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This Month's Headlines:

• MLK Jr Dreamfest 2018
• This Year's Hometown Spirit Award Winners Are...
• Cary It Green
• Cultural Connection
• A Walk in the Park
• Applause! Auditions
• BUD Bits

MLK Jr Dreamfest 2018

Every year we recognize and celebrate the life, work, and vision of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Join us this year for programs from Jan. 13-15. All events are free and open to the public:

Kids Sing & Learn

Learn the songs that animated the struggle for equality in this family-friendly sing along at the Cary Arts Center, 10 a.m. Jan. 13. Kids may be invited to showcase the songs at the evening cultural performance.

Film: Racial Taboo

Join us for a showing of Racial Taboo, a documentary by Brian Grimm that looks at our history using candid interviews and comedy, at the Cary Arts Center, 1 p.m. Jan. 13. Group discussions and debrief with Grimm will follow the film.

Jazz: We Shall Overcome

Join us for the world premier of jazz composer Harold Mims’ We Shall Overcome at the Cary Arts Center, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13. The Triangle Jazz Band, led by jazz drummer Kobie Watkins, will perform this composition, written for Dreamfest, along with featured saxophone soloist Dr. Ron Carter. Also, enjoy songs led by Songs of the Dream participants and other youth voices.

Film: 13th

Come to The Cary Theater, 3 p.m. Jan. 14, to view 13th, an award-winning film by Ava DuVernay that provides an in-depth look at the prison system in the U.S. and its relationship to the nation’s history of racial inequality. Afterward, N.C. State University faculty member Dr. Thomas Easley, a recognized authority on mass incarceration, will speak.

MLK Day of Service

Take time to give back to your community by helping prepare the soil of our new 20-acre urban agriculture and historic site Jan. 15 at Good Hope Farm, 1580 Morrisville Carpenter Road. Registration is required for either of the two shifts; the first is from 10 a.m.-noon and the second is from 2-4 p.m. Volunteers ages 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Be prepared to get dirty!

“Dreamfest” at www.townofcary.org

This Year's Hometown Spirit Award Winners Are...

Ralph and Daphne Ashworth!

Sixty years of commitment to the success of Cary has earned Ralph and Daphne Ashworth the Town of Cary’s annual Hometown Spirit Award, which recognizes community-minded citizens who enhance the quality of life in Cary by preserving, promoting, and carrying out positive, small-town, community values and traits.

Ralph and Daphne have supported local businesses in Cary since they set up Ashworth Drugs in downtown Cary in 1957. Since then, the Ashworths have helped bring other businesses to downtown Cary to thrive in Ashworth Village. Today, they still continue to run their famous hotdog counter because they have seen how valued a gathering place it is for Cary residents over the decades.

“Hometown Spirit Award” at www.townofcary.org

Cary It Green

• The week of Dec. 25. Our Citizen’s Convenience Center will be closed Dec. 25 and Town offices closed Dec. 25-27.
• The week of Jan. 1. Our Citizen’s Convenience Center and Town offices will be closed Jan. 1.
• The week of Jan. 15. Our Citizen’s Convenience Center will be open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 15.

“Holiday Schedule” at www.townofcary.org

Compost Your Greenery

After the holidays, leave your Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands at the curb for weekly yard waste collection, or drop them off at the Citizen’s Convenience Center, 313 N. Dixon Ave. Be sure to remove artificial foliage and decorations, including tinsel, wire, and other items that are not part of the tree.

“Christmas Tree Collection” at www.townofcary.org or (919) 469-4090

Protect Your Pipes

Turn off all outdoor faucets and remove attached hoses to help prevent water from freezing and cracking a pipe. Should a pipe burst, turn the water off using your master shut off valve, typically located near the water heater or in a closet, or call (919) 469-4090 to have your meter turned off at the street.

“Water Leaks” at www.townofcary.org

Loose Leaves

We’re collecting loose leaves through Jan. 22 according to your mailed map and schedule. 

“Loose Leaf Collection” at www.townofcary.org

Out with the Old

If you’ve recently replaced an appliance, like a refrigerator or washer, remember to correctly dispose of your old one. You can take them to the Citizen’s Convenience Center to be recycled or call us at (919) 469-4090 to schedule curbside pickup; fees may apply. Please secure or remove doors on refrigerators or freezers. If your appliance works, you may also consider donating it to a charity for reuse.

“Appliance Recycling” at www.townofcary.org

Fats, Oils, and Grease

While cooking this holiday season, don’t wash fats, oils, and grease down the drain. Instead, scrape excess oil into a plastic screw-cap container, and call us at (919) 469-4090 when you have half a gallon ready for pickup.

“FOG in the Home” at www.townofcary.org

Cultural Connection

Friends of the Page-Walker Concert Series presents “Musique Accordeon with David DiGiuseppe,” Jan. 14, 4-6 p.m., Page-Walker Arts & History Center. Purchase tickets through eTix or at The Cary Theater box office. For more information, call (919) 460-4963 or visit www.friendsofpagewalker.wildapricot.org.

The Cary Senior Center and Marvelous Music Mainstage Series present violinist Lucia Micarelli, along with a catered meal, Jan. 26, 5:30 p.m., Cary Arts Center, ages 50 and older, $32 per person,. The show starts at 7 p.m. Call (919) 469-4081 for more information.

A Walk in the Park

Grab your walking shoes and take a walk with us on the Black Creek Greenway. From 10-11 a.m. Jan. 1, members of the Greenways Committee and Cary Teen Council will guide you on the walk, starting at the North Cary Park entrance. Parking is available at the park. In case of inclement weather, visit www. townofcary.org/rainout for updates.

“First Walk” at www.townofcary.org

Want to participate in a community garden? Bring your green thumb and apply for plot rentals at the Carpenter Park Community Garden. Applications for plot rentals are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 15.

“Carpenter Park Community Garden” at www.townofcary.org

Snow tubing at Bond Park! Snow My Yard will blow snow on the big hill at Fred G. Bond Metro Park Jan. 26-27. Snow tubes are provided. Single-rider sessions offered late Friday afternoon and evening, as well as Saturday morning, afternoon, and evening. Parent/child sessions offered Saturday morning only. Pre-registration is required. Rain Date: Feb. 16-17.

“Winter Wonderland” at www.townofcary.org

Join us Jan. 17 for a community meeting to kick-off the master planning process for two new neighborhood parks in western Cary. Stop by the Northwest Cary YMCA, 6911 Carpenter Fire Station Road, from 5-8 p.m. to share what you want to see in your neighborhood park. If any ADA accommodations are needed, call (919) 460-4973 at least one week prior to the meeting.

“Neighborhood Park” at www.townofcary.org

Applause! Auditions

Applause! Cary Youth Theatre is holding auditions Jan. 8-9 for Scraps! The Ragtime Girl of Oz. Appointments are available between 5-8:30 p.m. for ages 6-12. If you audition, be prepared to read from the script and do group scene work. Registration opens Jan. 2; email rachel.baranski@townofcary.org to schedule your audition. We can’t accept walk-ins.

“Applause” at www.townofcary.org

BUD Bits

You rolled with us and together we rocked! Our route rebalance in parts of town is up and running. Thanks to our community, our crews have been able to continue timely curbside collection for all. Please continue to have items at the curb as early as dusk the night before but no later than 7 a.m. on your collection day to ensure pickup. 

“Route Rebalance” at www.townofcary.org or (919) 469-4090

Suffering from some extra post-holiday pounds? From Jan. 2-6 join us for New Year, New You—Fitness Kickoff Week, during which group exercise sessions will be offered at no cost at Bond Park, Herb Young, and Middle Creek community centers. All classes are dedicated to helping you achieve a more balanced life in 2018!

“New Year, New You” at www.townofcary.org