Cary, N.C – St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church on High House Road held a concert to celebrate the end of the Christmas season on Saturday, Jan. 9.  Church Music Director Wayne Cusher led the many different music groups that are part of this diverse parish.

The children’s choir sang carols in multiple languages to kick off the concert.  The vocals coming from the front of the church were what angels must sound like.

The parish bell choir played some well-known seasonal carols along with some lesser-known but equally beautiful music.

The Spanish choir sang and played Los Peces en el Rio and Rin Rin while the audience clapped and sang along.

The “parish community” that uses the Green Hope High School for services sang some more contemporary selections like an arrangement of Birthday of a King by David Gurecki and Love has Come with a great beat .

Also featured was the Korean group singing traditional Korean Christmas music.

The Teen Choir performed modern/pop songs.  There were some awe-inspiring solos as well as formal chamber-style instrumentals.

You get the idea.

The music was flawlessly performed and the acoustics in the church are amazing.

This concert was not only a celebration of the “Epiphany”, but truly the celebration of a diverse, but united community of Cary.

Cary, NC – The Town of Cary has announced that the post-holiday clean up starts on Tuesday, January 5, 2010. The town website had this to say:

To ensure collection, place your tree curbside by 7 a.m. on your regular solid waste and recycling collection day. All non-vegetative material such as tinsel, lights, wire, and ornaments must be removed from your tree prior to pick-up.

You can also drop off Christmas trees through January 11, 2010 at the Citizen’s Convenience Center (a.k.a. the town dump on N. Dixon St.), Green Hope Elementary School, or Oak Grove Elementary School. Leave your tree in the designated area.

Christmas tree collection is a free service of the town. Please don’t throw your Christmas tree in or along a stream. In addition to being a fire hazard, dead trees can block stream flow, which leads to flooding and stream degradation. For more information on streams and buffers, call the Town at 919-469-4038.

Photo by Cote via Creative Commons License on Flickr. Photo re-illustration by Hal Goodtree.

Have a merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday from all of us at CaryCitizen.

Photo Peak Definition from Romanticasheville.com

Cary, NC – Ann Bailey of Cary won first prize in the adult category at the 17th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition™ at the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in Asheville.

Hundreds of entries from 20 states were considered by a panel of elite judges. Contestants came from as far away as Wisconsin, Texas and New York. More than $12,000 in prizes were awarded.

The top ten prize winning entries will be featured for 11th straight year on ABC’s “Good Morning America” around 8:30 AM on December 24.

Congratulations to Ann Bailey on a sweet victory.

More pix from the National Gingerbread Competition via Flickr ~

Cary, NC – Today I had an “e-conversation” with Don Frantz (Cary Town Councilman District B) over the “controversy” about what we should call the coniferous green thing we cut down from the woods and put ornaments on and light up during the winter solstice.  Our own Cary Citizen Publisher told me he thought the whole thing was just a ”tempest in a teapot.”  Turns out it is.

I did a little sleuth work to see what the buzz was all about in the Cary social media and even in some of the local papers.  Seems a lot of people have the story wrong.  Contrary to what the press and the blogs are saying…this isn’t 21st century Cary political correctness run amok.  According to Don, the Town of Cary has “never officially” referred to the town’s trees as “Christmas trees.”   They have always been called either a “Holiday tree” or “Community tree”.

Don added that his ”request seeks to call Cary’s trees what they really are – ‘Christmas trees’.  Calling a Christmas tree a Holiday tree is like calling the Jewish Menorah a candelabra.  A Christmas tree is a Christmas tree.  In our efforts to not offend anyone we have succeeded at offending nearly everyone.”

He pointed out that even the the White House continues to refer to their trees as Christmas trees.

Don also told me that he wanted to get the word out to make sure folks knew he was sorry “for all the media attention this issue has received” and that it was not his intent. Don had suggested that the subject be discussed in January after the holidays so as not to “put a damper” on everyone’s Christmas and other holiday celebrations.  Don added,  that he  “maybe should have waited until May.”

I’m with Don, let’s call it what it is.  A “Christmas tree”.  Somehow,  I have confidence the council will make the right decision.  But let’s deal with it in May. For now – Merry Christmas!

Matt Young is Managing Editor of CaryCitizen.

Cary, NC – PetSmart will host a very creative charity event for all of you pet lovers on December 19th and 20th. They will be taking  photos of your pets with Santa (and framing them!) for $10.95 –  or $9.95 with PetPerks card. Half of the proceeds will go to PawPrints (pictures taken on December 19th) and Second Chance Pet Adoption (pictures taken on December 20th).

The location is 2430 Walnut Street and the time is 11 am to 4 pm. 

Photo courtesy of PawPrints

The annual parade is a wonderful way for the entire family to spend the afternoon.  There are food vendors, bands, mascots, local businesses, community groups, dance groups, local churches and floats.  Come early and set up a lawn chair and celebrate Christmas, and celebrate Cary!

The Jaycees will also be selling Christmas trees that day on the corner of Kildaire and Academy Streets.

Cary, NC – After all the turkey has been eaten and Black Friday has come and gone, come downtown Saturday December 5th to really get in the Holiday Spirit!

10 AM – Santa’s Workshop

Events will be starting early with Santa’s Workshop at the Herbert Young Community Center, 101 Wilkinson Ave.  The Cary Teen Council will be hosting  activities for children 10 and under, beginning at 10 a.m. and running until 1 p.m.  There will be crafts and refreshments and  special visitor from the North Pole!   Help the Teen Council’s Local Food Drive by contributing 2 non- perishable food items .

All Day – Ole Time Winter Festival

Cary’s Ole Time Winter Festival is ongoing from 10-5 p.m. in the heart of downtown.  Local businesses will be open with food , crafts, and entertainment.

3 PM – The Art Show at Town Hall

From 3-5 p.m., Town Hall will host an artist’s reception for all the Town Staff who contributed to the “Artist Within” show currently on display in the Town Hall lobby.  These wonderful artworks were created by many of the people that work tirelessly for our town. Come out and celebrate their diverse talents.

4 PM – Victorian Christmas at Page-Walker

Then, pop over to the Page-Walker Arts & History Center for the old-fashioned Victorian Christmas experience at the Page-Walker’s Annual Holiday Open House.  Attendees will learn about century-old holiday traditions while touring Cary’s own 1868 historic hotel, sing Christmas carols around the piano, and enjoy holiday refreshments.  Historic rooms will be decorated for the season by the Friends of the Page-Walker Hotel.  The open house is scheduled from 4-6 p.m.

Staff photo by Hal Goodtree

6 PM – Tree Lighting

The Town’s Official Tree Lighting will be at 6 p.m.  Be sure to bundle up and stay to listen to singers and entertainers who auditioned for this community performance opportunity.  Following the performances, attendees can join the Cary Town Council indoors for the unveiling of the Cary Community Tree.  For the fourth year in a row, the tree features ornaments created by over 100 local organizations—including schools, churches, businesses, non-profit organizations and clubs—that reflect the intent or purpose of their organization.  Refreshments will be offered to honor the Town of Cary’s 2009 Hometown Spirit Award Winner and 2009 Official Tree Lighter.

8 PM – Radio Play

After all that merry making you can finish your evening with the 8 p.m. performance of  “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the radio play produced by the Cary Players in the Town Hall Council Chambers.  This show proved so popular last Christmas, it is back by demand.  Limited tickets will be available at the door.  For information on obtaining advance tickets with special rates for students and seniors, visit www.caryplayers.org.

Roger Ehrlich and Rita Dimoulas rehearse for "It's a Wonderful Life"

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For these and other events around town, please visit the CaryCitizen Calendar.

The Holiday Open House will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 27, with the official launch of the Angel Tree program taking place at noon. The Open House will continue on Saturday, Nov. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and staff will present 30-minute informational seminars on Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. SearStone is located at 106 Walker Stone Drive in Cary.

Through Dec. 31, the Angel Tree will be on display in the Model Home for people to stop by and pick up an ornament. Each ornament will contain a request for a donation of a typical household item such as cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils, linens and baby accessories.

AlphaGraphics Cary has generously donated design and printing services for this program.

“We are thrilled to work with the people of SearStone to help us collect household items so we can furnish an apartment for a family in need”, said Ian Henshaw, board president of The Carying Place, Inc. “This will help make a difficult transition easier for a local family.”

The Carying Place assists homeless, working families with children to regain financial stability and independent living. Primarily, those families have a desire to live in Wake County. The organization provides Transitional Housing Programs (THP) that give families an opportunity to stabilize their financial situation, leading to permanent self-sustaining housing. Each family accepted into the program is paired with professional staff and a volunteer team, which works with the family to develop a personalized plan for self-sufficiency.

“The staff and active seniors who will call SearStone home want to do our part to help struggling families create their home,” said Laura Lowe, director of marketing at SearStone. “We are very pleased to be partnering this holiday season with The Carying Place, a wonderful organization we’ve worked with before, and invite the public to stop by and pick up an ornament from our Angel Tree.”  In 2007, SearStone donated appliances from its Model Home to The Carying Place.

For more information about the SearStone community, visit www.searstone.com or call (919) 466-9366.

About SearStone SearStone is a continuing care retirement community being developed on the southeast corner of High House Road and Davis Drive in Cary. The community is not-for-profit and will offer several different home styles for independent residents 62 years and older. SearStone will give residents exclusive access to long-term-care services such as home health care, assisted living and nursing care. SearStone was mentioned in the New York Times and is currently accepting deposits for membership. For more information, visit www.searstone.com, call (919) 466-9366 or attend one of our events.

About The Carying Place The Carying Place, Inc., based in Cary, N.C., teaches homeless working families with children necessary life skills for attaining independent living while providing them with short-term housing support services. The Carying Place (TCP) provides a transitional housing program that gives families an opportunity to stabilize their financial situation, leading to permanent self-sustaining housing. Through financial assistance and broad-based counseling in life skills, The Carying Place seeks to help people work toward self-reliance and growth. For more information, visit www.thecaryingplace.org or call (919) 462-1800.