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Staff from many Orange County Departments, including Aging, the Arts Commission, Clerk to the Board, the Dept. of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation, Elections, Emergency Services, Library, Human Relations, Planning & Inspections, Social Services, Sustainability, and Tax will be at the Orange County Roadshow & Volunteer Fair to answer your questions and help you to sign up for county programs.

This is a free, family friendly event and will include art activities for kids. It will take place on Saturday, September 21 from 10 am to 1 pm at the Eno Arts Mill at 437 Dimmocks Mill Road, Suite 17, Hillsborough. Beverages and snacks will be provided. Lumos will be on hand to answer questions about their effort to bring high-speed fiber internet to underserved areas in Orange County.

Check out the participating departments and activities at the map below.

Orange County’s Post-Overdose Response Team (PORT) began service on July 1, 2024, and has made direct contact with 100% of those referred to the program, filling a gap in service for community members struggling with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). PORT has an 85% success rate in connecting individuals to treatment who received medications for opioid use disorder from the team. 

“While connecting people to treatment is a great outcome, our team measures success by connecting participants with the resources that they need based upon their expressed opinions,” said Landon Weaver, Bureau Chief of Community Health and Safety for Orange County Emergency Services.

Photograph description (from left): The Post-Overdose Response Team consists of William Vanderburg, PORT Community Paramedic; Sebastian Zarasua, PORT Peer Support Specialist; Landon Weaver, Bureau Chief of Community Health and Safety; and Chase Jarvis, PORT Community Paramedic.

Orange County Animal Services has received a positive rabies test, according to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. This incident involved a skunk and occurred in the vicinity of NC-57 and Walker Road in Hillsborough, NC.

This case originated on September 11, when a person called Animal Control about a skunk that was found in an outdoor enclosure with a dog. Animal Control removed the skunk for rabies testing. Animal Control urges people to be cautious about any interactions with wildlife when spending time outdoors and make sure pets are current on their rabies vaccinations. Rabies is a fatal viral infection. Your veterinarian is the best source of information on vaccinations for your pet.

HOW IS POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO RABIES HANDLED?

Orange County Animal Services is offering The Pat Sanford Animal Welfare Grant, a program to support animal welfare initiatives and projects in Orange County. The maximum award is $500.

The grant can be used for a wide range of pilot or seed projects or to supplement other programs, projects, and grants which support companion animals, including those animals used in recreation or therapy. It is available to individuals, groups, and organizations and although the recipients do not have to live in Orange County, the funds must be used to aid animal welfare efforts in Orange County.

The Orange County Dept. on Aging is accepting nominations for the 2024 Direct Care Worker Awards. This event is in honor of Direct Care Workers (nurse aides, personal care aides, companion caregivers, etc.) who affect their clients’ lives on a daily basis and make a difference in the Orange County community. To be eligible, direct care workers must have served clients in Orange County within the past year. Each person may be nominated in two categories. Nominees must have provided direct care to clients and have at least six consecutive months of service in the past year.

Kristin Prelipp: Interim Orange County Community Relations Director, 919-245-2322, kprelipp@orangecountync.gov

General Questions: webadmin@orangecountync.gov

Website: www.orangecountync.gov

Phone: 919-732-8181

Language Assistance Services: 919-245-2498