Our Town: Meet the Manager, Free Book Bags for the Kids, Shop for Bargain Books

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August 14, 2025

Hello, neighbors! In this issue, meet our new Town Manager, kick off the school year with a family fun day and book bag giveaway, start your Thursday morning with a coffee with a cop, and get your couch change ready for bargain book shopping.

Meet Ted Voorhees, Our New Town Manager

This week, we welcomed our new Town Manager Ted Voorhees. He's been getting to know our organization and community, but Ted is no stranger to North Carolina. Before moving to Virginia for his most recent local government leadership roles, he served as Fayetteville city manager, Durham deputy city manager, and Wilmington assistant city manager.

“I look forward to deepening collaborative partnerships with community organizations, the University, local businesses, and residents that will shape our shared future and strengthen the bonds that make Chapel Hill home,” he said.

Family Fun Day and Book Bag Giveaway

Kick off the school year in style with our Family Fun Day and Book Bag Giveaway on August 16 at the Hargraves Community Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We'll have food, free haircuts and braids, live entertainment, and more! Children must be present to receive a book bag.

Grab Coffee with a Cop on August 21

The Chapel Hill Police Department invites you to Coffee with a Cop on Thursday, August 21, at Sutton's Drug Store at 159 E. Franklin St. Our Guardians will be there from 8 to 9:30 a.m. with coffee. The mission of Coffee with a Cop is to break down barriers between police officers and the community they serve.

Celebrate Back to School at 2nd Annual Roll & Stroll

Help us celebrate Back to School and the launch of our Wheels of Wellness program with fellow walkers, bikers, rollers, and strollers on Saturday, August 23. Decorate your ride, grab some swag, and cool off with a free SnoBall. We'll be at Scroggs Elementary from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the parade starts at 11 a.m.

Shop for Bargain Books August 22-24

The Friends of Chapel Hill Public Library invite bargain hunters and book lovers to their upcoming Big Book Sale— August 22 (members only) through 24 at the library. Shoppers will find a large inventory of gift-ready gently used fiction and non-fiction books for children and adults, as well as puzzles. Prices start at only $1.

Parks and Rec Master Plan Pop-Ups

Your input will help us decide the types of parks, recreation facilities, programs, and open spaces that will serve our community today and in the future. Drop by one of our pop-ups in August to share your thoughts:

• Aug. 16, Hargraves Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Aug. 23, Roll & Stroll at Scroggs from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Apply: Festifall Arts Markets

We’re searching for local artists, artisans, nonprofits, and snack vendors to participate in this year's Festifall Arts Markets. Sell your creations, meet other makers, and engage with the Chapel Hill community. We’ll have two markets in downtown Chapel Hill:

• October 18 is Carolina Day
• November 1 is Día de los Muertos. 

Our Town: The Story of Summer

Nikki Cherry from Parks and Recreation and Karin Michel from the library sat down with WCHL to tell the story of making the summer season fun for kids and families in Chapel Hill.

Our CARE Team Marks One Year

INDY Week featured our Crisis Assistance, Response, and Engagement team this week. Read about the team's great success, including responding to almost 1,300 events.

Criminal Justice Debt Advisory Committee
Monday, August 18 at 11 a.m., virtual

Planning Commission
Tuesday, August 19 at 7 p.m., in-person

New for Week of August 17

S. Columbia St. from Bennett to Dogwood Acres fiber installation
August 13 - September 22, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sidewalk and shoulder will be closed. Follow and posted detour signs.

800 Pritchard Ave. Ext. tree removal
August 19, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Flaggers will maintain traffic.

Raleigh Rd. between Environ Way and Friday Center Dr. fiber installation
August 20 - September 5, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The sidewalk will be closed. Follow posted pedestrian detour signs.

1200 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. roadway restoration
August 22, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
One southbound lane will be closed at a time. Southbound traffic will have one lane open at all times.

Ongoing

Sidewalk on S. Elliott Rd. at Fordham Blvd.
Due to the current condition of the railing in this area, the sidewalk is closed.

Sidewalk on E. Franklin St. near Eastgate Crossing
Due to the current condition of the railing in this area, the sidewalk is closed.

W. Franklin St. sidewalk closure with covered pedestrian access
August 11 - 31
Contractors will install a protective scaffolding walkway to allow pedestrians to pass in front of Carolina Square.

Ephesus Church Rd. lane shift near Legion Rd. for sign installation
August 13 - 15
Traffic will be able to move in both directions.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and Critz Dr. crosswalk and sidewalk project
July 14 - Aug. 29, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Lane and sidewalk closures in both directions. This project will add a sidewalk to the east side of the road and a crosswalk with a pedestrian island.

Verizon fiber installation: Umstead Dr. to Bradley Rd., Bradley Rd. to Reade Rd., Reade Rd. to Wesley Dr./Ct.
July 30 - August 29, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Flaggers will maintain traffic.

207-209 Meadowmont Lane sidewalk and bike lane closure
Present to March 2026
Drivers should remain alert to bicyclists merging into the main travel lane.

S. Columbia St. Carrington Hall work
Present to December 2026
A pedestrian detour is in place along S. Columbia St. near Medical Dr. as crews work on Carrington Hall.

TBD

Pope Rd. near Ephesus Church Rd. NCDOT culvert repair
Dates to be determined.
For more information, email Jcmanuel-nelson@ncdot.gov

All road work depends on the weather. Schedules may change accordingly. Google Maps and Waze show the most up-to-date traffic conditions.