Story and photos courtesy of the Inhulsen Family.

Cary, NC – A seventh grader in Cary decided to see how much food he could collect for charity by clipping coupons. Over the course of three months, he spent less than $20 and collected over 1,400 pounds of food.

The Seventh Grader Who Could

Lori Towner, a CaryCitizen reader, sent us this note and pictures of her son Chris Inhulsen’s coupon quest to fight hunger:

Cary seventh grader Chris Inhulsen has been involved in food donation drives in the past but nothing like this one!

Last fall armed with coupons and food drive supplies from ConAgra’s “Schools Fighting Hunger Project,” he and his family approached a number of groups at his middle school but none wanted to take on this food drive. “We can’t just recycle all those coupons,” Chris told his mom. That’s when Chris and his dad started clipping coupons and his mom started scouring grocery store ads.

The family decided to see how much they could donate and how little money they could spend just by using coupons and following sales to make their donation purchases.

On February 4th, the family donated 1,474.5 pounds of food to the Western Wake Crisis Ministry  in Apex, NC. The total money spent by the family was $19.80 for this donation.

On the way home from dropping off the donation, Chris asked, “When are we starting to collect for the next food drive, Mom?”  The family plans on starting another food drive in the fall.

CaryCitizen emailed Lori Towner to double-check those facts and figures. How was it possible to collect 1,474 pounds of food for an expenditure of less than $20?

“Don’t you watch those coupon shows?,” Lori wrote back.  ”It’s all about COUPONS!  Double coupons and sales where we were able to purchase the products and not pay a thing was what made it happen,” she said. “It would have been free but for those 20 boxes of popcorn at .99 each that we purchased.”

We love this kind of story, illustrating one of our community’s signature virtues – giving back. Congratulations to Chris and the entire Inhulsen family on a job well done!

If Chris cranks it up again in the autumn, we’ll be sure to let Cary citizens know how they can help.

Story by Hal Goodtree and photo by Bill Gracey. Lindsey Chester edits the Calendar of Events.

Cary, NC – With January’s mild weather weather stretching into February, it’s a great weekend to get out and have some fun in Cary. Friday through Sunday, the Calendar lists 30 events for this weekend around town. Here are a few highlights.

A Fifth of Blues at RallyPoint

Okay, this is a shameless plug for my band. We’ll be making a rare Cary appearance this Saturday night at Rallypoint.

A Fifth of Blues, one of the Triangle’s most popular bands, plays everything from BB King to Ray Charles, Wilson Picket, Muddy Waters, Cream, the Allmans, Etta James and more. Lonesome Larry O’Connor on lead guitar, the Reverend Gary Lee Ford on harmonica,  Doctor Michael-Pelz Sherman on keyboards, Gary Caddell on drums and your’s truly on bass.

Put on your dancing shoes and c’mon out Saturday night! Music starts at 9:00 PM.

A Fifth of Blues
Saturday, Feb 11, 2012 at 9 PM
RallyPoint
1837 N Harrison Ave,
Cary, NC 27537
No cover

Olympic Table Tennis Trials

All weekend, the nation’s best table tennis players will be vying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

Competition goes on all day at Bond Park. If you can’t get to London this summer, here’s your chance to see Olympic hopefuls right here in Cary. More info.

Theater – 2 Shows this Weekend

F.A.T.E. – Free Association Theater Ensemble – presents Pterodactyls by Nicky Silver this weekend in Cary. Their description:

A family in shock finds strange comfort in some old bones found in the back yard. This dark comedy gives new meaning to the phrase “Families are like fudge – mostly sweet, with a few nuts.”

*This show contains adult material, and is not recommended for young children. Discretion is advised.

F.A.T.E. presents Pterodactyls
February 10 & 11 and February 16-18
All shows at 8pm; doors open at 7:30
Performances at the FATE Space, in the Harrison Pointe Shopping Center in Cary
Tickets are $10 – $15

For reservations, email FATEreservations@gmail.com or call 919-228-8184. You can also pay by cash and credit cards at the door, and tickets can be purchased in advance with a credit card by calling 919-228-8184.

Also on the boards this weekend, Cary Players continues their current run with Agatha Christie’s classic mystery And Then There Were None. Description:

Eight guests who have never met one another are lured to an island house and along with two servants, stranded. A mysterious voice accuses each of having gotten away with murder, just as one drops dead!

It’s a great show that brings a new level of production to the Cary theater scene. Read Lindsey Chester’s review of the show.

Cary Players present And Then There Were None
February 11th at 7:30pm  •  February 12th at 3:00pm
Cary Arts Center
101 Dry Ave.
Cary, NC

Tickets available from Cary Players or at the Cary Arts Center box office.

Art and Music at Page-Walker

Also of note this weekend, Page-Walker Art & History Center in Cary is hosting two unique and exciting events.

On Saturday from 11 AM to noon, join artist LéGrant Taylor to view his new show MLK Jr. –  Dreamfest and Dream of History. It’s part of the community celebration of Black History Month. The event and exhibition are free.

On Sunday at 4 PM, North Carolina Symphony Concertmaster and Violinist Brian Reagan will perform as part of the Friends of Page Walker Winter Concert Series. Tickets are $15.

More Weekend Events

There’s live jazz at UnWine’d on Friday night (downtown Cary), Menchie’s Yogurt has its grand opening on Saturday at the new Waverly Place plus about 25 other things to do this weekend on the CaryCitizen Calendar of Events.

Now get out there!

Story by Hal Goodtree. Photo by Laura Gilmore.

Cary, NC – The Chicago Tribune reported yesterday afternoon that Caterpillar is relocating a plant from Japan to the United States and has said no to Illinois elected officials, preferring to move the operation to the Cary area.

Business Climate is Better in NC

According to the Trib, Caterpillar cited logistical concerns and the business environment as ruling out Illinois, home of other Caterpillar operations:

Caterpillar Inc. has ruled Illinois out of plans to relocate a factory and 1,400 jobs from Japan, citing both logistical problems with building the plant in its home state and ongoing concerns about the business climate. – Chicago Tribune, 2/8/12

The company plans to announce the new location by April 1, start construction in mid-2013 and be at full capacity in four to five years.

Tight Proximity to Cary

In an email to Peoria County, Illinois elected officials, Caterpillar said “We have defined a very tight search area that is primarily being driven by logistics, port access, and proximity to our division headquarters in Cary, North Carolina.”

Caterpillar’s building and construction products division headquarters is located in Cary.

Global Shift

With increasing frequency, news is popping up of manufacturing jobs migrating back to the United States.

The existing Caterpillar plant, currently located in Sagami, Japan, makes excavators and small tractors. The company plans to move those operations to the U.S. and retool the Japanese plant to manufacture components for other Caterpillar equipment.

Thanks to CC News Spotters

Thanks to the CaryCitizen news spotters network for the tip. You know who you are.

Story and photos by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – You know the Cary restaurant scene is coming of age with the introduction of fusion cuisine. Say hello citizens of Cary to KoMo KoMo, a new French-Korean restaurant in Maynard Crossing.

Korean Mosiac

KoMo is shorthand for Korean Mosiac Kitchen, a blending of French and Korean cooking.

Chef Jae has cooked at Veritas, Danube and Palladin in New York and at the Washington Duke Inn here in North Carolina.

Food: Soup For You

Forget Seinfeld: Chef Jae has soup for you.

How about Asparagus Soup w/ Tahitian Vanilla Lobster Cream? Or perhaps Sweet Potato Leek Soup w/Caramelized Apple? Maybe Parsnip Soup w/Black Truffle Cream and Crispy Parsnip Chips?

Chef Jae’s soups are one-of-a-kind and leave guests and other chefs gasping with delight. You certainly won’t find anything like it in the Triangle.

Chef Jae is a soup artist.

Food: Main Courses

Ssam is a traditional Korean dish. It literally means “wrapped.” Diners will find several Ssam dishes on the menu including Smoked Pork Ssam.

If you’re in the mood for something French, try the Bouillabaisse or Crab Lobster Raviloi w/Citrus Beuree Blanc.

Plenty to choose from for meat lovers at KoMo KoMo. Lift a fork for the Pan Seared Rib-Eye w/Sauce Medoc, Rosemary Potato and Watercress.

Food: Desserts

I like a good dessert and KoMo KoMo doesn’t disappoint. The Belgian Chocolate Brownie with Bourbon Caramel Sauce looks almost sinful and the Ginger Lemongrass Crème Brule is a refreshing fusion take on a French classic.

The Room: Cozy and Cosmopolitan

KoMo KoMo has a small footprint, sandwiched between Corner Tavern and Time Warner cable in the Kroger shopping center at the corner of Maynard and High House.

The room has a quiet elegance with Korean and French influences blending harmoniously.

The intimate setting reminds me of visiting Po, Mario Batali’s first restaurant, many years ago with Lindsey Chester. Mario has super-sized his restaurant empire, but the chef-inspired, personal dining experience is still alive at KoMo KoMo in Cary, NC.

KoMo KoMo

KoMo KoMo is open six days a week (closed on Sundays). They serve a delightful tea every afternoon at 2:30 (reservations only).

• Lunch –  Monday – Friday  11 am – 2:30 pm
• Dinner - Monday – Saturday 5:30 pm – 9 pm
• Tea Service (reservation only) - 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm everyday

KoMo KoMo Korean French Kitchen
Maynard Crossing (Kroger shopping center)
1305 NW Maynard Rd
Cary, NC 27513
919-462-3555

More Great Cary Restaurants

See more of our favorite restaurants in and around Cary in the Restaurants category.

Story and photos by Jeff Strowe. Above, Second Chance Books.

Cary, NC - These days, reading tends to happen online, and hey, CaryCitizen is only available that way, so this is not a complaint.  However, contrary to popular belief, printing presses have not gone silent and books are still being bound, published, and sold, right here in Cary.

Herewith, a tour of four used bookstores in the Greater Cary Metroplex.

A Changing Market for Books

You wouldn’t know this by paying attention to the big box stores; they’ve either shut their doors or turned their focus to the Kindles and iPads.  But there’s still something to be said about having the paper between your fingers as you turn the pages of a good mystery, biography, or rediscovered classic.

Independent bookstores carry the torch, serving as anchors of many metropolitan downtown developments and college towns across America.  Outside of these areas though, the brick and mortar stores are few and far between.

Right here in the Cary area, though, we are fortunate to have four illuminating used bookstores, staffed by passionate and intelligent employees dedicated to serving both the intensely literary-minded and casual readers alike.

Mr. Mike’s Used Books

Our tour begins at The Shoppes of Kildaire shopping center, where you will find Mr. Mike’s Used Books, conveniently located a few storefronts down from Trader Joe’s.

Co-Owner Mike Cullen comes to the job with experience and authority: his first job was in a used bookstore and in 2003 and he realized his lifelong dream by opening Mr. Mike’s.

Today, business is strong as the store specializes in stocking tough to find titles that readers just can’t find as an eBook.  Readers can also stop in at any time to take advantage of the buy-back policy, where titles can be sold for cash or exchanged for store credit.

So, the next time you really want to read a best-seller, but balk at the expensive new cover price, consider Mr. Mike’s and save some money.

Mr. Mike’s Used Books
1341 Kildaire Farm Rd.
Cary, NC  27511

Booksmart Used Books

Next, head down to the intersection of Maynard and High House and visit Roy Long’s Booksmart Used Books.

Celebrating its 6-year store anniversary this month, Booksmart’s pristinely clean atmosphere contrasts with the common perceptions of a used bookstore.  That’s the goal, says Long:  “We work hard to clean all the books and keep the store as customer-friendly as possible”.

The maintenance extends to organization as well, as the store is neatly categorized by genre, allowing for easy browsing and perusal.

Of particular interest to readers is the store’s “Chick Lit” section, which features many popular mysteries and beach reads.

Even non-readers can find something of interest at Booksmart as the store also carries hundreds of used CD’s (remember those) and DVD’s, making it the perfect place to affordably fill out your iTunes library.

Booksmart Used Books
1258 NW Maynard Road
Cary NC

2nd Chance Books

Head down Harrison Avenue and next to the Carolina Pottery Outlet,  you’ll find Mindy Miller’s 2nd Chance Books and her 45,000-strong collection of titles.

Customers can jump in and browse around as Ms. Miller’s voluminous inventory is expertly catalogued with shelves ranging from coffee table art books to how-to manuals to best-selling James Patterson novels.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?  Just ask for help.  During my visit, Ms. Miller quickly located three obscure titles for an appreciative inquiring reader.  It’s that extra effort of customer service that makes 2nd Chance Books unique.  That, and the fact that Bella, Ms. Miller’s Wiemeranier/Great Dane mix will be there to greet you.

If you have a dog of your own, they are more than welcome to tag along as you shop!

2nd Chance Books
Harrison Square Shopping Center
1821 North Harrison Avenue
Cary, NC

All Booked Up

The book tour ends in Downtown Apex’s Salem Street district at Janice Monaco’s All Booked Up.

A Florida native and former real estate broker, Ms. Monaco was forced to turn her home library into a nursery with the arrival of her children.  The difficulty required in parting with these books led her to start on the new career path of a bookseller.

Now, she is firmly entrenched as Apex’s only walk-in bookstore and the neighborhood feel of Salem Street has helped the shop thrive.  Working with a School Media Specialist, Ms. Monaco keeps the required school reading list titles readily available and in good shape.

The store also boasts two distinct features: a local author showcase that highlights some of the region’s most creative talents, and a “Man Cave”, a decked-out separate room that boasts comic books, vintage movie posters, and a large assortment of DVD’s.

All Booked Up
104-B N. Salem Street
Apex, NC 27502

Go Local for Books

So, Cary Citizens…resist that urge to browse Amazon or drive to Barnes & Noble.  Instead,check out the local merchants right here in our backyard and take advantage of their personal expertise and customer service.  I think you’ll find the experience much more enlightening than clicking the mouse a few times or being bombarded by the Nook salespeople.

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Community news on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Cary Visual Art.

Story by Lindsey Chester and photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC- Karen Rindge of Wake Up Wake gave everyone an update on transit and how it effects Cary at the Heart of Cary’s Feb 2 meeting.

Rindge made the case that mass transit is going to be key to sustaining growth and quality of life not just for the Triangle, but specifically for Cary, and its Downtown area.

#1 in Gas Consumption

Our area makes many Top Ten lists, here’s a few lists we would rather not be on at all.

1. Fastest population growth in Nation. Wake County’s population will double by 2030 from 2005 levels
2. The Raleigh- Durham area ranks #1 in the nation for gas consumption per person
3. The Triangle is #5 Nationally for longest commute

The list the Triangle never makes: quality mass transit. The area has very little public transit infrastructure. These facts can weigh heavily on quality of life.

Two Phases Will Help

Wake Up Wake has worked with area municipalities to come up with plans to expand transit in the future. Two main phases were adopted by the Metropolitan Planning Organization.

In Phase 1 bus service will be improved and expanded. Commuter Rail will also be implemented. Bus service could double to over 322,000 bus hours to connect all Wake County municipalities within five years. In Phase 2 Light Rail will be built and that requires additional funding from the State and Federal Governments.

Cary’s Part of The Plan

Cary needs to expand service for the existing lines and add frequency. New lines need to be opened to serve areas that are currently not serviced at all. The idea will be to have all points connecting to the current Downtown Depot as the hub. There will eventually be the need for a Western maintenance facility for these trains and buses.

Commuter Rail

Rail for commuters to ride further distances would operate to operate mainly during rush hours. Proposed are 37 miles of tracks with 12 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Downtown Cary, and Garner with trains to run every 30 minutes.

Light Rail the Last Phase

Light rail would be electric, running shorter distances with up to 14 miles and 16 total stations. This would require federal funds to be built.

Sales Tax Increase

This costs money- and to accomplish these goals, an additional 1/2 cent sales tax is proposed. For other outlying Counties, they may add a 1/4 cent sales tax if they are to be connected.

Benefits Outweigh the Cost

In the thirteen years I have lived here, Cary has added over 60,000 residents. Traffic isn’t as bad as what I experienced  commuting from our home in New Jersey to New York City, but I also never drove my commute. Riding a bus or a train to my job freed up my time to read, listen to music or get some work done on my laptop. Three things you can’t do behind the wheel if you’re are spending 30-45 minutes a day driving.

Here’s a quick list of the benefits our area can experience if we expand our transit system:

• Jobs are created
• Growth happens around transit stops
• Improved air quality
• save on energy
• spurs economic development
• Increased Downtown activity

People in metro areas with transit also walk more and therefore actually get more exercise, which in turn is part of a better quality of life. They also experience less stress from driving in traffic. Home values increase when areas have more mass transit options.

The current Cary Depot (which serves the train to Charlotte and C Tran buses) experiences 800 passengers a day in 2012. By adding commuter rail we could see over 2020 passengers a day by 2017. With the addition of light rail, that number could increase to over 3300 per day, annually that would mean 1 million people would be coming through Cary’s Downtown.

Could be the catalyst we need in our downtown.

Story by Lindsey Chester, photos by Brooke Meyer from last year’s Cross Currents Festival

Cary, NC – Last summer’s Cary Cross Currents Music Festival brought more than a week of chamber music to Downtown Cary and kicked off the opening of the Cary Arts Center. A key ingredient of the festival was the “Side By Side” instruction given to select area music students.  This year, director Carrie Knowles is expanding the program and the time for students to apply is now.

Cary Cross Currents Music Festival

The Festival will once again take place at the Cary Arts Center. July 29 is the kick off and the Festival will take place over 2 full weeks. The Brussels Chamber Orchestra is once again the featured group. New this year is the Lipkind Quartet (strings), and  jazz performer Will Scruggs.

Playing Side By Side with the Pros

Last year’s festival (story) included the opportunity for area students to audition and play “side by side” with the Brussels Chamber Orchestra professional musicians. The “Side by Side” program will expand this year to include string quartets and jazz students.

Applications for Side-By-Sidespots are available now. Visit the application page or email CCFsidebyside@gmail.com.

Student Experiences

A few of last year’s students were happy to tell us about their experiences.

Enloe student Gen Palmer explained how she missed getting into the Governor’s School last summer and chose to audition for this program.

“I’m really glad I didn’t get into Governor’s School.

I learned different ways to practice. Mainly how to distribute time equally between focusing on technique and fundamentals as well as actually practicing music. And if anything, playing with those guys seriously trained my ear. I don’t think that my viola has ever been more in tune.”

I asked students how they had heard about the program last year (it was brand new) and Nadia Drabick told me she had heard about the opportunity through her private violin teacher (not CaryCitizen?!!)

“Last summer working with the BCO was hands down the most enriching and eye opening experience I have had, not only in music, but probably my entire life. Being able to work with such down to earth and accomplished musicians was such a blessing to me… The bond and intimate relationship throughout the chamber orchestra was so inviting and made me want to push myself to become a better musician.”

Nadia has even formed a chamber orchestra with some of her fellow students at Heritage High School.

Not Just Chamber Music

With the addition of Jazz this summer, Carrie Knowles hopes to attract an even broader range of music enthusiasts and teach another fine group of Triangle students.

Jazz instruments will include guitar, saxophone, flute, bass, drums and piano. The string quartets must audition as existing groups to be included in the Side By Side experience. After being admitted, students pay a fee of $400 each for the week long, full day training. About 14 chamber music students, 10-15 jazz and a couple string quartets will make the cut this summer.

What To Expect

A typical day will include morning one-on-one practice from 9:30-1, a lunch break and free time to attend the professionals’ rehearsals. Afternoons the students head back in the studio from 3:30-5pm with their groups to rehearse.

One of the major benefits of the student experience is the culmination of a week of practice with a ticketed concert performance beside the professionals in the Cary Arts Center auditorium. A rare opportunity indeed.

The festival will include a wide variety of concerts and art collaborations.

Apply to Play with the Pros

Students can apply to play in any of the side-by-side programs:

• Chamber Orchestra Side-by-Side
• Jazz Side-by-Side
• Lipkind Quartet Side-by-Side

For more information, visit the Cary Cross Currents Festival application Page.

Cary, NC – During the past 20 years, the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Downtown Cary has hosted a children’s consignment sale that has raised over $115,000 to directly benefit the local community. This weekend, the annual event is ramping up again.

The FUMC sale was one of the earliest consignment sales in the area. It began in 1992 with the idea to help families save money through reselling their children’s outgrown items, and through buying others’ castoffs at a discount. Proceeds from the Friday night admission price go directly to a family in need right here in Cary, identified through church members.

Founders

Kim Strong and Kim Schular of the Harmony Circle sprearheaded the first event. The sale has grown from its humble roots of raising $750 that first year to now raising thousands. In 2005 the Sarah Circle took over. The Sarah circle is a group of about 20 young women who chose the group’s name after the strong Biblical figure Sarah, wife of Abraham. She had many character traits that these young women hope to exhibit including compassion, patience, and faith.

What’s For Sale

Children’s consignment sales typically include clothing from newborn- size 16 for both boys and girls, baby gear and toys- lots of toys. What you won’t see: cribs, car seats, stuffed animals, VHS tapes or helmets. With many items on the recall list it is too hard for consignors to keep track of, and they can be held liable for injury on a recalled item. Stuffed animals don’t sell and VHS tapes- no one wants.

Its not too late to participate. Visit the website to register.

Drop Offs:

• Sunday, February 12, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
• Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.,
• Wednesday evening 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, 6:30 to 8:00p.m.
• Large items on Friday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Sale Dates

Friday, February 17, 2012

• 6:00PM – 9:00PM – Shop for $5 donation to local family in need
• 8:00PM – 9:00PM Free admission to public
• “Power Consignors” also shop 6:00PM – 9:00PM Free

Saturday, February 18, 2012 – Half Price Sale!

• 8:00AM – 11:00AM – ½ Price Sale only on items not marked with “X” on the back of the tag
• FREE admission to public

If you have questions, drop them an email

Written by Jackie Holcombe, Mayor of Morrisville, North Carolina. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Balance Between Services and Cost

This year, as every year, the Town of Morrisville will consider how best to balance a desire for a well-maintained, safe community that offers reasonable quality of life amenities with taxpayer cost.  Over the next 5 months we will examine revenue and growth projections, review strategic priorities and receive departmental staff reports. We will hold workshops, virtual open houses and public hearings, all dedicated to our Fiscal Year 2013 budget.   And when that budget is adopted in June, if we have done our job and listened well, the balance between services and cost will reflect the desires of our community.

What Service Level Fits our Expectations?

For years, significant tax-base and population growth in Morrisville led to year-over-year increases in revenue.  Without much effort, people and businesses found their way to the Heart of the Triangle, drawn as they were to our desirable location and exceptional quality of life.  Over time we became less rural and more an innovative crossroads where cultural heritage meets the next generation, nurturing vibrant communities of diverse families and businesses, while preserving small-town values. But now the question begs:  how well do we want to maintain our community and what service level provision best fits our high expectations?

Austere Budgets

Our town staff has expertly executed austere budgets for multiple years running, increasing efficiency along the way.  As a result, our residential taxes and fees are among the lowest in Wake County.  Our full time staff has been pared to 150, a rate of only 7.5 employees per 1000 population.  (For comparison sake, the staffing rate in Cary is 8.5/1000 residents.)  We have delayed and deferred routine maintenance and capital projects, an approach that has left our fund balance – or savings account – rich, but our list of needs long.  Yes, we have consistently delivered high level, quality services. But we have not adequately responded to community requests for better roads, expanded parks and greenways, preservation of historic buildings and a vibrant town center.

Make Your Voice Heard

Morrisville is a community of engaged, informed residents with high expectations.  We can meet those expectations, demonstrate good stewardship of financial resources and still continue to be one of the best values in the Triangle.  But shared responsibility for Morrisville’s future through continued investment in infrastructure and quality of life amenities will be needed.  I look forward to the defining conversations to come.

Morrisville: 2013 Fiscal Budget
Submit your comments

From the blog of Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, covering the week through February 5, 2012. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – A week that was supposed to be relatively light and have some open days, filled up quickly. So I was unexpectedly busy this week.

Technology and Communications in Cary

Monday I met with a friend about technology, social media, and the media. We tossed around a lot of ideas about how the town could improve. I believe this is the year for the town to catch up with the rest of the world in technology. And updating our web site would be a great start. Council member Bush has an excellent background in this area and I believe will provide invaluable input.

Tuesday

Tuesday I had my weekly meeting with the town manager. We discussed at length all the opportunities and issues related to downtown. So far, what has been surfaced is just a small portion of the exciting things going on or being negotiated. I hope to have exciting news to tell everyone within the next month or so.

Western Wake Dems

After meeting with the town manager I headed over to the Western Wake Dems meeting for about 15 minutes. I talked with Morrisville council member Rao, shook a few hands, and then was on my way to a private dinner.

Mayors Want Regional Centers

Wednesday, Mayor Holcombe and I headed to Fuquay Varina to meet with Mayor Eagles, Commissioner West, county officials and others about the Southern Regional Center and other regional centers.

This facility, and others like it around the county, brings county, community, and private services and resources to local residents by having them in one central location. These centers not only provide services to the needy but to all parts of the population.

Some of the services include: operating as a location for paying taxes, providing free flu shots, and providing shots for overseas travel. The purpose of our visit was to tour the facility and hear their pitch for creating one of these county facilities in Western Wake County. It was pointed out that the county commissioners have funded one of these facilities in each part of the county except Western Wake. And before they invest in a facility in the western wake area they want advocacy from the mayors and towns.

Mayor Holcombe and I asked for specific data of these facilities by zip code so we could analyze what part of Cary and Morrisville these facilities are drawing from. While a facility like this would be beneficial in Cary it would be a hard sell in many areas. The perception is that visitors to these facilities are the needy and down trodden and that it would run down neighboring property values. Their data proves this is not the case. At the conclusion of our meeting we stated once we receive data from them we will touch base with them again.

Thursday I had a meeting with Mayor Pro-Tem Adcock. It is important that we have regular meetings to keep each other informed of issues that are ongoing. Our meeting lasted a couple of hours and most of our discussion was about when to create a process for the replacement of council member Robison.

Saturday I joined the Xi Mu Mu Alumni Chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity for a blood drive at Mt. Zion Church in Cary. This is the 100th anniversary of Omega and these men are looking for ways to give back to their communities. And since blood is the give of life it is probably one of the best ways to give back to the community. God bless them!

There was a lot of information from staff this week.

Costco

The proposed Costco has generated a lot of information from staff. You can up to date information by visiting the town’s “Get the Facts” section on the web site. The Planning Director sent detailed information on the proposal which included the following:

No site plan has been submitted to the Town of Cary for review, thus nothing has been approved by us.  Here is a summary of the status of this issue thus far, and how this project would be reviewed according to Town regulations if this site is pursued by the developer.

Zoning

This shopping center land is zoned for General Commercial (GC) uses, and a Costco retail store is allowed by law on this property.  Neither the Town Council nor staff has discretion whether such a retail use might be permitted at that location based on zoning.  No changes to the zoning will be necessary if the landowners decide to move forward with this proposal.  And because a Costco-type store is allowed, no public hearing is held.  This potential developer will, however, have to submit a plan that meets all established development standards related to transportation, landscaping, architecture, stormwater, and the like.  Determination of compliance with all of those requirements occurs at the next stage in the development process.

Site Plan Submission

Should they decide to proceed, the next step would be for the applicant to submit a formal site plan that meets our requirements.   Several months ago, at their request, Town staff did conduct a “pre-submittal” meeting with representatives from Costco to discuss a “conceptual plan” to remove all the current buildings except for the existing bank (at the corner of Edinburgh and Highway 64).  They would be replaced with a 147,000 square foot store and an associated gas station.  This pre-application meeting is a required first step in the Town’s development process.  That conceptual plan does not constitute a formal submittal, however, so there is no decision before the Town at this time.  Staff does not know whether – or when – an applicant might submit a plan for development.  Sometimes the pre-application meetings do lead to developers taking next steps, but frequently we never hear from them again.

Site Plan Review

When/If a site plan is submitted, the Town will ensure that any proposal meets the Cary Land Development Ordinance (LDO).  Again, this is when traffic would be evaluated against applicable traffic and transportation requirements.  The site plan review process takes several months and is typically handled by Town staff as an administrative function.

A site plan typically undergoes several cycles of review.  At the beginning, staff conducts an initial review (to determine submittal completeness and ensure that it generally meets the basic Town requirements).  Then, when we receive a 2nd submittal, we notify landowners within 400′ of the property by letter that a plan is under formal review.  This is not required by law, and it should not be viewed as an opportunity to deny a project if it meets the zoning and development requirements.  The notification is a practice that Town Council has established as a courtesy to adjoining property owners to allow interested parties to look at the plan and offer comments.

Availability of Information

You can obtain general information about the Town’s development process and follow the progress of an individual, specific development plan as outlined below.

1.     General information that describes all of the Town’s development processes is located in the award-winning VIP (Virtual Interactive Planner) section of our website:  http://vip.townofcary.org/

2.     You can monitor development submittals on our website in a couple of ways.  First, you can go here: http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/Planning_Department/Development_Regulations/Plan_Review_and_Design.htm   Go to the bottom of the page and select “Active Projects in the Review Process (sorted alphabetically) or (sorted by date).”

3.     You can also register and create an account on our online plan review page and see what’s going on: http://townofcary.contractorsplanroom.com/secure/

4.     Of course, you can also call us at 469-4082 or visit our offices on the 3rd Floor of Town Hall at 316 N. Academy Street.

Davis & High House Construction

The Planning Director also sent out information about the two controversial construction projects at Davis Drive and High House. It appears they will be under construction at the same time:

We publish final versions of approved site and subdivision plans here: http://sitesubplans.townofcary.org/projectlist.htm. As you will see, each plan has a multitude of various pages (”plan sheets”) for the overall site layout, details, landscaping, drainage, utilities, erosion control, infrastructure, building elevations, etc.  General info about the project (like zoning conditions & development data) are usually on one of the early sheets.

For example, using a couple of projects of interest, the Bradford’s plan sheets are found here: http://sitesubplans.townofcary.org/Bradford_07-SP-114/planindex.htm (NOTE: Additional revisions of this site plan are presently under review, so will not be found at this location.)  And Searstone’s residential portion (with a whopping 99 plan sheets!) can be reviewed here: http://sitesubplans.townofcary.org/SearstoneCCRC_07-SP-035-B/planindex.htm (NOTE:  I don’t think that any further changes are under review.  I will advise you if that is not the case.)

ICE

We also had information forwarded from staff about a proposed ICE facility in Cary that drew a lot of attention this summer. It appears they are once again beginning the process to locate in this area. Here is the information we received from the General Services Administration:

DHS/ICE – Raleigh-Cary Weekly Stakeholder Update

The purpose of this weekly Update is to brief the municipalities and other stakeholders within the delineated area on the progress of GSA Solicitation 1NC2136.

The weekly update will contain information on procurement milestones that have taken place along with upcoming scheduled milestones.  To date, the following activities have occurred:

• January 30, 2012- GSA submitted an advertisement on Fedbizopps (www.fbo.gov) for 19,841 ABOA office space to include 65 parking spacing on behalf of Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Custom Enforcement.  Deadline of expressions of interest is February 13, 2012
• February 27, 2012 – March 2, 2012 – Market survey scheduled to tour submitted locations
• March 6, 2012 – Estimated date for release of the Request for Lease Proposals (RLP) to all locations accepted on the market survey

Any questions in reference to this procurement should be forwarded to Saudia Muwwakkil, GSA Public Affairs Officer at (404) 331-3200 or at saudia.muwwakkil@gsa.gov.

Swift Creek Sewer

Staff also sent out a detailed update on the Swift Creek Sewer Main project. Here are details sent by the Engineering Director:

The Town of Cary is approaching the midpoint of the Swift Creek Parallel Force Main Project.  This is a four mile long sewer project that will benefit the economic and environmental vitality of the region.  The project starts along Holly Springs Rd near Swift Creek and heads southward before turning and continuing east along Ten-Ten Rd.  The sewer main then turns south along Lawdraker Rd before continuing across country toward the South Cary Water Reclamation Facility.

We have received concerns with the project brought about by both our own citizens and those residing outside the Town limits.  We want to assure you that we are working diligently to address these matters.  While the primary complaint continues to be about the loss of trees along Holly Springs Rd, we are confident in our decision to move forward with the project knowing the additional protection the line will provide to this sensitive water shed.  Once the Swift Creek Parallel Force Main is completed, we will have an additional level of redundancy in our system, our capacity for future growth will be expanded, and the existing force main will receive a thorough inspection and necessary repairs.

This project had been in the development stage for over 10-years.  Early on in the process we received public comments that set us on a course for selecting the corridor where we are currently installing pipe today.  The real motivation to move this project ahead however, came after the 2006 spill at the Swift Creek Pump Station.  One of the primary recommendations to come from our study and investigation was the need for this second force main between the pump station and the treatment plant for redundancy.

Construction is anticipated to be complete before the October deadline. Should you receive any inquiries about this project, feel free to direct citizens to the Town of Cary Engineering Department at 469-4030.  Additional information and project updates are available on the project website at http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/Engineering/utilities/Sewer_Projects/Swift_Creek_Parallel_Force_Main.htm.

Plans in Review

Staff also sent out email about plans currently in review. Included in those plans are:

• A Walgreens at Waverly Place
• 80 dependent care units at Weatherstone Springs on Weather Ridge Lane.
• 51 single family lots in the Westvale Subdivision
• 206 apartments at Cary Parkway and Tryon Road
• 14,162 square foot building added to Syracuse Plastics

Quarterly Report

The quarterly report came out this week. Highlights include:

• Construction of the Western Wake Regional Wastewater facility has begun
• The Aquastar automated water meter system is 90% installed (54,000 meters).
• The town continues to purchase strategic properties downtown
• C-Tran’s fixed routes saw a 30% increase in ridership this quarter compared to last year
• Single family permits were 432 units compared to 224 last year
• Multifamily permits were 463 units compared to 184 last year
• Population as of January 1st is estimated to be 141,132 which is an increase of 2932 people
• A refinancing will save over $800,000.   The vast majority of those savings will reduce our debt service commitments for FY 13 and FY 14.
• Although water meters have grown by 2.5% our overall consumption was down 5% during the last six months
• Our leaf collection picked up 5,946 tons of leaves
• Project PHOENIX now has participation of 32 apartment complexes which is over 50%.
• Wake Med Soccer Park expansion was bid in November and is on schedule and on budget
• Over 31,000 people attended the Cary Arts Center from October through December
• The town has over 1100 employees with a turnover rate of 4.8%.

Staff also gave a very informative response to a citizen regarding induction loop hearing devices at town venues. Induction loop systems work with hearing aids. An induction loop wire is permanently installed (typically under a carpet or in the ceiling) and connects to a microphone used by a speaker. The person talking into the microphone generates a current in the wire, which creates an electromagnetic field in the room. When you switch your hearing aid to the “T” (telephone) setting, your hearing aid picks up the electromagnetic signal. You can then adjust the volume of the signal through your hearing aid.

Here is the staff response:

“…Thanks much for writing regarding the induction loop hearing technology.  At the Cary Arts Center, we have not yet put installed a permanent sound system.  As we move towards doing that, we will be looking at several types of auxiliary sound aids.  We will certainly explore further the induction loop technology.

We currently do have assistive listening services at USA Baseball, Koka Booth Amphitheatre, and Town Hall.  We will continually look at and asses these systems and compare it with the new technology that you mentioned. …”

Emails

Also in email this week was a notice from American Airline Chairman and CEO Thomas Horton about restructuring and changes. Bottom line was summed up in these statements: “…all workgroups will have total costs reduced by 20%, including management. While the savings from each work group will be achieved somewhat differently, each will experience the same percentage reduction. …”

Apolitical

There were a lot of emails from citizens this week. I had a couple of separate requests to do resolutions about national issues. The Cary Council doesn’t typically pass resolutions to take political stands. Personally, I would oppose any resolution that is of a national or state nature that would be perceived as a political position. Why? It is very important that this council, with positions on both ends of the political spectrum, work loosely together to do the business of the town. We hold non-partisan positions and our goal is to be passionate about protecting and enhancing the quality of life of our citizens. With a political divide we will not be nearly as effective. Currently, our council is in sync and focused on local issues that have a direct impact on our citizens. I believe we have been successful with the lowest tax rate in Wake County to go along with the highest quality of life.

Other emails included concerns about Chapel Hill Road, a complaint about the state portion of Electra Drive, and a concern about neon lighting for the downtown theater. I also had many requests for meetings with most of them related to council member Robison’s future resignation. It is important to understand that while the council can create a process it cannot act on that process until council member Robison actually resigns.

Next week will be much busier with meetings, events, a work session, and a council meeting.

Well that is all for this week. My next post will be on Sunday, February 12th. Please feel free to email me with a comment. Email all Town of Cary questions or comments to Harold.Weinbrecht@townofcary.org. Email personal comments to augustanat@mindspring.com.