Cary Spotlight | Issue #656

NC Triangle BNI, Cary Seeks Volunteers for Festival, Photos of Olive Chapel Road Sinkhole


🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• ❤️ Discover Cary: NC Triangle BNI
• 📰 News: Cary Seeks Volunteers for 49th Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival
• 📰 Scrollback: Heavy Rain Washes Out Olive Chapel Road in Apex
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Just for laughs
• 🏪 Support Cary Spotlight: If you enjoyed this newsletter
• 📅 Events:  Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

👉 Browse the highlights. Click your favorites.

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Question: What is the main benefit of herd immunity?

(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.

NC Triangle BNI

🎙️ Cary Spotlight Connect – Episode Title:
"Referrals That Work: Stephen Hand on the BNI Business Growth System”

🎧 Host: Dr. Chris Coetzer
🎤 Guest: Stephen Hand, Executive Director at Business Network International
(NC Triangle & NC Coastal BNI)

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Chris sits down with Stephen Hand to explore how BNI (Business Network International) helps business owners grow through the power of structured, consistent referrals. Stephen oversees 46 counties across eastern North Carolina — from Chapel Hill to the coast — and shares why BNI’s system produces higher-quality leads than traditional advertising.

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Keywords: BNI, business networking, referral marketing, NC Triangle, power teams, word of mouth, lead generation, small business growth, networking groups, Stephen Hand

📢 Memorable Quotes (Stephen Hand)

“Since if I'm accepting that referral, I'm committing to you that I'm going to take good care of your friend and your customer as well.”

“With practice, you get the right person at the right time for the right reason with the right message.”

“You're really looking for the people that are right for you and you're right for them.”

🔑 Key Takeaways:

From explaining the “know, like, trust” factor to revealing why the best members are often under $10 million in revenue, Stephen walks us through:

  • Why referral-generated leads close more easily than cold outreach.

  • The importance of defining your ideal customer instead of chasing “anybody, everybody.”

  • How BNI chapters are built — one seat per profession — and the concept of “power teams” for collaborative growth.

  • Training and mentorship that help members refine their message and scale when business demand spikes.

  • Real-world examples — from popcorn ceiling removal to custom home building — that show how small referral tweaks can lead to big revenue jumps.

Stephen also offers practical tips for getting started fast in a chapter, finding your fit, and using BNI as a startup or seasoned business owner. His advice? Visit a chapter, meet the members, and see the system in action.

📣 Call to Action:

Experience the power of referral networking for yourself. Visit www.trianglebni.com to find a chapter in the NC Triangle & Coastal region, or search “BNI” + your city to explore chapters near you. Register to visit, make connections, and start building your referral pipeline.

Just curious…

Stephen Hand shared powerful insights on building a business through structured referrals. What would you like to learn more about in future articles?

Which of these topics would you like to hear more about in future?

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 Cary Seeks Volunteers for 49th Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival

The Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival returns to Cary on August 23 and 24, marking its 49th year. Volunteers are needed for various roles, including artist assistance, guest greeting, information sharing, transportation support, and general event operations. Load-in opportunities are available on August 22.

In exchange for their time, volunteers receive a festival T-shirt, complimentary coffee, water, and snacks, and the chance to earn community service hours. Their efforts also help the town reduce staffing expenses, allowing $40,000 in grants to be distributed to local nonprofit organizations.

The festival will feature over 250 artists, live performances on four stages, and a wide range of food and beverage offerings, including a beer garden and the Lazy Lounge. Kid Daze activities will return with hands-on projects and a new Kid Collectors Market where children can purchase small artworks directly from participating artists.

Volunteer registration is open through Cary’s Rosterfy system, and the event will take place on the Cary Town Hall Campus in downtown Cary from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Are you planning on going to this local event?

Click to cast your vote

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We’re rewinding the feed to spotlight a standout moment, story, or snapshot from Cary’s past. Let’s scroll back and see…

Heavy Rain Washes Out Olive Chapel Road in Apex

Credit: North Carolina's Weather Authority

A powerful storm dropped up to 7 inches of rain across southwest Wake County, causing Beaver Creek in Apex to overflow and erode the ground beneath Olive Chapel Road. The resulting collapse has left a gaping washout in the pavement, making the road impassable.

State and local crews have secured the area and begun damage assessments. Given the scale of repairs needed, officials estimate the closure will last until November 26. Motorists are being urged to take alternate routes to avoid delays.

The incident serves as another reminder of how severe weather can disrupt transportation networks and cause long-lasting infrastructure challenges in the region.

Just curious…The closure of Olive Chapel Road in Apex is expected to last until late November. How will this affect your travel plans?

How will closure of Olive Chapel Road in Apex affect your travel plans?

Click to cast your vote

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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: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-Noon
• Today: North Carolina FC vs Tampa Bay Rowdies (Home Game) 7:30PM
• Monday: Drop-in Puzzling and Puzzle Swap Meet 9AM-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

The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
Herd immunity occurs when a large enough portion of a population becomes immune to a disease—either through vaccination or prior infection—making its spread unlikely. The main benefit is that it protects those who cannot be vaccinated, such as newborns, individuals with certain medical conditions, or those with weakened immune systems. By reducing the overall presence of the disease, herd immunity creates a protective barrier for the most vulnerable members of society.