OK... who wants a Lego set?

Lots of folks lined up for Lego's Christmas 2009.

Daddy Stop !

Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!

Stop so we can get ice cream!



Sign in Clinton, NC

The battle goes on

The battle goes on for sign locations and Town Council seats.

This latest sign encouraging Apex voters to cast ballots for the three candidates challenging the trenched in "Mayor's Yes Men" voting block was placed briefly at the intersection of Salem and Hughes Streets.

A previous sign calling the three challengers "Independent Thinkers" was stolen or removed from all locations within hours of when the signs were placed. This new one, listing only the names, was up for one day (just long enough to capture this photo) but has now disappeared.

It's interesting that the only signs disappearing are the ones listing the three names Tom Haynie, Margo Bills and Lance Olive. Are the other candidates removing the signs to protect their turf? Or is the Town of Apex "sign enforcer" removing the signs incorrectly thinking they are not real political signs? Either way, removal of the signs indicates poor judgement and a violation of all candidates right to free speech.

Vote for these three and help make the Town Council back back into a responsible group of elected representatives that listen to town residents and do what is best for the community.

Got signs?

You would think the folks on the Town of Apex planning staff think all town residents are blind as a proverbial bat or are a bunch of dumb clucks.

Building a "bridge to nowhere" used a lot of dollars that could have been spent on a useful project like sidewalks in the older parts of town or the unfinished Villages of Apex park by the tracks on Hughes Street at Town Hall.

The new $207,000 pedestrian CSX track crossing between the Town's office complex and the Duncan Commons office building on Salem Street is so cluttered with signs that it distracts walkers from looking at what they are doing. There are even more signs not visible in this photo warning walkers to not trespass, stay off the tracks, etc.

This crossing in theory allows folks to park at the Town office complex and walk to downtown events and have a more direct path to the historic downtown area. Never mind that there is not a way to get to and from the Town office complex parking area after you cross the tracks. The $207,000 was spent on an impressive array of iron fencing, concrete and lots and lots of signs. And it includes a fenced in observation area that gives a great view of the CSX dumping grounds between the Town office complex and the CSX depot downtown.

Another vehicle used for billboard advertisement

Check out the crafty way the owner of the new Peak City Pharmacy on Salem Street has stepped around a town ordinance prohibiting using a vehicle as a billboard.

According to our own Town Manager "These businesses 'rue the day' the sign folks come into their parking lots because they know they are in violation of the sign ordinance by having wrapped vehicles in prominent locations in their parking lots. These vehicles are to be used as service vehicles not rolling or stationary billboards. I have not personally seen the wrapped Drugstore vehicle, but I will today and you can be assured the 'Code Enforcement' people will."

First Apex Annual Tree Award

The first Apex Annual Tree Award...

Several years back, the first Town of Apex and Apex Appearance Commission tree award was presented for the 1950 Pearson Magnolia - Center and Mason street.

The sign was stolen a week after it was awarded but the honor lives on.

New Apex park not open to the public

Like the new park between the railroad tracks in villages of Apex?

The land has been cleared, grass has been planted but no one is allowed to use the space.

Look closely at the little signs the Town of Apex has posted and you will see a warning...

Site of future Apex Park

Access and Entry Currently Prohibited

This is likely because of a lack of funds to complete the park for general public use but the Town could open the park for walking and limited use since it is already cleared.

Watch them go by...

Keeping track of the fast changing mix of political signs in Apex?

The Town of Apex continues to discriminate on local residents right to express themselves by removing signs as fast as the appear in some parts of town.

The first signs encouraging voters to not allow Weatherly's band of "yes men" to continue on the Council were removed as soon as they appeared. The next day signs indicating some members of the Town Council are a "band of Council Sheep" were also quickly removed.

A new sign has appeared that simply suggests voters "Reelect No One" has now appeared. Lets see if the Town Sign Czar tries to take this one down. It offends no one and is clearly suggesting voters to not let the Weatherly Sheep and "yes men" get reelected...

No Council Sheep in Apex

No more Council Sheep !

Another "sign" of excitement in the race for Town Council seats in Apex.

The view that Mayor Weatherly has a little band of "yes men" continues to be a topic of discussion around town as several seats open up for the Town Council.

If you believe the Council pushes through proposals and plans that are not in the best interest of the Town then get out and vote for new members for the Council. Now is your chance to change the perception that there are "council sheep" that go along with whatever the Planning Board and Planners bring for consideration...

Got enough signs here?

Check out the new Peak City Pharmacy in Historic Downtown Apex.

Is this a pharmacy or a sign shop?

Count the signs... there are at at least a dozen signs facing Salem Street at this new friendly pharmacy. And this does not count the small van parked out front with signs painted all over it.

Did someone say there was an ordinance prohibiting billboards in Apex? Does the van the owner parks out front to advertise the drugstore count as a billboard?

Scary downtown Apex handicap parking space

Handicapped and in need of a parking space near Apex downtown stores?

The Town Planners have seen fit to provide only TWO handicap parking spaces anywhere near the stores along the Salem Street shopping area. You would think there are no handicap employees in the Planning Department or are unfamiliar with what it is like to be a handicapped driver or passenger.

This one is located in the small parking area across the street from Peak City Grill. For over a year it has had three holes the size of a gallon paint can right in the path of handicap drivers. No one knows why the holes were drilled. There is speculation it was to eventually put a railing by the parking space making it even smaller than a small car can fit into. The space is already so small it is difficult to park in and difficult for passengers to get out of the car on either side.

For the last year this has posed a major safety hazzard for anyone parking in this space.

If this is the only option for handicapped downtown parking it might pay to take your business elsewhere...

And don't you forget it

So you want to enter the parking lot at the Town of Apex Utilities department...

Don't dare drive over FIVE miles per hour or enter on your skateboard, bicycle, rollerblades or scooter!

Seems like the Town has gone overboard a bit here...

UNC roads not for walking

June, 2006 - Chapel Hill, NC

Are things at UNC really so bad the town of Chapel Hill has to warn folks about walking in the road?

Now that the endless construction has progressed and lanes have been marked off near the UNC campus, signs are apparently needed to warn folks to not walk in the road!

It would seem like that would be a no brainer, but then this is UNC...

Town of Apex administration down on young art

In its usual knee-jerk reaction to anything not explicitly approved by the Town of Apex, the Town's sign enforcer quickly removed a lovely art display recently placed on a utility pole across from the Town Hall and Community Center at the corner of Mason Street and Old Raleigh Road in June, 2008.

This cheerful little gallery of creature drawings was added to the pole over a short period in early June and suddenly disappeared the day after this photo was made. Unfortunately the town's effort signals that the staff doesn't support artist efforts to be creative and add a little color to the local landscape.

The local sign ordinance was meant to prevent signs and posters from littering the roadways but enforcement is sometimes carried too far when signs or displays that mean no harm are ripped down as soon as they are placed due to strict interpretation of the rules. There are legitimate circumstances when local organizations want to tell of barbecue fund raisers, yard sales or other similar events that need community participation to be successful.

Residents generally post signs on utility poles for weekend yard sales to attract potential buyers but soon experience the wrath of the Town's "sign czar". If the Town staff member sees posters along local streets the signs are immediately removed to enforce the strict intent and interpretation of the sign ordinance. This in turn prevents the yard sale host from simple and reasonable advertising that would legitimately provide them with more customers and income.

Town rules on signs may be seen on the Town's website section on ordinances under Sec.8.7.1 /Permitted Signs: Location, Size, and Number. The town's "sign permit form" allows you to apply for and pay a fee to post signs for a variety of purposes. The Town position requires that a citizen or organization purchase a sign permit in order to place even the simplest of signs anywhere around town. Perhaps this should be tempered a bit to allow citizens to post simple yard sale signs for a few days or otherwise advertise personal activities without the requirement of a sign permit. Contact your Town Council representatives if you think the ordinance needs to be revisited.