Jobs are solid here, with Wake County taking the No. 15 spot on CNN Money’s list of U.S. counties with highest job growth in the last decade. Wake County jobs increased by 35.9 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to Census data.
Koka Booth Amphitheatre welcomes up to 7,000 patrons for events ranging from food festivals to concerts to private functions. The N.C. Symphony Summerfest will call the venue home every Saturday from May 26 to July 7, presenting selections from Romeo and Juliet to Fables for Families. Movies by Moonlight, May through September, turns the amphitheatre into a screen under the stars, where attendees are welcome to bring picnics and make themselves at home.
Living healthy is important to Caryites, which is why the Town of Cary offers a vast array of fitness & wellness classes through the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources department. Kettlebells, martial arts, aerobics, yoga and aquatic fitness classes are just a few of the selections available to residents at Town facilities.
Music has been a part of Cary’s summer scene for years, but this summer offers more options than ever. Two new concert series in downtown Cary will be introduced for 2012. The Downtown Performers Series, select Fridays and Saturdays May through June, will set up across from the Cary Arts Center and at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center. The Seven O’Clock Rock Series will close off the streets of downtown on May 24 and June 21 for a block party and even dancing — including lessons before the show. The new selections join the ever-popular Starlight Concert Series at the Page-Walker gardens. See townofcary.org for more information on all concerts.
North Carolina’s smartest city, Cary ranked seventh on American City Business Journal’s national list, which ranked 269 cities nationwide by their brainpower.
Oasis program donations from Cary utility customers help those who have fallen on hard times keep utility services active in their homes. Donated funds are routed through Dorcas Ministries, which allocates funds to those who need a little assistance.
Public art is scattered all around Cary’s open spaces and public buildings, thanks to the work of Cary Visual Art. The organization has placed more than 50 works of art since its inception in 1996, including both permanent installations and temporary loaned sculptures. Projects range from large sculptures to artist-designed park benches and brick path inlays.
Quality of life is tops here, with Cary, Morrisville and Apex taking the three top spots, respectively, on American City Business Journal’s 2011 list of North Carolina cities.
Real Estate
Raleigh-Cary earned the accolade of the No. 1 U.S. real estate market to watch in 2012 from Inman News, a real estate news leader. The value of single-family homes rose by 7.3 percent from the third quarter of 2010 to 2011. The median home price in the market was $224,300, the highest of any city on the top 10 list.
Schools ranked high on Newsweek’s 2011 list of 500 of America’s Best High Schools. Green Hope and Panther Creek in Cary made the list, as did Apex High School. All three schools boast higher than 90 percent graduation and college bound rates, according to the listing.
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