Garner Christmas Parade Returns December 18th at 9:30am on Main Street

This year’s Garner Christmas Parade will be a little smaller and unlike previous years will not travel down Garner Road and Main Street but will only travel down Main Street.

Schedule of Events

8:30am Pre-Parade Food and Activities (More information coming soon!)

• Funnel Cakes by Tonio on Purvis St.

8:30am Parade Participant Staging

9:30am Parade Start Time  

10:45am Parade End Time             

Route and Parking

This year’s parade will travel down Main Street only.

There will be no parade activities or parking along Garner Road. There will be designated parking areas around downtown (see maps below)

For more information on parking visit GarnerChristmasParade.com

IMPORTANT: For you and your family’s safety, Do Not Cross the Railroad Tracks to get to Main Street at any point other than designated crossing locations at Highway 50, St. Mary’s Street, and New Rand Road. New fencing along Main Street cannot be climbed.

Voters Approve of Four Bond Questions, Incumbents Kathy Behringer and Gra Singleton Re-elected

via Town of Garner

Garner Voters Overwhelmingly Approve Bond Program

According to Tuesday’s unofficial municipal election results, Garner voters have overwhelmingly approved the $69 million bond program on the ballot in its entirety.

Garner residents were presented with the opportunity to decide on four bond questions concerning issuance of up to $24.05 million in Street and Sidewalk Improvement Bonds; up to $35.5 million in Parks and Recreational Bonds; up to $6.5 million in Public Safety and Services Facilities Bonds; and up to $2.95 million in Stormwater Bonds.

Unofficial results show extremely strong support for all four bond questions.

“We are excited but also humbled by the trust Garner voters have placed in us to pursue this ambitious program that will lay the groundwork for Garner’s future prosperity and orderly growth,” Mayor Ken Marshburn said. “We will carry out the bond program in a fiscally responsible manner with the goals of maintaining a great level of services and a quality of life that is second to none in this region.”

Some of the projects that the Town anticipates funding with the bonds include, but are not limited to, the following:

• widening and improvements on the portion of Jones Sausage Road between Interstate 40 and East Garner Road;

• phased development of parks on the Yeargan property on East Garner Road and the Meadowbrook property off of White Oak Road;

• construction of a new fire and EMS station in a fast-growing part of Garner around the U.S. 401-Ten Ten Road area;

• construction of a splashpad in a location yet to be determined;

• sidewalk installation projects in various parts of town;

• and improvements to aging stormwater infrastructure.

Garner officials estimate that a property-tax-rate increase of 2 cents per $100 assessed value will be needed to help service the debt on the bonds. That tax increase is expected to take effect in fiscal year 2023.

The Town will issue the bonds in tranches over several years. Bond projects also will be completed over a number of years.

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Unofficial election results indicate that Kathy Behringer and Gra Singleton won the two council seats and will serve for the next 4 years.

WakeMed Medical Assistant Morgan Wilder of Garner gets "Odd Request" at State Fair

What started as an "odd request" led to an exciting day at The North Carolina State Fair for WakeMed Medical Assistant Morgan Wilder of Garner.

Earlier this year WakeMed physician, Dr. Michael Soboeiro emailed what he called an "odd request" to N.C. State Fair officials asking them to honor Wilder, who assists Soboeiro at WakeMed's Garner Healthplex.

As Soboeiro's lead Medical Assistant, Wilder spent "months of long hours on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic," Soboeiro wrote. A life-long lover of The State Fair, Wilder was also "crushed" by the cancellation of the 2020 N.C. State Fair, Soboeiro added.

“I want you to know that there is no one in our organization who is more loyal and passionate than Morgan," Soboeiro wrote. "She has worked incredibly hard during the COVID epidemic, spending the majority of her weekends testing and then vaccinating people for the virus.

“When it comes to the State Fair, she is constantly urging everyone in the office to go. I suspect she knows the names, locations and menus of the long-time food vendors as well as many of your staff.”

Soboeiro's email led Fair officials to give Wilder "a special opportunity" to work as a judge of this year's Fair "fare" in the new foods and drinks category.

A State Fair press release stated: "For months, the State Fair team had been brainstorming ways to recognize the struggle we have all faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to honor those who have been on the front lines," and Soboeiro's email solved the problem.

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In July, N.C. State Fair Manager Kent Yelverton, Fair mascot Casey Cardinal and members of the Fair's "Deep Fried Crew" went to the WakeMed Garner Healthplex to surprise Morgan with the news, and give her a pass to the pre-Fair food judging event.

Yelverton said Soboeiro’s email has inspired "a new program where each year we will invite an Honorary New Foods Judge to come out to our Deep Fried Media Day and be part of the fun that is selecting our Media’s Choice Best New Food at the Fair. We wouldn’t be where we are today without all the healthcare workers across the state who have worked tirelessly to see us through to the other side. Morgan embodies the selfless service of the entire healthcare community, and we are honored to have her join us in October as a representative of all her colleagues.”

Wilder, 30, said being honored with what Fair officials called "a delicious new role," was a blast. At the pre-Fair food tasting, Wilder got to sample 14 different new foods and drinks. "I got a tray of all the samples of all the foods," Wilder said. Items included everything from tater tots, chicken, banana pudding to smoothies. It was "the lobster pop," however, that won Wilder's heart. A deep fried lobster tail on a stick -- a $28 item at the Fair's Oak City Restaurant -- was the entry Wilder selected as her favorite food.

Wilder said she enjoyed all the foods and drinks she tasted, but "the lobster was absolutely the best," she said. "(But) I don't think I can quite afford to purchase that."

Wilder, who grew up in Wake County, is married to Brandon and is the mother of their 4-year-old son, Maddox. Her love of the State Fair was passed down to her by her parents, both of whom have birthdays during the Fair. Wilder said she has attended the Fair "absolutely every year of my life," and always comes several times each year.

Wilder said she's indebted to Soboeiro for suggesting her for the honor. "Without Dr. Soboeiro this dream of mine wouldn't have come true, and I'm forever grateful for his 'odd request!'"

In her work as a Medical Assistant, Wilder assists both doctors and nurses. Her training allows her to do many levels of patient care. "The only thing we can't do is give advice and start IVs," she said.

Health care work during the pandemic has brought challenges, Wilder said, including exhaustion and worry for her patients. "I think as anyone would tell you, it's been hard, but it's also very rewarding being able to help, and to know that you're making a difference," she said. "I think COVID's changed health care in the world a lot; it's changed everything we do. There are new protocols for everything; new ways of approaching all patient care."

Regarding her official role in this year's Fair, Wilder said: "It was fantastic; I wish I could do it every year."

Citizens Rally to Save Garner Christmas Parade

Not to be denied in the face of staff shortages in town, a group of citizens have rallied to the rescue.

In coordination with the Town of Garner, Garner Fire & Rescue, and the Garner Police Department, a community-led parade is in the making for December 18th in downtown Garner.

With some details still to be worked out, nearly 2 dozen groups have already confirmed their participation in the parade. All hoping to bring back this great Garner tradition, even if on a slightly smaller scale.

2021 The Garner Christmas Parade is a citizen-led community Christmas Parade.

It’s state goal is “to create and host a festive and family-friendly Christmas Parade that reflects Garner’s values and one that is local, inclusive, and bridges Garner’s past with Garner’s future.

The holiday season is about love, kindness, and giving. It is families and our community coming together to celebrate our town and making great memories for our kids and all of us that are kids at heart.”

If you are interested in volunteering click HERE

For more information visit garnerchristmasparade.com

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From the Garner Christmas Parade Facebook Page (HERE)

Garner folks will always find a way! The community has come together to host the Garner Christmas Parade on December 18th in Downtown Garner.

Working with the Town of Garner, Garner Fire & Rescue, The Garner Police Department, and interested residents, we are going to have a kid and community-focused Christmas parade.

More details to come so please visit garnerchristmasparade.com

Sign-up for updates and, if you want to help, sign-up to volunteer.

Many thanks to our planning committee:

Rachel Tourdot (Co-Chair) – Downtown Garner Association Vice Chair. Downtown Resident.

Demian Dellinger (Co-chair) – Downtown Garner Association President. Garner Town Council.

Shannon Mitchell - Christy’s DancExplosion and Spiritual Twist

Don Penny – Community Member

Kentrell Perry – Downtown Business Owner

Joyce Steven - Downtown Garner Association board member

Kim Woodard – Garner Fire & Rescue

Garner Blue Ribbon Winner Cross Stitch

By PATRICK O'NEILL

When Christin Danchi started a store-bought cross stitch pattern of a European streetscape she was a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Now 35 years old, Danchi managed to cash in on her effort many years later when she won two awards for her finished work at The North Carolina State Fair.

"This one took me like 12 years to complete," Danchi said. After finishing the cross stitch project in January, Danchi decided to enter the piece in the Fair's "First-Time Entry" category.

She ended up with the Blue Ribbon in the "Threaded Needlecraft" category, and she also won The Cardinal Chapter of the Embroiderer's Guild of America Award for first-time entries by “Judges Choice," earning $50 in prize money.

Danchi said she probably paid less than $50 for the winning pattern, so she broke better-than even on her initial investment. "I had my eye on it for many years before I bought it," she said of the pattern.

Danchi said she usually worked on her winning piece during the holidays in November and December, and she would take it with her when she was traveling.

"It tends to be something I do when I have some down time, to keep my hands busy when life slows down a little bit," she said. "I can distinctly remember when I started it, on a trip I took to Michigan in 2009. It's a bittersweet memory because it was for my grandmother's funeral."

Danchi said it was her grandmother, Barbara Carroll, who helped her learn how to cross stitch during Carroll's visit to North Carolina when Danchi was 11 years old.

"She worked with me on the first cross stitch I ever did," Danchi said.

Danchi is a multi-dimensional person to say the least. She earned her undergraduate degree in music from UNC and her masters in music from Carnegie Mellon University, both in "violin performance." She is associate director of development at Durham's Emily Krzyzewski Center, a nonprofit educational organization that implements programs designed to build on the academic, career and leadership potential of students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education, Danchi said.

Danchi has three siblings, Andrea, Michael and Elizabeth, all of whom are violinists. Danchi refers to herself as a "classically trained, freelance violinist who also enjoys a good fiddle tune. Music is an incredibly important part of my life and who I am."

Two years ago, Danchi, who is single, and her sister Andrea bought and renovated a house together in Garner, spending 15 months on the project. "We moved into the place in August of 2020," she said. "We have the absolute best neighbors and have loved living in Garner."

Growing up in Wake County, Danchi said she has been "coming to the state fair every year for almost my entire life.

"My siblings and I used to enter the youth arts and craft competitions as children. As we got older and life got busier, we stopped participating in the competitions, but every year we would still enjoy looking at all of the entries and winners. I don't do all the arts and crafts that I did when I was a kid, but I realized that my cross-stitch project was something I could enter as an adult.

"I've been slowly working on it for the past several years with the goal of entering it in the fair. I completed it this year and it was finally ready to enter in the 2021 fair."

Borrowing from this year's State Fair theme, Danchi said of her Blue Ribbon effort: "You might say it was 'worth the wait' to finally be able to enter it after 12 years of work!

"One of my favorite aspects of the N.C. State Fair is that we still recognize and celebrate the incredible skill and time that goes into creating a unique piece of art, whether that's culinary art, visual art, needlepoint, or another medium. Every piece is a labor of love and one-of-a-kind, whether it wins a ribbon or not. And I love being a small part of that celebration.

Danchi already has her next cross stitch project underway. It's a Route 66 scene that includes an old pickup truck, a general store and a motorcycle. Danchi said she plans to add a few "animals" to "add some life" to the scene. It will be her first cross stitch effort where she deviates from the pattern. She says she's excited to see how the experiment works out.

Be sure to look for Danchi's next blue ribbon winner at the 2034 N.C. State Fair!

Editor's Note: If you would like to see Danchi perform, she and some friends will be doing a Halloween show at Revival 1869 in Clayton, October 29.

North Carolina State Fair Returns and Senior Citizens Will Pay

BY PATRICK O’NEILL

A year after the Covid pandemic shut the gates of the North Carolina State Fair the 2021 edition of the Fair is ready to open on Thursday, Oct. 14 with hopes that fairgoers can be safe from infection despite the Department of Agriculture's decision to not require anyone to wear masks at this largely outdoor event.

The Fair will be open 11 days with the last day being on Sunday, Oct. 24.

This year's Fair theme is "Worth the Wait," and will include the usual fare of rides, games, exhibits and food. The cost of entry is $13 for an adult, $7 for children ages 5 through 12 (under 5 are free) and -- very sadly -- $5 for seniors.

Seniors No Longer Allowed Free Admission

For more than 35 years I have been going to the Fair knowing that when I turn 65 my trips to the extravaganza would be free. I turned 65 this year, and senior citizens are no longer free!

This decision, by Fair officials, is a huge mistake that probably has long-time N.C. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Jim Graham spinning in his grave. Not only is this a greedy move, it will most certainly make life far more difficult for seniors, who will now have to wait in long lines (in all kinds of weather) to purchase tickets instead of being able to walk directly into the Fair with no waiting.

Some seniors have ambulatory and balance problems that will be exasperated by this new policy. One can only hope the Department of Agriculture will see the error of its ways and revert to the "Seniors get in Free" policy of year's past.

Fair officials are going to throw seniors a bone: Tuesday Oct. 19 is Senior Citizen's Day so us old folks get in free on that day only.

Other Theme Days

Canned Food Day

Other special days include the ever-popular "Canned Food Day" on Thursday Oct. 21. Known this year as "Hunger Relief Day," anyone with six cans of food gets in free. All the cans are donated to the Food Bank of North Carolina. On Military Appreciation Day, Wednesday Oct. 20 active military get into the Fair for $8.

accessABILITY Day

On a positive note, this year's Fair will include accessABILITY Day on Sunday, Oct. 17.

"For years, our team has been brainstorming ways to make the fair more inclusive and more welcoming to all North Carolinians, regardless of ability," stated a Fair press release.

On accessABITY Day, from 8 a.m. till noon, the Fair will quiet down:

• Rides and games will open at 9 a.m. and operate with no lights or music playing.

• Vendors will operate with no lights or music at their booths.

• Music stages will only play acoustic sets with light amplification.

• The public address system will only be used for lost visitor announcements.
  

All-day activities on accessABILITY Day include:

• A “Bandwidth Chill Out Zone” in the Graham Building with tables/chairs, low lighting and soft music playing for anyone needing a break from the busy atmosphere outside and noise cancelling headphones will be available to check out

• Specially designed inclusive and/or adaptive “on the spot” competitions.

• Adult changing stations in existing family restrooms as space allows, now available year-round.

• Guidebooks available to download or pick up at guest services which highlight all the inclusive activities and amenities the Fair is offering.

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Garner Grows Returns to the State Fair

As is the case every year, the Garner Grows Community Garden will have a lot going on at the Fair.

Despite her fears of the virus, Garner gardening stalwart, Tammy Kennedy, has already brought a lot of her competitive entries of plants, flowers and vegetables to the Fair hoping to win both ribbons and cash. While Kennedy always takes home a boatload of ribbons, any monetary winnings will be donated to Garner Grows, which is still looking for a new patch of land to set down its roots more than a year after the garden lost its home on Vandora Springs Rd. The second time Garner Grows has had to relocate in its 11-plus-year history

"We really want this to be the last time we move; it's heartbreaking, expensive and incredibly difficult in many ways," Kennedy told The Garner News.

Kennedy said Garner Grows presence at the Fair has "grown each year and the last fair in 2019 we did a ton, even having a market stall in horticulture (which we got second place for).

"We had to scale back some this year. We're hoping next year will be back to normal."

Now that Garner Grows has a lead on a new permanent location, Kennedy is ready to settle down again.

"We are so excited at the thought of being in one place again," she said. "It's still months to go before that happens but at least there's a sliver of hope now."

Be sure to check out the Fair garden and look for Garner Grows' entries, and have a good time.

Town Council Candidate Forum Slated for Oct. 11 at 6:30pm

The Garner Chamber of Commerce will host a Town Council candidate forum Monday, Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Garner Performing Arts Center.

The forum will be moderated by Loretta Boniti, senior political reporter for Spectrum News 1. There will be some in-person seating, but the forum will also be streamed on the Chamber of Commerce Facebook Page.

This is not a Town-sponsored event, and no public funds will be used to endorse or oppose any candidate.

Fall Unprepared Yard Waste Pickup Starts in November

The Town's 2021 fall unprepared yard waste collection begins the week of Nov. 1. During the fall cleanup, the Town collects any unprepared yard waste and debris (it does not have to be bagged or bundled) as well as tires (limit four rimless tires per residence). 

Residents may put items out curbside one week prior to the start of their scheduled collection week.

The Town will not collect yard waste or debris generated by commercial enterprises, nor will it collect large household items during this special pickup. 

Here is the planned schedule for this special collection:

• Monday (red and gray routes) and Wednesday (orange and white routes): collection starts Monday, Nov. 1

• Thursday (purple and yellow routes) and Friday (blue and brown routes): collection starts Monday, Nov. 8

• Tuesday (green, gold and tan routes): collection starts Monday, Nov. 15

For more information, please contact Public Works at publicworksservicedesk@garnernc.gov or at 919.772.7600. 

If you believe that you were missed during your collection week, please contact Public Works during that week to arrange for service.

Via Town of Garner

70 Percent of North Carolina Adults Have Received Their First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

Raleigh

Oct 7, 2021

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced a significant milestone in the fight against COVID-19. Seventy percent of North Carolinians age 18 and older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

"COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be our best tool for preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19," said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “Seventy percent of North Carolinians have sought out reliable information and decided to protect themselves and others with tested, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. If you’re not vaccinated, it’s not too late. Just don’t wait."

COVID-19 vaccines offer significant protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death. People who are not fully vaccinated are more than 18 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than people who are fully vaccinated.

This protection will be strengthened and extended through booster shots for people who are 65 and over, have a high-risk medical condition, work in higher risk settings or live or work in a place where many people work together. Boosters are currently available for people who received their second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least six months ago.

Ongoing research on the safety of COVID-19 has made the vaccines available to more people, including teens ages 12-17. In addition, clinical trials are being completed and analyzed for children 5-11.

Research has also shown the vaccines are safe for those who are pregnant, wanting to get pregnant or are nursing. Last week, the CDC issued a health advisory urgently recommending people who are pregnant, recently pregnant or trying to become pregnant get vaccinated. The action came as August was the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths in pregnant women in a single month. There are significant risks for complications associated with COVID-19 in pregnant women.

"We still have a way to go to get everyone fully vaccinated, but we should all celebrate this moment," Secretary Cohen said. "Credit for reaching this important milestone goes to the thousands of tireless providers, community and faith-based groups, advocates and public servants who worked to provide education and, most importantly, access to COVID-19 vaccines throughout the state. You have saved millions of lives. Let’s keep up the good work."

Visit MySpot.nc.gov for more COVID-19 information and updates and to find a vaccine location near you.

Garner Firemen’s Festival October 2nd

October 2, 2021

Located at Garner Fire Station 1
(Benson Rd. & Main St.)

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 Schedule of Events

Start Time: 11:00 am                                                 

End Time: 6:00 pm

Food – BBQ Plates, Hot dogs, Fries, Chick-fil-a Sandwiches, Funnel Cakes, and Bake Sale

Entertainment – Inflatable Bounce House & Slide, Rock Climbing Wall, Kids Firefighter Combat Challenge, Public Safety Education Center, Hot Car Display, Spot the Tot Rug, Fire Safety House, Moose the Fire Dog, and 50 vendors will be in attendance

Schedule of Events

12:00 – 12:25:  Christy’s DancExplosion, “Feet on Fire” Performance

12:30 – 12:55:  Snap Kick Martial Arts Demonstration

1:00 – 1:25:  Garner Magnet High School (GMHS) Cheerleaders Performance

2:00 – 2:45:  Parade – Route starts at W. Garner & Benson Road towards New Rand Road and returns to the fire station on Main Street

3:00 – 3:25:  Live Fire Demonstration – National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) Side-By-Side Burn Trailer

3:25 – 3:30:  Remarks from Mike Causey, North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance and State Fire Marshal

3:30 – 6:00:  Live Music Concert from “The Antique Outlaws”

6:00 – 6:05:  Drawing for 50/50 Raffle

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Parking Information

There is parking available within walking distance of event.

There is also Parking available at First Baptist Church – 601 St. Marys St.
With Shuttle Bus Service to front door of event.

Look for the Signs

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GPD's Capt. Lorie Smith to Serve as Interim Chief

Capt. Lorie Smith becomes interim chief effective Oct. 1.

Garner Police Capt. Lorie Smith has been named the Police Department’s interim chief effective Oct. 1 when Chief Joe Binns retires.

Capt. Smith, a lifelong Garner resident and 1992 graduate of Garner Senior High School, joined the Police Department in 1997 as a member of the Patrol Division. She was promoted to sergeant in 2004 and became the first sworn female member of the Police Department’s command staff when she was promoted to lieutenant in 2015.

As lieutenant, she commanded the Criminal Investigations Division until her promotion to captain in October 2017. She was the first female in the history of the department to be promoted to the rank of captain and commanded the Administration Bureau through December 2020, serving as the department’s backup public information officer (PIO), primary internal affairs investigator and administrator overseeing the department’s $8 million annual budget.

Currently, Capt. Smith leads the Operations Bureau with oversight of the Patrol, Support Services and Criminal Investigations Divisions. She is also the department’s primary PIO.

“Captain Smith has been a dedicated police officer for many years and is certainly deserving of this opportunity,” said Town Manager Rodney Dickerson, who appointed Smith the interim chief. “She brings knowledge from her various roles in the department, and she has always been professional in my dealings with her.”

Capt. Smith will fill the top spot on a temporary basis after Chief Binns, who announced his retirement last month, steps down from his post with 30 years of creditable service to the Police Department. He has served for a year as interim chief and a year as chief.

During her career with the Police Department, Capt. Smith has been a field training officer, general instructor, Crisis Intervention Team officer, negotiator, team leader and team commander for the department’s Crisis Negotiations Team.

Capt. Smith graduated from N.C. State University in 1996 with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology with a concentration in criminal justice. She received her master’s degree in justice administration from Methodist University in May 2015 and is a 2018 graduate of the FBI National Academy (session #273) in Quantico, Va.

Capt. Smith also is a 2013 graduate of the year-long Management Development Program (session #25) through the N.C. Justice Academy, a 2014 graduate of the Administrative Management Officers Program (session #69) through N.C. State University and a 2014 graduate of the West Point Leadership Program through Methodist University.

Capt. Smith is active in the community as a volunteer. She has served as a board member of the North Carolina Victim’s Assistance Network from 2016 through 2021, with her most recent appointment as board vice president.

She has been a member of the Garner Educational Foundation since 2015, currently serving as the Scholarship Committee chair, and has volunteered with the Schools and Community Organized to Read (SCOR) program at Timber Drive Elementary.

In addition, Capt. Smith has been an active volunteer with the Police Department’s Police Athletics and Activities League (PAAL) since its inception and has served as a PAAL coordinator at Rand Road and East Garner Elementary Schools. She was recently appointed to serve on the finance committee, and as interim chief, will serve as the program’s executive director.

For more information about the Garner Police Department, please visit garnerpd.org and follow the department on Facebook, Twitter (@garnerpolice) and Instagram (@garner_police_department).

Courtesy Town of Garner

Garner: Art Around Town

The Downtown Garner Association is pleased to present Art Around Town, a community-driven public art project that uses painting to illustrate community and natural beauty and bring joy, healing and civic engagement.

The original concept for Art Around Town was proposed by Lorie Clark, Cultural Arts & Events Manager for the Town of Garner at the Garner Performing Arts Center. In partnership with the Downtown Garner Association, Clark wants to create an opportunity for artists from all levels of mastery and different walks of life to create art that would uplift and bring the community together during a challenging time.

Since March, the DGA Arts Committee has been working with Clark and community artists to bring the project to life. Following a call for artists in May, selected artists received materials and stipends to paint concepts inspired by Garner’s natural beauty and community values. The artists has one month to paint a 3’x4′ plywood canvas, which was then sealed for outdoor display.

This year’s exhibit features 23 canvases painted by artists from Garner and Raleigh on display from mid-August through November. The artwork is displayed outdoors in Downtown Garner and at select park locations for 24/7 viewing on a walkable loop. Coming out of a year of quarantining and isolation, the Downtown Garner Association wanted to create an exhibit that could be accessible to all despite any COVID restrictions.

“Public art is a priority in our economic development strategy for Downtown Garner,” said Mari Howe, downtown development manager for the Town of Garner. “The Downtown Garner Association knows the power of art to create a sense of community, to empower people, and to inspire pride in Garner. We wanted to find a way to support artists and raise awareness of Garner’s arts community. Art Around Town has been a great pilot program for doing both of those things.”

At the end of the exhibit, the Downtown Garner Association will auction the artwork, with 75 percent of the profit going to the original artist. The auction will take place online in late November–more details coming soon!

For more information about Art Around Town, please contact Mari Howe at mhowe@garnernc.gov.a

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Garner 9/11 Remembrance to Be Held Outside Town Hall

The Town of Garner, Garner Police Department and Garner Fire-Rescue invite you to join us outside Town Hall (900 7th Ave.) on Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. for the Garner 9/11 20th Anniversary Remembrance.

The program is anticipated to be as follows:

• Welcome and Introduction-Mayor Ken Marshburn

• Presentation of Colors-Garner Police/Fire Joint Honor Guard with bagpipes accompaniment

• Invocation

• National Anthem-Garner Fire Captain Don Johnson

• Remarks-Garner Police Chief Joe Binns

• Remarks-Garner Fire Chief Matthew Poole

• Special Music-America the Beautiful, Garner Magnet High Choral Ensemble

• Bell Ceremony-Garner Fire Assistant Chief Jason Hathcock

• Amazing Grace-Garner Fire Captain Mike Bishop (bagpipes)

• Benediction-Garner Police Chaplain Duane Calvin

Garner Police Chief Joe Binns to Retire Effective Oct. 1

Garner Police Chief Joe Binns has announced his retirement with 30 years of creditable service to the Town effective Oct. 1, 2021.

Chief Binns served in a variety of roles in the department over his long career with the Garner Police Department before being selected to serve as the interim chief in 2019 then permanent chief in October 2020. Prior to becoming interim chief, he was assigned as the department’s operations bureau captain with responsibilities over patrol operations, criminal investigations and special operations.

Chief Binns was the first chief to rise up through the ranks to become the top leader of the Police Department.

“I believe the Police Department is in a strong position with many capable leaders who will continue to provide excellent service to our residents,” Chief Binns said. “I have been honored to have been able to serve Garner for over 28 years and am very appreciative of the opportunities I have been given. Unfortunately, I need to focus on some personal health issues but am grateful to have served the Town and its residents over a full career.”

Under Chief Binns’ leadership, the department-wide deployment of NARCAN was instituted to fight the opioid epidemic, saving at least 22 lives since implementation.

The department received its national reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) during Chief Binns' leadership tenure. Chief Binns also expanded the department's leadership structure to prepare for the fast growth and changes Garner is now seeing.

During his tenure, Chief Binns has focused on building internal capacity to meet the growing needs of the Town as well as expanding on programs and relationships that built trust and legitimacy in the community. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Police Department has continued to build on relationships and programs that support community engagement.

“Chief Joe Binns has been an integral part of the leadership team over the last two years,” Town Manager Rodney Dickerson said. “During his year as chief, he valued community relations externally and professional development and officer morale internally. He continued the integrity and professionalism of what was already an outstanding, nationally accredited Police Department, but he also put his own stamp on the department by instituting key policy changes. His common-sense approach, combined with nearly 30 years of experience, served this community well and served me well.”

Town Manager Dickerson expects to name an interim chief soon. A search for Chief Binns’ permanent replacement will begin in the coming weeks.

Courtesy Town of Garner

Jackie Johns Honored Posthumously with Stevens Award

Former Town Council Member Jackie Johns has been named the 2021 recipient of the James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award, considered our community's most prestigious recognition for public service. 

Mr. Johns, who passed away in January 2019 at the age of 81, is being honored posthumously. The Town Council will recognize Mr. Johns at its Aug. 17 regular meeting starting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Garner Town Hall, located at 900 7th Ave. There will be a reception on the second floor of Town Hall preceding the Council meeting. 

Mr. Johns served as a Town alderman and, later, Town Council member for a total of nearly 36 years during three separate tenures. A native of the Auburn community, Mr. Johns was the first African American elected municipal official in town history and served as Garner’s only African American elected official during his entire time on the Board of Aldermen and Town Council. 

Former Mayor Ronnie Williams, who served as an alderman and Council member with Mr. Johns before becoming mayor, said Mr. Johns “was a true advocate for the people.” 

“He was the people’s politician,” Williams said. “He looked out for the interests of every citizen in town.”

Longtime Garner resident and community activist Helen Phillips had similar recollections of Mr. Johns. “He has always spoken for the community,” she said after Mr. Johns’ passing. “He was always trying to help people live better.” 

Mr. Johns was first elected as an alderman in 1973 and served four years. He then had a second stint as an alderman from 1979 to 1983. In 1991, he was voted into office again. This time, he would serve as an alderman and Council member until his death. 

Mr. Johns also was a member and deacon of Springfield Baptist Church in Garner. In addition, he served on the church’s Board of Trustees and as a Sunday school superintendent. He also was known to have regularly visited other churches all over Garner and to have made contributions to them. 

When asked about the accomplishment of which he was most proud as an elected official, Mr. Johns cited being part of the leadership that decided to purchase the land that became Lake Benson Park. Prior to its acquisition by the Town in the early 1980s, the tract had been farmland.   

Mr. Johns helped lead Garner as it grew and evolved in numerous ways. The Town’s population was approximately 7,000 when Mr. Johns won his first aldermen election in 1973. At the time of his passing, Garner had over 31,000 residents.  

Over the span of his service, White Oak Crossing shopping center was built; White Deer Park was developed and opened; Garner Performing Arts Center was renovated and rebranded; and the Town built a new Town Hall and police headquarters as a result of $35.7 million bond program approved by voters in 2013.  

Garner also was named an All-America City during Mr. Johns’ tenure, and he proudly served as a delegate with the citizen-led team that traveled to Denver to earn the prestigious national recognition in 2013. 

Following his passing, the community recognized Mr. Johns in a unique way. In response to a remarkable petition drive that collected over 1,000 signatures, the Town Council in August 2019 voted unanimously to change the name of Rand Mill Park to Jackie Johns Sr. Community Park.  

The park, managed by the Town of Garner’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, is located at 508 Rand Mill Road in the neighborhood where Mr. Johns and his wife, Lila, lived with their two sons. In the early 1980s, Mr. Johns was instrumental in persuading Town leaders to move the park from its location at the corner of Bagwell Street and Smith Drive to its current site, and to upgrade park amenities to include a ballfield, basketball court, playground equipment and picnic shelter.  

Just before the Council voted to rename the park, former Mayor Williams remarked, “I think it’s safe to say—and we have to believe—that Jackie is looking down tonight, and he’s pleased with what he sees.” 

ABOUT THE JAMES R. STEVENS SERVICE TO GARNER AWARD 

The James R. Stevens Service to Garner Award is intended to recognize people who have made substantial, outstanding contributions to Garner over a period of years. Emphasis is on service rendered over an extended period of time with preference given to nominees with 20-plus years of service. This is in keeping with James R. Stevens’ tradition of service spanning decades. Non-residents of Garner are eligible if the award committee deems they meet the criteria necessary to receive the honor. The award also can be bestowed posthumously, as in the case of Mr. Johns. 

Courtesy Town of Garner

Garner Public Hearing July 20, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE 

 Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Garner Town Council at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 to consider the following applications. 

Please Note: The Garner Town Council will meet in the Council Chambers located in the Town of Garner Town Hall located at 900 7th Avenue, Garner, NC 27529. 

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Conditional rezoning (CZ-SP-20-15) request submitted by 900 Rand Road LLC, to rezone 16.7 ± acres from Community Retail (CR) and Single-Family Residential (R-40) to Community Retail District Conditional (CR C240) for the development of a Medical Clinic. The site is located at 900, 1108, 1113, 1116 Rand Rd. and may be further identified by Wake County PIN(s): 1619434624, 1619444380, 1619446238, & 1619447310. (MAP HERE)

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Conditional rezoning (CZ-SP-20-04) request submitted by D&S Properties, LLC to rezone 6.26 ± acres from Single-Family Residential (R40) to Service Business District Conditional (SB C233) for the development of a Flex Space. The site is located at 4700 Guy Rd. and may be further identified by Wake County PIN(s) 1740206340 & 1740209101. (MAP HERE)

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Special Use Permit Hearing

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Special use site plan (SUP-SP-21-03) request submitted by Al Neyer, LLC for 240,000 square feet of Flex Space on a 16.08 ± acre site at 200 Garner Business Park Dr. The property may be further identified by Wake County PIN 1730944375. (MAP HERE)

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Handicapped persons needing assistance or aids should contact the Clerk’s office prior to the meeting at 919-772-4688. 

Stella Gibson, Town Clerk 

DATE PUBLISHED:  Tuesday, June 22, 2021 through Tuesday July 6, 2021

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Garner Public Hearing July 6 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE 

 Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Garner Town Council at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 to consider the following applications. 

Please Note: The Garner Town Council will meet in the Council Chambers located in the Town of Garner Town Hall located at 900 7th Avenue, Garner, NC 27529. 

Special Use Permit

Special use site plan (SUP-SP-20-01) request submitted by Wake County for an Ambulance Service on a 3.96 ± acre tract at 1601 Timber Drive. The property can be further identified as Wake County PIN 1700768135. MAP HERE

Handicapped persons needing assistance or aids should contact the Clerk’s office prior to the meeting at 919-772-4688. 

Stella Gibson, Town Clerk 

DATE PUBLISHED:  Tuesday, June 22, 2021 through Tuesday July 6, 2021

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Garner Partners on Purchase of Open Space and Wetlands

Acquisition will support possible greenway system extension and protect watershed

A joint news release from The Conservation Fund and the Town of Garner:

Today, the Town of Garner and The Conservation Fund announced the purchase of 86.5 acres of undeveloped wetlands and open space for future public access and the protection of drinking water resources.

Located southeast of U.S. 401 South and near other permanently protected lands owned by the City of Raleigh, Wake County and the Town, the acquired property borders a major tributary to Swift Creek, which is part of the Lake Benson watershed, a critical source of drinking water supply for Wake County. The site's wetlands and extensive floodplain provide a naturally vegetated buffer that helps to filter storm water runoff from surrounding upland areas while providing important upland habitat for wildlife.

The Town is eager to add the open space to its park system as part of Garner's Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Town officials say the acquisition could make possible the extension of Garner's greenway system, creating new trails that will connect existing parks and schools throughout southern Wake County.

“As Garner grows, we continue to look for opportunities to preserve open space and to do it in a strategic way based on our long-term planning,” Mayor Ken Marshburn said. “The Council and I were excited to have the opportunity to acquire this acreage because it fits well into our master planning efforts and will allow us to provide nature-oriented recreation opportunities, such as hiking, in the future. This land will be a great asset for residents, and its conservation also will help to protect our local drinking water resources.”

The Town partnered with The Conservation Fund—a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing conservation solutions that deliver both economic and environmental benefits—to purchase six parcels of land totaling 86.5 acres from Kay Boling Singletary.

“This project represents a rare opportunity to conserve a large section of undeveloped land in a rapidly urbanizing area that sits within a critical water supply watershed,” said Bill Holman, The Conservation Fund’s North Carolina State Director. “Land protection efforts like this are key to a comprehensive strategy for clean water and pollution reduction in the Triangle, and we are pleased to work with the Town of Garner to secure this site for future public recreational access and enjoyment.”

This project utilized funds from Raleigh’s Watershed Protection Program through the Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative, the Wake County Open Space Bond Program, and the Town of Garner. Additional private-sector support from the Caterpillar Foundation was provided through a new partnership recently created with Conservation Trust for North Carolina to safeguard important local natural lands in North Carolina’s Triangle region through investments in natural infrastructure and land conservation.

“This is an exciting step in providing local watershed protection, and we are thrilled that everyone in the community, including Caterpillar families, will see sustained water quality and avoid nitrogen and phosphorous impacts,” said Asha Varghese, Caterpillar Foundation president. “The Caterpillar Foundation is proud to be a part of this multi-sectoral collaboration as part of our focus on building resilient communities through sustainable infrastructure solutions.”

“We are excited about this project due its proximity to Lake Benson and the opportunity to partner with Wake County and the Town of Garner to protect water quality,” said Ed Buchan, Senior Communications Analyst, City of Raleigh. “Lake Benson helps provide approximately 20 percent of the drinking water to our 600,000-plus customers, so it is critical to protect this natural resource through conservation efforts like this.”

“Wake County’s population continues to grow. With that growth comes the need to protect land that preserves natural resources, wildlife habitat, and historical and cultural properties; protects forest and farmland, scenic landscapes, riparian corridors and water quality; and provides venues for outdoor recreation,” said Chris Snow, Wake County’s Director of Parks, Recreation and Open Space. “This project can do all of these things.”

About The Conservation Fund

At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than 8.5 million acres of land, including nearly 235,000 acres of beloved natural lands across North Carolina.

Entrepreneurs Wanted: LaunchGarner to Take Off This Fall. Apply Now!

Garner, NC—The Town of Garner has partnered with Wake Tech and a network of local partners to bring LaunchGarner to the community. This 10-week immersive entrepreneurial course is designed to help prospective entrepreneurs and current small business owners get in-depth knowledge on how to develop and execute a business plan. The program also partners students with a mentor, who for six months, will help the student gain further insights in to how to operate a successful enterprise. The program is now seeking 10-20 students for the inaugural class.

To qualify, students must meet the following requirements: 

• Live or Work in the Garner area; 

• Demonstrate a need for financial and business resources; 

• Consent to interview by the selection committee; 

• Complete in-person business training once a week for 10 weeks; 

• Develop a business plan and budget; 

• Meet and communicate regularly with an assigned business mentor for 6 months; 

Those interested in the program can apply online at launchGarner.com no later than Saturday, July 31, 2021. The selection process will include an online interview that will be scheduled during August.  Those interested in applying can also attend one of three information sessions on June 24 at 12pm, July 12 at 6:30pm, and July 22 at 6:30pm.  To register to attend an information session, please go to www.launchgarner.com.    

Selected students will be required to attend 10 weeks (one session each week) of a small business course as well as an in-person orientation and graduation ceremony.  The courses will be held virtually and are provided free of charge to all LaunchGarner participants. Each class is three hours long and will be scheduled on Thursday evenings beginning in September. 

After the training, students are paired with experienced businessmen and women who will act as mentors for another six months.  Students will also receive a free one-year members to the Garner Chamber of Commerce. 

LaunchGarner is aimed at entrepreneurs who have a great idea but are unsure where or how to begin as well as those who are already in business and need to learn how to progress to the next level. At the end of the 10-week course, students will graduate with a business plan, marketing plan, and a path to make success a reality. 

This program would not be possible without the support of the following: Wake Technical Community college, the Garner Chamber of Commerce, Garner Rotary Clubs, the Town of Garner, Garner Economic Development Corporation, the Downtown Garner Association, and many other community partners. 

For more information regarding economic development matters in the Town of Garner, contact Joe Stallings at 919-773-4431 or jstallings@garnernc.gov. 

Mayor Marshburn Proclaims June 19 ‘Juneteenth—Freedom Day’

Proclamation presented by Mayor Ken Marshburn on June 7, 2021:

WHEREAS, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring enslaved people in Confederate-controlled territory free and paving the way for passage of the 13th Amendment, which formally abolished slavery in the United States; and

WHEREAS, enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation was delayed by up to almost two and a half years in some Confederate territory, and by more than two years in the area that would become Garner; and

WHEREAS, on June 19, 1865, Union Major-General Gordon Granger read to the people of Galveston, Texas, General Order No. 3, which stated:

Mayor Marshburn presents Juneteenth proclamation to Town Manager Rodney Dickerson (right) and Council Member Demian Dellinger (left), who were representing Garner's Juneteenth Committee.

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves”; and

WHEREAS, June 19th thus has acquired special meaning, and is called Juneteenth, combining the words June and nineteenth, and has been celebrated as Freedom Day by many African Americans for over 150 years; and

WHEREAS, in Wake County, there were more than 10,000 enslaved people—nearly two-fifths of the county’s population—recorded in the 1860 Census; and

WHEREAS, these citizens contributed greatly to the prosperity and development of the area that would become Garner both during their enslavement and after they were freed; and

WHEREAS, like enslaved African Americans in Texas, enslaved people in Wake County, including in the area that would become Garner, were not liberated until after Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Union troops in Appomattox, Virginia, which occurred in April 1865; and

WHEREAS, the creation of a Garner Juneteenth Committee was authorized by this Town Council to raise awareness about Juneteenth and about other relevant information that places Juneteenth in historical context; and

WHEREAS, the United States celebrates its freedom from tyranny on July 4, 1776, but we acknowledge that not all Americans were free on that day; therefore, Juneteenth should be celebrated alongside July 4th Independence Day and not in lieu of it.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Ken Marshburn, Mayor of the Town of Garner, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2021, as

Juneteenth—Freedom Da