2nd Annual Big Sweep for Black Creek: Saturday, October 6th
The second annual Big Sweep for Black Creek is on Saturday, October 6. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at the Black Creek Greenway trailhead parking lot on Maynard Road across from Godbold Park. Boots that are grippy and can get wet, long pants, and sunscreen are recommended.
Gloves and trash bags will be provided. This year we are asking for plastic bottles to be separated out for recycling.
After an orientation in the morning, teams will be sent out to various segments of Black Creek to remove trash, and will keep track of what they pick up. Depending upon the number of volunteers who show up, teams may take anywhere from 1-3 hours to clean up their area. Town of Cary staff will pick up the bags along the greenway at 1:00 p.m.
Thanks to our sponsors of 2007 Big Sweep for Black Creek, who include:
- Black Creek Watershed Association
- Cary Rotary
- Cary Presbyterian Church
- Wake County Soil & Water Conservation District Town of Cary
For more information regarding the Black Creek Watershed Association, contact Christy Perrin at (919) 515-4542 or Christy_perrin@ncsu.edu
, or visit the project website at www.ncsu.edu/WECO/blackcreek.
Cary citizens can now go online to comment on proposed development activities: Brier Ridge and Harrison Ave Project
Visit Cary's first online commentaries: Brier Ridge or Harrison Avenue proposed project Web sections at
https://www.commentmgr.com/PCS/PublicGUI/QuestionsCustom.aspx?Public_PID=547&Level=Project&LevelNumber=547
They can also share their ideas on how the project might be improved, and they can see what their neighbors are saying about the same project. Cary is the first local government in the Triangle to offer this further level of public input that enables citizens to share their suggestions and concerns 24/7 from the convenience of their computer as a project goes through what is typically months of review.
The Town will be offering the online comment opportunity on a wide variety of projects that are subject to public hearings including rezonings, comprehensive plan amendments and mixed-use sketch plans. The incorporation of this extra level of citizen involvement was requested by the Cary Town Council at a previous planning retreat.
"In Cary, we want to hear from our citizens, and we want to make it as easy and convenient as possible for them to share their thoughts with us," said Town of Cary Planning Director Jeff Ulma. "This new tool has the power to create a one-stop shop for everyone involved in a proposed plan to come together as a community to discuss a proposal."
At appropriate points in the development process, Town staff will collect the online comments and present them to the Town Council and the Planning & Zoning Board as a case is considered. Of course, the commentary will be online and available anytime anyone wants to review it.Ulma noted that the Town's use of the online commentary is just in its infancy and will grow and improve with time and experience."Until now, this software has really been used for large scale planning projects, and we're breaking new ground here in Cary by also using it on small, local development applications. It's very exciting," Ulma added.
Cary's new initiative is powered by IBM's Neighborhood America -- http://www.neighborhoodamerica.com -- whose other clients include ABC, CBS, the Department of Defense and the National Park Service. For a cost of $25,000 for one year of service, the Planning Department will be able to manage comments on up to 25 projects at once.
To see how the first online commentaries are working in Cary, visit the Brier Ridge or Harrison Avenue proposed project Web sections at
https://www.commentmgr.com/PCS/PublicGUI/QuestionsCustom.aspx?Public_PID=547&Level=Project&LevelNumber=547
Elections on Oct. 9th, 2007
Visit the sites below to learn more about the upcoming elections:
The last day to register to vote, or change party affiliation is Sept. 14th.
The Town of
The forum will be taped and played throughout western
Blackcreek Watershed Wire -
A group of people committed to the health of the Blackcreek watershed.
You can learn more about this group at their Website:
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/agecon/WECO/blackcreek/index.htm
Regular meetings:
Last Monday of the Month
6:15 - 8:30 pm
Location: To be announced
HELP WANTED! Please consider Volunteering for the ARC and the Social Committee
ARC Committee Members Needed
Job Description: Volunteers are needed to review Architectural Review Committee applications for exterior changes. Volunteers will work under the direction of the ARC Committee Chairman. This position usually requires 3 or fewer hours per month, but can take more than 5 hours during a busy month. Please send an e-mail to if you are interested in serving on this committee.
Social Committee Members Needed
Job Description: Volunteers are needed for assistance with coordinating one or more of the following events (note: dates are subject to change). Please send an e-mail to , indicating what event or events you would like to help with. There is funding in our HOA budget for these events, but we need volunteers to help make them happen!
- Picnic at
- Group outing for Carolina Railhawks Mens Soccer Game – Saturday May 19th, 7:30 pm
- Neighborhood Garage Sale – Sat., April 28th 8-11am
- Group outing to Durham Bulls Game – June 17rd 5 pm (Father’s Day)
- National Night Out at River Rock Swim Club – Tuesday, Aug. 7th
Spring is HERE! ...and is a good time to spruce up the neighborhood by doing the following...
The Silverton HOA would like to remind residents that spring is the time to:
- Spruce up their lawns and landscaping by weeding, mulching, and pruning.
- Do exterior improvements such as replacing broken shutters, power washing, staining and sealing decks or wood play structures, and for painting
- Remove any lingering winter holiday decorations
- De-clutter and clean out garages and homes, in preparation for our annual garage sale
Please do your part to help make our neighborhood enjoyable by all!
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The CAP Team (Citizen Assisting Police), in which several Silverton residents are members, is a volunteer group associated with the Cary Police Department. They work on rebuilding bicycles and getting them in shape to give to kids whose parents can’t afford them. If you have any size bicycle to donate (no matter what the condition), contact Al Slonim at phone: 362.9986 to arrange to have them picked up. |
View Thank You Note for the Silverton Lake Watershed Meeting with Cary Town Staff
Dear Terry and Tom (Town of Cary Staff),
I wanted to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to meet with Silverton homeowners last night. As you witnessed, there is a large group of homeowners who are concerned about stormwater management in the Silverton watershed area. These are not just a handful of folks who are worried about flooding in their own backyards, but rather a group that is concerned about several stormwater issues across the region. We are primarily concerned about improving existing conditions and in seeing that the Town growth policies take a holistic watershed approach as it relates to mitigating impacts from future development in this area.
As outlined last night, much of the development in Silverton was established prior to current stormwater policies relating to distance of lots and structures from stream buffers. As a result, many homes in this area are threatened by potential flooding risks that would not be present if these neighborhoods were built today. We urge you to keep this in mind when you establish policy and review plans for future development in this area. We hope you will recognize that best practice stormwater management policies that work elsewhere in
Silverton homeowners are grateful for the Silverton Lake Watershed Study and the hard work put into it by your staff (as well as Withers and Ravenel). However, as admitted by Billy Lee, Withers & Ravenel, this work is not complete—which makes it difficult to draw real world conclusions from it. The data presented in the study does not provide a true picture of the reality of the most common storm events that affect this area. Most specifically, the modeling in the current study does not project what the water levels would be when the outlet drain on
We fully recognize that the Silverton Lake Watershed Study is just a first step in a long process to develop solutions to mitigate flooding in this region. For whatever reason, Withers and Ravenel was not asked to make any specific recommendations for stormwater mitigation based on this study. We believe that the study indicates (even without the missing data projections asked for above) that some change in policy for future development in this area is necessary. We believe that you and your staff are the most highly qualified professionals in your field and, as such, you should be the one’s driving policy change as it relates to future development and stormwater management in
Again, thank you so much for your time and hard work. We look forward to continuing this dialog with you (and Council) regarding stormwater management issues in the Silverton area.
Eddie Neuwirth
Silverton homeowner
Attend Silverton Lake Watershed Meeting with Cary Town Staff
Recently, the Town of Cary commissioned a watershed study for the
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 27th from 6:30pm - 8pm at the Page Walker Hotel which is located on the Town Hall Campus. Terry Warren, the Stormwater Services Manager for the Town of Cary has reserved the first floor gallery at the Page Walker for this meeting. There will be town staff and representatives of the consultant who prepared the study on hand to present the report and to answer questions.
View Silverton Lake Watershed Study Report to be discussed at meeting...
Don't Forget Your Dog Etiquette
As you enjoy your springtime walks with your dog, don't forget your "dog etiquette":
- Remember to bring a baggie with you to pick up any poops left behind.
- Remember that dog pee does kill grass, so try to keep them from doing this on your neighbors yard.
- If your dog is barking excessively outdoors, remember your neighbors and bring him/her inside.
There are actually ordinances pertaining to animals on the Town of Cary website. You can view them at http://www.townofcary.org/tupage/siteindex.htm, then select "Code of Ordinances, Town of Cary" and do a search on animal control.
New NC Child Restraint Law
The Town of Cary Police Department will join law enforcement agencies in enforcing new, statewide child restraint laws designed to help protect the young and small from injury in a crash. Effective January 1, 2005, North Carolina law will require that all motor vehicle passengers younger than age 8 or weighing less than 80 pounds be properly secured in a child restraint device appropriate for their height and weight.
Child restraint violations carry a fine of up to $25, $100 in court costs, and two driver’s license points. Child restraint violations are always the responsibility of the driver, even if a child’s parent is present elsewhere in the vehicle.
Previously, children were required to be secured in child restrain devices until their 5th birthday or a weight of 40 pounds. However, children who have already met this requirement must now use a weight appropriate booster seat until age 8 or 80 pounds. Once a child reaches his or her 8th birthday or 80 pounds, he or she may be restrained by a “properly fitted” seat belt--a belt that is worn with the shoulder belt across the collar bone and chest and the lap belt low and snug across the hips, just like an adult.
“The back seat is generally the safest place for a child,” said Officer Steve Wilkins of Cary’s Traffic Unit. “It’s best to keep children in the back seat until they are at least 12 years old.”
Rear facing child restraint should never be placed in front of an active front seat airbag system.
In its continuing commitment to child safety, the Town of Cary Police Department offers a free child seat safety clinic each Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Cary Fire Station #2 near the intersection of Southeast Maynard Road. and Cary Towne Boulevard. For more information, call the Cary Police Department’s Traffic Safety Team at (919) 319-4521 or visit www.ncdot.org/secretary/GHSP .
FIND CARY SMOKE FREE RESTAURANTS
It's easy now to find non-smoking restaurants in Cary, thanks to Wake County Human Services' Project ASSIST Smoke-Free Dining program. If you're looking for a smoke-free dining alternative in Cary, just visit www.townofcary.org and click on Smoke Free Dining. You'll be just one step away from Wake County's complete list of smoke free dining throughout the county.
Get Rid of Junked Vehicles
If you live in Cary, it's now easy and FREE to get rid of junked vehicles. To help residents keep Cary beautiful, the Town has revised its junk vehicle program in a way that doesn't cost owners a dime! In Cary, it's a junked vehicle if it doesn't have a current license plate and at least one of the following is true:
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It's partially dismantled or wrecked
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It can't propel itself or move in the manner in which it was originally intended.
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It's over 5 years old and looks to be worth less than $100
Call (919) 462-3885 or visit www.townofcary.org for more information.
Stormwater/Pet Waste Clean Up Reminder
(taken from the Town of Cary Website)
Pet waste is a health hazard & water pollutant. Protect your health & our waterways - Clean up after your pet! Do not leave pet waste on driveways, sidewalks or other impervious (hard) surfaces where it can wash into storm drains and waterways. Never place pet waste in a storm drain, stream or lake. Use a bag to pick up pet waste, tie it & place in the trash. Call 469-4038 for more information.
Recycling Tip - Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
(taken from the Town of Cary Website)
On the Third Saturday of each month, the South Wake Transfer Station (6000 Old Smithfield Road, off HWY 55, south of Apex) will now accept Household Hazardous Waste from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Accepted HHW includes; pesticides, household cleaners and polished, herbicides, drain openers, poisons, paints, acids/bases, solvents/thinners, batteries, furniture strippers, photographic chemicals, wood preservatives, lighter fluid, used motor oil, kerosene, antifreeze, fuel oil, and auto starter or brake fluid. For 24-hour information call 287-8051.
Scooter Route...when not to keep keep it between the ditches
(taken from the Town of Cary BUD Newsletter)The law treats gasoline and electric scooters the same as go-carts, dirt bikes, and other recreational vehicles. Ride them in Cary only on private property with the property owner's OK. Town ordinances prohibit motor scooters and similar vehicles on sidewalks, greenways, and other public areas.
State law prohibits them on public streets with one exception. Gasoline scooters that meet the legal definition of "moped" are allowed on the road if the operator is at least 16 years old, wears a state-approved motorcycle helmet, and obeys traffic laws. For more details, call the Cary police traffic safety hotline at (919) 319-4521.