Cary Spotlight | Issue #417

What to Know About Holiday Shipping Deadlines, Rising AI Use in Classrooms, Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar Review

In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

😀 Meme of the Day

📰 Wake County Schools Address Rising AI Use in Classrooms

📰 Cary Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Daycare Children

📰 Planning Ahead: What to Know About Holiday Shipping Deadlines

😋🍴 Discover Cary (Restaurants): Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar Review

❤️ You’re So Sweet: Thank You, Beth!

☀️ Cary NC Weather

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

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

Question: What happened on Friday, March 13, 2020, that had global significance?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

Discover Bee Banhmi, a local business sponsor of Cary Spotlight. They do catering, online ordering, home delivery and in-store. Great food made with quality ingredients.

“Dined with you today and had forgotten how fresh your ingredients are and how tasty the food is! Thanks for making me feel like I am visiting Family when I come in to eat. Friendly staff welcomes you in and eagerly share their knowledge about the choices to ensure you get exactly what you want/need! Love Bee BanhMi!” ~Lorraine Cross

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Wake County Schools Address Rising AI Use in Classrooms

Wakefield High School Principal Malik Bazzell has informed parents about a growing challenge in education: the misuse of artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT by students. This trend, which involves submitting AI-generated assignments, is complicating teachers’ efforts to evaluate students’ writing and critical thinking abilities. The issue reflects a broader concern among educators in Wake County, who note that AI-generated work often stands out due to its sophisticated language.

To combat misuse, some teachers, like Kristen Jackson, have shifted to traditional paper-and-pencil assignments. At the same time, educators acknowledge the positive potential of AI as a learning tool. Both Bazzell and Jackson emphasize the importance of teaching students to use AI responsibly rather than banning it outright.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has developed guidelines and training to help teachers incorporate AI literacy into their curricula. These efforts aim to equip students with the skills they need in an increasingly AI-driven world while maintaining academic integrity in schools.

Wakefield High is navigating this evolving landscape by balancing the need for honest academic work with the realities of advancing technology. Read Full Report

The Role of AI in Education

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Cary Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Daycare Children

A Cary man, Kevin Edral Douglas, has pleaded guilty to one count of threatening children through a federal cybertip line, as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. Arrested in November 2023, Douglas made alarming threats against children at a daycare and high-profile politicians. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, he was declared incompetent to stand trial earlier this year but later reassessed.

Douglas has a history of threatening behavior, including a 2016 conviction for threatening violence at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. The remaining charges, including threats against Vice President Kamala Harris and others, will be dismissed at his sentencing in March 2025. The case has heightened community concerns about safety and mental health interventions. Read Full Report 

Credit: WRAL

Planning Ahead: What to Know About Holiday Shipping Deadlines

As holiday shoppers rush to send gifts, a recent shipping test compared UPS, FedEx, and USPS to determine which carrier delivers the fastest. Packages were sent from Raleigh to Arizona on December 2, with costs ranging from $13.09 (USPS) to $30.47 (FedEx). Delivery promises were also varied, with USPS predicting the earliest arrival (December 6), followed by FedEx (December 7) and UPS (December 10).

The results, however, were unexpected. FedEx delivered a day early, UPS arrived a day late, and USPS was four days behind its estimate. Despite the delays, all items arrived intact.

Shoppers are reminded of shipping deadlines for economy options: December 13 for FedEx, December 16 for UPS, and December 18 for USPS. Last-minute shipping is available but comes with steep costs, such as FedEx’s $200-plus overnight delivery fee on December 23. The findings underscore the importance of planning ahead to avoid holiday shipping stress. Read Full Report

Just curious…

How far in advance do you usually ship your holiday gifts?

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Credit: Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar

Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar Review

Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar is one of the eateries that was nominated by the Cary Spotlight’s readers for our Discover Cary Giveaway. If you had a chance to sample their food, feel free to share your opinion below. Here are the results from our last reader poll (see below).

Check out their menu on their website: Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar

Reader Poll Results (Issue # 340)

Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar Review (8 Votes)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Love this place! (6)
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 😊😊😊 I have never been there but I might give it a try (1) 7 Votes


Cary Spotlight Readers’ Feedback:

“Great place, excellent food and the atmosphere is outstanding. Our wedding was held there and it was a huge success. Margie and Will are the owner operators who focus on the customer with help from the delightful staff. ”

“The food at Maximillians is fantastic. My favorites are the Korean Beef and Voodoo Tuna. They have a great wine and cocktail list. Max's is a wonderful restaurant.”

Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar

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You’re So Sweet: Thank You, Beth!

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Check out our huge list of fun holiday events

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.

December 13th (Friday)

December 14th (Saturday)

December 15th (Sunday)

December 16th (Monday)

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

Many countries began lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday, March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency because of the growing COVID-19 pandemic. This allowed the government to use special resources to fight the virus. At the same time, many countries around the world started lockdowns and strict rules to stop the virus from spreading, leading to widespread societal and economic disruptions. These actions showed how serious the situation was and how important it was to act quickly to protect people’s health.

For a detailed account of the events on that day, you can refer to CNN's live updates from March 13, 2020: CNN Live Updates