Good people of Cary,

I hope everyone is staying warm!

We did not get the full foot of snow that was forecast, but we did get enough to make most parts of town slippery and icy last weekend. Those few inches quickly turned into ice and shut down much of Cary. A lot of small businesses had to close unexpectedly, so if you can, please try to show them extra support this week.

The snow did not slow down the Walk for Peace, a long distance journey by a group of Vietnamese Buddhist monks who are walking roughly 2,300 miles from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. to promote peace, compassion and mindfulness. They passed through the Triangle last week, including stops in Pittsboro, Apex, and Raleigh, where they were greeted by large crowds and a peace gathering at the North Carolina State Capitol. Thousands of people came out to watch them and to be part of the moment.

Looking ahead, this issue has local news updates, events to check out and photos from Cary’s snow day. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for being here and for continuing to support local.

James

Cary Town Council approved up to $250,000 this week to fund an outside review connected to former Town Manager Sean Stegall’s spending and town operations.

Town leaders say the funding will support an independent investigation along with an employee engagement initiative as Cary works to rebuild trust and improve transparency inside Town Hall. Officials emphasized that the review is focused on internal processes and accountability moving forward.

Of the $250,000, $150,000 will go toward paying a law firm to conduct an investigation on potentially fraudulent expenditures and conduct, while the remaining $100,000 will be used to conduct an employee survey.

Additional reading: WRAL, N&O

Cary police are investigating after a statue outside the Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina was vandalized earlier last week.

Security footage captured 5 alleged vandals around 3:00 AM on Sunday, January 18th. You can view the security footage here.

Officers are asking anyone with information to contact Cary Crimestoppers at (919) 460-4636. You may choose to remain anonymous.

Additional reading: WRAL, ABC11

At one point, the forecast called for over a foot of snow. Generators sold out at Lowe’s and Best Buy, grocery stores were raided, and the community prepped for the worst.

We ended up getting around 2 inches.

That 2 inches, however, quickly turned into ice and created some legitimately dodgy road conditions. Luckily, power outages were minimal across town, and Cary had plows and salt trucks running throughout the weekend.

On Sunday, I walked roughly a mile to Downtown Cary Park around noon and didn’t encounter a single car on the road. Kids were sledding in the middle of the street, and Cary briefly transformed into a Thomas Kinkade painting.

Here is a small collection of photos from the day:

Dance, eat, and shop.

Zumba at Downtown Cary Park
What: Enjoy this free 1-hour indoor Zumba class. Space is limited and tickets are required.

Where: Downtown Cary Park - Academy Pavilion (327 S. Academy St)

When: Thursday, January 29 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

23rd Annual Cary Rotary Club TowneBank Chili Dinner

What: Community chili dinner fundraiser supporting local and global hunger relief efforts. Includes classic and vegetarian chili, sides, raffle baskets, and a silent auction. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the door.

Where: Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church (200 High Meadow Drive)

When: Friday, January 30
Lunch: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Dinner: 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Cary Farmers Market (Winter Market)
What: Local vendors with fresh produce, artisan goods, coffee, and more.

Where: 160 E. Park St (next to Downtown Cary Park)

When: Saturday, January 31 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

Each week, I highlight a spot in Cary that I think you should check out. This week, we’re doing something a little different.

Cary has no shortage of great places to explore. I love featuring greenways and parks, but now I want to hear from you.

Where should I go next?

If you’d like your pick to be featured, simply reply to this email with the location you have in mind. It can be anything in Cary.

Tune in next week to see which one gets selected.

Thanks for reading! If you liked or disliked this issue, feel free to reply and let me know! I love hearing from you.

P.S.

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