Cary, NC – Our food tour has now traveled down the street to Waverly Place where I’m now convinced a person could spend all day.

Every few months or so, new restaurants are being introduced into this Cary shopping center , providing dining options that are varied and eclectic. As summer nears, you can dine outside at any Waverly Place restaurant while enjoying live music and performances, and great people watching.

The restaurants that I visited were Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Enrigo Italian Bistro, Fresca Café and Gelato, and Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina.

Greek Fast Casual at Taziki’s

Taziki’s is located on the upper level of Waverly place right off Colonades Way. When I arrived there, I was amazed at the outdoor patio. There are cast iron tables with umbrellas positioned around a beautiful three-tiered fountain. Walking inside I didn’t expect such an aesthetically pleasing décor because the restaurant is set up to be a quick service place. There are pictures of Greece on all the walls and decorated metal screens, an ornate gate, and large table that were handmade in Birmingham, Alabama where the first Taziki’s opened.

I found a table and sat down with owner Charles Godwin who told me “I was inspired to open a Taziki’s in Cary because I was driving around to find something to eat one day and saw only pizza, burritos, and McDonald’s. I thought there needed to be another option.”

Taziki’s provides fresh, healthy Mediterranean food that can be eaten in the restaurant or taken to go. There is a convenient option to order dinner for 4 people (includes four different dinner choices) priced from $26 to $29, and it can be ready any time after 2:00 p.m.

On my visit,  I started with a Greek lemon chicken soup that was flavorful and stayed warm the whole time. Other Greek favorites are hummus with baked pita bread, tomato-cucumber salad, and several types of gyros. I tried the lamb gyro which was tender with the perfect amount of Taziki sauce topped with grilled onions and tomatoes.  The herb-roasted pork loin and grilled north Atlantic salmon also come highly recommended. The salmon was grilled perfectly, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside with a hint of lemon.

Nice Beverage Selection

To accompany your food, there is a small wine list with both domestic and Mediterranean wines. Two wines on the list are Seven Falls Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State. Both wines were just awarded a score of 90 in Wine Spectator. I tried the Chardonnay which paired well with all the dishes I tried.

In addition to the wine, there are a few bottled beers. There is a Greek beer called Marathon, Kronenburg 1664, Victory Prima Pils, Triangle IPA, and a couple domestic beers.

When you are ready to try something different and fresh for lunch or dinner, head over to Taziki’s.

Barberitos : Farm Fresh Mexican Fare

A hop, skip, and a jump away is the newly opened Barberitos Southwestern Grille and Cantina. Barberitos is a franchise but Cary has the only location in the Triangle area. The concept of the restaurant is to use farm fresh ingredients,  produce arrives daily. There are also no added fats or preservatives in anything they serve.

Barbaritos’ manager, Brad Bullock, describes the restaurant as “very health oriented and allergy conscious.” He goes on to say that “the chips and taco shells are gluten free, the cheese is grated every day, and the chicken and steak are char-grilled.”

On the menu you’ll find different types of burritos, quesadillas, tacos, salads, and nachos. Jerk fish tacos are featured on Fridays and have quickly become a customer favorite. Luckily, I got to try them. The grilled tilapia was doused in jerk sauce with a nice, peppery kick. Good thing I had a mango margarita to quench my thirst!

I also had some chips that were thin and crispy that I tried with queso, guacamole, and many types of salsa all of which are made in house. There is a salsa bar so you can choose tomato, tomatillo, or corn salsa, and mango salsa is available behind the line.

Specials:

Barberitos has specials throughout the week. Thirsty Thursdays are a fun night with premium beers (Lonerider, New Belgium, Modelo) specialed at $2, margaritas are $2, and domestic beers are $1.50. Also on Thursdays, check out the games outside including”corn hole” and “can jam” and free to play.

On Tuesdays you can’t go wrong with a burrito and a drink for $5.49. There are seven kinds of burritos and they are all custom-made to your liking. If you want to add sautéed spinach, onions, peppers, or mushrooms, you can do that.

For a new take on Tex-Mex, give Barberitos a try.

Feel Like You’re In Europe: Fresca Cafe and Gelato

Across the courtyard from Barbaritos is Fresca Café and Gelato. Fresca is designed like any proper European café where you can take your time dining and drinking. There is coffee or wine to sip, sandwiches and crepes to eat, and gelato to top it all off. Owner, Alen Subasic grew up in Yugoslavia where his aunt owns a café very similar to Fresca. In fact, Subasic’s aunt told him where to order the Italian ingredients for his gelato which is phenomenal. There are over 35 gelato recipes with favorites including Nutella and pistachio. I tried the chocolate orange gelato in a dish called Affogato, gelato topped with a shot of espresso and homemade whipped cream. Yum!

In keeping with the Italian style, Fresca also ordered their espresso machine direct from Italy. Fresca even has their own espresso beans made by a company called Fortuna in Greensboro. You can try this espresso in any coffee drink or you can order a bag to go. If you are stopping by for a snack, French style pastries or sweet crepes go well with coffee. Fresca has partnered with a pastry shop in Cary called NamaKiss and offers some of their pastries with a couple gluten-free choices.

More Than Breakfast

Breakfast is a popular time at Fresca because of their waffles, sweet crepes, quiches, and more. But don’t forget about lunch and dinner. Fresca has savory crepes, salads, and sandwiches available all day. I chose the Grilled Chicken and Roasted Onion Crepe which also has roasted tomatoes and brown sugar spiced bacon with a basil sauce that adds a bit of sweetness to this flavorful crepe. Subasic recommends drinking the Les Traverses de Fontanes, a 2010 French Cabernet Sauvignon, with this crepe. There are other European red and white wines and four European beers (one is actually a cider) on the menu.

Subasic says that “Fresca offers the full dining experience from presentation, to service, to last but not least, food and drinks. Come to Fresca for a glass of wine, a savory crepe, and some gelato and you’ll still spend the same amount as an entrée at most other restaurants.”

Enrigo Italian Bistro

My last stop in Waverly Place was Enrigo Italian Bistro, where the staff welcomed me back with open arms and friendly smiles. Last time I was at the restaurant, I had the house-made mezzelune, so this time I went for something different.

I had the Panino Vegetariano, a sandwich on grilled Italian bread with fresh spinach, olives, sautéed bell peppers, melted fontina cheese and a sauce similar to Thousand Island. Meri, the chef, did not skimp on the cheese, and as a cheese fan that makes me happy. The sandwich was perfect for lunch with the new Enrigo salad comprised of mixed greens, grapes, onions, and walnuts. Finally, I had strawberry panna cotta topped with strawberry sauce for dessert. This dessert was nice and light and the sauce added the ripe strawberry flavor that I love.

Since my last visit to Enrigo, there have been a couple changes to the wine and beer menu. There is a new white wine from Puglia called Verdeca that pairs well with the Enrigo salad. The new draft beers are Bells Porter and Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale, and they have my favorite beer, Carolina Pale Ale in a bottle.

If you are still thirsty and want something else with dessert, Enrigo brews a great cup of coffee or a cappuccino.

Other Waverly Options

There are a couple more options for you dessert seekers. Menchies (located on the lower level) has over 100 different flavors of frozen yogurt with 14 available at a time. There is always a sorbet and a sugar-free option, and popular flavors such as peanut butter and vanilla are not cycled out.

At Gigi’s Cupcakes (near Taziki’s upstairs) each cupcake has equal parts cake and icing. The cupcakes are made fresh every day, and the flavors change every day. I get hungry just looking at the flavors today, Turtle Cheesecake, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, and Cola Float.

If you haven’t made it to Waverly Place in a while, I highly recommend checking it out. Take a few days and try everything.

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Food & Community coverage on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part Barberito’s Sothwestern Grill and Cantina and by Fresca Café and Gelato.
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The CaryCitizen Calendar of Events is edited by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – With all the wet, cool weather, it’s hard to believe were staring in the face of Memorial Day weekend. But that’s what the Calendar say, with a weekend full of holiday events.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Yankovic Day Concert, 7-9 PM, Downtown Performance Green. Cost: Free

I used to think, “there’s a holiday for Weird Al Yankovic? Really?” But that’s not it at all. Yankovic Day celebrates the music of the late Frankie Yankovic and the tradition of polka music. Roll out the barrel and polka your way downtown for this free show on Friday night.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

On Saturday, Cary’s three farmers markets will be buzzing with buyers of fresh fruit, vegetables and things to throw on the grill.

Many area pools will have their official summer opening this weekend. Long lines will form at Goodberries in the cool of evening.

Over at USA Baseball here in Cary, The NCAA Division II Baseball Championship kicks off during the day.

And in the evening, the NC Symphony returns to their summer home at Both Amphitheatre in Cary for their first program of the season.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Sunday is up for grabs at our house. We might go strawberry picking. We might get breakfast at Briggs, or NYBD or Perkins, all our favorite places.

Sunday night, the Triangle Wind Ensemble has a show at Booth Amphitheater with “a salute to American composers Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, along with patriotic works suitable to the Memorial Day Weekend.”

Monday, May 27, 2013

On Monday, we’re heading to the beach (weather permitting). We’ll get ice cream at Boombalatti’s in Wilmington on the way back.

Whatever you’re doing, check the CaryCitizen Calendar of Events and have a great Memorial Day!

Story from the blog of Lori Bush, At-Large member of Cary Town Council. Photo by Todd Klassy.

Cary, NC – I love technology.  I do.  That’s why I was so disappointed that none of the recommendations of the Technology Task Force were included in the 2014 Town of Cary Budget.

Technology with a Purpose

I’ve written about it before, it’s part of my twitter profile, and I see the value of technology to engage citizens, connect people and improve lives.

Technology can bridge the gap between communities and continents, it democratizes all voices, allowing citizens to participate on a level playing field, and improve access – closing the educational divide.

You use it, and you want it

Here in Cary we’ve seen our citizens use technology to engage with the Town:

• Citizens use the Town website to look up Town agendas, minutes and development activity and watch Council meetings on YouTube.
• Provide budget feedback via Twitter (24 tweets), post on Facebook (37 comments) and email (66 emails).  The number of  Tweets and Facebook posts combined (61) this year were more than ALL of the input we received for last year’s budget (59 comments.)
• We saw you create an online petition signed by 1275 residents to save the Cary High School Water Tower
• A biennial survey that shows 54.5% of our citizens own or plan to own a smartphone this year and the trend is that smart phone users outnumber basic phone users.
• And on and on…

Charting a path

The goal of creating the Technology Task Force (TTF) was to tap into the wealth of information that we have in our citizenry – these folks are the best of the best, and that’s what we needed.  We have incredibly technology literate people in Cary – you work for IBM, Cisco, NetApp, SAS, LexisNexis, … and so many of you use these tools everyday.

Cary needed a set of recommendations from folks from all areas that use, build, or leverage technology; to share with the Town ways to increase citizen engagement, and to get us on the right path.

And they delivered! The TTF gave Council 71 recommendations.  Of those, 2 have since been done (but not by the town.)

Disappointment

I was hopeful that some of those recommendations would make it into the Town Budget for this year.  No such luck.  Not a single TTF recommendation – from improving the website, providing Open Data, to creating mobile apps, improving social media or citizen engagement tools are included in the budget for next year. (I wrote about the Town budget earlier this year.)

Why?  It comes down to money and priorities.

Our Town budget is tight, and council has to make some hard decisions.  Town staff has detailed that implementing ANY of these recommendations will cost staff time, meaning real operating expenses.  And our collective priorities aren’t aligned to provide those funds.

I don’t disagree with staff.  It will cost money.  But I disagree with our priorities.

Here’s what I believe:

1. We need to foster Open Data – get the data that we have out there so that really cool people can build really cool apps, that make our lives easier.  Apps like RGreenway that now shows Cary Greenways (made possible by putting out our greenway data, but what about new greenways that come online?)  Then we can have great Open Apps – civic apps built with open data – and have I mentoned the value of Code for America?  (Join the Brigade!) 
   
2. We need an app or service like SeeClickFix, a 3-1-1 tool that allows citizens to post issues (pot holes, streetlight repair, and other nuisances and issues) to an app – getting you to submit and track non-emergency service requests.  More importantly, you can vote, and see if other people have submitted it, and track the requests.  We could call it “ASK Cary” – just sayin’.
3. We need expanded social media tools and engagement, to reach out to citizens where they are, and using what they use
4. Update our website.  Make it easier to use, to find content, and to easily find information.  How many times have you tried to find out if a Town field is open? A list of fun events coming up this month, for kids? For teens? For seniors? Something that looks professional, clean and easy to navigate.
5. We need a Town of Cary Official App – that would provide users with event information, get Town news, request services or connect with a Town official.

Yes, it costs money

Technology isn’t free. I know that. But I ALSO know that an investment in these areas can save us money in the long term – while also connecting us to you, our citizens.

Other cities have shown that these investments DO have return in cost savings in reduced phone calls, while providing real-time feedback to citizens. Leveraging technology is not just a nice or cool thing to do — it’s critical if the Town hopes to cut costs while still providing core, vital services.

And, most importantly, technology touches all of our citizens.  99% of our residents have internet access.  54.5% have a smartphone, or are planning on getting one. I’ve seen children looking up Skate Park information, our seniors using the web, and new users accessing their water data online. Improvement and expansion of our Town services touches us all, and it’s the right thing to do.

Not funding any Technology Initiatives this next year means that we are going to be another year behind.  We have a roadmap – given to us by our great TTF members, let’s do something.

What can you do?  Speak Up, Speak Out

So, I might be the only one that thinks we can do better, but I hope not. I hope we can get back to Cary being the “Technology Town of NC” – but I’m afraid we won’t get there at this rate.

Personally, I think these initiatives are at least worth the kind of $110,000 Public Art funding for Fire Station #2 that is in the current budget.

If you agree, or don’t, make sure to make your feelings known to your council members:

• Speak Up – at an upcoming Budget Public Hearing at Town Hall on Thursday, May 23, 2013 and June 13, 2013, 6:30 p.m. (Held as part of the regular Council meetings), Town Council Chambers at Cary Town Hall, 316 N. Academy St
• Call or email council with your thoughts
• Tweet your ideas, thoughts or concerns about #technology in #cary to @TownofCary

You can read more about Cary’s FY14 Budget at our website.

Most importantly though, thanks for being an important part of Cary.

Photo by Katja Schulz.

Cary, NC – As a transplant from New Jersey (relocated Yankee, anyone?), it has taken me a while (15 years and counting) to learn about the best plants for my Zone 7 yard. I’ve learned the hard way not to fight Mother Nature, but instead to embrace plants native to North Carolina. The main advantage of planting indigenous species is that they require less care to survive – and doesn’t that sound like less work?

Our clay soil, coupled with hot and dry summers, can kill many species. The watering required to keep many plants lush through August is not a sustainable practice. Although we have wet spring weather, our summers can often go more than a week without rain. Anything planted in full sun must be drought tolerant.

What Are Native Plants

The North Carolina Native Plant Society (NCNPS) defines native plants as:

“species are those that occur naturally in an area, having not been introduced by human action. Over time, they have evolved with the physical and biological factors specific to their region, such as climate, soil, rainfall, and interactions with other plants, animals, and insects that live in the area.”

They aren’t invasive, they adapt to the area wildlife which either pollinate the plants, eat them or otherwise positively interact with the species.

Test The Soil

When planting anything in your garden the first step is to test the soil for pH to determine if the soil needs amending. If its clay, go ahead and get some good topsoil and compost and mix that all together, very little really wants to grow in that clay soil. Wet in the winter and rock hard in the dry summer, not a good bed can be made in those conditions.

Observe the Sun

Next watch the area during different hours of the day. Is it truly sunny, shady or only partly sunny? Dos the area have sun only in the heat of the day? Or early morning?  South facing, Northern exposure, East or West?  You will not have success planting a sun loving native in an area that only gets 2 hours of sun a day.

Once you have established the actual conditions for the area you wish to plan, start looking through lists like those provided by the NCNPS for types of shrubs and native plants organized by condition.

Short List of  Great Natives

Clumps:

• Sun – Butterfly Weed, Wild Indigo, Coreopsis, Black-Eyed Susan
• Shade – Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Blue Cohash
• Part Sun – Wild Geranium, Lobelia, Wild Columbine

Ground cover:

• Sun – Carolina Phlox
• Shade – Wild Ginger

Grasses and edging plants:

• Sun – Broomsedge, Bottle Brush, Indian Grass
• Shade -Plaintain Edged Sedge (this pops up on my lawn and woods and I transplant to a border)

Shrubs:

• Sun – Carolina Rose, Low Bush Blueberry, Maple Leaf Vibernum
• Shade – Snowhill Hydrangea, Drooping Leucothoe

I advise new homeowners to remember that plants increase dramatically in size over the years. Think about what you plant, what the the sun and soil conditions are, and how big the plant will be in 3-5 years (or longer) to avoid overcrowding and the need to prune or transplant.

Go Native and enjoy playing in your garden while you reap the rewards of increased wildlife (birds and critters) and the visual beauty that will bring you joy for years to come.

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The Gardening Column on CaryCitizen is sponsored by Garden Supply Company on Old Apex Rd. in Cary, NC.

Photos from MintJulepJazzBand.

Cary, NC – The Hob Nob Jazz Series at Booth Amphitheatre only has two more shows on the schedule. One is this Wednesday and the other next week.

Hob Nob Jazz

As you might remember from our story in April, Hob Jazz is a special series of intimate shows on the Crescent at Booth Amph. For those who haven’t been, the Crescent is like a giant porch, open to the great lawn and the main stage, but with a roof overhead. It has seating for hundreds and concession stands that sell food, beer and wine.

Now imagine a jazz show in the open air, as the evening sets over Regency Lake. That’s the Hob Nob Series.

2 Remaining Shows

Two more shows in the series:

• May  22, 2013 - Mint Julep Jazz Band
• May 29, 2013 - Outside Soul

Tickets are just $5. Kids 12 and under are free.

You can bring a lawn chair, blankets, food and non-alcoholic beverages. You can even bring your pets.

Parking is free and lots open at 5 PM. Showtime 5:30 – 8:30 PM.

Visit Booth Amphitheatre for more info.

Recipe by Lindsey Chester. Photo by Tina.

Cary, NC – One of most popular stories from last Spring was this recipe for homemade guacamole. Just in time for Memorial Day, here it is again.

Recipe: Homemade Guacamole

If you like to have a little Guac with your chips, or in your tacos or a salad, or with fresh fish, here’s a super-simple recipe that will make you a star.

It just has a few ingredients and takes almost no time. Perfect for Memorial Day in Cary, NC.

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe avocados - (I prefer the Haas type, they are the ones with the dark green/ black wrinkly skin. They should yield slightly to the touch when pressed if they are properly ripe. Soft, but not mushy.
• 1 lime
• 1 small onion
• salt pepper and garlic powder

To Make:

• Slice the ripe avocados in half, removing and discarding  the large pit  in the center.
• Scoop the flesh out into a bowl. mash with a fork until no longer chunky.
• Add juice of 1 lime (or lemon in a pinch). This tastes great but also prevents avocado from turning brown.
• Add in salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste and dice up one half of a small onion. Combine.
• Optional: add in 1/2 cup chunky salsa. Blend with a fork.

Serve with:

• Tortilla Chips
• Condiment for Tacos or Fajitas
• Top a burger

Now get dipping!

Cary, NC – Memorial Day is this weekend. Big thanks to our friend Julie Roland in Pittsboro for updating her Jordan Lake Boat Rentals story for 2013.

Boat Rentals on Jordan Lake

Crosswinds Boating Center
565 Farrington Road
Apex, NC 27523-8063
919-387-7011
www.crosswindsboating.com

Right off Highway 64 in Apex, Crosswinds marina  is a full service facility for boat enthusiasts. Services include wet storage, dry storage on trailers, pontoon and fishing boat rentals, public launch ramps, tackle shop, and an independent marine repair shop.

Jordan Lake Water Sports
(919) 426-2864
2296 North Pea Ridge Road
Pittsboro, NC 27312
http://www.jordanlakenc.com

Raleigh Jet Ski
Website
(919) 833.4638

These folks deliver jet skis to Jordan Lake 7 days a week from sunrise to sunset. Play for an hour or play all day. Features quality three-seat Waverunner, Jet Ski or Sea Doo watercraft. Rates start at $90 for a one-hour rental. Striper season runs from April to December.

Kayak Adventures
Website
Facebook Page
919-929-3805 or 919-259-2241 and speak to Susanne

Easy paddling, low cost and a shallow draft make kayaking a great way to get close to natrure on the lake. Kayak Adventures has lots of great themed trips including “Paddle with the Beavers,” “Sunset Full Moon Paddles,” private parties and standard rentals of canoes and kayaks.

Sunset paddle, courtesy of Kayak Adventures

Frog Hollow Outdoors
Website
Facebook Page
919-416-1200

Frog Hollow rents kayaks and canoes, runs guided expeditions, camps and overnight adventures. In addition to Jordan Lake, they also offer services nearby on the Haw River, the Eno River, the Cape Fear river, the Neuse River, the Deep River and Falls Lake.

Striper Sniper Adventures
Website
(919) 656-1887

Another way to enjoy Jordan Lake without owning a boat is Striper-Sniper Adventures.They offer guided fishing expeditions on the lake. Half-day trips with up to three people start at $250. Full trips are $300. Includes bait & tackle, but you must have a valid NC fishing license.

Country Singer Tift Merritt caught this big one on Jordan Lake with Striper Snipers.

From the blog of Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. Phot above (L->R) Mayor Harold Weinbrecht, Teach of the Year Denise LaPorta and Council member Jack Smith.

Cary, NC – This week was not as busy as anticipated due to two big cancellations.

Monday – Honor a Teacher

Monday I attended the Honor a Teacher Event at the Booth Amphitheater. This was the 12th year that the Chamber of Commerce has sponsored this even, started by the Ashworths. I gave a few remarks and then later in the program joined council member Smith to present an award to the Turner Creek Elementary winner, Denise LaPorta. Congratulations Denise! 26 other teachers were also awarded for their excellence. Award winners took home a nice trophy and a $1000 check. The event lasted about an hour and a half.

Tuesday – 2014 Budget

Tuesday the council held its first work session on the fiscal year 2014 budget. We started with a quick review of the manager/staff recommendations which include: increasing the property tax rate to 35 cents (an increase of two cents as a result of the Cary Community Investment Bonds approved by voters in November, 2012), a $15.00 per month Sanitation Fee (It is an increase of $1 per month. The fee was last increased in FY2009, an increase of 4.7% in utility rates for a residential customer using 4,500 gallons of water per month, and an increase of 5% in developer permit fees (for a new 4,000 square foot home increase is $54 from $1,080 to $1,134; fees last increased in FY2002).

The recommended budget can be reviewed at http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/Administration/Budget/recommendedFY2014.htm.

Tech Task Force

The council discussed several items on the budget for about two hours. The majority of the time was spent on recommendations from the technology task force which were not included in the budget. Staff’s reason was that no matter what was included it would take additional staff time. And since they are already understaffed they would need additional staff to cover these requests which adds to ongoing costs. The majority of council reluctantly agreed with staff recommendations to not include additional staff for these technology initiatives.

Other questions and discussions included recycling, costs for the Western Wake Regional Wastewater Facility, how we are messaging the budget, and a potential capital project to add a sidewalk on Louis Stephens Drive.

The council’s next work session on the budget will be on May 21st. One of the main topics of conversation at that work session will be Imagine Cary.

Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday and Thursday I was scheduled to meet with attorneys in the afternoon and evenings. The issue was resolved so I had the time free to see my wife and catch up on work.

Saturday – Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy

Saturday morning I participated in the Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy forum. Mayor Jones of Wake Forest and I were hosts at one of the breakout sessions. We talked about our roles as mayors and the skills needed to be successful in those roles. It was a good session with a lot of interesting questions.

Local Newspaper Story About the Budget

In the local newspaper this week there was a story about the budget. There were several glaring omissions that I would like to rectify.

1) The employees added would take us to staffing levels of 2008 even though we added more than 20,000 residents. In addition, we would have 8.3 employees per 1000 residents when the average is 11. This would be one of the lowest employee/citizen ratios in the state.

2) The amount of savings being used is the excess above what the council has marked as restricted. That amount is three times what is required. Currently savings are making little to no money in interest. It makes no sense to pay higher interest on debt when you can use cash, reduce operating costs, and still maintain a balance well above what is required.

3) It was mentioned that the tax rate increase was approved by the voters last year. What was not mentioned is that we will still have the lowest tax rate in the county unless another municipality cuts taxes.

4) Developer fees will be increased but we are still very competitive. In addition, the impact of development is not completely covered by our fees. That means taxpayers pay the difference. So the more developers pay in fees the less the taxpayers pay.

5) The new planning retreat scheduled for late this summer is to answer several questions that may impact next year’s budget. For example, does it make sense to have over $48 million in excess of what is required in savings especially when we can reduce debt that is costing more interest and in turn reduce operating costs?

Mailbag

Emails this week included congratulations and complaints about the kickoff for Imagine Cary. Other emails complained about tickets at the amphitheater being too expensive, requests for traffic lights, a claim that I am pushing high density in Cary, requests to deny a rezoning, and a couple of character assassinations related to comments in my blog on Imagine Cary.

Get in Touch

Well that is all for this week. Next week I travel to Augusta, Georgia, then to New York City to see my oldest daughter graduate from graduate school. Once we all return we will head out for a week long family vacation. So my next post will be on Sunday June 2nd. 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.

Cary, NC – CaryCitizen reader David Gill shared with us his photographs of the last moments of the Galaxy Theater in Cary.

End of the Galaxy

The Galaxy Theater, at the corner of Cary Towne Boulevard and S.E. Maynard Road, showed art films and foreign films. But the Galaxy owed many months rent to York Properties and closed their doors in November. York plans to redevelop the site around a Harris Teeter supermarket.

And so, the Galaxy came crashing down in a cloud of dust just over a week ago.

Last Moments

David Gill captured the last moments of the Galaxy. Visit Flickr to see the complete slideshow.

Cary, NC – Code for America (CfA) started in 2009. It’s a non-profit, non-partisan organization that brings together programmers, designers, data analysts and other web-industry professionals to work with municipalities to promote openness, participation and efficiency in local government. Now, Cary has it’s own Code for America Brigade.

Repurposing & Reusing Technology

CfA is all about public service through code. Brigades are specifically designated the task of reusing and repurposing existing technology for local governments. Why reinvent the wheel?

Open Data is a prime example. Governments collect oceans of data on citizens, costs and process. Open data uses existing tools to put that information on the web where it is available to everyone.

Code Something

CfA Brigades bring together programmers to code something useful, like a mashup of crime data with a Google map.

Vast server farms of data exist about our community – maps and water usage, crime, business permits and home sales, to name just a few. Pulling the data together so it can become useful for the community is the goal of the CfA Cary Brigade.

27 Apps in 2012

In 2012, CfA Brigades around the country created 27 municipal apps, including Honolulu Answers, Where’s My Schoolbus and Adopt-a-Hydrant. In the Triangle, the R/Greenway app was developed at Raleigh CityCamp.

CfA Cary can implement some of these open source applications for our own community, or write code for a new municipal app and share it.

2012 Code for America cities include Austin, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and New Orleans.

Code in the Triangle

Code for America started in the Triangle in Raleigh and is rapidly spreading. The more data we can pull together, the more we can understand regional issues. The goal is to create Brigades across towns in the Triangle and band together into a Code for America Division.

Cary Brigade Meeting

The CfA Brigade in Cary had its beginnings in the Technology Task Force, convened by Cary Town Council last year.

But the idea of a CfA brigade in Cary really got its start at  Cary Open Data Day in February.

TechnologyTank.org (former members of the Tech Task Force) provided organizational and operational help forming the brigade, including recruitment of co-captains Robert Campbell and Laura Hamlyn.

The Cary Brigade will hold a kick-off meeting on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 starting at 7:00 PM (EST) in Cary. The information is loaded in the Triangle Code for America Meetup Site. Register and join the Cary Code for America Brigade.

Code for America – Cary Brigade Meetup
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
7:00 PM

Cary Chamber of Commerce
307 N. Academy Street, Cary, NC
Register

What is next for the Triangle?

Durham and Morrisville are also in the process of forming Brigades. The plan may be to form a Code for America Division for the Triangle, something that does not yet exist in the Code for America structure.  The Triangle Region would then apply to be a Code for America City in 2015 with support from the municipalities of the Triangle.

If this sounds cool, then join the Brigade in your Town or City, or help us here in Cary.

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Ian Henshaw of TechnologyTank.org contributed to this article.