Patriot Day, PFAS and Pecan Pie Lattes

👋 Good Morning, Apex! Today is Thursday, September 10, 2026 and this is the 88th weekly issue of The Peak Weekly.

Registration is Open for the 2026 Apex Rotary Christmas Parade!

Just wanted to lead with that because I’m so tired of being hot and if the Christmas Parade registration is open, that’s gotta mean we’re due for some cooling off here soon.

The Apex Rotary Club is calling for anyone interested in participating to signup (last year, all spots were filled by the end of September so if you are interested - sign up soon).

The Annual Apex Rotary Christmas Parade is being held on Saturday December 5, 2025 starting at 5:00pm at the intersection of Ambergate Station and The Peakway, heading down Salem Street, turning on Moore Street, and ending at the Apex Public Works Buildings on Upchurch St.

In addition to in-person attendance, WRAL will be streaming the parade live as well. If you are interested in participating in the parade, here is the registration link.

Additionally, I want to draw your attention to the Patriot Day Ceremony that will take place tomorrow at 9:30am in front of Fire Station 1.

Patriot Day Ceremony is an event organized by the American Legion Post 124, where members of Apex public safety, Town Council, and other community members share words and reflect on the tragic events of September 11, 2001. 

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the tragic day. I’m in no position to preach on this topic but I do think it’s important that we continue to talk about September 11 as many of the younger folks in our community weren’t even around yet when that happened. And it’s also important to remember and recognize that there are survivors of the World Trade Center attack all around the Triangle area including some right here in Apex.

With that said, hope to see you there tomorrow morning! It’s a rain or shine event and, FYI, Salem Street from Saunders to Center Street will be closed 9am-11am.

Miscellaneous Info:

🚎 Try Transit Day
Today, from 10am until 5pm, Apex Planning Staff and the Multimodal Transportation Advisory Board members will be at the bus stop in front of the Mason Street Municipal Building to share info about local and regional transit services and plans.

🏒 Hurricanes Hockey Night
Stop by The Depot on September 18 from 5-8pm for street hockey, Canes inflatables and a special visit from Stormy.

🎨 Watercolor Artists of NC
The Halle Cultural Arts Center will be featuring a collection of great watercolor pieces from different North Carolina artists through November 16. There will be a free Opening Reception on September 11 from 6-8pm with live music and refreshments.

🌊 Splashlantis Closure
Splashlantis, which feels like it’s closed more than it’s open, at Pleasant Park remains closed while they work through repairs. The Town hopes to open it again before the end of the season.

🀄️ Mahjong Socials
Enjoy playing Mahjong? The Town is hosting a few upcoming Mahjong Mondays (Oct 5, Nov 9, Nov 23). Just $5. Register here.

🎬️ Drive-in Movie Night
Tickets for these drive-in movie nights usually go fast. So get them while you can - Hocus Pocus will be playing at Pleasant Park on October 16 and tickets just went on sale. Get them here. And How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be shown on December 18. Tickets are on sale for that event too here.

🏸 Badminton Open Gym
For the first time, Parks & Rec is offering Open Gym Badminton at the John M Brown Community Center. Sunday, September 13 & 27. An Open Gym Pass is required and can be purchased at the front desk.

Things to Do This Weekend in Apex:

Today, September 10

🐾 Paws & Rec Kick-Off Event
6pm - 7pm | Apex Community Park

🌲 Triangle Environmental Symposium
Forests from Around the World with Meg Lowman, Chumpi Washikiat, and Godi Gadar Moteke Molanga
6:30pm | The Halle

🎶 Music Bingo w/The Ones Music Bingo
8pm - 11pm | Doherty’s Irish Pub

Friday, September 11

🇺🇸 Patriot Day Ceremony
9:30am | Fire Station 1

🎨 Watercolor Society of NC Gallery Reception
6-8pm | The Halle

🎸 Live Music: The Solution Band
8pm - 11pm | Peak of the Vine

Saturday, September 12

🫶 Think Apex Day
All Day | Multiple Locations

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

🧑‍⚕️ 55+ Health & Wellness Fair
9am - 12pm | Apex Senior Center

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

🛏️ AHS Band Mattress Sale Fundraiser
10am - 4pm | Apex High School

🛍️ Apex Underground Market
11am - 3pm | Sweetwater Town Center

🎸 Live Music: Maverick Rose
6:30pm - 9pm | Southern Peak Brewery

Sunday, September 13
Classical Concert Series: Thron-Larkin Duo | The Halle

Wednesday, September 16
Morning Movie: Spy Kids | The Halle

Wednesday, September 16
Spider Stories / Historias De Arañas | Hunter Street Park Shelter

Local Business Updates

Pick Two

This is a new segment where you have to pick two of the items below and then do them this week. You have to. Sorry… that’s the rules.

Blackend Shrimp BLT
Try the Burger of the Month at Al’s Burger Shack.

Trivia Night
See how smart you are on Tuesday at The Local.

Beer & Chili
Visit HighCraft this evening from 6-8pm for Beer & Chili Night.

Pecan Pie Latte
Grab the new Pecan Pie Latte or any of the other new drinks on Groovy Duck’s Fall Coffee Menu.

Live Irish Music
Taco Tuesdays are great. But every now and then, a Tuesday evening calls for some good Irish Music, some good food and a good drink at Doherty’s.

Ramyum Zip
Go try the Ramen. or the Chicken Katsu. Or the Bulgogi Cupbab. Or the sushi. Or the fancy drinks. But most definitely try the Sweet Chili Korean Wings!

Coming Soon

These are for your “pick two” in the coming weeks 🙂 

NeighborhoodBarre of Apex
On September 18th, the studio bringing low-impact, strength-focused workouts designed for every age and stage of life will be opening at 962 US HWY 64.

Bear Hands
Reopening their (new) doors on September 26th, Bear Hands is back and is making an entire magical weekend out of it. Details here.

Civic News:

🏛️ Town Council Meeting Tonight
Town Council meetings are usually conducted every other Tuesday. This week, the meeting was pushed to Thursday (today).

So instead of a recap, here’s a preview:

• Patriot Day Presentation of Colors by APD and AFD

• Updates from Council

• Adoption of the Meeting Agenda and Consent Agenda

• Town Manager’s Report

• Town Clerk’s Report

• Proclamations for Hispanic Heritage Month, National Senior Center Month, Patriot’s Day 2026, Think Apex Day 2026, US Air Force Birthday

• Public Forum

• Hearing on Annexation Application for 3 acres at Olive Chapel & Linden Grove

→ I’ll post a recap tonight on The Peak Weekly Facebook page, as well as in next week’s email.

🦸‍♀️ Don’t Forget Miss Annie
FYI - I am still all over the school parking issue. I have an updated story coming soon. And to date, I still have not received an answer from any Town representative on why the church parking is legal (all excuses so far have been debunked) nor why Miss Annie is being sued despite the Statute of Limitations expiring AND for being grandfathered in due to nonconformities. She will prevail. Mark my word. The question is - how much does it cost us before that happens?

⚛️ What is Apex doing about Forever Chemicals?
Between 2002 and 2012, the Town of Apex applied treated sewage sludge to farmland at Tingen Road and the Apex Peakway under state permit WQ0001060.

In January 2024, the Town rezoned that same 81.9-acre property for as many as 800 homes and a 15,000-square-foot daycare.

The Town’s 540-page decision record contains no reference to the site’s history, and its development application form contains no question about a property’s prior use.

Fourteen months later, a subsidiary of the homebuilder Lennar tested the soil and groundwater, found PFAS — the class of compounds known as forever chemicals — and terminated its contract. The seller and the intended buyer are now suing each other over $718,000 in escrow.

How did the land get zoned for 800 homes and a daycare if the soil contains PFAS?

That’s the thing: Nobody broke a rule. Nobody did anything wrong.

I spent a week digging through the permits, the meeting minutes, the court case documents, the rezoning application and more. Here’s the story.

Upcoming Meetings:

Today, September 10
Town Council Meeting
6pm | Town Hall

Monday, September 14
Planning Board Meeting
4:30pm | Town Hall

Tuesday, September 15
Board of Adjustment Meeting
6pm | Town Hall

Tuesday, September 15
Town Council Work Session
3:30pm - 5pm | Town Hall

A Look Ahead:

September 17
Triangle Environmental Symposium | The Halle
Gardening for the Planet Documentary Screening with Joanne Hershfield

September 18
Hurricanes Hockey Night | The Depot

September 19
Festa Italiana | Hunter Street & Town Hall Campus

September 24
Explore S’more | Apex Nature Park

September 24
Family Fire Safety Workshop | Apex Fire Station 3

September 26
Latino Arts Festival | Town Hall Campus

September 26
Fall in Stars Hallow (handmade market) | The Studio

September 26
Peaktoberfest | Southern Peak Brewery

October 6
Apex Night Out (featuring Touch-a-Truck) | Town Campus

In Case You Missed it:

🌳 Plant the Peak
Help offset all the tree loss from development by applying to the 2026 Plant the Peak program. Offered on a first come, first served basis, the program covers all costs for the purchase and installation of one of 14 different tree types.

🚦 New Stop Light
The Town of Apex, in partnership with Beazer Homes, is moving forward with traffic signal improvements along Old US 1 at Friendship Road and Holland Road to support traffic flow near The Summit development. Signal installation is anticipated to begin in Fall 2026, with an estimated completion date in December/January.

📷️ Public Safety / Flock
Mark your calendars - A public safety committee meeting will take place on September 24 to review the use of Flock Safety license plate readers.

A Final Note:

Thank you for taking time out of your day today to read this week’s edition of The Peak Weekly. If you love it, please forward it to a friend. If you don’t love it, please unsubscribe.

And, 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... 😘