🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 🍽️ Discover Cary: Colletta
• 📰 News: Town Council Clears Way for 750 New Homes in Waverly Place Plan
• 📰 News: Cary’s Top Memorial Day Plan?
• 🎖️ News: North Carolina’s Medal of Honor Legacy
• 😄 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 flower is traditionally worn to honor fallen soldiers?

(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.

Colletta

Colletta 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.

Colletta in Cary, NC, is a polished yet inviting Italian restaurant at Fenton, offering house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and family-style dishes crafted from seasonal ingredients in a warm, modern setting.

Check out their menu on their website: Colletta

Address: 1 Fenton Main St Suite 170, Cary, NC 27511 | Get Directions

Town Council Clears Way for 750 New Homes in Waverly Place Plan

The Cary Town Council’s May 22 meeting touched on both long-term planning and local celebration. The most notable vote was a 7-0 decision to approve the rezoning of a portion of Waverly Place, allowing for dense residential and commercial development in a move aimed at modernizing the site and increasing housing options.

The plan includes pedestrian upgrades and a cap on the percentage of large units to encourage diversity in housing size and affordability.

The meeting opened with proclamations honoring ALS Awareness Month and recognizing the 25th anniversary of the beloved Kids Together Playground. Council also approved several consent agenda items, including a property exchange with Duke Energy for GoCary access, a technical zoning correction, and a new license agreement with Verizon Wireless to upgrade infrastructure.

A packed public comment session brought diverse perspectives from residents, and a budget hearing invited further community feedback ahead of the final vote in June.

Did you miss last night's Cary Town Council meeting? Check out the action agenda for a recap

Cary’s Top Memorial Day Plan?

For many Cary residents, Memorial Day weekend isn’t just about travel or tradition. It’s a time to pause. In our recent Cary Spotlight poll (Issue #577), readers shared their Memorial Day weekend plans — and the top answer might surprise you.

The most popular response? Staying in and taking it easy, with 9 out of 31 votes (29%). Close behind, Backyard BBQs or cookouts with family and friends and Outdoor adventures like hiking, biking, or camping were also popular choices, each earning a strong showing.

Other responses reflected the diversity of how the community marks the long weekend. Some planned to honor veterans at memorial services, while others hoped to catch up on house projects or attend local events and festivals. A few opted for travel out of town, signaling the start of summer with a change of scenery.

No matter the plan, the poll revealed a simple truth: for Cary residents, Memorial Day is about finding balance—whether through reflection, connection, or rest.

Thanks to everyone who voted — your responses help us keep Cary Spotlight connected to how locals really live!

North Carolina’s Medal of Honor Legacy: Honoring the Heroes

The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest military decoration, awarded for acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty.

After reviewing available records, there is no documented Medal of Honor recipient born in or directly connected to Cary, North Carolina, or the broader Triangle area. However, North Carolina has produced several notable Medal of Honor recipients from other regions of the state.

Notable Medal of Honor Recipients from North Carolina

• Eugene Ashley Jr. – Born in Wilmington, NC, Ashley served as a U.S. Army Special Forces sergeant during the Vietnam War. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Battle of Lang Vei in 1968.

• William D. Halyburton Jr. – A native of Canton, NC, Halyburton was a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his gallantry during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II.

• Bryant H. Womack – Born in Mill Spring, NC, Womack was a U.S. Army medic who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Korean War.

For a comprehensive list of Medal of Honor recipients from North Carolina, you can visit the North Carolina Medal of Honor Recipients page

Just curious…

Meme of the Day.
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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: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-12PM
• Today: 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