6🤷‍♂️7 - Come on Dowwwn

👋 Good Morning, Apex! Today is Thursday, April 16, 2026 and this is the 67th consecutive weekly issue of The Peak Weekly.

That’s right. Issue number… six… sevennn. 🫲🤪 🫱

67 is actually a pretty important number here in Apex.

Long before the massive master-planned communities of today like Bella Casa or Sweetwater, there was Knollwood. Widely considered to be the very first major suburban subdivision in Apex history, the very first houses in Knollwood hit the market and were sold in 1967.

The year of ‘67 really sort of marked the true beginning of Apex’s modern residential boom.

But it wasn’t just the beginning of population growth (Apex’s population grew 60% during the 1960s) - you could also argue that 1967 was the beginning of downtown Apex’s growth.

And for that, you can credit… Bob Barker.

Let me tell you how cool Bob Barker is and why he’s a big part of Apex’s history.

Bob Barker actually got his start in Apex, NC by working as the publisher and editor of a small Apex newspaper in the mid-60s.

Seriously…

He covered town board meetings every week which gave him the visibility - and the frustration with the downtown's lack of revitalization at the time.

So he decided to to run for Mayor of Apex, which he famously won in 1967 - by just 16 votes!

Following his term as Apex Mayor, Bob Barker went on to host his very own game show business, the Bob Barker Company.

Wait… you didn’t think I was talking about that other guy did you?

Apex’s former Mayor, Robert “Bob” Barker, runs a very successful business, headquartered just down the road in Fuquay-Varina (where he also served as Mayor from 1995-1999), running the largest supplier of personal care products, clothing, and institutional supplies to jails and prisons in the United States and worldwide.

If you look closely at the labels on the uniforms or mattresses in almost any modern prison documentary, you'll likely see the name of the 1967 Mayor of Apex!

So here’s the real question… Who is the cooler Apex Mayor? Mayor Barker or Mayor Gilbert? Vote here.

As always, thank you for subscribing, thank you for taking a little time out of your day each week to support local journalism. Enjoy the rest of the issue. It’s about a 6… 7 minute read.

Miscellaneous Info:

⏸️ Apex Pauses Data Centers
The Apex Town Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to enact a one-year moratorium on the development of data centers and related uses, such as cryptocurrency mining. This temporary ban effectively puts all new applications on hold until April 27, 2027.

🚧 30-40% Sales Decline
In an interview with Triangle Business Journal, the owners of North Left in downtown Apex shared that they have seen a 30-40% decline in sales during the streetscape construction project. This is just your friendly reminder to keep supporting those businesses as much as you can!

🧠 Peak Resilience and Wellbeing Task Force
On Tuesday, Council Member Sue Mu introduced a resolution to create a task force to promote behavioral health awareness, reduce social stigma, and improve access to mental health resources and services in Apex. It is a "non-standing" (temporary) task force scheduled to remain active until June 30, 2028, unless the town decides to extend it or make it a permanent advisory board. The group will consist of 18 official members plus a team of volunteers, representing various expertise and community perspectives. The resolution notes that previous Wake County health assessments in 2022 and 2025 identified mental health as a top priority, but many residents still face barriers like long wait times and high costs. This task force is intended to create a "structured, collaborative body" to bridge those gaps locally. The resolution passed unanimously.

🌊 New Water Tower
Apex’s newest water tank, holding 1.5 million gallons of water used for fire protection and drinking water, is now complete. The tank at Tinger Road is next in line for repairs and a makeover.

👩‍🚒 Camp Ignite Applications
The Apex Fire Department, in partnership with the Cary Fire Department and Morrisville Fire & Rescue Department, hosts a FREE interactive 5 day summer camp for girls ages 14-18 each year. For 2026, camp will be held from July 27th through July 31st. Those interested in a career in fire service are encouraged to apply, which you can do so right here.

🗳️ Vote on Our Growth
Peak Plan 2055 wants you to share your input on the 5 growth scenarios that were presented at the last public forum. This survey is open now through April 27. You’ll need to have this guide in front of you to reference, while taking the survey here.

🏫 Grace Christian School
Relocating to Apex soon, Grace Christian School sold its 9.5-acre site in Cary to Triangle Math and Science Academy. They will lease the campus until they’re ready to move to their new $100 million campus in Apex. They’ll be just across US-1 from Veridea and expect to be open for the 2027-28 school year.

🎷 AHS Jazz Bands and Percussion Ensemble
You are invited to join us for an evening of Jazz and Percussion music with the Apex High School Jazz Bands and Percussion Ensemble TODAY, 7pm. Admission is free.

📸 Flock Cameras
We’ve brought this up before, but it’s worth another update. A resident spoke again at Tuesday’s council meeting about the flock cameras in Apex. If you aren’t too familiar with it all, it’s really worth the 3-minute watch here. In fact, if you click on just one link in this email… in my opinion… it’s this one.

🛡️ New Property Tax Guardrails
Property tax revenues in the state's 10 largest counties (including Wake) exceeded inflation and population growth by $2.6 billion over the last decade. Yesterday, the NC House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform met and voted to approve a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the General Assembly to set "levy limits" on local governments. The committee also endorsed a bill to close a tax loophole used by for-profit developers. Currently, some developers partner with nonprofits to claim property tax exemptions intended for affordable housing; this bill would tighten those rules to ensure only genuine nonprofit projects benefit. The General Assembly is expected to take up the proposals when the short session officially begins next week on April 21st. If they pass the amendment this summer, it will likely appear on the November 3, 2026, statewide ballot for a final vote by the public.

Things to Do This Weekend in Apex:

Friday, April 17

☕️ Grounded Together: Coffee Hour for Parents of Neurodivergent Kids
12:30pm | Foxtail Coffee (Hunter Street)

🛍️ Downtown Apex Boutique Crawl
3pm - 8pm | Downtown Apex

🍷 Wine Tasting w/Michael Trujillo
4pm - 6pm | Bottle Theory

Saturday, April 18

🧑‍🌾 Apex Farmers Market
8am - 12pm | The Depot

🏃‍♀️ Run Club Apex
Meet at 9am | Foxtail Coffee

🌸 Open House + Native Plant Sale
10am - 12:30pm | Simple Gifts Community Garden

Simple Gifts Community Garden is a community garden powered by volunteers growing a wide variety of fruits vegetables and herbs. They build everything using sustainable and organic practices, mostly using people power and amending the soil with our own compost and organic treatments when needed.

Most of the harvest is donated to local food banks (4,871 pounds of fresh, organic produce just last year!) Simple Gifts is holding an open house on Saturday, along with their partner, South Wake Conservationists (SWC), who are once again holding their annual Native Plant Sale as part of the open house. Click here for all the details.

🍻 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
11am - 10pm | Southern Peak Brewery

🐾 Paws & Pints Adoption Event
12pm - 2pm | Bottle Theory

Saturday-Sunday, April 18/19

🥒 Anything Pickled Snack Sunday Cook-off
2pm | Peakway Taps

🎭️ 2026 Senior Showcase
3pm both days | Senior Center

Local Business Update:

🫐 A Health Conscious Eatery
Taking the place of Tandoori Trail, which is now closed, this summer Grain & Berry, a health-focused cafe, will open at 2017 Creekside Landing in Beaver Creek. Grain & Berry’s menu includes flatbreads, toasts, salads, acai bowls and smoothies with a focus on high protein, lean meat and other nutritious supplements like turmeric and ginger shots.

🍻 Ten-Year Anniversary - Southern Peak Brewery
Saturday, April 18th from 11am-10pm, Southern Peak Brewery will host a day of Beer Releases, Vendors, Live Music, and delicious Food from Bulkogi and Henry's Hot Chicken!

The first 100 customers will receive a FREE commemorative Southern Peak Brewery 10 Year Anniversary Glass!

Live Music Schedule:

- Maverick Rose | Noon-2pm
- Jamey Meeker | 3-5pm
- Emma Rae | 6-8pm (Taproom Performance)

✂️ Ribbon Cutting - Brunswick Physical Therapy
Whether you are recovering from an injury or need help with pain management, Brunswick Physical Therapy’s experienced team is here in Apex to support you every step of the way. The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Thursday, April 16 from 12-1pm at 852 Perry Rd.

✂️ Ribbon Cutting - Bright Achievements
Bright Achievements believes every child with autism has the potential to lead a joyful, fulfilling, and independent life. They provide child-centered ABA Therapy. The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Wednesday, April 22 from 12-1pm at 2121 E Williams Street, Suite 102.

🍰 22% Off the Entire Store
This Tuesday, April 22, Uptown Cheesecake Cheapskate is celebrating Earth Day in a major way. It’s their biggest sale of the year and it’s all about doing good for the planet and looking amazing while doing it. 22% OFF full-price items. Tons of fresh, trendy clothes you’ll love

🚜 The Peak Weekly Farm Series (Part 3)

🍓 Buckwheat Farm

This article was written by The Peak Weekly’s amazing content contributor, Susan McGrath

This week we’re featuring Buckwheat Farm, located at 2700 Holland Road in Apex. Buckwheat Farm is owned by Jim and Karma Lee, and this is their 29th year of growing strawberries! Fun fact: Karma was the first woman to be named “Grower of the Year” by the North Carolina Strawberry Growers Association in 2005.

Strawberry-picking season is right around the corner, and the best way to stay updated on opening dates is by checking the farm’s website, Instagram (@buckwheat_farm), or Facebook page. They offer pick their own strawberries or purchase pre-picked buckets. Later this summer, blueberries will also be available for both picking and pre-picked purchase.

But strawberries and blueberries are just the beginning. At the roadside farmstand, you’ll also find a variety of fresh produce, including squash, zucchini, tomatoes, corn on the cob, green beans, watermelon, peppers, okra, cantaloupe, fresh flowers, and more.

In addition to produce, the farm offers homemade ice cream made with produce from their farm in many flavors, such as strawberry, blueberry, peach, spiced pumpkin, and more. They also sell jams and jellies made from berries grown right on the farm, including strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, peach, and pepper jelly. Honey from their own hives—as well as from 🐝 local bees—is harvested in early July and sold in one-pound glass jars. Shiitake mushrooms are also grown on the farm and are available in limited quantities during the spring and fall.

The farm offers field trips for a wide range of groups, including preschools, daycares, public and private schools, senior organizations, and businesses.

From April through June, field trips focus on strawberry picking. Visitors receive an introduction to the farm, learn the best techniques for picking strawberries, and leave with a bucket of freshly picked berries and an activity booklet titled Strawberry Time.

In September and October, field trips highlight honeybees and pollination. Visitors learn about the important role honeybees play in farming, observe a working hive, participate in a question-and-answer session, and explore a small maze designed for younger guests. The maze leads to a pumpkin patch, where each visitor can select a pumpkin to take home.

Field trips also include an introduction to the entire farm, along with shaded picnic areas for groups to relax and enjoy their visit. Call 919-303-0339 or 919-244-6947 to schedule your group trip for 2026.

Be sure to visit Buckwheat Farm this summer and give your support to another hardworking Apex farming family!

Civic News:

💻️ Town Council Meeting Real-Time Updates
If you have ever watched or attended a Town Council meeting, you know those things can go 2… 3… sometimes 4+ hours. It’s a lot to dig through sometimes in order to provide updates. So I created a tool that watches the meeting for me and then gives me updates in real-time.

Here it is in action during last night’s meeting:

Once the meeting is over, it cleans it up all nicely and saves it for future reference as needed. If you find this to be useful, feel free to check it out during the next Council meeting on April 28, or pull it up right now to see the recap of this week’s meeting.

View the Live Meeting Digest Here

The best thing about this tool - doesn’t require you to register an account, log in, share your identity, nor does it track you and store your information for personal gain. Just a thing I made for myself that I’m now sharing with you. 😁 

🌱 Yard Waste Update
The Public Works Director presented a proposed timeline and ordinance changes for yard waste collection. Key changes include transitioning to bi-weekly collection, eliminating grass collection effective January 1, 2027, and moving towards a containerized collection system by July 2028. The presentation detailed proposed ordinance revisions, enforcement strategies, and addressed public concerns regarding disposal capacity and stormwater impacts.

📜 Town Proclamations
The council presented proclamations honoring several causes on Tuesday. These proclamations recognized the vital contributions of various groups and initiatives within the community.

• Proclamation for Apex Electric Lineworker Appreciation Day.

• Proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week.

• Proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

• Proclamation for Nepal Day.

• Proclamation for Earth Day and Apex Earth Festival Day.

✅ Public Hearing: Annexation No. 827
The council held a public hearing for Annexation No. 827, located on Twin Creek Road, requested to obtain town utilities due to a well failure. Staff recommended approval, and with no public speakers signed up, the hearing was closed and the annexation was approved.

🗓️ Upcoming Town Meetings

Today, April 16
Town Manager's Recommended Budget Presentation
3pm - 5pm | Town Hall

Today, April 16
Environmental Advisory Board Subcommittee Meeting
Special Meeting: Tree Canopy Policy
5pm - 6pm | Town Hall

Today, April 16
Environmental Advisory Board Subcommittee Meeting
Regular Meeting
6pm | Town Hall

Monday, April 20
Culture and Arts Advisory Board
6pm | Town Hall

Tuesday, April 21
Board of Adjustment Meeting
6pm | Town Hall

Tuesday, April 21
Town Council Work Session
3:30pm - 5pm | Town Hall

A Look Ahead:

Thursday, April 23
Learning Lunch: National Poetry Month | Senior Center

Thursday, April 23
CommUniversity: Spring into Sustainability | Senior Center

April 24 & 25
Brewgaloo 2026 | Downtown Raleigh

Saturday, April 25
EarthFest | Town Hall Campus

Saturday, April 25
Backyard Snakes | Apex Community Park

Sunday, April 26
Love Local Showcase | Downtown Apex

Friday, May 1
Apex United Methodist Church Annual Barbecue | Apex UMC

Friday, May 1
Apex Community Dance | The Halle

Saturday, May 2
Peakfest | Town Hall Campus + Hunter Street

Thursday, May 7
AAPI Heritage Month: Sushi & Sumo | Apex Community Park

May 8, 9 & 10
“Suite Surrender” Spring Play | The Halle

Thursday, May 14
Learning Lunch: National Police Week | Senior Center

Thursday, May 14
Apex Amplified Concert | Town Hall Campus

May 15, 16 & 17
“Suite Surrender” Spring Play | The Halle

In Case You Missed it

🏳️‍🌈 2026 PFLAG Apex Scholarship
PFLAG Apex is will be awarding one or more $500 scholarships to high school students. The purpose of these scholarships is to reward outstanding LGBTQ+ students and allies, to encourage them to continue and complete post-secondary education, and to promote a positive image of LGBTQ+ youth. You can apply here (deadline to apply is May 31).

♻️ Recycle Bin Upgrades
Recycling bins are being upgraded from 65-gallon to 95-gallon. You’ll receive notice when your neighborhood is on the schedule. It will happen on the same day as your trash collection.

🎪 Upcoming: PeakFest (New Location)
PeakFest will be relocated to Town Hall Campus + Hunter Street during the Salem Streetscape construction project. It will take place from 9am - 4pm and will feature over 100 vendors, festival food and food trucks, live music and entertainment, kids zone with inflatables and roving street performers.

☀️ Farmer’s Market Summer Hours
The Apex Farmer’s Market is now in its summer hours, starting up an hour earlier: every Saturday 8am-Noon downtown at the Depot.

🚛 Landfill Study
Wake County has officially launched the "Beyond the South Wake Landfill Study" to plan for the future of waste management as the existing South Wake Landfill nears the end of its operational life. A new project website and a three-month public survey have been introduced to gather community feedback on environmental, financial, and operational priorities.

🚽 Restroom Renovations
Kelly Road Park restroom renovations have begun and will likely last through April 24th. Apex Community Park restroom renovations are currently scheduled to begin on April 27th and will likely last through May 8th.

A Final Note:

Thank you for taking time out of your day today to read this week’s edition of The Peak Weekly.

As always, if you have any ideas of how to make this newsletter better, want to nominate a local business or organization to be featured, or anything else, please respond to this email or email me directly at [email protected]

See you next Thursday... 😘