• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 💪 Wellness Tip: Choosing “Clean Fifteen” Produce Can Help Lower Pesticide Exposure
• ⚠️ Health Alert: Food Recalls Highlight Botulism, Allergens and E. coli Risks
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Just for laughs
• ❤️ Communities need strong connections: Show Your Support
• 📅 Events: Upcoming Events (Top Picks)

👉 Browse the highlights. Click your favorites.

Did someone forward you our Cary newsletter? Then subscribe here

Question: How many US states were there in 1900?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

Parents across the Triangle often wonder how their teens can build meaningful leadership experience that truly stands out when applying to college.

An upcoming Hum Sub Youth Leadership Summit in Cary is designed to help students begin exploring those opportunities. The event invites students in Grades 8–11 from across the Triangle to learn about leadership, entrepreneurship, and ways young people can start building experiences that colleges value.

Are you are local business owner or local non-profit?

Choosing fruits and vegetables from a group known as the “Clean Fifteen” may help consumers reduce pesticide exposure, according to a new analysis of federal testing data on produce.

The 2026 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, released by the Environmental Working Group, reviewed pesticide residue results from more than 54,000 produce samples tested by the US Department of Agriculture. The annual report ranks fruits and vegetables based on how frequently pesticide residues appear after typical washing and preparation.

Clean Fifteen items show the lowest contamination levels

Alongside its list of the most contaminated items, known as the “Dirty Dozen,” the report highlights the Clean Fifteen. These fruits and vegetables consistently showed the lowest levels of pesticide residues in federal testing. Nearly 60% of Clean Fifteen samples had no detectable pesticide residues at all.

Pineapple, sweet corn and avocados ranked as the least contaminated produce in this year’s analysis. The list also includes papaya, onions, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, watermelon, mangoes, bananas, carrots, mushrooms and kiwi.

Some popular produce still carries higher pesticide residues

Researchers found that some popular produce items carry higher levels of pesticide residues. Spinach ranked as the most contaminated in the report, followed by strawberries and grapes. Nectarines, peaches, cherries, apples, blackberries, pears, potatoes and blueberries rounded out the Dirty Dozen.

The analysis found that most produce samples contained residues from multiple pesticides, even after washing, scrubbing or peeling to mimic typical consumer preparation. The report also noted that more than 60% of Dirty Dozen samples contained pesticides classified as PFAS, a group of chemicals that can persist in the environment for long periods.

Experts stress produce remains essential to a healthy diet

Health experts say the findings do not mean consumers should avoid fruits and vegetables. Instead, they recommend maintaining a varied diet rich in produce while taking steps that may reduce pesticide exposure, such as washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly and choosing organic versions of higher-residue items when possible.

Industry groups dispute the report’s conclusions, noting that federal regulators set strict limits on pesticide residues and that the vast majority of produce tested falls below those safety thresholds.

Read Full Story

Today’s wellness tip is brought to you by Living Well with Estelle

Living Well with Estelle is a Cary-based wellness practice led by Dr. Estelle Tsalik, focusing on holistic and preventive health care. Her approach helps clients develop personalized routines that prioritize prevention over treatment, using science-backed strategies to support long-term well-being.

Book your free wellness chat with Dr. Estelle and map out the simple shifts that will make the biggest difference for you. Check out her practitioner favorites in this Fullscript store.

Just curious…

Several food recalls and safety alerts surfaced across the United States in mid-March 2026, touching products in grocery, supplement, and dairy categories. The notices came through a mix of retailer announcements and federal agency alerts from the FDA and USDA-linked reporting channels.

The most serious warning involves peeled garlic sold at Tops Friendly Markets under the Garland Fresh and Christopher Ranch labels. Officials said improper storage conditions may create a botulism risk, prompting advice for consumers in New York, Vermont, and Pennsylvania to discard the product or seek a refund.

Other recent notices include certain Falcon Trading Company organic black beans that may contain pesticide residue and Vital Nutrients Aller-C capsules that may have undeclared egg, hazelnut, and soy. Both cases raise different but significant health concerns, especially for consumers with allergies or those seeking organic products free of contaminants.

At the same time, RAW FARM raw cheddar cheese remains under scrutiny in an ongoing E. coli O157:H7 investigation. Health officials have urged consumers and businesses not to eat, sell, or serve the cheese while investigators continue tracing illnesses connected to the product.

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.

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:

• Wednesday: Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale (Online Sale)
• Wednesday: KBA Jazz Series: Marcel Anderson 5:45PM-8:30PM
• Thursday: Spring BreakOUT! 10AM-4PM
• Thursday: Trivia Night 6:30PM-8:30PM
• Friday: Bands, Bites, and Boats 5PM-7PM
• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-12PM
• Saturday: Yoga 9AM-10AM
• Saturday: William Peace vs Mary Baldwin University 1PM-7PM

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