Cary Spotlight | Issue #241

Safety Concerns in Cary's Downtown Park, Dorcas Ministries' Pet Food Donations, NC State-Starbucks Collection, & 'Things We Never Got Over' Insights

In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

☀️ Cary NC Weather

📅 Lots Of Events This Week

📰 Safety Concerns at Cary's New Downtown Park Spark Parental Debate

📰 Dorcas Ministries Expands Outreach: Pet Food Donations Now Accepted

📰 NC State Partners with Starbucks for Exclusive Mug and Tumbler Collection

✅ Corrections: What We Got Wrong and How We Fixed It.

📰 Healing and Forgiveness: The Heart of ‘Things We Never Got Over’

😀 Quote of the Day

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

Question: Who is the first to summit K2?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

📚 TWO FREE AUDIOBOOKS! 📚
To get two free audiobooks from Audible, just follow this link: Learn more

Partner with us to reach our local audience in Cary, NC.
email: [email protected]

…

Meme Quote of the Day. Brought to you by Cary's daily newsletter.

Email is faster than word of mouth. Cary Spotlight: The Daily Email Newsletter of Cary, NC keeps you updated on what is going on locally and connects businesses to our vibrant community.

…

Safety Concerns at Cary's New Downtown Park Spark Parental Debate

Downtown Cary Park, a multi-million-dollar project, has drawn mixed reactions from parents. While many appreciate the park's design and the opportunities it offers for children's exploration, concerns about safety have surfaced.

Parents report issues with crowded play equipment, visibility challenges, and the dangers posed by hot metal slides. Specific features, such as the red cardinal play structure and steep slides, have been particularly troubling. Town officials have implemented procedures to monitor and close off slides if they become too hot, but some parents remain wary about potential burns during the summer months.

The park has seen a higher number of injuries compared to other local parks, adding to the concerns. Since its opening, there have been incidents ranging from minor scrapes to more serious sprains and broken bones.

Despite these issues, Downtown Cary Park continues to be a popular destination. Parents hope for improvements that will enhance safety without compromising the park's unique features, ensuring it remains a space for children to explore and learn. Read full article

Credit: Dorcas Food Pantry and Marjorie McKee

Dorcas Ministries Expands Outreach: Pet Food Donations Now Accepted

Marjorie McKee's dedication to Dorcas Ministries reflects her deep commitment to the Cary community and its beloved pets. As a volunteer and a loyal subscriber to Cary Spotlight, Marjorie is part of the 100 Milestone Mavericks, a group of dedicated readers who have read more than 100 editions the newsletter.

Through her involvement with Dorcas Ministries, Marjorie plays a pivotal role in the Coalition for Pet Inclusive Services, an initiative aimed at supporting pet-owning families in Wake County. "Pets are part of the family," Marjorie emphasizes, highlighting the coalition's mission to help families in crisis situations, such as inconsistent housing or domestic violence, where pets are often a critical part of the household.

Dorcas Ministries, well-known for its long-standing food pantry, has now expanded its efforts to accept donations of dog and cat food, along with cat litter. This initiative aims to prevent families from having to share their own food with their pets, a situation that is both costly and less nutritious for the animals. Research by a coalition volunteer found that it costs just 67 cents per meal to feed a pet with pet food, compared to $3 per meal when pets consume human food from the pantry.

Marjorie, who also attends First Cary United Methodist Church, was inspired to join the pet advocacy group due to her love for dogs and her previous advocacy work at the state and federal levels. "We really appreciate the opportunity to help spread the word about our pet food drive," she says, expressing gratitude for the platform Cary Spotlight provides.

The coalition is currently working to establish a dedicated website for their pet advocacy efforts, aiming to recruit more volunteers and streamline services. This effort is a collaborative one, involving domestic violence organizations, animal welfare shelters, and state agencies, all striving to ensure that Wake County's services are inclusive of pets' needs.

Marjorie’s recent photo from Cary Dog Daze, featuring dogs enjoying pup cups and a Dorcas food drive poster, captures the spirit of the initiative. The event helped raise awareness about the pet food drive and the broader goals of the Coalition for Pet Inclusive Services.

As Dorcas Ministries continues to expand its outreach, Marjorie and her fellow volunteers hope to see increased donations of pet food and litter, ultimately helping more families keep their pets healthy and well-fed.

Marjorie McKee's work with Dorcas Ministries exemplifies the power of community and the impact of compassionate volunteerism. Her efforts ensure that no pet is left behind, reinforcing the bond between humans and their animal companions in Cary.

Here is the food pantry web page from Dorcas. If you click on their Amazon wish list, you will see suggested cat and dog food donations (but any brands are welcome along with cat litter).

Just curious…

How important do you think it is to support pet food donations for families in need?

Click to cast your vote

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Would you be willing to donate pet food or cat litter to Dorcas Ministries' food pantry?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

NC State Partners with Starbucks for Exclusive Mug and Tumbler Collection

North Carolina State University has partnered with Starbucks to introduce a new line of officially licensed coffee mugs and tumblers.

The university is now part of Starbucks’ “Been There Series” Campus Collection, featuring a mug that showcases iconic landmarks and symbols related to NC State.

Additionally, the new Sparkle Tumbler, adorned in NC State red and featuring the university's Block S logo, is also available. These items can be purchased at more than 100 Starbucks locations within 20 miles of NC State, including on-campus stores.

The collaboration aims to boost the NC State brand and generate revenue for student scholarships, with all royalties from the sales supporting various scholarship programs. The coffee mug is priced at $12.95, and the Sparkle Tumbler is available for $24.95. Read Full Story

✅ Corrections: What We Got Wrong
and How We Fixed It.

Most publications (newspapers, we’re looking at you) will hide their corrections in small print on the back page. We’re not a newspaper, when we get something wrong, we promptly make an edit to the online edition. Thanks for your emails, eagle-eyed Cary Spotlight subscribers. We’re all family here.

  1. Issue #239: “Joro Spiders Are Back” story. The link to read the full story went to the wrong source. The link was fixed in the online edition.

…

Healing and Forgiveness: The Heart of ‘Things We Never Got Over’

"Things We Never Got Over" by Lucy Score takes readers through Naomi's transformative journey after she decides to leave her wedding and relocates to Knockemout, Virginia.

There, she unexpectedly becomes the caretaker of her niece, compelling her to face and embrace the imperfect but resilient bonds of family. In the quaint town, Naomi finds a blank slate to rewrite her life story, with the support of its eclectic residents and a budding romance with Knox, the local bartender and barber.

Her experiences in Knockemout teach her the significance of authenticity, vulnerability, and the healing power of forgiveness. Surrounded by a supportive community, Naomi learns to seek help, celebrate small victories in her healing journey, and ultimately finds her voice, advocating for herself and making a meaningful impact on her new world.

Just out of curiosity…

Have you heard about this book?

Click to cast your vote

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Let’s Tell Your Brand’s Story.
Increase Your Local Visibility and
Connect with Our Community!

Would you like us to spotlight your local business in front of thousands of Cary area residents in an upcoming issue of Cary Spotlight? Click the link below.

All this June celebrate the colors of Pride with activities and events in Cary. Events include Pride Cary Night Market at Downtown Cary Park on June 22; Allies and Icons Pride Film Festival at The Cary Theater; Pride Through the Decades, an art exhibition at Cary Arts Center and more. Learn more

Upcoming Local Events

Looking ahead to events happening in Cary, NC for the rest of the week.
Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information.

June 20th (Thursday)

June 21st (Friday)

June 22th (Saturday)

June 23rd (Sunday)

June 24th (Monday)

The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇

Achille Compagnoni, an Italian mountaineer, was the first to summit K2, the world's second-highest mountain, on July 31, 1954. Alongside his fellow climber Lino Lacedelli, Compagnoni's ascent marked a significant milestone in mountaineering history. Link to Bio.