Stay Calm, Be Prepared when calling 911

Statistics show that on average, everyone in America will call 911 at least twice in a lifetime. So, it’s more a matter of if, not when, you will. When calling our Emergency Communications Center (ECC), we want it to go as smoothly as possible. You’ll be talking to a trained Emergency Communications Officer (ECO), who will ask you questions that are geared toward making sure you get the best, fastest, and most appropriate aid.

Calls to 911 should only be reserved for emergencies that are an imminent threat to life or property. Times when you need the police but it is not an emergency should be directed to our Police Department’s non-emergency line at (919) 469-4012.

When you call 911, stay as calm as possible. A hysterical or frantic call will make it more difficult for your ECO to understand the situation and be able to help. Also, try to know your exact location, or be as specific as possible. Our Enhanced 911 (E-911) provides immediate address information on a call from a landline or Voice over IP phone, but does not for cell phones or Text-to-911.

Using Text-to-911 allows you to send a text to the 911 Center. Text messages must not have images or video, and should be sent only when you are unable to make a voice call due to medical emergency, out of an abundance of safety, or if you are hearing impaired.

Once on the line with an ECO, you should be ready to answer a series of questions, including:

• Is anyone injured?
• When did the incident occur?
• Are there weapons involved, and if so, what type?
• Are you with or a part of the emergency?
• Is a mode of transportation involved?
• If a vehicle is involved, what is the description and what was the direction of travel?
• If a crime occurred, can you describe the suspect?
• What was the clothing description?

All of these questions are very important to emergency personnel trying to help you. Please don’t hang up until told to do so by the communicator; unless a threat to your safety requires you to leave. A common misconception is that ECOs wait until the call is finished before sending help. Police officers, firefighters or other emergency personnel are dispatched as soon as possible.

“911 Communications” at www.townofcary.org

Be Smart When Fertilizing

Smart fertilizing helps keep our lawns lush and our streams healthy. By following manufacturer guidelines and sweeping excess fertilizer off hard surfaces and back on to lawns, we keep additional nutrients out of our streams and creeks.

“Stormwater” at www.townofcary.org

Senior Strength and Balance

We want to help you maintain and increase your strength and balance so you may live well in your home for as long as possible. To that end, we are bringing together a selected panel of experts on September 29 at the Cary Senior Center from 2-4 p.m. A healthy dessert will be shared, and our fitness instructors will teach simple strengthening exercises.

“Senior Center” at www.townofcary.org or (919) 469-4081

History Harvest

Discover how to find your family roots and share some local history at our first African-American History Harvest on September 24 from 2-5 p.m. at Cary First Christian Church on Evans Road in Cary. Trained staff and volunteers will record your stories and scan family photos, and there will be resources on how to care for and protect your family treasures. Presented with the Friends of Page-Walker and the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center.

“History Harvest” at www.townofcary.org

Tour de Cove Highlights Bike Safety Awareness

Come out for Tour de Cove on October 7 at Inside Out Sports, 2002 Grisdale Lane. Co-sponsored by the Town of Cary, the all-day event (9 a.m.-4 p.m.) highlights bike safety awareness in the community, kicking off with a charity bike/run for former Transportation & Facilities Director Laura “Lori” Cove, who remains in recovery following a traumatic bicycle crash nearly a year ago.

Following the 20- and 50-mile bike rides, as well as a 2.5-mile walk for all ages and pets, will be a myriad of fun: bike toss, corn hole tournament and kids bike rodeo with helmet checks by certified safety officials.

Live music complements the event, and a silent auction featuring weekend getaways, sporting event tickets, golf/spa/massage certificates, DPAC and PNC tickets, and much more from our community will be available for bidding all day.

Register before October 1 to guarantee a T-shirt and a “Pink for Lori” bracelet.

www.tourdecove.com

Before You Vote

It’s almost time to vote! Be sure to know who you want to lead us in to the future by tuning into Cary TV or our YouTube Channel starting September 5 to watch Cary Town Council candidates in our Cary Community Candidate Forum. Early voting in Cary is September 21-October 7; Election Day is October 10.

Early voting dates and times are:

• In Wake County at Herb Young County Center: October 4- 6 (11 a.m.-7 p.m.) and October 7 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.).
• In Chatham County at Chatham County Board of Elections Office, 984-D Thompson St., Pittsboro: September 21-October 7 (weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) and October 7 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.).

On Election Day, the polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. To find your polling place, visit maps.townofcary.org.

“Candidate Forum” at www.townofcary.org

Get Outside with Your Kids

We’re celebrating “Take a Child Outside Week” by encouraging children and adults to spend time together outdoors from September 23-29. Enjoy a week-long series of events with the goal to help children, and their parents, develop a better understanding and appreciation of the environment and an enthusiasm for exploring the natural world.

A Family Campout kicks off the week of fun on September 23 at 3 p.m., followed by these free offerings: Parent-Child Fishing: September 24; Parent-Child Nature Stroll: September. 25; Parent-Child Orienteering: September 25; Parent-Child Outdoor Yoga: September 27; Parent-Child Canoeing: September 27; Family Low Ropes: Septenber 28; and Bands, Bites and Boats, September 29.

“Take a Child Outside Week” at www.townofcary.org

Construction Alerts

Please be on the lookout for construction activity as work has started on the new MacDonald Woods Park restroom and the Sertoma Amphitheater and restroom improvement projects. Temporary restroom facilities will be provided for both projects until construction is completed in January 2018. Please contact project manager Reid Saunders at (919) 380-2785 or by email at reid.saunders@townofcary.org if you have any questions.

A Sensory Experience

We welcome all to come out to the Booth Amphitheatre for the 17th annual Cary Diwali Celebrates Anubhuti: A Sensory Experience on October 14 from 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. The event will include music, dance, and theater performances, a handicraft bazaar, Indian food vendors, sponsor booths, an exhibition of Indian art and culture, activities for children, yoga demonstrations, and so much more. The day is capped off by a fireworks show over Symphony Lake at 8:30 p.m.

“Diwali Celebration” at www.townofcary.org

Changes at the Curb

On November 6, we’re rolling out some new curbside collection routes across town. Committed to providing exceptional services, we regularly review and rebalance routes to ensure high efficiency and improved reliability of collections for all. Our latest update might include your address, impacting your collection day and/or your recycling week.

Details will be mailed to participating households in September, followed by our annual recycling calendar. We’ll also place a reminder on your garbage cart before the change so no carts are left behind! Want to know if your address is participating? Search it online at http://maps.townofcary.org.

We know change can be hard and we are here to assist you with this transition; call us at (919) 469-4090 or submit a request online at http://services.townofcary.org if you have questions.

“Curbside Collection” at www.townofcary.org

Teens Can Paint the Page

Teens ages 13-18 are invited to paint, draw, or sketch what inspires them about the Page-Walker Arts & History Center at this year’s “Paint the Page!”creative event on October 1 from 1-5 p.m. A cash prize will be presented to the “Best in Show,” announced on October 8 during the artist reception, which runs from 4-5 p.m.

“Paint the Page” at www.townofcary.org

Dog Days Wags into Fall

Bring your leashed pets and join us at Bond Park for our annual Cary Dog Days on October 7 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. It’s a day filled with family fun for you and your dogs with the Canine Disc Competition, dog washes by Cary Teen Council, a low-cost (cash only) opportunity to have your pets vaccinated and micro-chipped by Cary Animal Control and a veterinarian, a charity raffle, vendors with doggy merchandise, and talk with rescue groups and professionals about adoption.

“Dog Days” at www.townofcary.org

BUD Bits

Nominations for Cary’s Hometown Spirit Award continues through September 22.  “Hometown Spirit Award” at www.townofcary.org

The Cary Tennis Center hosts the Cary Tennis Park Classic NC L2/Southern L3 tourney on September 30-October 1; the Tennis on Campus event October 13-15; and the USTA/ITA Regionals from October 20-23. “Cary Tennis Park” at www.townofcary.org

Seeds in need of more water than Mother Nature is providing? Apply for a watering exemption permit. “Alternate Day Watering” at www.townofcary.org

Enjoy short, informal presentations and engaging discussions with theatre professionals at Theatre Café on October 3 at 7 p.m. Best suited for adults/teens. www.thecarytheater.com

Celebrate Oktoberfest at Booth Amphitheatre on October 6 from 6-11 p.m. and October 7 from 1-11 p.m. There will be music by Peak City Sound and The Polka Brothers. Plus, a kids zone, traditional Bavarian food, contests and of course, authentic German beer! www.boothamphitheatre.com

Our Playtime in the Park series for kids of all ages continues in the Downtown Park on October 12 at 10 a.m. “Playtime in the Park” at www.townofcary.org

Do you have unused prescriptions laying around? Our Police Department is holding its annual pill takeback on October 28. “Pill Takeback” at www.townofcary.org

Save the Date! Cary’s annual Howlin’ Good Halloween is October 26-31. We’ll have the Reel-y Scary Films, Zombiepalooza, Pumpkin Flotilla, Herbert’s Haunted House, costume dance party, Great Pumpkin Carve, Ghost Walk, Halloween Mall Crawl and Witches Tea. “Halloween” at www.townofcary.org

Cultural Connection

Pickin’ in the Pines Bluegrass Series presents Johnny Folsom 4 and Canady Thomas Band, September 27, 5:45 p.m., Booth Amphitheatre, www.boothamphitheatre.com

Cary Players present “Guys & Dolls,” September 30 and October 5-7 at 7:30 p.m.; October 1 and 3 at 3 p.m., Cary Arts Center, (919) 462-2055

Pickin’ In the Pines Bluegrass Series presents Tim Cifers, October 4, 5:45 p.m., Booth Amphitheatre, www.boothamphitheatre.com

Pickin’ In the Pines Bluegrass Series presents Longleaf Pine Nuts, October 11, 5:45 p.m., Booth Amphitheatre, www.boothamphitheatre.com

Applause! Cary Youth Theatre presents Lizzie Borden of Fall River by Tim Kelly, October 20-21, 7:30 p.m., and October 22, 3 p.m., Cary Arts Center, “Applause!” at www.townofcary.org

Carolina Uprising featuring The Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Outlaws, Pure Prairie League, Poco,  Scooter Brown Band and Super Grit Cowboy Band, October 21,  noon, Booth Amphitheatre, www.boothamphitheatre.com

Chris Tomlin’s “Good Good Father Tour,” October 22, 7 p.m., booth Amphitheatre, www.boothamphitheatre.com