Cary Spotlight | Issue #612

Cary Council to Finalize Budget Tonight, Come Dance Under the Stars, The Mama Edna Project


🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• ❤️ Discover Cary: The Mama Edna Project
• 📰 News: Cary Council to Finalize Budget Tonight
• 📰 News: Free Swing Dance Under the Stars
• 😄 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 fruit has its seeds on the outside?

(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.

The Mama Edna Project

Summary

In this inspiring episode of Cary Spotlight Connect, host Dr. Chris Coetzer sits down with Cary local Drew Klutz, who recently left a 42-year career in retail to launch a nonprofit with heart: The Mama Edna Project. Named in honor of his late mother-in-law—known for her generosity—the project runs a men’s-focused thrift shop where vintage finds, kitchen goods, furniture, and more are sold to help fight hunger in the Triangle.

If you’ve got gently used goods—or just want to shop with a purpose—this episode will show how your home items can help stock community fridges, support school food programs, and build a more food-secure Cary.

Keywords: Cary Spotlight, nonprofit, community service, thrift shop, food security, Cary North Carolina, Mama Edna Project, charity, partnerships, local impact, donations

📢 Quotable Moments

“We’re not a food pantry. We’re more like a cash flow for other food pantries and food assistance programs in the community.”

“Every sale goes to feeding somebody in the community. So once we clear our rent for the month, everything else goes into feeding the mission.”

Drew Klutz

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • The mission behind the Mama Edna Project and how it honors one woman’s legacy of giving

  • How the thrift shop model is helping fund local hunger relief efforts

  • Why Drew focuses on men’s clothing, furniture, tools, and small home appliances

  • The powerful network of nonprofit partnerships they’ve built—and how you’re part of the solution

  • How YOU can donate, shop, or spread the word during Earth Month and beyond

Got gently used furniture, tools, or kitchen gadgets? Instead of tossing them out, donate them to the Mama Edna Project and turn your pre-loved goods into meals for neighbors in need. Want to shop instead? Every purchase supports local hunger relief programs.

Mama Edna’s Thrift Shop

📍 1393 Maynard Rd SE Cary, NC 27511 | ☎ 919- 649-0678
🌐 The Mama Edna Project | Facebook Page

We’d love to hear from you! Let us know how aware you are of the Mama Edna Project, a Cary-based nonprofit thrift shop that funds food security programs across the Triangle:

The Mama Edna Project

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

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Cary Council to Finalize Budget Tonight

The Cary Town Council will vote tonight on the FY2026 budget, concluding a months-long process that included public hearings and community input. The proposed $508 million plan includes a 1.5-cent property tax increase, a $2 monthly rise in solid waste fees, and a 4% hike in utility rates. No new positions or major service expansions are included.

At the June 12 meeting, councilmembers emphasized Cary’s commitment to inclusion by recognizing Juneteenth and proclaiming June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. They also honored the legacy of longtime news anchor Charlie Gaddy and approved the renaming of a portion of Green Level West Road to High House Road, effective in early 2026.

Public feedback was mixed, with some residents applauding visible returns on tax spending while others raised concerns over transparency and rising costs. Tonight’s meeting will finalize these decisions, shaping Cary’s direction for the next fiscal year.

Free Swing Dance Under the Stars

Cary's Discover Dance series returns on June 27 with a swing-themed evening at the Downtown Cary Park’s Great Lawn Pavilion. The event will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and features instruction in swing dance styles like 1920s Charleston, six-count swing, Vernacular Jazz, and Lindy Charleston. Leading the session are Joel and Jackie Plys of Retro Rhythm, who have been teaching swing together since 2012.

Joel Plys is an internationally recognized dance instructor with hall of fame honors from Camp Hollywood and the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame. Since relocating to North Carolina in 2021, the couple has become active in the local dance community, offering classes at venues like the Cary Arts Center and collaborating with the Triangle Swing Dance Society.

In addition to dancing, the evening is part of the Cary Art Loop and will include local artwork, crafts, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. The event is free, open to the public, and welcomes attendees of all ages. Accessibility accommodations are available upon request to ensure an inclusive experience for all guests. Get Event Info

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

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🎟️ Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information. Here are a few ideas for the week, so plan ahead:

• Today: Speed Puzzling in the Park 6PM-9PM
• Today: Town Council Meeting (Regular) 6:30PM-8:30PM
• Friday: Discover Dance: Swing Session 7:30PM-9:30PM
• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-12PM
• Saturday: CaryLIVE!: Dustbowl Revival 7:30PM-9:30PM

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

The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
The strawberry is unique among fruits because its seeds are on the outside. In fact, the tiny yellow specks you see on the surface are each called an achene, and each one is technically a separate fruit with its own seed inside. Unlike most fruits, where seeds develop inside the flesh, strawberries flip the script—making them a botanical oddity as well as a delicious treat.