SoDu Week in Review: Waterline Work, Library Delays & Weekend Fun

Your weekend local lowdown, powered by Southpoint Access.
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☀️ South Durham Weather Forecast – Oct. 18-19, 2025

Looking for the latest weather update for South Durham, NC? Here's your hyperlocal SoDu forecast:

Pull out the sunglasses, South Durham - Saturday looks gorgeous. We’ll start calm and sunny with highs right around 78°F, light winds early, then a gentle southwest breeze at 5–7 mph by late morning. It’s a great day for an American Tobacco Trail ride, a Southpoint stroll, or youth games around Parkwood and Woodcroft. Saturday night stays mostly clear and comfortable, slipping to about 58°F with a light south wind around 6 mph - ideal porch weather.

Sunday keeps the mild temperatures - again near 78°F - but adds some oomph in the wind department. Expect a south breeze 7 to 16 mph that can gust up to 30 mph during the afternoon. If you’re setting up canopies at Old Chapel Hill Road Park or firing up a tailgate, secure the loose stuff and mind those gusts. Clouds will thicken late, and the air turns more unsettled Sunday night.

After sunset, plan for a 50% chance of showers and a few thunderstorms before 11 p.m., then lingering showers possible through about 2 am. Most spots see less than a tenth of an inch, but any storm could drop a quick burst of rain. Winds ease from the southwest 8 to 11 mph and turn west after midnight, and you’ll feel the cooler air sliding in - overnight lows tumble to around 50°F by daybreak Monday.

Bottom line: sunny and easy on Saturday, breezy but pleasant Sunday, with a late-night line of showers or rumbles possible - then a cooler start to the new week across South Durham, RTP, and the Streets at Southpoint area.

SoDu So What? The Week's Top Stories

Waterline Work Ramps Up Oct. 18–31 Near American Tobacco

If you’re heading downtown over the next two weeks - especially around American Tobacco Campus - expect lane closures, shifting traffic patterns, and flaggers as Durham city workers advance Phase 2 of the American Tobacco District Waterline Replacement project. The work replaces aging 1930s-era mains and is slated to run from September 2025 through spring 2027.

🔗 Read the full story in Southpoint Access!

Durham County Library: New Book Delays After Baker & Taylor Shutdown

The collapse of Baker & Taylor - long the nation’s largest wholesaler to public libraries - means Durham County Library patrons are unlikely to see many new books on shelves in the coming months.

County officials notified patrons on Thursday that Baker & Taylor, the library system’s primary supplier, is closing at the end of the year and can’t fill most outstanding orders.

🔗 Read the full story in Southpoint Access!

Swing, Serve & Support: Harper’s Home Pickleball & Tennis Mixer

A fun day on the courts will help families in need this Sunday, Oct. 19, when Harper’s Home hosts its Pickleball & Tennis Mixer Fundraiser at the Duke Faculty Club (10 Faculty Club Dr.) from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

The event blends friendly play and community connection to support families with children undergoing treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital. Harper’s Home provides a “home away from home” for these families - a place of comfort during difficult medical journeys.

“This is such an answered prayer and a huge blessing to our family,” one Harper’s Home family shared. “It means so much to have a safe, clean place to lay our heads at night when we have to part ways.”

The mixer welcomes all ages and skill levels, with instructional clinics, casual play, and plenty of time to socialize. Whether you’ve played once or every week, it’s an easy way to get involved and give back.

🔗 Read the full story in Southpoint Access!

C.C. Spaulding’s Dr. Vanessa Alford Named 2025–26 Durham Public Schools Principal of the Year

C.C. Spaulding Elementary principal Dr. Vanessa Alford has been named 2025–26 Durham Public Schools Principal of the Year, recognized for what district leaders call “a relentless focus on equity and academic excellence.”

🔗 Read the full story in Southpoint Access!

🏈 Triangle Rivalry Challenge: Cheer Local, Give Local

Support South Durham news while repping your favorite team - Duke 💙, UNC 💙, NC State ❤️, or NCCU 🦅.

Every dollar donated via ko-fi.com/southpointaccess adds points to your team’s score as we race to raise $4,000 for neighborhood journalism by Dec. 31.

🧭 Cheer for your team. Invest in your community.

🎟️ Events in South Durham – Oct. 18

11 a.m.–2 p.m. — Pumpkin Patch Festival (Parkside Town Commons, Cary)
Family-friendly fall fest with pumpkins, photo ops, and seasonal activities, an easy hop from Southpoint.

11 a.m.–1 p.m. — “Edgar Allen Poedown” Carolina Roller Derby Match (Wheels Durham)
Roller derby with spooky flair at Wheels Skate Park: costumes welcome, puns inevitable.

11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Big Bang Boom (The Carolina Theatre, Downtown Durham)
High-energy kids’ rock show—danceable tunes for the littles and parents alike.

12–3 p.m. — Pumpkin Painting on the Porch (Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham)
Drop-in crafting meets classic arcades; paint a pumpkin, then play a few rounds.

12–2 p.m. — Durham Really Really Free Market (Orchard Park, Durham)
Bring what you can, take what you need! Community swap with zero price tags.

2–8 p.m. — Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun Art Market (The Glass Jug Beer Lab – RTP)
Local makers, spooky-cute goods, and small-batch brews in the Park at RTP.

3:30–6:30 p.m. — 37th Annual Hallow-Eno (West Point on the Eno Park, Durham Parks & Recreation)
A long-running fall tradition on the river: costumes, crafts, and campfire vibes.

4–11 p.m. — 4th Annual Bull City BOOS Fest (The MAKRS Society, Durham Central Park)
Night market + music + food trucks = peak Halloween energy downtown.

7–11 p.m. — Heart of Halloween 2025 (Moon Dog Meadery & Bottle Shop, Durham)
After-dark costumes and mead - cap the day with a spooky social.

📅 More local happenings on the SoDu Events Calendar.

Have something to share? Email wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.

🚗 Need a Traffic Update?

Check our Southpoint Access Live Traffic Map for real-time road conditions across Fayetteville Road, NC Highway 55, and I-40.

Avoid delays and plan your route smarter!

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