NC Spin - Morrisville

Original air date 12/27/2009. Program in it's entirety can be viewed at NC Spin Video Streaming.

With Thanks

My sincere appreciation goes to all voters and candidates involved in last week’s Morrisville elections. Your hard work and unwavering commitment to our community serve as reminders that residents of Morrisville and neighboring communities want and deserve a place at the table that is local government. You have made it clear that fiscal responsibility, promotion of sustainable growth we can afford and a cost sharing plan to address our traffic concerns are your top priorities. I am ready to get to work on those priorities.

To my family - thank you doesn't quite convey my appreciation for all the work you did and all the complaining you didn't do. For your willingness to roll with the late nights, to-go meals, disruptions to routines, extra responsibilities and important conversations put on hold, I am grateful.

To my campaign volunteers and supporters, thank you. I asked for your help in reaching out to our community and you responded in ways and with hours too numerous to count. Your time, energy and enthusiasm for both the process and the outcome are truly appreciated.

To those who supported a different outcome on November 3rd, I offer this: our Morrisville community is one of delightfully diverse points of view. Those differences will be both respected and welcomed and my door is always open.

To Mayor Jan Faulkner, I offer sincere thanks for your 12 years of dedicated service to our town.

To those newly elected, re-elected and currently serving on our town council, I look forward to our work together. To those candidates who were not elected, your dedication in offering to serve our town is and will continue to be appreciated.

As Morrisville Mayor elect, I truly look forward to the work we will accomplish together in our Heart of the Triangle community and encourage continued input and involvement of residents and businesses alike. I invite all with an interest to stay connected with the town and encourage you to volunteer your knowledge and passion to help make our community great. Let's get started.

Morrisville Mayor's Race Q & A

Reaching into our mailbag.....

Q: Can I still register to vote?

A: Assuming you are eligible, yes, but time is of the essence. Deadline is Saturday, Oct 31st at 1:00 PM. For Morrisville voters, the closest location is the Herb Young Community Center, 101 Wilkinson Ave Cary. See Wake Votes Early for additional information.

Q: How's your health?

A: It's great! Thanks for asking. My 2006 surgery was successful and follow up tests have been good. I checked in with my doctor prior to throwing my hat in the political ring this summer. She confirmed that I am strong enough to actively serve the people of Morrisville when I become your mayor.

Q: Your opponent said you are a quitter. Care to comment?

A: I believe she is referring to my resignation from the council in 2006 to address my health issues. (see above) It was a difficult decision, one made after several lengthy discussions with my physician and my family. By 2008, I was healthy enough to lead the fight against the 19% property tax increase, co-found Morrisville Action, serve as our town's Land Use and Transportation Advisory Committee vice-chair and fulfill the homeschool graduation requirements for my daughter with Down syndrome.

Q: Did you really say the town should raise our taxes by 10%?

A: Good grief no! After I identified the 19% property tax increase last spring, I set about notifying residents, businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and the media. Morrisville Action members helped spread the word, as did Council member Lyons and representatives from several churches and neighborhoods. We emailed and we called elected officials, asking them, in good faith, to pass a budget with no tax increase. The response: less than 2 weeks before the final vote, council had yet to trim a single dollar from the budget. Nada. Zero. Zip. Not a single paper clip. I figured it was time to try a different approach. So I suggested a compromise, a negotiating point about half way between revenue neutral and the 19% tax increase favored by Faulkner and Stohlman. The compromise wasn't necessary. Thank goodness for active, engaged residents and the media.

Q: Why do you keep saying Faulkner supported the 19% property tax increase?

A: Because she voted to approve the Long Range Financial Plan that set a defacto tax rate 19% above revenue neutral.

Q: How's the campaign going?

A: Great! I've met some delightful people, heard from many more and am humbled by the work our campaign team has accomplished. Truly a study in grassroots teamwork.

Q: Why is Jackie more prominent on your signs than Holcombe?

A: I prefer to go by Jackie.

Q: How come you don't react more strongly to mud slinging?

A: Sermon on the Plain

Q: If I vote for you for mayor, will you (fill in the blank) ?

A: It takes 4 of 7 votes to change town policy. The mayor gets one vote. If elected, I will bring your issue up with council and will advocate for several voter requested changes.

Q: I voted on October 6th. Is there another election?

A: Yes. Morrisville Mayor and Town Council elections take place on November 3rd. See ElectJackieHolcombe for details.

Q: What time do the polls open on November 3rd?

A: 6:30 AM. See you then!

Early Voting - Mark Your Calendars

Early voting is now more convenient for Morrisville residents. Beginning on Wednesday, October 28, voters can cast ballots in Cary at:

Herbert Young Community Center
101 Wilkinson Avenue

Cary

Directions: Located on Wilkinson Avenue at the corner of North Academy Street and Chapel Hill Road, adjacent to the Town Hall Campus.

Wednesday, October 28 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 29 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 30 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Closer to downtown? Visit:

The Wake County Board of Elections
337 S. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

Thursday, October 15 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, October 16 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday, October 19 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 20 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 21 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 22 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, October 23 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday, October 26 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 27 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 28 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 29 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, October 30 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Whether early, absentee or on November 3rd ........

"People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing." - Source Unknown

Postcards From The Road

__________________________________________________

Our campaign team has covered much ground and met with many voters since I filed to run for Morrisville Mayor in early July. What we have heard over the past 11 weeks has come as no surprise. Town wide, in neighborhoods new and established, residents have shared the same concerns: Our desirable small town is losing it's charm to a very large traffic problem. Property owners are worried about a repeat of last year's 19% tax increase proposal and they want storm water and flooding issues addressed. They aren't thrilled that their water and sewer bills have gone up to help pay for growth. And they want responsiveness, not rhetoric, from their elected officials.

Our residents are right - we can do better. We have not encouraged sustainable growth that we can afford. We have not made roads and transportation safety a priority, nor have we developed what stands in the way of addressing our traffic woes: a viable cost sharing plan.

Together, we successfully fought last year's proposed 19% property tax increase. And we can, together, begin the process of addressing the issues we face in our Heart of the Triangle community. Election Day is November 3rd.

Jackie

A Penny Saved, A Penny Earned - Responsive Leadership

If sign farms are sprouting like kudzu, it must be election season. They are. It is. And this year's theme: fiscal responsibility.


By the looks of Morrisville's fund balance projection, there's good reason to be talking fiscal responsibility. A town savings account or "fund balance" that drops below zero (the blue line on the graph) is not a good thing. Not at all. Yet at present, the town's plan is to spend more than we take in. Fiscal responsibility? No. No.

Based on a years long pattern of overspending, our taxpayers narrowly escaped what would have been an economically devastating 19% property tax increase last year. But what about the above graph? Does this mean we have no choice but to raise property taxes to the level supported by Faulkner, Stohlman, Johnson and Snyder?

No. We can turn this around with Responsive Leadership.

We must employ conservative fiscal management of taxpayer funds and we need to start soon. We must set clear priorities based on funding needed services. We then have to stick to those priorities. And we must acknowledge that raising property taxes to fund parking lots and multi million dollar greenways is not in the best interest of residents or businesses.

These are tough economic times. With responsive leadership, we can weather them. That's why I'm asking for your vote on November 3rd.

Jackie

Challenging Times - Responsive Leadership

It's been a busy and exciting two weeks on the campaign trail, starting with our kickoff on August 16th:



Our Challenging Times - Responsive Leadership event was well attended and a big success. Special thanks go to local band SHMaK for their music, to all who spent the afternoon with us and to my campaign team for their hard work in organizing our event.

Last week I had interviews with 3 PACs (Political Action Committees), attended the Jeremiah St ribbon cutting and had dinner at an old fashioned political rally. (Best line by far at the Pig Pickin' came from long time Durham City Council Member Howard Clement, III: "Be seen, be brief and be seated.")

But my campaign for mayor, like this blog, is not about me. It's about our Heart of the Triangle Morrisville community, about what we can accomplish together over the next four years. It's about continuing the fight to keep property taxes low through fiscal responsibility, formulating a plan to address our traffic woes, promoting sustainable growth we can afford and providing community advocacy at the local, regional and state levels.

As always, I want to hear from you. Visit our Responsive Leadership campaign website and drop me a note. And don't forget - if you haven't registered to vote, do so. Election day is November 3rd.

Jackie

Focus On: Andy's Burgers, Shakes & Fries

Second in our series Focus On Local Businesses, we visit Andy's of Morrisville at 3504 Davis Dr. Great burgers, shakes and half price kid's meals every Tuesday evening, with family friendly activities from 5-7.


At a time when non-profits are feeling deeply the pain of recession, Morrisville manager Stephen Aiken and Andy's Foundation continue their Founding Field Sponsor support of Miracle League of the Triangle. Our local Andy's regularly hosts events like visits from New England Patriot Sam Aiken and Minnesota Viking Aundrae Allison.


Tonight's Madden NFL 10 Tournament promises more of the same - great food, affordable prices and support of a wonderful organization. Heart of the Triangle. Truly.

You Can Bury a Lot of Troubles Digging in the Dirt

And if we follow the example of our neighbors to the south, we're likely to uncover more in goodwill than we'll bury in troubles.



Fayetteville has it right: a vision supported by public private collaboration, heavy on the use of donated supplies and volunteer labor. Theirs is a model municipal garden where a sense of community grows along with the tomatoes.

We have the dirt. Morrisville owns 10 acres on Jeremiah St, another 10 acres behind Morrisville Square with no immediate plans for either. Why not turn one, or both, of these tax-payer owned properties into a community garden? Turn our growing community into, well, a GROWING community! Charge a nominal yearly fee for space or swap for volunteer time. Make the dirt available to all, but especially to those without room to grow. Enlist the help of the green thumbers among us. Introduce a Parks and Rec program for multi-generational growing teams. Promote field-to-table sustanability with educational programs on composting and rain harvesting with our solid waste and recycling committee taking the lead.

A community garden won't unclog our town's arteries. But for our Heart of the Triangle, it's a fine idea.

Can you get there from here via Barbee Rd?

Yes. For now.

Some history: NC Railroad takes a dim view of "at grade" (road level) RR crossings. They don't like them one bit. So they have a rule - whenever a municipality wants to add lanes across a track, they have to close lanes somewhere else. Makes sense from a safety perspective. (If you click, scroll to the last entry.) Morrisville added asphalt across the tracks on Morrisville-Carpenter Rd as part of the intersection improvements. Town leaders agreed to close the RR crossing on Barbee Rd to comply with the railroad's open-here-close-there rule.


Closing Barbee Rd will make traveling between Church St and Chapel Hill Rd more inconvenient, adding traffic to an already congested McCrimmon Rd. Worse, closing the east-west connector can impact public safety response times to homes and businesses in the North West part of Morrisville.


Enter NCDOT and potential stimulus funds for tunneling under the train tracks on Morrisville Pkwy. Grade separation funding is not a sure thing. But if ARRA funds are awarded, the Morrisville Pkwy tunnel will decrease the number of lanes across a railroad track by 4, giving us room to negotiate. Two of those four lanes should be offered as an alternative to closing Barbee Rd.

We'll know by December, about the time Barbee Rd is scheduled to close, whether or not the NCDOT funding request for the tunnel will be approved. The time to reopen negotiations between the town, North Carolina Railroad and Norfolk Southern is now.

This (other) Old House On the Move

Once known as Charlie Maynard's store, the structure too close to the improvemenets at NC54 & Aviation Pkwy sits in limbo at 10014 Chapel Hill Rd. That's soon to change. After months and months (and months) of Morrisville-Cary-Morrisville-Cary discussions, the turn of the century building will be moved, albeit temporarily and partly obstructed by a fence, between existing buildings at 10012 Chapel Hill Rd. If all goes well, the store from days gone by will find a permanent home as one of a trio of renovated buildings on NC 54. Credit goes to Yard-Nique.


And here's hoping that the progress that was the intersection improvement did not take a toll on the older-than-I-am tree beside the road more traveled.

Of Hats and Rings

"To make democracy work we must be a notion of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain." Louis L'Amour

The filing period for our November 3rd Morrisville election is closed. Throwing their hats in the ring are:

Mayor:
Jackie Holcombe
Jan Faulkner

District 2:
Steve Diehl
Mark Stohlman

District 4:
Margaret Broadwell
Creighton Blackwell
Catherine Willis
James Klopovic

At-Large:
Tom Murry
Lydia Martin
Michael Roberts

If you are one of Morrisville's 9828 registered voters, the hats in the ring should be tipped to you. If you are not, click here to download the form for Wake county. Now would be a good time, but no later than October 9th to register, change your address or party affiliation.

For those who have plans for November 3rd, you have options. No excuse early voting runs from Oct 15 - Oct 31.

The Heart of the Triangle - It's About the People

After much thoughtful consideration and with encouragement from my family, friends, neighbors and small business owners, I am pleased to announce my candidacy for Mayor of Morrisville.

As a 20 year Triangle resident, co-founder of Morrisville Action and former Town Commissioner I know well the issues of concern facing our Morrisville community: Traffic. Overspending. Misplaced priorities. Looming property tax hikes. Unexpected increases in water and sewer bills. Development density. Stormwater runoff and flooding. Clear cutting. Lack of public transportation. The list goes on and on.

But I also know our town’s strengths: Our geographical location, strong tax base and small business community all add to what makes the Heart of the Triangle a wonderful place to live. Our Morrisville history is a rich one and offers abundant opportunities for celebration and preservation. Our community is one of diversity of age, ethnicity and religion, a mix of newcomers and those whose local roots are generations long. We are protected and served by dedicated, professional public safety personnel and enjoy exemplary Parks & Rec programs. Here too, the list goes on and on.

But our most valuable asset by far are the people who call Morrisville home. We've seen time and again residents' commitment to our community, as committee members, as speakers at public hearings, as volunteers, as concerned neighbors, as activists. Our strength as a community is in our people. As your mayor, I bring to Morrisville residents a strong advocate's voice and a welcoming place at the table that is Morrisville town government.

I look forward to our campaign together and as always I welcome your comments, suggestions and concerns.

Jackie

“The job of a citizen is to keep his mouth open.” - Gunter Grass

The Gift of Giving Back

One participant described our recent and very hot Saturday volunteering together this way:

"My daughter has autism and is a member of this really cool united cheerleading team (typical kids and special needs kids) The community has really supported this team by giving to our fundraising (two trips to Nationals in Orlando FL were completely paid for, two uniforms paid for etc) Anyway this was a project that needed to be done but the town didn't have the money or manpower to do it so they supplied materials and we supplied the man power (and GIRL power!) It was nice for our kids who receive so much help from others to be able to give back!"

It was indeed. The much needed facelift to the fence at Morrisville's Ruritan Park is now a work in progress, with a second work day scheduled for later this week.


And just as important as the cosmetic changes to the fence - the Super Star cheer team model of inclusion has expanded to community service. Thanks go to our coach, team members, their parents, siblings, friends, grandparents and town of Morrisville staff.



You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give.
-- Winston Churchill

Check for Leaks

Cary has passed their FY 2010 budget, and with it our new Morrisville water and sewer rates. Yes, your utility bill will go up beginning with the August bill. Here's what residential water customers can expect:

Water base charge: $5.00/month (no change)
Sewer base charge: $5.00/month (no change)

Water: 1 - 8,000 gallons: $4.00/1,000 gallons (previously $3.87)
Water: 8001 - 23,000 gallons: $5.66/1,000 gallons (previously $5.49)
Water: > 23,000 gallons: $11.40/1,000 gallons

Sewer: $8.39/1,000 gallons (was $7.34 OUCH!)

For an average user of 7,000 gallons per month, that equates to an extra $8.26 per bill.

Why the increases? The short answer - Morrisville rate payers are obligated to fund a portion of the yet to be built wastewater treatment facility. Costs go up, our rates follow.

Expect more of the same over the next several years unless our elected officials negotiate with Cary. Stay tuned. And check for leaks.

Focus On: Morrisville Square

Ask Morrisville residents what they find appealing about our community and you will likely hear the words "small town feel." Hard to define, that phrase, but our local businesses play a part. So time permitting, your 'tis blogger will occasionally pass along information about local businesses under the title Focus On. Time permitting.

First up - Morrisville Square and their clever response to the temporary closing of the NC54/Morrisville-Carpenter Rd intersection.


When life gives you lemons and construction delays, hold a Road Block Party and serve lemonade.

Click to view Detour Map

Pancake Lovers - Save the Date

Saturday July 4th 8 AM - 10 AM
Morrisville Community Park
1520 Morrisville Parkway
Main Picnic Shelter


It's the annual Independence Day Pancake Breakfast, served by our very own Morrisville Fire Department. Tickets are available in advance at any staffed Parks and Rec facility or at the office at 240 Town Hall Dr. $3/Adult $1/Child in advance, $5/Adult $3/Child on the 4th.


“A waffle is like a pancake with a syrup trap.” - Mitch Hedberg

Morrisville, We'll Have a Problem

It's that time of year again - farmers markets are hopping, graduation plans are being made, the hum of lawn mowers is everywhere, displays of sunblock are plentiful, and..... oh, yes. This is the season when staff and elected officials decide how to spend what they collect.

This year's Morrisville budget is a far cry from last year's 19% tax increase fiasco. For the fiscal year beginning July 1st, staff has recommended cuts in spending and postponement of capital projects. They have submitted a budget that keeps our Morrisville tax rate steady at .3665. Good news, right? This year, yes. The following years.... not so much.

Your 'Tis Blogger acknowledges this is a tough economy. Really tough. Revenue is down. But years of double digit, year-over-year spending increases figure into the big picture as well. Beginning next fiscal year, if any new big ticket spending is approved, our taxes will go up on July 1, 2010. And even with no new capital spending, ie, road improvements or addition of open space, taxes will go up the following year. And the one after that. And the one after that. And the one after that. And the one.... seeing a pattern here? If this budget and LRFP are approved, by FY 2015 and with no new capital spending, our tax rate will balloon from .3665 to .4686 (Note to keeper of the ARRA stimulus money: please send fire station funds.)

At a time when the state has cut teacher pay and will likely axe funding for programs like special olympics and eliminate thousands of state jobs, it's understood that additional cuts locally will be painful. But the town needs to dig deeper than 8.5% this year if we are to thrive during the next five. (NOTE: Since staff raises are not a part of this year's budget, council should consider a policy offering 16 hours/year of comp time.)

Woulda, shoulda, coulda set aside more money for road improvements during times of plenty. Didn't. And can't undo that now. But we can learn from the mistakes of the past dozen years, and start today managing better our taxpayer's money. It's common sense, not rocket science. We need to save more of it this year or face the consequences of yearly tax increases from 2011 forward.



Have an opinion? Contact our Morrisville Town Council: TownCouncil@ci.morrisville.nc.us

This Old House Meets This New Flora

Thanks to Lenovo volunteers and Morrisville town staff, the Pugh House grounds are a much more attractive sight these days. The group combined plants recovered from the site of the former Bristol Myers facility with some new foliage, top soil and mulch on a recent Thursday morning. The result? A fine start toward sprucing up the exterior of the historic home.


What's next? Sod, lead paint removal by a professional, wood replacement and a fresh coat of paint. Oh, and money. There isn't any. Town revenue is down, and paint and sod don't qualify as essentials. So...... Council Member Pete Martin has asked the town to create a Pugh House account for receipt of donations. Funds can be sent directly to the Town of Morrisville, marked for Pugh House Renovation.


Many volunteer hours and thousands of dollars to go. A heartfelt thanks to those who are helping build momentum.


"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."

Ethic of Reciprocity vs Someone Jiggle the Handle

It's the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. A simple concept, one endorsed by most religions and taught to children when first they learn to share. (Although truth be told, my late father regularly suggested we do unto others before they do unto us. Funny one, Dad.) It's the starting point for many interesting discussions on human rights and ethics and what it means to live in a civilized community. And let's hope I can figure out a way to link the Golden Rule, the Ethic of Reciprocity, to Morrisville toilets.

Back in 2005, almost by accident, residents of the Wake county town of New Hill discovered that their community had made the short list of "Best Places in the Triangle to Locate Utilities Nobody Else Wants." In addition to hosting the Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant, New Hill was selected to become the home to a mega sewer plant. My community of Morrisville, along with Holly Springs, Apex and Cary formed the Western Wake Partners and quietly decided to plop down a shared sewer plant smack dab in the middle of historic New Hill. Before one could say "Hey, could someone jiggle the handle!" the deal was done. Property was condemned, plans were drawn, EIS' were put into motion and cost estimates were readied. That was in 2005. Enter the New Hill Community Association.



Time after time after time, going on 4 years now, this amazing group of neighbors has turned out in force to ask that the partner towns of Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, and yes, Morrisville, reconsider their choice of location for the sewer plant. And the thing is.... the New Hill residents and property owners have not taken a NIMBY stance. Far from it. They have asked only that the Western Wake Partners move our sewer plant about a mile down the road, from the front porch of historic New Hill, to the backyard of the community. The very definition of win-win.

Which brings us back to the Golden Rule. I'm quite sure do unto others applies to pumping sewage into your neighbor's community. Unless my dad had it right all along.


4/17 UPDATE: Cary News' Vickie Jean DeHamer has an article online ahead of the 4/22 publication date. WRAL also has a story on air this weekend and available for viewing on their website. And not to be missed: Matt Saldana's Indy Week Blog.

For additional information, be sure to click comments.

Original or Extra Crispy?

These are early days in Morrisville's budget process, but this we already know - money's tight in the Heart of the Triangle. Really tight. Freeze salaries tight. Cut out all capital spending tight. Keep police cars in service 25,000 miles longer than recommended tight. Dip into the town's savings tight. Look under the sofa cushions for change tight.

Here's another possibility - $3,000 per pothole in exchange for temporary KFC advertising. Won't make up for years of overspending, but it sure beats some of the alternatives for balancing the 2010 budget. And worth a closer look.

Get Your Motor Running... Head Out On The Highway

He made me an offer I couldn't refuse. What is..... what are, pop culture references to movies from the late 60's and early 70's Alex?

No, your 'Tis blogger was not born to be wild nor am I promoting NetFlix. Hardly. The movie references are just a cheap attempt at holding your attention. Worked, didn't it?

DH didn't have to ask twice if I wanted to tag along for the annual Ride for Kids to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Created in the mid 80s by a couple wanting to help a colleague's child, the Ride for Kids has raised over $44 million for childhood brain tumor research and family support programs. Just last year, the PBTF awarded a $6 million research grant to Duke. And they go a step further. In addition to providing funding, the organization also builds public awareness for childhood brain tumor disorders, their diagnoses and treatments.

Want to help out? Make a donation here. Or register and join us for the May 3rd ride.



Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window. ~Author Unknown

This Old House

(click photo for larger image)

Author and historian Ernest Dollar rightly refers to the Pugh House, pictured above, as "Morrisville's most visible landmark." At present, our most visible landmark, relocated in January 2008 to make way for improvements to the intersection that was it's former home, is in need of significant repair.

(click photos for larger images)

"Significant" in this case equates to $270,000 for scraping, painting, wood repair, window replacement, landscaping, roof & gutter repair and interior work. Even in times of plenty, that's a lot of tax payer dollars. Your 'Tis blogger has an idea and is organizing a volunteer led effort, with support from Morrisville staff, to begin the work of restoring the Pugh House to landmark status. We'll do what can safely be done by volunteers..... some wood repair, some painting, some landscaping. We'll seek donations of materials and funds and generally do what we can to keep the town's shrinking coffers intact. Interested in helping? Stay tuned. Especially needed are those with experience in carpentry, woodworking, landscaping and painting. But there will be opportunities for all who are interested.

And a note: in researching recent Pugh House history, I ran across a Cary News article from last June. Sadly, four months after the article was published, Billy Hartness, 40 year resident of the Pugh house prior to it's relocation, passed away on October 14, 2008.