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The Town of Cary is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic in conjunction with Wake County and North Carolina officials, and will adjust or extend cancelations and closures as needed. Remember, though, your Town Government is not closed! Many essential services continue including police, fire, solid waste collection, water distribution, wastewater, inspections, and 911 and 311 services. You can find up-to-date information about the Town's operations at www.townofcary.org/covid-19 or call us at 311. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate through these unprecedented times together. We look forward to seeing you again, soon. Until then, please stay safe and well, and continue to look out for one another.

This Month's Headlines:

• Looking Ahead...
• Safe Grilling
• Follow Us!
• Quality on Tap
• Wildlife by the Numbers!
• Conservation Corner
• Fall Youth Sports
• Share with Us!

Looking Ahead...

As you anticipate the start of summer, you may be having to modify or adjust your travel or vacation plans, and some of your favorite seasonal traditions may be canceled. We are all having to find new and creative ways to gather with family, friends, and neighbors during this time of social distancing due to COVID-19. The Town is also working through the challenges of adapting to smaller gathering sizes, canceled events, and postponed activities. As we do, know that we are keeping our citizens' health and wellbeing in the forefront of our minds. To see the latest updates, including cancelations, visit www.townofcary.org/covid-19.

Please stay tuned for updates about the Town's Fourth of July events, as we adjust activities to align with state and local orders. There are plenty of ways to show your patriotic spirit in your homes, businesses, and communities. Here are a few ideas to help spark creativity:

• Plan a parade with neighbors and friends and showcase your decorated bike, scooter, or wagon.
• Organize a sing-a-long or small concert with your favorite patriotic tunes.
• Honor the veterans among you by preparing a special meal or dessert for them.
• Plan family contests such as watermelon seed spitting, three-legged or sack races, or water balloon tosses.
• Decorate your doors, windows, and yards in a red/white/blue theme.

While fireworks are often used to mark special events and holidays, they are not safe in the hands of consumers. Fireworks cause thousands of injuries each year and account for over 16,000 fires annually. Leave the fireworks to professionals, and keep yourself and your family safe.

FACT CHECK: Sparklers burn at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hotter than the temperature needed to melt glass! One quarter of emergency room firework injuries are as a result of using sparklers. Don't get burned!

Safe Grilling

Grill season is upon us! Here are some reminders to keep you safe while grilling your favorite summer foods: keep grills far away from anything that can burn including your home, cars, and dry vegetation; stay with the grill when lighted, and keep children and pets well away from the area; and, wear a heavy apron and an oven mitt that fits high up over your forearm. Grill on!

Follow Us!

To get fast, up-to-date information on Town-related activities, visit us at www.townofcary.org. Click on "Contact & Follow", then make your selection from the drop down menu.



As always, you can call 311 inside Town limits and (919) 469-4000 outside Town limits. We look forward to connecting with you soon!

Quality on Tap

Even during these challenging times, it is our goal to provide high quality, safe, and reliable drinking water that meets or exceeds state and federal regulatory standards. Our recently published annual Water Quality Report documents the results of over 50,000 tests done in 2019 that confirm the exceptional quality of your drinking water. Also included are descriptions of how we’re securing an adequate water supply and building our utility infrastructure for today and the future. Find the report online at waterreport.townofcary.org or request a copy by calling 311 inside Town limits or (919) 469-4000 outside Town limits.

Wildlife by the Numbers!

Take a look at what's been spotted recently within Cary parks and greenways:

• 133 copperheads*
• 159 deer*
• 135 species of birds
• 19 gray fox, 6 red fox
• 25 coyotes
• 98 barred owls*
• 29 great horned owls*
• 12 eastern screech owls*
• 8 river otters
• 7 species of salamanders
• 14 species of frogs and toads
• 7 species of turtles
• 5 species of lizards
• 12 species of snakes
• 16 species of dragonflies
• 26 species of butterflies
• 59 species of moths

*May be repeat sightings

Conservation Corner

Green Teens
Do you know a teen that’s up for a challenge? Through our Cary Green Neighborhood Program, we encourage teens to harness the power of their own social media to help create environmental education campaigns. www.townofcary.org/teenchallenge

Cary Garden for Wildlife Tip
Birds, bees, and butterflies get thirsty, too! Help support the pollinators who visit your lawn or garden by putting out shallow dishes of water to create water sources for these hard-working creatures. Placing a small stone or sea shell in the center of each water dish provides a safe place to land as they drink. Remember, the more pollinators you attract to your vegetable garden the more veggies you will yield. www.townofcary.org/communitygardens

When Visiting the Citizen’s Convenience Center…

• Follow posted directions and speed.
• Maintain six feet of distance between you and others.
• Be prepared to unload your own materials in the correct area.
  Keep children in vehicle.

Pet Waste Etiquette
When you bag your dog’s waste and throw it in the trash, you help reduce stormwater pollution. You can find more ways to keep our waterways healthy at www.townofcary.org/stormwater.

Recycling Reminders:

• Keep recycling loose, never bagged, inside your cart.
• Only recycle items accepted in our program.  

Garbage Reminders:

• Always bag your trash.
• Make sure bagged trash fits inside your cart.
• Tissues, paper towels, wipes, masks, latex gloves, or any other sanitary or cleaning materials are considered trash and should be bagged with your garbage.

*Special instructions for needles and sharps can be found in the Waste Wizard feature of Cary Collects: www.townofcary.org/carycollects

Fall Youth Sports

Visit www.townofcary.org/youthsports to find updated information about Fall youth sports leagues.

Share With Us!

Citizens and businesses are encouraged to share their budget priorities with the Town at any point in the year, and we’ll share what we hear with Town Council through quarterly reporting. The Town’s budget runs from July 1 through June 30. Let us hear from you! www.townofcary.org/budget. 

Email: budgetinput@townofcary.org
Phone: (919) 469-4307
Twitter: @TownofCary with #TOCbudget
Facebook: facebook.com/TownofCaryNC
Public Speaks Out: Speak out at the Town Council meeting's Budget Public Hearings scheduled for June 11 and June 25.