Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why are Old Farm residents still waiting for help after Chantal?

And on the Durham Patch calendar - Durham Craft Market Holiday Market

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Greetings Durham! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why are Old Farm residents still waiting for help after Chantal?
  • What convinced Durham’s school board to lock in Superintendent Lewis longer?
  • How a $1.27M grant could transform bioengineering training at NCCU

Also on today's calendar: Durham Holiday Parade & After Party and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Durhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Durhamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 57 and low of 37 degrees.
  • Sunday: Sunny, breezy and cooler, temps: high: 43, low: 18. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Monday: Cold with abundant sunshine, with a high of 39 and low of 24 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Months After Chantal, Some Durhamites' Homes are Barely Habitable (indyweek.com) — Months after Tropical Storm Chantal flooded Durham’s Old Farm neighborhood along the Eno River, dozens of mostly Black, longtime residents are still living in gutted homes and waiting on delayed state recovery grants. With limited FEMA help, complex bureaucracy, and outdated flood maps, local and state officials are debating buyouts, infrastructure fixes, and how to better protect vulnerable Durham neighborhoods from the next big storm.
   

• Durham Public Schools superintendent gets contract extension after 1st evaluation (newsobserver.com) — Durham families should know that Superintendent Anthony Lewis just received a one-year contract extension, keeping him leading Durham Public Schools through June 2029 after a strong first evaluation. Board members praised improvements in school performance and his role in easing last year’s tensions over pay and bus driver shortages, while also approving a one-time $2,500 annuity payment and extra compensatory time.
   

• $1.2 million grant awarded to NC Central for bioengineering program (cbs17.com) — Durham’s North Carolina Central University has landed a $1.27 million NIH grant to jump-start a new bioengineering initiative focused on cancer research and advanced imaging. The funding will build research projects, curriculum, and lab infrastructure through 2028, giving NCCU students hands-on experience in fast-growing biomedical engineering and bioprinting fields right here in the Bull City.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Is anyone missing an Emu ?
    I know there used to someone (I think on or off Bivins ) that raised them. This one is very cold and looked as if it wanted to come up to me except… (Nextdoor Trappers Creek/Greymoss)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Penny and Atlas, a dog who went missing in Durham, NC, has been safely reunited with their family after 1 hours, 43 minutes. Message from Owner: … (Nextdoor 15-501/Mt Moriah)
  • Molly Maid posted a job opening for Professional House Cleaner in Durham. Apply here.
  • ABM Industries, Inc. posted a job opening for Janitorial Cleaner in Durham. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Durham here.

🗞 Nearby News

Chapel Hill

  • NC leaders to Chapel Hill schools: Prove you're following 'Parents' Bill of Rights' law (wral.com)
  • External Changes Are Changing Nonprofits' Approaches — Dec. 12, 2025 (chapelboro.com)
  • Refugium: Flora of the Season (chapelboro.com)

Morrisville

  • Novartis AG Breaks Ground on Flagship Manufacturing Hub in North Carolina (marketscreener.com)
  • A new coffee shop opened in the Triangle and immediately caused a traffic jam (newsobserver.com)

Ok Durham! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I demand a jury of my piers.
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