THE CHAPEL HILL INSIDER
FROM THE INSIDE…
Inside This Issue: 📱 Social media trends every Chapel Hill business owner needs to know—from the Chapel Hill Leads Group
🧹 Cleaning For A Reason: 2 free home cleanings for cancer patients
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Franklin Street closes tomorrow (Oct 31) from 8-9:30 PM—plan your route!
🗺️ Ed King is selling his hand-drawn Chapel Hill maps this weekend
🎃 Haunted Hill, Halloween Bluegrass Square Dance & more spooky events
🏛️ Town Council approves 9-story MLK Boulevard development
📊 Reader poll: What do you want to see more of?
LET’S STEP INSIDE →
Feature Story
Social Media in 2025: What Chapel Hill Businesses Need to Know
Stephanie Amy, presenting to members of the Chapel Hill Leads Group on social media trends
Chapel Hill Leads Group brings in expert Stephanie Sander Amy to decode the latest trends
By Elana Etten | Chapel Hill Insider
If you've been feeling like social media is a moving target—congrats, you're paying attention. Every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., business owners across the Triangle gather at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce for one thing: connection. And this week, the Chapel Hill Leads Group got a masterclass in staying ahead of the curve.
Stephanie Sander Amy of StephSandy Consulting took the virtual stage to break down what's actually working in social media right now—and what Chapel Hill small businesses need to do about it.
Community Spotlight
Cleaning For A Reason: Two Free Cleanings for Cancer Patients
A follow-up to last week's feature on world-renowned cleaning expert Bruce Vance
When cancer treatment takes over your life, the last thing you need to worry about is keeping your house clean. That's where Cleaning For A Reason steps in—and it's a program that Bruce Vance of Town & Country Cleaning wanted us to share with you.
After we featured Bruce last week (the Duke grad with 17 IICRC certifications who teaches cleaning professionals in 12+ countries but keeps his business local), he reached out to tell us about this important nonprofit.
Cleaning For A Reason partners with professional residential cleaning companies across all 50 states and Canada to provide two free home cleanings—one per month for two months—to men, women, and children undergoing cancer treatment.
The program is simple: patients (or their caregivers, friends, or family members with permission) can apply online at cleaningforareason.org. A doctor's note confirming treatment is required, and Cleaning For A Reason will connect the patient with a participating bonded and insured cleaning service in their area.
Since 2006, the organization has served over 35,000 cancer patients, taking one burden off their plate during an already overwhelming time.
Who Qualifies:
Anyone in active cancer treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or hospice care)
Men, women, and children
Must have doctor confirmation
How to Apply:
Visit cleaningforareason.org and fill out the online application. The service depends on the availability of local participating cleaning companies, so applications are processed as partners become available.
If you know someone in the Chapel Hill area who could benefit from this program, you can also reach out directly to Bruce Vance at Town & Country Cleaning (cleanmychapelhillhouse.com) to learn more about how local cleaning professionals support this mission.
Sometimes the most meaningful help comes in the form of a clean home and one less thing to worry about.
⚠️ Important: Avoid Franklin Street Tomorrow Night!
Halloween on Franklin Street is BACK—plan accordingly.
If you're not celebrating downtown tomorrow (Thursday, October 31), here's your friendly heads-up: avoid Franklin Street from 8:00 to 9:30 PM.
The Town of Chapel Hill will close Franklin Street, Columbia Street, and connecting roads to vehicle traffic to protect the thousands of costumed revelers expected to descend on downtown. Chapel Hill, UNC, and Carrboro police along with Orange County Sheriff's deputies will be out in force.
What's Prohibited in the Closed Area:
Open containers of alcohol
Weapons or anything that looks like a weapon
Drones
The event wraps at 11:00 PM when streets reopen and cleanup begins. Tens of thousands typically show up for this decades-old Chapel Hill tradition—so if you need to get somewhere, plan an alternate route or just stay put until after 9:30 PM.
Pro tip: If you're heading downtown to see the costumes (always creative!), go early and bring your sense of humor. The people-watching is unmatched.
Helen, the manager on duty, welcomed the gathering. “We love when the community gathers here,” she said, smiling as guests lingered after the meeting ended.
Upcoming Events
EVENTS THIS WEEK
🎻 Halloween Bluegrass Square Dance | TONIGHT (Thursday, Oct 30)
Kenan Music Building | 7:30 PM
Grab your partner and your costume for a bluegrass-powered square dance. It's Halloween with a Carolina twist—think less spooky, more stomp-and-holler.
🎃 Halloween Bash at The Heel & Horn | Thursday, October 31
The Heel & Horn, East Franklin Street | Starting at 10:30 PM
When the restaurant closes for dinner service, the bar stays open for Halloween festivities! Games, gift card giveaways, and spooky fun. Costumes encouraged, all welcome.
🗺️ Ed King's Cartoon Map Pop-Up | This Weekend (Friday & Saturday, Oct 31-Nov 1)
In front of 5/3rd Bank, Franklin Street | 1-6 PM
Is it Ed King or Dumbledore? If you see him on Franklin Street, stop and say Hi!
The cartographer who mapped Chapel Hill by hand—not GPS—will be selling his whimsical, detailed maps in person this weekend. And in true Ed King fashion, he'll be dressed as Dumbledore (because if you're going to sell hand-drawn maps on Halloween weekend, you might as well channel the headmaster of Hogwarts). We featured Ed's work earlier this year, and if you haven't seen his map yet, this is your chance to grab one before they're gone. (Psst—stay tuned for a BIG announcement about Ed's map in our Small Business Saturday issue next month!)
🎨 Orange County Artists Open Studio Tour | Nov 1-2 & 8-9
Various locations around Orange County
Over 100 artists open their studios to show where and how they create. Saturdays 10 AM-5 PM, Sundays 12-5 PM. Free. Perfect for holiday shopping and supporting local art.
🎨 Festifall Arts Market: Día de los Muertos | Friday, November 1
140 W. Franklin St., Downtown Chapel Hill | 12-5 PM | FREE
Chapel Hill's beloved street arts festival returns with vendors, music, performances, and Día de los Muertos celebrations. Support local artists and enjoy the community.
Join After Five Toastmasters Open House
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: HPW/Coldwell Banker, 1600 E. Franklin Street
Join After Five Toastmasters on Wednesday, November 12 at 5:30 p.m. for a special Open House celebrating 15 years of helping people grow their voices and confidence! Enjoy cake, refreshments, and an inspiring talk by Mike Brown, a Raleigh-based motivational speaker and leadership coach known for his “Reach, Teach, Equip, and Empower” approach.
Homebuyers’ Education Workshop from EMPOWERment
📅 Early Voting Continues
Municipal elections are November 4—early voting is happening NOW across Chapel Hill and Orange County. If you haven't voted yet, don't wait until Election Day. Get it done this week.
🌲 Trails Reopening Soon
Chapel Hill plans to reopen Bolin Creek Trail, Fordham Side Path, and Morgan Creek Trail by early November—three months after Hurricane Chantal damage closed them. Runners and bikers, your favorite paths are almost back!
Community Update
From Around Town
Chapel Hill Town Council Clears Development on MLK Boulevard
In a 5-1 vote on October 8, the Chapel Hill Town Council approved a conditional zoning application for a development at 701 MLK Boulevard—just north of downtown. The project could bring up to 200 housing units in a 9-story building, sparking discussions about parking, tree coverage, and who the development is designed to serve. As housing remains one of the hottest issues in local politics, this approval signals the town's continued push for density near transit corridors.
Municipal Elections Heat Up (But Stay Civil)
After a contentious 2023 election cycle, this year's Chapel Hill Town Council race feels notably calmer. Six candidates are vying for seats, and conversations have centered on stormwater management, affordable housing, and development—with less of the ideological fireworks that marked recent years. Early voting is underway, and Election Day is November 4. Whoever wins will inherit big decisions about growth, climate resilience, and tax rates.
Hillsborough Cancels Contract with Flock Safety
The Town of Hillsborough has cancelled its contract with Flock Safety for 10 license plate readers, raising questions about surveillance, privacy, and public safety technology in Orange County. The move comes as other municipalities continue to debate whether automated license plate recognition systems help solve crimes or invade residents' privacy.
Chapel Hill Insider is your weekly guide to the people, places, and stories that make our community special. Know someone we should feature? Have a story tip? Reply to this email.
A Final Note
INsight FROM THE INSIDER
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Until next time,
Be in the know!