For first-time parade-goers Pedro and Marianna Salinas, every aspect of the Hillsborough Holiday Parade was new.“In my country, it’s a little bit different,” said Pedro Salinas, a native of Venezuela and current Hillsborough resident, noting the parade’s calmer nature and the presence of political candidates.
A local Emergency Medical Services unit is moving to Hillsborough in an effort to respond faster to emergencies in northern Orange County.The Orange County Board of Commissioners approved the move last week. The relocation is expected to cost $50,000.
It all started when a Buddhist prayer bead rolled into a crack in the floor.David Fernandez was sitting on his friend’s porch when the necklace he was handling broke.Searching for a replacement, he went to The Original Ornament bead shop at Carr Mill Mall in August but found it closed.
A procession of puppets marched, swam, hopped, and soared down Churton Street Saturday afternoon.More than 400 puppeteers and their puppet creations entertained an estimated crowd of 1,000 at Hillsborough’s second annual Handmade Parade.The theme for this year’s parade was “The Waters of the Eno and Her Creatures,” and like the previous year’s festival, paid tribute to the animal life of the river that runs through Hillsborough.Many of the parade’s puppets were created and worn by local children. Cameron Park Elementary student Hannah Venable was a frog.
It’s not every day that the Chapel Hill Fire Department puts on a puppet show.The show was one of many attractions at the town’s 37th annual Festifall on Sunday.Seventy-five local artists, 20 musical acts and thousands of visitors flooded Franklin Street in a celebration of the community’s art culture.“The community loves to celebrate art, and we have a rich art culture in Chapel Hill and Orange County,” said Wes Tilghman, supervisor for festivals and community celebrations in Chapel Hill.
By 10:30 a.m. Saturday, farmer Bobby James had already sold 30 pounds of sweet potatoes to feed the hungry.At the Carrboro Farmers’ Market, the first official FoodShare Challenge encouraged shoppers to buy and donate market items like James’ sweet potatoes to be distributed to Orange and Durham County food banks.“One brought a $20 bill and said, ‘Pick anything you want, and I’ll donate it,’” said James, who farms at Maple Creek Farms in Cedar Grove.
A vanilla dress with an empire waist and lace detail accompanied two Orange County brides down the aisle.Hurdle Mills resident Brenda Berry said she first wore the dress — which was handmade by her mother — in her own 1973 wedding. Her sister-in-law wore it in a wedding the following year.“She tried my dress on, and because my mother made it, it was her ‘something borrowed,’” she said.Now, the dress is displayed at the Orange County Historical Museum.
