But Cary leaders are writing a primer on a town’s role in addressing a top concern for areas that rapid growth has transformed.

Schools in Cary aren’t run from Town Hall. But Town leaders understand that the choices they make can affect how well things run in classrooms throughout Cary.

Teachers are united on one important point—kids can’t learn if teachers can’t teach. So it is vital to alleviate crowding and other conditions that hinder the connection between teacher and student.

Cary is determined to help create the best possible atmosphere for students and teachers by providing adequate classrooms and other facilities.

That’s why the Town Council adopted an Adequate Public Facilities ordinance in 1999 linking approval of residential developments with classroom space for the children who would live there.

Cary asks that developers help provide adequate space for schools as new developments go up so that when kids head off to school, each has a desk in an uncrowded classroom.

At the same time, Cary leaders recognize that school crowding is a regional issue, not just one for the Town. Cary leaders hope that other communities will follow with similar linkage of development approval and classroom space throughout the Wake County Public School System.

When managed properly, growth can be good for everyone. Town leaders realize that inviting developers to join long-range planning for schools early on can spell success over the long haul.

That way, no teacher, parent or child is left out in the cold while leaders scramble to solve problems late in the game.

A hearty response in a time of need

Cary citizens have opened their hearts, and their checkbooks, in memory of emergency services workers and others who perished in the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Cary firefighters collected more than $164,000 for the families of emergency services workers who were killed in New York.

"This was all about firefighters helping firefighters," said Wayne House, Cary’s Fire Chief, noting that many Cary citizens lost friends or relatives in the attacks.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross was deluged with offers of blood donation for the victims.

But with eight candidates in the At-large race and three in District A, a runoff in at least one race seems likely.

The second-place finisher can call a runoff if the top finisher fails to win a majority. If there are any runoffs, they will be held Nov. 6.

If you prefer narrow roads and curves, head for the southern end of Walnut Street while you can.

Work is beginning on a .8-mile stretch of Walnut between Centrum Shopping Center and Holly Springs Road. And most Cary drivers will like what they see when construction winds down around the fall of 2002.

The $5.3 million project includes realignment to remove two curves and widening from two lanes to six.

Singer and songwriter Kate Campbell will perform Sunday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. in the Sertoma Amphitheater in Bond Park. Her concert is part of the Fall 2001 Sunday in the Park with Music series. For more information on the concert, call the Parks, Recreation & Cultural

Preferred seating

Do you put a premium on good service? If so, the Town could have a place for you at some of the most important tables in Cary.

The Town needs civic-minded volunteers to serve on several Town boards and commissions.

All appointments are for three-year terms, except where unexpired terms are being filled.

Visit townofcary.org for more information and an online application. The deadline for applying is Dec. 3, 2001. If you have questions, email kgray@ci.cary.nc.us or call the Town Clerk at (919) 469-4011.

Members will be drawn from Cary or from its planning territory beyond Town limits.

The Town Council will fill a total of 29 seats on eight boards and commissions.

But you’ll feel like a winner when those leaves are piled at the edge of the street and your playing surface is grass again instead of rotting leaves.

Town crews will begin working their way through the streets of Cary early in November for the annual free curbside collection of leaves. A second sweep through town will start in early December and wrap up before the end of the year. After that, crews will gather leaves on request—continuing through March—for $100.

Mailings will include a map detailing collection areas. Area boundaries include Chapel Hill Road, Kildaire Farm Road, Old Apex Road and Walnut Street. Call (919) 469-4090 for more information. Here’s when people should have leaves ready for each collection:

Frankenstein was right to avoid fire. And each year, an evening of fun and fantasy has an unhappy, even tragic, ending for little ghosts and goblins who scamper through the neighborhood at Halloween.

Protect your ghouls as they scoot from house to house by dressing them in costumes with fabrics labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant. As you decorate your home, make sure things that catch fire easily don’t come in contact with sources of heat—especially candles, lighted Jack-O-Lanterns or other open flames.

Unlike some towns, Cary does not set the date for trick or treating. This year Oct. 31 is a Wednesday.

Speaking of fall traditions, create another by changing the battery in your smoke detector as you change your clocks back to standard time on Oct. 28.

And don’t forget to change the battery when Daylight Savings Time returns next spring.

                   reminders/

Town employees have the day off Monday, Nov. 12 for Veteran’s Day. No yard waste will be gathered that week. Household garbage, curbside trash and recyclables will be gathered on the usual schedule, though.

For Thanksgiving, Town offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, Nov. 22-23. However, collection crews will be on the job Friday, Nov. 23 anyway. Here’s the schedule:

• Tuesday routes run on Monday
• Wednesday routes run Tuesday
• Thursday routes run Wednesday
• Friday routes run on Friday

(No yard waste that week)

Are your Scouts, civic club members or coworkers looking for community service work? If they aren’t afraid to sweat a little, Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve on Kildaire Farm Road in southern Cary could be just the place.

Folks at Hemlock Bluffs are organizing work for teen-agers and adults Saturday, Nov. 3 from 1-3 p.m. They’ll help protect fragile habitats from foot traffic and erosion by installing natural barricades and aesthetic fencing.

Call (919) 387-5980 to register. Bring work gloves for a sweaty workout. The workday will be postponed if there isn’t enough help.

Sorry about the late notice. But Cary’s first Diwali Celebration will take place Saturday, Oct. 20 from 11a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Herbert C. Young Community Center on Town Hall campus. Co-sponsors are Cary Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources and also Hum-Sub, Inc.

The celebration includes fun for the family with ethnic food and vendors, craft activities for children, performances by local community members, and a fashion show. Admission is free. Call (919) 460-4963.