Truist Ribbon Cutting
Wednesday afternoon I attended the ribbon cutting for the Truist Bank in Fenton and provided remarks. In my remarks I stated how proud we were of their continued growth in our community, and that we look forward to seeing how they can help other business grow. After the ribbon was cut, I posed for a couple of pictures.
The first with NC Senate Elect Gale Adcock and Regional Manager Chris Bell and the second with Gale Adcock and Santa. Tis the season!
CAP Appreciation Dinner
Wednesday night I joined council member Jack Smith in attending the Citizens Assisting Police (CAP) appreciation dinner. One surprise attendee was former police chief Pat Bazemore. Before dinner, I provided remarks along with the police chief. In my remarks I stated that the Cary Police Department and the CAP members are the best of the best. They are one of the main reasons Cary is always recognized as one of the greatest places to live, work, and play in America. Thanks to all the volunteers in Cary who give of themselves to make Cary a better place. You are the backbone of our community.
N&O Interview About the Center
Thursday morning I was interviewed by a News and Observer reporter about the Center planned to be built in the redeveloped South Hills mall area. The point I tried to get across was that the building of the Center is at the early stages of a multi-year process. At this point we don’t know the design or cost (which will determine funding options). And with roughly two years of design and two years of construction we have a long way to go. What we do know is that our Center will have four parts: a community center, a senior center, a competition component, and an arena. Of course, there will be plenty of time for public feedback before anything is decided.
Christmas Tree Lighting
Saturday night I joined Mayor Pro-Tem Frantz, council members Bush, Johnson, Smith, and Liu at the annual Cary Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony to kick off the holidays. As is tradition, the emcee was WTVD anchor Steve Daniels. The crowd was treated to great performances by Cary citizens, school groups, and others. After the performances I gave a welcome and introduced the Official Tree Lighter, Bob Moncsko, who was our 2022 Hometown Spirit Award winner. He provided remarks and counted down from 10 before throwing the switch and lighting the tree. It was a great evening, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Cameo Appearance in A Christmas Story by Cary Players
Sunday afternoon I made a cameo appearance in the Cary Player’s A Christmas Story. I played a fireman coming to help rescue the boy who stuck his tongue on the flagpole. I was given the ability to adlib so when one fireman asked what took me so long, I said “It was the traffic. Someone should call the mayor!”
The Cary Players did a fabulous job with this play and all actors, including about a dozen kids, were spectacular. We are so blessed to have this much talent in this area.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
On Tuesday I joined Joy Ennis, Sarah Alexander, Susan Moran, and Page Martin from Balfour Beatty for a walkthrough of the downtown park construction site, and I was truly blown away!
In a word, it is SPECTACULAR!
Every thoughtful detail of the design is being manifested with breathtaking precision, craftsmanship, and beauty, and the pride of all the workers is palpable.
The Downtown Cary Park is and will be a lasting testament to what our co-created culture can produce in service to this great community
Hope to see you tomorrow night at our Christmas Tree lighting.
Sean
Cary Jaycee’s Christmas Parade
We are just over a week away from the 40th annual Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade which will be live streamed on WRAL.com. Staff has partnered with the Jaycees to plan a safe and festive parade for participants and those in attendance. Some highlights of new safety measures include:
- Requirement of valid North Carolina registration, State inspection and insurance on all vehicles that are required to do so under NC law
- All drivers must have a valid North Carolina driver’s license
- The throwing of candy or other objects from floats or vehicles in the parade are prohibited
- Fire and Police personnel will discuss safety protocols with each driver
- Floats must arrive by 12pm
- No more than 16 people allowed on floats (12 if a professional)
We will continue to monitor for any safety concerns as they arise and will adjust planning accordingly. We look forward to seeing you there.
Wastewater Testing for Lead
During our November 10 Quarterly Meeting with Council, drinking water updates included a summary of Lead and Copper Rule Revisions adopted by EPA. As a follow up to the question about testing wastewater for Lead, Cary maintains a routine wastewater testing program for a variety of parameters. Eleven metals including lead are tested each month at Cary’s water reclamation facilities. Over the last couple of years, wastewater testing has shown practically no detection of lead in our wastewater. Staff conduct testing regularly to support wastewater treatment operations and to ensure our treatment systems are meeting all established regulatory criteria in State and Federal permits.
Cary Them Home
In October, Cary Animal Services partnered with Fi-Nano to microchip 522 animals, free of charge, to keep animals out of shelters. Due to the success of this event, Cary Animal Services created an initiative called “Cary Them Home”. Through a grant provided by Fi-Nano, and a commitment from area veterinarians, Animal Services will provide free microchipping indefinitely. For more information about the partnership with local vets click here.
Harvest Fest Wrap-Up
The second annual Harvest Fest event series attracted more than one-thousand guests to Good Hope Farm for produce sales, farm tours, and Q&A with dozens of environmental experts from across the region. Environmental education focuses included wildflowers, songbirds, pollinators, tree-care, compost, solar energy, healthy soils and more. Guests of all ages enjoyed old-fashioned games, crafts for kids, live music, and farm-to-fork food. Also new in 2022, other festival highlights included free pop-up “make and take” pickling workshops, guided historic trolley tours, and a bonsai pepper pruning class. In keeping with Good Hope Farm’s mission to marry Cary’s agricultural past with an innovative future, the Harvest Fest event series also showcases Cary’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement.
Wake BRT Open House
Cary staff and planners from the City of Raleigh met with community on Wednesday to answer questions about Wake Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects. Despite the rainy weather, several people stopped by the downtown library to learn about the Western BRT corridor that will connect downtown Cary with downtown Raleigh. Additional information about all BRT projects proposed for Wake County can be found at https://raleighnc.gov/bus-rapid-transit. Please contact Kelly Blazey, Transit Administrator, with any questions.
Upcoming Meetings
Parks, Rec and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday
Dec. 5 at 4:30 p.m.
Information Services Advisory
Board
Monday
Dec. 5 at 6:00 p.m.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday
Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Human Rel., Inclusion & Diversity Task Force
Tuesday
Dec. 6 at 6:00 p.m.
Economic Development Committee
Wednesday
Dec. 7 at 5:15 p.m.
Council Work
Session
Thursday
Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- A complaint about power outages in a certain part of Cary
- A complaint about the sad shape of the American flag flying at the post office on Academy Street
- A complaint about leaf pickup
- A complaint about a “vulgar” ornament on one of the Christmas Trees lining Academy Street
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, an economic development announcement, an Atlantic Tire Championships Board meeting, a First Responders Breakfast event, a meeting of the Economic Development Committee, an interview for the council retreat in February, a council work session, a Christmas performance, and the Cary Christmas Parade.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, December 11th. 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 