🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 🍽️ Discover Cary: Herons
• 📰 News: Cary’s Splash Pads and Spraygrounds Now Open
• 📰 News: Cary Vet Offers Free Services to Military Families
• 📰 News: 2025 Hurricane Outlook: Above-Average Storms
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Just for laughs
• 🏪 Support Local: Small biz to check out and coffee tips
• 📅 Events: Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

👉 Browse the highlights. Skip to your favorites.

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Question: Which branch of the military is traditionally honored with a 21-gun salute on Memorial Day?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

Trust and Local Awareness

Discover how Cary Spotlight Connect, a free podcast, helps local businesses in Cary share their story with an engaged audience.

Herons

Herons is one of the local food places nominated by Cary Spotlight’s readers for our Discover Cary project. If you had a chance to sample their food, feel free to share your opinion below.

Herons, located within The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, NC, is a Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond restaurant offering refined American cuisine crafted from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, all served in an elegant dining room adorned with original artwork and floor-to-ceiling garden views.

Check out their menu on their website: Herons

Address: The Umstead Hotel and Spa, 100 Woodland Pond Dr, Cary, NC 27513 | Get Directions

Cary’s Splash Pads and
Spraygrounds Now Open

Cary has officially launched its 2025 splash season with water features now open across town. Jack Smith Park offers a sprayground tailored for kids under 12, open daily from morning to evening with monthly maintenance closures. In Downtown Cary Park, families can enjoy the Sprayground at Academy Plaza, while The Nest’s Splash Pad remains closed for repairs.

For more relaxed cooling-off options, Cary’s misting stations blend art and refreshment. These are located at Marla Dorrell Park and Neighborhood Park on Carpenter Fire Station Road. With a variety of outdoor water play spaces, Cary continues to provide safe and fun ways for residents to enjoy the summer heat.

Before you go, always check the status at carync.gov/sprayground

Cary Vet Offers Free Services
to Military Families

Dr. Lauren Hughes, a house call veterinarian based in Cary, is honoring Memorial Day by waiving her in-home exam visit fees for veterans and military families. Through her mobile practice, part of the Heal House Call Veterinarian network, Dr. Hughes delivers wellness exams, diagnostics, chronic condition management, and end-of-life care directly to clients’ homes.

Her services are especially valuable for seniors, people with limited mobility, and multi-pet households who may struggle with traditional clinic visits.

Her commitment to making veterinary care more accessible recently earned her a grant from The Dave and Cheryl Duffield Foundation and Petopia.org—supporting her mission to serve underserved communities. Dr. Hughes is one of only two veterinarians in North Carolina to receive this type of funding, which helps expand mobile vet care to those who need it most.

To schedule a house call visit or learn more, go to: healhousecall.com/lhughes

Read Full Story

2025 Hurricane Outlook:
Above-Average Storms

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be more active than usual, with 13 to 19 named storms forecast between June and November. Up to six could become hurricanes, including as many as five major storms. Forecasters cite unusually warm ocean temperatures and a moisture-rich atmosphere — both driven by climate change — as key reasons for the heightened activity.

Most hurricane-related deaths in the U.S. come from flooding rather than wind. Recent storms like Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Ian caused hundreds of deaths and billions in damage, not only along the coast but deep inland. Officials warn that even weaker storms can bring deadly rainfall far from where they make landfall.

This year’s forecast was announced without participation from FEMA, breaking with years of precedent and raising concerns about national readiness. While Homeland Security officials say FEMA is preparing, local leaders are urging residents to review evacuation plans, secure flood insurance, and be ready long before a storm forms.

Read Full Story

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

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🎉 Weekend Events Preview (Top Picks)

Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information. Here are a few great ways to enjoy the weekend:

• Today: Movie Night: Moana 2 6PM-10PM
• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-12PM
• Saturday: Big Top Circus Band 7PM-8:30PM
• Sunday: Adoption Event with Perfectly Imperfect Pups 4PM-6PM
• Sunday: Back to the Future @ DPAC 3PM-9:45PM
• Monday: American Legion Post 67 Memorial Day 10AM

To save space in your inbox, we’ve moved the full list of events online — now you can plan ahead with access to this week and next! See Full 2-Week Calendar