Lori Bush - Cary Town Council

🍦 PSA: It's National Ice Cream Day!

28 National Ice Cream Day deals worth screaming for I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Blueprint for Safety Survey 🚲🚶🏾‍♀️🚘

The Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is developing a comprehensive regional multimodal safety action plan in partnership with NCDOT, referred to as the Blueprint for Safety. The Blueprint for Safety will identify strategies and actions to improve roadway transportation safety in the CAMPO region. This is the first of two phases of public engagement during the Blueprint's development process. Your response to this survey will help the project team better understand where people feel unsafe, perceptions about causes of unsafe conditions, and core values for how we travel on a day to day basis.

Safety Blueprint - PublicInput CAMPO s Regional Transportation Safety Action Plan The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is developing a comprehensive regional multimodal safety action plan - a Blueprint for Safety - in partnership with NCDOT. The Blueprint for Safety is underway and will be finalized by Fall...

⚽️ NC Courage to host Orlando Pride in NWSL Summer Cup, airing on Paramount+ ⚽️
On Saturday, the North Carolina Courage returns to action in their first match of the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park . They will face the Orlando Pride, who sit on top of the NWSL standings as the league goes into Olympic Break. Meanwhile, NC Courage have a four-game unbeaten streak.

NC Courage to host Orlando Pride in NWSL Summer Cup, airing on Paramount+ NC Courage will face Orlando Pride this Saturday at home, in a game that will be aired on Paramount+.

Getting ready for Class for the Class of 2025!

Did you see that the Maynard Road water storage tank now stands ready to welcome the Senior Class of 2025?

On July 5, contractors climbed 138 feet to the catwalk and completed the 2025 update. Cary celebrates the hopes, dreams, and achievements of Cary’s high school seniors through this much-loved tradition.

🚧 Walnut Street Road Diet Update 🚧

As part of our ongoing efforts to design and plan for the upcoming Walnut Street Road Diet project, surveys have identified some routine maintenance needed on underperforming sections of the sewer and stormwater systems.

In preparation for the road diet restriping activities, Public Works crews will begin upgrading these sections starting next week. This work is expected to last 2-3 weeks. During this period, at least one travel lane will remain open in each direction.

The road diet project is expected to begin construction later this summer. Additional information can be found on our project website.

Walnut Street Road Diet | Town of Cary A road diet is a transportation strategy aimed at improving the safety, efficiency, and livability of streets.  It involves reducing the number of vehicle lanes and adding multi-modal amenities like median islands, bike lanes, wider sidewalks, traffic calming features, and enhanced pedestrian cross...

Today, Cary recognizes International Non-Binary People's Day! Non-binary is an umbrella term that encompasses many gender identities that fall outside of the gender binary of "man" and "woman". Today, we raise awareness, celebrate the rich diversity, and promote the inclusivity of our non-binary community.

You're invited to witness the magic behind the scenes of Manchester City & Celtic FC’s open training session at WakeMed Soccer Park!

📅 Date: July 22, 2024
🕒 Time: 6 PM
🏟️ Location: WakeMed Soccer Park

Experience the thrill as world-class athletes showcase their skills, drills, and teamwork strategies up close. Whether you're a die-hard fan, a soccer enthusiast, or simply curious about the sport, this is an event you won't want to miss!

🔗 Purchase tickets to secure your spot! Bring your friends, family, and fellow fans to share in this exciting opportunity!
Let's cheer on Manchester City and Celtic FC and see how champions prepare for greatness! ⚽🏆

FC Series: Manchester City FC / Celtic FC Open Practice Tickets Jul 22, 2024 Cary, NC | Ticketmaster Buy FC Series: Manchester City FC / Celtic FC Open Practice tickets at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC for Jul 22, 2024 at Ticketmaster.

Did you know❓
- Wake County will have more residents 60+ than children under 18 by 2029
- Wake County is growing by 51 people/day

Cary Matters: Pedestrian Safety In this episode of Cary Matters, At-Large Councilmember Lori Bush and District B Councilmember Michelle Craig discuss continued efforts for pedestrian safety...

GOVERNOR COOPER PROCLAIMS JULY 11, 2024, AS WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES DAY

Today, Roy Cooper, the Governor of North Carolina, issued a proclamation declaring Thursday, July 11, 2024, to be World University Games Day and calling upon all North Carolina citizens to observe the day.

July 11, 2024 marks exactly 5 years to the start of the 2029 World University Games which are slated to be held July 11 through July 22 of 2029. We are looking forward to hosting some of these game in Town of Cary, NC then!

The World University Games are considered to be the “Olympics” for top college and university athletes from around the world. It is the second-largest global Olympic multisport event behind only the Summer Olympic Games. The North Carolina Bid Committee (NCBC) spent 5 years in a national and international bid process to secure the Games. The Bid Committee landed the Games thanks to an impressive and unanimous vote of the Executive Committee of the international governing body for the Games, the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

Learn more here: https://ncusa2029wug.com/

🚧 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🚧
Renovation construction and Cary Parkway Sidewalk at Black Creek Projects are now underway. These projects will improve and rehabilitate Black Creek Greenway from West Dynasty Drive to Old Reedy Creek Road and complete an existing sidewalk gap along Cary Parkway over Black Creek. Each phase will require closing and detouring that section of the greenway while the other sections remain open.

https://carygreenwaydetour.com

“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.” — Peter Marshall

Have you seen that FentonNC has a set up for kids to see a free outdoor movie, complete with blanket and sunshade, on Wednesday mornings? It was a beautiful morning today with families set up, bringing coolers (and some with fans) to hang out. 🎥

Today, Fitch Ratings confirmed Town of Cary, NC's AAA Rating.

Why is that a good thing for Cary?

A rating of AAA from a rating agency is the highest possible rating and signifies that a municipality has an exceptionally strong capacity to meet its financial commitments. This top-tier rating is highly beneficial for Cary for a number of reasons:

- Lower Borrowing Costs: A AAA rating indicates to investors that Cary is a low-risk borrower. This results in lower interest rates on bonds and loans, saving taxpayer money on public projects such as infrastructure and community services.

- Increased Investor Confidence: The AAA rating reflects a strong and stable financial position, encouraging more investors to purchase our bonds. This broadens our investment base and provides greater flexibility in funding essential projects.

- Economic Stability: The high rating demonstrates prudent financial management and fiscal responsibility, fostering an environment of economic stability and growth, and a financially sound municipality attracts new businesses and residents.

- Enhanced Public Services: With reduced borrowing costs and increased investor confidence, we can allocate more resources towards improving public services, such as our GoCary bus system, public safety, and parks and greenways, enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

Fitch Affirms Cary, NC GOs at 'AAA'; Outlook Stable Fitch Ratings-New York-01 July 2024: Fitch Ratings has affirmed the rating on Cary, NC's Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and General Obligation (GO) bonds a

Did you make it out to our Pride Picnic in Downtown Cary Park? This was a great idea from our volunteers on Cary's NC Human Relations, Inclusivity, and Diversity board. It was a hot day, but it was great to see that so many community members came out! 🏳️‍🌈

Families, couples and allies celebrate Pride Month in Cary "We're supporting each other."

It was an incredible honor to serve on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. It's been an exciting 6 years, culminating in the Dueling Dinosaurs Gala and the opening of the expansion. If you haven't been, the Dino lab is incredible and a truly amazing experience for people of all ages. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of an amazing experience. 🦖 🌱 🦔 🦥

Congratulations to the young ladies who graduated from Camp Ignite! The 5 day summer camp for girls 14-18 hosted by Cary Fire Department, Morrisville Fire/Rescue Department, and the Town of Apex Fire Department. Camp IGNITE empowered these campers to do more than they thought they could, they learn about what a career in public safety can look like, and they had an immersive experience including daily firefighting related exercises and trainings designed to encourage self confidence, knowledge, and leadership skills. (Arno Zegerman, Michelle Craig for Cary, Jacques Gilbert, Mayor of Apex, NC, Liz Johnson, Ed Gray)

Applications are currently closed for the 2024 Camp IGNITE

Folks in the Chatham County portion of Town of Cary, NC will receive Emergency Medical Services 🚑 from Chatham County's provider, FirstHealth Regional EMS, officially on Monday, July 8th.

In order to ensure a smooth transition and that all citizens impacted are aware of the change, Cary in partnership with Chatham County and FirstHealth have held a number of information sessions. Today, Councilmember Sarika Bansal - Cary Town Council and I joined staffs from all the organizations in connecting and answering questions.

EMS is a county responsibility, and the move to services from Wake County to Chatham is necessary to support the growth of Cary in Chatham County.

Our 9-1-1 response and service dispatch remains the same, the location for the ambulances will still be co-located at Cary's Firestation 8, as they have since 2018. As was shared with folks that attended, the only difference will be the branding on the ambulance.

If you have questions or wold like more information, you can reach out to our 3-1-1 professionals, or see the services page, below.

www.chathamcountync.gov/EMS

There are many ways to get engaged with your Town - and this is just one! Keep in mind as you apply, that there may be limited spots for the various boards. For instance, Parks, Rec and Cultural Resources and the Information Services Advisory Board, each have just 1 vacancy. (3 positions ending soon, but open for those members to reapply for a 2nd term.)

But there are many committees that don't have a member limit - such as the Festivals Committee and Greenway committee! So doing a bit of due diligence might help you find the right fit, for you.

Last call! Cary citizens interested in shaping this community by serving on a Council-appointed Board, Commission, or Committee are encouraged to apply today! Board members volunteer their time and expertise to assist Council in making informed decisions and policies for our community. Recruitment closes on June 30. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/45C0UsZ

What an amazing and empowering program!

🌳 Cary Works to Advance the Tree Cary Industry 🌳
The NC Urban Forest Council hosted an arborist prep course in Greenville this past week. Leslie Moorman, Cary's Urban Forester, instructed a portion of the course, preparing the next generation of tree care professionals. Cary continues to prioritize the advancement of the tree care workforce to ensure our trees are receiving the best care and maintenance from qualified experts.

🚧 Construction Update - Walnut Street at Cary High School Ped Hybrid Beacon 🚧

Construction of the Walnut Street PHB (Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon) in front of Cary High School (Cary, NC) is expected to begin next week. The Traffic Control Plan during construction includes closure of the inside lanes on both eastbound and westbound Walnut Street for approximately one to two weeks to accommodate the median and PHB work. The existing pedestrian crossing is expected to be closed and pedestrian detour will be provided utilizing the existing signalized pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Walnut Street and SE Maynard Road. This project will replace the concrete median on either side of the crosswalk with a slightly longer landscaped median, which will include features based on a collaborative exercise with Cary High School students. The metal pole for the PHB will be installed in the landscaped median with dual mast-arms, each providing traffic control for the eastbound and westbound traffic on Walnut Street.

Want to learn more about how our Town of Cary, NC is using sensors and data to help with the management of our Downtown Cary Park? Take a look at how we are using our LoRa network with all kinds of sensors to help better respond as well as plan for changes in the park. From bathroom sensors to let us know how many times a door has been opened (time to check on the cleanliness!), to the fullness of trashcans, to soil saturation (time to water?), to sensors in the trees (how's our tree fairing), we're leveraging the capabilities of a .

Open Source: At Cary’s new downtown park, technology is in the trash, bathrooms and trees Sensors subtly placed around the 7-acre park offers the town real-time insights into facility management.

🏆The Town of Cary, NC comes in at #2 in the 50 Safest and Most Affordable US Cities To Live In.

"GOBankingRates conducted a study based on the costs of living and crime rate averages. They were then ranked from lowest to highest based on these average crime rates and costs and the ratings were factored by crimes per 1,000 people, then compared to the national average."

Fun Fact: Our Town Manager's previous job? In the #1 rated place, Elgin, IL. (City of Elgin, Illinois Government)

50 Safest and Most Affordable US Cities To Live In Check out the data we compiled for you.

Have a bike you aren't using? Donate it. 🚲

*** REMINDER USED BICYCLE DROP OFF EVENT ***

This Saturday our Citizens Assisting Police Team will be back out again at 155 Wilkinson Ave accepting donations of used children's bikes. Event runs from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Bikes 20" or less are preferred for donations!

All donations will be refurbished (if needed) and used for the Cary Police Department's Winter Wonderland program in December!

Are you looking for ways you can make a difference in your community? Apply today to serve on a Cary Town Council Board, Commission, or Committee! Board members volunteer their time and expertise to assist Council in making informed decisions and policies for our community. Recruitment closes June 30. To learn more, visit carync.gov/boards.

What a wonderful evening last night, celebrating and honoring the legacy of Sally Zumbach, who was instrumental in starting one of the first chapters of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Le****ns and G**s) in our area. Along with Councilmember Michelle Craig, we listened in at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center to hear about her story, a real living history, from her son, Mark Zumbach and daughter, Debra Zumbach Grannan. As Mark said, “She devoted her life to peace, justice, human rights, and family values. And unconditional love.”

The Town of Cary, NC recognized Sally and all that she did here in Cary, and presented a stunning plaque to Mark, who lives in their Cary home, where so much of her work and advocacy, was based.
🏳️‍🌈

https://www.carync.gov/recreation-enjoyment/events/special-events/pride-month/sally-zumbach

Read more at a story done at INDY Week:
https://indyweek.com/guides/archives-guides/happy-ending/

Existing Industry Expansions happening in Cary!

Kellanova (formerly Kellogg's) is the nation's largest Cheez-It production facility! It is expanding to an adjacent site in Cary's Weston Parkway corridor. An additional 100 jobs are expected, bringing the expected total headcount at the Cary site to 850 in the coming months.

Deutsche Bank, located in Cary, has increased hiring velocity in recent weeks.

OnLogic has taken on additional office space at 1000 CentreGreen Way to accommodate their growing team.

(Data provided from the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce)

💻🏠"Cary, NC has the largest remote workforce at 41.4%. Just shy of 41,000 people work from home in Cary, giving it the largest remote workforce. For those not working remotely, the average commute time is 22.2 minutes – roughly 3 minutes shorter than average. Besides Cary, another 11 large cities have 33% or more of their workforce operating remotely."

Town of Cary, NC

Cities With the Most People Working From Home – 2024 Study With the most recent U.S. Census Bureau designating the average commute time to work across large cities at 25 minutes, remote workers may save four hours per week or more compared to their in-person counterparts. Some commutes average up to 40 minutes one way. In an average city, 15.7% of workers a...

Proud to participate in the Central Pines Regional Council tonight as the chair of the Jordan Lake One Water Coalition to recognize Mayor Pam Hemminger for her key role in the creation of our organization around the organizing principle of One Water. 💦