Help with Town Utility Bills for the Lean on Green

When someone’s having a dry spell financially, a few greenbacks can go a long way.

Oasis is a new program to help those in financial hardship with their Town utility bills through donations from other customers.

We’re doing this through a partnership with Christian Community in Action, a local non-profit organization that helps people in need get back on their feet.

Donating is quick and easy. Contributions are tax-deductible. Even small donations can help a lot.

Some customers are chronically late paying. But others are in difficulty for the first time and merely need a little one-time assistance.

The time spent collecting bills and the lost interest revenue from Town accounts cost all of us.

The Town accepts one-time or regular donations from utility customers and passes the money to CCA.  It can only be used for a Town of Cary utility bill or for plumbing repairs to fix leaks.

CCA decides who qualifies for assistance with Town utility expenses and how much they get.

For details on how to help or get help, go to www.townofcary.org and find Oasis under Site Index. You can also call the Finance Department at (919) 469-4050.

Cross Examination – Witnessing Greater Pedestrian Safety at CHS

Recent improvements in Walnut Street and Maynard Road should enable Cary High students to cross the streets more safely.

In response to accidents involving pedestrians, our Police and Engineering departments worked with state engineers and Cary High staff to pinpoint ways to reduce risks to pedestrians.

Actions taken include:

• A raised median island in Walnut Street in front of Cary High for a safer, more visible place to pause when crossing.
• A mid-block crosswalk on Walnut Street with high visibility markings.
• Additional overhead lighting near the crosswalk.
• Increased hours when the 25-mph school zone speed limit is in effect to cover lunchtime.
• A fence in front of the school to help guide pedestrians on Walnut to the crosswalk.

  Police will monitor the situation to determine whether additional  measures  are necessary.

Leaf Relief

We sweep for loose leaves twice before Christmas at no charge, beginning in early November.

Place them curbside by 7 a.m. on the first day of collection scheduled for your area. Keep them out of the street and avoid hydrants, meters and sidewalks.

For details and a map, check the leaf collection mailing we’re sending you or call (919) 469-4090.

You also can put leaves in reusable containers or brown paper bags as Monday yard waste.

Polling Place – Faster, More Convenient Voting

One-stop absentee voting lets you cast your ballot at a time that works for you and avoid the long lines on Election Day, Nov. 2.

The Herb Young Community Center on Town Hall campus is one of about a dozen locations in the county. Here are the times:

• Saturday, Oct. 23; Sunday, Oct. 24; or Saturday, Oct. 30 ( 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. )
• Monday through Friday, Oct. 25-29 ( 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. )

Visit www.wakegov.com or call (919) 856-6240 for a list of one-stop locations and other voting information.

See Board of Elections under the Departments menu at the top of the county’s home page.

Bud Bits

Candidates no longer register and pay a fee for political signs in Cary .

Rules remain on the size and location of signs. To keep our Town looking neat, they’re prohibited in street rights-of-way and other public property. For more, see Political Sign Regulations in Site Index online.  

Our first ever bicycle education video “Get Ready….Go!” highlights Cary ’s bicycle facilities, safety tips, etc. Watch it on Cary TV, cable channel 11. Copies will be at the Cary Public Library and local bike shops. A Spanish version will be out in December.

Annual Recycle Sale yard sale fund-raiser for Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, is Saturday, Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Donate items Oct. 28-29 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. To learn more, call (919) 387-5980.

 Service Call – Filling Vacancies on Town Boards

We’re seeking community-minded citizens to fill vacancies on the Town's volunteer boards and commissions.

This helps us obtain community input on issues that affect all of us.

The Town Clerk’s office will continue to receive applications until Dec. 1. Terms will begin Feb. 1, 2005 and range from one to three years.  Meetings are monthly.

Membership will be selected from within Cary ’s corporate limits and/or its extra-territorial jurisdiction, depending upon the board.

If you’re interested, complete an online application. Click on Boards & Commissions under Shortcuts on the home page of www.townofcary.org.

If you have questions, e-mail karen.gray@townofcary.org or call (919) 469-4011. 

This is your opportunity to have an influence on a variety of important issues. No experience is necessary.

Center Stage

Applause! Cary Youth Theatre presents The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Oct. 28, Oct. 29, and Oct. 30 at Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

Applause! opens its sixth season with this Washington Irving classic just in time for Halloween. Tickets are at Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources offices and at Herbert C. Young Community Center .

Marvelous Music Series presents Boston Brass on Saturday, Nov. 13 at Herb Young Community Center at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for children.

This quintet features classical arrangements, breathtaking vocal harmony and burning jazz standards. Tickets go on sale Oct. 13 at Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources offices and Herb Young center.

  Where to Take a Smoke Break

Want to know where you can get away from smoke while enjoying a meal in a restaurant?

The American Stop Smoking Intervention Study is a Wake County initiative to raise awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke. We’re helping publicize this voluntary effort encouraging smoke-free restaurants.

Participating restaurants get a certificate and a decal to display advertising they’re smoke-free.

We hope this program will enhance the community’s health and quality of life by increasing the number of no-smoking restaurants. It’s good for business and the right thing to do for customers and employees.

For a list of participating restaurants, click the ASSIST program icon (a stoplight) on the home page of www.townofcary.org.

Ghost Host

Trick-or-treaters 15 and under are invited to Cary Towne Center Saturday, Oct. 30 for the annual Safe-N-Sane Halloween celebration from 12 - 2 p.m.

It includes costume judging, a magic show by Michael Creech, trick-or-treating, and storytelling.

Call (919) 771-1295 for more on this alternative to trick-or-treating outdoors at night.

Fees Hearing

We’ll hold a public hearing Oct. 14 on changing the system for collecting transportation development fees.

This money helps pay for widening and extending streets to accommodate the traffic from new development.

If approved, the new system would be simpler and consistent with what others in the region are doing.  The changes would be cost-neutral.

For more information, look under Site Index on our Web.

 If you see this after Oct. 14, there’s still time to comment.

Call (919) 469-4030 or e-mail feedback@townofcary.org.

Alarmingly Prepared

National Fire Prevention Week is the second week in October. The theme this year is "Test Your Smoke Alarms.”

We encourage you to install smoke alarms and keep them working. If they activate, leave your home immediately.

We also recommend planning escape routes from your home and having a meeting place outside. Practice the plan.

For more safety tips, call Cary firefighters at (919) 469-4056.

Turning a Corner on Safety

A state law effective Dec. 1 increases penalties for drivers who turn right without yielding to pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and scooter riders.

The courts can assess a penalty of $100 to $500 for failing to yield as the law requires.

A driver who fails to yield will receive 4 driver's license points. Drivers of commercial vehicles will be assessed 5 points.

Drivers who cause serious injury in such cases could be fined $500 and lose their license for 90 days.

For more details, call Sgt. Joe Clifton at (919) 469-4338.

Reminder

We will close Thursday, Nov. 11 for Veteran’s Day and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25 & Nov. 26 for Thanksgiving.

Veteran’s Day - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday garbage collection routes run a day earlier that week. The Friday schedule is unchanged.

Thanksgiving - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday routes run a day earlier. Friday’s garbage will also be collected Wednesday.

No yard waste is collected during Town holiday weeks. Call (919) 469-4090 if you have questions.  

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