This week was slower since I was on vacation celebrating my 35th wedding anniversary.
Park Groundbreaking
Sunday I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz, council member Yerha, council member Bush, council member Robinson, council member Smith, and Wake County Commissioner Chair Sig Hutchinson for the groundbreaking of two parks: Carpenter Fire Station Park and McCrimmon Park. There were lots of activities and treats for the couple of hundred in attendance. I look forward to the ribbon cuttings next year.
Media Misrepresentation
This is election season and during this time many things are said are simply not true. But some are outrageous and now some media outlets are making false claims. The Independent Weekly said that they were “excited about two candidates who would bring fresh ideas to a council that has been traditionally dominated by wealthy conservatives.” I was floored when I read that. First of all, no one on the council that I am aware of is wealthy unless they are hiding that wealth. Three of us are retired, one owns an automotive shop, two work for IT businesses, and one teaches law. Secondly, we are well balanced politically. The council is made up of four independents, two democrats, and two republicans. Of the four independents, two lean left and two lean right. It is extremely disappointing that a local publication would state something so blatantly untrue.
Monarch Mayor Pledge
A citizen asked if we would take the Monarch Mayor Pledge. The Mayor and Council approved our involvement in the pledge in 2019. Our pledge participation automatically renews each year when staff turns in their annual report to National Wildlife Federation. The link to Cary’s Mayor Monarch Portal that reflects our submitted 2022 update is located at https://www.nwf.org/mayorsmonarchportal/Community?communityId=494&programYearId=3
Town Manager’s Report
The town manager’s report for this week included:
Danna’s Message
I look forward to joining you all on Sunday to break ground and celebrate the two neighborhood parks on Carpenter Fire Station Road and McCrimmon Parkway! Also, citizens are encouraged to stop by Fred G. Bond Metro Park tomorrow for the Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival. While at Spring Daze, visit Earth Day Lane for a compost bin and rain barrel giveaway, recycling tips, garden ideas, greenway maps, an electric vehicle demo and much more at the booths staffed by environmental staff.
While at Bond Park, citizens can take advantage of early voting and pop into the Cary Senior Center to cast their votes! Early voting will continue through May 14 and is available at the Cary Senior Center and Herb Young Community Center. Voters can find more details on early voting, including dates and times, by following the link for their County of residence below:
Enjoy your weekend!
Danna
Secretary Biser Visits Cary
Children’s Day Festival
Cary welcomed Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Secretary Biser and her staff from the Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Support for a tour of the Pilot Food Waste Recycling Drop-off. Staff was thrilled to share the successful development of the pilot that was partially funded by DEQ’s Community Waste Reduction and Recycling grant. Secretary Biser recognized the service as a model for other communities and is excited to learn how Cary may build upon this initiative.
Secretary Biser also attended last night’s Council meeting and was presented the Earth Day Proclamation by Council Member Jack Smith. Ms. Biser thanked Cary for being a leader in food waste reduction and talked about the importance of celebrating Earth Day.
This year’s Children’s Day Festival welcomed nearly 5,000 guests for a day of music, dance, crafts, games, and food. The annual event celebrates the importance of children, sharing with them the cultures and traditions of their neighbors. Council Member Jack Smith read the proclamation that proclaimed the children of Cary “emerge[d] like colorful butterflies from a cocoon” from the years of pandemic. Children’s Day Festival is led by the American-Turkish Association of North Carolina and sponsored by Sister Cities of Cary.
Advisory Boards Annual Spring Mingle
On Thursday, Advisory Board volunteers had their Annual Spring Mingle and invited Cary101 students to join them in learning about the work of each of Cary’s Advisory Boards and Commissions.
Any Cary citizens interested in serving on a Council-appointed Advisory Board are encouraged to apply now. The active recruitment period begins on May 1 and will run through June 30. All applications received by 11:59 p.m. on June 30 will be considered for appointment in September for terms beginning October 1. For more information and to apply, please visit bit.ly/caryboards.
Bond Park – Suspected Algae Bloom
As has happened in the past, Bond Lake has experienced a suspected algae bloom, along with excessive duckweed growth. The high heat and low rain fall produced high algae growth turning the lake green. The suspected bloom has been reported to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality who will be on-site to conduct further investigation as to the type of algae. Precautionary signs have been posted in the park in the rare case the investigation shows the algae to be toxic to animals. The results of the investigation are due early next week.
Parks Update
Major milestones were reached this week on the court renovation project which is partially funded by the 2019 Shaping Cary’s Tomorrow Bond. Dunham Park reopened to the public with six new lighted tennis courts, parking lot renovation, and a new greenway connection.
At Annie Jones Park the post-tension concrete tennis courts were poured, and final cleanup of the site is underway with plans to reopen by early summer. The Walnut Street Park additions of a lighted basketball court and two pickleball courts are in progress, and prep work is occurring for installation of the pavement with a planned opening this summer.
Bike Month and National Trails Day
May is National Bike Month and June 4 is National Trails Day; a great opportunity to celebrate Cary’s commitment to cycling. As a nationally recognized Bicycle-Friendly Community since 2003, Cary strives to encourage riding as a healthy mode of transportation, educate the community on how to safely ride, promote cycling as a healthy form of exercise and recreation, and bring awareness of the over 200 miles of on-road and greenway facilities in Cary. So, grab your bike, get outside, enjoy the spring weather, and see Cary on two wheels!
On our Bike Month and National Trails Day webpage you’ll find information on all of the ways to get involved and moving all month long.
Volunteers Plant Veggies for Cary’s First Responders
More than 60 volunteers gathered at fire stations across town to plant gardens in support of Cary’s first responders. For over eight years the community has rallied together to install and maintain both food crops and native pollinator plants at these sites. Fire station garden projects connect citizens with our first responders, create opportunities for environmental service learning, and help provide freshly grown produce to station meals.
Good Hope Farm is a Stop on the Piedmont Farm Tour
The Good Hope Farm was one of 20 regional farms selected by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s 25th Piedmont Farm Tour. As guests toured historic buildings and purchased produce and plants from local farmers, they experienced how Cary is committed to celebrating its agricultural past and making regenerative agriculture a vital part of its sustainable future.
Exchange Clubs of Wake County Law Enforcement Recognition Banquet
On Monday, the Exchange Clubs of Wake County hosted their annual Law Enforcement Recognition Banquet at Cary Presbyterian Church. Cary’s own Officer David Langdon was one of those honored for outstanding service and performance in law enforcement. David works tirelessly to promote traffic safety throughout our community. He is a leader in driving while impaired (DWI) arrests and is a dedicated Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and DWI Detection Instructor as well as a Drug Recognition Expert. He has assisted many officers in DWI investigations where controlled substances were the apparent cause of impairment. Congratulations to David on this well-deserved recognition.
Exceptional Wastewater Treatment Performance
Cary’s Water Reclamation Facilities processed more than 7.1 billion gallons of wastewater in 2021 and removed 3.2 million pounds of nitrogen. Our facilities continue to perform exceptionally well with greater than 96 percent removal rates, keeping nutrients out of our local streams and rivers. The reclamation process creates a dried Class A Exceptional Quality biosolids called Enviro-Gems by recycling the nutrients from the wastewater for beneficial reuse as a natural fertilizer and soil amendment.
Upcoming Meetings
Hybrid Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, May 2
5:15 p.m.
Hybrid Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, May 2
6:00 p.m.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, May 2
6:30 p.m.
Hybrid Senior Advisory Board
Wednesday, May 4
2:00 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
Emails from citizens this week included:
- A request to be notified when the mayor’s blog is posted
- A request to have curbside food waste pickup
- A complaint about a rezoning proposal at Old Apex and Chatham
- Invitations to several events
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a presentation to the FFF of Cary Presbyterian’s Fellowship Ministry, a tour of the 200 acres that will be a future park, the Honor a Teacher Event, an event for Council Member Jack Smith, a tour of Wake Med Cary, and an interview with the Real Estate Podcast.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, May 8th. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts those are not the best means of communications with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
Harold's Blog 