The Results Are In: Citizen Satisfaction
With Local Government Continues To Rise;
Growth Remains Top Concern

The results are in from the Town of Cary’s second biannual citizen survey which gave a group of Cary residents the opportunity to voice their opinions on how well their government works. A total of 403 Cary households were randomly selected for the scientific survey and interviewed by telephone from January 6 through February 21, 2000.

Topics on the 41-item survey ranged from customer service and public safety to mass transit, quality of life, and funding options for open space. This was the second Town-sponsored survey aimed at the broad range of tasks handled each day by the Town. Unlike Cary's first biannual survey conducted in 1998, researchers this year were able to compare changes in citizen opinion by comparing results on many questions from both surveys.

"Once again, we’re very happy with the results," said Town Manager Bill Coleman. "We are constantly trying to find ways to work smarter and be more responsive, and it’s good to know that our citizens feel good about Cary, about the services they receive, and about the people who provide those services."

IMPORTANT ISSUES: Problems related to rapid growth is the most important issue facing the Town of Cary, according to responses to an open-ended question. In fact, it was mentioned over 200 times by the respondents. This was followed by water concerns (86), traffic/roads (63), the need for new schools/ education (46), improving the infrastructure (7), and affordable housing (5). These appear to be peripheral issues related to the larger issue of managing growth. These issues virtually mirror those given in the 1998 survey. The only difference overall was the school issues ranked second, not fourth. The others are in the same order. In that survey, rapid growth was mentioned a total of 196 times.

To a second open-ended question, respondents said that if they could act as the Mayor, Town Manager, and Town Council all rolled into one, the one action they’d take to improve Cary would be to slow growth (mentioned 148 times). Other actions include improving the water system (50), building more schools/education (42), improving roads and traffic (41), better communication with the community (10), build a better infrastructure (10), affordable housing (7), less taxes (7), allow citizens more input on growth issues (6), and keeping the streets clean (6).

As a follow-up to the survey, the Town plans to conduct several focus groups later this year. These focus groups will provide an opportunity for the Town and selected citizens to discuss specific issues in greater detail. Cary contracted with BKL Research of Salem, VA to conduct the study at a cost of $14,150. The margin of error for Cary’s survey is plus or minus five percent, and a copy of the survey findings from both 1998 and 2000 are available on the Town’s website, www.townofcary.org.

Heritage Day

The Cary Museum opens on Friday night May 19^th, and the entire Town will celebrate the Heritage Day, Saturday, May 20^th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the grounds of the Page-Walker and Town Hall Campus. The day will be filled with historic re-enactments, heritage arts & crafts demonstrations, horse-drawn carriage rides, special exhibits inside Page-Walker, and tours of the museum. Don’t miss this chance to re-live Cary’s past! FREE and open to the public.

Banjo In The Hollow Sertoma Amphitheatre, Bond Park

Sunday, May 7, 1-6 PM, kick back and enjoy an afternoon of Bluegrass Music. This mini bluegrass festival features five of the area’s best bands. It’s a FREE event and open to bluegrass lovers and those who are just bluegrass curios. Ya’ll Come!

Art Quilts On Exhibit At Page-Walker

"Art Quilts: Encompassing the Past and Future," will be exhibited May 7-31 in the main gallery at Page-Walker Arts & History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop in Cary. The opening reception is Sunday, May 7, from 2-4 PM. Works by the following fifteen quilt artists, many of whom are nationally known,
are included:

D.D. Blackerby, Hollis Chatelain, Marguerite Jay Gignoux, Jane Hall, Lynette Hallmark, Delores Hamilton, Ann Harwell, Abigail Livingood, Susie Mallard, Pamela Westin Missimer, Julie Mullin, Sonja Shogren, Susie Williams, Amy Stewart Winsor, and Sherri Wood.

The exhibit originated as part of planning for the first annual Cary Heritage Day, to be held May 20 on the grounds of the Page-Walker Arts & History Center. Traditional quilts which are antecedents to the art quilts exhibited will also be displayed. The show is curated by Amy Stewart Winsor.

Public hours for the Page-Walker Arts & History Center are Monday-Wednesday 10 AM-9:30 PM; Thursday 10 AM-5 PM; and Friday, 10 AM-1 PM. Phone 460-4963 for information about weekend hours. The gallery at Page-Walker is a program of the Town of Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department.

Holiday Trash Pick-Up

Good Friday Holiday: Town of Cary Government Offices will be closed on Friday, April 21^st in observance of Good Friday. Yard waste will not be collected during the holiday week. Household garbage, curbside trash and recycling material will be collected one day early during the week of the holiday.

Memorial Day Holiday: Town of Cary Government Offices will be closed on Monday, May 29^th in observance of Memorial Day. Yard waste will not be collected during the holiday week. Household garbage, curbside trash and recycling material will be collected on a normal schedule.

Spring Clean for Fire Safety

How Fire Safe are Your Basement, Garage, and Storage Areas?

• Store gasoline and other flammables outside your home.

• Store oily, greasy rags in labeled, sealed metal containers.

• Never use flammable liquids near sparks, heat, open flame (such as a pilot light) or while smoking.
  Note: Flammable liquids include linseed oil, gasoline, paints, paint thinners, strippers, acetone, and adhesives.

• Never use an open flame after spilling flammable fluid on your hands and clothing.

For more information contact the Cary Fire Department @ 469-4056.

Mother Nature and
International Migratory Bird Day Celebration!

International Migratory Bird Day is Saturday, May 13^th and Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14^th. The Stevens Nature Center is celebrating both of these special days with one BIG CELEBRATION, Mother‘s Day, Sunday, May 14^th, 1-5 PM! So mark your calendars and plan to join the Stevens Nature Center staff for this fun and educational family event. There will be various educational displays and workstations with lots of free information, exciting activities, and crafts for all ages featuring, of course, our feathered friends. Bring your family, bring your friends, and join us for this fun-filled celebration at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve. Call 387-5980 with questions about this event.

Jamfest 2000

A celebration of Cary Youth on "Youth Matter to Cary" Day. Master of ceremonies is Bill Jordan of MIX 101.5, WRAL-FM. Appearances by Mean Gene and Slappy, magician Thom Wright and Rubicon Drama. Special theme song "What Matters" by Edwin McCain. This event will be at Bond Park in the Sertoma Amphitheater on Saturday, May 13^th, 2-8 PM, and is FREE to the public. For more information about this event or to find out how your youth group or agency can become involved, call Sonya Snyder at 460-4965.

Conservation Corner

Outdoor Water Conservation Tip: Do not over water your lawn. Over watering creates shallow roots, which increases your lawn's vulnerability to drought and disease. It also reduces the effectiveness of your fertilizer. If you water regularly, your lawn needs only 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall. Summertime irrigation nearly doubles the demand for water from our water system. If you choose to water your lawn, please be responsible by using water efficiently and irrigating intelligently.

Indoor Water Conservation Tip: Seventy percent of the water used indoors is used in the bathroom. Save water by disposing of tissues, insects, and other trash in a wastebasket rather than flushing it down the toilet; taking shorter showers; and turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth or shaving.

Recycling Tips: Use the bungee cord underneath the lip of your recycling bin to secure your recyclables. If your cord is broken, call 469-4090 to get a new one. Used motor oil is collected and recycled free of charge by the Town. Place it in a closed container labeled "USED MOTOR OIL" and call 469-4090 to schedule a special curbside pick-up, FREE of charge.