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sean

70 articles published

Features People & Profiles Visual Arts

Cary artist Shalimar Waffa brings color, music and joy to her canvases

Artist at Work BY DOLLY R. SICKLES | PHOTOS BY JESSICA BRATTON A registered nurse by training, Shalimar Waffa was on track to become a nurse anesthetist when she became pregnant with her daughter, Rowan, during the pandemic. “Rowan was my fourth pregnancy,” she says, “and a miracle baby.” Pregnancy gave her the perfect opportunity to step…

July 1, 20250Comments Bysean

Features Sports & Fitness

Bonus Baseball: The Holly Springs Salamanders Give Local Players and Fans a Hometown Summer Experience

BY KURT DUSTERBERG If you drive along NC Hwy 55 Bypass in Holly Springs on a summer evening, you might catch a familiar slice of Americana. On the east side of the highway, stadium lights splash across Ting Park, a modern baseball venue where the seats are often brimming with fans. At first glance, the view gives…

July 1, 20250Comments Bysean

Family & Education Features Home & Garden

What Each Swim School Offers May Surprise You

What to know before you choose BY SARAH MERRITT RYAN When our son was 18 months old, my husband and I wanted him to learn to swim. We just chose the first swim school that came to mind—one that was reasonably close to our house. I assumed all swim schools were alike and that they were there…

July 1, 20250Comments Bysean

The Hot Dog Days of Summer

By Dathan Kazsuk Let’s get one thing straight: There’s no shame in loving a good hot dog. Sure, it’s not caviar and an expensive bottle of French Champagne. It’s not a handcrafted sushi roll placed delicately on artisan rice. But when that frankfurter hits the grill, when the snap of that casing gives way to…

June 30, 20250Comments Bysean

Features Sports & Fitness

Carolina Hurricanes expand hockey’s reach with the Triangle’s first outdoor ball hockey rinks

Takin' It to the Streets BY KURT DUSTERBERG | PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOSH LAVALEE/CAROLINA HURRICANES On a warm, sunny afternoon in late March, more than 200 kids spread out across two street hockey rinks in Apex. Some of the teenagers knew how to stickhandle and put a shot in the net, while the younger kids mostly pushed…

May 1, 20250Comments Bysean

Features Food People & Profiles

Chef Scott Crawford’s Personal Journey

Brothers and Survivors Crawford Brothers Steakhouse owner learned tough life lessons with sibling BY KURT DUSTERBERG PHOTOS BY JESSICA BRATTON It is late morning at Crawford Brothers Steakhouse in Cary, and Scott Crawford is already in motion.While the kitchen staff tends to food prep and deliveries, the acclaimed chef and entrepreneur chats with his…

May 1, 20250Comments Bysean

Date Night Under the Stars in Holly Springs

Nightingale is Calling BY DATHAN KAZSUK | PHOTOS BY JESSICA BRATTON FOOD STYLING & PHOTO ASSISTANCE BY RACHEL DANIELLE It was a cool night in downtown Holly Springs—the kind of evening where the air hums with possibility and the clinking of cocktail glasses sets the soundtrack—and it was only Thursday. Along with my wife (and fellow 5 West writer) Jennifer…

May 1, 20250Comments Bysean

Home & Garden Nonprofit

A pay-what-you-can program is nourishing the Triangle, one garden box at a time

Gardens for Everyone BY SUSANNA KLINGENBERG PHOTOS COURTESY OF INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE I magine a generous bowl of steaming vegetable soup on a chilly day. Or a classic tomato and mayonnaise sandwich in the heat of summer. It’s nourishing, it’s delicious, and here’s the best part: It’s made with produce from your own backyard. A garden-grown meal is no…

March 5, 20250Comments Bysean

Features Home & Garden

Treasure Hunting for Vintage Pieces

Sally Nicol, curator of The Cary Cottage, shares tips for finding high-quality vintage pieces at secondhand markets BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC PHOTOS COURTESY OF SALLY NICOL EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE NOTED Sally Nicol has an authenticated work of art signed in 1946 by Henri Matisse hanging on her wall. It is not an original, but a reproduction…

March 5, 20250Comments Bysean

Features Nonprofit People & Profiles

Local Towns Team Up to Fight Fires

BY JUDITH COOKIS RUBENS Morrisville firefighter Natasha Byrd rides a ladder truck in her second career. She worked eight years in pharmaceutical manufacturing before, at age 28, changing direction to pursue the career she always wanted. “I’m a people person. I want to serve people,” says Byrd, now one of four women in the Morrisville…

January 2, 20250Comments Bysean

Features Health & Wellness

Senior Living: New Ways to Experience the Golden Years

BY MARIO BOUCHER Senior homes are transforming their image just in time for a “booming” generation seeking high-quality health care while maintaining an active lifestyle into their golden years. Long-term care can cover many services tailored to meet each person’s unique needs to maintain the best quality of life. Esther Cromwell, CEO and founder of Avendelle…

January 2, 20250Comments Bysean

People & Profiles

Morrisville Celebrates the Holidays

Morrisville Celebrates the Holidays BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC The holiday season starts early in Morrisville. Beginning in October, local communities begin putting up lights and enjoying Diwali holiday celebrations. As the date of Diwali approaches (it took place at the end of October this year), the sound of fireworks becomes common, and community celebrations include lights,…

November 3, 20240Comments Bysean

People & Profiles

Holly Springs Celebrates the Holidays

Holly Springs Celebrates the Holidays BY JENNIFER AXNESS Holly Springs comes alive each holiday season with a variety of activities that offer something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for town-wide, family-friendly celebrations, a lively holiday farmer’s market or cheerful musical performances, this guide highlights some of the best ways to experience the Holly Springs holiday…

November 3, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Food Local Business

Having Their Cake—and Selling It Too

The often-maligned fruitcake has a loyal following thanks to a family business with a just-right recipe. BY KURT DUSTERBERG No matter how you approach Southern Supreme Fruitcake & More on your drive, you encounter long stretches of rambling countryside. This section of southwestern Chatham County is the kind of deep country where many roads are identified by…

November 1, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Nonprofit People & Profiles

Combating homelessness in Wake County—one family at a time

The Carying Place BY CAITLIN WHEELER | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CARYING PLACE Every January, Wake County conducts a “point in time count” to determine the number of its people experiencing homelessness. Since some homeless families do not stay in shelters and encampments, an accurate figure can be hard to pin down. “It’s really hard to figure…

November 1, 20240Comments Bysean

This Year’s Diamond Award Winners

Voting has begun for the 2025 BEST OF WESTERN WAKE and BEST OF RALEIGH Diamond Awards! Click here to vote for the Best of Western Wake 2025 Click here to vote for the Best of Raleigh 2025 Edit Text Editor Readers throughout the community voted for their favorite businesses, services and venues. Now, we are excited to…

September 3, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Local Sightseeing

Fun in the Sun on Jordan Lake

PICTURED ABOVE: A family enjoys a canoeing adventure on Jordan Lake. Photo courtesy of the Town of Cary. Camping, swimming and boating are great ways to spend warm summer days in Western Wake. BY DOLLY R. SICKLES North Carolina has 41 parks in its state parks system, along with 10 national park sites and four…

June 30, 20240Comments Bysean

Features Travel

Historic Resorts and Nostalgic Beaches Along the NC Coast

PICTURED ABOVE: Beach homes in popular Outer Banks vacation spot, Avon, NC. Photo by stock.adobe.com - Kyle. Beach Fun Back in the Day: NC Seaside Vacations a Century Ago. BY ERIC MEDLIN This summer, millions of people are taking at least one trip to visit the beaches of North Carolina. These visitors come from all 50 states and dozens of countries…

June 30, 20240Comments Bysean

Fashion Local Business

Style: Living in Color

This summer's looks embrace a vibrant fusion of retro aesthetics. BY SOFIA LUJAN STYLING | PHOTOS BY JESSICA BRATTON Breathable fabrics like linen offer cool comfort, while an emphasis on sustainable materials soothes the conscience. Bold, eye-catching patterns—reminiscent of the '60s and '70s—add a playful twist to classic silhouettes. Accessory trends lean towards oversized sunglasses, statement earrings and…

June 30, 20240Comments Bysean

Performing Arts

Showcasing the Next Generation of Artists

BY KYLE MARIE McMAHON | PHOTOS COURTESY OF KYLE MARIE McMAHON No matter where their art journey takes them, young artists deserve to be uplifted and supported. And The Fine Arts League of Cary (FALC) did just that when they hosted their annual Teen Exhibition last week in the Frankie G. Weems Gallery at Meredith…

May 22, 20240Comments Bysean

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