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This Month's Headlines:

• Cary Kwanzaa Celebration
• Recreation Made Easy
• Registration for Spring Youth Baseball & Softball (age 5-18)
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Dreamfest Weekend
• Bike Cary
• Share & Care
• Cary It Green
• Share with Us!
• Cultural Calendar

Cary Kwanzaa Celebration

Fri., December 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Cary Arts Center | Free
Join in the cultural celebration featuring the best the Triangle has to offer in traditional Kwanzaa performers and presenters embracing African culture through dance, drumming, storytelling, and visual arts. This event will highlight how these professionals developed into the stalwart cultural icons and entrepreneurs that they are. Most importantly, they will present this in the spirit of Ujamaa — Cooperative Economics — to encourage community support of these traditions and youth to consider similar paths of creative productivity.

BrainStemology and BUMP the Triangle will provide STEM and art immersion. BUMP youth will also provide a performance of children’s perspective on the Nguzo Saba — The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. Visit carync.gov/kwanzaa to learn more.

Recreation Made Easy

Cary has a new recreation management system — RecTrac. This easy-to-use system will allow citizens and visitors to register for classes and other recreation programming. 

Create your new RecTrac account now, and be ready to take advantage of all the programs offered in 2024! Visit carync.gov/programs for more information.

Registration for Spring Youth Baseball & Softball (age 5-18)

Registration opens mid-January, season runs late March through June. For more information, visit carync.gov/springbaseballsoftball.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)

Accessory Dwelling Units are small dwellings accessory to a main house and can come in many forms, including detached cottages, spaces over garages, and separate space attached to the main dwelling. Cary is proposing to amend the Town ordinance to expand where ADUs are allowed to be built.  

Join us virtually for a community meeting on January 17 to learn more and weigh in. Expanding potential for ADUs is one of the actions called for in the 2021 Cary Housing Plan as a way to increase high-quality and diverse new housing opportunities to meet residents' needs. Sign up for the virtual meeting and learn more at carync.gov/adu.

Martin Luther King Jr. Dreamfest Weekend

January 12-15 | Downtown Cary
To celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we have planned a weekend full of family-friendly events. The Cary Arts Center will host the official 2024 Dreamfest Celebration and Community Resource Fair on Saturday, January 13, beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Cary Theater invites citizens to a comedy show and films throughout the weekend. Don't forget to stop by the Page-Walker Arts & History Center for the Dreamfest children's program and featured art exhibition. There will be several community-sponsored programs as well as programs offered in the new Downtown Park. 
 
MLK Day of Service will continue to take place at Good Hope Farm. Volunteers are needed to help support community farmers and local food systems! Canned food items will be collected throughout the month of January at various locations. To learn more, visit carync.gov/dreamfest for individual programs and weekend details.

Bike Cary

Cary is updating its bike plan, and we want your input! To learn more, visit carync.gov/bikecary for upcoming events and opportunities to get involved during the planning process. Your involvement is vital in shaping the future of bicycling in Cary. 

Share & Care

We may not be meeting in person at this time for our annual Share & Care event, but we can still connect! Be sure to visit carync.gov/shareandcare throughout the month of February to view a list of community resources available for persons with disabilities and for those caring for them.

Cary It Green

Holiday Collection Changes
The Citizen’s Convenience Center is closed on January 1, New Year's Day. The week of January 1, all curbside collections will move one day forward (Tues.-Fri.). 

The Citizen’s Convenience Center is closed on January 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The week of January 15, all curbside collections will move one day forward (Tues.-Fri.).
Set a reminder with Cary Collects, carync.gov/collects so you never miss a pickup. 

Community Garden Plot Rental Lottery
Carpenter Park Community Garden’s annual Plot Rental Lottery is open from December 1-January 15. Cary residents can apply for a chance to participate in this 11-month gardening program, which includes two fully-amended garden beds ready to grow produce for your family. No previous garden experience is required and training materials, education opportunities, tools, and other helpful supplies will all be provided for a one-time annual fee of $30. To apply and learn more, visit carync.gov/gardens.

Winter Tree Talk – Tree Safety Tips
Learn how to recognize maintenance needs and potential hazards for making your trees storm-ready! Cohosted by Cary’s Urban Forester, this Tree Talk will include a presentation and Q&A to gain knowledge about how to assess tree health, potential risk, and when to reach out to a professional. This class is free, open to all ages and takes place online on January 24, noon to 1 p.m. Register and learn more at carync.gov/treetalk.

Compost Your Holiday Greenery
It may seem natural to toss an old Christmas tree away by a creek, but that can increase streambank erosion, or lead to clogged culverts and flooding. Here are two options to compost your greenery:

• Place Christmas trees and other natural decorations at the curb by 7 a.m. for your weekly yard waste collection.
• During operating hours, drop your tree off at the designated yard waste area at the Citizen’s Convenience Center, 313 N. Dixon Ave.

Always remove artificial decorations, lights, and wires! Search items at carync.gov/collects for more disposal tips.

So Many Deliveries, So Much Cardboard!
Three options to recycle it:

1. Flatten and/or cut boxes to fit in your recycling cart with the lid closed. Avoid cramming so all recyclables can empty into our trucks.
2. Drop cardboard off at the Citizen’s Convenience Center.
3. Request free cardboard collection at carync.gov/311 or call 311.

Share With Us!

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

Email: budgetinput@carync.gov
Phone: (919) 469-4307
Twitter: @CaryNCgov with #TOCbudget
Facebook: facebook.com/CaryNCgov
Public Speaks Out: Speak out at a Town Council meeting.

Cultural Calendar

A Night of Comedy with Azeem
Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m. | The Cary Theater
Azeem has performed his brand of "conscious comedy" for 20 years and has brought laughter to millions of people worldwide. thecarytheater.com

Tellebration — Children’s Program
Jan. 13, 10 a.m. | Page-Walker Arts & History Center
Engaging event for children featuring award-winning storyteller Willa Brigham sharing inspiring stories for youth. carync.gov/dreamfest

Dreamfest Celebration: It Takes a Village to Realize a Dream
Jan. 13, 4:30 p.m. | Cary Arts Center
An evening of music, dance, and a poignant message by Rev. Paul Anderson. New this year is a Community Resource Fair and arts & craft room. Food trucks onsite. carync.gov/dreamfest

MLK Day of Service Workday
Jan. 15, 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. 
Join us for MLK Dreamfest service opportunities in partnership with Spruce and Good Hope Farm. Day of Service will take place at Good Hope Farm and Hemlock Bluffs to support environmental and community health in Cary. We ask that all volunteers bring at least one canned/nonperishable food item for donation. carync.gov/goodhopefarm

Johnny Folsom 4
Jan. 20, 8 p.m. & Jan. 21, 3 p.m. | The Cary Theater
When it comes to honoring Johnny Cash, JF4 walks the line. Join us for the ultimate tribute to the legendary Man in Black. thecarytheater.com

Performances at the Page: Erik Dyke & Friends
Jan. 21, 4 p.m. | Page-Walker Arts & History Center
Cozy classics with Erik Dyke, Double Bassist with the NC Symphony, and friends at the Carol J. Wright Memorial Concert. carync.gov/performancesatthepage

Comedy Night: Cliff Cash & Ryan Cox
Jan. 26, 8 p.m. | The Cary Theater
Cliff Cash comes from the religious and conservative South and adds a twist to stand-up you won’t soon forget. Ryan Cox’s material ranges from twisted parenting tales and crafted one-liners to the ghost of Kmart and beyond. thecarytheater.com