Nationwide Poll: The Most Stressful Time for Many Moms? Back-to-School Season
–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new survey shows that moms find back-to-school season to be one of the most stressful times of year, and they say an even greater percentage of their kids feel stress. Here are the reasons why.
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Nationwide Poll: The Most Stressful Time for Many Moms? Back-to-School Season
The $4,000 tip jar: David Sedaris on a life spent on tour
Sometimes, I think I was born to go on book tours. One of the reasons that I do so enjoy my book tours is that I’m constantly making it fun for myself.
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The $4,000 tip jar: David Sedaris on a life spent on tour
Top 50 Google Tools for Business
RaleighHomesOnline — Tue Jun 01 18:17:51 UTC 2010 If you’ve been following my blogs you know that I believe Google is going to take over the world… Thanks to Brad, here’s some of the reasons why in case you missed it… Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager (ActiveRain): The Top 50 Google Too… about: Brad Andersohn Checkout Checkout tool cleanest Web Browser Community Manager search engine search engine trends Technology Internet
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Top 50 Google Tools for Business
The Top Five Reasons To Live In Cary, North Carolina
Community
Located in Wake County, North Carolina, the thriving city of Cary is a peaceful town that cares about the welfare of the community and each other. The residents of Cary are also known for their intelligence. The city boasts the highest rate of PhD’s per capita of US towns that have a population of over 75,000. Caryites also have one of the highest median incomes in the state and take pride in their community as is evidenced by the tree-lined streets and well-groomed homes.
Nature
The residents of Cary, North Carolina are conscientious about the environment and the world around them. Serious about their commitment to urban forestry, the town was one of the very first in the state to obtain a tree protection bill through the North Carolina General Assembly. In addition, Cary also began the state’s first curbside recycling program for its residents. With more than 20 parks and 20 miles of trails to explore, Cary offers plenty for the outdoor nature enthusiast.
Safety
The town of Cary is known for being one of the very safest places to live, work and to raise a family in the entire south. In the year 2006 Cary was ranked the 8th safest of the larger cities in the United States, and it has made the list’s top ten for all of the eight years it has been ranked. The fire department has also been recognized for its outstanding services to the residents of Cary and has become only the second department in the state of North Carolina to earn national accreditation.
Technology
Cary, North Carolina boasts the biggest, privately held software company in the entire world, SAS Institute, which released its first product back in 1976. Named one of Fortune Magazine’s best companies to work for nine straight years, SAS continues to draw new members to the Cary community. Another testament to the town’s advanced technological status is the fact that 94% of Cary’s residents have internet access, which is double the national average.
Employment
In addition to SAS, there are numerous companies who call Cary home making it an ideal location for work and careers. After the development of the Research Triangle Park in the 1960s, which links the areas of Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, Cary has experienced a constant growth and has attracted many world-class businesses and institutions such as IBM, MCI, Siemens, Lucent Technologies and American Airlines.
Top 5 Reasons To Live In Knightdale, Nc
Located in Wake County, you will find the town of Knightdale, which holds a history involving an agricultural location that was once situated on the railroad. During the 1990s, the town experienced an increase in population due to its associations with Research Triangle Park. Some consider the town a suburb of Raleigh, which is the capital of the state. Below you will find a couple of reasons highlighting the interest attached to the town of Knightdale.
Recreational Outlets
Both the youths and the adults of the town are exposed to a variety of recreational outlets involving all of the seasons. In the spring, baseball and softball open up to the kids and adults of the town. The summer season offers league basketball, while the winter features adult basketball leagues and many other activities that take place at the Knightdale Recreation Center. The center provides a cure for boredom with self-defense, yoga, hip-hop, photography, and swim classes.
Good Communication with Residents
Knightdale is a town that is known for maintaining good communication with their citizens. Weekly updates on the progress of their hometown are conveyed through an online newsletter. The town website also keeps residents thoroughly informed on the latest news, headlines, and decisions that government officials have made. Citizen driven programs are also encouraged and offered by the town.
Great for Kids
Knightdale is a great place for kids to live because they are offered a wealth of attractions and activities that both enrich and entertain their lives. For instance, youth sports clubs provide kids an outlet with Knightdale Soccer and Knightdale Football. Boy Scout Troop 347 also holds various events for the interested.
A Wide Range of Local Businesses
The businesses situated in town allow residents to satisfy their needs as they search for the perfect dinner or seek out a place to gain rest and relaxation. Knightdale is home to the Appearance Salon and Spa; Castle Farms; CiCi’s Pizza; Joy Hamilton Photography; Knightdale Academy of Gymnastics; and the Wil-Mar Golf Club.
Random Perks
While some people enjoy the busy atmosphere of a large city, others enjoy the calm of a smaller population. With these types of towns (where everyone knows your name) random perks may arise. For example, towns like Knightdale offer events, such as Spring Cleanup, where town residents receive yard waste and bulk item pickup for free on a designated week of the year.
Top 5 Reasons To Live In Garner, Nc
As you scan the possibilities of living in Garner, North Carolina, you will find that the town is located close to six miles from Raleigh, which is the capital of the state. With a history that includes the Church of England, pre-Revolutionary War settlers, Civil War battles, and farming, the town of Garner is quite an interesting place to explore as a choice in residence. As the population and residential possibilities continue to grow, the area will show further promising opportunities. Below are a few top reasons why some residents have found Garner a satisfying place to live.
Family-Oriented Town
A survey taken of Garner showed that close to 7,000 households existed in the area. Out of the involved parties, it was found that 53.5% consisted of married couples, where 30.5% of the households were comprised of non-families. 34% of the households had children under the age of 18 as part of their at-home unit.
Close Proximity to Attractions and Activities
Besides the entertaining vacation opportunities offered by nearby mountain ranges and sand-filled beaches, Garner is located close to the capital of North Carolina, which opens up into Research Triangle Park. The area also offers a collection of sporting events to enjoy. Golfers take pleasure in the world-renowned courses situated in the vicinity. Following the Interstate 40 and US Highway 70, residents find themselves heading towards entertainment, fun, excitement, and a wealth of leisure activities.
Follow the Footsteps of Famous Home-Towners
A wide range of notable celebrities was born in Garner, who is mostly recognized for their achievements in the sports world). NBA basketball player, David West is from Garner, who earned the NCAA Player of the Year award at Xavier University and played for the New Orleans Hornets. Major League Baseball player, Pat Watkins and Pittsburgh Steelers, Eric Williams, are from Garner. Additional celebrities include former Cleveland Brown player, Tony Blaylock; Dr. Todd Boyette (director of the Morehead Planetarium at Chapel Hill); and former head football coach for Duke University, Carl Franks.
Great Weather for Outdoor Fun
The average monthly temperature associated with the Garner area is 71 degrees with humidity levels that create a warm breeze. In July, the weather showcases an average temperature of 80 degrees, while the winter months present an average closer to 50 degrees. The moderate temperatures that Garner possesses, provide the perfect atmosphere for year-round outdoor fun. Public and private golf courses thrive, recreational lakes open up to boating and fishing, and tennis courts swell with activity. During the winter, residents head for the mountains to ski.
Real Estate Boom
In regards to the close proximity to Research Triangle, Garner is one of those towns that are featuring rapid growth in real estate. Since the town is situated near the downtown area of Raleigh, and the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, many employees locate their homes in Garner because they wish to raise their family in an area that is safe and reasonably priced. It is also said that owning a house in Garner is a wise investment because of the projected growth associated with the location.
The Top Five Reasons To Live In Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Livability
Recently ranked one of the best cities to retire in, Chapel Hill, North Carolina boasts a mild climate and is conveniently located three hours from the Atlantic Ocean and three hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains. With a blend of youthful exuberance coupled with rich history and tradition, Chapel Hill continues to receive accolades for being one of the top spots to live, work and visit. Money Magazine recently ranked the town as the number one best place to live in the southern US.
Arts and Culture
The area of Chapel Hill is rich with arts and culture offering something for just about everyone. The avid music lover, the sports fan, the nature lover, as well as the theatergoer will never find a lack of exciting activities in Chapel Hill. The town prides itself on being a community that values culture and has even established an ordinance to allocate funds to be specifically used for promoting the arts. Chapel Hill is home to the famed Festifall Street Fair, created by craftspeople and artists, and held every October drawing thousands upon thousands of visitors from all over the country. Arboretums, museums, learning and historical centers abound in Chapel Hill as well as a host of parks and recreational facilities.
Community
Chapel Hill offers small-town friendliness and gives its residents a real sense of community. With tree-lined streets, great schools and centuries of history to discover, Chapel Hill is also a great place to meet people with like-minded interests. The community offers a multitude of youth and adult programs with everything from arts and crafts to sports and exercise programs, among others. With the University of North Carolina along with the UNC Hospitals, Chapel Hill is known for being a community that is truly interested in the well-being of its fellow residents.
Education
Schools in Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System, boast the lowest dropout rate in the state of North Carolina. Consisting of 16 schools, nine of which are elementary, the system is considered to be one of the very best in the entire nation. The University of North Carolina is one of the most popular attractions for both visitors and residents of Chapel Hill. “Tar Heels” is the oldest state university in the country and was founded back in 1795. The American Society of Landscape Architects has also selected the campus as one of the most beautifully landscaped areas in the United States.
Employment
A part of the renowned Research Triangle Park, or RTP, along with the Durham and Raleigh, Chapel Hill continues to draw the career-minded individual with its vast business and technological employment opportunities. RTP encompasses an area of 7,000 acres, is home to over 130 companies, and employs over 38,000 people making Chapel Hill one of the top places to live for those employed in research and development.
Top 5 Reasons To Live In Apex, Nc
Nestled in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina, Apex is a relatively small family friendly town with more than a few good reasons to live there. With a motto like “The Peak of Good Living” what else could it be, but a top notch home? Five good reasons to live in Apex are almost a no-brainer, and with such a beautiful countryside, it’s almost hard to stop at five.
Positioned so close to the State Capital of Raleigh and the industrial center of North Carolina, Apex is a perfect location for finding work and getting a decent head start on the grind of east coast living. The unemployment rate is near non-existent and median incomes are in the $70,000+ range.
Alternately, Apex offers the feel of a small town, complete with a country style, turn of the century downtown setting and friendly people without the worry and stress of big city living. For those with a big city job and the stress that comes with it, finding a quiet little home in Apex to nestle your family into is a wonderful relief, especially with such a small town atmosphere.
With an exponentially growing population, the city has still managed to maintain that small town atmosphere and offer a wide array of state of the art services and offerings. The school system is top notch and the growth of the city is being handled with the care of a small town and the heart of entrepreneurial spirit.
The school system is part of one of the most developed, respected systems in the country, with colleges and universities in the area including Duke, NC State, and UNC at Chapel Hill. The Triangle Area offers a wide array of educational options for learners of all ages.
Voted the #1 small town by Business North Carolina magazine in 1994, Apex is one of the better little big places in the state to call home. Though it has grown considerably, there are no shortages of the kind of loving small town amenities that make some of the South’s best homes and in turn some of the country’s. For those looking for a good place to settle down with a family and a good job in the Research Triangle, you could do no better than and a whole lot worse than Apex, North Carolina.
Top 5 Reasons To Live In Morrisville, Nc
Since the 2000 census revealed a little more than 5,000 residents made up the population in Morrisville, North Carolina, a special calculation of area growth in 2004 stated that the community had risen close to 12,000 residents. With this amount of progress highlighted for Morrisville, the surrounding industrial boom is making the town a more desirable destination for migrating families. Below you will find a few reasons why living in Morrisville has become so popular in recent years.
Booming Industry
The close proximity to Research Triangle Park (also known as RTP), the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, as well as I-40 makes Morrisville, North Carolina a well-connected town to live in. Many business offices, hotels, and shopping outlets have found a home in the area. The outskirts of RTP are booming with businesses as executives scramble to locate prime locations beyond Research Triangle Park.
Flexible School Schedules
Families with children or those planning on rearing their kids in the Morrisville area should know that the school system offers the convenience of flexible school schedules. In Morrisville, students attending kindergarten to the 5th grade receive a year-round education. Middle school students have a choice of attending a traditional school year or one that takes place all year-round. Students entering the 9th to 12th grade are subject to district restrictions. The year-round scheduling does not apply to students who live in the Wake County area.
Transportation
When it comes to traveling within and outside of the Morrisville area, the town provides air travel with the Raleigh-Durham International Airport; rail travel with Amtrak; and the choice of many interstates, such as Interstate 40 or 540.
Financial Prosperity
When it comes to the median income for a household living in town, numbers point to ranges hovering about $55,000. The median figure for a family showcases incomes close to $65,000 and climbing.
Plenty of Recreational Options
The parks and recreation opportunities of Morrisville allow residents to enjoy the great outdoors, as well as friendly competition among neighbors. In town, programs offer aquatic, senior, athletic, and youth-related outlets. Soccer, baseball, T-ball, softball, and tennis are just some of the things that a resident may participate in. At the Morrisville Aquatics and Fitness Center, a 25-yard swimming pool, lighted tennis and volleyball courts, sauna, whirlpool, and cardio equipment can be enjoyed.
Top 5 Reasons To Live In Clayton, Nc
Finding a good home in the best of the North Carolina’s small towns might seem a daunting task, if only because there are so many good, small communities out there with beautiful landscapes and top notch living arrangements. Towns like Clayton, North Carolina are just such perfect towns and offer what every good family raising destination should, good quality living with a small town atmosphere and wonderful neighbors. The reasons to consider Clayton when deciding where to move in the Raleigh area are growing, but I’m going to give you just five.
Only a few short miles from Raleigh and the industrial and educational centers of the state, Clayton is a town that has recently begun to look mighty good to the hundreds of thousands living in the area. With so many high paying jobs in the Research Triangle, it’s only natural that the average household income in the area is a fairly decent wage and that the quality of life is so high.
Home to an ever growing Chamber of Commerce and the recently built Research Training Zone, a joint venture with the county and NC State University, Clayton is quickly turning from small town to developing landscape. Because of the beauty and untouched nature of the surrounding area though, developers are taking special care to maintain the charm of the small town.
Sitting in the heart of North Carolina’s biggest Educational sector, Clayton is in perfect striking distance of any number of major Universities; schools like Duke, NC State, and UNC at Chapel Hill. The location also makes its developing public school system a top notch program, quickly growing and developing.
As with any small town area rapidly growing, the housing costs are sure to rise, but at the moment it’s as good a time as any to hit the housing market and pick up one of any number of homes at a cost well below the national averages in a soon to be much larger market.
It’s not all housing and industry though in Clayton. The area is still a part of the old south and the atmosphere matches that accordingly. Right along side the new businesses and developments in the area are ages old memories of turn of the century stops for developers. The town, like many towns its size, is a tribute to the past and the future alike and a great place to settle down and live for those in central North Carolina.
