The Orange County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a new county slogan — “Around the Corner, Ahead of the Curve.”
The slogan will be placed on a new county interstate sign and will replace the former slogan “You’ll Be A Fan For Life.”
“We heard from many people who said ‘if you’re looking at that sign that says Around the Corner, Ahead of the Curve, it makes you want to pull off and ask more questions,'” said Laurie Paolicelli, executive director of the Orange County Visitor’s Bureau.
The board’s decision is the culmination of months of work that included resident submissions and public input on their favorite slogans.
“By week one, we had 270 suggestions.” said Jan Bolick, general manager of WCHL, which was a sponsor for the slogan contest. “By week eight, we had 892. We were thrilled by the participation and the enthusiasm and the interest.”
Of the hundreds of submissions, the county received a wide range of options, from vulgar to funny, including one submission that read “Orange You Glad We Didn’t Say Banana.”
But the commissioners went against the public favorite, “Visit Today, Stay For Life.” The slogan received the most votes, nearly 100 more than the new slogan, but commissioner Mark Dorosin explained why he voted against the popular opinion.
“‘For Life’ also has an incarceration quality,” he said. “It’s like you can never leave. It’s like The Village.”
The commissioners also voted to change the graphic on the sign from the county seal to the county logo.
The new sign will be placed in the same location as the current sign, on I-40 at mile marker 269, heading west.
Related Stories
‹

Sen. Graig Meyer Shares Updates on State Budget Impasse, Medicaid, Disaster Relief and MoreAhead of the North Carolina General Assembly reconvening, state Sen. Graig Meyer joined 97.9 The Hill to discuss several topics on his mind.

Orange County Sheriff's Office Investigating Death at Nature PreserveThe Orange County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the discovery of a deceased Durham man Friday morning. Investigators said in a release the body of Calvin Demond Smith-Taylor, 36, was discovered at the edge of a parking lot at the Brumley North Nature Preserve just before 7:30 a.m. Friday morning. The parking lot of the preserve […]
![]()
Orange County: Rural Broadband Vote and a Life Saving Action at Stanback Middle SchoolChair of the Orange County Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, September 17, discussing county news and events. She talked about the commissioners decision to amend their rural broadband agreement with Lumos. She also described a life saving action by staff at Stanback Middle School after a student went into cardiac arrest. She discussed the future Orange County Crisis Diversion Center, and more.
![]()
Conversations We Need To Have: Orange County Chief Civil Rights Officer Paul SlackOrange County Chief Civil Rights Officer Paul Slack spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Monday, September 15. He discussed recent work of the Office of Civil Rights, and previewed some upcoming events for the county, and more.

Chapel Hill Changes Its Leaf Collection Policy to Only Accept ContainersWith the fall season approaching, the Town of Chapel Hill is changing how it collects leaves and is no longer collecting loose piles.

FEMA Approves Disaster Assistance for Chantal's Flood-Damaged Areas, Including Orange CountyTwo months after flash floodwaters ripped through central North Carolina, funding from FEMA is headed to the affected areas.
![]()
Orange County: Highlights From Commissioners Meeting, CARE Team Expands, MoreChair of the Orange County Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, September 10, discussing county news and events. She talked about highlights from the county commissioners meeting, which included a request for more information on the Land Use 2050 Plan. She discussed the recent funding of an expansion for […]

Orange County Creates Work Group to Advise Its Property Tax Revaluation ApproachThe Orange County commissioners approved the creation of a work group to review and potentially update its property tax assessment process.

Future Chapel Hill Affordable Senior Housing Development Earns $1.3 Million Tax Credit AwardA future affordable senior housing development in Chapel Hill was recently awarded with $1.3 million in tax credits.
![]()
Orange County: Thursday Commissioners Meeting, Economic Impact of TourismChair of the Orange County Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, September 3, discussing county news and events. She previewed the upcoming Thursday meeting of the county commissioners. She also talked about tourism in Orange County after some tourism impact data was released by the Orange County Tourism Office. She also discussed upcoming county events and more.
›