April 2020

Please note that, at the time this newsletter was printed, the events and programs included were scheduled to take place. As the Town continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, you can find the most up-to-date information, including event happenings and facility operations, at www.townofcary.org/covid19 or by calling 311. Your safety and well-being are the focus of our efforts.

This Month's Headlines:

Wheels on Academy, Public Safety Day
Environmentally Speaking
Everyone Counts!
Cultural Calendar
Bud Bits
Conservation Corner
Share With Us

Wheels on Academy, Public Safety Day

Join us for a full day of entertainment, food, safety education, and family-friendly activities!

On Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Academy Street in Downtown Cary will come alive with entertainment, food, and fun! Cars of yesteryear will rule the road along with some of today’s modern muscle and exotic cars. Don’t miss our Touch-A-Truck area—an interactive, family-friendly area where children can see, touch, and safely explore their favorite trucks and heavy machinery. Kids ages 15 and under will present one special car with the Youth Judge Award and, for participating, will receive a t-shirt and hat. Spots for youth judges are limited, so sign up early! We’re also celebrating Public Safety Day (formerly known as Cary Night Out) and have fun, hands-on activities planned for you and your family. Explore police and fire vehicles and meet the crew, watch K9 demonstrations, register for a free home safety inspection, and enjoy the Kid’s Fun Zone. Come roll with us! www.townofcary.org/wheels

Environmentally Speaking

Environment and sustainability are the topics spotlighted in The Cary Theater’s green movie series, “Environmentally Speaking”. Brought to you through an exciting partnership with the Town of Cary’s Environmental Advisory Board, selected films explore big ideas about how to solve problems in our rapidly changing world. The May 7 free screening features two films:

Water Blues, Green Solutions, which tells stories from across the country of communities that are adopting new ways of thinking about how to protect, restore, and preserve our rivers and sources of drinking water, and
Partners for Environmental Justice—Building Community Around Raleigh’s Walnut Creek Wetlands, an eight-minute film that chronicles founder Dr. Norman Camp’s lifetime of activism for environmental justice in the Walnut Creek watershed. Join us for a panel discussion immediately following the films.

www.thecarytheater.com

Everyone Counts!

The Town of Cary has partnered with Wake County and other Wake municipalities to help ensure a complete U.S. Census count in 2020. In mid-March, households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census. By April 1, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. You will have three options for responding: online, by mail, or by phone. Visit 2020census.gov for complete details. Why is it important to participate? Census counts determine: how federal funding is distributed; how many seats each state gets in Congress; boundaries for congressional districts, state legislative districts, and school districts; and funding for schools and other public facilities, transportation projects, emergency services, and other amenities. Visit www.townofcary.org/2020census to learn more. We're counting on you!

Cultural Calendar

Cary Players presents “Shrek the Musical”
Friday, May 1 | 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 2 | 3 & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 3 | 3 p.m.
Cary Arts Center

The Really Terrible Orchestra of the Triangle presents “The RTOOT Can Can’t”
Tuesday, May 5 | 7:30 p.m.
Cary Arts Center

Triangle Youth Strings Concert
Saturday, May 9 | 4 p.m.
Cary Arts Center

Cary Town Band presents “Short and Suite”
Friday, May 15 | 7:30 p.m.
Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park

North Carolina Symphony presents "Summerfest 2020: Play with the Pros"
Saturday, May 23 | 7:30 p.m.
Booth Amphitheatre

Opening Art Exhibitions
Visit Cary gallery spaces to see art exhibitions including digital artwork by Tom Spleth (Cary Arts Center), printmaking by Jean McLaughlin (Cary Arts Center), and watercolor paintings by Sharon Hardin (Bond Park Community Center). For a complete listing, visit www.townofcary.org/galleries.

Bud Bits

Herbfest
May 2 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Page-Walker Arts & History Center
Join us for a day full of family-friendly, garden-themed fun! Don't miss the ever-popular butterfly release, too!

Wildflower Garden Tour
May 3
Good Hope Farm
Explore garden sites in Cary, learn about the important role that agriculture has played in our Town’s history, and find out how you can create wildlife-friendly landscapes! www.townofcary.org/communitygardens

Playing with Art: Count to 10 Paper Ice Cream Cones (age 2-3 w/caregiver)
May 4-11 | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | 002515*
Middle Creek Community Center
You’ll love your little artist’s work of art!

Discover the Artist: Banana Split Drawing (age 4-5 w/caregiver)
May 4-11 | 10:45-11:45 a.m. | 002518*
Middle Creek Community Center
Budding artists create works of art!

*Register at www.mycary.org.

Ritmo Latino Festival
May 9 | noon-6 p.m.
Town Hall Campus
Join us for a full day of entertainment, vendors, food, and more! Co-sponsored by Town of Cary and Diamante, Inc.

Applause! Cary Youth Theatre presents Sherlock Holmes: The Baker St. Irregulars
May 15-17
Cary Arts Center
A gang of street kids hired by Sherlock Holmes must band together when the streets of London are awash with crime and Holmes himself is missing! By Eric Coble; from the graphic novels by Tony Lee and Dan Boultwood. www.townofcary.org/applause

Memorial Day Remembrance
May 25 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Veterans Freedom Park
Join us for a patriotic ceremony honoring fallen military heroes from all wars and conflicts. For your own comfort, you are welcome to bring a chair.

Holiday Week of May 25
Garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection for all households will move one day later.

Live green and save green!
From April 9 to May 9, purchase compost bins and/or rain barrels at below wholesale cost through our annual online sale. www.townofcary.org/compost

Conservation Corner

Sprinkler Spruce Up: When starting up your potable automatic irrigation system, be sure to have an installed backflow assembly that is tested annually. Check for leaks and misdirected spray heads, and set your control box to water as needed according to the Alternate Day Watering Ordinance:

Odd Addresses - Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
Even Addresses - Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays

Remember to set your rain sensor to “activate.” Happy watering!

Stormwater Tip: Storm drains connect and direct rainwater to nearby creeks and streams. Help spread the word to keep pollutants, trash, and debris out of our waterways by volunteering to label storm drains in your neighborhood. www.townofcary.org/labeladrain

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 at a Town Council Meeting