I Am Thankful for You (and Deviled Eggs)

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving, Apex! Today is Thursday, November 27, 2025 and this is the 47th consecutive weekly issue of The Peak Weekly.

Thank you all for subscribing and taking time out of your day each Thursday to read The Peak Weekly. I am thankful for you!

I have 2 goals for today:

1. Set the world record for most deviled eggs consumed and;

2. To watch my Dallas Cowboys get the W.

Aside from that, I have 2 additional things that I want to spotlight and be thankful for before jumping in to everything else for the week. These are two really cool initiatives by Apex residents that I think deserve a little extra attention:

🌳 Optimist Farm Tree Archive

The Optimist Farm Tree Archive is officially underway. This project represents a living legacy where trees, learning, and community can grow together. The goal is to plant native trees and plants to support sustainable growth while honoring our environmental heritage, fostering education, and inspiring future generations.

They are hosting their first planting on Saturday, November 29th from 2-5pm.

Learn more and sign up to participate here.

I’ll be there - please come say hi if you’re there!

Can’t participate? Donate here! It helps pay for Trees and planting materials.

👏 Extra thankful to Apex resident, Dean Krupa. He first reached out to me back in March and we had some back and forth discussions about a shared concern for our tree canopy. And while I’ve been here thinking about it ever since, he’s been out there doing something about it.

He’s put all of this into motion and I’m super impressed and grateful for what he’s been able to accomplish already. Please show your support to Dean, Trees for the Triangle and the new Optimist Farm Tree Archive. They are making real positive impact.

Reach out to Dean at [email protected] if you have questions or want more information about the Tree Archive.

🩸 Faelan’s Blood Drive

Cool fact: his Grandad donated blood and plasma for years in Ireland, and was even given an award from the Irish Government on his 300+ donations 10 years ago. He just recently stopped donating every two months (he's now 82!).

Faelan’s Blood Drive is on December 18 from 2-6pm. It will be in the parking lot by the clubhouse in Haddon Hall.

Donors get a $30 Visa gift card. As of Wednesday evening, there are just 20 remaining spots. Schedule your time to donate here.

Scratch that - only 18 remaining spots. Wife and I just grabbed our spots. If you can, please schedule a time to donate and come support this young man’s great cause. I’ve been chatting with his mom over email recently and I can tell you this is an awesome family to go support.

Miscellaneous:

🔒️ Closed ‘til Monday
All Town facilities and offices will be closed today and tomorrow. Thurs/Fri trash collection routes will run Fri/Sat.

🏭️ Data Center Developer Answers
Natelli Investments held a neighborhood meeting on Nov 12 regarding the New Hill Digital Campus. They have provided written responses to questions asked and submitted prior. You can see the questions and answers here.

🩰 Infinity Ballet: Dances from The Nutcracker
Join Infinity Ballet’s family one-hour storybook series for “Nutcracker Dances” on Dec 5, Dec 6, or Dec 7. Tickets on sale now.

☃️ Snowman Stroll on Salem
The Snowman Stroll on Salem is a festive promotional event designed to enhance your holiday experience in Downtown Apex. This event will kick off on Friday, December 5th, alongside the Annual Apex Tree Lighting Ceremony, and will run through Sunday, December 14th. Get your passport to be eligible for the raffle here.

🌿 1,150 Pounds of Weed
Thankful to the Apex PD who Apex police seized more than 1,150 pounds of illegal marijuana products that were being sold in several vape shots advertised as CBD. Apex PD did not provide details about the products themselves nor if they planned to charge any of the businesses or the distributor who is located in Raleigh.

🏫 School Board Vacancy Filled
On Tuesday, the school board selected Jennifer Job for the District 8 seat (which covers parts of Apex). Job is a former high school teacher and is currently a principal for BreakGlass Strategies, a political communications firm, and is also a regional vice chair in the Wake County Democratic Party. She replaces Lindsay Mahaffey, who resigned the seat in August.

🥪 Lunch with the Water Resources Department
Bring your lunch and your questions as we explore how the Stormwater team serves our community. This is your chance to engage directly with department staff, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the operations that support everyday life in Apex. This is a 45-minute discussion with Q&A.

Thursday, December 4, 2025
12:00–1:00 pm | Halle Cultural Arts Center

• Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Water Resources Department’s organizational structure and how the Stormwater Division fits in

• Learn about Stormwater Control Measures, what they are, and what they do for water quality Wet ponds, stormwater wetlands, bioretention areas, and underground detention systems

• Learn how the Division works with engineering design firms, developers, builders, and contractors involved in new development to protect the Town from flooding, erosion, and surface water pollution

• Learn how staff are dedicated to stormwater pollution prevention awareness and citizen responsibility throughout Apex

→ RSVP Here!

Things to Do This Week in Apex:

Saturday, November 29

🛍️ Small Business Saturday
All Day | Downtown Apex

🧑‍🌾 Apex Farmers Market
9am - 12pm | The Depot

🏈 College Football Saturdays
12pm - 10pm | Southern Peak Brewery

🌳 Apex Tree Archive First Planting 
2pm - 5pm | Optimist Farm

🎄9th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
6pm - 10pm | Southern Peak Brewery

🎸 Bad PaiR
 8pm - 11pm | The Exchange Lounge

🎸 Kurt and the Wonderbars
8pm - 11pm | Peak of the Vine

Sunday, November 30

🛷 Vintage Nook Holiday Fest
12pm - 4pm | The Studio

Wednesday, December 3

🎥 Wednesday Night Movie
7pm | The Halle

🔠 Music Bingo
7:30pm - 9:30pm | Rudy’s Pub

Local Business Updates

📲 Discounts Available
Mayor Gilbert has put together a nice little local coupon book on his app. His statement (in part): “I’m excited to share some great news just in time for the Thanksgiving season! On the Mayor Jacques K Gilbert Mobile App—which is privately owned, personally managed, and not affiliated with or funded by the Town of Apex—we’re introducing special Discount Features to help families enjoy local dining, shopping, and merchandise during the holiday season. These discounts are offered through the app itself as a way to spotlight and uplift local businesses that make our community so vibrant.”

Some of the discount deals include 50% off at The Mocha Room, Buy 2 Get 1 at Kilwins, 30% off at SoBol, a Free Gift promotion at Stylish Living, and more! If you don’t have the app, download it, click on Menu, and then click on Discount Coupons.

⬇️ Apple link | Android link

 🌮 Taco Bell Now Open
You can officially Live Más as the Taco Bell in Sweetwater is now open at 1101 Moncure Place.

🎄 No Frills Christmas Trees
Neighbor Boy Farm, who does have a full service Christmas Tree Lot, has a new in & out Christmas Tree offering this year. Mon-Thurs from 9am-5pm just drive in, grab a wrapped NC Fraser fir tree, head out. The goal is to be simple and affordable. Cash only. Pricing and details here.

🍫 S’Mores Talk & Mustang Charlie’s
Mustang Charlies Diner is turning 5! Their 5-Year Anniversary Celebration will be on Saturday, December 20 from 12-3. Santa will be there along with some S’mores roasting, hot cocoa bar and more.

The S’mores roasting will be provided by their new food truck, S’mores Talk, which will first be making its debut at the Christmas Parade on 12/6. If you don’t know, these are also the same owners as the Trash Talk Food Truck.

Look for S’mores Talk and Trash Talk at the parade and then come celebrate some more at the Anniversary celebration!

🍾 Rose & Lee’s 6th Birthday
November 28 - 29, Rose & Lee will be celebrating six years. They’ll have cookies, holiday mimosas, and some of the year’s best discounts all weekend! All the details here.

🍔 Cookout Update
Skippers is closed and Cookout will be taking its place. No date yet but I can tell you that this Cookout will have indoor dining and a drive-thru (most locations are drive-thru only).

Civil News:

👮‍♂️ Police to Citizen Dashboard 
The P2C dashboard that went offline during the July 2024 cybersecurity incident is now back online. You can look up incidents and arrests by address or via the interactive map. It’s a bit wonky on mobile and definitely a better experience on desktop, but maybe that’ll improve over time.

Shout out to the APD Records Supervisor who has kept me informed and has been an awesome resource. And to the Apex IT folks who have been working hard to bring this back. You all are awesome. Check it out:

https://apexpdnc.policetocitizen.com/

🦫 Seagroves Dam Restoration Project
A reader reached out last week to inquire about this, so I tracked down some info. Sharing today in case anyone else is interested. The drone survey has taken place. The environmental permitting is taking longer than expected since it goes through the USACE. Otherwise, the date i still set for 2027 completion.

🏘️ Apex Beautification Grant
This is another unique opportunity for residents to engage directly with Town services and learn about resources available to enhance your neighborhood.

The Neighborhood Beautification Grant application period runs 1/20/26 - 2/20/26. Neighborhoods interested in applying must attend an information session.

Monday, December 8, 2025
First Session: 12pm
Second Session: 6pm
📍Halle Cultural Arts Center

And on the theme of shout-outs and being thankful - Jimmy with Community Engagement is another rockstar and incredible resource for some of the information that the Peak Weekly brings you each week. He’s the best.

🗓️ Upcoming Town Meetings

Wednesday, December 3
Swearing in Ceremony for Town Council
6pm - 8:30pm | Town Hall

Thursday, December 4
Rules Committee Meeting
9am - 11am | Town Hall

Monday, December 8
Planning Board Meeting
4:30pm | Town Hall

Tuesday, December 9
Regular Town Council Meeting
6pm | Town Hall

A Look Ahead

December 4 | 12pm - 1pm
🥪 Lunch Series w/ Water Resources Dept | The Halle

December 5th-19th | The Halle
🥗 18th Annual Holiday Tree & Wreath Exhibit and Auction

December 5 | 4:30pm - 7pm
🎄Tree Lighting Ceremony | Town Hall Campus

December 6 | 5pm
🎅🏻 Christmas Parade | Downtown Apex

December 6-31 | 6pm - 9pm
✨ Holiday Tour of Lights | Map Coming Soon

December 12 | 5pm - 8pm
❄️ Holiday Winter Wonderland Night Market | Sweetwater

December 13 | 8am - 11am
🚘️ Cars & Coffee: Porsches | Sweetwater

December 14 | 4pm - 6pm
🕎 Chanukah Festival | Senior Center

December 18 | 12pm - 1pm
🕯️ Learning Lunch: Kwanzaa | Senior Center

December 20 | 12pm - 3pm
🎉 5-Year Anniversary Celebration | Mustang Charlie’s Diner

In Case You Missed it…

🍝 Get to Know Serafina Ristorante
Downtown Apex is now home to Serafina Ristorante, an elevated Italian steakhouse that is garnering glowing reviews by the day. We spoke with GM, Dillion Williams, to learn more about the restaurant, their executive chef, Matt Greiner, their House Mom, Mama Peggy, their Sunday Brunch, the Thanksgiving Day Buffet, and much more!

Read our interview here

🚲️ Bikes for Hope
With a goal of delivering 150 bikes and helmets to local children this Christmas, Apex-based community initiative, Bikes for Hope, has returned for its third annual bike drive. Donations are being accepted now through December 6 either via GoFundMe (funds will be used to purchase bikes) or by bike drop-off at Hope Community Church Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm, or during Sunday service.

🪴 Lichen or Knot Plant Company
The highly anticipated houseplant and decor store has opened in downtown Apex at 122 N Salem Street.

🍔 Al’s Burgers is Open
The burger shack teased us on their opening date a little bit, but it’s well-worth the wait. Al’s Burger Shack is now open at 2832 Teachey Place.

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... 😘