Skip to page body Home Recreation & Enjoyment Services & Publications Projects & Initiatives Business & Development Mayor & Council Connect & Engage

November 2020


View Newsletter in PDF
View Past Issues

This Month's Headlines:

Holiday Wishes from Us to You

We wish you happiness, good health, and safety as we head into the holiday season! Here are some tips to prevent potential hazards to you, your home, your family, and your pets as you prepare your home for the holidays:

  • Check lights for frayed wires or cracks, and be sure there is a bulb in each socket. Discard and replace damaged strands.
  • When decorating outside, keep ladders and decorations away from overhead power lines. Place your ladder securely on the ground before climbing.
  • Lights should be approved by a testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Environmental Testing Laboratory (ETL). "UL" or "ETL" will be clearly displayed on the tag, signifying the product has been inspected.
  • Do not hammer tacks or nails into the electrical cord when hanging lights. Instead, use clips to attach lights to the house.
  • Use heavy-duty extension cords, and only use outdoor cords if they are labeled for outdoor use. Avoid overloading extension cords by using no more than three sets of standard lights per cord.
  • Outdoor lights and inflatable decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). GFCIs help prevent electric shock by breaking the circuit when differences in the currents of hot and neutral wires occur.
  • Use a timer or turn off lights before going to bed, or if you will be away from home.
  • For ornaments that plug into a bulb receptacle, use no more than two per strand, or check the manufacturer's directions.
  • Indoor lights should not touch drapes, furniture, or carpeting. Keep lit candles away from flammable items, too.
  • Place cords and decorations in low-traffic areas where they won’t be walked on. Avoid twisting, kinking or crushing cords.
  • If you have children in your home, use safety caps on all electrical outlets that are not in use to prevent shock. Keep sharp objects out of reach, as well as items that could be swallowed.

By taking the proper precautions both inside and outside of your home, you can prevent hazards and focus on friends and family during the holidays. For more,visit www.townofcary.org/firesafety.

Be Prepared! 

Snow, sleet, freezing rain -- winter in Cary brings a wide array of precipitation. Prepare for winter weather now before it strikes.

  • Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping.
  • Locate and learn how to use your residence’s main water shut off valve in the event of frozen or broken utility pipes.
  • Never use grills inside home or garage to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.
  • Sign up for your community’s warning system to receive emergency alerts.
  • Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind medication, your pet's needs, and batteries for radios and flashlights.
  • Create an emergency supply kit for your car. Include jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks.
  • Learn the signs of, and basic treatments for, frostbite and hypothermia.

Visit www.townofcary.org/wintersafety for more safety tips.

Cary it Green

"Leaf" It

Falling leaves have their place. When you let them lie where they fall, they play an important ecological role by providing habitat for next year’s butterflies and moths. Adding them to your compost bin will produce the perfect soil amendment for your spring garden. If you do opt to put them at the curb, remember to keep piles away from storm drains so they don’t clog the stormwater pipes. This can lead to localized flooding or add disproportionate nutrient content to our waterways that harm aquatic life.

Loose Leaf Pickup

We’re collecting loose leaves through January according to the schedule. Know when we’ll be at your curb by entering your address at www.townofcary.org/collects or download the Cary Collects app on your mobile app store. While you may see us come by early in preparation for pickup, we will be back as scheduled. To ensure your leaves are collected, place them along the curb by 7 a.m. the first day of each collection period for your area. There will be no collection on December 25.

Holiday Collection Changes

The weeks of December 20 and December 27, curbside garbage, recycling, and yard waste collections remain unchanged. Our Citizen’s Convenience Center is closed December 25 and January 1. View or print your collection schedule using Cary Collects at www.townofcary.org/collects.

Contain the FOG

While cooking this holiday season, don’t wash fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down the drain. Instead, help prevent clogged pipes by scraping excess oil into a plastic screw-cap container. Then, label it and request free pick-up at services.townofcary.org or by calling 311. Half-gallon minimum, please. For disposal options, visit www.townofcary.org/collects.

Compost Your Holiday Greenery

When it’s time to take down the greenery, place Christmas trees and other natural decorations at the curb by 7 a.m. for your weekly yard waste collection. Or leave your tree in the designated yard waste area at the Citizen’s Convenience Center during operating hours. Either way, it’ll be composted along with all of our yard waste. Remember, never include artificial materials like lights, wires, and ornaments. www.townofcary.org/compost.

Programs & Events

While many in-person Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department classes, events, and programs are canceled until further notice and facilities remain closed to the public, we look forward to connecting with you in other ways. Visit www.mycary.org to browse and register for a wide variety of virtual programs for all ages!

Event Highlights

Visit www.townofcary.org/hoh for details about Cary's Heart of Holidays event!

Mark your Calendar

Hanukkah begins on December 10 and ends on December 18.

Work in Progress

Two boardwalks near Green Level Church Road will be re-decked, resulting in a closure of these areas while work is occurring. Signage will be installed notifying all users of the closure. Work will typically occur on weekdays; boardwalks will reopen on Friday evenings for weekend use. No work will occur on Thanksgiving (Nov 26-27) or Christmas through New Year's holidays (Dec 24-Jan 3). Work is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2021. However, work is weather-dependent and subject to change.

Help is Available

In partnership with Dorcas Ministries, the Town of Cary provides emergency housing assistance to residents who find themselves in a temporary financial crisis. Residents can apply for financial support on past due rent payments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

How to apply:

1. Complete the Housing Financial Assistance Application at https://dorcascary.org/services/financial-assistance/.

2. Email the following information to clientservices@dorcascary.org:

  • Photo ID
  • Documentation of all household income for the last 2 months: pay stubs, bank statements, or income statements to determine lower-income eligibility
  • Documentation of your crisis: pay stubs that show you had a decrease in income or proof that you paid an unexpected emergency bill
  • Your lease and a late letter from your landlord

3. After receiving your complete information, a counselor will email or call you to follow up.

To learn more about additional assistance, visit www.townofcary.org/helpforcitizens.

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 out at a Town Council meeting