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Community Corner

🌱 Raleigh Tourism Numbers Increasing + Major Downtown Street Closure

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Christina Fullford, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy Apple Cider Day Raleigh!

Can you believe how fast this holiday season is going? Thanksgiving is really, officially, less than a week away! I feel like I've only been jamming out to my Pentatonix Christmas list for a few days and it's almost time for it to be socially acceptable for me to do so! I feel like the rest of the year always seems to drag on and once the temperatures drop it flies by. Here is your permission, and mine, to slow down, take a breather, soak it all in, and enjoy some time to yourself catching up on Raleigh. I hope that you enjoy the peace and calm of getting to know what's going on as much as I do. For today, read all about:

  • Make Wake County tobacco-free.
  • The downtown Raleigh tree lighting has been set.
  • The Squishmallow Tour visits Raleigh.

But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sun. High: 53 Low: 30.

Here are the top six stories today in Raleigh:

  1. According to a report released by Visit Raleigh on Wednesday, the Wake County tourism industry has seen an increase in visitor spending. The third quarter report shows an increase in tax collections from food, beverage and hospitality compared to last year. In recent months, Visit Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance hosted 76 events that attracted more than 75,800 people to the area. The organizations already have 97 events booked for future dates that are expected to bring a projected $68 million in economic impact to Wake county. (WRAL)
  2. Wake County Schools passed the student reassignment plan for the 2023-24 school year. The plan passed unanimously after going through multiple drafts and receiving feedback from parents. (abc11) Wake County Public Schools is also officially launching its new tutoring initiative that will help students in low-performing schools. The WakeTogether kickoff event was held Thursday morning at Southeast Raleigh Elementary School, which is one of the 28 schools that will have tutors present. (CBS17)
  3. The Raleigh City Council has asked Raleigh's police chief to make safety around abortion clinics a priority after volunteers have raised concerns about protestors. Anti-abortion protestors have been pushing demonstrations right up to the property line. Now activists are calling on the city to create a buffer zone that would force protestors to gather further away. Megan Patton, a newly-elected councilor, says that buffer zones are a priority and a quick thing that the council can act on. (WRAL)
  4. Wake County students and leaders are pushing to make Wake County more tobacco free. One Wake County student made a presentation on Thursday, showing her path to school that passes four different vape shops in the quarter mile commute. Wake County commissioner Sig Hutchinson says that Wake County has taken steps towards becoming tobacco-free, including updating the tobacco-free ordinance that bans tobacco in public places and broadening the definition of what a tobacco product is. (CBS17)
  5. Person Street in downtown will be closing for three months, as the city works to update aging infrastructure. The street will require a full closure from Hoke Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to repair water and sewer lines. The closure will begin on Monday, November 21 and work schedules will depend on weather and other factors. Detours will be set up to take people around the project and will likely cause residual traffic delays on I-40, US 70, and Timber Drive. (CBS17)
  6. Raleigh police are investigating after a head-on collision took place on Wednesday night. Police responded to calls about a three-vehicle crash that included a Raleigh police officer. According to officials, two vehicles collided head on, and a juvenile as well as the officer involved were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (abc11, CBS17, WRAL)

Today's Raleigh Daily is brought to you by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today's Raleigh Daily possible.

Today in Raleigh:

Saturday in Raleigh:

  • The 78th Annual ABC11 Raleigh Christmas Parade (9:30am-12:00pm)
  • KoreaFest at The Exposition Center at the State Fairgrounds (10:00am-7:00pm)
  • American Indian Heritage Celebration at the North Carolina Museum of History (10:45am-4:00pm)
  • The RINK at Red Hat Amphitheater Returns, presented by UNC Health (11:00am-11:00pm)
  • Holiday Bazaar with Live Music & Santa at Transfer Co. (12:00pm-4:00pm)
  • Magic and Mischief: A Wizards Market at Fred Fletcher Park (1:00pm-6:00pm)
  • Downtown Raleigh Coffee Stroll starting at Marbles (2:00pm-3:30pm)
  • Tree Lighting at Lafayette Village (3:00pm-6:00pm) & North Hills (4:00pm-7:00pm)
  • WRAL Night of Lights Fun Run at Dix Park Conservancy (6:15pm)

Special notice:

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile for two new series: Local Heroes and Star Student Athletes. The goal is to highlight heroes and star athletes in Raleigh!

  • If you want to nominate a local hero, click here
  • If you want to nominate a local athlete, click here.

From my notebook:

  • It's Apple Cider Day and although Raleigh doesn't have any apple orchards as close as we might like, there are some that are just a short day trip away. NC Tripping has done the work and put together some apple picking sites that you can head out to and enjoy some apple cidery goodness!
  • The De Plantas food truck is having its soft opening today, and will be serving up plant based Latin-fusion food!
  • Wake Tech and WRAL have teamed up to bring back Brain Game, "The Smartest 30 Minutes on Television," high school quiz show. (Wake Tech)
  • The Squishmallows Tour will be heading to Pullen Park tomorrow from noon until 4:00pm. (WRAL)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— CJ Fullford

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

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