Orange County Government Announces Closings, Service Alterations for Thanksgiving

Orange County Government will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24-25, to observe the Thanksgiving holidays.

Please note the following exceptions:

Solid Waste: Recycling pick-up scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 24, will be collected on Friday, Nov. 25. Recycling pick-up scheduled for Friday, Nov. 25, will be collected on Saturday, Nov. 26. Please have carts out by 7 a.m. The landfill and related services will be open on Friday, Nov. 25.
Animal Services: Will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 26, in addition to the government holidays. They are normally closed on Sundays. They ask that, as always, people call 9-1-1 if they have an animal-related emergency after hours, such as animal bites to humans or exposure to rabies.
Transportation Services: Will operate limited service serving the in-county dialysis route only (Carolina Dialysis), on Friday, Nov. 25. Full service will resume Monday, Nov. 28. In order to provide two working day notice for scheduling, trip requests for Monday, Nov. 28, must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
9-1-1 Services: Will be available. Please only call 9-1-1 to report emergencies.
Health: The COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Bonnie B. Davis Center will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 26, in addition to the government holidays.

The county will resume its regular schedule on Monday, Nov. 28.

Orange County Solid Waste Thanksgiving graphic

Orange County to host HIV/AIDS and Aging Event

People aging with HIV/AIDS share many of the same health concerns as the general population aged 50 and older. These concerns include dealing with multiple chronic diseases or conditions, the use of multiple medications, changes in physical and cognitive abilities, and increased vulnerability to stressors. In honor of World AIDS day, join our distinguished panelists as we discuss what the journey towards aging well looks like and how to maximize a healthy lifestyle.

The event will take place on Fri, Dec 2 from 5:30 – 7 pm at the Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill.

Please register with the Seymour Center Front Desk at 919-968-2070 by Mon, Nov 28.

BOCC seeking community members for Schools Safety Task Force

The Orange County Board of Commissioners is recruiting community members to serve on a Schools Safety Task Force that will begin meeting in January 2023. The board approved the creation of the task force in October and approved the composition at its Nov. 15 meeting.

The Task Force charge will include but not necessarily be limited to:

Discuss ways in which Orange County government, schools, law enforcement and community can enhance the safety of the school environment to protect from external threats and promote the education of Orange County K-12 public school students;
Recommend to the Board of County Commissioners new or amended policies, ordinances and/or practices that will address those external threats and provide a safer school environment for our students.

Commissioners Jean Hamilton and Earl McKee were appointed as the two commissioner representatives on the Task Force, which will meet a minimum of six times between January and June of 2023.

The 18-member Task Force will include two at-large representatives who live in the Orange County Schools District and two at-large representatives who live in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools District. Those representatives will be appointed by the BOCC.

Applications from interested residents will be accepted through Dec. 4, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. The application is available at www.orangecountync.gov/Apply.

Orange County to Host Series of
Road to Zero Waste Plan Public Meetings

Orange County Solid Waste invites the community to share feedback on its services and programs. These meetings are taking place in conjunction with the development of a Solid Waste Master Plan to reach Zero Waste by 2045. Public meetings are set to take place as follows:

Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. – Bonnie B. Davis Environment & Agricultural Center Combined Rooms 102 and 104
- Address: 1020 US-70, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. – Carrboro Town Hall, Town Council Meeting Room (Burmese & Spanish Translators Present)
- Address: 301 W. Main Street, Carrboro, NC 27510

For the plan's purposes, Zero Waste is defined as the reduction of solid waste to nothing, or as close to nothing as possible, by minimizing excess consumption by means of responsible production, consumption, and reuse and maximizing the recovery of material through recycling and composting.

“Residents have come to expect high-quality services from Orange County,” said Orange County Solid Waste Director Robert Williams. “It is important for us to continue to level-up by engaging in a planning process that can set us on the path of Zero Waste by 2045.

Community members that live or work in Orange County are encouraged to attend. For more information and to stay up to date on the planning process please visit www.orangecountync.gov/3008/Road-to-Zero-Waste-Master-Plan.

Deadline to apply for property tax assistance program is Dec. 1

Longtime Homeowner Assistance (LHA) applications are due Dec. 1! LHA provides property tax assistance for Orange County homeowners under income limits - full program info is available on the Orange County website.

Applications can be submitted online at www.orangecountync.gov/LHAP or in person at one of the Orange County Housing offices:

Chapel Hill: 2501 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Hillsborough: 300 W. Tryon St., Third Floor, Hillsborough, NC 27278

If additional assistance is needed to fill out an application, please call the Orange County Housing Helpline at (919) 245-2655.

If you know someone who might be eligible, please share this information with them and help spread the word about this important program.

The Orange County Housing Department has created informational videos to give an overview of the program and how to apply in English and Spanish.

Take a Video Tour of the Newly Renovated High Rock Road Waste and Recycling Center

High Rock Road Waste and Recycling Center is renovated and open as of Friday, November 18th, 2022. Check out this video for details on accepted materials!

Applicants Needed For Alliance Health Board of Directors

Alliance Health is currently seeking an Orange County resident to fill a vacancy on its Board of Directors. Now is a critical time to make a difference in public behavioral healthcare as both the federal government and our state legislature consider how to design and fund critically important services for individuals in our communities.

Individuals with technical expertise in the following areas will be sought for vacancies:

Physicians with experience in the fields of behavioral health, substance abuse services and/or integrated care.
Human Resources/Talent Management
Insurance/Managed Care Background
Leadership/Management Experience
Physical Health Background/Expertise
Political/Community Connections
Technology/Data Analytics Experience

Please note that employees or family members of employees, volunteers of provider agencies or vendors contracted with Alliance, or persons with a financial interest or ownership in any such agency or vendor, are not eligible to serve. This appointment will be approved by the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

Alliance is governed by a talented and diverse Board of Directors responsible for comprehensive planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of community-based mental health, intellectual and developmental disability, and substance use services to meet the needs of individuals from Cumberland, Durham, Johnston, Mecklenburg, Orange and Wake counties.

The Alliance Board meets on the first Thursday of every month at 4 p.m. Unless otherwise indicated, meetings occur at the Alliance Home Office (5200 Paramount Pkwy Suite 200, Morrisville, NC 27560). Virtual options are also currently available.

Board members also participate in two to three subcommittees based on their expertise and interests. Most Board members dedicate between 6-10 hours per month to Board activities.

If interested, please download an application at https://www.alliancehealthplan.org/about/governance/board-of-directors/.

For additional information contact Tara May at 919-245-2125 or tmay@orangecountync.gov.

www.orangecountync.gov