Cary Spotlight | Issue #340

Father Pleads Guilty in Gun Storage Case, NC Braces for Hurricane Helene, Asia Fest Kicks Off with Culture & Cuisine

In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

😀 Quote of the Day

📰 Gun Storage Failures Lead to Guilty Plea for Father of Accused Raleigh Shooter

📰 North Carolina Prepares for Hurricane Helene’s Catastrophic Flooding

📰 9th Annual Asia Fest: A Day of Dragon Boat Racing, Culture, and Global Cuisine

😋🍴 Savor Cary: Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar

☀️ Cary NC Weather

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

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

Question: Which sea creature has no brain or heart? 

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

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Gun Storage Failures Lead to Guilty Plea for Father of Accused Raleigh Shooter

Alan Thompson, the father of accused mass shooter Austin Thompson, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for failing to securely store a firearm. His improperly stored 9mm handgun was used by his 15-year-old son Austin in the deadly Hedingham mass shooting in Raleigh in October 2022, where five people were killed and two others injured. Alan appeared emotionally shaken in a Wake County courtroom as the victims' names were read aloud.

The court heard details about the day of the shooting, including phone conversations Alan had with his son Austin that seemed normal, giving no signs of the tragedy that was unfolding.

It wasn’t until later that Alan learned his eldest son James had been killed and that Austin was the shooter. As part of a plea agreement, Alan will serve one year of unsupervised probation, with a suspended 45-day jail sentence. The larger case against Austin Thompson, who faces multiple homicide charges, is still pending. Read Full Report 

North Carolina Prepares for Hurricane Helene’s Catastrophic Flooding

North Carolina is mobilizing emergency resources as Hurricane Helene approaches, bringing the threat of catastrophic flooding to the state’s western and central regions.

Governor Roy Cooper has activated 175 soldiers and airmen from the North Carolina National Guard, while swift water rescue and urban search and rescue teams have been deployed statewide. The storm is expected to dump more than a foot of rain in some areas, with mountainous regions at particular risk for landslides, flash flooding, and debris flows. Localized states of emergency have been declared in 18 counties, and a statewide emergency declaration remains in effect.

The state’s Department of Public Safety is monitoring dams across North Carolina, and power companies like Duke Energy have crews ready to respond to outages and road closures.

Federal assistance has been approved to support disaster response efforts. Communities in the mountains are bracing for multiple rounds of storms, which could cause significant damage in areas not typically prone to flooding.

To check on road conditions and monitor river gauges throughout the threatening weather event, you can visit Drivenc.gov and FIMANNC.gov. Read Full Report

9th Annual Asia Fest: A Day of Dragon Boat Racing, Culture, and Global Cuisine

The 9th annual Asia Fest (September 28, 2024), also known as the Greater Triangle Dragon Boat Festival, will take place at Koka Booth Amphitheatre on Symphony Lake in Cary, NC. This vibrant event attracts nearly 10,000 visitors each year and offers a thrilling mix of cultural exhibits, performances, and interactive games.

The festival's highlight is the signature dragon boat race, where teams race to the beat of the drums, combining athleticism and ancient traditions. Attendees can also explore nearly 100 exhibits showcasing the richness of Asian culture and enjoy health screenings, interactive games, and unique performances throughout the day.

Asia Fest, organized by the non-profit Asian Focus, aims to bridge cultural and language barriers while celebrating Asian heritage. Visitors can sample a variety of global cuisines, including street foods prepared by local chefs, adding a culinary dimension to the festivities.

The event serves as an opportunity to build connections and experience the diversity of Asian cultures within the Triangle area. Group tickets are available until 12:00 PM on September 27th, and the festival promises to be one of the most exciting fall events in Cary. Get tickets and more information here.

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Credit: Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar

Savor Cary: Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar

Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar is one of the restaurants that was nominated by the Cary Spotlight’s readers for our Savor Cary Giveaway. If you had a chance to sample their food, feel free to share your opinion below. We will share the results of this reader poll in an upcoming issue.

Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar

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Cary Spotlight’s “Savor Cary” giveaway, a new initiative designed to highlight Cary's vibrant dining scene. Subscribers can enter to win a local dining experience by referring new readers to our newsletter.

You can choose from a selection of dining experiences valued at $100 (GrubHub Gift Card). Next drawing: 24 Oct 2024.

Cary Garden Club meets Tuesday, October 1 at the Cary Senior Center. Speaker will be Rufus Edmisten. A dedicated home gardener, Edmisten has co-hosted WPTF radio’s Weekend Gardener for over 10 years. The program airs live for three hours on Saturday mornings.

Edmisten was also NC Attorney General, Secretary of State and counsel on the Senate Watergate Committee.

Come enjoy his anecdotes, gardening tips and exuberant personality. Doors open at 9 AM and the official meeting starts at 9 30. Check out the club website

Meeting location:
Cary Senior Center at Bond Park 120 Maury Odell Pl, Cary, NC 27513

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.

September 27th (Friday)

September 28th (Saturday)

September 29th (Sunday)

September 30th (Monday)

  •  TBA

    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 👇👇👇

Jellyfish are fascinating creatures that have neither a brain nor a heart. Despite their simple structure, they have survived for over 500 million years. Instead of a central brain, jellyfish have a basic network of nerve cells, called a nerve net, that allows them to respond to their environment. They move by pulsing their bell-shaped body and rely on currents to navigate the ocean. Their simplicity is a key to their survival, making them one of the oldest living species on Earth.

For more information about jellyfish, you can visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s page on jellyfish.