Question: Simone Biles was the first woman to do what in official competition?
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)
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Cary Approves $1.8 Million Sewer Project
The Cary Town Council approved a series of infrastructure, financial, and governance measures during its June 11 meeting while also advancing several development proposals for further review.
Among the items approved through the consent agenda was a $1.8 million contract for rehabilitation of the Upper Brier Creek Sewer Interceptor. The project will renew nearly 3,500 feet of aging sewer pipe and 14 manholes near Interstate 40 and Airport Boulevard using a trenchless lining method designed to extend the infrastructure's lifespan by about 50 years while minimizing disruptions. Council also approved a new agreement allowing Verizon Wireless to upgrade equipment at the Maynard Road water tank site and authorized financing of up to $5.25 million for the purchase of sanitation, heavy-duty, and public safety vehicles.
Council held the second public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, giving residents another opportunity to provide feedback before adoption. Members also conducted hearings on a proposed annexation and rezoning request for nearly nine acres on Jacobs Creek Lane, where a developer is seeking approval for up to 16 detached homes. The annexation request will return to Council for future action, while the rezoning proposal was referred to the Planning and Zoning Board for review.
Another public hearing focused on a proposed amendment to the Imagine Cary Community Plan affecting properties along Morrisville Carpenter Road. The request would allow consideration of a five-story mixed-use building within the Carpenter Special Planning Area. The proposal was referred to the Planning and Zoning Board for recommendation before returning to Council.
During discussion items, Council approved the rezoning of a half-acre property on Bandelier Lane to allow construction of a single detached home under specific design standards. Members also selected Cherry Bekaert LLP to serve as the town's independent auditor for the next three fiscal years, with options for renewal, and approved updates to the town's delegation of authority policies following a review initiated after the former town manager's resignation.
What was the biggest takeaway from this week's Cary Town Council meeting?
We’re rewinding the feed to spotlight a standout moment, story, or snapshot from Cary’s past. Let’s scroll back and see…
Who Was Your Favorite TV Nerd? Cary Has Spoken — and It's Not Even Close
From Cary Spotlight Issue #960
Reader Poll: Who Was Your Favorite TV Nerd?
They were the kids who knew all the answers, got the periodic table for their birthday, and somehow always saved the day despite never being invited to the cool table. We asked Cary Spotlight readers to crown their favorite TV nerd — and the results were about as suspenseful as a pop quiz in remedial math.
📺 Poll Results: Who Was Your Favorite TV Nerd?
🏆 Urkel (Family Matters) — 60%
🥈 Carlton (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) — ~25%
🥉 Paul (The Wonder Years) — ~13%
📉 Screech (Saved by the Bell) — ~7%
📉 Minkus (Boy Meets World) — ~2%
📉 Mark (Step by Step) — ~1%
Steve Urkel didn't just win this poll — he lapped the field. With 60% of the vote, the suspender-wearing, cheese-loving, physics-defying neighbor from Family Matters reminded Cary readers why he was appointment television every Friday night. Did he do that? Yes. Yes, he did.
Carlton Banks put in a respectable showing in second place, proving that a love of Tom Jones and Princeton sweaters still resonates. Paul from The Wonder Years edged out Screech for the bronze, while Minkus and Mark — both loyal to the nerd cause — closed things out with dignity intact.
No reader comments were provided for this poll — if you'd like to add some, just send them over and I'll weave them in!
Somewhere, a fictional locker is getting stuffed with this poll. Urkel doesn't mind. He's already built a robot to get it back.
Cary Readers Rank Working Family Housing as Top Priority
From Cary Spotlight Issue #956
The ribbon was barely dry at Rose Park Manor — the new 81-unit affordable senior housing community that opened June 5 near downtown Cary — when we asked readers what they think should come next. The Town has invested millions* in expanding housing options in recent years, but with home prices climbing and longtime residents feeling the squeeze, the conversation is far from over.
*Cary contributed $3 million toward Rose Park Manor, which leveraged more than $20 million in additional funding. The 81-unit community serves residents 55 and older earning 60% or less of the Area Median Income.
We put the question to Cary Spotlight readers: What do you think is the most important housing priority for Cary?
🏠 Poll Results: Most Important Housing Priority for Cary
🏆 More affordable housing for working families — 45.45%
🥈 More affordable housing for seniors — ~22%
🥉 More housing options of all types across Cary — ~16%
🚶 More walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods — ~11%
💬 Other (please specify) — ~9%
Nearly half of readers pointed to working families as Cary's most pressing housing concern — a signal that even as the Town celebrates wins like Rose Park Manor, many residents feel the affordability gap is widening for younger workers, educators, and essential employees. One reader put it plainly: "There are too many million dollar houses in Cary. I am a teacher and all of the new teachers have to live in Wendell, Clayton, etc. Cary is becoming too expensive."
Senior housing wasn't far behind, finishing a strong second. That result carries extra weight in the week Rose Park Manor opened its doors — readers clearly see senior affordability as an ongoing challenge, not a solved one. Two respondents captured the mood: "Taxes are forcing seniors out of their long time residences," wrote one, while another added, "Or better yet, stop taxing seniors out of homes we've been happy in for 30 years."
A vocal contingent in the "Other" category pushed back on the direction of development itself. "Stop allowing tear downs of good older homes to be replaced by million dollar houses that cause everyone's taxes to go up," one reader wrote. Another called for "infrastructure, lower taxes" — and one respondent simply answered "All of the above," which, honestly, tracks.
The takeaway: Cary readers want housing that works for people at every stage of life — and they're watching closely to see if Town Hall is listening.
Just curious…
Who has the Best Burger in the Cary Area?
The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.
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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:
• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-12PM
• Saturday: Yoga 9AM-10AM
• Saturday: PRIDE in the Park 4PM-10PM
• Saturday: NC Symphony Summerfest: Under the Sea 6PM-9:45PM
• Sunday: Soma Breath Energized Breathwork 2PM-3:30PM
• Monday: Summer BreakOUT! 4PM-8PM
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 Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
A: land a Yurchenko double pike vault
Simone Biles was the first woman to successfully land a Yurchenko double pike vault in official competition, a historic feat she debuted at the U.S. Classic. Because of this groundbreaking achievement, the move is officially named the "Biles II" in the women's Code of Points.
For more information, Simone Biles becomes first woman to land Yurchenko double pike vault in competition