Task force meetings are scheduled for the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., alternating between towns.

The first meeting, on Nov. 7, is at Cary Senior Center. The second is Dec. 5 at the Garner Town Hall Board Room.

The purpose of the task force is to articulate and prioritize the most critical assignment issues and work with the Wake County School Board to resolve them in a positive manner.

Cary Mayor Glen Lang has appointed 10 representatives to the group. Garner Mayor Sam Bridges has also made appointments.

Schools are not a direct Town government responsibility in Cary or in other Wake County towns. However, education is such an important issue that Cary Town leaders are working to help in whatever ways they can.

Read more on the School Issues page in the Current Projects section of townofcary.org.

We’re unveiling the new Land Development Ordinance and zoning map this month and holding meetings about it.

The ordinance, or LDO, regulates how all land may be subdivided and used within Cary and its planning territory. It controls zoning, building appearance, landscaping, signs, parking and other aspects of development.

The LDO will replace the Unified Development Ordinance, which was adopted in 1992.

The new ordinance reflects the many changes in Cary and the region over the past decade. We want to emphasize protection of the environment through such things as open space preservation. We want to encourage development that will revitalize downtown. And we want homeowners and developers to find more predictability in development procedures.

To avoid confusion during the changeover, the Town is putting a temporary hold on new rezoning and planned unit development applications after Nov. 4 until next May. Pre-application meetings will continue as before.

Find the Land Development Ordinance in the Current Projects section of townofcary.org.

Homes and businesses can again use sprinklers and irrigation systems three times each week.

Cary held off easing restrictions until state officials said they were comfortable that the drought had eased sufficiently.

• Odd number addresses—Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
• Even number addresses—Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
• Mondays– no automated watering.
• Watering by hand OK anytime

See the Web site for details.

Cary voters approved $139 million in community bonds in 1999. They knew that bonds are the fastest, cheapest way to finance construction projects to maintain our high quality of life.

Let’s check in for a small sample of the progress so far:

• Expansion of the water treatment plant — DONE
• A park at the Green Hope schools—DONE
• A park at the Middle Creek schools—DONE
• White Oak Park –DONE
• Widening of Walnut Street between Dillard Drive and Holly Springs Road —DONE
• Widening of Maynard Road between Kildaire Farm and Seabrook — nearly DONE

Projects in the works include more water storage tanks, new interchanges along US 1/64 at Walnut Street and at Cary Parkway, and extension of Black Creek Greenway.

Stay up to date on your favorite projects by visiting the Current Projects section of the Web site.

Subscribe to the Town’s free e-mail service and get the latest on topics of your choice. Click on "Email Service" in the Shortcuts menu of townofcary.org.

South Wake Transfer Station takes household hazardous wastes the third Saturday of every month from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. The station is at 6000 Old Smithfield Road, off N.C. 55 south of Apex. Wastes accepted include pesticides, household cleaners, poisons, paints, batteries, solvents, used motor oil, antifreeze and much more. Call (919) 287-8051 anytime for details. It’s not too late to volunteer for any of the boards and commissions that advise the Town Council. The deadline is Dec. 2. For more information, call or e-mail Deputy Town Clerk Karen Gray at (919) 469-4011 or kgray@ci.cary.nc.us.

You already have enough company for Thanksgiving.

So to avoid adding Cary firefighters to your guest list (you can imagine how hungry they get), we offer this menu of fire prevention tips:

Never leave cooking food on the stovetop unattended. Keep close check on what’s inside the oven.

Keep cooking areas clean and clear of things that catch fire easily such as potholders, towels, rags, drapes and food packages.

Shoo children and pets away by creating a 3-foot "kid-free zone" around the stove.

Turn pot handles inward so they can't be bumped and small children can't reach them.

Wear short, close fitting or tightly rolled sleeves.

Never use a wet oven mitt. You can get scalded if moisture inside the mitt gets hot.

Keep a potholder, oven mitt and lid handy. If a small grease fire starts in a pan, put on an oven mitt and smother the flames by carefully sliding the lid over the pan. Turn off the burner.

Never pour water on a grease fire. Don’t discharge a fire extinguisher onto a pan fire since it can spread burning grease.

If there is an oven fire, turn the oven off and keep the door closed. Unplug burning microwave ovens.

Call (919) 469-4056 for more safety tips. And enjoy your feast.

You’ve got a million things to do for the holidays—groceries, presents. The in-laws are coming and your spouse hasn’t gotten back with the car from a business trip. You’re stressing. What to do?

Switch on the holiday spirit at the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony Dec. 8 outside Town Hall.

Then walk over to the Page-Walker Arts and History Center for an open house. It’s all free.

Master of ceremonies will be Steve Daniels, a Cary resident and WTVD news anchor.

Friends of the Page-Walker provide decorations. Visit Cary Heritage Museum and enjoy music and refreshments. Get free water-saving devices such as showerheads, faucet aerators, etc.

Yard waste will not be collected during Christmas and New Year’s weeks. Here are schedules for garbage, trash and recyclables:

New Year’s Week
Tuesday customers receive collection on Monday, Dec. 30; Wednesday customers receive it on Tuesday, Dec. 31; Thursday and Friday customers receive collection on the usual days.

The Town is updating plans for Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources facilities.

Many projects in a 1998 master plan have been finished. Meanwhile, Cary has continued to grow and change.

That’s why the Town Council has approved updating to guide facility development for the next decade. The final plan is due next spring.

Cultural arts facilities will be a new component. Bicycles are now part of the Transportation Plan.

To find out what activities residents enjoy, a survey was mailed to thousands of randomly chosen residents. A questionnaire will also be on townofcary.org. Responses will be taken until Nov. 25.

At a meeting in late January, the public can comment on the draft.

For more details, see the Recreation section of the Web site.

Tree Trimming (ages 5-11)
Tuesday, Dec. 3, 4-6 p.m.
Herbert C. Young Center
Call (919) 460-4965
$5-Cary residents; others-$6

Tree Trimming (55& older)
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2-4 p.m.
Cary Senior Center
Register at (919) 469-4081
Free (entertainment, etc.)

Cary Teen Council’s food drive and free Christmas party features crafts and other fun for kids 12 and under. It’s Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.—noon at the Herb Young Center. Call (919) 460-4965 after Nov. 18 for details.

Recycling Tip: Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than any other time of year. It amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra tons per week. Cut unnecessary packaging. Select products made from recycled materials. Educate others on source reduction and recycling. Consider reusable products such as bags and containers.