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Community Corner

🌱Plundering Porch Pirates + Tree of Life + Landfill Fire Extinguished

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Raleigh.

Christina Fullford's profile picture
Christina Fullford, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy Santa's List Day Raleigh!

I don't know about you, but I have two kids and it's really nice to get the opportunity to plug into the news, especially since Bluey or Paw Patrol are generally dominating my TV. I love staying in the know and it's really fun to be able to engage in conversations around what is going on in our city. I hope you get as much out of reading the Raleigh Patch Daily as I get from writing it. Being plugged in to our city is such a flex, and I hope you get the opportunity to show off how in the know you are in your daily life. There's so many conversation pieces in today's edition, including:

  • 80,000 meals packed to combat world hunger
  • The Oak City Tonight Holiday Sketch Show
  • Details for the Illuminate Art Walk

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and cooler. High: 51 Low: 31.

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Here are the top six stories in Raleigh today:

  1. As holiday shoppers are waiting for their packages, thefts are on the rise. One Raleigh resident found discarded items on a sidewalk, with bundles of Amazon boxes discarded in a creek. According to a survey from C+R Research, in 2022, 14% of Americans have been victim to porch pirates, with the average value of a stolen package around $112. Safewise.com suggests sending packages that you are concerned about to a delivery company's pick-up station or to a close family or friend who works from home. (abc11)
  2. A tree lighting ceremony was held on Friday night that represented more than just Christmas to remember. Each light on the "Tree of Life" represented victims of fatal crashes from 2021. The tree has 429 red bulbs representing those killed by an impaired driver and three blue bulbs representing law enforcement fatalities. Overall the tree represents 1,794 lives lost across North Carolina in 2021 and does not include survivors whose lives have been altered by the accidents they suffered from. (CBS17)
  3. After a week, the landfill fire in north Raleigh has been extinguished. The fire began around 3:30 a.m. on November 25. Only hours into the burn, the fire was out of control and crews at Wall Recycling were trying to create a fire break. It is unclear how the fire began. However, the company did have a controlled burn permit, as the landfill contained trees, stumps and limbs. (WNCT9)
  4. The SPCA of Wake County is reminding families to think twice before adopting pets as a holiday gift. Pet surrenders have reached a record high with more than a thousand in the past year. The SPCA is a non-euthanizing shelter and while it is grateful for the policy, with the increase in animals taken in the need is growing for loving forever homes. Workers with SPCA are concerned with holidays because many gift pets are surrendered by their owners. SPCA officials are hopeful that instead of puppies, families might opt for a pup in need of a home. (Spectrum News 1)
  5. A church in Cary packaged more than 80,000 meals on Saturday morning to combat world hunger. Around 300-500 volunteers typically show up when the church hosts the event. The group worked with international organization Rise Against Hunger. Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church and the Rotary Club of Cary partner to fund the $30,000 cost of ingredients. (CBS17)
  6. The U.S. 401 Corridor Study Team is looking for input from Wake and Harnett County residents regarding potential alignment options for the future highway. The area in southern Wake and northern Harnett counties includes around 19 miles of U.S. 401. There have already been meetings to help develop potential improvements and give feedback, and the next two meeting will take place on December 6 and on December 8. (CBS17)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Raleigh:

Monday in Raleigh:

From my notebook:

  • It's Santa's List Day and if your home has an elf to keep eyes on the kiddos to see if they are naughty or nice, then you might want this helpful list of reasons your elf didn't move in your back pocket, courtesy of abc11.
  • The Illuminate Art Walk has returned to downtown Raleigh, and you can find everything you need to know in order to experience it at the Downtown Raleigh Alliance's website.
  • The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has released a free book to help educators show students the importance of local wildlife and natural resources. (CBS17)
  • The Kids Together playground in Cary, NC has received the Triangle NC Cares Award for the month of December as they work to create an accessable playground for kids of all abilities. (abc11)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

  • T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (December 6)
  • Top 10 Divorce Mistakes and How to Avoid Them - Vesta's Charlotte, NC Hub (December 7)
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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— CJ Fullford

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Raleigh Daily? Contact me at raleigh@patch.com

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