Town of Cary
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November 2016
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year…if you’re looking to celebrate the season! Beginning November 21, we’ll have our Letters to Santa mailbox on Town Hall Campus. Letters received by December 10 will receive a response from the man himself!
Take in the holidays with a stroll along our reconstructed S. Academy Street. Starting December 1, the street will be lined with decorated trees as part of our annual Gifting Tree Project. Vote on your favorite tree, and the winning tree’s designers will have a donation to the non-profit group of their choice.
The annual Heart of the Holidays returns December 3, bursting with Christmas spirit for all to enjoy. Cast a vote for your favorite gingerbread house, created by local bakers and on display at businesses throughout downtown Cary. The Herb Young Community Center is transformed into Santa’s Workshop from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fit for kids 10 and under, children can make a gift for someone special and visit with Santa. To participate, please bring a monetary or canned good donation.
Experience the holiday the way Cary founders would have with a visit to the Page-Walker Open House, 4-6 p.m. Learn about Victorian holiday traditions while touring the historic hotel. Victorian carolers set the mood, and guests can take a horse-drawn carriage ride around Town Hall Campus. There will be holiday treats and kid-friendly crafts.
The evening winds down at sunset at the official Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Town Hall Campus. Starting at 6 p.m., we’ll have community talent take the stage and treat the crowd with holiday performances, followed by the lighting of our 35-foot spruce tree. We’ll also unveil the Cary Community Christmas Tree inside Town Hall, complete with over 120 handcrafted ornaments made by community organizations.
Close the night with a performance of the Cary Players presentation of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at 7:30 p.m. at the Cary Arts Center. The heart-warming comedy is appropriate for the whole family; additional shows are scheduled for December 1-5.
“Heart of the Holidays” at www.townofcary.org | (919) 469-4061
Last month our A-Team took to the streets to update snow plow routes and learn the latest in winter weather emergency response. As fall turns to winter, take a few hours to ensure you and your household are ready for a winter emergency. Turn your hurricane emergency kit into your winter weather kit with enough supplies to meet the needs of all members of your family - human and animal - for three days. Locate and learn how to use your home’s master water shutoff valve in the event of frozen/broken utility pipes. Install carbon monoxide detectors.
Don’t forget to register at www.readywake.com to receive emergency communications phone calls from the Town. From boil water notices to critical safety information, ReadyWake can notify residents, business owners and employees in both the Wake and Chatham county portions of Cary and Morrisville as well as Cary utility customers in Cary, Morrisville and RTP when there is an imminent threat to life, health or property. The registration webpage works best in Internet Explorer.
“Ready Cary” at www.townofcary.org
This year’s Arbolito de la Esperanza: Tree of Hope Lighting is December 9 at Herb Young Community Center. Lighting the Tree of Hope kicks off the Estrella de la Esperanza (Star of Hope) campaign, an effort to collect food, toys and money for several hundred families in need. The tree lighting is preceded by a traditional celebration of potluck holiday dinner foods from around Latin America. Local Latino musicians round out the event.
For a list of items needed, visit the partner organization at www.diamanteinc.org.
“Arbolito de la Esperanza” at www.townofcary.org
Holiday Cheer at Senior Center
Don’t get wrapped up in holiday stress -- let the Cary Teen Council wrap your gifts this season on December 10 and December 17. For a small fee, members will wrap up to 10 of your presents while you enjoy a cup of holiday cheer. This service is available to anyone age 50 or better.
Our 55+ Holiday Potluck Celebration is December 9. Bring a dish to share; anyone wishing to participate in a gift exchange should bring a wrapped item. Registration closes December 2.
“Cary Senior Center” at www.townofcary.org
Register for the annual Elks Hoop Shoot, a free throw contest on December 8 for ages 8-13. Winners qualify for subsequent competitions leading to a national championship. “Hoop Shoot” at www.townofcary.org.
Enjoying the cooler weather by bike? While only those under 16 must wear a helmet by law, we encourage all bicyclists to dress for safety when they take to the streets or greenways. “Bicycle Safety” at www.townofcary.org
Our final motorcycle safety class of the year will be December 17. Stay on Santa’s nice list and learn to be a responsible rider. www.bikesafenc.com
Pay your utility bill by phone any day and time! Call (919) 469- 4050, Option 1, to use our automated system. Or, pay online at aquastar.townofcary.org.
Last month was National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Before you tackle your shopping list using online vendors, make sure you are computing with care.
Be sure to use unique passwords for every account. Consider using a short sentence or positive message as your password. Limit banking over public Wi-Fi connections and consider disabling your device’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth features when not in use. Finally, remember links in emails, social media posts and texts are often the most common ways cybercriminals try to steal personal information. When in doubt, don’t click.
If you feel you’ve been victim to an online scam, report it at www.ncdoj.com.
“Cyber Security Tips” at www.townofcary.org
Weekly, we post our public notices and hearings to our website. Called our Public Notices Portal, you’ll see upcoming cases coming before Town Council, the Planning and Zoning Board and the Zoning Board of Adjustments, just to name a few. Don’t want to check the web? Search “Public Notices Portal” and subscribe to our email list to receive the weekly list straight to your inbox. A case catch your eye? Our Meetings & Events Calendar on our homepage, www.town ofcary.org, lists the times and locations for all public meetings.
Our Crime Prevention Team is available to conduct complementary assessments at your home or business. Once scheduled, a police officer will go on location to identify physical weaknesses in and around your home and offer low-cost suggestions to improve your safety and security. These surveys are best conducted during daylight and last about an hour.
“Community Services” at www.townofcary.org
(919) 469-4324.
We Are the Gold Standard
Last month, we received the National Gold Medal Grand Plaque Awards for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management for a municipality sized 150,001-400,000.
The award honors U.S. communities that demonstrate excellence in parks and recreation through long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development, professional development and agency recognition; entries are judged on their ability to address the needs of those they serve through the collective energies of citizens, staff and elected officials. It is administered by The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association.
With 82 miles of greenways, a network of over 2,600 acres of parks and open space, four sports facilities, three community centers, three cultural arts centers, two performance venues, a nature center and a senior center, we offer something for every type of enthusiast.
Bundle up and explore a greenway near your, or sign up now to participate in any number of free or low-cost activities for toddlers, youth, teens, adults and seniors.
Our next program guide, for programming in Winter/Spring 2017, is published on our website and available in community centers at the end of this month. Registration opens December 5 for residents, and December 19 for non-residents.
“PRCR” at www.townofcary.org
Come Play in our Data
We continue to bolster our open data portal, data.townofcary.org. Check out dozens of our commonly requested datasets, prime for viewing, mapping and analyzing, both within the portal software or in an external environment.
Just looking for the bottom line? Along with datasets, we continue to feature stories generated from the data. Read about what’s involved with our winter weather preparation and response; see what the data says about our greenway system; and even check out what the numbers show when it comes to our Fire Department’s training, response and outreach.
Looking for a specific set of data not yet published? Submit suggestions for new sets of data using the “Contact Us” tab on the portal.
data.townofcary.org
Chinese Lantern Festival Brings Illuminating Fun to KBA
The lights come on at Booth Amphitheatre November 25-January 15 for the return of the NC Chinese Lantern Festival.
This year’s festival includes 20 new displays, each comprised of hundreds of parts and thousands of LED lights. The fan favorite, the Chinese Dragon on Symphony Lake, will return to mesmerize visitors.
New this year is the addition of cultural performances and arts and crafts activities to round out the stunning experience.
The seven-week spectacular operates Tuesdays-Sundays; it’s free for kids 2 and under; $10 for ages 3-17; and $15 for adults ages 18+.
www.boothamphitheatre.com
Whether it’s from Hurricane Matthew or you’re simply landscaping in preparation for winter, remember these tips when preparing yard waste. First, yard waste is vegetative matter like grass clippings, leaves and limbs. Place it at the curb by 7 a.m. on your regular curbside collection date. It should be in a reusable container (up to 25 pounds), a paper bag or securely tied in bundles no more than four-feet long and 24-inches in diameter. Search “Yard Waste” for a full rundown of proper preparation guidelines.
Fire-free Holidays
The holiday season is here! Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, there is an increase in home fires. Keep the season merry by following a few easy tips. When decking the halls, avoid hanging decorations close to heating sources. Make sure your smoke alarms are in working order and that all overnight guests know your home fire escape plan. For guests who smoke, ask them to do so outside and provide them with a sturdy ashtray for proper disposal. Stay in the kitchen while cooking, and never leave candles unattended.
“Fire Safety” at www.townofcary.org
Traveling by car this holiday season? Cary Police are available Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Fire Station 9, 875 SE Maynard Road, to inspect and install your child’s safety seat. Safe travels!
(919) 469-4388
Cooking for many? Keep cooking fats, oils and greases (FOG) out of our sewers by pouring it into collection containers. Give us a call when you’ve captured ½-gallon, and we’ll pick it up at your curb. “FOG in the Home” at www.townofcary.org | (919) 469-4090
The Citizen’s Convenience Center will be closed for the holidays on December 25 and January 1. Full operating schedule available at www.townofcary.org.
Gotta rake ‘em all! We’re collecting loose leaves now through January according to your mailed map and schedule. Remember to place leaves curbside on the first day of the week we’re to be in your neighborhood. “Loose Leaf Collection” at www.townofcary.org
Winterize your irrigation system now to prevent a mess later. Drain the system to help prevent water in the pipes from freezing and cracking the lines and spray heads. “Water Conservation” at www. townofcary.org
The Really Terrible Orchestra of the Triangle: The Music Comes from Where? Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., Cary Arts Center. (919) 462-2055
Triangle Wind Ensemble: ‘Tis the Season. Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m., Cary Arts Center. (919) 462-2055
Concert Singers of Cary: Holiday Pops. Dec. 11, 3 p.m., Cary Arts Center. (919) 462-2055
Cary Town Band: Winterfest ’16. December 16, 7:30 p.m., Cary Senior Center. (919) 469-4069
Marvelous Music Family Series: Cary Ballet presents The Nutcracker Suite. December 17, 10 a.m., Cary Arts Center. (919) 462-2055
Town of Cary l 316 N. Academy St. l (919) 469-4007 l www.townofcary.org