With 540’s possible extension through Garner still looming, one resident wants to make sure the town has a Merry Christmas. Diane Ripollone, a resident of the Landings of Lake Moore neighborhood, started a petition to take the red route option off the table. She was tired of seeing her friends and neighbors agonize over whether they will lose their homes to the 540 extension option.

Ripollone would be affected by the red route as well. She lives less than ¼ mile from the proposed route. “We need to stand up to this,” she said.

Coming from New York, Ripollone said her parents live across the street from an eight-lane highway with no sound barrier. She fears the problems her family faces in New York will become a reality for Garner residents.

“I know exactly what this can do to this town,” she said.

With more than 75 signatures already, and several more copies of the petition handed out for others to sign around town, Ripollone wants to make sure the Turnpike Authority doesn’t forget about Garner’s residents. She hopes to gather 500 signatures by the end of the week. The petition started Nov. 23 after Ripollone went to the community meeting at the Garner Historic Auditorium the previous week.

“I felt a need to do it,” she said. “I just felt it was time to start something. This is important for the whole town.”

Even if she falls short of the 500 signatures, Ripollone said she hopes to make an impact on the Turnpike Authority’s decision.

“I would love to see it taken off (the table) by Christmas so that Garner has a Merry Christmas,” she said. Ripollone plans to take the signed petition pages to the Town Hall Friday, Dec. 3 to send to the Turnpike Authority.

If you would like to sign the petition or if you would like canvas for signatures, email Diane at dripollone@nc.rr.com.