Good people of Cary,

RAIN!

As you're probably aware, we are in one of the worst droughts in the history of our state. The sight of heavy rain yesterday (with hopefully more coming later this week) is incredibly welcome.

CBS 17’s Matthew Huddleston posted a photo taken by Kellie Morgan late last week of how Lake Lynn in Raleigh is holding up. It is incredible how low the water levels seem.

In other news, the Town of Cary will vote tomorrow, June 25th on the budget. Currently, the recommended budget would include a utility and tax increase. We will update you on our socials about what happened after that meeting.

Anyway, onto the rest of the report.

Thank you for continuing to support local,

James

I made a reel about Salty Donut over the weekend, and a lot of people had questions about where things actually stand. So here is what I know.

Salty Donut was announced back in December 2024 as part of a wave of new tenants coming to Fenton, with an originally projected opening of late 2025. That window has now come and gone, and we are halfway through 2026 with the space still not open with no official updates.

After my reel went up, I reached out to Salty Donut directly. They confirmed that there is still no opening date to share publicly, but they encouraged folks to stay tuned to their social channels for updates.

Construction was currently happening when I checked out the space (which is a good sign!).

For anyone who hasn't heard of Salty Donut, it is a Miami-based artisanal donut and coffee shop that was launched in 2015. The brand has built a cult following with creative flavors like brown butter and salt, whipped lemon ricotta bomboloni, and rotating seasonal items, alongside premium coffee.

They now have 14 locations across Florida, Georgia, Texas, Colorado, Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina (Charlotte's South End and Plaza Midwood). The Cary spot will be 2,572 square feet and will be their second North Carolina location.

We’ll keep you updated when new updates are announced!

Additional reading: Salty Donut

Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, the Texas-based crêperie chain with locations in Florida, Minnesota, and Arizona, is opening its first North Carolina location at Fenton in 2026.

The menu features handcrafted sweet and savory crêpes, specialty coffee, matcha lattes, and pastries. It is kind of surprising that it took Fenton this long for an actual café to open (they have a coffee cart, but nothing with indoor seating), so it will certainly be a welcome addition.

No firm opening date has been announced yet, but construction looks pretty far along. I would be shocked if it didn't open within the next couple months.

Combined with Salty Donut, which is opening right next to it, there will be a nice new selection of quick service options in Fenton that we didn’t have before.

Additional reading: Sweet Paris’ website

You've probably noticed the very crispy grass and how miserable everything has felt outside lately. The Triangle is experiencing its driest start to a year on record, and Wake County is currently having its driest January-through-May period in more than 130 years. As of mid-June, all of North Carolina is currently experiencing some level of drought, with parts of central NC sitting in "exceptional drought" (the worst possible classification).

Plenty of municipalities around us are feeling the pressure. Raleigh entered Stage 1 mandatory water restrictions back in April. Durham just moved to Stage 2 restrictions on June 15, which bans spray irrigation entirely. Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville, and Wake Forest have all implemented their own Stage 1 restrictions.

So how is Cary doing in all of this?

Pretty well, actually, all things considered.

The Town's water comes from Jordan Lake, which is one of the largest reservoirs in the state with an enormous watershed. Jordan Lake's normal pool elevation is 216 feet, and the lake is currently sitting just below that at around 213 feet. The lake is feeling the drought, but it has so much storage capacity that Cary still has plenty of water for the foreseeable future.

In fact, Cary is doing well enough that Durham is now getting an emergency water allocation from Cary through Jordan Lake (because Lake Michie, one of Durham's main reservoirs, is only 40% full and Durham's Department of Water Management estimates it would only last about 90 to 95 days without that help).

That said, Cary does have year-round watering restrictions that always apply, regardless of drought status. Each address is assigned three watering days per week based on whether your address is odd or even. Spray irrigation is not allowed between 10 AM and 6 PM, and water waste (broken sprinkler heads, watering pavement, etc.) is always prohibited.

Even though Cary is not currently being asked to do more than what the year-round ordinance requires, it's still a good time to be mindful. Take shorter showers, run dishwashers and laundry on full loads, and fix any leaky faucets. The drought is expected to last through the summer, and according to the WRAL Weather Team, the Triangle would need 12 to 14 inches of rain in a single month to end the drought (which, to put in perspective, is more rain than the Triangle has received all year so far).

Bottom line: Cary's water supply remains stable despite the drought thanks to Jordan Lake, but a little extra mindfulness goes a long way when the rest of the region is hurting.

Additional reading: Town of Cary Drought Status, CBS17, Lake Jordan’s Water Levels

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Cary Town Council Budget Vote Thursday, June 25 | 6:30 PM | Town Council Chambers | 316 N. Academy Street

The Town Council votes on the FY 2027 budget (including the proposed property tax increase). The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed.

More info

NC Symphony: Classics Under the Stars Friday, June 26 | 8:00 PM | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | 8003 Regency Pkwy

The NC Symphony's Summerfest series continues with a Classics Under the Stars program. Reserved tables include wait service, lawn tickets are great value.

Get tickets

NC Symphony: The Music of Billy Joel with Tony DeSare Saturday, June 27 | 8:00 PM | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | 8003 Regency Pkwy

Pianist and vocalist Tony DeSare joins the NC Symphony for a full Billy Joel tribute night. Hard to beat a Saturday under the stars with Piano Man covers.

Get tickets

Carpenter Park in West Cary is a super fun destination that packs a lot into a fairly small neighborhood park.

The 16-acre neighborhood park sits on Louis Stephens Drive in west Cary right near the Morrisville border. From the outside it looks like a relatively standard town park, but once you start walking around, there's actually a lot going on. A man-made pond with a paved walking loop, a playground, basketball and pickleball courts, a community garden, and a memorial site for the victims of Flights AE3379 and AE3378 (two regional airline crashes from 1988 and 1994 that happened in the area).

The playground is a real standout for the kids. The rope climbing structure seems like a blast, with platforms kids can climb up to and hang out in like little tree houses. There's also a rubber surface throughout, which is a nice touch for younger kids who are still figuring out how to land.

The pond loop is the other highlight. It's a short, easy paved walk that loops around the water, with benches scattered throughout. It's a great spot for an evening stroll or a quick walk while the kids run around the playground.

One of the most unique features at the park is Fly Away Home, a massive woven willow sculpture created by Chapel Hill artist Patrick Dougherty in 2022. Built from roughly 10,000 pounds of willow saplings with the help of local volunteers, the whimsical structure is designed to be explored from the inside and has become one of the park's most recognizable landmarks. Kids love running through its winding passages, and it is easily one of the most unique public art pieces in Cary.

📍 4420 Louis Stephens Dr, Cary, NC 27519

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