🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:
• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 📰 News: Early Voting Starts Oct. 15
• 📰 News: New NC Battery Disposal Rule Starts Dec. 1
• ⚽ Sports: Gianna Paul Delivers as Courage Earn Big Win in Seattle
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Just for Laughs
• 🎁 Your gift fuels local fun: Show Your Support
• 📅 Events: Upcoming Events (Top Picks)
👉 Browse the highlights. Scroll or Skip to your favorites.
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Question: Which ear can most people hear better with?
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)
Early Voting Starts Oct. 15
Wake County voters will have more than two weeks to cast their ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, with 18 early voting locations scheduled to open across the county.
In-person early voting begins Thursday, Oct. 15, and continues through Saturday, Oct. 31. The statewide dates are also confirmed by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. NCSBE
Unlike on Election Day, when voters generally go to their assigned precinct, eligible Wake County voters can use any Wake County early voting location during the early voting period.
📍 Two Early Voting Sites Are in Cary
Cary residents have two locations within town:
Cary Senior Center
120 Maury Odell Place, Cary, NC 27513
Herbert C. Young Community Center
101 Wilkinson Avenue, Cary, NC 27513
Voters are not limited to those two locations. A Cary resident can vote at any of Wake County's 18 early voting sites, including locations in Raleigh, Apex, Garner, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Knightdale, Wake Forest, Wendell and other parts of the county.
⏰ Early Voting Hours
Wake County's schedule provides extended weekday hours throughout most of the early voting period.
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays, Oct. 17, 24 and 31: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sundays, Oct. 18 and 25: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Early voting ends at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. NCSBE
Wake County advises that lines are generally shorter during the first days of early voting and tend to be longest during the final three days.
📋 Missed the Registration Deadline? There's Still an Option
The regular voter registration deadline for the Nov. 3 election is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. NCSBE
Eligible residents who miss that deadline can generally register and vote at the same time during early voting. Same-day registrants must meet eligibility requirements and provide proof of residence. Voters will also be asked to show an acceptable form of photo identification. NCSBE
Voters can also update their name or address within the county when checking in at an early voting site. However, party affiliation cannot be changed during the early voting period.
🪪 Remember Your Photo ID
North Carolina voters will be asked to show an acceptable photo ID when checking in to vote. The State Board of Elections provides information about acceptable IDs and procedures for voters who do not have one. NCSBE
Registered voters can also use the state's Voter Search tool before heading to the polls to check their registration and view their sample ballot. NCSBE
📍 All 18 Wake County Early Voting Locations
Abbotts Creek Community Center: 9950 Durant Road, Raleigh
Avery Street Recreation Center: 125 Avery Street, Garner
Beech Bluff County Park: 7005 Beech Bluff Park Drive, Willow Spring
Cary Senior Center: 120 Maury Odell Place, Cary
Herbert C. Young Community Center: 101 Wilkinson Avenue, Cary
Hilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse: 4621 Shady Greens Drive, Fuquay-Varina
John Chavis Memorial Park Community Center: 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Raleigh
John M. Brown Community Center: 53 Hunter Street, Apex
Joyner Park Community Center: 701 Harris Road, Wake Forest
Knightdale Recreation Center: 102 Lawson Ridge Road, Knightdale
Lake Lynn Community Center: 7921 Ray Road, Raleigh
Laurel Hills Community Center: 3808 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh
NCSU Western Boulevard Business Services: 1220 Varsity Drive, Raleigh
Optimist Park Community Center: 5900 Whittier Drive, Raleigh
W.E. Hunt Recreation Center: 301 Stinson Avenue, Holly Springs
Wake County Commons Building: 4011 Carya Drive, Raleigh
Wake Tech South Campus, Building T: 4723 Advantage Way, Raleigh
Wendell Community Center: 601 W. 3rd Street, Wendell
For voters who prefer to wait until Election Day, polls will be open on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Early voting, however, offers Wake County residents the flexibility to choose from multiple locations and dates before Election Day.
📌 Good to Know
North Carolina voters will be asked to show photo identification, but not having an acceptable photo ID in hand does not automatically mean someone cannot vote. State election officials provide procedures for voters who cannot show an ID, including provisional voting and permitted ID exceptions.
Wake County voters can use ReadyToVote.com for local election information, including registration, sample ballots, voting options and polling information. Statewide voter requirements and official guidance are available from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Just curious…
When do you plan to cast your ballot in the November election?
New NC Battery Disposal Rule Starts Dec. 1
Wake County officials are emphasizing safe lithium-ion battery disposal ahead of a new North Carolina landfill restriction that takes effect Dec. 1. The rechargeable batteries are found in many common household devices, including phones, laptops and cordless vacuums.
Improper disposal can create a serious fire hazard. Batteries can be damaged or crushed inside garbage trucks and waste facilities, potentially triggering fires. Apex officials report an increase in garbage truck fires involving improperly discarded batteries.
Wake County Solid Waste says its facilities experience approximately one fire every three months. The consequences can be costly, with a 2025 fire at the North Wake Household Hazardous Waste Facility causing more than $1.5 million in damage.
Residents should not place lithium-ion batteries in curbside garbage or recycling carts. Before transporting them, officials recommend taping the terminals or individually bagging the batteries and storing them in a cool, dry place.
Residents can then bring the batteries to one of Wake County's household hazardous waste facilities or another organization that accepts them. That disposal option will remain available after the Dec. 1 landfill ban begins.
With lithium-ion batteries now found in so many rechargeable products, officials hope residents will get into the habit of separating them from household waste before the new state requirement takes effect.
Just curious…
How do you usually dispose of old lithium-ion batteries?
Gianna Paul Delivers as Courage Earn Big Win in Seattle
The North Carolina Courage picked up a crucial 1-0 road victory over the Seattle Reign Friday night at Lumen Field. The win was North Carolina’s first in Seattle since 2018 and improved the Courage to 13-11-3, moving them back above the playoff line.
⚽ Paul scores her first: Gianna Paul broke a scoreless tie in the 48th minute, with her shot taking a deflection and looping into the net for her first professional goal. Paul has started all three matches since joining North Carolina in a midseason trade.
🧤 Sheridan reaches 50: Kailen Sheridan stopped five shots to preserve the 1-0 shutout. It was the goalkeeper’s 50th career clean sheet, making her just the third goalkeeper in NWSL history to reach the milestone.
🙌 Jacobs makes her return: Courage captain Natalie Jacobs returned to action for the first time since Aug. 16, providing another boost as North Carolina enters the final stretch of the regular season.
📈 Playoff push gets a boost: The victory improved the Courage to 13 wins, 11 losses and three draws and moved them back above the NWSL playoff line with the postseason race heating up.
A first career goal, a milestone shutout and three huge points made it a successful trip to Seattle as the Courage continue their push to bring playoff soccer back to Cary.
Meme of the Day.
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Oct 6 - Oct 12, 2026
🎟️ Upcoming Events (Top Picks)
Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information. Here are a few ideas for the week, so plan ahead:
• Today: Art Cart 10AM-1PM
• Today: Toddler Tuesday: Discover Wonder Dogs! 10AM-11AM
• Wednesday: Paint Your Pet Portrait 2PM-4PM
• Wednesday: Autumn Flowers 2PM-3PM
• Wednesday: Live at The Bark Bar: Josh Rhyne 6PM-9PM
• Thursday: Art Cart 2PM-5PM
• Thursday: Town Council Regular Meeting 6:30PM-8:30PM
• Thursday: Movie Night Under The Stars 7PM-9PM
• Friday: The Music of James Taylor Featuring James Gedeon 7:30PM-9PM
• Saturday: My Tree, Our Tree All Day
• Saturday: Hum Sub Diwali 9AM-9:30PM
• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-12PM
• Saturday: Barkitecture 1PM-5PM
• Sunday: Shakespeare Live!: Twelfth Night 11AM-12:30PM
• Sunday: Tricks & Treats: Dog Training 2PM-3PM
• Sunday: Sunday Sound Bath 4PM-5:30PM
• Monday: Children’s BINGO 4:30PM-6:30PM
But wait! There’s more. To save space in your inbox, we’ve moved the full list of events online — now you can plan ahead: See Full 2-Week Calendar
The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
A: right
Most people hear and process speech better with their right ear, a phenomenon known as the right-ear advantage. Roughly 90% of people exhibit this right-ear dominance when it comes to language and verbal communication.
Sound from your right ear travels directly to the left hemisphere of the brain, which is the primary center responsible for language comprehension, speech decoding, and logic.
Learn more, right-ear advantage