Campus Activism – Building Progresses on Town Hall Campus

We’ve reached another milestone in expanding Town Hall campus to serve you better.

The addition to the office building at 318 N. Academy St. opened in December. Inspections and Permits is on the first floor. Engineering is on the second. Planning is on the third.

This building is closest to North Academy . We’re renovating the older portion. For now, enter from the community center side.

Meanwhile, work continues on renovation of the old Town Hall at 316 N. Academy St. and on a new council chambers that will tie into the two office buildings. Look for completion in mid-2005.

After all the work, we’ll bring Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources and also Human Resources back home to provide you with “one stop shopping.”

The first big pieces in our Town Hall campus project were the new parking garage and office building at 120 Wilkinson Ave. That building is for our Police and Technology Services departments. Temporarily, Finance and Administration are there, too. See customer service on the second floor regarding utility bills, privilege licenses or tax payments.

For photos, directions and other details, see Town Hall Expansion under Current Projects at www.townofcary.org.

When Passing is Failing – Flunking Those Who Don’t Stop for School Buses

Nationwide, school buses take more than 23 million children to school each day.  That’s why bus safety is so important.

Since 1991 more than 200 school age children have been killed in school bus related accidents.  Two-thirds of these accidents involved school buses versus pedestrians. One-third involved vehicles that struck children while passing stopped buses. 

Bus drivers in North Carolina report an average of 1,700 passing violations per day.

The only situation that allows for passing a stopped school bus occurs when a driver meets a stopped school bus on a four-lane roadway divided either by a median or a center turn lane. 

Penalties for passing a stopped school bus include up to 90 days in jail, a $200 fine, 5 driver’s license points, and a 90 percent increase in automobile insurance rates for three years. 

Let’s drive carefully and be especially watchful around buses.

Keeping Your Toilet from Using You

Has your water bill skyrocketed or gradually crept upwards?

Typical toilet leaks can waste 6,000 gallons per month. A stuck flapper can waste even more water very quickly.

Call us at (919) 469-4090 for a Toilet Training Tutorial and dye tablets to detect and fix leaks. You can look under Site Index at www.townofcary.org.

An Employee for All Seasons

Colleagues describe her as a dynamic and cheerful person with the respect of everyone she meets.

Since beginning as a seasonal employee seven years ago, Kim Baker has advanced to interim wastewater collections field supervisor. She has responsibility for eight employees.

Away from work, Kim is a surrogate mother to six children.

 She also volunteers for a Saint Andrews Church program that feeds needy families.

“Kim exemplifies the kind of people we strive to hire and retain in service to the citizens of Cary ,” Town Manager Bill Coleman said Dec. 8 at the annual employees luncheon.

A panel chose Kim from 14 finalists as the top employee in our workforce of 1,037. She received a plaque and a $1,000 savings bond.

Our Employee of the Year program began in 1989 to recognize employees who consistently perform well beyond what the job description requires.

For details, check under Site Index on www.townofcary.org.

Bud Bits

Chris Parisher, manager of the North Cary Water Reclamation Facility, earned a statewide award in November.  

The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources presented Parisher with the Wilbur E. Long Award.

The Operator of the Year honor recognizes knowledge and innovation in wastewater system operation and promotes training.

Fire Chief Allan Cain was among the recipients of the 2004 Goodmon Awards.

Cain and the fire chiefs of Raleigh , Durham and Chapel Hill were recognized for their partnership on regional issues.

They formed a 120-member Urban Search and Rescue Team to respond in natural disasters, building collapses and terrorism.

The purpose is to improve safety in Cary and the region by sharing resources.

A Wingding of Swing

Herbert C. Young Community Center will be transformed into a dance hall of the Big Band era on Friday evening, Feb. 11.

The Marvelous Music Series presents the Artie Shaw Orchestra. It features Dick Johnson on clarinet performing some of the most popular music of all times, including “Stardust,” “Begin the Beguine,” and “Moonglow.” 

Ticket holders will be treated to a free swing dance lesson beginning at 6:30 p.m.  

The music begins at 7:30 p.m. Sit and enjoy the concert or swing the night away on the dance floor. 

Tickets are on sale now.  Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for children. Call (919) 469-4061 for more information.

Diamond Days

Our youth baseball and softball programs stress fun, participation, sportsmanship and development.

Baseball - T-Ball (coed) – ages 6-7; Mite (coed) – ages 7-8; Mustang - ages 9-10; Bronco - ages 11-12; Pony - ages 13-14; Colt - ages 15-16; Sr. Babe Ruth - ages 17 - 19. (Ages as of 7/31/05 . Submit birth certificate for 6 year olds at registration.)

Softball - Machine Flat Pitch - ages 8-10; Fast Pitch: 12 & under - ages 11–12; 16 & under - ages 13-16; Slow Pitch: Minor – ages 11-12; Junior – ages 13-16 (Ages as of 1/1/05) Girls 17 & up may play Spring Women’s Slow Pitch softball

Registration - Mail-in only – Feb. 7-11 (postmark priority Feb. 3-5) – All Cary residents plus non-residents returning to same league; Mail- in/walk-in – Feb. 14-20 – All Cary residents plus non-residents returning to same league; Walk-in only – Feb. 21-27 – All Cary residents & non-residents. For registration form, call (919) 469-4062 now or see Sport Registration Forms online after Jan. 31.

Fees - Cary residents - $30 for ages 6-12 & $44 for ages 13-19; Non–residents - $50 for ages 6-12; $64 for ages 13-19

Power Buys – Saving on Energy Costs

Want to save on your electric bill this season? Progress Energy offers tips for around the house.

Heat— Set the thermostat as low as possible, such as 68 – 70 degrees.  With an electric heat pump, you can adjust the thermostat down at night by 5 -10 degrees to save 20 percent.

However, you really need controls to keep the strip heat from coming on.  If you don't have a programmable thermostat, pick one setting and leave it there.

Hot Water—Set the water heater no higher than 140 degrees. If you’re gone from home more than two days, switch off the breaker to the water heater.  Add an insulating blanket to an older water heater. Also, solar water heating systems do work.

Lighting—Install lower wattage bulbs. Install compact fluorescent lamps in place of incandescent bulbs.

Electronic Devices—Turn off computers when not in use and unplug VCRs and stereos.

Dryers—Dry  loads in succession, while the dryer is warm.

Refrigerators—Clean the coils periodically. Replace worn door gaskets.

For more details, please visit www.progress-energy.com.

History Lessons through Music

Join us at Herbert C. Young Community Center on Saturday, Feb. 19 for Cary ’s seventh annual celebration of African-American history.

Admission is free to the event. It will be from 1 - 5 p.m.

See exhibits of local art and artifacts, books and clothing. Enjoy family entertainment. Refreshments and activities for children will also be available.

This year’s theme is “Musical Tradition as Practiced by African People in the Diaspora.”

For more information, call (919) 460-4963.

Controlled Burning – Clearing Away Common Hazards in Using the Fireplace

Here’s some advice from Cary firefighters on how to keep fireplace fires in their place.

Clear the area around the fireplace and chimney. Check the flue for obstructions such as birds’ nests.

Trim any overhanging branches near the chimney.

Always use a fireplace screen.

When building a fire, place logs at the rear of the fireplace, preferably on a grate.

Never overload the fireplace with logs. Never burn garbage, Christmas trees, or piles of paper.

Keep a fire extinguisher on hand and place smoke detectors throughout the house. Test detectors. 

Ensure the extinguisher works properly and that everyone knows how to use it.

Never leave fire unattended. Make sure the fire is out before you go to bed.

Have your fireplace inspected annually. For cleaning, use someone certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

  For more safety tips, call Cary firefighters at (919) 469-4056.  

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