In this Chapel Hill Insider Issue…

⛅Chapel Hill Local Weather- High 81^o and Cloudy

📰Community and Cuisine: The Purple Bowl's Exciting New Chapter on Franklin St.

🛣️Evening Road Closures on Roberson Street Due to Carrboro Civic Center Construction

📰Paws for Applause: Carrboro Cat Rescued from Storm Drain by Firefighters

📰Hillsborough Man Sentenced in Tragic Vape Shop Altercation

📰 End of an Era: Hot Tin Roof to Close After 11 Years in Downtown Hillsborough

📢 We Want to Spotlight Local Businesses! Want Your Business to Be in Focus? Apply Here! Want to nominate a business? Email us at [email protected]

🗓️Upcoming Events (Updated)

Community and Cuisine: The Purple Bowl's Exciting New Chapter on Franklin St.

The Purple Bowl, a popular local vegan acai eatery, is moving to a renovated venue at 505 W. Franklin St., aiming to enhance its community-focused dining experience. The new location promises a blend of historical charm and modern features, including more space, better accessibility, and novel amenities like a coffee window and shuffleboard. This move reflects the founders’ commitment to adapt and grow with their community’s needs.

The transition was sparked by redevelopment plans that threatened their original location. Moving to a new space in fall 2023 presented logistical challenges, particularly in maintaining accessibility for their core student demographic. Co-founders Paula Gilland and her son, Taylor, are steering this exciting transition with a vision that intertwines their rich history with ambitious future goals. The Purple Bowl was recently awarded a Small Business Relocation Grant which enabled it to remain in Downtown Chapel Hill.

Evening Road Closures on Roberson Street Due to Carrboro Civic Center Construction

In Carrboro, Roberson Street will undergo evening closures from Maple Avenue to S. Greensboro Street starting Tuesday, April 16, and will continue for approximately one month due to utility work. These closures are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., Monday through Friday, to aid in the construction of the 203 Project, a new library and civic center located at 203 S. Greensboro St. While this is going on, Roberson Street will be accessible each day until the evening closure and will reopen at 3 a.m., maintaining regular traffic flow during daytime hours.

The utility work is part of the 203 Project, a $42 million development aimed at enriching the community. The project will host the future Orange County Southern Branch Library and serve as the new location for the Orange County Skills Development Center, Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department, WCOM Radio, along with spaces for performances and multiple uses. This development promises to enhance educational, artistic, and communal opportunities for residents.

Paws for Applause: Carrboro Cat Rescued from Storm Drain by Firefighters

Everything’s purrr-fect, now that a cat's predicament led to a unique rescue operation by local firefighters. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon when the Carrboro Fire-Rescue Department responded to reports of a cat trapped in a storm drain. The rescue team successfully removed the drain cover, extracted the feline, and reunited it with its owner. Details on how the cat ended up in the drain were not disclosed by the department.

Hillsborough Man Sentenced in Tragic Vape Shop Altercation

Doyle Edwards was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for killing JyQuel McRae in a dispute outside a Hillsborough vape shop, receiving a six-and-a-half to nine-year prison sentence. The altercation escalated after McRae initially drew and then put away a gun, which Edwards then retrieved and used to shoot McRae. The defense claimed self-defense, citing threats from McRae. The case highlighted issues of conflict and justice within the community.

End of an Era: Hot Tin Roof to Close After 11 Years in Downtown Hillsborough

Hot Tin Roof, a staple in downtown Hillsborough for over a decade, has announced its closure on April 30th. The bar, known for its lively atmosphere and community connections, shared a heartfelt thank you to all its patrons and staff. Significant events in its history include a major partnership change in 2017 and a public relations challenge in 2021. The bar will celebrate its final days with events for the community. See the heartfelt goodbye and call to join them in going out with a bang on their Facebook page.

Wine Down Wednesdays

50% off wine by the bottle and small plates

Live Music on the Patio 6 to 8 p.m.

Orange County residents will have multiple opportunities to safely dispose of unused or expired medications at several drive-thru events scheduled for this April. On April 18th, from 1 to 4 pm, the Passmore Center in Hillsborough will host one such event, providing a convenient way for locals to rid their homes of unnecessary medications. Following this, on April 27th, there will be two additional opportunities: Wegman’s Grocery Store in Chapel Hill will offer this service from 10 am to 2 pm, and the Walmart in Hillsborough will host a morning session from 9 am to 12 pm.

For those unable to attend these events, Orange County provides a year-round solution through several permanent drop boxes located throughout the area. Residents can find the nearest drop box location by visiting the Orange County website at www.orangecountync.gov/dropboxes. These initiatives are part of the county's commitment to public health and safety by ensuring medications are disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

Flyleaf Books

Cat’s Cradle

At Imbibe