Memorial Day & 10lbs of Ice

👋 Good Morning, Apex! Today is Thursday, May 21, 2026 and this is the 72nd consecutive weekly issue of The Peak Weekly.

I want to start by saying Happy Memorial Day. I’m grateful to live in a community that never forgets and continues to honor those who gave everything.

The Apex American Legion Post 124 will be hosting the Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday in front of Fire Station 1 downtown at 9:30am. The road will be closed from 9am-11am and GoApex Route 1 will operate on a detour.

Lots of other great events this week in Apex and I have also updated the “A Look Ahead” section at the bottom of this email with some things to look forward to in June so make sure to give that a look and add some things to your calendar.

Lastly before we jump into all the good stuff, The Peak Daily is officially sitting in the Apple and Google app stores pending a final review.

It should be live any day now. What is it exactly? Well… it’s everything you need to know about Apex in your pocket. A morning daily brief, events, real-time alerts (you choose what you want to see), tons of interactive maps… there are 32 different tools and growing. You just kind of have to see it to believe it :)

Note: The app is not free. It’s the first thing I’ve ever done since starting this newsletter that isn’t free. BUT… it’s only $3.99/mo and you get to try it out free for 7 days to see if it’s worth it. With all the different tools and costs to maintain the fees associated with it, I just have no option but to attach a small cost to it, but I kept it as low as possible.

I’ll post on my Instagram as soon as it gets approved. Try it out. Subscribe. Or don’t! No pressure. Either way, The Peak Weekly isn’t going anywhere.

Here’s a one-pager that shows off several of the features of the app.

Miscellaneous Info:

🚛 Three Day Weekend
Town facilities will be closed on Monday, May 25th. Trash and recycling will be delayed by one day for all routes next week.

🦺 Volunteer Opportunities
The Town of Apex keeps a running list of open volunteer opportunities. You can view them and sign up here.

🌊 Splashlantis Opening Day
The splash pad will open on weekends (Saturdays/Sundays) starting on this Saturday, May 23. On Monday, June 15, it will be open daily through Labor Day.

🎶 🎬️ Rhythm & Reels
The 2026 lineup is here starting with the Sweet Dream concert on June 6 followed by the Freakier Friday movie on June 13, and then more fun concerts and movies through the end of August. All concerts start at 7pm; all movies begin at Dusk. The Rhythm & Reels free concert and movie series takes place at the Apex Nature Park Amphitheatre.

👩‍🌾 Simple Gifts Work Day
Join Simple Gifts Community Garden for a work day this Tuesday, May 26 from 5pm-7pm. It’s only $20/year for your whole family to join. Most of the produce the community gardens goes to local food banks, but you also get to take home some produce any day that you work. Right now - potatoes, onions, kale, carrots, cabbage, broccoli and more. Raspberries and strawberries in the coming weeks. Regular workdays are Tuesdays 5-7pm and Saturdays 9am-Noon. Learn more here.

👩🏻‍💼 Serve on an Advisory Board
Serving on a Town Advisory Board is a great way to get involved, collaborate with local leaders, and make a real impact. Current vacancies include Culture and Arts, Environmental, Multimodal Transportation, Parks and Recreation and one youth position on the planning board. Learn more and apply by May 29 here.

👷 Hughes Street Site Planning
A 13-acre site at the corner of S Hughes St and Perry Road, acquired by the Town in February 2025, is being developed through a Town-led initiative for a mixed-income, mixed-use development to create long-term affordable housing. Learn more and share your feedback by June 1.

🪧 New Signage Coming
The Town of Apex Wayfinding Bid was approved by council at the end of April and will begin fabrication in June followed by installation through December.

Things to Do This Week in Apex:

Today, May 21

🎏 Mahjong Social
5pm - 8pm | Apex Senior Center

🧠 Caring for Your Mental Health
6-8pm | Halle Cultural Arts Center

Saturday, May 23

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

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

🎸 Live Music: Joe Hero
7pm - 10pm | TapStation

🎤 Center Street Band
7:30pm - 10:30pm | Oaklyn Springs Taproom

🌴 Reggae Night w/The Amateurs
8pm | The Backyard Bar

Sunday, May 24

🌿 Invasive Plant Removal Workday
10am - 12pm | Kelly Road Park

🏎️ Indy 500 & Canadian Grand Prix Watch Party
11am - 6pm | Apex Racing Lab

🍣 Sushi & Sumo
11:30am - 1:30pm | Apex Community Park

🎤 Peak City Band
3pm - 6pm | Bottle Theory

Monday, May 25

🎖️ Memorial Day Ceremony
9:30am | Apex Fire Station 1

Wednesday, May 20

🎬️ Wednesday Morning Movie
9:30am | The Halle

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

Local Business Updates

🥤 Cook Out
Now open regular hours from 10:30am to Midnight daily.

🐔 Wing Stop
Opens next Wednesday. Same hours as Cook Out.

🧊 The Local
Heading to Jordan Lake or just planning to be out in the heat this Memorial Day weekend? Stop by The Local and grab a big bag of ice on your way!

🍓 Southern Peak Brewery
Their annual release of the Strawberry One Mile Round will take place on Saturday, May 23rd at Noon. Stop in and enjoy a tasty pint of the German Pale Wheat Ale with local Honey and Strawberries from BuckWheat Farms right here in Apex NC. On draft for a limited time.

🍷 Wine & Design
Learn the art of fine silver clay jewelry making using real .999 pure silver in this one-of-a-kind Tolkien-inspired workshop! Next Thursday at 6pm, you’ll plan your design, work the clay, torch it, and buff it to a brilliant shine, walking away with a stunning real silver piece made by your own hands! $120 per ticket

💃 Curate Studio + Events
Whether you’re looking for a fun beginning of the week or midday reset or a way to start your Friday morning strong, these energizing Zumba classes are open to all levels and designed to get you moving, smiling, and feeling great. In-person and virtual classes.

🔨 Adventures in Bloom
Partnering with the North Carolina Museum of History, Adventures in Bloom is kicking off the Plott Hound Book Club with a hands-on metal stammping bookmark workshop and book swap. $30 per ticket

🛍️ Uptown Cheapskate
This is the perfect time to stock up on fresh styles, trending brands, shoes, accessories, and all your favorite finds for less. Shop Buy 3, Get 1 Free on all full-price items at Uptown Cheapskate from Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25.

🖌️ Mad Splatter
Turn your furry friend into a work of art! During the Paint Your Pet event, Mad Splatter will guide you in creating a custom pet portrait you’ll cherish forever. Wednesday, May 27. $10 per ticket.

🛻 Crossroads Ford of Apex
Need some Memorial Day plans? 10am-1pm Crossroads Ford will have 94.7 WQDR on site live, Carolina Boxer Rescue, heart of Carolina Mustang Club’s Cruise-in, face painting by In Your Face and Wicket Links Food Truck.

🚜 The Peak Weekly Farm Series (Part 8)

🐴 Sun Star Family Farm

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

Sun Star Farm is a nature-based school and camp program located on a beautiful 12-acre parcel at 2092 Marthas Chapel Rd. in Apex. Inspired by the Waldorf philosophy of education, Sun Star Farm offers toddler, preschool, transitional kindergarten, homeschool enrichment, and summer camp programs that honor the magic, wonder, and simplicity of childhood. 

Founded and directed by Heidi Watkins, a mother of three and an educator who believes in the magic and wonder of childhood and keeping it simple, the Sun Star Farm School focuses on child-led play, meaningful work, creativity, and connection to nature. The daily and weekly curriculum includes storytelling, bread-baking, songs, seasonal celebrations, imaginative play, and caring for animals. The farm environment features forest trails, swings, and sand play, as well as an indoor cozy playroom with natural toys and silks. Each day the children visit with the farm’s horses, sheep, miniature llamas and donkeys, pig, goats, chickens, bunnies, and more.

They offer the following programs.

Toddlers on the Farm

Designed for children ages 24–36 months, the Toddlers on the Farm program offers a nurturing and predictable rhythm that includes indoor and outdoor play, nature walks, animal care, wholesome snacks, puppet stories, songs, and restful quiet time. Families may choose either a four-day or five-day schedule.

Preschool Program

The Preschool Program serves children ages 3–5 and provides a warm, play-based environment where young children can grow socially, emotionally, creatively, and physically. Each day begins outdoors whenever possible and includes animal care, gardening, storytelling, practical activities, imaginative play, and seasonal crafts and celebrations.

Transitional Kindergarten

Sun Star Farm’s Transitional Kindergarten (T-K) program is thoughtfully designed for children who would benefit from an extra year before entering a traditional kindergarten setting. The program helps children build confidence, independence, emotional resilience, creativity, and the practical and social skills needed to thrive in the academic years ahead.

Folk School Homeschool Program

The Folk School is a Waldorf-inspired homeschool enrichment program for first and second graders that offers a rich and developmentally appropriate curriculum in a small-group setting led by experienced teachers. The program supports creative thinking, hands-on learning, and meaningful connection.

Summer Camps

Summer at Sun Star Farm is filled with adventure, creativity, and outdoor exploration. Campers ages 3–12 enjoy gardening, hiking, creek exploration, animal care, crafting, songs, games, and plenty of imaginative play and one-on-one farm animal time.

The farm also partners with Tinkering School NC to offer Forest Tinkering Camp for ages 9–12, where children use real tools to build projects, create abstract art, and engage in hands-on problem-solving and innovation in a natural outdoor setting.

Sun Star Farm additionally offers Counselor-in-Training opportunities for teens ages 13–15, as well as summer employment opportunities for camp counselors.

Families interested in visiting the farm may schedule a tour by contacting the school directly.

Contact Information

Sun Star Farm School Website
2092 Marthas Chapel Rd
Apex, NC 27523

Director: Heidi Watkins
Phone: (919) 699-4429
Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @sunstarfarmnc
Facebook: Sun Star Farm School Facebook

Civic News:

🔌 Billing Updates
In July 2024, the town suspended late fees and disconnections following the cybersecurity incident. Beginning July 2026, the town will return to standard procedures, including implementing a 1% late fee on past due balances and disconnection for accounts with balances over $500 that are greater than 90 days past due. More info and access to resources and payment plans here.

💰️ Budget Update
The original budget proposed by Town Manager Vosburg included a 3.5 cent tax rate increase. That has since been adjusted down to 3.0 cents. During the last budget work session, staff was instructed to prepare three additional versions of the budget: one with a 2 cent tax rate increase, one with 1.75 cents and one with 0 increase. Today, Council is expected to select one of these four options. The work session takes place at noon today. The Budget Public Hearing, where it would get officially adopted, is scheduled for June 9.

🎦 DeFlock Apex
An Apex resident has been digging into the contract between the Town of Apex and Flock Safety. Not just the contract - but many documents obtained through public records. The findings: Apex flock data is connected to hundreds of in-state and out-of-state agencies - including, at times, federal agencies. A very thorough analysis of findings through public records can be seen here: deflockapex.org

🔎 Public Records Requests
Speaking of public records... The Town’s handling of such records have been a topic of conversation in recent weeks. I’ve talked about it a lot myself as I have gone through the process many times while working on various stories.

Here’s my weekly editorial rant: It’s an absolute mess. From being denied based on incorrect statutes, to being denied again with the bold claim that private contracts override state law, to finding out that public record destruction logs don’t even exist in almost every single department, to being stonewalled and ignored and lied to… I don’t know what it is yet, but I know something needs to be done.

By the way - those unsupported denials and incorrect statutes that are cited to withhold public records from the public go down in the books as a “completed” public record request.

Anyway, quick check-in on my outstanding, very simple, very straight-forward public records requests:

That’s 4+ months of ongoing waiting on a simple export of public record data that he has ignored while ironically giving a statement about delayed public record requests.

Serious question… he calls my fact-based, highly sourced reporting fake news, he created a news website which claims to be the source of truth (social) that has a backend algorithm to filter out news he doesn’t want you to see, he posts on social media constantly to flood the zone, he is covering for the Town Manager who committed $61M in tax payer money without a public hearing instead of holding him accountable, his biggest donor is the Realtor PAC (pro development), he gives quotes to reporters about taking public records requests seriously while refusing mine and ignoring others for months on end and we celebrate him for being transparent?

If you go back to the early days of The Peak Weekly, you’ll see that I celebrated that too. I was a fan. But if you can look past the claimed political affiliation and the relentless posting of words that are rarely backed up by his actual actions, you’ll see it too.

Just saying this because I care about Apex. I have zero political aspirations. I have nothing to gain. In fact, I’m just setting myself up for more hate mail. But it’s important. If he had an R next to his name, are you ok with all of this? I’m not.

Upcoming Meetings:

Today, May 20
Environmental Advisory Board
6pm | Town Hall

Today, May 20
Town Council Budget Work Session
12pm | Town Hall

Wednesday, May 27
Parks & Rec Advisory Board
6pm | Town Hall

Thursday, May 28
Town Council Meeting
6pm | Town Hall

A Look Ahead:

May 29
Behavioral Health Community Workshop | Apex Senior Center

May 30
Meadow Melody Makers | Kelly Road Park

May 30
Eco Kids: Nature's Secret Superpowers | Bass Lake Park

May 31
Summer Market | The Ballast on Salem

June 3
Wednesday Night Movie | The Halle

June 4
Pride Stories | Hunter Street Park

June 4
Lunch Series - Organizational Excellence | The Halle

June 6
Sweet Dream Concert [Rhythm & Reels] | Nature Park Amphitheatre

June 13
"Freakier Friday" Movie [Rhythm & Reels] | Nature Park Amphitheatre

June 18
Learning Lunch - Pollinators | Apex Senior Center

June 20
Juneteenth in the Peak | Town Hall Campus

June 27
Afternoon in the Garden | Apex Nature Park

A Look Ahead:

🥾 Natural Heritage Interactive Trail
Apex's newest interactive trail is located at Apex Nature Park. Starting at the Pollinator Garden near the Seymour Athletic Fields, visitors can engage with nature and Apex’s history as they walk through the trail. Ten interactive signs have been placed along the trail showcasing environmental features, Town initiatives, and Apex history through a self-guided experience that brings the landscape to life.

🏈 Youth Fall Sports Registration
Fall youth sports registration opens this Monday, May 18th at 9am for Apex residents! Non-resident registration will open on June 1st. Find the Program Guide here.

▶️ Want to See What Veridea Will Look Like?
Fly over Viridea to see where each part of the project will come to life - from construction to visual animated renderings. Click the image below to watch (2m 48s)

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... 😘