For more background on this story, you can read our other posts here, here, and here.

We know that Town of Cary Police believe Ian Delauder (now deceased) was a suspect in the killing of 34 year old, Cecily Anne Walker of Raleigh, NC. Police say Walker was the victim of a homicide, but haven’t provided information about the time or cause of her death.

It’s unclear, the circumstances that led to unfolding events at Dorset Drive on March 19th, 2023. It might take time for investigators to piece together a comprehensive narrative.

We now know a little more about a third person, only described by police in press releases as an unharmed woman, is not considered a suspect. Sergeant Kenric Alexander (Public Information Officer for the Cary Police Department) tells us, “I can tell you that she is not a suspect in this case.” While the woman’s name was part of the initial incident report, The Pāpur is not releasing her name at this time for reasons just mentioned.

Another sizable piece of the story has fallen in to place. We asked police whether Ian Delauder had interaction with the Cary Fire Department (first to arrive on the scene) or the Cary Police Department prior to the self-inflicted gunshot wound. Sergeant Alexander told us, “In listening to radio traffic, it is believed that Mr. Delauder suffered his gunshot wound after the arrival of the fire department. We do not know the timing of his wound in relation to the arrival of police officers. He did not have an interaction with the police.”

The Pāpur has obtained the radio traffic that corresponds to Sergeant Alexander’s statements. While this audio only provides the radio traffic of fire and rescue, we plan to share police communications when it’s released. Police communication is currently being used as part of the investigation, according to Alexander.

These communications are delivered in 30 minute time blocks.

We encourage you to listen to the clips in their entirety, in order to form your own understanding. We’ve done our best to transcribe most of the relevant communications heard. We tried our best to make sure we transcribed the conversations as accurately as possible. Where we’re unable to understand certain words, we placed (inaudible) in that spot.

Much of the recording is dead air, so we’ve pointed you to the most relevant parts of the clips for you to find:

Part 1:

At, or around the 23:15 mark, someone from Fire and Rescue communicates from the scene, “…need to get PD out here. There might be a body in here.”

At, or around the 23:50 mark, “we’re gonna need a supervisor too.”

At, or around the 25:50 mark, “The homeowner’s just gone back inside the camper. I’ve lost track of him. I don’t know where he’s at.”

Continues, “He’s running (inaudible) camper for something right now…”

Continues with quick breakdown to Battalion Chief, “Chief, we came out here for an outside fire, for a burn pile, (inaudible) cardboard, it looks like there’s a body in the pile. We (inaudible) the homeowner, he’s gone back into the camper. I don’t know what’s going on. We got PD expedited.”

Part 2 (picks up where Part 1 ends):

At, or around the 28 minute mark, “subject with (inaudible) gunshot wound to the head…”

There’s a pause. Picks back up at, or around 28:50 with calls to dispatch EMS. Voice responds, “10-4”. Questions about when this happened and whether or not the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Voice from dispatch mentions, “recent gunshot wound to the head (inaudible) suspicious activity.”

We will continue coverage of this story as details unfold.

Although the exact cause and time of her death are still under investigation, her death has been ruled a homicide. The death of Ian Delauder brings us one step closer to finalizing this case, however, this is still an active investigation.  Investigators are working to ensure no evidence has been overlooked. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of Cecily Walker-Scott and Ian Delauder as they move forward from this tragic event.”

The homeowner found with a self-inflicted gunshot has been identified as Ian Delauder, 35 years of age, of Cary, NC. Ian Delauder was transported to the hospital and is currently being treated for his injuries. His condition is critical.

Cary Police have confirmed that Ian Delauder is a suspect in this case. Here are two arrest records, that have both occurred within the last 6 months.

Arrest Records

The remains found within the fire debris have been identified as those of Cecily Anne Walker (AKA Cecily Anne Walker-Scott) 34 yoa, of Raleigh, NC. The manner of her death is homicide. The time and circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation.

Additionally, Cary Police Department released a document showsing the calls made to 618 Dorset Drive, in Cary, over the last few years. The property has been the subject of several welfare checks, among other issues.

Police have not identified any of the names at this point. We will follow up on this ongoing investigation as we learn more.

From Cary Police Department:

“There will be another news release sent this afternoon around the 2:30-3:00 timeframe in which more information regarding this case will be released including the public information version of the police report which wasn't ready in time for this release.”

The above information is provided in response to the last update given to the public, in which the Cary Police Department described the situation at Dorset Drive:

“Release from 19 March 2023:

At approximately 7:10 am on Sunday (3/19/2023), the Cary Fire Department responded to 618 Dorsett Drive in reference to an illegal trash burn at this address. The 911 call originated from a neighbor. Upon arrival, fire crews located and extinguished the fire which was found in a homemade fire pit. After extinguishing the fire, CFD crews located human remains in the debris and called for police to respond. Officers arrived on the scene and contacted criminal investigators. Due to the condition of the remains officers were unable to identify the race, gender, and identity. 

A search of the property, located an adult male who has been identified as the homeowner inside an RV trailer. He was suffering from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound and has been transported to the hospital in critical condition with a life-threatening injury. An adult female was also located on the property. She is uninjured and speaking with investigators. This is still an active investigation.

It should be noted that the residence of 618 Dorsett Drive is undergoing extensive renovations. It appears the homeowner would burn trash related to the renovation project. Two RVs were brought onto the property as temporary living space while the home was under construction.”

Pickleball is a combination of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, played with paddles and a perforated plastic ball. It is played on a court approximately one-third the size of a tennis court, and is slower paced compared to other racquet sports.

Currently, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, boasting over 36.5 million players, according to the Association of Pickleball Professionals. With over 10,320 pickleball courts scattered across the US, the pickleball community has ample opportunities to play anywhere in the country.

Why Pickleball is Growing in Cary

Mike Walsh, former U.S. Pickleball Association ambassador for Cary, was the one who introduced pickleball to the town in 2010, setting the stage for its thriving popularity. According to him, “the biggest challenge was introducing the sport to a new audience. But once players gave it a try, they were immediately hooked and couldn't help but spread the word”, he added.

True to Walsh's words, Cary residents quickly embraced the game. In fact, the Town of Cary has the 4th largest number of pickleball locations in North Carolina, with 10 facilities, and 33 courts to date. More locations are popping up as the sport continues to grow. 

People love the sport because it is easy to learn, but challenging to master, making it the perfect sport for players of all ages and abilities. In addition to being enjoyable, pickleball helps to improve muscle strength and flexibility.

If you're interested in trying the sport, we've compiled a list of the best pickleball locations in town for you to experience firsthand.

Where to Play Pickleball in Cary

Below are some of our favorite places to play pickleball in Cary:

1. Popular public courts

1. Ed Yerha Park - Ed Yerha Park, previously known as White Oak Park, features three hard pickleball courts that are available on a first come, first served basis. In addition, the park also has a picnic shelter that can be reserved, a playground for kids, and restrooms for your convenience.

2. Cary Tennis Park - Cary Tennis Park offers not only tennis but also pickleball, with four dedicated outdoor hard courts equipped with permanent lines and nets. The courts are free for all, however, only annual and hourly passholders can reserve them. The park also features a pro shop where you can buy basic pickleball equipment.

1. Popular private courts

1. Weatherstone H.O.A. - Weatherstone is a welcoming neighborhood in northwest Cary, where residents can invite guests to come and play pickleball. It offers three outdoor hard courts with permanent lines in place, but you'll need to bring your own nets. 

2. Life Time - Life Time is a fitness oasis in Cary, offering far more than just a gym. This 110,000 square foot facility boasts six hardwood pickleball courts and other amenities. You'll also find resort-style pools and top-notch workout facilities where you can just relax or work up a sweat. The facility has expert trainers who are available for private lessons, group classes, or even on-court tutoring.

1. New courts openings planned

1. McCrimmon Park - The soon-to-be-constructed McCrimmon Park is set to be a pickleball paradise, with six lighted pickleball courts. The park's rolling landscape, lush tree canopy, and tranquil creeks offer a beautiful backdrop for your game. 

2. Western Cary Community Center - This is the next big thing for indoor recreation and gathering in the western part of Cary. The town council is carefully considering residents’ recreation needs, and pickleball is high on the list. The center set will offer three multi-purpose courts where pickleballcan be played.

Pickleball continues to grow in Cary, and it's not hard to see why. People of all ages enjoy playing this social and competitive sport, which is a great way to stay active and make friends. If you haven't tried it yet, grab your paddle now and see what the hype is about!

Prior to the game, the festivities of Homecoming weekend started with the annual Homecoming Parade down Walnut Street.

Click here to see our coverage of the parade.

The Imps didn’t let the fun of the parade, alter their focus. With pride on the line, and honoring the Class of 1992, Cary’s football team set about the business of routing the Green Hope Falcons.

By the end of the first quarter, Cary was leading 21-0, getting strong play from their offensive line and leaning on their powerful playmaker, JoJo Williams. Williams had two scores in the first quarter, finishing the game with three rushes for pay dirt.

The first score of the game, however, was punched across the goal line from another one of Cary’s playmakers, Debvrin Smith.

Cary ended the first half with a 27-0 lead.

At halftime, the traditional ceremonies took place, with the presentation of the Homecoming court and the coronation of the 2022 Homecoming King and Queen.

And the winners were…

The Honorable

King Jerry Atunku and Queen Jalani Demery

The Imps wasted no time taking the Falcons back to the woodshed, in the second half.

On the kickoff, Cary’s Brady Blalock brought the hammer down on Green Hope’s return man, setting the tone for the next eight minutes of play.

Cary’s most versatile player, Alex Kohn, blocked a punt on Green Hope’s opening drive, that was recovered for a touchdown.

Minutes later, Kohn would intercept a Falcons pass to regain possession.

As the Imps drive appeared to end, Cary lined up to punt. Instead of punting, however, they executed a fake punt with Kohn running the ball for a new set of downs.

A few plays later, Cary quarterback Sam Grena broke a run for nearly 40 yards and a touchdown. Just like that, Cary was leading Green Hope 41-0.

The Falcons were able to put some points on the board when the Imps briefly lowered their guard, resulting in a kickoff return for a touchdown. However, Green Hope proved no match for the Imps on this night.

For this night belonged to the Cary football team, the King and Queen, returning alumni, and the rest of Cary’s faithful fans who packed the stands for a Homecoming to remember.

If you’ve walked or driven through Downtown Cary, you’ve possibly seen Margot Bennett out and about with one of her trainees. A trainer of service dogs, Margot likes to bring her four-legged students out to learn commands and socialize amongst their friendly neighbors and fellow Caryites! We recently learned more about the work she’s doing locally, and wanted to share her story:

Q: What inspired you to begin training dogs for service work?

A: I began volunteering as a puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes For The Blind after working in Human Resources promoting hiring those with disabilities. I already had a yellow Lab at home and it just fit blending the two together.

Q: How many dogs have you trained?

A: I am currently raising my 10th service dog. Several have gone into Guide work, one is a Service Dog, one is a Facility Dog, one went into Police work, one went into Therapy Work, and the others were released as Change Of Career pups.

Q: What's the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog?

A: A Service Dog is trained for specific tasks to assist someone with a disability. They are covered under ADA and are allowed anywhere under that law. A Service Dog wears a vest for identification that says it is a working service dog, and should never be approached or pet as they are working, and that could distract them from focusing on their partner. Therapy Dogs are certified pet dogs who, with their owner, provide comfort in a variety of settings-hospitals, nursing homes, schools, sometimes even in areas of trauma. They only wear a therapy dog vest when they go on visits and are not covered under ADA to be allowed inside public places.

Q: Do the dogs come to you from the owner, as puppies? How does that work?

A: Therapy dogs can come from a variety of places- their owners determine their fit for therapy after they've been together and come to know each other. Therapy dogs can come from a shelter, some are rescues, some from breeders. The Service Dogs I work with are bred at a breeding center on the main campus of the organization. For the first 8 weeks of the puppy life, they are cared for by Breeder Caretakers and staff and volunteers who attend to their needs, provide playtime and socialization and snuggle with them. The puppies are then flown all over the country to puppy raisers when they are 8 weeks old. We have some amazing volunter pilots who privately fly the puppies at no charge. My last puppy, who is now a Facility Dog, was flown on a private plane with 13 other puppies!! Sometimes puppies are transported in a car to their raisers if the distance allows.

Q: How long does it take (generally or specifically) to complete service work training for each dog?

A: Puppy raisers generally work and train their dog from 18-24 months. It can be fluid based on the litters going out, when teams graduate and so on. As puppy raisers, we teach the dogs about 30 commands as well as socialize them, getting them used to wearing a coat, being around people and traffic and noises. After puppies are turned in to the training centers, they are then trained for about 6 months. There they fine tune those skills, and learn to string commands together. Then, they are matched with their partner and trained for another 2 weeks or so. By the time all is said and done, they are a little over 2 years old.

Q: What does it cost for someone to receive a Service Dog from Canine Companions or Guiding Eyes For The Blind?

A: Nothing. Through amazing donors, vet sponsors, reduced rates for supplies and volunteers who absorb the cost, there is no charge for receiving these amazing heros.

Q: What are the best dog breeds for service work? Do you work with a specific breed?

A: The Service Dogs at Canine Companions are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers and a cross between the two. At Guiding Eyes For The Blind, they are Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds. These schools breed their own litters and have kept databases on all their litters going back for decades.

Q: What would you like people to understand, or learn, about the importance of service dogs?

A: Service Dogs perform tasks that lead to more independence and confidence for their partner. They provide comfort and relief to those suffering with PTSD. They are a best friend to a child who needs a hug while they are testifying in court. They help lead their blind partner to places (work, friends, stores) so that they can live independantly. They can provide medical alerts in some cases as well-to elevated heart rates, blood sugar highs and lows, seizures. They are life savers and heroes.

Q: You have published books for sell. Can you tell us about those?

A: Yes! After realizing we had rotating dogs in our house serving in various helper capacities, I decided it was time to tell their stories. I thought writing them as children's books from the dogs point of view, and including educational back matter about the particular work they do, the schools they are trained with and so on, would be fun and educational-for kids, parents and teachers. I decided to write a children's books series titled Tails Of Dogs Who Help, and to publish them myself and donate the proceeds back to the schools where the dogs are trained. Knowing I've raised a Service Dog, a Guide Dog, a Facility Dog and worked with a Therapy Dog-my books were already titled!!! I will most likely end with the book about the first dog we ever raised-Decker. Decker was released for medical reasons and became our dog, who then mentored several more along the way. Because the books are self published, I used modified photographs from throughout their lives to illustrate their journey, arranged to create an LLC to publish them and helped in the design of the books. They are not perfect, but their stories are and that's what is important. I have a goal to have every school and library have a copy of these books so everyone can learn how important these dogs are that help. I'd love help with that goal!!

Margot’s Books Available for Order:

"Brisco, Life As A Therapy Dog" is the first book in the series. "Meet Brisco, a therapy dog who tells the story of how he helps people in the community. Follow his life from puppy-in-training to professional therapy dog, building special bonds along the way by just being himself."

"Ely, Life As A Service Dog Puppy" is the second book in the series. "Meet Ely, a handsome yellow Lab who tells the story of his journey becoming a service dog. Follow his life from puppy born of the E litter, to working with a puppy raiser and finally into advanced training, where he finds the perfect match to work with as a service dog.

Margot is able to sell and deliver author copies if you email through the contact information below. Purchasing author copies allow more proceeds to be donated to the schools as well as being signed and pawtographed. She will also be marketing a Christmas special for both books at $22 for paperback and $30 for hardcover. All proceeds are donated to the schools where the dogs are trained. So far, she has donated over $1000 in royalties!

Local stores that carry the books for sale:

Chocolate Smiles (Downtown Cary)

A to Z Pharmacy (Cary)

Cocoon Gallery (Apex)

Cocoon Gallery is having a book signing with Margot on December 3rd, 2022 from 10-2.

Contact information and links to purchase Margot Bennett’s books:

Website- https://dogswhohelp.com/

Amazon link for both books- https://www.amazon.com/Margot-Bennett/e/B09LJV26QB/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

Contact information - tailsofdogswhohelp@gmail.com

Imps fans and players went home with many reasons to hold their heads high. After being down 20-0 at the half, Cary’s defense (led by linebacker Brady Blalock) came out of the locker room popping pads with Athens Drive.

The Imps were finally able to get on the board in the fourth quarter with a touchdown that made it 20-7.

On the next Jaguars possession, Cary forced a fourth down punt that resulted in a botched snap to the punter, setting up a quick score from Cary’s JoJo Williams. All of a sudden, the score was 20-14 and things really got interesting.

The Imps defense continued to stymie the Jaguars, giving the offense two more chances to score. Ultimately though, Cary wasn’t able to get across the goal line again, although they came really close on two plays in particular.

The Cary Imps could have folded. Down by 20 at the half, they could have started thinking about the next game. However, they stepped on the field in the third and fourth quarters with the spirit of a team that believed the fight was worth the effort. No, the scoreboard didn’t give them the result they wanted, but they can walk tall today, knowing they left it all on the field…and that’s the other half of the story.

At halftime, the Cary Imps Club honored the sponsors who donate to the school’s athletic programs. Here’s a list of the businesses honored:

Heart of Cary Sponsors

Ally Albert, Broker, Choice Residential

First Bank

EcoPro Mulch

Charles Ashley Mann, DDS

Mosquito Wizard

MVP Plan Administrators

Professional Restoration Services

Smith Sandlin Wealth Planning

The Rams jumped out to a quick start, scoring on their first possession.

After Cary punted to end its initial drive, setting up Cleveland’s first score, the Imps fumbled on their second drive, giving Cleveland another opportunity. However, the Cary defense was able to stop the Rams, getting a big play on third down from JoJo Williams, breaking up a pass that would have given Cleveland a new set of downs.

Cary took over on downs after stopping the Rams’ 4th down attempt, but couldn’t move the ball, resulting in another punt. On the Rams’ first play of their next drive, Cary suffered the first of many injuries on the night, when Darish Jacobs made a tackle and appeared to hurt his wrist.

The Rams drove down the field and scored another touchdown on a 4th down quarterback keeper, topping off the scoring drive with a fake kick on their extra point attempt, resulting in a pass and catch for the two point conversion.

From there, the game went from bad to worse, as the Cleveland Rams regained possession after successfully executing an onside kick. They scored another touchdown on their first play of the drive, opening up a 22-0 lead with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Rams were able to put more points on the board while limiting the Cary offense, taking a 39-0 lead into the half.

During halftime, the Cary High School Band took the field to perform for the crowd.

The second half started off well for the Cary Imps as they stopped Cleveland’s first drive and JoJo Williams broke a long run on the ensuing play.

The jolt of momentum for Cary was short lived, as they were hampered by more injuries and turnovers.

While there were a few bright spots on the evening, like two long touchdown runs from Williams, Cary wasn’t able to keep pace with the Cleveland Rams speedy and powerful offense, dropping the season opener 55-12.

More images from the night:

Early in the day, the mood was relaxed and casual with a solo singer on the mic, games for kids, giant bubbles, and several other artists providing fun for families.

A little later, various market vendors, food trucks, and an axe throwing company set up shop.

There seemed to be something for everyone, as midday came, along came a pop-up dog adoption that had everyone loving on the little fur balls!

Oh, and it wasn’t just the adoption event that brought out the hounds. We were snapping photos of all the party dogs, too.

Once the heat broke from a setting sun, it was time for the main event. The popular band, Crush, began setting up for a night of good music, good beer, and a lot of dancing.

Members of the Cary community gathered in Downtown Cary last Sunday at the site of the former library, to celebrate the life of Susan Frances Daniel (known by most as simply ‘Mrs. Sue’).

Mrs. Sue was one of Heartwood Montessori’s founders, our beloved school in the heart of Downtown Cary. Hundreds of families called Heartwood their home away from home, prior to the school closing its doors a few years ago. Beginning in 1991, Mrs. Sue and her partners, along with a superstar teaching staff, created a community.

A community of exploration.

A community that fostered an environment where children felt loved and appreciated.

Along with Mrs. Sue, the other original owners were Thelma Williams, Paige Person and Mary McKinney.

Mrs. McKinney was interviewed for our story, and she tells us about Sue:

Sue’s philosophy of teaching children was pure Montessori.  Take children where they are & follow them.  She believed that Montessori was a teaching method that could help all children.  She wanted her students to succeed.  She wanted teachers to have autonomy in the classroom.  She knew that each teacher has their own teaching style & wanted to let them create the classroom that reflected their creativity.  She wanted Heartwood to be a family where people were comfortable & felt welcome.  We had some teachers who stayed for almost our entire almost 30 year run.  We were a family.  

Following an emotional moment of silence, several people spoke to those gathered, about the legacy Mrs. Sue left behind. There were hearty laughs, and there were tears of sadness, as they each shared their stories.

McKinney also told us:

Sue loved horses (she had a few), dogs, cats, gardening & fishing.  And she loved her school.  She was pretty fearless.  As Kathleen Evans said at the memorial, she & Sue had to go to battle with the Town of Cary many times & Sue would rather ask for forgiveness than permission.  She bulldozed through lots of obstacles (improvements, permitting) that we encountered along the way & fought to get into the many locations we occupied.  She was determined & would keep going until she found someone who would provide a path forward.  

Many Heartwood families will recognize one of Heartwood’s most beloved teachers in these pictures, ‘Ms. Isabel’ Moncayo. Ms. Isabel says she was able to form a special relationship with Sue over the course of ten years at the school, “often sharing recipes, dishes, and of course, bread from La Farm.” She also remembers Mrs. Sue fondly for pouring in the additional help for kids who needed the support, regardless of the obstacles.

Editor’s Note:

We will miss greatly, Mrs. Sue, and the impact she had in the Cary community. Our family was fortunate to have both our boys attend Heartwood Montessori before going on to Cary Elementary. We will forever cherish the memories made, from Halloween Parades to birthday walks around the sun, burning the Yule log and watching our boys form tight bonds with the amazing teachers.

It’s been difficult to drive by the empty campus on a daily basis, knowing the void left by the school’s closing and Mrs. Sue’s passing. Before long, the toddler house and the playgrounds, the main building, and the garden that lived atop a filled in pool, will be gone…but the legacy will remain and the impact will reverberate for generations in the hearts of those who embraced its charm.

Although this would be a tense battle between the two rivals, the night started with lots of big smiles as Cary High School welcomed families from the Miracle League of the Triangle. The families were honored prior to the game, as they joined the team on the field for the national anthem.

Early in the game, scoring remained scarce as both teams’ pitchers were effective from the mound.

Both teams were able to put runners on base, but strong defensive plays like this one from the Imps (pitcher picks off runner at first base and he’s caught in a pickle), had the teams locked at 2-2 in the 4th inning.

With a questionable non-call on a bang-bang play at first base, the Imps were able to break the stalemate, sending a run home to go ahead 3-2.

Apex players and coaches appealed to the umpires for several minutes before action resumed.

Getting strong bullpen relief the next inning, Cary was able to hold the lead at 3-2.

As Apex’s starting pitcher began showing signs of fatigue, Cary bats peppered the field with hits that triggered their need for relief on the mound.

Putting together another 3 runs, Cary was able to pull out to a solid 6-2 lead and never looked back.

From preparing to run in a crowded liberal stronghold, to a possible 50-50 toss up district, NC State Senator Wiley Nickel’s race for the U. S. House of Representatives could look vastly different, should the newly drawn Congressional maps stand up in court.

You may remember our piece last month, with Senator Nickel. At that point, the battle over the Congressional maps was largely undecided. As the result of heavily gerrymandered maps drawn by Republicans, the NC Supreme Court was to decide their constitutionality. Subsequently, the NC Supreme Court ruled against the gerrymandered maps and ordered them redrawn. Now, after passing both houses in the NC General Assembly, the new maps are once again before the court.

Senator Nickel, standing by his argument for nonpartisan redistricting, says “This process has made clear that we need nonpartisan independent redistricting reform. North Carolina voters deserve a transparent redistricting process that takes politicians out of the process.” Nonetheless, candidates will be dealing with the current state of affairs in 2022’s mid-term elections.

In our interview with Senator Nickel, he informed us he plans a strong US Congressional race regardless of how the map debate ends. If nothing changes, Nickel will be preparing to run in the newly drawn 13th Congressional district (which comprises western Wake County, Johnston, Sampson, Duplin, and western Wayne counties).

The new maps create an entirely different path to Washington, D.C., for Nickel. In the previous version of the maps, he would have been competing in the 6th district primary (now, likely the 4th district again) against a crowded field of opponents, all vying for the secure Democratic seat being vacated by Representative David Price. The winner of the Democratic primary in the 4th district, will almost certainly win the general election.

However, with the new maps before the courts and Senator Nickel likely running in the 13th district, he would probably face little competition (if any) in the primary, but very stiff competition in November’s general election. Why the difference? The 13th district, as drawn, would be a toss-up between Democrats and Republicans and possibly the most competitive in the state. In 2020, President Trump (R) received 50.04% of the presidential votes and Governor Cooper (D) received 51.66% of the gubernatorial votes in the district. While the two candidates were obviously not head-to-head, one can clearly see how evenly the votes split along party lines.

Senator Nickel says, “In campaigning for the last several months, I’ve had the chance to talk to voters about the issues that really matter to them. Folks I’ve talked to are tired of D.C. infighting. That’s why I’m focused on policy goals that will make a real difference for them.”

Nickel, serving his second term as North Carolina State Senator, will be running with strong support from local leaders. According to a recent press release, he’s already been endorsed by former Congressman Tony Coehlo, Raleigh Councilmember David Cox, Wake County Commissioners Vickie Adamson and Maria Cervania, Morrisville Mayor TJ Cawley, Cary Town Councilmember Ya Liu, Morrisville Councilmembers Steve Rao, Vickie Scroggins-Johnson, Donna Fender and Anne Robotti-Smith, and many others.

We were fortunate to catch his first of three sets organized by Matthew Hahn of The Comedy Experience, before he headlines shows Friday and Saturday at Goodnight’s Comedy Club.

While Gillespie brought a healthy dose of his tried and true material while performing at The Matthew’s House in Cary, he mixed in lots of fresh new jokes along with a splash of side splitting crowd interaction. A true professional who’s been featured on Conan and CMT’s “Next Big Comic”, and shared the stage with household names like Dave Attell, Tom Segura, Jim Breuer and many others, its easy to see why there’s been so much excitement to have him in the Triangle this week.

Sipping our coffee on an unusually warm winter day, Steve Gillespie admits the travel schedule of a stand up comedian can be quite the grind. You would never know it from his demeanor, though. Fresh off little sleep after flying from Denver, CO to Cary and doing a show the night before, our conversation was a bit like catching up with an old buddy. Gillespie was friendly and engaged, never mind the promotional interview that followed our chat, and the need to prepare for another performance later in the evening at Fruit, in Durham. A good sport, he never let on that he was likely answering the same questions for the millionth time.

Who were your favorite comedians when you were a kid?

“I watched a lot of Def Comedy Jam, Brian Regan, George Carlin…and at 12 or 13 years old, I was blown away by Gallagher.”

Who are your favorite contemporary comedians, or ones that influence your work?

“On one end of the spectrum, I really enjoy Harland Williams. He’s goofy…and absurd. There’s not an ounce of seriousness in his act. On the other end of the spectrum, I like Doug Stanhope. His act is a lot of social commentary. Very dark. He’s got something to say.”

What projects are you working on right now?

“We have a podcast called Comedy Mainline, that I do with two comedians in Minnesota, Robert Baril and Chris Maddock. The premise is that we’re fielding phone calls from other comedians (often calling in as different characters), and pulling as much funny from a specific topic as possible. Everything’s unscripted and relaxed. We have a lot of fun with it.”

We want to thank Steve Gillespie for taking the time to chat with us.

You can catch him tonight at Clouds Brewing in Raleigh.

Tomorrow night(Friday) and Saturday night, he’ll be headlining at Goodnight’s Comedy Club!

Grab your tickets before they sell out. See you at the show!

Youtube links:

Steve Gillespie at Acme Comedy Company

Steve Gillespie at Helium in Portland, OR

Anthony Rapillo, owner of V Pizza on Kildaire Farm Road in Cary, is rallying support for all local restaurants, not just his own.

If you’ve been out to eat recently, you’ve probably had a different experience than what you remember prior to the pandemic. While the last two years have been tough all around, brick and mortar restaurants especially, have been out there taking it on the chin. Whether its been government mandated shutdowns, pivoting of business models, labor shortages or increased food and material costs, survival has been a tremendous challenge.

“Positive reviews and word of mouth is a 100% free currency that can tip the scales…”

-Anthony Rapillo, V Pizza

Anthony Rapillo moved to the area and opened V Pizza at the most inopportune time, just as the pandemic was closing everything down. While some element of V’s survival can be attributed to America’s unflagging appetite for good pizza, Rapillo said recently:

“We’ve somehow kept our doors open. We’ve somehow been able to grow. Unfortunately — we’re in the minority. I know way more businesses than I care to admit, have had to close their doors, some for good. And look, its not like we’re thriving. “Keeping our doors open” is a promise I made to my managers and staff, but a big reason that was possible for us, is that I can genuinely live at the pizza shop. I’m not married. I don’t have any children, so I can be here from open until close, 7 days a week to keep the lights on. Luckily we offer an option that lends itself well to takeout, and I believe we have a good product — but, even with that, I made more money in my teens than I made in 2021…and again, I’m one of the LUCKY ones.”

Whether a diner, a dishwasher, delivery driver, or determined to survive restauranteur, we’re all dealing with a new normal. How long this new normal will last, is anyone’s guess.

Rapillo says, now more than ever, every establishment could benefit from the extra support.

Does that mean going out to eat more often? “If that’s in your budget, yes, absolutely.”

Equally important though, Rapillo believes social media’s an immensely powerful tool, providing people an opportunity to go the extra mile no matter how often they go out, or how much they’re able to spend.

He makes this promise:

“Whenever you go out to ANY restaurant or bar, if you leave a review on Yelp or Google, screenshot it and send it to me (leaving on both counts as a double entry). Once a week, I’ll pick a random winner and reward them with a $25 gift card to V.”

For a detailed look at Anthony Rapillo’s story, and to learn more about V Pizza, we encourage you to check out NC Eat & Play’s feature story.

If not, we’ll give you a few buzz words to summarize:

Gerrymandered. Ambiguous. Voting Maps.

Long story short, there’s still much that can change between now and the primary elections (originally scheduled for March, moved to May by the NC Supreme Court, with subsequent legislation that could push the races into June).

Late last year, long time Democratic congressman David Price announced he would be retiring at the end of his term, leaving the newly drawn 6th Congressional District (and Democratic safe haven) up for grabs. Not surprisingly, Price’s announcement produced a rush of candidates eager to fill the void. While voters could still see a change to voting districts once the NC Supreme Court weighs the issue, there’s one candidate who plans to represent Cary voters in the US House of Representatives, no matter how the maps are drawn. Senator Wiley Nickel (D-District 16) has represented Wake County voters in the NC General Assembly since winning his first term in 2018, but if he wins the primary and general elections in this year’s US Congressional race, he’ll have a new office address in the nation’s capital.

As the local source for Cary news, The Pāpur invited Senator Nickel (also a Cary resident) to answer our questions, and provide our readers with a better understanding of the person behind the campaign signs you’ll see mixed among others throughout the year.

Born to a family of farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, Nickel has called many places home. His mother was a television news reporter, which resulted in moves to various media markets from Bakersfield to Ft. Worth, Nashville, Shreveport and Chicago. Following high school in Chicago, Nickel attended Tulane University in New Orleans before earning his law degree at California’s Pepperdine University.

Wiley met his future wife Caroline, a UNC-Chapel Hill biology major from Cary, NC, while the two were studying abroad in London. After graduating from UNC, Caroline moved to California, where she also studied law at Pepperdine.

Not too long after law school, armed with extensive experience working on political campaigns including Al Gore’s, Nickel took his first shot at elected office in 2006, running in California’s 12th State Senate district. While he would go on to lose that race to incumbent Republican Jeff Denham, we wanted to know what lessons he took from the defeat. Nickel says, “The biggest thing I took away from that, and learned, is that I really just needed to be genuine and authentic. Be myself…ignoring consultants who want you to be someone else.”

He transitioned from talking about his campaign loss, to highlighting his work with President Obama, where Nickel was an advanced staffer, noting that Obama was the same person on and off camera, and feels that’s what really resonated with voters. Nickel says he was able to take those lessons and turn them into State Senate victories in 2018 and 2020.

Wiley and Caroline decided to settle down, moving back to Caroline’s hometown of Cary in 2009, where they’ve been able to grow a family and pursue their respective law careers. Wiley a criminal defense attorney, and Caroline practicing real estate law.

Years after the 2006 campaign, vowing that he was done running for public office, what motivated Nickel to run again in 2018 ?

Easy question.

Donald J. Trump.

“When Trump won, that was really the decision point for me.” Nickel was pissing off everyone around him, complaining to friends, family, and anyone who would listen. He says it was a speech by President Obama at the end of his term, that really inspired him to stop complaining, and take action. “President Obama said, if you’re upset, grab a clipboard and start organizing…”

How does Senator Nickel feel about the current state of democracy in the wake of Trump’s term in office? We asked if its hyperbolic to suggest US democracy teeters on a knife’s edge? “No, no, this is a really dangerous time for American democracy, and this great experiment we have in self governance could very quickly come to an end if we continue in this direction…and I think there’s more on the line now, than there’s ever been.”

While most of Nickel’s policies won’t surprise those familiar with the Democratic platform, we spent a fair amount of time discussing good governance and coalition building, rather than splitting the proverbial, legislative hairs. Voicing his frustrations with Republican policy obstruction and a lack of serious alternative solutions, Nickel says he’s looking forward to sharing his message with voters, focusing on the important issues, and giving people a reason to get out the vote.

This past week, Democrats renewed their efforts to pass President Biden’s Build Back Better legislation after negotiations broke down with Senator Joe Manchin over its size and scope. Since this legislation has bubbled back to the surface, and intersects with Senator Nickel’s campaign for Congress, we requested a statement from his campaign:

"The policies proposed in the Build Back Better bill are tremendously popular among the American people, and would greatly benefit working North Carolina families. Build Back Better includes expanding Medicare to include vision, dental, and hearing. Build Back Better includes universal Pre-K. Build Back Better includes paid family leave. Build Back Better includes clean energy incentives. It includes tax breaks for middle-class families. There are a ton of bipartisan initiatives in this bill - things that people of both parties support.

We keep talking about the labor market and inflation - but the reality is that Build Back Better will help that. Give thousands of working parents universal childcare, and watch how many people are able to get back on their feet and back into the job market.

The fact is, we owe it to working families to keep moving forward and pushing for policies that will help people. I think that's incredibly hard in such a polarized environment as Washington, but this is a messaging issue right now. Working families that are worried right now about putting food on the table and making next month's rent need our help and support: that's the bottom line. I'd be supportive of any bill we can get passed that helps them with that."

-NC State Senator Wiley Nickel

Post Script

Senator Nickel met with us a few days after doing a local television news interview, that lasted 10-15 minutes. The Pāpur is admittedly a much smaller media publication, with a much smaller audience. That said, Nickel spent more than an hour fielding our questions and never seemed concerned about heading towards the door. While we don’t consider this an endorsement of Senator Nickel’s campaign, we feel comfortable publishing this article with its positive takeaways. As fellow members of the community, constituents of Nickel’s current office and the one he hopes to win, we invited him to an interview with no expectations or agreements. If the meeting had gone off the rails, that’s what we would tell you. We’re not afraid to call it like we see it. In this case, we met a candidate who was serious, thoughtful, and willing to engage.

Fore more information about Senator Wiley Nickel’s campaign for US Congress, you can visit his website here: Wiley Nickel for Congress

Town of Cary staff led the meeting with a slideshow presentation before opening the meeting to questions and concerns from approximately 70 residents in attendance. The meeting, scheduled from 6:30-8pm, ended with many frustrated residents still desiring to have their questions and answers heard.

We asked Morgan Mansa and Heather Whelehan (Town of Cary staff who led the meeting) if another public meeting would be scheduled summarily to hear all the questions and concerns from citizens, before moving forward with further plans.

“In addition to the neighborhood meeting, we are always happy to meet with residents on an individual basis to learn about the development and provide their comments. There is also the upcoming public hearing in which citizens can speak about the development. We’ve also talked with Scot Berry and he thinks providing additional time for attendees is a great idea. We will reach out to those who attended so that they can either meet with us individually or as a group.”

Morgan Mansa, Town of Cary

Many of the questions and concerns we heard from attendees, related to increased traffic, environmental impacts, impacts of additional residents on school capacities, and whether or not this development is a foregone conclusion that citizens wouldn’t be able to stop.

Here are a few of the comments we received from attendees of the meeting:

“There is this tendency by the town to cast any opposition to these developments as being anti-affordable housing and this simply isn’t the case. Every neighbor I’ve spoken to has expressed to me, that like me, they're pro-‘affordable housing . There is a huge need in Cary and I know TOC has a lot of passion for it and pressure to get this done. The question for me is why here? This will be the second affordable housing project approved within 100 feet of my house. It starts to feel intentional. I don’t envy the developer. The property is going to require a lot of modifications to make it suitable for building, it is already prone to flooding even before they pull out all of the trees. Why not put it somewhere that’s already cleared and zoned for mixed use, such as next to Fenton? Or Preston? The intent is to make it 50% market rate housing. I’m not sure who is going to want to pay market rate to look at the back of an aging shopping center with no other appealing amenities to distinguish it.

Also the dangerous intersections of Maynard and Cary Towne and the increasing traffic and speeding on Ryan Road haven’t been addressed by the town; these are huge public safety risks that will be made much worse when Fenton and Epic are completed. The project at this point just seems hastily thrown together and ill-conceived, at least the plans I’ve seen so far. Personally, I don’t want to see our unique, authentic neighborhood start resembling North Hills because zoning restrictions start falling like dominos. There won’t always be a housing shortage but denser zoning is forever.

I’d love to see the parcel used for some rapidly dwindling greenspace, and a community garden. I mean actual town maintained greenspace, not a highly stylized park, or tennis courts. I’m sure the town would find that idea laughable but it’s really beautiful back there. There is a stream and some really interesting terrain for trails and a quick urban escape into nature.”

Melodie Alsberg, Iron Gate resident

“As a resident of the Irongate community, I was proud to see such a great turnout at this neighborhood meeting. I found it discouraging that few of my neighbors were directly notified by the town with details about this plan.

It is frustrating that questions about this project are met with claims of not supporting affordable housing ventures near our own homes. Many members of our community would not be able to move into their own homes given the current market. This neighborhood, and the adjacent ones, have long been the affordable housing around downtown Cary. These claims have been spread and picked up by members of our own town council. This really discourages open dialogue between the town and residents.

The plan as proposed is purported to specifically target and serve first responders and teachers in the community. The town and developer have also stated that they will be investing in advertising to this community. What, if any, market research or community surveys have been done to target this population? With all the apartments going up in Downtown Cary, is another one really where the focus should be for an affordable housing project? Why not property ownership? After all, this is the biggest hurdle in housing for low income households.

Another concern I have with this project is connecting our neighborhood street directly to another busy road. This would encourage more cut-through traffic than it already shoulders. I think the town should protect these long-standing neighborhoods and their quality of life when many of these residents express the same concerns.”

April Farley, Iron Gate resident

“I diligently researched specific issues in order to form direct, specific questions that have not been answered. As I continue my research and learn more, I am left with more questions . I feel that this piece of land should not be the the flagship location for the town and Laurel Street. I have not heard one compelling reason that 921 SE Maynard Rd should be the location, despite others being in the pipeline ( according to the presentation). Renters paying market-rate will have ample opportunity in the immediate vicinity to live in a more desirable apartment community and the targeted population should be presented with a building , in a safer location with more amenities. Teachers, first responders and town employees work hard for us, why place them behind Village Square, a dilapidated shopping center where Ollies discount store , Planet Fitness and the ABC store are the main anchors with overflowing dumpsters and constant cut through traffic located at the rear? They deserve better and the TOC has the resources to place them in the best areas around.”

Amanda Benson, Iron Gate resident

“My concern is that there doesn't seem to be any real chance that local residents could stop the project. Since the Town owns the property and retained the contractor specifically for this build, what are the chances that the council would actually reverse course on this? Everyone knows what this is going to do to the traffic in our neighborhood. It seems like those concerns don't matter to the Town.”

Anonymous, Iron Gate resident

We followed up with Town of Cary staff about one question in particular, from a resident who inquired about the integrity of the marketing of this development as affordable housing for teachers, firefighters, police, and other first responders. While the marketing speaks about affordability for these demographics, Laurel Street and the Town of Cary’s representatives don’t plan to select tenants from these demographics, specifically.

“There is definitely integrity in mentioning that teachers and first responders could live at this site. We intentionally decided on the income ranges to accommodate individuals working in these fields. It is these individuals that immediately came to mind when we discussed why there needed to be mixed-income housing at this site and we want our residents to understand our intent - to understand our “why”. Communicating the “who” for different income ranges help to humanize the numbers – it educates the public on whom this can serve instead of only focusing on Area Median Income which are not terms most people use everyday in thinking about their home or their neighbor. With this being a Cary-owned site and because of its proximity to schools, we intend to market to these populations so residents can expect to see a number of these units filled with these individuals.”

Morgan Mansa, Town of Cary

As we stated in our previous article about the rezoning and development of 921 SE Maynard Road, The Pāpur is taking a neutral stance with regards to this specific project.

From an editorial perspective, we admittedly have our personal opinions due to the fact that we’re Cary residents, live nearby, and know many of the people who would be affected by this proposed project. However, we’re also very supportive of increasing home affordability. We actually believe that should have been a much bigger priority prior to an election year.

What we’re hearing from residents, isn’t that of being NIMBY’s (not in my back yard), but residents with legitimate concerns who believe their local government got to the 3rd step in this 6 step process, before they even had an opportunity for input. Many of them believe the project is a foregone conclusion, and the Town of Cary will ultimately push forward with their own plans, leaving residents asking who speaks for them. Can you blame them? In this situation, you have the Town purchasing the land to make the development viable, creating the concept for the project, determining who will be the development company, determining the size and scale, and filing a rezoning request based on those variables, before anyone was even aware this was happening. If the Town truly wanted citizen input, why didn’t they seek it prior to these actions? These citizens have been put in a precarious situation where opposition makes them look like affordable housing opponents, but acquiescence undermines their level of personal and collective agency.

We hope that you’ll continue to follow this story, and many others we’re reporting in the Cary community.

It’s not an issue.

It’s the issue.

Home prices and rents have risen dramatically across the nation the last two years, and the effects have been welcomed news for some...and for others, not so much.

Often touted as one of the best places to live in the U.S., Cary’s municipal prosperity has been costly for those whose wages haven’t kept pace, and the problem existed locally, even before the most recent national phenomenon.

First, the Affordable Housing Plan of 2000 was created. Then, there was the 2020 Affordable Housing Plan. Now, we enter 2022, fresh off the Cary Housing Plan of late 2021.

The Cary Housing Plan, approved in November of 2021, has three stated goals: (1) to be a community of choice through high quality, diverse housing development, (2) a place where residents experience a high quality of life, and (3) to pursue regional and non- profit partnerships to meet housing needs.

Will the Town of Cary’s current elected leadership be able to execute on this latest plan?

Only time will tell.

However, time isn’t on their side.

Since the extreme velocity of rising costs began a few years ago, many residents have already been displaced by new infill projects marketed and fashioned for the well-heeled and transplants from areas with higher costs of living (who find Cary’s expenses much less burdensome…for now).

There is, however, one significant affordable housing project in the pipeline.

A proposed development between the Town of Cary, and Charlotte-based residential developer Laurel Street, seeks to bring 130 mixed income residential units to a piece of land adjacent to East Cary Middle School, at 921 SE Maynard Road (land once slated for the construction of a water tower).

While still early in the rezoning process, Laurel Street and the Town of Cary have plans to designate as “affordable”, only half the units (all of which, are rentals).

Laurel Street representative and Vice President of Development, Lee Cochran, says you likely won’t see residents moving in “prior to 2024” as the rezoning process, build-out, and lease-up, will take considerable time.

When asked about possible incentives that would make the plan economically feasible for the development company, Cochran points to a potentially favorable land lease from the Town, along with various grants designated for affordable housing initiatives.

While this development proposal is sure to find its fair share of fans and boo-birds, The Pāpur aims to inform the public throughout the process, remaining a neutral voice.

Of course, one could pose fair questions about the environmental impacts, the size, timing, location, and the plans for affordable rent rather than affordable ownership.

However, one could also point out that something, at this point, is better than nothing.

The potential for 65 rental units (two to three years from now), on land that was formerly planned for a water tower, is nonetheless, a start…but is it too little and too late?

You can decide.

The initial phase of the potential development between the Town of Cary and Laurel Street, begins this Wednesday (1/12/22) at 6:30 p.m., with a virtual neighborhood meeting via WebEx, that’s open to citizens looking for more information, and an opportunity to voice their concerns.

Interested in joining the call?

You can register by going to: www.townofcary.org/VNRM.

If you don’t have email or web access, you can call 919-380-4267, state your name, address, and the meeting you want to attend. Cary staff will provide you with a call-in number to join the call via telephone on the day of the meeting.

Post. Script.

Many folks in the community might be asking themselves, why wasn’t the same priority given to affordable housing, while various luxury infill developments and knock-down replacements drastically changed the local landscape over the last few years? Why have we watched as our neighbors were displaced, while spending unbridled millions for parks, and subsidizing private development projects?

We heard you.

And now we’re here, fighting to keep local journalism alive and the citizens informed.

We encourage you to vote in our local elections. Make your voices heard.

There are a number of Town Council seats being contested this year, giving citizens the opportunity to push incumbent leadership (as well as those vying for a newly found seats on Council), towards equitable actions, regarding all matters.

As parades are a spectator event more than anything, we won’t ruin the recap with a lot of talking. We’ll just get straight to the highlights!