MAXTON — A farmers market, two festivals and adult recreation are new opportunities for community engagement in Maxton, members of the Board of Commissioners were told Tuesday.
“We’ve identified the need for recreational opportunities for people ages 16 and up,” said Jamie Smith, a Recreation Committee member. “We’re looking to organize sports and activities for health and wellness, and we want something for everyone in Maxton.”
Smith’s committee, in partnership with the Robeson County Recreation Department, is gathering information about activities of interest to townspeople.
Maxton will hold its first Fall Festival on Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Beacham Park, Smith said. The committee is seeking volunteers and vendors.
“We will have food, crafts and games,” Smith said. “It’s open to the entire community and should be a good time.”
Town Manager Kate Bordeaux informed the commissioners that a Christmas tree lighting ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 11. Girl Scouts will sell hot chocolate and church choirs are invited to sing carols.
Francine McLaurin, who coordinates a community garden in town, told the commissioners that a pop-up farmers market is in the planning stages. McLaurin is partnering with the town, the Robeson County Cooperative Extension Service and Resourceful Communities — The Conservation Fund of Chapel Hill.
Ricky Bratz, a Resourceful Communities representative, said the nonprofit provides consulting and grants for community health and wellness projects.
“I am here as an advocate for community engagement,” Bratz said. “I work with health and wellness, and access to fresh food is important.”
In other business, the town commissioners were informed of a new police operations manual that has been in the works for more than a month.
“We’ve worked on this for several weeks,” said Commissioner Paul McDowell, a review committee member. “One of the new features is a NARCAN policy to combat drug overdoses.”
The medication will be carried in all police cruisers, Police Chief Tammy Deese said.
“It is a nasal spray that was donated to the town,” Deese said.
Town Attorney Nick Sjoka gave the 250-page manual his stamp of approval.
“The words affirmative action should be deleted, because the town is an equal opportunity employer,” Sjoka said. “I recommend approval.”
Town Manager Bordeaux told the commissioners that the town’s water supply was interrupted Tuesday after its contractor damaged a water pipe. The pipe was damaged during work that is part of a project to upgrade the water and sewer system. The project is being paid for with a $2.6 million community development block grant.
The water outage affected most of the town and was brief. No boil advisory was needed.
