Drago adapted Homer's epic for the stage, drawing inspiration from Christopher Nolan's summer blockbuster. This production, with its large ensemble cast, is fully homegrown.

Also this weekend, Center Theater (300-G East Main Street, Carrboro) is staging Frozen, Jr. And, not to be upstaged, all across Carrboro and all over Orange County, the fabulous artists of the Orange County Artists Guild are once again opening up their studios to the public. There are so many Tour participants in Carrboro that our town is positively popping with creativity. Read our preview.

The Carrboro Farmers Market runs 9 am to noon on Saturdays through the winter season and for one more Wednesday (Nov. 18) from 3 - 6pm. It is gearing up to host an online auction to raise money for the Double Bucks program that adds extra spending power at the market to people who need it. Check out the auction offerings ahead of the November 21 opening.

A cat owner on W. Poplar Street cannot find her beloved calico, named Gizmo, who wandered off this week. Gizmo has on a blue harness, is shy, and might have sought shelter in a crawl space. Anyone with information about this cat is requested to contact Zoe Blain at (203) 858-8011.

Online this week

Debate about the proposal to consolidate Carrboro's police department with Chapel Hill's got heated this past week. Read Elaine Ellis's coverage of the community-led information session that took place Saturday. We provided an update on the issue in advance of the Town Council meeting Tuesday. Finally, at Tuesday's Town Council meeting, about 30 people addressed the mayor and Council members to comment on the proposed plan. That meeting stretched to 2 a.m. Read the story here, watch the full recorded meeting here, or check out meeting highlights here.

Arts Editor Pamir Kiciman offers a preview of the Second Friday Art Walk tonight. He also profiled a couple of Carrboro artists whose studios are open this weekend.

And, here is the solution to the crossword puzzle in the November print edition.

On The Carrborean Radio Hour, Mondays at 4pm on WCOM-LP 103.5 FM (streaming at wcomfm.org)

On Monday, John Rees interviewed former Burlington mayor and current City Council member Ian Baltutis, who just flipped a seat in the NC House. They discussed the midterm elections last week. Baltutis shared stories about grassroots organizing and how fun and rewarding it is to be a grassroots candidate.

Tune in Monday when Whitney Fry returns with Flame Tree Story to explore the art and power of storytelling. She'll sit down with Lucy Miller, a North Carolina Americorps Fellow working with the Town of Carrboro. As part of her fellowship, Lucy leads the town's oral history project, called Carrboro Voices.

Our pop-up newsroom returns to Lanza's (601 W. Main St.) on Monday from 5 - 6pm. Come by to talk about stories you'd like to read or tell.

News from CHCCS, Town, and County

The Parents for Intentional Tech group is hosting its monthly meeting at 3 pm Sunday at Chapel Hill Public Library, Meeting Room A. CHCCS teachers will share perspectives, answer questions, and guide parents in how to be supportive.

The CHCCS Board of Education met on November 5 and reviewed data-driven elementary redistricting scenarios while recalling local history on past busing patterns. They also confronted recent transportation failures and planned a system overhaul with outside experts. Plans for the new Carrboro Elementary are advancing, and the Board tracked the rising costs and design choices for the new school. They also considered expanding paid parental leave to 12 weeks for eligible employees. Watch the highlights here.

Check out the route for the annual Gallop & Gorge 8K, the final road race in Le Tour de Carrboro and an invigorating way to begin Thanksgiving Day. Registration is open.

Other Interesting Things

Final Notes

The Community Bulletin Board has announcements and opportunities for giving and civic engagement and is updated weekly.

There's so much going on in Carrboro! Check out The Events Calendar to see what's happening and help us keep it up-to-date.

Ways to support The Carrborean

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In Other News

Speaking of The Merch, the current issue of Chapel Hill Magazine features an article celebrating their 25 years in business. Congratulations!

Carrboro High School's Poetic Justice League, which often writes for The Carrborean, was also profiled in Chapel Hill Magazine.

Poetry Moment

Princeton University English professor, former MacArthur fellow, translator, critic, and poet Susan Stewart published the following poem in her 2003 book, Columbarium: