Zip change means thousands really can call Cary home

The Postal Service is switching about 4,900 addresses from Apex or Morrisville to Cary with a different zip code—27519.

The long-awaited change is scheduled to occur July 1 in Berkeley, Wellsley, West Park, Ashley Woods, Chesney Glen, Landsdowne and the Reserve subdivisions, among others.

Roughly, boundaries are N.C. 55, Davis Drive, and High House, Green Level Church and Holt roads.

For years, the Town has lobbied on behalf of residents who wanted their mailing addresses to match the town in which they live.

However, the Postal Service does not base addresses on municipal boundaries, but considers volume at various post offices.

Tell friends, family and bill collectors if your zip code is changing. You must notify the state Division of Motor Vehicles in Raleigh of the address change by calling (919) 715-7000.

You don’t have to change your driver’s license until renewal time. But do it for free at this time by taking the postal notification letter with you to a driver’s license office. There’s one at the train station in downtown Cary.

The Town and the Postal Service are working with the county Board of Elections and the county School System to update their records. You needn’t call them.

We’ll update our records, too.

return to
sender

Want your money back?

If you’re on a list of about 150 people, we could be holding it for you. And we’re going the extra mile to return the money.

This includes thousands of dollars in deposits and overpayments we’ve been unable to return. Amounts range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. Eventually, we turn the money over to the state, and they hold it for you.

Check Unclaimed Money in Site Index on townofcary.org. We update it monthly.

we never shut up

If you don’t believe us, set the alarm for 3 a.m. and give us a call at (919) 319-4500.

Anyone with a touch tone phone can now hear more than 250 new and improved messages by using our upgraded 24-Hour Town Hall automated service. You can also use it for faxes of more than 30 documents from townofcary.org.

In eight years, the popularity of 24-Hour Town Hall has grown to 6,000 calls a month. But feature limitations and inability to service the system led to a $28,450 upgrade recently.

The system has multilingual and polling capabilities. It can call about bad weather, water breaks and other emergencies. Don’t worry—no telemarketing forms.

blue light
special

The Cary Police Department’s Operation Slowdown got off to a fast start.

The six-week crackdown against speeding resulted in more than 1,800 citations of various kinds during the first three weeks.

The more than 850 speeding citations included 138 for 16-20 mph over the limit and 43 for more than 20 mph over the limit.

Officers also issued more than 300 seat-belt citations during that time—from May 1-20.

Officers focused on areas with high accident rates, including major thoroughfares and residential streets with many speeding complaints. Speed was a factor in a third of accidents last year.

Most of us non-essential types will be off July 4. So most of you will have your garbage collected on a different day that week.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday customers will have household garbage, curbside trash and recyclables picked up one day earlier. Friday customers will be on the usual schedule.

Crews will skip Monday yard waste collection that week to empty everyone’s garbage.

With our 24-Hour Town Hall system, we’ll be there for you. We just may not be here.

Bud Bits

July 3

Carolina Arts Festival presents "Broadway Rocks for the Arts" at Regency Park amphitheatre.

The Cary Town Band will give a free concert at 7 p.m. in Sertoma Amphitheater at Bond Park.

An Independence Day "olde time" celebration will be at Bond Lake from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

At Regency Park, the Carolina Arts Festival will resume with organization booths and entertainment. Entry on this day is free.

The Cary Town Band takes the Regency stage at 6 p.m. The symphony’s performance follows, capped by fireworks.

For details, visit townofcary.org or call (919) 469-4061.

Wednesday, July 3

Sunday, July 21

Wednesday, Aug. 14

Friday, Aug. 16

Sunday, Aug. 18

Friday, Aug. 30

Work continues on widening and straightening Walnut Street between Dillard Drive and Holly Springs Road.

In early May, traffic was shifted onto the new section. Signal timing, lane markings and signs have been addressed, and you can expect a much smoother commute.

We’ll continue to watch traffic flow at the intersections and adjust things as needed. Call the Engineering Department at (919) 469-4030 if you have concerns or suggestions.

fescue freedom / grass pass

Tired of fighting to keep your fescue lawn looking good in summertime?

Learn about warm season grasses such as St. Augustine, Centipede, Zoysia, and Bermuda at a free workshop Saturday, July 13. Call (919) 469-4090 for details. If we’re reaching you too late for that, keep checking Water Conservation on townofcary.org for more workshops.

The Town provides three-week exceptions to the Alternate Day Watering Ordinance for sowing warm season grasses between April 15 and Aug. 31 and for reseeding or sodding fescue between Sept. 15 and Nov. 30.

For more information or to request an exception online, call 469-4090 or check Alternate Day Watering on the Web site.

The Alternate Day ordinance allows folks with odd-number addresses to water with automatic systems or sprinklers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Those with even-number addresses can do so on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. No automated watering is allowed on Mondays.

Hand-held devices including hoses, wands and cans may be used any day.

pool buoy

If you’re filling your swimming pool for the summer, we’ll float your spirits and sink your water bill for a month.

Once a year, the Town will waive the sewer charge for filling a swimming pool. The change also waives the penalty rate on water charges so that the highest charge for filling the pool would be the irrigation rate. For details call Finance at (919) 469-4050.

Cutting the grass may not be fun, but at least you can do it safely.

You’re probably already watchful about keeping your hands and feet away from the blade. But are you as careful when refueling?

Cary firefighters remind you to follow these tips for mowers and other lawn maintenance equipment:

• Store only the amount of gasoline that you need.
• Keep gasoline outside the house and in a container that is clearly marked.
• Store gasoline away from heat sources and flame.
• Refuel outdoors, away from things that catch fire easily.
• Turn off equipment and let it cool before refueling.
• Wipe up any spills and move the equipment at least 10 feet away from the fueling area before starting the engine.