Water...
It makes up most of our bodies and covers most of Earth. But drinking supplies are becoming increasingly scarce.

Last year, Cary extended stream buffer rules to the Jordan Lake watershed to help protect the water supply.

That’s compared to a high of 13 percent in 1995.

Town officials responded to calls for smarter, slower growth. Management initiatives include capping building permits, raising impact fees, and linking development approval to adequate roads and schools.

If you’re on the patio, feel free to stop and smack.

The Town has been getting more calls about mosquitoes than usual. So you’re not suffering alone.

"This year has been a very good year, or you could say bad year, for mosquitoes," said Mike Bajorek, Public Works Director.

Before you slap yourself silly, wipe out breeding places for mosquitoes by covering unused pools, unclogging gutters, and changing water bowls and bird baths at least twice a week. Hunt for other sources of standing water.

Use repellents with DEET—30 percent or less for adults, 10 percent or less for children.

Do those chores Friday night if you have to, but save Saturday, Aug. 25 for something fun—the annual Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival in downtown Cary.

This is the Silver Anniversary for the festival, which includes music and other entertainment, food, and hundreds of artists and food from different parts of the country.

The festival will be from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is free.

For at least the next year, expect slower going during "rush" hour on Southeast Maynard Road, especially at Kildaire Farm Road.

Construction crews will begin work around July 30, widening to five lanes up to Seabrook Avenue. Watch for traffic tie-ups as people turn left into driveways since the road will narrow from three lanes to two during construction. Occasionally, crews must stop traffic briefly.

Sidewalks will go on both sides.

Metal mast arms will replace wooden poles for the traffic signal at the intersection with Kildare Farm Road.

Town Hall offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3 for the Labor Day holiday. Yard waste will not be collected that week. Crews will return to work Tuesday and gather household garbage, curbside trash and recyclable materials on the usual schedule. …

September 14 is the last day to register or to notify the Wake County Board of Elections of a new address to vote in the Oct. 9 Town Council elections. Apply for absentee ballots starting Sept. 10. Three seats are up for election this year—District A, District C and an At-large seat. August 10 is the filing deadline for Council candidates. …

Sign up for the electronic mailing list service for Town of Cary news. Find the registration form for the email service under Shortcuts or News on the townofcary.org home page.

Cary’s yearly smoke testing of sewer lines gets under way in early September and will last upwards of six weeks.

The purpose is to check for leaks in the sewer system that can let water in and odor out.

This year crews will be using smoke to test lines in two areas.

One area is bounded by Old Apex and Southwest Maynard roads, Southwest Cary Parkway and Lake Pine Drive.

The other area is between Kildaire Farm Road and Walnut Street, north of U.S. 1 & 64. Most of the territory is below Southeast Maynard Road.

The special smoke leaves no stains and will not harm plants or animals. But people who have asthma, emphysema or another respiratory condition should notify the Town to discuss testing in greater detail.

Although most people will never see or smell the smoke, the Town wants people to know about the tests.

If you see or smell the smoke in your home or workplace during testing, tell Utility crews right away because sewer odors may seep into the building, too.

For more information, call Public Works & Utilities at 469-4090.

A fire extinguisher can save your property, even your life, by putting out a small fire or containing a larger one until help arrives. But used the wrong way, an extinguisher can make things worse.

Fire extinguishers are designed for specific types of fires. For example, never use a pressurized water extinguisher on a grease fire because it could make the fire flare and spread.

The best extinguisher for the home is the ABC type for the three basic classes of fire—ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth and paper; flammable liquids; and electrical equipment.

Remember the "PASS word" when using an extinguisher. Stand 6 to 8 feet away with your back to an unobstructed way out. Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle, Squeeze the handle and Sweep. Watch to see if the fire re-ignites.

An alternative is to get out immediately and call 911.

Advanced Compost Education - Learn about your compost bin and whether it’s doing the job.

• Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10-11 a.m. at the Compost Education Center in Bond Park

From 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., buy your own Earth Machine Backyard Compost Bin for $30 (including tax). Cash and check only please.

"It All Starts in the Soil" - Learn the importance of preparing your soil to have healthy landscaping that uses less water.

• Tuesday, Sept. 11 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Cary Chamber of Commerce. Registration is required. Call 469-4090.

• Tuesday, Oct. 2, 7-8:30 p.m. at Stevens Nature Center.

Townofcary.org has a new look and has been repackaged to make it easier to weave through the 50,000 files.

The Web site has a more topical approach, with home page buttons to help you find programs and services whether or not you know which departments handle them. A New to Cary? section provides newcomers with some basics to begin settling into town.

Within a year, the site will be easier for disabled persons to use. Look for utility payment and recreation program registration, too.

August 1 is the launch day for C-Tran, the new door-to-door transportation service for Cary citizens who are at least 55 years old or disabled.

C-Tran operates Monday through Saturday. Trips are $2 one-way in Cary and $4 one-way elsewhere.

Riders must register first. Call the Cary Senior Center at 469-4081 for more information.

Interested in environmental issues such as water conservation and recycling?

Cary needs block leaders to help spread the word on such topics. Each spring or early summer, they attend an hour of orientation on the Town’s water conservation campaign and related issues. They distribute information packets to neighbors.

Block leaders aren’t responsible for enforcing any laws or rules.

Block leaders will cover a fourth of Cary by September.

If your street is not included, call Marie DelForge, Water Conservation Assistant, at 469-4387 for more information.. Send email to mdelforg@ci.cary.nc.us.

Recycling Tip: When recycling steel cans, please remember to remove the lids and throw them away. The edges of the lids are sharp and can hurt family and collection crews. Rinse to help keep bees and ants away.

Water Conservation Tip: Use the Town's new Utility Billing Online service to determine whether your water usage is efficient, average or above average. Homes built since 1994 typically use about 58 gallons per person per day compared with 73 gallons a day for older homes. For advice on cutting back, check out the water conservation pages at townofcary.org or call 469-4090.

Storm water Tip: Grass clippings are a great source of nitrogen - food for your lawn & garden. Use a mulching mower to return grass clippings to the lawn or add them to your compost to use later in the garden. If you need to get rid of grass clippings, bag them for yard waste pickup. But never dump them on a stream bank or blow them down storm drains. All that nitrogen causes algae blooms and fish kills in streams and lakes.