Town of Cary
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March 2015
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The rumors have been put to rest; we’re a gigabit town. Earlier this year, Google confirmed it had chosen Cary along with several other Triangle cities as sites for its next phase of community fiber. In a nutshell, Google’s gigabit Internet, with speeds up to 100 times faster than today’s basic broadband, can transform cities, give them new platforms for economic development and new ways of using technology to improve daily life.
The announcement comes after several years of effort; we’ve been working with citizens to attract Google since we applied for community fiber consideration back in 2010. With the decision made, Google now turns to working closely with Town officials and staff to bring its fiber-optic network to Cary. The next stage of work includes designing and detailed planning of the network. This process is expected to take several months, after which network construction will begin. You can continue to follow fiber service updates within the Town by subscribing to the “Get the Facts – Google Fiber” RSS feed at www.townofcary.org.
“Google Fiber” at www.townofcary.org
This spring we’ll begin work on our downtown redevelopment projects that include improvements on Academy and Chatham Streets and building our downtown park at Walnut and Academy Streets.
The projects incorporate pedestrian-friendly design elements such as widened sidewalks, on street parking and gathering areas. New street furniture, trees, and lighting are also planned. Upon completion, South Academy Street, our signature street, will be more inviting and attractive to our residents and visitors; the redevelopment will help ensure that our downtown space is more conducive to all of our festivals, events, concerts and other activities that take place there in support of our downtown businesses and to complement the activities of the Cary Arts Center and Cary Theater. Check back next month when we’ll have more information on practical details related to the projects.
The total costs for both projects are estimated to be $13 million, which includes design and construction. Funding was approved by Cary voters as part of the 2012 Community Investment Bonds referendum.
“Academy Street” at www.townofcary.org
In April we continue our Fit Cary tradition, a month-long celebration of healthy living. This year our theme is BINGO; you’re encouraged to participate. To get started, download your BINGO card from our website, or pick one up at any Town facility. Each time you complete a healthy activity, mark it on your card. Participate in a fitness, culinary or art class; explore a Town park or greenway; visit the Farmer’s Market; or register for the Cary Road Race. Once you’ve filled in your card, turn it in at any Town parks and recreation facility and receive a prize. Each time you complete and turn in a card, your name is entered into the drawing for the grand prize.
“Fit Cary” at www.townofcary.org
Every Friday we post upcoming public meetings and other public notices on our website. It’s a great way to follow the hearings conducted by our Town Council, Planning and Zoning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment. Go to our website and look for the Public Notices icon on the homepage. If you can’t check our website weekly, sign up to receive an email notification each time the notices are posted.
“Public Notices Portal” at www.townofcary.org
Follow us at www.twitter.com/TownofCary; other feeds are @TOC_Fun, @TOC_Safety, @BoothAmp, @TOC_Traffic, @TOC_Downtown, and @Caryteens. On Facebook and YouTube, we’re townofcarync and www.youtube.com/townofcarychannel.
Register now for the 37th annual Cary Road Race on April 11 at 8:30 a.m. This family-friendly event includes a 5K, a 10K and a one-mile Fun Run. The course is a challenging one that meanders over rolling Cary streets and around the lake at scenic Koka Booth Amphitheatre.
“Cary Road Race” at www.townofcary.org
Easter Eggstravaganza
Children 12 and under with intellectual and/or physical disabilities are invited to an Easter Eggstravaganza on April 2 at Bond Park’s Field #4. There’ll be an egg hunt, a bounce house, entertainment and the opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny! The fun goes from 6 – 8 p.m. An egg hunt for ages 7 and younger begins at 6:30 p.m. and at 7 p.m. for ages 8-12. Pre-registration is recommended.
“Easter Eggstravaganza” at www.townofcary.org
Hot Tips: Spring Cleaning for Fire Safety
As weather warms, spring swings into full bloom, and you start to clear away winter clutter from inside and outside your home, keep these tips in mind to help keep fires at bay:
• Be certain that your doors and windows open easily and are not blocked.
• Keep hallways and stairs clean and clear of anything that could slow your escape.
• Recycle magazines, newspapers and mail. Accumulations of papers can contribute to a fire that spreads quickly.
• Clean lint out of your dryer vent pipe or have a dryer lint removal service do it for you.
• Ensure house numbers on your mailbox or front door are visible from the street both day and night.
• Keep a 10-foot fire safety zone around your home.
Remove leaves, pine needles, fallen branches, and dead plants and shrubs from that area.
• Consider using non-flammable landscaping materials such as rock or brick chips.
“Fire Safety” at www.townofcary.org
If loose leaves are still blowing around your yard, you’ve got options to get rid of them. You can place your leaves in reusable yard waste containers or paper bags and put them at the curb for pick up with your weekly yard waste collection. You can take them to the Citizen’s Convenience Center for disposal at no charge. Or, we’ll collect your loose leaves by appointment at no charge until March 31; call us at (919) 469-4090 to schedule.
“Yard Waste” at www.townofcary.org
The Hunt Is On
Grab your basket and come out for our 24th annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 28 at Bond Park. We’ve organized three egg hunt areas for different ages followed by a magic show loaded with surprises and fun!
The morning hunts begin at 10 a.m. with an 11 a.m. magic show; the second hunt is at 1:30 p.m. with a 2:30 p.m. magic show. The hunts begin with ages 3 and younger with staggered start times for older children. You don’t need to register for the hunt, but you will need to bring an Easter basket to fill.
Between hunts, our resident dragon, KATAL, from Kids Together Park and members of our Police and Fire departments will be onsite for entertainment and education, respectively. Prior to the morning Easter Egg Hunt, the Cary Teen Council will host Breakfast with the Bunny at the Kiwanis Shelter, also in Bond Park. You’ll need to have a ticket to participate; tickets can be purchased at Herb Young Community Center.
If it rains, our Easter Egg Hunt will be on March 29 during the afternoon times only. Breakfast with the Bunny ticketholders will need to contact the Herb Young Community
Center at (919) 460-4965 for contingency plans.
“Easter Egg Hunt” at www.townofcary.org
Take your community pride outside; join friends and neighbors for our Spring Litter
Sweep on April 11. We’ll sweep litter from our streets, trails, parks and other public spaces with our Spruce Program. There are many shifts and locations available; choose one that fits your schedule. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate; however, volunteers under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Since 2009, our amazing Spruce volunteers have removed over 139,000 pounds of litter helping to keep Cary clean and forever green! All tools and supplies are provided; advance registration is required. For more, call (919) 469-4301.
“Spruce” at www.townofcary.org
Food trucks will be rolling into town on April 19 from noon- 4:30 p.m. It’s all part of Chatham Street Chowdown, our popular food truck rally. We’ll have over a dozen vendors selling food, beer and wine; they’ll be set up along West Chatham Street between Academy Street and Harrison Avenue. Grab a meal and a drink and stay for the live music by local performers.
“Chatham Street Chowdown” at www.townofcary.org
Remember never to pour pipe-clogging fats, oils and grease (FOG) down the drain. Instead, turn your used cooking oils into biofuel. Simply pour properly cooled excess oil into a plastic screw-cap container. Then call us to schedule a free pick-up at the curb; we’ll recycle the used cooking oils into an environmentally beneficial biofuel.
“Residential FOG” at www.townofcary.org
Cary Town Band Concert: Play with the Band (March 27, 7:30 p.m. Cary Arts Center). (919) 469-4069.
Triangle Wind Ensemble’s Spring Concert: Symphonies for Winds (April 11, 7:30 p.m., Cary Arts Center). (919) 462-2055
Triangle Youth String Orchestras: Children’s Concert (April 12, 3 p.m., Cary Arts Center). (919) 462-2055.
Visit www.townofcary.org and on Twitter @TOC_Fun for more
We’re gearing up for our 22nd annual Spring Daze on April 25 in Bond Park. Our free festival features the best of North Carolina’s diverse arts and crafts community. This year we’ll have over 180 artists, entertainment on four stages, delicious festival food and our annual Earth Day Celebration. In the event of heavy rain, Spring Daze takes place on April 26 from 1-6 p.m.
“Spring Daze” at www.townofcary.org
As the weather warms, things start to heat up at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, our gorgeous outdoor performing arts center. From opera to symphony, cultural festivals, movies on the lawn and national entertainment, there’s so much going on. If you’ve never been, give it a try; and if you’re a regular attendee, come out for another great season.
“Booth Amphitheatre” at www.townofcary.org
Join us to break ground on the future home of Carpenter Park, our 16-acre neighborhood park. We’ll be breaking ground on March 24 at 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Morrisville Carpenter Road and Louis Stephens Road. In 2012 voters approved $2 million in Cary Community Investment Bonds toward construction of the park.
“Carpenter Park” at www.townofcary.org
BUD Bits
Our offices will be closed on April 3; garbage, recycling and yard waste will be collected as regularly scheduled. “Holiday Collection” at www.townofcary.org
We’ve organized an evening of Celtic music and dance at the Cary Arts Center on April 10 at 7 p.m. The program features local musicians and dancers presenting the traditional music and dance of Ireland and Scotland. “Ceilidh” at www.townofcary.org
Children’s Day Festival is April 18 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy dance and musical performances, games, face painting and crafts at Sertoma and the Kiwanis Shelter inside Bond Park. “Children’s Day Festival” at www.townofcary.org.