Bud Newsletter - January 2010
Cary names employees of the year
Accountant Ellen Lewis and Community Center Supervisor Sonya Snyder are our 2009 Employees of the Year.
Lewis has been with the Town for just over nine years. Those who nominated her pointed out that “her attention to detail protect(s) the Town’s reputation for managing our money well.”
Snyder heads up the Town’s Herb Young Community Center and has been with the Town for over 13 years. Nominators noted her willingness to help others, stating that “Sonya genuinely cares about doing a great job for the public.”
Each employee will receive a plaque and a $1,000 savings bond. They were selected out of six finalists from a field of 18 nominees from the Town’s nearly 1,150 employees.
“I congratulate them as well as all of this year’s nominees who represent the type of exemplary employees we strive to attract and retain in the Town of Cary,” said Town Manager Ben Shivar.
Our Employee of the Year program was established in 1989 to recognize employees who consistently perform well beyond what the job description requires. Nominees are involved in the community and nominations often include accolades from Cary citizens.
For more about the program, see Employee of the Year at www.townofcary.org.
911 calls from disconnected phones
Each day our Police Department processes hundreds of 911 calls from Cary citizens. However, in recent months, the center has seen a spike in 911 hang-up calls from disconnected cell phones.
Even if a cell phone does not have service, the phone is still able to dial 911—a feature designed to allow you to call for help in the event of an emergency. Therefore, it’s important to remove the cell phone’s battery before you allow children to play with disconnected cell phones as toys. This will ensure the child does not accidentally dial 911.
If you have unused cell phones that you no longer need, bring them to the Town of Cary Police Department to be donated to victims of domestic violence. You can also take them to your local cell phone carrier to have the device recycled.
For questions or concerns about 911 and cell phones, call 469-4012 or visit www.townofcary.org.
Out with the old, in with the new
Did you recently get a new computer or other electronic device and don’t know what to do with the old one? Recycle it!
If your computer is in working order, consider donating it to a local charity. However, if your computer is broken or obsolete, call 469-4090 to schedule a free curbside pick-up. Other electronics (with a cord/plug) can be collected curbside for a small fee; collection must be scheduled.
You can also bring electronics to the Citizens Convenience Center, 313 N. Dixon Ave., at no charge.
For more, visit www.townofcary.org.
We’re continuing to collect loose leaves once from each street through the month of January. The collection schedule can be found using Maps Online at www.townofcary.org.
Beginning Feb. 1 through Mar. 31, we’ll take requests for curbside loose leaf collection at no charge; call 469-4090 to schedule an appointment. Leaves can also be placed in paper bags or reusable containers for pick up on your collection day.
Bud Bits
- Cary has once again been named the safest place to live, work, and raise a family in the Southeast, a designation we’ve held for 11 years in a row.
- Beginning on Jan. 5, 2010, we’ll pick up Christmas trees and vegetative material such as wreaths and garland as part of your regular curbside yard waste collection. Please place trees at the curb by 7 a.m. on your regular collection day. Don’t forget to remove all tinsel, ornaments, and other non-vegetative material.
Insulate pipes for winter
Cary has some of the best tasting water around. In fact, our Cary/Apex Water Treatment Plant earned the Best Tasting Water Award at the N.C. American Water Works Association/Water Environment Association conference in November 2009.
Don't let good water be wasted by a frozen pipe that bursts this winter. Insulate pipes to help prevent water from freezing.
Should a pipe burst, immediately turn your water off at the master shut off valve. This valve may be near the water heater, the washing machine, or even in your front hall closet. Everyone in the family needs to knows where this valve is and how to turn it off. If you are unable to locate your master shut off valve, call the Town at 469-4090 to have your meter turned off at the street.
Prepare for spring repairs
If you are considering upcoming spring improvements to your property such as installing decks, patios, sheds, or pools, in addition to applying for appropriate building permits, consider whether you will be building in a stream buffer.
State and local stream buffer regulations restrict clearing and building within 50 to 100 feet of streams. Also, be sure to check to see if your property contains a floodplain, which can require permitting.
For help, call 469-4038 and we’ll help you determine if your property is subject to the buffer rules or is within the floodplain.
Some might not think it's litter, butt...
Did you know that cigarette butts are the most frequently littered item in the state, the country, and the world?
Most cigarette filters are made out of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic that does not biodegrade and can persist in the environment for many years, threatening wildlife and water quality, and compromising our community’s appearance.
Effective Jan. 1, the State will implement a ban on indoor smoking in many public places. As more smoking may now occur outdoors, please remember to dispose of cigarettes in proper receptacles to help keep Cary clean and litter free.
For more information about the Town’s litter reduction efforts, visit Spruce at www.townofcary.org or call 469-4301.
Register for youth baseball, softball
Registration for youth baseball (ages 5-18) and softball (ages 8-18) will take place Feb. 1-21. The fee is $44 for Cary residents and $69 for non-residents. To request a registration packet, e-mail Tracey.Hedgpeth@townofcary.org or call 469-4062.
We're asking: What do you think of signs in Cary?
Our Town Council has appointed a special Sign Ordinance Review Task Force to study existing Cary sign regulations.
As this task force considers whether to recommend changes to sign regulations, we’re looking for input from our citizens and business owners in the community.
During the month of January, we are asking you to share your thoughts about signs by completing an online questionnaire.
If you would like to participate in the survey or learn more about this special committee, visit the Sign Ordinance Evaluation Task Force section at www.townofcary.org. A hard copy of the questionnaire is also available at the Town of Cary Planning Department, 316 N. Academy Street, 3rd Floor, through January 31, 2010.
- Cary Art Loop, Jan. 29, 6-9 p.m., at various locations. For information, visit www.caryartloop.org.
- Cary Town Band, Wintering in the Middle East, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m., at Cary Senior Center in Bond Park. Free. For more information, visit www.carytownband.org.
- Cary Players presents Love Bits & Bites: The Fifth Dimension, Feb. 12, 13 & 20, 8 p.m., 14 & 21, 4 p.m., at Page-Walker Arts & History Center. Details at www.caryplayers.org.
- Applause! Cary Youth Theatre presents Improv Comedy Night, Feb. 13, 7 p.m., at Cary Senior Center. Free. For more, call 469-4061.
- Marvelous Music Series: Dukes of Dixieland, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m., at Herbert C. Young Community Center. For information, call 469-4061.
- 11th Annual African-American Celebration, Feb. 21, 11 a.m., at Herb Young Community Center. Free. For information, call 460-4963.
- African-American Literary Tea, Feb. 22, 7 p.m., at Page-Walker. Free. Seating is limited. For information, call 460-4963.
Exhibits
- Lori White: NC Scapes; 2009 AIA Triangle Design Award Winners.
