Cary Spotlight | Issue #276

Wake County Tax Bills Rise, School Safety Secured, $50M EPA Grant, and Youth 'Friend Code' Talk

In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

☀️ Cary NC Weather

😀Quote of the Day

📅Lots Of Events This Week (The Week at a Glance)

📰 Sharp Rise in Wake County Property Values Leads to Higher Tax Bills

📰 Deactivated Grenade Found in Wake County School: Students Safe

📰 EPA Awards $50 Million to North Carolina for Environmental Conservation

🔥 Real Talk: Reinforcing the 'Friend Code' for Today's Youth

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

Question: What is the most popular car model ever sold?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

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Funny Quote of the Day.
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Sharp Rise in Wake County Property Values Leads to Higher Tax Bills

Wake County homeowners are bracing for a substantial increase in their property taxes following the recent revaluation. Garner resident Bruce Lee was shocked to find his property tax bill had surged by about $1,300 after receiving his home's new assessed value. This marks the first property tax bill homeowners will face since the revaluation process.

Despite a decrease in the county’s property tax rate from $0.65 to $0.51 per $100 of assessed value, the significant rise in property values is leading to higher tax bills. According to Wake County data, the average assessed value of homes, including buildings and land, has increased from approximately $370,000 to nearly $564,000.

The impact of this increase varies depending on the location of the property. Many homeowners, like Lee, are experiencing a degree of sticker shock. Gretchen Coley, founder of the Coley Group, acknowledges the nervousness among homeowners due to the unexpected hike in property taxes. She advises those overwhelmed by their new bills to contact their mortgage lenders to discuss changes in escrow payments.

Wake County offers tax relief programs for seniors aged 65 and older, fully disabled individuals, and veterans, which can provide some respite for those eligible. However, concerns about the communication surrounding the revaluation process persist. Lee believes the county did not effectively inform residents about the potential magnitude of the increases, leaving many unprepared.

Despite the immediate financial sting, Coley points out that rising property taxes indicate growing home values, reflecting a robust housing market in Wake County. Read Full Report

Are you aware of the tax relief programs available for seniors, disabled individuals, and veterans in Wake County?

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Deactivated Grenade Found in Wake County School: Students Safe

An incident at Laurel Park Elementary School in Wake County saw a student bringing an older, deactivated grenade to campus.

A parent overheard the student discussing the grenade in their backpack and informed a teacher, leading to immediate action by the school administration.

The Cary Police Department and school authorities conducted a thorough investigation and threat assessment, concluding that the item was not brought with malicious intent.

The student has faced appropriate disciplinary action. The Wake County Public School System has reiterated the importance of not bringing items that could be considered weapons to school and encourages reporting any suspicious activity to maintain campus safety. Read Full Report

EPA Awards $50 Million to North Carolina for Environmental Conservation

North Carolina is set to receive more than $50 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of a $421 million grant aimed at combating climate change and supporting conservation efforts.

Announced by Representative Deborah Ross, this funding is directed to the Atlantic Conservation Coalition, which includes environmental and wildlife agencies from North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia.

The coalition, working with The Nature Conservancy, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve and restore coastal wetlands and forests, and enhance environmental justice and climate resilience across the region.

The grant is supported by a bipartisan group of political leaders and represents a significant investment in the region's environmental future.
Read Full Report

Orange sunset celebration

Real Talk: Reinforcing the 'Friend Code' for Today's Youth

Editor’s Note: Printed below (from FB Post) without edits or addition is real talk about old school wisdom: the "Friend Code" consists of essential safety guidelines for young women during social outings. Author unknown.

Dear Younger Ladies!!!!

So I need to breakdown the "Friend Code" for some of you, because clearly there's too many girls going missing or getting killed.

This is how we "Old Schoolers" roll.

  • Code 1: " We leave together... We stay together....We come back together. NO you're not leaving with some RANDOM dude & NO I'm not leaving you at the party by yourself!

  • Code 2: " Both of us can't be sh*t face drunk (neither of you should) , at least one person needs to be alert & aware of our surroundings!

  • Code 3: " If you got to go to the bathroom or outside ." WE'RE ALL GOING TO THE DAMN BATHROOM AND OUTSIDE!!" Period!

  • Code 4: " We don't accept drinks from strangers unless we're at the bar and watch the bartender pour".

  • Code 5: " if I feel like you're too drunk to function , we're leaving the party early". (We'll fuss about you messing up the night later).

  • Code 6: " if you just so happen to go missing. I will give you a maximum 15-30 mins to show up before I Shut the place down and we ALL are going to be looking for your ass!!! FOR REAL!!! Everybody else can call the police cause I ain't going home without you!

  • Code 7: "If you're fighting it better be one on one, otherwise we all fighting" (Hopefully this ain't jumpin off cause we too classy and ladies).

  • Code 8 and the golden rule, "The drop off person check in or everyone who drove checks in when getting home" If we don't hear from you, we coming to ya house.

Because these generations got the Friend Code messed up! ! This is how we were raised...

Cause I need my daughter and every other lady to know these rules!!!!

Which aspect of the "Friend Code" do you think is most important?

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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.

July 25th (Thursday)

July 26th (Friday)

July 27th (Saturday)

July 28th(Sunday)

July 29th (Monday)

  • To be announced

    We invite you to check it out, stay informed, and submit your events to Thousands of Cary Locals!

    👇 Have an Upcoming Event?👇

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

The Toyota Corolla holds the title of the most popular car model ever sold, with over 44 million units sold worldwide since its introduction in 1966. Renowned for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and affordability, the Corolla has consistently attracted a wide range of buyers. Its global appeal stems from Toyota's commitment to quality and the vehicle's adaptability to various markets.

Over the decades, the Corolla has evolved through numerous redesigns, incorporating modern technology and safety features while maintaining its core attributes that consumers value.

For more detailed information about the Toyota Corolla, including its history and current models, you can visit the official Toyota Corolla website.