🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:

• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 🎂 Discover Cary: Cary Spotlight Turns 2 Today!
• 📰 News: State Fair Trades Admission for Food Donations
• 📰 News: Changes to Cary’s Election Process
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Just for laughs
• 🎁 Support the businesses that support Cary: Show your support
• 📅 Events: Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

👉 Browse the highlights. Click your favorites.

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Question: What is the motto featured on Cary’s official town seal?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

🎂 Cary Spotlight Turns 2 Today!

Two years ago today — October 24, 2023 — we hit “send” on our very first edition of Cary Spotlight. Since that morning, we’ve shown up every single day without missing one. Rain or shine, holiday or headline, you’ve opened your inbox to a little slice of Cary — and we couldn’t be more grateful.

You’ve made Cary Spotlight what it is: a daily ritual, a local lifeline, and a place where neighbors feel more connected to the community we all love.

Over these two years, together we’ve:
☀️ Shared more than 700 daily editions — each one celebrating the best of Cary.
📅 Covered thousands of local events — so no one ever has to ask “What’s happening this weekend?”
🧠 Started every day with The Trivia Hook — the fun way to wake up your brain and learn something new.
🏡 Tracked home values and local real estate trends every Monday morning.
🍜 Explored hidden gems and hometown favorites through Discover Cary.
🎧 Chatted with changemakers on Cary Spotlight Connect, our backyard-style podcast.
❤️ Supported local causes and small businesses that make Cary stronger.
🗳️ Heard your voices through daily polls and Scroll Back Saturdays — because what matters most to you, matters to us.

We built Cary Spotlight on one simple promise: to show up daily for the people who show up for Cary.

And we love how reader Joanne Schultz once put it: “I always laugh that your unsubscribe button is very visible in your newsletters. Got an email from another mailing list today — check out their invisible unsubscribe!”

That’s the spirit of this community. People stay because they care. Because they see that we care — about you, your neighborhood, your story, and your town.

Thank you for reading, clicking, sharing, and cheering us on for two amazing years. Here’s to the next chapter — filled with more stories, more smiles, and more reasons to be proud to call Cary home.

With joyful gratitude,

Chris Coetzer, PhD
Founder & Publisher, Cary Spotlight
— Still shining bright, every single day.

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

State Fair Trades Admission for Food Donations

On Thursday, the North Carolina State Fair welcomed guests who donated six non-perishable food items, allowing them to enter the fair for free as part of its annual Hunger Relief Day. This event, hosted in partnership with Smithfield Foods and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, sought to collect enough food to provide 150,000 meals.

The food drive came at a critical time. The Food Bank reported the highest demand for assistance in a generation, driven in part by the ongoing federal government shutdown and uncertainty around the future of programs like SNAP and WIC. These programs typically provide significantly more meals than food banks can supply, raising concerns about a widening gap in food access.

The initiative helped raise awareness about food insecurity while offering fairgoers a meaningful way to give back. Final donation totals were pending, but last year’s campaign provided enough for 175,000 meals, setting a strong precedent for community engagement.

Hunger Relief Day remains a key part of the fair’s public service efforts, combining civic participation with one of the state's most beloved events.

2025 NC State Fair Info | State Fair Discount & Deals

Just curious…

Changes to Cary’s Election Process

Cary has adopted the plurality method for municipal elections starting in 2025, eliminating runoff votes and allowing the candidate with the highest number of votes to win outright. The change was passed by the Town Council in August 2024 and will apply to the election scheduled for November 4, 2025. No public petitions were filed to challenge the decision, so the new method takes effect without a referendum.

Municipal elections in Cary occur in odd-numbered years, with staggered terms for Councilmembers. In 2025, voters will elect representatives for Districts A and C, as well as one of two at-large Council seats. The mayor, the other two district representatives (Districts B and D), and the second at-large member are elected in alternating cycles.

Cary’s Council consists of seven members, including the mayor, two at-large seats, and four district seats. District members must live in the areas they represent and are chosen only by voters within those districts. The most recent redistricting, completed in November 2021, adjusted district boundaries to reflect population changes from the 2020 census.

With the new election format and updated district lines in place, Cary’s residents can expect a more streamlined voting process starting in 2025.

Resources

See all Town Councilmembers.
Read more about Town Council elections procedure.
Search for your Council District in our interactive district map.
Wake County Board of Elections
Chatham County Board of Elections
Durham County Board of Elections

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

What’s faster than word of mouth? Cary Spotlight! Keeps you updated on what is going on locally and connects businesses to our vibrant community.

🎟️ 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:

• Friday: Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park 4PM-7PM
• Friday: Zombiepalooza 6PM-9PM
• Friday: Dia de Muertos Celebration 6PM-10PM
• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-Noon
• Saturday: Downtown Scary Park: Haunted Hotel 2PM-10:30PM
• Saturday: Movie Night: Double Feature 6PM-10PM
• Sunday: Cornhole Tournament in the Park 1PM-5PM
• Sunday: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! 3PM-4:30PM
• Monday: Haunted Nature 3PM-4PM

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