Cary Spotlight | Issue #424

Gun Violence in Cary, Peer Respite Center Opens, Cary Announces Holiday Closures

In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

😀 Meme of the Day

❤️ Congratulations to Our Cary Spotlight Winners!

📰 Gun Violence in Cary: Berry Chase Way Incident Under Investigation

📰 Innovative Crisis Care: Peer Respite Center Opens in Wake County

📰 Cary Announces Holiday Closures and Trash Collection Shifts

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

🧭 Discover Cary (Non-Profits): CANINE Companions

☀️ Cary NC Weather

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

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

Question: In what famous archaeological site does the Winter Solstice align with a specific feature, drawing visitors annually?

(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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Meme of the Day.
Brought to you by Cary's Daily Newsletter.

What’s faster than word of mouth? Cary Spotlight! Keeps you updated on what is going on locally and connects businesses to our vibrant community.

Who else do you know in Cary who might also want enjoy reading the Cary Spotlight?

This is what the winter solstice will look like on Saturday in Fairbanks, Alaska. (Photo Credit: Todd Paris/University of Alaska Fairbanks)

Meme-o-meter

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Congratulations to Our
Cary Spotlight Winners!

Thank you to everyone who shared why you love reading Cary Spotlight—we’re truly inspired by your kind words! We’ve randomly selected 3 lucky winners from the entries.

If your name is on the list below, email [email protected] with your shipping address by December 21, 2024, to claim your gift.

Thank you for being part of the Cary Spotlight community!

Gun Violence in Cary: Berry Chase Way Incident Under Investigation

The tranquility of a residential Cary street was disrupted Thursday evening when a woman was injured in a shooting that prompted an active police investigation. The incident occurred in the 500 block of Berry Chase Way, where officers responded to reports of gunfire and discovered the victim suffering from two gunshot wounds.

Emergency responders transported the woman to a nearby medical facility for treatment. As of Thursday night, her condition remains undisclosed.

Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting or potential suspects. The Cary Police Department has encouraged anyone with information to step forward as they work to piece together the events leading up to the incident.

Residents of this suburban neighborhood are left grappling with the unsettling news as law enforcement intensifies efforts to ensure community safety. Read Full Report

Innovative Crisis Care: Peer Respite Center Opens in Wake County

Wake County has unveiled its first Peer Respite Center, a groundbreaking facility designed to offer a compassionate alternative for those experiencing mental health, behavioral, or substance abuse crises. The initiative, spearheaded by NC DHHS and the Promise Resource Network, aims to alleviate the strain on hospitals by providing short-term care in a welcoming, less restrictive environment.

Equipped with a kitchen, communal areas, and bedrooms, the center creates a home-like atmosphere where individuals can find comfort and care. Peer support specialists are available 24/7, ensuring personalized assistance for those in distress.

The opening of the center comes as Wake County launches a new behavioral health department focused on reducing unnecessary hospitalizations. By addressing crises earlier and in a more suitable setting, the program seeks to bridge critical gaps in the mental health care system. As one of three peer respite centers in North Carolina, this facility represents a significant milestone in the state's approach to behavioral health care. Read Full Report 

Cary Announces Holiday Closures
and Trash Collection Shifts

The Town of Cary has announced its holiday schedule, including closures and adjusted services for Christmas and New Year’s. Town Hall and most staffed facilities, including community and recreation centers, will close from December 24 to December 26 for Christmas and on January 1.

Trash collection will shift one day later for Wednesday and Thursday routes during both holiday weeks, while Monday and Tuesday schedules remain unchanged. The Citizen’s Convenience Center will operate limited hours on December 24 and close on December 25 and January 1.

GoCary will halt services on Christmas Day, and on New Year’s Day, fixed routes will follow a Sunday schedule with limited door-to-door services. Downtown Cary Park and Hemlock Bluffs will stay open, though Downtown Cary Park services will close December 24-26 and January 1, with early closure on New Year’s Eve. Cary Tennis Park courts will remain open, but the clubhouse will observe restricted hours.

Residents can enjoy the Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheatre through January 12, except on Christmas Day. For sustainable holiday cleanup, natural trees can be placed curbside after decoration removal, and artificial decorations are encouraged for donation before bulky waste pickup. Read Cary Holiday Schedule

Just curious…

What’s your favorite Cary holiday activity?

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

Most publications (some people might think of newspapers) 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. Thank you for your feedback. Simply Click the link to view the correction.

  1. Issue #423: Trivia Question: The trivia question of the day should have been "What is the tallest waterfall in the world?" to match the answer. We promptly fixed this error in online edition by posting the correct question.

  2. Issue #423: CANINE Companions (NOT K-9): We corrected our Cary Spotlight Connect podcast entry. It was originally transcribed from the audio file of the podcast recording as K-9.

Do you have a story to tell about your business? Join the Cary Spotlight Connect podcast and introduce your business to our local audience—all in a quick, casual phone call!

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This is your chance to connect with the Cary community and share what makes your business unique—all for FREE.

Credit: CANINE Companions

CANINE Companions

CANINE Companions is one of the local charities nominated by Cary Spotlight’s readers for our Discover Cary Giveaway. If you’ve experienced the impact of CANINE Companions’ work firsthand or know someone who has, we’d love to hear your story.

This is a Cary-based nonprofit providing expertly trained service dogs to empower people with disabilities, fostering greater independence and confidence.

Learn more about the essential services they provide on their website.

CANINE Companions

Click to share 3 things you love about this charity or recommend a way people can support their mission!

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Want to nominate a local charity? Then fill out the form with your nominations.

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 20th (Friday)

December 21st (Saturday)

December 22th (Sunday)

December 23th (Monday)

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

Stonehenge, located in Wiltshire, England, is a world-famous archaeological site where the Winter Solstice holds special significance. Each year, visitors gather to witness the sunrise aligning with the ancient stones, a phenomenon thought to have been important to the site's builders thousands of years ago.

This alignment showcases the advanced astronomical understanding of prehistoric cultures and continues to be a focal point for modern celebrations and research.