Good people of Cary,

Inside this issue, we have some updates about the previous town manager, a look into Cary’s first brewery, and a great field trip that you won’t want to miss.

Are you enjoying the warmer weather? The snow and ice has melted in just about all of the town, and it is starting to feel like early spring. I am definitely not complaining. So much of Cary’s best amenities are outside, so being able to easily step out the door has been a delightful change.

I have gotten several emails from readers giving your appreciation for The Cary Report. I am incredibly grateful for all of you, and I greatly appreciate you spending the time to read each issue. My primary goal with this newsletter is to make you feel more connected to the community, and I hope that you are feeling that intention.

With that being said, if there is anything you’d like me to cover that I haven’t already, please let me know! You can reply directly to this email (if you’re reading it via your email), or send a message to [email protected].

Thanks for being here and for continuing to support local.

James

The Town of Cary released police records today documenting a 2016 drug surveillance operation that involved former Town Manager Sean Stegall's vehicle.

What happened:

On August 26, 2016, Cary Police's Drugs and Vice Unit conducted surveillance at Harrison's Motel (which was located at 607 E. Chatham Street. It has since closed down), a location police were monitoring for suspected drug sales.

Detectives observed a silver Cadillac arrive at the location. The driver met with their surveillance target by the storage room of the hotel, then left.

Officers followed the vehicle in an unmarked car through downtown Cary.

While in pursuit, officers ran the Illinois license plate. Dispatch reported the vehicle was registered to "Sean Stegall" and provided an address: 302 Bradwyck Dr.

According to the police narrative, dispatch advised that "the vehicle potentially belonged to the new Town Manager." The address was approximately one block from the officers' location.

Detectives drove to 302 Bradwyck Dr and confirmed the Cadillac was parked in the driveway.

Mayor Harold Weinbrecht: "These documents are concerning and raise many questions, questions for which we don't have answers."

Mayor Weinbrecht adds that he will not speculate what happened nearly 10 years ago.

Police Chief Terry Sult stated no charges were brought and nothing in the inquiry warrants further action.

Additional reading: Mayor’s statement, full police record

Former Councilwoman Jennifer Robinson told WRAL that some council members had actually known about Stegall's connection to the motel for years, because Stegall told them himself.

According to Robinson, Stegall told council members he was flagged down by a woman who needed help, followed her to the motel, but left before going inside. After seeing the newly released police records, which document the driver appearing to enter the property and meet with the surveillance target, Robinson says that story doesn't hold up.

"Sean Stegall lied to the council members and told us that he was in that location because he was trying to help someone. Because we trusted him, we believed his story."

Robinson said Stegall disclosed the incident proactively because he was worried "something might come out," but never mentioned there was a police report. She says she would have looked into it further had she known one existed.

Additional reading: WRAL

Field Trip is a section of The Cary Report where we highlight day trips that you can do from Cary, written by local photographer Curt Suneson. This week, we’re exploring Hillsborough.

With historic charm, beautiful nature, and plenty to do, Hillsborough is one of those places that's easy to overlook precisely because it's so close. At just 30 to 40 minutes from Cary, it makes for an easy half day or full day trip, and you have no excuse not to check it out.

Downtown and the Historic District

Downtown Hillsborough is small but walkable, with beautiful old architecture woven between businesses and homes. The historic district gives the whole area a distinctive charm that feels genuinely preserved. A few spots worth knowing: Cup of Joe for coffee (112 W King St), and Wooden Nickel Pub for lunch (113 N Churton St).

The Riverwalk

The Eno River Greenway runs three miles through town and connects directly to the historic district. It's paved, easy to walk, family friendly, and forms part of the Mountains to Sea Trail. Eno River Brewing sits right along the trail, making it a natural endpoint if you want to cap the walk off with a cold one.

Occoneechee Mountain

End with the mountain. Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area (625 Virginia Cates Rd) offers two ways up: the main trail, a 2.2 mile loop that's more scenic and takes you through the woods, or a short gravel road that takes you directly to the overlook. Either way, plan for about one to two hours depending on your pace. The view at the top is worth it, and if you can time it for sunset, even better.

Check it out!

Hillsborough rewards the curious. It's close enough for a spontaneous trip but has enough to keep you busy all day if you want. Bring the kids, bring the dog, and if you can, time your hike for golden hour.

Tuscany Uncorked Wine Tasting
What: Guided tasting of classic Tuscan wines paired with meat and cheese plates at The Umstead Hotel.
Where: The Umstead Hotel & Spa (Fireplace Lounge)
When: Wednesday, February 18 | 6:30 PM
Cost: $75 plus tax and service charge
More Info

Fortune or Fate: A Buffet of Plays
What: Collection of one-act plays about friendships, fantasies, and food by Mark Harvey Levine.
Where: Page-Walker Arts & History Center
When: Sunday, February 22 | 3:00 PM
More Info

The Future of Black History
What: Community event celebrating "The Brilliance of Resilience" with keynote speaker Dr. Yohuru Williams, a nationally recognized historian and civil rights scholar.
Where: Downtown Cary Park (Academy Pavilion)
When: Saturday, February 21 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Cost: Free
Event Details

Each week, I highlight a spot in Cary that I think you should check out. This week, we’re checking out Cary’s first brewery.

Fortnight Brewing is Cary's oldest brewery, and with that age comes wisdom. This brewery offers a lot of unique brews, including English-style cask-conditioned ales which you can’t really find anywhere else.

If you've never had cask beer, here's what makes it different. The beer is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and still contains live yeast that continues conditioning in the cask. It's served at cellar temperature (not ice cold) and pulled by hand using a traditional beer engine. The result is a smoother, more unique drinking experience with flavors that come more naturally through instead of being masked by carbonation and cold.

Fortnight was started by Stuart Arnold, who moved to the U.S. from England and missed proper English beer. After brewing recipes in his garage with fellow Englishman David Wilkinson, they decided to open Cary's first brewery in 2014. Their flagship Porter won Best in Show and a gold medal at the 2016 Brewers Cup, and their Carolina Amber took bronze at the US Open Beer Championship.

The space itself feels like an authentic English pub. There's indoor seating with a proper bar, covered outdoor seating, and rotating food trucks. It's dog friendly, family friendly, and gets especially lively when soccer matches are on.

If you’re intimidated by the cask beer, don’t worry - there are plenty of other beer options that you are probably more familiar with, as well as ciders and a full liquor bar.

In addition to the pub, there’s also a small disc golf course on the property, daily food trucks, and an event space.

Location: 1006 SW Maynard Road, Cary
Website: fortnightbrewing.com

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