Cary Spotlight | Issue #670

Amberly Neighborhood Spotlight, Teachers Push for Urgent HVAC Repairs, 2025 Pollinator Census This Weekend


🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• ❤️ Discover Cary: Amberly Blends Nature, Amenities, and Convenience
• 📰 News: Wake County Teachers Push for Urgent HVAC Repairs
• 📰 News: North Carolinians Begin 2025 Pollinator Census This Weekend
• 📰 Scrollback: Support and Skepticism Meet Cary’s New Bike Safety Measure
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Just for laughs
• ❤️ Some stories are worth revisiting: Show Your Support
• 📅 Events: Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

👉 Browse the highlights. Click your favorites.

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Question: In which U.S. state is it a misdemeanor to hunt with a ferret?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

KinderCare Supports Early Learning in Cary

3460 Ten-Ten Rd Suite #118, Cary, NC 27518

For families who live or work in Cary, NC, KinderCare offers seven convenient locations—so whether your commute takes you down Kildaire Farm Road, Chapel Hill Road, NC-55, or somewhere in between, there’s a center near your home or workplace that’s ready to welcome your child. It’s not about finding “just another daycare”—it’s about discovering a community where your child can thrive.

Just curious…We’re spotlighting early education options in Cary and nearby. Tell us which center is nearest your home or workplace:

Which KinderCare Location Is Closest to You?

Click to cast your vote

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Amberly Blends Nature, Amenities, and Convenience

Amberly, located in west Cary, is among North Carolina’s largest master-planned communities. Spread across 1,100 acres, it includes more than 5,000 residences, commercial space, and a central lake, all linked by a system of greenways. The community is designed to balance convenience with outdoor living, placing parks, schools, and shopping within easy reach.

A standout feature is the Residents Club, which offers fitness facilities, indoor and outdoor pools, and gathering spaces for events. Families benefit from proximity to highly rated schools such as Mills Park Middle and Panther Creek High, while active adults have dedicated neighborhoods like Carolina Preserve.

Amberly’s outdoor amenities are extensive. The Morris Branch Greenway and Amberly Lake Loop connect residents to parks and natural spaces, while preserved wetlands and meadows enhance the area’s appeal. Community life is active, with events, clubs, and recreational programs organized year-round.

For professionals and travelers, Amberly’s location is particularly convenient. RDU Airport is a 15–20 minute drive, and downtown Raleigh and Research Triangle Park are within half an hour. This mix of accessibility, strong community design, and lifestyle amenities has made Amberly a leading choice for families and newcomers to the Triangle.

Read more in Cary Spotlight: Extra - About Amberly Cary NC

Which feature of Amberly would matter most to you if you lived there?

Click to cast your vote

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Do you have a favorite place to eat in Cary, NC? Click to share your pick.

 Wake County Teachers Push for Urgent HVAC Repairs

As the new school year begins, Wake County educators are urging swift action on widespread building maintenance issues. Faulty HVAC systems have forced schools to close classrooms and left students struggling in overheated learning environments.

The North Carolina Association of Educators is calling for detailed accounting of building repair needs, including HVAC systems, roof leaks, and mold remediation. The group argues that the county’s proposed $700 million bond would not be sufficient to cover the scope of problems facing the district’s 203 schools.

District officials acknowledge the challenges but say they cannot provide precise cost estimates until the state completes a facilities assessment, expected in January. For now, officials stress that any figures are only rough estimates.

Alongside infrastructure concerns, the district is also studying teacher vacancies, including pay and staffing levels needed to keep pace with its size as one of the nation’s largest school systems. Read Full Story

🦋🐝 North Carolinians Begin 2025 Pollinator Census This Weekend

The 2025 Southeast Pollinator Census kicks off today and continues through Sunday, inviting North Carolinians to take part in a citizen science project that tracks pollinator activity. The event, led by NC State Extension and regional partners, asks participants to spend 15 minutes observing a single plant and recording the number and types of pollinators that visit.

For the first time, the census will run for three days. The additional day on Sunday was added to ensure participants along the coast can still take part even if weather interferes earlier in the weekend. Organized public events across the state will provide tally sheets, instructions, and guidance for anyone who wants to join.

Families are encouraged to participate, with youth-friendly tally sheets available. Each observation contributes valuable data to researchers studying pollinator populations across the Southeast, while also raising public awareness about the vital role these insects play in agriculture and ecosystems.

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

Support and Skepticism Meet Cary’s New Bike Safety Measure

The Cary Spotlight reader poll reveals a divided response to Cary’s installation of a green bike box at Walnut Street and Cary Towne Boulevard. Supporters, including many drivers, view it as a step toward improving safety and traffic flow. Cyclists who plan to use it see potential benefits in having greater visibility at intersections.

Skeptics, however, raised significant concerns about safety. Several respondents argued that bike boxes may create confusion for both drivers and cyclists, potentially putting riders in greater danger when lights change. Questions about driver compliance and awareness were recurring themes among those opposed.

The initiative reflects Cary’s broader push to encourage biking and reduce traffic conflicts, particularly during large events such as Lazy Daze. Town officials have noted that the bike box is intended to reduce collisions caused by vehicles turning across cyclists’ paths.

The poll results underscore the need for public education about how bike boxes function, as well as continued monitoring to determine whether they effectively improve safety. Explore Cary’s bike safety ideas

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: Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival 9AM-5PM
• Today: CaryLIVE!: Squirrel Nut Zippers 7:30PM-9:30PM
• Sunday: Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival 9AM-5PM
• Sunday: UB40: The Relentless Tour 2025 6PM
• Monday: Carnivorous Plants – Plants that Bite Back  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 👇👇👇
In West Virginia, it is actually a misdemeanor to use a ferret while hunting. According to §20-2-5(a)(12) of the West Virginia Code, attempting to “hunt, catch, take, kill, injure, or pursue a wild animal or wild bird with the use of a ferret” is prohibited. This unusual law highlights how specific state regulations can be when it comes to animal use in hunting.