Harold’s Blog: Week of August 12, 2019
Cary, NC – This was another slow summer week dominated by campaign related activities. Read more
Samaritan’s Corner: A Duran Duran Song
Cary, NC – Ecclesiastes 1:18 – “The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.” The truth of this scripture acts as a hand that has snatched me out of a dream, by way of my nightmares. Literally.
Need a little more clarity to really understanding what I’m saying? Acts 2:17 – “Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.” My body and mind seem to share in both the young man having visions, and the old man dreaming dreams. Being 50 doesn’t make me old, and it doesn’t make me young. It’s the reality of life that causes me to feel the impact of the years gone by.
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Harold’s Blog: Bond Referendums, Lyman Collins and More
Cary, NC – This week was a little busier than last week.
Monday – General Obligation Bonds
Monday I joined the town manager, the chief financial officer, the deputy town clerk, the bond attorney, and a representative of the bank to sign legal documents for the sale of the last portion of the 2012 General Obligation bonds. The amount was $16,050,000 and will be used to implement promises made in 2012. Since we have the highest bond rating possible our bonds are at the lowest interest rate possible. The interest rates will be almost nothing since it is just barely above inflation.
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Harold’s Blog: New York Trip, 2019 Election and More
Cary, NC – This week’s focus was mostly on a trip to New York.
Monday – Election Planning
Monday, I met briefly with the town manager for our weekly one-on-one. We talked about a range of topics that included the mall redevelopment, the hotel occupancy and meal tax, and my trip to New York.
Later Monday I held my first official campaign re-election committee meeting. We decided on treasurer issues and how we planned to proceeding.
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Don’s Blog: Don Frantz Cary Town Council Reelection Announcement
Cary, NC – I am excited to announce that I am running for reelection to the Cary Town Council, District B!
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Harold’s Blog: Cary Town Council, Cary Towne Center and More
Cary, NC – This week was a typical council meeting week.
Monday – Hospitality Tax
Monday, I attempted to contact council members to hear of any questions or concerns about the agenda for Thursday’s meeting. The agenda was mostly public hearings so there were very few questions. Later in the day I met with key staff members and the Mayor Pro-Tem to go over the agenda. At that time, we believed the only public speakers would be with the Twyla Road public hearing.
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Harold’s Blog: North Carolina Legislature, Stormwater and More
Cary, NC – This week was very slow which is typical for this time of year.
Monday – Election Preparation
Monday, I met with the town manager for about half an hour. We talked about a few things including the upcoming election.
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Education: New School Facilities, 2019-2020 School Year and More
Wake County, NC – Thoughts for July 2019 from Bill Fletcher, Member of the Wake County Board of Education.
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Harold’s Blog: July 7, 2019
Cary, NC – This week was a holiday week so there was not a lot going on.
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Don’s Blog: Hillcrest Cemetery Restorations
I am pleased to announce that Cary has contracted with Verville Interiors and Preservation, LLC to repair, restore, and preserve cemetery monuments in our local historic landmark, Hillcrest Cemetery. Work by expert craftsman, Michael Verville, also includes leveling leaning stones and stabilizing loose stones. Rest assured that the work will be completed in accordance with the US Secretary of the Interior Standards for Historic Preservation and Conservation and Cary’s Historic Preservation Commission will be involved as well.
What? You’ve never heard of Hillcrest Cemetery? Well, with burials dating back to the 1700s, Hillcrest Cemetery is a special place of great historic significance to our community. It is the final resting place of a number of men and women who made considerable contributions to the Town of Cary’s social, economic, political and religious growth, and development. Interred at the cemetery are fifteen former mayors, educators, and business leaders to include members of the Jones, Page, Templeton and Guess families, and Cary High principal Marcus Baxter Dry, Esther Ivey, Russell O. Heater, Alfred “Buck” Jones, and R. S. “Dad” Dunham. Hillcrest Cemetery was designated a historic landmark in 2014 and is Cary’s only municipal cemetery.
Restoring these monuments to their original glory is the least we can do for those who gave so much of themselves for Cary.
So where is Hillcrest Cemetery? I’m glad you asked! The cemetery is located at 608 Page Street just south of downtown. The Town of Cary acquired most of the cemetery in the 1960s and 1970s, making it the Town’s only active municipal cemetery.
Cary’s American Legion Post 67 hosts an annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at Hillcrest Cemetery and The Friends of the Page-Walker also promotes walking tours through the cemetery to better educate visitors about Cary’s history. You can learn more about Hillcrest Cemetery from the Friends by clicking here.
In partnership with the Town’s Spruce Program, the Town will also hold one clean-up day in the Cemetery on September 7 from 9 – 11 a.m. Volunteers can perform light cleaning of headstones/markers and/or just help with a little landscaping maintenance. Sign-up will be available through the Town’s website here.
Spruce volunteers donate their time and energy to help keep Cary clean and green by working in our parks, streets, streams, and other public spaces. From trail maintenance to litter cleanups and many other projects in between, the Spruce Program supports our citizens’ efforts to have a direct positive impact on both the beauty and the environmental health of our community.
I look forward to seeing everyone at Hillcrest Cemetery on September 7th and thanks in advance for coming out to help. If you have any questions about the monument repair and/or the scheduled clean-up day, please shoot me an email at don.frantz@townofcary.org or contact the Town Clerk’s office at virginia.johnson@townofcary.org .
From the blog of Cary Councilmember Don Frantz. Photos courtesy of Don Frantz.