Gayla Bonke of Chatham Street Cafe and Jay Rowland of Finish Line. Photos by Brenda Larson for Cary Citizen.

Editor’s Note – Business in town is certainly simmering along. In this issue of the Cary Business Report, Brenda Larson writes about a sneaker store sending shoes to Haiti, Black Bottom Pie to die for, a chance to win a new hybrid Chevy Mailbu and lots of new business openings.

Finish Line boosts Haiti relief effort

Finish Line, an athletic apparel store at Cary Towne Center, is participating in a corporate venture to reach out to Haitian earthquake survivors and you can help.

Finish Line, the Finish Line Youth Foundation, company employees, customers and charitable partners are all mobilizing to lend support to the cause.

Finish Line began collecting monetary donations on Jan. 7 at its stores across the country and at http://www.finishline.com for Samaritan’s Feet, http://www.samaritansfeet.org/, a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to providing shoes for impoverished children around the world. Samaritan’s Feet is redirecting $50,000 from the current collection drive to help distribute shoes specifically for the people of Haiti.

The Finish Line Youth Foundation will, in turn, match monetary donations from customers up to the first $50,000 collected. These funds will be distributed to Action Against Hunger, http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/, a global humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger.

Finish Line will also collect donations from its more than 12,000 employees nationwide. The company will match the relief contributions of its associates up to the first $25,000.

Customers can also donate gently used pairs of shoes at any of the retail locations, including the one at Cary Towne Center. The donation of shoes is being coordinated with Soles4Souls, http://www.soles4souls.org/, a non-profit organization dedicated to changing lives around the world with the gift of shoes. The organization has pledged to collect one million pairs of new and used boots and shoes for Haitian earthquake survivors.

Jay Rowland, assistant manager at the Cary Towne Center Finish Line store, says the company raises funds every year for Samaritan’s Feet, but this year, the corporation made a conscious decision to direct relief efforts to the people of Haiti.

“People are bringing in shoes, they’re bringing in monetary donations. The monetary donations have been amazing. People are giving $30, $20, $10. It’s great,” Rowland said.

“It’s good for us to be here, right in the middle of it, making this happen. It makes us feel good, it makes our customers feel good. We’re making a difference,” Rowland said.

The Finish Line is located on the main level of the mall near Sears and JC Penney. Drop by any time to help put shoes on bare feet and food in empty tummies.

Chatham Street Café desserts tempt food writer

Congratulations to chef/owner Gayla Bonke of Chatham Street Café in downtown Cary on the great review from The News & Observer’s food writer Greg Cox.

In the review, Cox writes about the sorely tempting array of buttery almond cake, chocolate mousse pie and carrot cake calling to him to eat dessert first, just as you likely begged your own mom once or twice.

“And don’t think the temptation lets up once your food is brought to the table. Sure, the wild mushroom omelet or tarragon chicken salad wrap provides some savory distraction. But it’s only temporary. Before you know it, you’ll start hearing the seductive refrain again, at a first a whisper, then louder: blaaaack bottommm piiie, blaaaaack bottommm piiie…” Cox writes.

A big disclaimer from me… I eat breakfast with a large group of community volunteers at Chatham Street Café once a month, every month, and what we appreciate is how they serve our group a hot, tasty, comforting breakfast and get us in and out in less than an hour, something we all appreciate. Thanks from our team!

Bonke grew up on a farm outside of Rochester, NY, where she learned to appreciate delicious, homegrown, high-quality food. A life-long foodie, she became sole proprietor of Chatham Street Café in May 2008. Visit the website at http://www.chathamstreetcafe.com/home for more information about their hours and menu.

Cary Chamber Business Events

• BUILDING BUZZ WITH DEIDRE HUGHEY: I hope you have Thursday, Feb. 18 marked in your calendar for the monthly Business of Women luncheon at Prestonwood Country Club at noon. Guest speaker is Deidre Hughey from The Buzz Builder, LLC, http://thebuzzbuilder.com/, who will be talking about staying motivated, a great subject for these times. Deidre is a marketing maven, who knows how to help businesses build buzz through a variety of tools, including social media. She is also president of the Women Business Owner’s Network, a trustee for inSide919.com, on the board of the Knowledgeable Network of Women in Morrisville and a veteran speaker. It’s $15 with advance registration, www.carychamber.com, or $20 at the door.

• HONOR A SMALL BUSINESS: Nominations are open for the Cary Chamber of Commerce 2010 Small Business Awards, which include the Small Business of the Year, Community Service, Employer of the Year, Innovation Award, Entrepreneurial Award in Education and Charitable Partners Award. Presenting sponsor Crescent State Bank encourages you to nominate a business by visiting the chamber site, www.carychamber.com, and filling out the nomination form. The awards will be presented at a special luncheon May 13 at noon at Embassy Suites in Cary. Keep an eye on the chamber site for more details.

• WIN A 2010 CHEVY MAILBU HYBRID: Well, you could, if you’re one of the 500 people who buy a ticket in the chamber’s reverse raffle. Only 500 tickets, $100 each, will be sold on the car, donated by Hendrick Cary Auto Mall, so the odds are great. The ticket also provides entry for two people to the raffle and auction event Feb. 25 at Prestonwood Country Club, 5:30 pm. For more info, visit the chamber site, www.carychamber.com.

• UNDERSTANDING HEALTH-CARE REFORM: It’s a complicated subject and it’s creating strident discussion across the nation.  Cary Chamber dedicates its Feb. 24 Eyeopener Breakfast meeting, 7:45 a.m., Prestonwood Country Club, to the subject of health-care reform. Mark Fleming, senior director of government affairs for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, will discuss the reform proposals in Congress and the effects on business owners and individuals. He will be joined by Brad Crone, regional director of the Healthcare Leadership Council, a coalition of CEOs advocating quality, innovation and access for the nation’s health-care delivery system. For registration information, visit www.carychamber.com.

Cary Chamber New Members

Hey, just so you know … CaryCitizen, your local online newspaper, was the very first new member of 2010! We’re excited to be a Chamber member and look forward to working with our new partners in business. Now, here are the other businesses that joined the Chamber in January:

Creative Audio Imaging, Steve Gorick, 3704 Satinleaf Dr., Raleigh, NC, 27616, 888-548-7656, provides on-hold messages that really work for companies everywhere, reducing hangups and educating callers in the process.

Gordon Munro, 204 Valenta Ct., Cary, NC, 27513, (919) 650-1563, a talented photographer specializing in fashion, beauty, celebrities, horses and dogs, whose work has appeared in major publications around the world.

Four Points by Sheraton Raleigh Cary, Trevor Walden, 500 Caitboo Ave., Cary, NC, 27518, 919-900-8840, providing comfortable, 100 percent non-smoking, clean, fresh accommodations for travelers, with great access to transportation, entertainment, dining and educational institutions.

Copiers Plus Inc., Keith Woedy, 130 Penmarc Dr., Raleigh, NC, 27603, 919-270-9498, bringing the most up-to-date technology and office solutions to customers and their businesses.

Oswald Company Inc., Judson Oswald, 3737 Glenwood Ave., Suite 100, Raleigh, NC, 27612, 919-573-6116, provides development, design-build and construction services to a wide range of clients.

Sanctuary Senior Care, Donna Rasmussen, 1135 Kildaire Farm Rd, Suite 200, Cary, NC, 27511, 919-415-2355, provides at-home non-medical caregiving for senior individuals and families.

1750 Ordinary, David Needham, 6490 Tryon Rd., Cary, NC, 27518, 919-851-5300, a restaurant/tavern with a fresh approach to classic fare, something for every palate.

Gurkin Construction Design Build, Julie Pounds, 1312 Kirkland Rd., Suite 117, Raleigh, NC, 27607, 919-834-1196, general contracting and construction management with more than 60 years of collective experience in a wide variety of building projects.

AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex, Mark England, 102 Sherringham Ct., Cary, NC, 27519, 919-434-7249, 919-454-7776, providing residential and commercial air duct cleaning, emergency water removal, mold removal, making every home a healthy home.

CaryCitizen, Hal Goodtree, Cary, NC, 27513, an online local newspaper serving Cary citizens and businesses. All local, all the time.

Kidz Korner, Manjeet Kaur, 1867 Lake Pine Dr., Cary, NC 27511, 919-460-3103, provides drop-in child care. Tour the facilities, meet the staff.

NextCare Urgent Care, Kim Dahl-Dewitt, 1110 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary, NC, 27511, 614-477-3446, provides urgent care when feeling great can’t wait.

Get in Touch

Thanks for reading! If you have business news, email me at Brenda.Larson@carycitizen.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

CaryCitizen photo by Hal Goodtree

Cary, NC – According to The Asbury Park Press, the dispute between Impact Athletics owner Frank D’Alonzo and Blue Cross may be near a settlement. That’s good news for former employees of the defunct gym.

Based on our earlier reporting, it appears that Mr. D’Alonzo stopped making insurance payments for his employees in July of 2009 but continued to collect payments throughout the autumn. Blue Cross canceled the policy in November and made that action retroactive back to July.

That left employees who had incurred health care costs uninsured for an estimated $30,000.

Mr. D’Alonzo was arrested on 14 counts of fraud in New Jersey in January.

The agreement reinstates coverage back to July 31 through December 31. Blue Cross is reported to agree to drop its claim against Mr. D’Alonzo. In return, Mr. D’Alonzo is said to have agreed to drop his action against the insurer for canceling the policy. The agreement was only missing the judges signature, according to APP.

CARY, NC –  Cary Police have released this to CaryCitizen and ask for your help.   Based on video surveillance and a photo taken near the scene of the crime, police are looking for two white males driving a gray, older model pick-up truck.

On December 6, the two suspects took a multi-purpose bucket loader weighing approximately 2,000 pounds from a construction site located near O’Kelly Chapel Road, just north of the Highway 55/I-540 exchange.

While 76 construction site larcenies or burglaries have occurred in Cary over the last eight months, there are currently no suspects in this case.

“We encourage everyone to take a moment to review this video and photo and share with us anything they may know, no matter how small or insignificant the detail may seem,” said Captain Mike Williams, Criminal Investigations with the Town of Cary. “To help prevent these types of crimes, remember to be alert and report any suspicious activity.”

Crime Stoppers pays up to $2,500 for the arrest or indictment of those responsible for committing certain types of crimes. If you have information, contact Crime Stoppers at 226-CRIM(E) or contact Sgt. Randy Byrd at (919) 380-2133; you may also visit www.carycrimestoppers.net. All calls will be kept CONFIDENTIAL at caller’s request.

For more crime prevention tips, see the Police Department section of www.townofcary.org or call (919) 469-4324.

Cary, NC – As reported earlier, a team of Triangle producers hoped to “Crash the Superbowl” with their spots for Doritos. Well, they did. In a big way.

ON THE GAME AND ON TOP OF THE METER

Filmmakers Nick Dimondi, Wes Phillips and Josh Svoboda produced a series of spec commercials for the giant snack maker. We featured “Kids These Days” a couple of weeks ago, shot on location in the Waverly Shopping Center.

But it was another of the trio’s spots, “Underdog,” that went the distance to glory.

Not only did the spot make the big game, but it scored #2 on the USA Today Ad Meter. That ranking came with a $600,000 prize. The team also collected $50,000 from Doritos.

“There is nothing that can really describe the feeling,” said Phillips, who watched the ad on television during a Super Bowl party at the Corner Stone Apartments in Cary according to WRAL.

Cary, NC – CaryCitizen is pleased to announce the debut of a new column: The Cary Business Report.

Written by Brenda Larson, the column will cover news and information about Cary businesses of all sizes and types. From the Cary Chamber to the neighborhood restaurant, we’ll report on new openings, significant developments and special events.

“Cary is one of the most vibrant business communities in America,” said Larson. “With CaryCitizen, there’s a unique opportunity for telling that story.”

Brenda Larson is former publisher of The Cary News. She now runs her own independent communications business.

“We’re thrilled to have a reporter of Brenda’s experience and talent as a contributor to our paper,” said CaryCitizen publisher Hal Goodtree. “This column will further strengthen the business community in town.”

The Cary Business Report will launch Tuesday, February 16th. Email Brenda if you have information you’d like to share.

Photo for CaryCitizen by Hal Goodtree

Cary, NC – From now until February 28, Cary residents, business owners and visitors have the opportunity to review and give feedback on the draft Historic Preservation Plan and its approach to historic preservation.

The Plan in its entirety and a feedback survey are available for review at the Historic Preservation Master Plan section of the Town of Cary Web site.  A hard copy of the proposed plan and the survey are also available in the reception area of the Town of Cary Planning Department, 316 N. Academy Street, 3rd Floor.

“We are excited to work with citizens to develop a plan that reflects our community’s values,” said Anna Readling, Senior Planner for the Town of Cary. “Capturing the historic integrity of Cary for future citizens is pivotal as we continue to move into the future.”

In 2007, the Cary Town Council directed staff to develop a comprehensive plan for historic preservation.  The draft Historic Preservation Master Plan is the result of a year’s worth of public input from community meetings, workshops and citizens’ advisory committee meetings.

The 10-year draft plan features a series of goals, objectives and recommended implementation actions for historic preservation in Cary, including the Downtown District, Carpenter District and Green Level District.  The Town has selected Historic Preservation Planning Consultant Thomason and Associates, Inc., based in Nashville, Tennessee, to help prepare a town-wide Historic Preservation Master Plan for Cary.

Citizen feedback is scheduled to be presented to the Town Council at a public hearing on March 23.  A second public hearing will be held at the following Planning and Zoning Board meeting, scheduled for April 19.  Once the Planning and Zoning Board forwards the plan to Town Council, Council will vote on whether to adopt it at the next available Town Council meeting.

Be heard: Take the survey now.

Gail Lewis (center), Camreon Moore (blue jacket) and staff and students at Lochmere Swim & Tennis Club last week. Photo by Hal Goodtree.

Cary, NC – Last week, we wrote about the difficult situation for Lochmere Swim and Tennis (LSTC). In this follow-up, we’ve talked to many of the principals involved and detail the short-term remedy to get LTSC open this summer. (more…)

CaryCitizen photo by Hal Goodtree

Cary, NC – In a story that could have been ripped from The Onion, David Bowden, the man who painted his own house, has a Facebook page. And over 5,500 fans.

But it gets even better. The page was started on January 28. That’s some fan growth a multinational could love.

From comments on the page, it does not appear as if the Facebook effort was created by Mr. Bowden. After a careful investigation, CaryCitizen is prepared to venture an opinion that it is the work of a high school student.

It’s too early to tell if the page, aptly named “Screwed by Town of Cary Guy,” will prove a success. Is the author a one-note prankster or does he have more to say? Will fans abandon the page as quickly as they signed up or will the author end up with a show on the Discovery Channel?

Cary, NC – It was an epic weekend in Cary. The kids went sleigh riding, the parents cooked massive amounts of comfort food (see the comment thread on Facebook) and school was closed for a couple of days. It’s the kind of spontaneous holiday everyone can enjoy about once every five or ten years.

Being a tech-savvy town, the cameras were out in full force.  The Cary Group on Flickr has 93 photos tagged “snow cary nc.” It’s a great slideshow of winter scenes from around town.

Do you have photos of Cary to share? The Cary NC Flickr group has 120 members with almost a thousand pictures of town over the last 2 1/2 years. Free to join.

Thanks to all the photographers who have posted pictures to the group!

by Ed Clayton

Cary, N.C. – On Friday, January 29, I attended the Wake County Commissioners retreat, both to learn more about our County Government and to have an opportunity to observe our elected officials in an informal setting. Although the retreat was open to all, by my count I was one of two citizens present. Also present were the Commissioners and County staff.

The Retreat

The Wake County Commissioners spent the day Friday at the Walnut Creek Wetlands Center,  an educational facility located on 59 acres of undeveloped flood plain near downtown Raleigh. What had been planned as a day and a half retreat was compressed into one day as a result of the impending snow storm.

The Commissioners – Chair Tony Gurley, Joe Brian, Harold Webb, Betty Ward, Paul Coble, Lindy Brown, and Cary resident Stan Norwalk – spent most of the day digesting and discussing revenue and expense projections interjected with a presentation by David King of Triangle Transit. The retreat was a low key affair.

The day kicked off with the mandatory update on growth, demographics, and a dose of statistical information. A review of the Commissioner’s goals for 2009 set the stage for a later discussion of goals for 2010.

Budget

Commissioners face a significant challenge later this year when they adopt a budget for FY 2011. The present FY 2010 budget totals $965.2 million and included belt-tightening steps to balance expense and revenue. Staff’s preliminary pass at the FY 2011 budget shows an $8 million gap between expense and revenue, but looming outside this gap is another $9.77 million in needed expenses making the true gap more like $17.8 million. This rough cut at the numbers makes some assumptions regarding a schools budget that likely will not stick and thus the prospect of an even larger gap.

An Example, Libraries

One expense trimming possibility that has already made the news is the staff suggestion that the Garner branch library be closed. Commissioners are apparently already receiving emails from upset patrons of that branch. County staff shared extensive data regarding each branch library in order to make this suggestion, including: circulation, branch operating cost, patron usage (real time data on the number of people walking in the door), computer usage, number of library card holders living within a 10 minute drive of the library, and number of people living within a 10 minute drive of the library. Guess which branch library comes out on top of the evaluation? The downtown Cary branch!

A Transit Tax Vote in Our Future

A presentation by David King of Triangle Transit brought a focus on transit and the Commissioners role in the process of advancing transit in the region. House Bill 148, passed in the 2009 session of the General Assembly, provided enabling legislation that empowers the County Commissioners of Wake, Durham, and Orange counties to conduct a referendum on the enactment of a ½ cent incremental sales tax that will benefit transit. Triangle Transit and the Wake Commissioners are understandably reluctant to schedule a referendum before the economy turns up. King and the County Manager suggested that the Commissioners consider scheduling the referendum for Fall 2011.

The Commissioners will increasingly be on the “hot seat” as they move toward the creation of a budget for 2011 and face some difficult program cuts in order to balance the budget.