Good people of Cary,

We are officially entering the third month of our new newsletter format!

I’d like to thank everybody for reading The Cary Report.

I have gotten numerous messages from readers thanking me for showing them new things about their town or keeping them updated on local events.

These kind notes are the whole reason why I love running The Cary Report, and I hope to continue being a helpful resource as I continue to run it.

If you’d like to help support The Cary Report, please tell your friends and family to subscribe! It seriously means the world to me.

In this issue, we’re starting a new segment called “The Monthly Report” where we take a look at everything happening in the upcoming month. As the name suggests, this will be a reoccurring column that runs on the first issue of each month.

Thanks for being here and for continuing to support local.

James

Short answer: we don’t know.

A report published by Wired magazine in mid-February revealed that ICE is expanding its office footprint across the country, including a 25,000 square-foot lease at 11000 Regency Parkway, right next to Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Government records show the lease, managed by the U.S. General Services Administration, runs a minimum of five years at approximately $3.5 million, with an option to extend to ten years.

It is worth noting that ICE already has a field office in Cary at 140 Centrewest Court (near North Cary Park), so the Regency Parkway location would be its second in town.

But nobody can officially confirm it.

Mayor Weinbrecht has acknowledged receiving dozens of emails from concerned residents, stating on his blog that the town has “no authority over the federal government. At this time, the town has not received any requests or permit applications from ICE. However, they could proceed there, and we do not have the authority to stop them.”

Additional reading: Mayor’s blog, WRAL, INDY

Cary Fire responded to a report of smoke at the 200 block of Anniston Court late Saturday night, quickly extinguishing a small fire. A person was found dead inside the garage.

Authorities are still investigating the victim's identity and the cause of the fire.

Additional reading: ABC11

What if you could come home to a fridge full of fresh, healthy meals already cooked, already cleaned up, without lifting a finger?

That’s exactly what Chef Ellen does for families right here in the Cary and Raleigh area.

Ellen’s Custom Cuisine is a personal chef and meal prep service built around one simple idea: real food, made from scratch, in your own kitchen. Chef Ellen brings over 20 years of professional cooking experience and a whole-ingredients philosophy rooted in her Scandinavian upbringing.

No processed shortcuts. No meal kits. Just fresh, wholesome food tailored to your family’s taste and dietary needs.

Here’s how it works: you start with a free consultation where Ellen learns your preferences and goals. From there, she handles everything, custom menu planning, grocery shopping, cooking, and kitchen cleanup. You come home to three or more ready-to-eat entrées waiting in your fridge.

As a mother of three, Ellen understands the daily challenge of wanting a healthy dinner on the table without the time to make it happen. She started Ellen’s Custom Cuisine to give Raleigh-area families their time back, without sacrificing the quality of what they’re eating.

The weekly meal prep service starts at $290/week (plus the cost of groceries), and the first step is always a free consultation to make sure it’s the right fit.

If you’ve been looking for a way to eat better without the stress of planning and cooking every night, Ellen’s Custom Cuisine is worth a serious look.

📍 Serving Cary, Raleigh, and surrounding areas

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

March is one of the better months to be in Cary. The weather turns, things start happening outside again, and the town's event calendar fills up fast. Here's a look at what's worth knowing about this month.

Civic stuff worth watching

The big one is the State of Cary Address on March 5, covered above. Beyond that, with the ICE story still developing and the former town manager controversy still fresh, March could be an active month for local government news. We'll keep you updated each week.

Events to put on your calendar

The Cary Vintage Market returns this month at the biergarten space between Vicious Fishes Brewery and South Line Brewing (St. Patrick’s Day theme for this month!), the only vintage market in Cary. A great excuse to wander downtown on a weekend.

Trivia Night at Downtown Cary Park’s Bark Bar returns March 5th and 19th, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dog-friendly, obviously.

Doherty's is throwing their annual St. Patrick's Day Outdoor Party on March 14 and 17 at their Cary location, with live Irish music, Irish food, Irish dancers, and bagpipes.

Downtown Cary Park kicks off its 2026 movie series with an outdoor screening of The Dark Knight on March 13th. Bring blankets and chairs.

On March 21, Downtown Cary Park hosts a kids entrepreneurship fair where local children showcase and sell goods and services they've created.

Cary wraps up the month on March 28 with Arbor Day festivities, including live music, local food, kids' activities, and the chance to win a free compost bin or rain barrel, celebrating the town's 43rd year as a Tree City USA community.

And on March 29, the town's Hippity Hoppity Easter Egg Hunt takes place at the USA Baseball National Training Complex from 4 to 5:30 p.m., with photo ops with the Easter Bunny, a magician, juggler, and three simultaneous hunts for kids ages 3 to 12.

State of Cary Address

What: Mayor Weinbrecht delivers his 19th annual State of Cary address. Doors open at 5:30, address begins at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. Also streaming live on the town's Facebook and YouTube.

Where: Cary Town Hall (316 N. Academy St)

When: Thu, March 5 | 5:30 p.m.

More Info

International Women's Day Celebration

What: Celebrate International Women's Day with an afternoon of networking, Pecha Kucha-style presentations from local women, and snacks and wine. Open to participants 21 and older. Free to attend.

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

When: Sat, March 7 | 2-5 p.m.

More Info

Singin' & Swingin' at The Cary Theater

What: Jazz vocalist and pianist Champian Fulton takes the stage at The Cary Theater for two nights, joined by vibraphonist Christian Tamburr.

Where: The Cary Theater (122 E Chatham St)

When: Thu-Fri, March 5-6 | 7:30 p.m.

More Info

Each week, I highlight a spot in Cary that I think you should check out. This week, we’re heading to Bond.

Located at 801 High House Road, Bond Park is a 310-acre recreational haven smack in the middle of Cary. It offers a wide range of activities for people of all ages and interests, making it the perfect destination for families, friends, and solo adventurers alike.

The park’s main attraction is its 42-acre lake, which provides opportunities for boating, fishing, and kayaking. You can rent a paddleboat or canoe from the boathouse (from April - October) and spend a leisurely afternoon on the water or try your hand at catching some fish.

If you prefer to stay on dry land, Bond Park has several trails for hiking, running, and biking. These trails wind through the park’s forests and offer picturesque views of the lake and surrounding landscape. Bond Park is also the starting point for Cary’s two largest greenways: White Oak Creek and Black Creek Greenway.

The Lake Trail is the main loop around the lake. It is about 2 miles long and features some wooded areas to walk through. The hike is relatively flat, but keep in mind that it is not entirely paved, and those who struggle with mobility might have a difficult time getting through some of the wooded sections. If you aren’t up for the entire loop, there is still plenty of spots to have a more leisurely stroll and take in the views of the lake by the boathouse.

The boathouse, even when it isn’t open, has ample seating and a screened-in porch that you can sit and relax in. If you want to get some work done, there’s also free WiFi!

For families with children, Bond Park has a lot of options for you. The park has a fairly large playground called Lazy Daze, which features several climbable structures. There are also multiple baseball fields, and a big open grassy field to run around in. After burning off all of that energy, you can head over to the boathouse and purchase an ice cream when it’s open!

There are lots of events always happening at Bond. To stay up to date, you can visit Bond’s official page on the Town of Cary’s website here.

Location: 801 High House Road
Website: https://www.carync.gov/recreation-enjoyment/parks-greenways-environment/parks/fred-g-bond-metro-park

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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