Cary #1 Place to Move to in NC
Monday I was notified that ConsumerAffairs ranked Cary as the #1 place in NC to move to. Factors noted were median housing cost with median income average, affordability, low unemployment rate, a high home value appreciation rate, and low violent crimes.
Cary #1 Best Place to Live in NC
This week, Cary was named the #1 Best Place to Live in North Carolina by both Niche and Consumer Affairs. We are proud to be continuously recognized as one of the greatest places to live, work, play, raise a family, and run a business.
Jackson Robol Interview
Monday, I had a short interview with Jackson Robol. Jackson, a young adult with autism, started his show in 2020. He has interviewed hundreds of people over the years. Our interview lasted about ten minutes. You can see it on his website at https://www.facebook.com/jacksonrobolmedia.
Cary Tennis Classic Sponsor Event
Monday night I attended an event hosted by the Cary Tennis Classic board for sponsors. After mingling and getting to know each other better, we talked about ideas to make our tournament better. This year’s tournament will be the week of July 4th. You can find out more at https://carytennisclassic.com/.
HRID
Tuesday, I participated in the Human Relations Inclusiveness and Diversity board. The meeting started with a presentation from the Cultural Arts Manager who talked about pride and Juneteenth events. In addition, he pointed out that the Cary Arts Center has one of the strongest visual arts programs in the state.
Other topics included how Cary citizen and Cary employee demographic data match up, information on Cary advisory board demographics, planning for the Ritmo Latino festival, and translating public safety information into five languages.
State of Cary at Newcomers Club
Wednesday I presented the State of Cary address to about 100 people of the Cary Newcomers Club. The meeting was held at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church’s fellowship hall. Before and after my presentation I answered a variety of questions about current town activities. I was there about an hour and a half.
ABA Ribbon Cutting
Thursday I joined council member Craig for the ribbon cutting of Priorities ABA in Cary. They specialize in behavioral consulting and therapy services for children with autism spectrum disorder. We were given a tour of the facility, participated in remarks, and was a part of the ribbon cutting. We are grateful for the service that Priorities ABA provides to our Cary citizens.
NC Metro Mayors
The NC Metro Mayors met on Friday morning to get a legislative summary. Here is a summary by the Executive Director:
During today’s Coalition meeting, the group discussed the significant volume of bills filed in both chambers of the General Assembly over the past few weeks. The House’s bill filing deadline was pushed back this week and will now be this Thursday (April 10) at 3 PM. Senate budget leaders have also been discussing their proposal, which they expect to release around April 15. Finally, following the retirement of Senator Paul Newton, Senate Republicans elected Senator Michael Lee of New Hanover County as their next majority leader.
The following bills were discussed during this week’s call:
House Bill 171 “Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI”
House Bill 570 “Responsible Firefighting Foam Management Act”
House Bill 765 “Local Gov. Development Regulations Omnibus”
Due to House Bill 765’s comprehensive nature, we recommend that you share it with your planning departments and attorneys. Please send Seth any feedback you have so we can incorporate it into our advocacy.
A link to the NCLM FY25-26 Revenue Projections Memo that was referenced during today’s meeting is provided below.
As always, Coalition members are reminded to stay in contact with the members of their legislative delegation regarding budget and policy priorities. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Seth or any member of the lobbying team if you have any questions or gain any intelligence from your meetings that would interest the entire group. The lobbying team will continue to monitor General Assembly activities and provide updates during future Coalition calls.
PPA Pickleball in Cary
Friday I attended a PPA (professional pickleball association) tournament at Cary Tennis Park called the Veolia North Carolina Open. It featured the #1 pickleball male, Ben Johns, and the #1 pickleball female, Anna Leigh Waters, in the world. I was fortunate to see them play in doubles. The park was packed with pickleball fans, and it was a great atmosphere. I am looking forward to this being an annual event.
Founders Day
Saturday, I participated in a play to celebrate Cary Founder’s Day. Cary was founded on April 3, 1871, by Frank Page. The play was created and organized by Catherine Loflin. Our play started at the Cary Arts Center and ended across from the Cary Depot. On the way we provided information about Cary’s past. We were all dressed in 1871 attire. I was playing the part of Frank Page and wore a suit with a top hat. Even though the weather was a bit warm for early April (mid 80s) it was a lot of fun. I look forward to doing more of these in the future.
Town Manager’s Report
Sean’s Message
I’m looking forward to continuing our budget and finance discussions at next week’s work session. As a reminder, the start time has been moved to 5 p.m.
Enjoy your weekend!
Sean
Green Level Church and O’Kelly Metrics
Transportation Metrics for Green Level Church Road and O’Kelly Chapel Road – The metrics provided include travel speeds, congestion levels, crash history, operational performance, and planned future improvements.
Hum Sub Basant Bahar
On Sunday, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht and Councilmembers Lori Bush and Sarika Bansal attended Basant Bahar at the Cary Arts Center. This year’s program marked 25 years of the spring music and dance celebration in Cary.
ABA Ribbon Cutting
Mayor Weinbrecht and Councilmember Michelle Craig attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Priorities ABA this week. The facility opened in timing with Autism Awareness Month to provide specialized support and services, fostering an environment where individuals with autism can thrive. This meaningful addition reflects Cary’s continued commitment to inclusivity and support for all members of the community.
Gen Korean BBQ Grand Opening
Mayor Weinbrecht and Councilmember Jack Smith participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Gen Korean BBQ at Crossroads. The event not only celebrated the restaurant’s delicious food but also marked its first location in North Carolina. They chose Cary as their home in the state, because of its growing appeal as a hub for diverse culinary experiences.
State of Cary Newcomers Club
Mayor Weinbrecht delivered the State of Cary address to the Cary Newcomers Club, a group that brings together both longtime residents and those new to the area. United by their love for Cary, the club embraces the opportunity to welcome newcomers to the community. Following the presentation, the Mayor and attendees enjoyed an engaging Q&A session.
All Ages, All Stages Kickoff Meeting
Councilmember Carissa Kohn-Johnson represented Cary at the kickoff meeting for the ‘All Ages, All Stages’ multisector plan, held by Central Pines Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA). This event marked the beginning of the first two years of implementation efforts. Councilmember Kohn-Johnson is also serving as the co-chair of the Housing and Universal Design subgroup.
Inter-Community Seder
Councilmember Lori Bush represented Cary at the Inter-community Seder, a powerful event that united representatives from various levels of government, multiple municipalities, Wake County Commissioners, law enforcement, and diverse faith organizations. Together, they engaged in a meaningful exploration of Jewish traditions, emphasizing the importance of unity and mutual respect. It was a poignant reminder of the strength found in our connections and the hope that emerges from honoring each other’s stories and histories.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Celebration Event
Councilmember Bansal attended a Kiran event featuring the talented writer Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, who shared her journey of creating impactful narratives. Kiran acts as a crucial lifeline for those whose paths forward seem insurmountable, particularly for those far from their support networks and the comforts of home. This organization provides a foundational support system for many.
Cheez-It Tour
Cheez-It crackers are made right here in Cary, more than 14.5 million crackers, or 23,000 pounds, are produced every hour at the local plant!
Earlier this week, Councilmember Lori Bush, Dr. Rebecca Corbin from the Cary Chamber, and Deputy Town Manager Russ Overton toured the facility, one of only two in the country that produce Cheez-Its. They were hosted by Kellanova representatives, including Plant Director Steve Surovec and Engineering Manager Tim Yost. The Cary plant has been proudly operating since 1987.
Economic Development in Action
This week, Cary was named the #1 Best Place to Live in North Carolina by both Niche and Consumer Affairs! These rankings reflect months of targeted national outreach by the marketing team to elevate Cary’s visibility and reputation. This is one component of our larger economic development efforts. The team also worked with PPA and Veolia to spotlight Cary’s leadership in infrastructure and innovation to global audiences—a reflection of strong cross-departmental work, especially from Cary’s utilities and sustainability teams. And heading into the weekend, marketing is supporting a visiting Forbes reporter covering Cary’s growing prominence in pickleball. Plus, keep spreading the word to vote for The Nest as USA Today’s 10Best Public Playground! It’s between Downtown Cary Park and The Gathering Place in Tulsa for #1. There’s no need to sign in; voting ends Monday at noon.
Upcoming Meetings
Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Board
Monday, April 7
5:15 p.m.
Information Services Advisory Board
Monday, April 7
6:00 p.m.
Zoning Board of Adjustment
Monday, April 7
6:30 p.m.
Environmental Advisory Board
Tuesday, April 8
6:00 p.m.
Town Council Meeting (Work Session)
Thursday, April 10
5:00 p.m.
Town Council Meeting (Regular)
Thursday, April 10
6:30 p.m.
Mayor’s Mailbox
- Complaints about the Waverly rezoning proposal.
- A complaint that Realtor Open House are dangerous to homeowners.
- A request to advocate for adults with Autism.
- A request to help those with a gifted child syndrome.
- A request for information about Marigold apartments.
- A request for a proclamation noting National Tennis Month.
- A complaint that Black Creek Greenway renovation is taking too long.
- An invitation to speak at the NC State Political Science club.
- A complaint about 311, a bent pole, a sidewalk, and trucks making illegal left turns.
- A request to speak out against HHS decisions.
Next Week
Next week’s activities include staff meetings, a TST (The Soccer Tournament) promotional video, a council work session, a council meeting, and a NC Metro Mayors meeting.
Well, that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, April 13th, 2025. Although I have Facebook and Twitter accounts, those are not the best means of communication with me. Please send all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@carync.gov and email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.
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