A nationwide study released recently shows why Cary citizens have reason to feel safe.

Of course, every town must contend with crime, and it pays not to take unnecessary risks. But Cary continues to be among the safest cities in the country.

A publishing and research company out of Kansas has rated the Town as the sixth safest of 322 large cities in the nation based on 1999 crime statistics. That is two spots better than the previous year.

Cary follows only Amherst, N.Y.; Mission Viejo, Calif.; Brick Township, N.J.; Newton, Mass.; and Simi Valley, Calif.

The most dangerous cities are Detroit, Atlanta and St. Louis, according to Morgan Quitno Press’s seventh annual study.

The rankings give equal weight to six categories of crime—murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.

"We’re obviously very happy with our ranking in this year’s study and with the great job our Police Department does every day for the citizens of Cary," said WJ "Windy" Hunter, Cary’s Police Chief. "The Cary Town Council and Town Manager continue to recognize and support the importance of being proactive in conflict resolution, crime prevention, and community involvement."

If you were 225 years old, you’d expect a bang-up a birthday party. Uncle Sam deserves no less.

Your country needs you at Bond Park on July 3 and 4 and at transformed Regency Park Amphitheater July 4 evening.

Show your patriotism by joining the Cary Town Band for an Independence Eve concert at 7 PM July 3 in Bond Park’s Sertoma Amphitheater. It’s free. Call 469-4100 if there’s anything else you want to know.

Then on Monday, July 4, head back to Bond Park for an Independence Day Olde Time Celebration at the lakefront. The day begins at 7:30 AM with registration for a parent-child fishing tournament. Games and other competition will follow fishing. Again, it’s free.

The July 4 Celebration at Regency Park, a Cary tradition, will begin at 6 PM. This year’s celebration will be a special one at Regency as work winds down on the spectacular new amphitheater.

Start this evening of fun for the whole family with a concert by the Cary Town Band. Then the N.C. Symphony will take the stage for a free concert. Cap off the evening with the Triangle’s most spectacular fireworks display.

Letters go out this month to those Cary citizens who will find themselves in new Town Council districts as the fall campaign season approaches.

The Council recently approved boundary changes for its four districts to bring them into population balance as the law requires after a nationwide Census.

Presume your letter is the same if you don’t get a letter in June saying, for example, that you’ve been switched from District A to District B.

Only voters within a district may vote for a district representative, who must also live there. Voters throughout Cary choose the mayor and two at-large representatives.

Bring family or friend to Bond Park’s Sertoma Amphitheater for A Little Summer Night Music: Broadway under the Stars on Saturday, June 30 at 8 PM. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children 12 or younger. Call 469-4061 for more information.

Town of Cary employees want to celebrate the Fourth, too. So don’t forget that Town Government Offices will be closed on Wednesday, July 4. Yard waste will not be collected that week. Tuesday’s solid waste customers will have their material collected on Monday, July 2. Wednesday customers will have collection on Tuesday, July 3. Customers on the Thursday and Friday routes will have solid waste and recycling collection on the usual day … Receive e-mails on Town government news, planning activities and other matters by signing up for the free Electronic Mailing List Service.. Visit the Town’s Web site at townofcary.org and click on the mailing list icon in the upper left corner of the main page.

A backwater valve, AKA check or backflow valve, protects your home or business during regular sewer system maintenance or inadvertent backups.

The North Carolina Building Code requires backwater valves if your plumbing fixtures are below the top of the first upstream manhole on your street. It’s your responsibility to install and maintain a backwater valve.

To find out if you already have a backwater valve, check your plumbing plans or ask your builder or plumber. They have knowledge and equipment to determine if you currently have a backwater valve or if your property is required to have one.

Backwater valves are installed in the sewer service line between your home or business and the Town-maintained cleanout. Where no cleanout exists, the backwater valve is between your building and the sewer main.

It’s important that your backwater valve work properly if you’re required to have one. If sewage backs up into your home, the repair costs could be high.

The Town isn’t liable when the property owner failed to put in a backwater valve. Most homeowner’s policies don’t cover these claims without a rider.

Backwater valves for homes typically cost between $150 and $400, depending on depending on line size, sewer service depth, terrain, and type of pipe. Call your plumber if you have more questions about the valves.

Information about your Town of Cary utilities will be online soon at townofcary.org.

Get complete service, billing and demand information for your account. In July, you’ll even be able to pay the bill online.

Save work and money by learning about landscaping that uses water efficiently. Call the Public Works and Utilities Department at 469-4090 to register for single session workshops. They’re free to Town utility customers.

Here’s the list:

"Warm Season Grasses" Saturday, June 16 from 10-11 AM at Garden Supply Co., 1421 Old Apex Road.

"It All Starts in the Soil" Wednesday, June 20 from 7-8:30 PM at the Cary Chamber of Commerce on North Academy Street downtown.

"Designing a Rainwater Collection System" Saturday, July 14 from 10-11:30 AM at the Senior Center, in Bond Park

"Irrigation System Maintenance and Troubleshooting" Monday, July 16 from 7-8 PM at the Page Walker Arts and History Center on Town Hall campus

Outdoor Water Conservation Tip: Tired of reseeding, watering, and constantly re-working your fescue lawn.. Switch to a warm season grass. Grasses such as Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine, and Zoysia can really take the heat and don’t mind you walking all over them. They grow in the summer and nap when it gets cooler, turning tan around November and getting green again in March. Seed over with a cool season grass if you want a green lawn all winter. Plant warm season grass between May and August. To learn more, check out water conservation at townofcary.org.

Recycling Tip: Recycle only #1, 2, 5, and 7 plastic bottles. The Town does not recycle tub-shaped containers, even if they are numbers 1,2,5, or 7 because tub-shaped containers are made differently from bottle-shaped containers. The manufacturing process gives the plastic different melting points. So remember, only recycle # 1, 2, 5 and 7 containers with a neck that is smaller or skinnier than its base. Got it? If not, call the Public Works folks. They know their plastics.

One last word about the Fourth of July. We want you to have a blast over the holiday, but not by shooting fireworks.

It’s true some are legal in the state now. But Cary firefighters recommend that you head to Regency Park or some other organized fireworks display. Fireworks can badly injure, even kill. Let the experts handle them.

If you insist on buying fireworks this year, reduce your chances of an accident by following these safety tips:

Never light fireworks indoors or near dry grass.

• Always have water or fire extinguisher nearby.
• Don’t wear loose clothing while using fireworks.
• Stand well out of the way when fireworks are being lit.
• Always read warning labels and follow the directions on fireworks.
• Supervise children closely.

For more information and safety tips, call 469-4056.