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🧭 Here’s what’s in today’s issue:
• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 🍽️ Discover Cary: Academy Street Bistro Review
• 📰 News: Cary Residents Call for Mayor’s Resignation
• 📰 News: Absentee Voting Starts Jan. 12 With Stricter Rules
• 😉 Meme of the Day – Start Your Day with a Smile
• 🎁 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 thin layer of foam appearing on top of an espresso called?
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)
Academy Street Bistro Review
Academy Street Bistro is one of the local food places nominated by Cary Spotlight's readers for our Discover Cary project. If you've had a chance to sample their food, feel free to share your opinion below.
Academy Street Bistro in downtown Cary offers casual fine dining with a unique take on American Italian cuisine, featuring eclectic worldwide dishes made with fresh, local ingredients and all-natural meats in an inviting bistro atmosphere.
Check out their menu on their website: Academy Street Bistro
Address: 200 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511 | Get Directions
Reader Poll Results
Academy Street Bistro (48 Votes)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Love this place! (37)
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 😊😊😊 I might give it a try (11)
Cary Spotlight Reader’s Feedback:
““Love the mussels in white wine sauce and their half price bottle of wine specials. Great service.”
“It's good but too pricey!”
“Great food and service, but the noise level is very high in the main dining area. ”
“The owner Joe, The Wait staff and Bartenders and the mussels!!”
“Great location Very interesting menu Never had anything I didn’t love”
“It’s an intimate atmosphere with personalized service and delicious food. Academy Street Bistro is an awesome dining experience! ””
Academy Street Bistro
Wanna Recommend a Place
to eat in Cary, NC?
We want to hear about it! Cary Spotlight readers are always on the lookout for delicious local gems, and your recommendation could be the next must-try spot in town. Whether it’s a cozy café or a brand-new restaurant with flavors worth sharing, let us know!
Share your favorite finds and help fellow food lovers explore the Cary’s dining scene.
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Cary Residents Call for Mayor’s Resignation
Cary held its first town council meeting of the year following the resignation of Town Manager Sean Stegall, who stepped down in December amid scrutiny over financial mismanagement and transparency issues. Residents packed the meeting to voice their concerns directly to the council and Mayor Harold Weinbrecht.
Several speakers called for the mayor to take responsibility and resign, citing a lack of oversight and growing distrust in town leadership. While some in attendance applauded the calls for change, Mayor Weinbrecht cautioned against public outbursts during the session.
Interim Town Manager Russ Overton addressed the public for the first time in his new role, but many residents said they are withholding judgment until the results of both a state audit and the town’s internal investigation are released. In the meantime, the town has created an online portal to share updates and respond to public records requests.
The developments come as residents seek reassurance that local leaders are taking meaningful steps to restore trust and improve transparency in government operations.
Just curious…
What do you think Cary’s town leadership should prioritize next?
- 1️⃣ Greater transparency and access to financial records
- 2️⃣ Leadership changes, including mayoral accountability
- 3️⃣ Improved internal oversight and staff management
- 4️⃣ Clearer communication with residents during investigations
- 5️⃣ ⏳ I’m waiting for the audit results before deciding
- Other (please specify)
Absentee Voting Starts Jan. 12 With Stricter Rules
Absentee ballots for the 2026 North Carolina primaries will begin going out January 12 to voters who have requested them. The deadline to submit a request is February 17, but election officials are urging voters to act early due to significant changes in voting regulations.
A key change is the elimination of the post-Election Day grace period. Absentee ballots must now be received by 7:30 p.m. on March 3 to be counted. Any ballots arriving after that time, regardless of postmark, will not be valid.
To comply with verification rules, voters must either get their absentee ballot notarized or have it witnessed by two individuals who observe the ballot being filled out. Voters must also include a copy of an acceptable photo ID in the provided ballot sleeve.
These changes aim to standardize absentee voting procedures and improve the reliability of vote counting, but they also raise the stakes for voters to follow instructions carefully and return ballots early.
For a full list of important dates for the upcoming primary elections, visit ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election.
Just curious…
Did you know about the new absentee voting rules for 2026?
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Meme of the Day.
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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:
• Friday: Visionary Vibes 6:30PM-8:30PM
• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 9AM-12PM
• Saturday: GLOW Under the Silver Moon Parade: Our Town 6PM-7:30PM
• Sunday: Sunday Sound Bath 4PM-5:30PM
• Sunday: NC Chinese Lantern Festival 6PM
But wait! There’s more. To save space in your inbox, we’ve moved the full list of events online — now you can plan ahead: See Full 2-Week Calendar
The thin layer of foam that appears on top of an espresso is called crema.
Crema is a complex emulsion of coffee oils, proteins, and sugars, stabilized by carbon dioxide gas that is released during the brewing process. Its presence is often considered an indicator of a well-pulled shot made from fresh beans.
Learn more about What Makes the Perfect Crema?