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June 2015


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Past Issues

We Need You to Curtail Recycling Contamination

 Text-to-911 Available

Recycling Check-up Starts July  

Packed with Patriotic Fun

 Oasis: Your Life Saver

 A Buzz for Backyard Wildlife Program

 
Know Your Water Quality

RailHawks Heating Up Summer

Privilege License Update

 Cooking Oil Curbside

 Deter Crimes of Opportunity

 Hurricane Season Starts June 1

 Fertilize Yards, Not Water

 Tot Tuesdays

 @TownofCary

 Hot Tips: Fireworks Safety

 Cultural Connection

BUD Bits

 

 

We Need You to Curtail Recycling Contamination


When it comes to recycling we don’t want to see any of it go to waste. But that’s exactly what happens when you bag your recyclable materials in the cart or include unacceptable materials.
Our recyclable materials are sorted at a contracted materials recovery facility, or MRF. Items contained in plastic or paper bags get caught in machinery and slow down the recycling process. Since it’s inefficient and unsafe to open these bags, they—and what’s in them—end up in the trash.
Plastic bags themselves and plastic film are common contaminators. These and other unaccepted items dirty our recycling stream and can be costly to the Town, possibly spoiling an entire truckload of would-be recyclables and sending them to the landfill. Our other top offenders are pizza boxes, clamshell food containers, and drink/food pouches. While plastic bags can be tossed in your trash, we recommend returning them to your local grocery store.
When you recycle, remember to make it a free-throw and toss your items straight in the cart, not in bags. Bench those plastic bags and other items not accepted for recycling. Reducing contamination is easy when we follow our Cary Recycles program guidelines. Together we can proudly recycle more by doing less, maintaining a cost-effective and efficient program.
“Recycling” at www.townofcary.org


Text-to-911 Available


“Call when you can, text when you can’t.” That’s what the Cary 911 Center wants you to remember now that the Town supports Text-to-911.
So as long as you’re in town limits, you can send an SMS message to our 911 Center. Open a new message, enter “911” as the recipient, and follow with your location and emergency in the body of the message.
When texting, refrain from using slang or abbreviations. At this time, only text—not photos or videos—is accepted. You’ll receive an automatic response if texting is temporarily unavailable or if you’re out of the texting service area.
Texting can be delayed in both sending and receiving, so only use this feature in very specific emergencies: when it’s unsafe for you to use your voice to call 911, if you’re unable to speak due to an emergency, or if you are deaf/hard of hearing.
Texting 911 does not replace calling 911 for emergencies that pose an immediate threat to life or property, nor does it replace calling (919) 469-4012 to report non-emergencies.
“Text-to-911” at www.townofcary.org


Recycling Check-up Starts July


Garden hoses. Potting soil. Luggage. To help crush contamination and get our recycling in check, July through September we’ll be surveying your recycling materials.
In lieu of our automatic arm trucks, you’ll see crews return to riding on the back of our vehicles so that we can manually dump your cart into the truck. Crews will do a quick scan of its contents, and unaccepted items will be returned to the cart with an educational tag applied to the outside.
Take this month to ensure you’re preparing your recycling correctly so that it can all be processed into something new. Search “Curbside Recycling” for a quick rundown of what’s accepted in your cart, and for the best ways to prepare them for their journey on the truck.
(919) 469-4090


Packed with Patriotic Fun


Get an early start to your Independence Day celebration. Come join the band, the scouts and Applause! Cary Youth Theatre on July 3 for our Independence Eve Celebration. It’s a salute to our nation’s birth and service personnel, past and present, who have secured our liberty and freedom, and it all takes place at the Cary Arts Center.
Our Olde Time Celebration returns to Bond Park on July 4. Register for the fishing tournament at 7:30 a.m. and fish until 10 a.m. Decorate your parade ride and peddle through Bond Park at 10:30 a.m., followed by family-friendly contests through 3 p.m.
If you haven’t taken it in yet, be sure to spend your Fourth of July evening with us at Booth Amphitheatre. From 3-10 p.m., enjoy an array of contests, magicians and scavenger hunts. Take a ride on the returning ferris wheel. The NC Symphony will perform, and spectacular fireworks cap the evening.
These two days of fun are free and open to the public.
“Independence Day” at www.townofcary.org


Oasis: Your Life Saver


Oasis helps those who find themselves in financial hardship with their Town of Cary utility bill. Dorcas Ministries administers the program in partnership with the Town of Cary.
If you need financial assistance, call (919) 469-9861. Want to help? Donations are accepted at (919) 469-4050.


A Buzz for Backyard Wildlife Program


Calling green thumbs, bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts to participate in the Cary Garden for Wildlife partnership with the National Wildlife Federation!
Whether you have an apartment balcony or a backyard, you can create an outdoor space that attracts common wildlife by restoring their habitat. By providing food, water, shelter and a place for wildlife to raise their young, you not only help the 3Bs—birds, bees and butterflies—but you also qualify to become an official Certified Wildlife Habitat.
“Cary Garden for Wildlife” at www.townofcary.org


Know Your Water Quality


Our annual Water Quality Report is now online at http://waterreport.townofcary.org. The report covers all drinking water quality tests performed during 2014. After performing over 50,000 water quality analyses in 2014, we are proud to report that your water remains safe and of high quality.
We’re committed to providing drinking water that meets all state and federal regulatory standards. Go online and review the results of our testing, and read other important information about your drinking water. To request a paper copy, call (919) 469-4090.


RailHawks Heating Up Summer


Score some professional soccer fun this summer at WakeMed Soccer Park. Now through July 18, the Carolina RailHawks will host four games, including at least one round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on June 30. All games begin at 7:30 p.m.
Other visiting teams include the Minnesota United FC, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the San Antonio Scorpions.
www.carolinarailhawks.com


Privilege License Update


Effective July 1, Cary businesses are no longer required to obtain a Town privilege license.
Last year, the General Assembly eliminated all city and county privilege license taxes for tax years beginning on or after July 1, 2015.
In addition to no longer issuing the licenses, we’ll no longer maintain a business database or provide the monthly list of new businesses.
“Privilege Licenses” at www.townofcary.org


Cooking Oil Curbside


Firing up the grill or deep fryer this summer? Be sure to properly dispose of any residual cooking fats, oils and grease via our residential waste cooking oil curbside recycling program.
Once you’ve collected a half-gallon of product in a plastic, screw-top container (about one, 2-liter soda bottle), label it “Used Cooking Oil” and call (919) 469-4090 to schedule a free curbside collection.
Collected used cooking oil is turned into bio-fuel, plus keeps grease from accumulating in sewer lines.
“FOG in the Home” at www.townofcary.org


Deter Crimes of Opportunity


Cary is one of the safest communities in the country, but there are plenty of people who are glad to accept an invite to steal from unlocked cars and open garages, or even come into your home via an open garage and interior door.
These “crimes of opportunity” happen too often, including here in Cary. So, be sure to lock your home, garage and car doors. If you see your neighbors’ open, knock on their door and encourage them to do the same.
“Summer Safety Tips” at www.townofcary.org


Hurricane Season Starts June 1


Are you ready for nature’s biggest summer storms? Hurricanes can cause outages, wind damage, flooding and more.
With help from www.ready.gov, create a disaster kit for each family member, including pets. It should be easily portable and include food, clothes, medicine, cash, sensitive documents, and a flashlight with batteries. Pack enough supplies for each person/pet to last at least three days.
“Severe Weather” at www.townofcary.org


Fertilize Yards, Not Water


When rain washes chemicals and other fertilizers off lawns and paved surfaces into our storm drains, we jeopardize our water, and your hard work and money goes to waste. Protect our waterways by applying fertilizer according to its directions and not immediately before a rainfall. Sweep excess fertilizer from sidewalks, driveways and the street back onto the lawn.
“Stormwater Education” at www.townofcary.org 


Tot Tuesdays


The first Tuesdays of July and August are designated “Tuesdays for Tots” at Booth Amphitheatre. We have a free, fun-filled morning of story-telling, creative movement and play, stroller strides around Symphony Lake and more in store for you and your little one.
www.boothamphitheatre.com 


@TownofCary


Get the latest Town of Cary news by following us on Twitter, a free service that offers a convenient way to gather, read and share real-time updates.
Our main news feed is www.twitter.com/TownofCary. Other feeds are: @TOC_Fun, @TOC_Safety, @CaryTeens, @TOC_Downtown and @TOC_Traffic. 


Hot Tips: Fireworks Safety


Would you touch a pot of boiling water or grab a cake out of the oven with your bare hands? Of course you wouldn’t! Would you hold a 1,200-degree flame a mere few inches from your hand? If you use or have used legal consumer fireworks known as sparklers, you have done just that. While sparklers may appear safe, they burn hot enough to cause third-degree burns and account for 16 percent of all fireworks-related injuries. If you and your family want to celebrate summer with fireworks, think safety first and leave it to the professionals. Find and attend a local public display such as Cary’s July 4th Celebration at Koka Booth Amphitheatre.


Cultural Connection


Summer Sertoma Series: Blu-Bop, A Tribute to the Music of Bela Fleck & The Flecktones (July 11, 6 p.m., Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park). Free. (919) 469-4069.

Six String: The 3 Davids (July 11, 8 p.m., Cary Arts Center). For tickets and more, (919) 462-2055.

Starlight Concert Series: Moment’s Notice (July 24, 7 p.m., Page-Walker Arts & History Center). Free. (919) 460-4963.

Visit www.townofcary.org for more fun in Cary 


BUD Bits


Town offices will close July 3 for Independence Day. Solid waste, yard waste and recycling will be collected as regularly scheduled the week of June 28-July 4. “2015 Holiday Schedule” at www.townofcary.org

Share your talents with your community! You have until June 30 to apply for a citizen advisory board. “Boards & Commissions” at www.townofcary.org

It’s not summer without baseball. USA Baseball will play against Chinese Taipei, Cuba and Canada June 22-July 8. Game times vary. “USA Baseball” at www.townofcary.org

Plan your fall fun now. Registration opens June 22 for fall youth baseball and softball and July 13 for fall youth basketball. “Youth Sports” at www.townofcary.org