Cary, NC – We want to thank our teams once again for making the first Cary Scavenger Hunt such a success. Many of you have asked us for the scores. Well, here they are!

By the way, more pictures on the CaryCitizen Facebook page. Add yours!

Adult Teams

• Winners – Fiftysomethings         2,955 points
• The Byrdsons -                              2,830 points
• JAKL -                                              2,825 points
• Old Navy Pilots -                              2,790 points
• Mission IMPossible -                      2,780 points
• Smith-Reycrofts -                            2,765 points
• The Savvy Sleuths -                         2,760 points
• Riddle e-Racers -                             2,600 points
• Heartbreakers on the Run -          2,545 points
• The Thinking Three -                     2,345 points
• Lenhardt Treasure Hunters -       2,310 points
• Culture Vultures -                           2,295 points
• Determined Detectives -               2,010 points
• LostinCary -                                     1, 650 points
• Crazy Cousins of Cary -                 1,565 points

Family Teams

• Winners – Team Holcombe           2,690 points
• Thunderbolts -                                    2,650 points
• Three Books & a Britt -                     2,635 points
• Glory Girls -                                        2,550 points
• Dragon Masters -                               2,535 points
• DBAT -                                                 2,520 points
• Hotly Contested -                              2,415 points
• Falcon 4 -                                            2,330 points
• Happy Honakers -                            2,200 points
• Fiddlin Around -                               2,135 points
• Fantastic Fowles -                            1,765 points

News on CaryCitizen is sponsored by The Meat House.

Story and photos by Leslie Huffman

Cary, NC – Teams are gearing-up for next weekend’s BIG Cary Scavenger Hunt.  We welcome our newest teams The Determined Detectives, CaryRealEstate.com, Riddle e-Racers, Fiddling Around, The Byrdson’s, Culture Vultures, and the Fantastic Four.

Make sure you don’t become clueless.  Sign-up now to guarantee your team a spot and make sure you get an exclusive Cary Scavenger Hunt T-shirt.

How To Play

Once your team is registered, you will check in next Saturday, July 24th, at 9:00 a.m., at Koka Booth Amphitheatre.  At 10:00 a.m., the bull horn is sounded and the teams are released!

Each team will be given a set of clues that will take them all over Cary.  Each clue is given a point value.  Clues include subjects like Cary history, visual arts, parks and recreation, town services and Cary businesses.  Make sure to bring a digital camera or cell phone camera to document your hunt.

The teams with the most points win!

Earn Extra Points

We thought it would be fun to include a few extra points for our social-media savvy contestants.

Most of these bonus points involve mobile communications – apps you might use on your cell phones. If not, you have a week to make sure at least one member of your team is prepared.

• TWITTER – Tweet your progress (one tweet per clue) during the day. Use the hashtags #cary and #scavengerhunt. 10 points per tweet , 100 points max.
• FACEBOOK – Post pictures to your Facebook profile. Use @carycitizen to get credit. 10 points per clue picture., 100 points max.
• FOURSQUARE – Check in at up to five locations. 10 points per check in, 50 points max.

Winner’s Loot – WOW!

Our First Place winners from the Adult Teams will win 10 VIP tickets to the REO Speedwagon/Pat Benatar show at Booth Amphitheatre on September 2, 2010. This winning team will get dinner in the VIP Tent and special seating just for you!

Our Family Team Winners will get a Private Party for 20 at “Movies by Moonlight” with dinner provided by Chick-fil-A of Waverly Place.  This team can pick between movies like 2012, July 29th; Taming Of The Shrew, August 5th; New Moon, August 12th; or How To Train Your Dragon, August 19th.

We also have prizes to give away from The Carolina Railhawks, Courtyard Marriott, Bella Mia, O2 Fitness, SAS Championship, Larry’s Beans, Suzie Wolf Photography, and IHOP.

We don’t want to leave you clueless, sign-up for the Hunt today!

Story by Leslie Huffman, photo by Hal Goodtree

Cary, NC – Our Advance Team is constantly in training for the upcoming Cary Scavenger Hunt.  They quiz each other on obscure Cary facts, check map routes around town and exercise daily.   Recently, they’ve been working up an appetite too.

Free Lunch. And More.

Thanks to our generous sponsors, there will be many extra goodies offered during the Scavenger Hunt on July 24th.  One of our Platinum Sponsors, Chick-fil-A of Waverly Place will be providing a free sandwich.

During the Cary Scavenger Hunt you will receive a clue from Chick-fil-A, just figure out the correct clue and you will be treated to something tasty.  Special treats will also be provided by The Meat House, Great Harvest Bread Company and Whole Foods Market of Cary.

We will also have a few other really cool giveaways too.  We’ll wait to surprise you with those!

Big Prizes

Koka Booth Amphitheatre, in honor of their 10th season of great entertainment, is supplying our Scavenger Hunt winners with some awesome prizes.  The Scavenger Hunt will be based on points.  Each clue has a point value.  The teams that have collected the most points, win.

Our First Place winners from the Adult Teams will win 10 VIP tickets to the REO Speedwagon/Pat Benatar show at Booth Amphitheatre on September 2, 2010.  Our Family Team Winners will get a Private Party for 20 at “Movies by Moonlight” with dinner provided by Chick-fil-A of Waverly Place.

Sign-Up Today

To guarantee your spot in The Cary Scavenger Hunt, sign-up today.

Welcome New Teams & Sponsors

A big shout out goes to our newest Scavenger Hunt Teams.  These groups are ready for some serious competition.  Welcome to The Hunt, Seekers, Savvy Sleuths, Beaulacs, Falcon Four, Thunderbolts and The Happy Honakers.

Our Advance Team is getting a little worried.  They better keep up their training!

We also want to thank our newest Scavenger Hunt Sponsors, Crossroads Ford and Whole Foods Market of Cary.  Thanks for helping us put on what we hope to be an unforgettable Cary event.

Cary, NC – One of Cary’s main arteries is slated to get a major facelift this summer.  Starting July 9, the N.C. Department of Transportation will begin rehabilitating a 4 mile section of Kildaire Farm Road from Walnut Street to Palace Green.

Along with resurfacing, milling and paving, the Town of Cary and NCDOT will work to reconfigure lane patterns between Maynard Road and Walnut Street, adjusting the existing four lane section to a three lane section with a center turn lane and extra width for cyclists. Weather permitting, all work will be completed by September 2010.

“We appreciate NCDOT’s efforts to improve this State road and look forward to the smoother ride, better traffic flow, and, most of all, the increased safety for pedestrians and cyclists,” said Bob Shultes, Town of Cary Engineer.

Shultes noted that in Cary’s 2010 Biennial Citizen Satisfaction Survey, Kildaire Farm Road was one of several mostly state-owned roads that citizens wanted addressed.  The plan calls for all asphalt repairs, milling and resurfacing be completed in Phase One by the end of August 2010.

As part of Phase Two, the new traffic pattern, crosswalks with pedestrian signals and long life pavement markings will be implemented as the road work is completed no later than Fall 2010.  The Town of Cary will implement Shared Use Arrow bicycle markings on Kildaire Farm Road from Walnut Street to Cary Parkway as part of the Town’s Bicycle Capital Improvements Project.

The good news is that lane closures will not be implemented during morning and evening commutes (Monday-Friday from 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.).  At least one lane in each direction will remain open at all times.

During construction, drivers are reminded to follow construction signs, stay alert and obey posted speed limits. For a complete list of NCDOT street projects within the Town of Cary, visit Resurfacing Projects at www.townofcary.org or call (919) 840-0914.

For further information on the road configuration, additional crosswalks, please call (919) 380-4104; for further information on the Shared Use Arrow bicycle markings, please call (919) 462-2008.

This article provided courtesy of Chick-fil-A of Waverly Place, Platinum Sponsor of the CaryCitizen Scavenger Hunt on Saturday July 24!

Story by Leslie Huffman

Cary, NC -  Honestly, I was terrified when I signed-up for this rigorous fitness program.  I knew that deep down, I really didn’t want to do it.  Yes, I wanted to look skinnier and be in better shape, but the thought of actually working at it just seemed like, well, too much work!

Let’s face it, we are all extremely busy with work, kids, carpools, schedules, volunteering, and house work.  Making time seems impossible.  Even though this was at the bottom of my “things-to-do” list, I made it fit.

I was not sure that I would stay committed to the program once enrolled or even finish it without a boatload of excuses.  But, here I am at the end of my 10 week Extreme Body Fitness Program and I’m ecstatic at my progress.

Over the last 10 weeks I met some really nice people and watched them transform themselves.  We would all be sweating profusely, grunting and out of breath throughout the hour, then chit-chat around the water cooler, grimacing over the exercise we hated the most.

Our trainers made each class unique and full of crazy new exercises.  We never got bored with their creative torture routines.  A huge thanks to Carolee, Barry, Vanessa and Jon for pushing me throughout the 10 weeks, and overlooking my big mouth!

Speaking of my big mouth, my biggest struggle was my eating habits.  I have tried to change the amount of food I consume at one time.  I have also been eating lean meats and fish with veggies and no carbs  during the week.  But when the weekends came all bets were off.

My lunch meetings and a few out of town trips really put a damper on my diet during these past few weeks.  But, I have gained some valuable new habits and even feel a little sick if I eat the wrong kinds of food.

Tale of the Tape

So here is my moment of truth, my stats:

Start                                                        Finish

• Weight: 122.5 lbs                         115.5lbs
• Waist: 33.5 inches                       31.5 inches
• Body Fat: 33%                             25% (still yuck)
• Blood Pressure: 143/90              108/70 (!)

Overall I lost 10 pounds of body fat and lost 9.5 inches over my entire body including my shoulders, biceps, hips, butt, calves, chest, and waist.  I started out being able to barely do 40 push-ups and ended kicking out 60 push-ups. I gained 5 inches in flexibility and can reach my toes… heck, I can see my toes!

I have not yet reached my goal in weight or inches but I am not quitting.  I will be doing my next Extreme Body Fitness class in September for 10 more weeks.  Come on and join me!  It’s not that hard (wink, wink).

Can you figure these out?

1. We play in band, yet you hear no sound.  Important folks are all around.  We do not move but march all day.  Come on out and see us play.  Who are we?

2. I was built in 1927 where I educated 200 students in grades 1 through 12.  I burned down in 1963 and was not rebuilt.  Who am I?

These are a little harder.  Get your Scavenger Hunt Team together.  You’ll get to solve clues like these and win big prizes.

3. We are very popular in the summertime.  We make concrete at two different Cary locations, in three different sizes.  Who are we?

4. Can you figure out this Rebus Puzzle?

Sign Up for the Hunt!

The Hunt is on July 24th. Spaces are going fast so sign up now.

Owner Rick Guerra and sons Louis and Anthony

Story & photos: Leslie Huffman

Cary, NC – I had just returned from a trip with my son to New York City where we infused our senses with New York style coal-fired pizza. On the plane home we both discussed how we can never go back to eating pizza at any of the local chains again.

Then, one day later I got an e-mail inviting me to visit Bella Mia, a brand new coal-fired pizza joint, that just opened up at the Arboretum in Cary.  Bella Mia means “my beautiful one” in Italian. I salivated at the thought and made plans to visit.

Family Run

I met with Rick Guerra and his sons Louis and Anthony who were busy making preparations for the day.  Two coal-fire ovens glowed in the kitchen while dough was being prepared and fresh vegetables were sliced.  Rick came to Cary two years ago. He had visited son Anthony who was attending UNC in Chapel Hill and decided North Carolina was the place to be.

For years, Rick sold wholesale produce in New York and was ready for a change.  Louis, a graduate from NYU, received special training in traditional Neapolitan pizza making along with his brother Anthony and opened shop with their father.

“Our goal is to change the perception of pizza in North Carolina,” said Rick Guerra. “Bella Mia is an extension of how we cook at home, and we want our customers to experience true Italian generosity in a casual, friendly and lively atmosphere.”

The Atmosphere

Before I entered, I was expecting a small place with tables and pictures of Italy on the walls.  But what I saw was a sophisticated dinning area with a contemporary open kitchen. The coal-fire ovens were the focal point surrounded by mosaic tile and granite counter tops.

A wonderful feature of the restaurant was the bar that invited guests to hang out and sample the nice selection of wines and beers.  Dark woods and warm colors on the walls made for a comfortable but refined atmosphere not typical of a pizza place.

The Ingredients

Bella Mia’s coal-burning ovens reach temperatures of 900 degrees, twice as hot as a gas oven, allowing the pizza to cook in less than three minutes with a light, airy crust. Rick imports flour from Italy and fresh mozzarella from Brooklyn and visits the NC farmer’s market four times a week.  Meats come from Rare Earth Farms in Zebulon, which raises only grass-fed beef.

Every morning they roast the days market fresh vegetables like eggplant, zucchini, peppers, onions, asparagus, mushrooms, squash and corn.  Hand-rolled meatballs and fresh pizza sauce are prepared daily, too.

The Best Part: The Food

With true Italian hospitality, Rick brought out from the kitchen four different salads and roasted chicken wings for me to sample.  The salads were all lightly dressed and included ingredients like arugula, cherry tomatoes, cranberries, Asian pears, granny smith apples and walnuts.  Cheeses like fresh mozzarella, shaved Parmesan, goat cheese and Gorgonzola were paired with each salad.

The oven-roasted vegetables came out on a large plate filled with different vegetables and all seasoned and roasted to perfection.  If you love vegetables, don’t miss ordering these from the menu.

Next came the coal oven roasted chicken wings.  No sloppy sauce on these wings.  Extra virgin olive oil, salt, rosemary and thyme, roasted and topped with caramelized onions made these wings fly off the bone and fill my mouth with joy.

Then, the pizza.  I have three words to describe the pie: simple, fresh and delicious.  Louis and Anthony made a Margherita pizza and the Bleeker St. pizza for me to try.  The pizza tasted like home-made pizza from Italy.

A thin, and puffy crust with some brick oven blackening, a light touch with the sauce and fresh mozzarella brought me back to Tuscany.  This is the way pizza was meant to taste.  It is not weighed down with heavy sauce and tons of cheese and toppings.  It is a simple pizza, with simple ingredients that bring out each flavor in a fresh and traditional Italian way.

The Bleeker St. pie was made with parmiggiano reggiano, fresh mozzarella, piled with arugula and prosciutto.  This was the first time I have had pizza with fresh arugula.  It was fantastic with it’s slightly bitter taste against the saltiness of the prosciutto and a light, airy crust.

Opinion

I am moving in!  If you tout yourself as a foodie, and crave fresh ingredients, you should not miss Bella Mia.  The prices here are higher than you will find in your average pizza establishment.  But, this spot is not average.  You will taste a pie that is much different and better quality than you are used to.  This pizza has integrity.

Story by Leslie Huffman. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC  - Over the years Cary has grown bigger.  People flock to the town after hearing it is one of the nicest places to live in America.  We all take pride in Cary and try to make it the best it can be.

Focus Local

As time goes on and our population and borders have expanded, you might think that folks would become more disconnected from the core community of Cary.

At CaryCitizen, we have found the opposite to be true.

Maybe it has been the economy, or the desire to simplify and localize our lives, but more and more people are focusing close to home on family and community.

Cary citizens work hard.  We support neighborhood businesses, donate to charity, and try to build a greener community.  Cary has incredible resources, wonderful parks, fantastic cultural and performing arts programs, amazing recreational facilities and a desire to care for our surroundings.

Appreciating our town and all that it has to offer has prompted us to present the first-ever Cary Scavenger Hunt, celebrating 10 years of great entertainment at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. You’ll get a taste of all the good things Cary has to offer when you Join the Hunt.

Make Up Your Own Team

Sign up for the Scavenger Hunt and show us what you know about Cary.  You may discover a few new things about the town you live in.  Give your team a proper name, assign a captain and get your clues.

You may need a strategy or you may just go with your gut.  The team with the most points wins big. Prizes include 10 VIP tickets to REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar at Booth Amphitheatre as well as a party tent for 20 at Movies by Moonlight.

Teams can be friends, co-workers, families, or church groups.

One thing is for sure; the Cary Scavenger Hunt will be a heck of a great home town good time!

Get more info.

Thanks To Our Newest Sponsors

A huge thanks goes out to Chick-fil-A in Waverly Plaza.  You must try their new spicy chicken sandwich with a large sweet tea.

And a high five to The Great Harvest Bread Company on Maynard Road.  They make the best whole wheat products baked fresh daily.

Also, the SAS Golf Championship has provided us with some tournament tickets to give away.  This year promises a great line-up of champion golf pros. Join the Hunt and you might just end up with a handful of tickets to the big show.

See all our generous supporters on the Sponsors Page.

Find Out More

Photo provided by the SAS Championship

Cary, NC – Tournament officials for the 2010 SAS Championship are calling for volunteers to help run this history-making event.

Now in its 10th year, the SAS Championship is being held at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, September 20 – 26.  Golf knowledge is not required and families and friends are welcome to participate.

“The SAS Championship is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and volunteers have played an integral role in the success of the tournament since its beginning,” said Tournament Director Jeff Kleiber. “Volunteers at the SAS Championship get a behind-the-scenes look at a professional golf tournament while interacting with golf’s legends, patrons and friends.  Anyone, no matter age or golf knowledge, can play an important part in the success of the 10th anniversary of the SAS Championship.”

Do Something Unique

There are a number of unique jobs, including:

• Golf Channel support
• Walking scorers
• Standard bearers
• Hole marshals

Training will be provided.

The Benefits

The volunteer fee is $40 before August 1 (after August 1, the fee goes up to $50). The benefits include:

• A Nike golf shirt
• Headwear
• Volunteer badge valid for week-long tournament access
• Two weekly grounds badges for guests of the volunteer’s choice,
• Two invitations to the annual volunteer appreciation party
• Meals and beverages during assigned shifts

Play Golf!

All volunteers who work three or more shifts will receive a free golf voucher good for one round at Prestonwood Country Club.

Get in the Swing of Things

Over 600 volunteers help make this a world-class event, and you can be a part of it. You’ll meet people, have fun and watch the legends of golf in and out of competition.

Interested folks can register at the SAS Championship website Volunteers Info Page.

Story by Leslie Huffman

Cary, NC – I think I said in my previous story that I was finally able to keep up.  I was mistaken.  Our trainers have no intentions of us keeping up.  They want to push us to our limits.  It’s working.

The last two weeks our training sessions have been brutal.  Doing lunges up hill while holding a tire over your head is not for the weak.  That’s why I used a hand weight for that exercise. The sprinting and jumping, running up steps and doing more than 200 push-ups a class is unmerciful.

Yes, I am still using profanity while working out, but most of these exercises have kept me so out of breath that I can’t speak.  Hmmm, maybe that’s their strategy.

Is It Working?

Yes!  I can honestly say that I have never worked this hard at being fit.  I can also say that if I just joined a gym and took a regular exercise class, I would not have gotten this far, this fast.

I believe this is true for several reasons.  One, you commit yourself to a 10 week time period.  This keeps you focused and invested in making progress.  No blowing off this class.

Two, none of us have ever been bored with a routine.  Each class is different than the last and you know it’s going to hurt.  Each progression has pushed me to physical levels I am so not ready for.

Lastly, it has been the time and care that all our trainers have given us.  They have gotten to know us.  They push us hard and make sure we get a benefit out of every minute.  The support from the trainers has been phenomenal.  They have helped us with diet advise, old injuries, bad knees and attitude adjustments.  I would never have made it this far without them.

The next story will be my last in this series.  You will see my before and after pictures and find out my stats.

The true test will be when my Mother comes for a visit next week.  She’ll give it to me straight.