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Cary Spotlight | Issue #061

Cary Spotlight | Issue #061

Gift Card Scams & N.C. State's PCBs | Cary's Renovation Artistry | Coach K's Holiday Feature | FSU's High-Stakes ACC Dispute

Chris Coetzer
23 Dec

In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

☀️ Cary NC Weather

📅 Lots Of Events This Week!

📰 Beware of Holiday Scammers: Protect Your Gift Cards from Draining

📰 Alarming PCB Levels Found in N.C. State's Poe Hall

💡 A La Carte: Blending Artistry with Home Renovation in Cary

🏆 Coach K's Unexpected Appearance in a Christmas Classic

🏆 Florida State University Challenges ACC in High-Stakes Lawsuit

😀 Viral Meme

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

Question: Which fact about Cary, North Carolina, was recognized in 2021?

A) Home to the first state-funded public high school in North Carolina.

B) Identified as the safest mid-sized place to live in the United States

C) Location of the world's largest privately held software company.

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

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Beware of Holiday Scammers: Protect Your Gift Cards from Draining

During the holiday season, consumers looking to purchase gift cards as presents are advised to be vigilant against a scam known as "gift card draining," where scammers steal the card's value before it can be used.

Nicole Cordero of the Better Business Bureau and other security experts emphasize the importance of inspecting gift cards for tampering, such as altered barcodes or scratch marks, and suggest buying from secure areas close to registers or behind counters.

The consequences of these scams are severe, with retailers like Best Buy outlining procedures for when victims are identified, including reporting to authorities and assisting affected customers. Peter Richon's personal dismay highlights the broader impact on consumers, who feel betrayed when their gifts lose their intended value.

This fraudulent activity is not uncommon, with a 2022 AARP survey indicating that nearly one in four people have encountered gift cards with no funds, underlining the widespread nature of financial deceit during the festive season. Read Full Story

Alarming PCB Levels Found in N.C. State's Poe Hall

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of man-made organic chemicals that were widely used in various industrial and commercial applications due to their ability to resist heat and insulate electricity.

Five rooms in N.C. State University's Poe Hall, including a computing center, women's bathroom, and faculty offices, are facing a severe health crisis with PCB levels discovered to be up to 38 times higher than EPA safety standards.

These toxic substances, likely stemming from building materials used between 1950 and 1979, have raised significant concern after initial tests led to the building's temporary closure last month. The university has since undertaken a more extensive investigation to gauge the full extent of the contamination, revealing alarming concentrations of Aroclor 1262 and the more harmful Aroclor 1254 in various materials.

The implications of these findings are profound, with long-term exposure linked to an increased risk of cancer, thyroid, and reproductive disorders, and immediate symptoms like skin lesions and high blood pressure. Meanwhile, the broader issue of PCBs in older buildings, a legacy of their widespread use in the past, is underscored by recent hefty settlements and ongoing litigation involving Monsanto, the primary manufacturer of these now-banned substances.

As the university awaits further testing results, the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff remain a paramount concern, highlighting the need for stringent environmental health measures in educational institutions and beyond. Read Full Story

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A La Carte: Blending Artistry with Home Renovation in Cary

A La Carte Cabinet Painting, a trailblazer in the home improvement industry, has quickly become a local authority in cabinet refinishing and interior painting since opening in October 2020. Founded by Heather Perkins, a passionate DIY enthusiast, the company has grown from a two-person team to a crew of seven, all dedicated to breathing new life into Cary's homes with their exceptional cabinet painting and refinishing services.

Over a few short years, A La Carte Cabinet Painting has completed around 62 kitchen renovations, each project a testament to their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Their journey is marked by continuous growth and innovation. From mastering the art of on-site box spraying to becoming one of the first users of ICRO Italian wood coatings in the USA, A La Carte stays ahead of the curve, offering services uniquely tailored to the individual needs and visions of their clients. Their exclusive Homeowner Labor Discount program reflects a business model that values customer involvement and affordability, allowing homeowners to contribute to their home's transformation.

A La Carte Cabinet Painting has proven their unparalleled ability to enhance the aesthetics and functionality of any space they touch. They emphasize the importance of hiring professionals with specific expertise in cabinet refinishing, highlighting their specialized knowledge in cabinetry anatomy and the complexities of different wood substrates. This dedication ensures that every project not only meets but exceeds the highest standards of quality.

Moreover, A La Carte Cabinet Painting understands that choosing the right color can make or break a space. That's why they offer free 45-minute paint color consultation services, providing customers with virtual mockups, Sample color swatches, and expert advice to help them make the perfect choice for their home.

Their upcoming "your cabinet is our canvas" Cabinet Canvas campaign promises to introduce a line of custom, one-of-a-kind hand-painted doors, offering an even more personalized touch to their clients' homes.

As A La Carte Cabinet Painting looks forward to 2024, they will be offering new services like cabinet refacing. They continue to prove that when it comes to enhancing your home, the right touch of paint and a dedicated team of professionals can make all the difference.

Feel free to visit A La Carte Cabinet Painting's website for more information and to experience the custom services offered.

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Coach K's Unexpected Appearance in a Christmas Classic

In the Christmas classic "Home Alone 2," a brief but intriguing detail features the legendary Duke basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, or Coach K, on a newspaper warning of the film's antagonists' escape.

The paper, seen during an early windstorm scene, also displays Georgetown's John Thompson and Indiana's Bobby Knight, highlighting Coach K's prominence in the early 1990s during his back-to-back NCAA championship tenure.

Though a quick and easy-to-miss detail, this cameo serves as a fun Easter egg for holiday viewers and a testament to Coach K's significant influence and popularity at the time, especially following the recent passing of his mentor, Bobby Knight. Read Full Story

Florida State University Challenges ACC in High-Stakes Lawsuit

Florida State University has sued the Atlantic Coast Conference, challenging the contract's validity and seeking relief from hefty exit fees, prompting a potential exit amid frustrations over media rights and revenue distribution.

The university's decision comes after years of dissatisfaction with the ACC's media rights deal with ESPN, which Florida State views as undervalued and excessively long. Coupled with this is the university's frustration over the conference's refusal to adjust its revenue distribution model to reflect the school's perceived value. Despite efforts to address these concerns, including a proposed bonus system for postseason successes, Florida State's leaders have found the measures insufficient.

In a swift countermove, the ACC has retaliated with its own lawsuit in North Carolina, asserting Florida State's legal commitments and the enforceability of the agreement until 2036. The escalating legal battle marks a pivotal moment for both the university and the conference, with significant implications for the collegiate sports landscape. Read Full Story