Weekly update, November 14

Always a busy week in Carrboro! In The Carrborean online, we posted: a Veterans Day Reflection and a preview of Carrboro High School's production of Little Women by Kate Hamill (adapted from the novel by Louisa May Alcott) from guest contributor and CHS student, Ever Harris. Catch performances this evening (Thursday), Friday, and Saturday.

The New York Times issued a challenge to readers--can you stare at a work of art for 10 minutes? You can test your focus with our 2nd Friday art walk previews online or in person in galleries around town this Friday from 6 - 9pm.

The Town of Carrboro hosted community engagement sessions around the proposed Downtown Area Plan last week. The public hearing on the plan will continue at the Town Council meeting at Town Hall November 18 at 6pm.

Today, November 13, is World Kindness Day. A timely and classic reflection: "Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." --J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, 1937.

Local opportunities to show kindness through donating:

Friends of Orange County Social Services: provide holiday gifts for a child in foster care and other giving opportunities.

OWASA's Dare to Share Program enables residents to help your neighbors pay their water bills. You can donate on the website.

Food drives: Drop off non-perishables at Deluxe Cleaners, 501 South Greensboro Street. Or host your own food drive to benefit local food pantries.

Those in need can find food at sites in Orange County. While the federal government is back to work, there will likely be delays in receiving full benefits for SNAP recipients. The Town of Carrboro reported that the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved a transfer of funds from its Social Justice Reserve to support organizations providing food, including IFC, TABLE, and PORCH in Carrboro. Each organization also accepts donations on their websites. For more information from the Town of Carrboro, check out the Town's weekly newsletter.

The Gallop & Gorge, the final race in Le Tour de Carrboro, is an 8K at 8am on Thanksgiving morning and is also a site for non-perishable food donations.

Speaking of the Gallop & Gorge...your cruciverbalist posted the solution for the crossword puzzle in the November free print issue of The Carrborean. Congratulations to Maria Alexandrescu, Claire Conway, Katherine Peck, and Sarina Prasad who solved it first!

We had a lot of fun interviewing Carrboro-based author Alexander Julian about his book, Shadow Men, on "The Carrborean Radio Hour" on WCOM 103.5. We are working on a way to share show recordings with you. Tune in on Monday at 4pm for our next show, a segment called ctrl+alt+art featuring an interview with the band, .memoria. After each radio show, The Carrborean staff will host an informal "pop-up newsroom" from 5 - 6pm in the Drakeford Building lobby where you can stop by to say hello, talk about Carrboro, and tell us about stories you would like to hear or tell.

Your input requested: as we prepare the combined December/January free print issue of The Carrborean, we are seeking input for an expanded "Word on the Street" section: can you summarize 2025 in 10 words or less and tell us your hopes for 2026? We'll include your first name and last initial or you can be anonymous. Email: info@thecarrborean.com. In addition, your book recommendations (aim for 100 words) are always welcome.

Looking for something to do in Carrboro this weekend? Check out The Events Calendar!

Please consider a paid subscription to help keep us going and ask your favorite businesses if they advertise in The Carrborean. Thank you!

*Updated to clarify details about the pop-up newsroom.