Terror war prompts precautions in Cary

The tragedy of 9-11 has forever altered how many of us define emergency. From N.Y.C. to Cary, N.C., that now includes terrorism.

We’re all trying to decide how concerned to feel, to act prudently while keeping things in perspective.

For Town officials, this has meant taking precautions without disrupting services or provoking anxiety.

The Town is in contact with local, state and federal authorities for the latest and best information.

Security has been heightened at Town facilities and events. Procedures are in place to handle suspicious situations and substances. Every precaution has been taken to protect the water supply.

In the weeks after the terrorist attacks began, the Town of Cary responded to a couple of dozen calls involving suspicious packages. None involved attempts to harm.

We know you’re anxious, but the Town is doing things to minimize risks. We have many ways to reach you quickly if the need arises.

We cannot ignore what’s happening elsewhere. But let’s lighten up a bit, and get on with our lives.

  red, orange & green

    Road work shifts to overdrive

Do the pulsing tail lights of stop-and-roll traffic have you seeing red?

Those orange barrels going up along more and more roads in Cary signal that relief is on the way.

Surveys on Town growth management initiatives show citizens want to limit home construction until roads and schools catch up.

Those surveys confirm that most citizens are aware of the Town’s emphasis on speeding road construction to improve traffic flow.

In October, widening began on the southernmost section of Walnut Street.

Other projects with the green light are on Davis Drive, Chapel Hill Road, Maynard Road and Cary Parkway. Townofcary.org has details.

Again, orange now means more green, less red, for traffic soon.

Performances are Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 15-17, at 7:30p.m., with a matinee Saturday, the 17th, at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.

Tickets are available at Town Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts facilities or at the door.

For more information about Applause! Cary Youth Theatre, call the Town of Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department at (919) 469-4061.

       lighting the          holiday spirit

After an autumn of trepidation for so many people, the approach of the holiday season brings hope for a return to brighter times.

Help set the holiday season ablaze by joining friends and neighbors outside Town Hall on Sunday, Dec. 2 for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony.

Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a seasonal variety show featuring local talent. Then head next door to the Page-Walker center for an open house and holiday treats.

For the home, buy a tree that is fresh and not shedding its needles. Trim at least an inch off the trunk and use a "no-tip" stand. Position the tree away from heat sources and escape routes. Water daily and remove soon after Christmas. Artificial trees should be flame-retardant.

Replacement lights should be new and independent laboratory-tested.

   It’s not easy being     you, or is it?

But it wasn’t merchandise that the unidentified man and woman were scanning at a store in Cary on Sept. 20. It was unsuspecting shoppers.

As the man purported to help the woman with the price scanner in one of the aisles, she repeatedly bumped into an unsuspecting customer from behind.

When the customer went to check out, she realized her wallet was missing from her purse. At that time, someone used her card for large purchases at stores nearby.

Investigators believe that this incident may be tied to other identity theft crimes, including car break-ins in which purses and wallets left in plain view were taken and quickly used to make large purchases.

Cary Police warn people to guard credit cards and other identifying materials closely. Do not leave wallets or purses where thieves can spot and easily steal them.

Trust us on the math here—your cat and her descendants could produce hundreds of thousands of kittens in just seven years.

And you thought all cats did was hang around and sleep all day.

Here’s another number for you— pet overpopulation costs taxpayers a billion dollars a year.

Pets live an average of two or three years longer if they are spayed or neutered. Spaying or neutering prevents some types of deadly cancers in pets.

The expense for the procedures is low. For more information, call the Wake County Animal Shelter at (919) 250-1475.

The Town of Cary has opened a community center on the Middle Creek High School campus, next to Middle Creek Park.

Middle Creek Community Center has activity and meeting space and a gymnasium. It is off Optimist Farm Road at the southern edge of Cary.

The community center was a collaboration between the Town of Cary and Wake County Public Schools.

The community center, high school and first phase of the park were one project .

The community center includes an auxiliary gym that belongs to the high school, but will be available for others to use after school hours.

The Parks, Greenways and Bikeways Master Plan called for six community centers by 2010. Middle Creek is the third community center and the second to open since the February 1999 bond referendum.

In addition to opening the community center, the Town is finishing phase one of Middle Creek Park.

The park is scheduled to open in spring 2002 with eight tennis courts as well as four softball fields surrounding a tower with concessions and restrooms. The Town and school will share facilities.

The second phase will include walking trails, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, a playground and picnic pavilion.

Town Government offices will be closed Dec. 24-26, 2001 for Christmas.

Yard waste will not be collected during the holiday week to allow time to complete collection routes.

Tuesday’s customers will have household garbage, curbside trash and recycling material collected on Monday, Dec 24.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday customers will have materials collected during the holiday week on the normal schedule.

                             Calling all advisers

    Preserve purges pesky plants

Want to work out some of your frustrations while helping out at one of Cary’s treasure spots?

Teenagers and adults are needed at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 2-4 p.m. to help pull up plants that don’t belong there.

Bring your work gloves and enjoy a sweaty workout and grab hold of honeysuckle, privet and other exotic plant pests. This will give native wildflowers and shrubs a chance to thrive.

Pre-registration is required. The workday will be canceled if too few participants sign up. Call (919) 387-5980 to register yourself or group. Light refreshments will be provided to keep you pulling.

Hemlock Bluffs is on Kildaire Farm Road in southern Cary.