Good people of Cary,

I was saddened to learn about the closure of two fairly popular establishments in Cary last week: Vicious Fishes and Triangle Wine Company. More on this in the news section.

If you haven’t been to downtown Apex in a while, they are doing a massive construction project that is super behind schedule. It’ll look great once it’s done, but it is seriously hurting foot traffic for the local businesses while it is ongoing. Alleyway Bookstore, a staple of downtown Apex, will be shutting its doors at the end of the summer citing a steep rise in rent as well as reduced traffic because of the construction.

On the civic side: the final public hearing on the recommended Town of Cary budget is tomorrow, June 11th. If you’d like to attend, you can register here. I know lots of folks have strong feelings about the potential tax increase - this is where you can voice your concerns!

Thank you for continuing to support local,

James

The Cary Town Council holds its final public hearing tomorrow (Thursday, June 11) on the proposed FY 2027 budget, which includes the 3.75 cent property tax rate increase we covered a few weeks back.

This is the last chance for Cary residents to weigh in before the final vote on June 25. The proposed budget would bring the property tax rate from 34 cents to 37.75 cents per $100 of assessed value, which works out to about $20 more per month for the average Cary home. The budget also includes a $2 increase to the monthly solid waste fee and a 4% utility rate increase.

The bulk of the increase is going toward public safety. 21 new police officers, 6 new 911 operators, 6 new firefighters, and funding to start designing two new fire stations in west Cary.

If you want to speak at the hearing, you can register at carync.gov/publichearings. The hearing starts at 6:30 PM at Town Council Chambers (316 N. Academy Street).

Wake County also just passed their own 2-cent property tax increase last week, so if Cary's proposal passes too, residents will be looking at increases at both levels this summer.

Additional reading: Town of Cary, Budget Info

Well, this is sad.

If you have ever hiked the Graylyn multi-use trail at Umstead State Park, you have probably stopped at the log. The big red oak that fell across the trail back in 2017 and got turned into chainsaw art (animals, leaves, branches all carved into the wood by Tennessee artists Jerry Reid and Randy Boni). It became one of the most beloved spots in the park, and quite possibly the most photographed tree in all of the Triangle.

It is gone now.

According to NC State Parks, the log art was officially retired due to decay and has been removed from its location on the Graylyn Trail. Anyone who has visited in the last year or two probably noticed it coming. The carvings had been weathered hard by the elements (and unfortunately vandalized in spots), and there is only so long an outdoor sculpture made of wood can hold up.

The same artists also carved the log that was in front of the former Cotton House location, which was removed last year as well due to rot.

The park has replaced the log art with a new History Walk that runs from the Multi-Use Parking lot out to the Graylyn Trail. The walk features markers pointing out old homesteads and other historical points of interest along the way.

The log itself had a great run. 8+ years of being one of the most photographed things in the park is not bad for a fallen tree. We’ll certainly miss it.

Additional reading: NC State Parks

Interested in partnering with us? Reach out at [email protected] and let's find something that works for you.

Cary Town Council Budget Public Hearing Thursday, June 11 | 6:30 PM | Town Council Chambers | 316 N. Academy Street

The final public hearing on the proposed FY 2027 budget (including the property tax increase). This is your last chance to weigh in before the June 25 vote.

Register to speak

Cary Downtown Farmers Market Saturday, June 13 | 8 AM – 12 PM | 160 E. Park Street

Strawberries, fresh tomatoes, peaches, and the start of corn season. The market is at its peak right now.

Learn more

North Carolina Symphony: Under the Sea Saturday, June 13 | 8:00 PM | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | 8003 Regency Pkwy

The NC Symphony performs ocean-related jams, including songs from Jaws, Pirates of the Caribbean, and, of course, The Little Mermaid.

Get tickets

If you've walked through downtown Cary near the train tracks (or explored Lazy Daze), you've probably seen the Page-Walker building without realizing just how much Cary history is inside.

The building began its life in 1868 as the Page-Walker Hotel, a railroad hotel built by Allison Francis Page, one of Cary's founding figures, to serve travelers passing through on the North Carolina Railroad. It was later purchased by J.R. Walker, giving the building the name it still carries today.

The hotel eventually fell into disrepair, but a major restoration effort by the Town of Cary in the 1990s brought it back to life. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as one of the most important historic buildings in town.

The building now operates as the Page-Walker Arts & History Center. Inside, you'll find two gallery spaces featuring rotating exhibits from regional artists, along with the Cary Heritage Museum, which tells the story of Cary's growth from a small railroad stop into the town it is today.

The heritage museum, which is located at the very top of the building, is seriously worth checking out. Everything is so well documented and you can see a lot of real photos from Cary’s past. Cary’s certainly a town that has seen a lot of changes, but you may be surprised how much has remained.

If you've ever wondered why Cary is called Cary, you'll find that answer here too. The town was named after Samuel Fenton Cary, an Ohio congressman and prominent temperance advocate whom Allison Page admired.

What to know:

If you're looking for an easy, low-pressure way to spend an hour downtown that doesn't involve shopping or grabbing a meal, the Page-Walker Arts & History Center is a great option. It's one of the best places in Cary to connect with the town's history.

📍 119 Ambassador Loop, Cary, NC 27513

More Information

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