Good people of Cary,

For the second weekend in a row, we got snow in Cary.

Luckily, the town had an incredible response and got the roads clear in record time. While other parts of the state got over a foot of snow, we ended up with just a few inches. But that was enough.

Families went sledding at Bond Park and Downtown Cary Park. Snowmen popped up in front yards across town. And the fountain at Downtown Cary Park froze into something straight out of a winter postcard (see photo below this section).

It wasn't the blizzard we prepared for, but it was enough to make Cary feel like a snow globe for a couple of days. For a town that doesn’t consistently get snow every year, that’s pretty special.

This week, we're covering both snow weekends, upcoming events, and a spot you should check out when the weather warms up.

Thanks for being here and for continuing to support local.

James

Cary experienced its second consecutive snow weekend, though Mother Nature had different plans each time.

Last weekend (January 25-26), forecasts called for upwards of a foot of snow across the Triangle. Cary residents prepared for the worst - grocery stores were raided, generators sold out at hardware stores, and the community braced for a major winter storm.

The result? Around 2 inches that quickly turned to ice, creating treacherous road conditions but far less accumulation than predicted. Town plows and salt trucks worked throughout the weekend to clear main thoroughfares.

This past weekend (February 1-2), the pattern repeated. Saturday brought another lackluster dusting that disappointed snow-day hopefuls. But overnight Saturday into Sunday, snow continued falling, and Cary woke up to a legitimate winter wonderland. Much better accumulation than the previous weekend, though still modest compared to what other parts of North Carolina received.

Both weekends saw widespread event cancellations, school closures, and community adjustment to winter conditions. Now, everything seems to be business as usual.

Curbside collection delayed: Due to winter weather and icy conditions, Cary's trash and recycling pickup was delayed by one day this week. Normal operations resumed Tuesday, February 3.

Roads and infrastructure: Town crews worked around the clock both weekends to maintain main roads. While primary routes were cleared quickly, neighborhood streets remained icy longer, particularly in shaded areas. We are finally starting to see much of the ice and snow melt, though an incoming wintery mix may mildly stall that process.

Community response: Local businesses that had to close unexpectedly during the first weekend saw similar challenges the second time around. As always, supporting local businesses that lost weekend revenue is appreciated by the community.

Over the past two weekends, Cary transformed into a winter wonderland (or at least tried to). We know many of you were out there sledding, building snowmen, photographing frozen fountains, and capturing the beauty.

Now we want to see what you captured.

Submit your best snow photos from either weekend and we'll feature a selection in next week's issue. Whether it's your kids sledding at Bond Park, your dog's first snow experience, the icy fountain at Downtown Cary Park, or just your snow-covered backyard - we want to see it.

How to submit:

You can either:

Include your name (or "anonymous" if you prefer) and a brief caption.

Deadline: Tuesday, February 10 at 5pm

We'll feature the best submissions in Issue No. 6 next week. Let's build a community photo album of Cary's frozen weekends!

Gold Medal Games

What: Watch live Olympic coverage on big screens while participating in interactive Winter Games challenges with friends and neighbors.

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

When: Friday, February 7 | 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Drop-in Puzzling and Puzzle Swap

What: Bring your favorite puzzles to trade with other enthusiasts, then settle in for collaborative puzzling in a family-friendly setting.

Where: Downtown Cary Park - Academy Pavilion

When: Sunday, February 9 | 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM

High Seas Hijinx

What: Test your pirate skills with battleship games, scavenger hunts, and pirate-themed activities.

Where: Bond Park Community Center

When: Tuesday, February 11 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Each week, I highlight a spot in Cary that I think you should check out. This week, with temperatures still hovering near freezing, I'm featuring a warm indoor destination.

West Regional Library reopened in late October after a ten-month renovation. If you haven't been back since, you're missing out.

The library, which serves western Cary and parts of Morrisville, closed in January 2025 for its first major overhaul since opening in 2006. The updates may not immediately noticeable, but: new LED lighting brightens the space, upgraded HVAC keeps it comfortable year-round, and modernized furniture makes it pleasant to settle in for a while.

The renovation added several new features worth checking out. There's now a dedicated teen nook, improved study and work spaces with boosted Wi-Fi, a renovated children's area, and courtyard seating for when the weather cooperates. The library also added an enhanced sensory room designed for inclusive experiences.

If you appreciate public art, you'll notice new installations by North Carolina artist Thomas Sayre, who also created the inverted cairns in the library's courtyard. His work now extends into the indoor spaces as well.

Before closing for renovations, West Regional was one of the busiest branches in the Wake County system - 300,000 visits and over 650,000 items checked out in 2024 alone.

Library cards are free and work across all Wake County libraries. Hours are generous: Monday through Thursday 9am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm.

On a cold February day when you need to get out of the house but don't want to freeze, West Regional is worth the trip. Grab a book, use the Wi-Fi, or just enjoy a quiet space that isn't your living room.

Location: 4000 Louis Stephens Drive, Cary

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

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