Yes, you read that right. $217 million.

That’s the amount of aid Wake County will receive from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act.

What are these funds intended for?

The funds are labeled as “Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds” and will “assist local communities as they address the negative impacts of COVID-19 and lay the foundation for recovery.”

The funds will help combat:

Economic impacts spurred or exacerbated by the pandemic
Systemic community challenges through improved service delivery
Planning + preparing for future events that cause disruptions in services

How is Wake County going to disperse these funds?

That’s where you come into play. Wake County officials are looking for residents with a Wake County zip code to help gauge how it should spend some of the ARPA funds. To collect feedback, the county has created a public survey to help find what aspect of the pandemic has impacted citizens + the Wake County community as a whole.

What can I expect in the survey?

There will be a list of 10 topics — ranging from homelessness and housing stability to early childhood education and protecting the environment. You will be asked to place all 10 topics in order of importance to you as a citizen of Wake County, with the No. 1 topic being of the utmost importance. There will also be a blank field where you can add other items that aren’t already on the list.

The survey will close on Fri., Dec. 17.

EVENTS

Today

Make Better Business Decisions | Thurs., Dec. 2 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Learn how to analyze trends about how customers engage with your business online. 💻
A Shopping Spree - 2021 | Thurs., Dec. 2 | 9 a.m. | Jim Graham Building, 1025 Blue Ridge Rd. | $10+ | Join the Junior League of Raleigh for this holiday shopping event showcasing local, regional, and national exhibitors. 🛍
Dressing the Abbey | Thurs., Dec. 2 | Times vary | NC Museum of History | $15 | See the original costumes worn by actors of the hit series, Downton Abbey. 👗

Friday

Mammal Tracks Lead to Mammal Stories | Fri., Dec. 3 | 4-5 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Teach your kids about mammals at this fun event where they can learn about mammal tracks + tell a story with them. 🐾
Chorale Holiday Concert | Fri., Dec. 3-Sat., Dec 4 | Times Vary | Fuquay-Varina Arts Center, 123 E. Vance St., Fuquay Varina | $6 | Listen to the Fuqua-Varina Chorale’s Christmas performance led by Margaret Cook. 🎶

Saturday

History + High Tea: From Concept to Screen | Sat., Dec. 4 | 3 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Join the Emmy Award-winning costume designer from Downton Abbey, Susannah Buxton as she discusses her creative process when designing period costumes.
Wake Forest Launch Party + Triangle Pop-Up Market | Sat., Dec 4 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | 525 S. White St., Wake Forest | Free | Celebrate the opening of the fourth Loading Dock location + shop from a curated selection of art, home goods, and more. 🛍️
Volunteer Work Day | Sat., Dec. 4 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Raleigh City Farm, 800 North Blount St. | Free | Volunteer with the city farm to continue the cutback, clean-up, and mulching of their pollinating perimeter and enjoy coffee + treats from Yellow Dog Bread Co. while you’re there.

Sunday

Fuquay-Varina Christmas Parade | Sun., Dec. 5 | 3 p.m. | Downtown Fuquay-Varina | Free | Get into the holiday spirit and secure a comfy viewing spot for this annual Christmas parade. 🎄
Chanukah Parade | Sun., Dec. 5 | 5:30 p.m. | Jewish Life Center, 7400 Falls of Neuse Rd. | Free | Watch or take part in this festive Jewish parade and watch the Menorah lighting that follows.

Plan Ahead

Gingerbread Jamboree | Sat., Dec. 18-Sun., Dec. 19 | 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. | Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St. | $18 | Each group will enjoy crafting a special keepsake gingerbread house at their own socially-distanced table to provide plenty of space for building.*
The Nutcracker | Fri., Dec. 17-Fri., Dec. 24. | Performance times vary | Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts | $25+ | The Nutcracker is a must-see tradition that is the perfect ballet for the young and young at heart — with illusions that create magic live on stage.*

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

PLAN YOUR DECEMBER

NEWS NOTES

Weather

70° | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain ⛅️

Civic

Candidates interested in running for office in the 2022 statewide primary + rescheduled municipal elections can begin filing their Notices of Candidacy at noon on Mon., Dec. 6. Interested parties must file at the Exposition Center on the NC State Fairgrounds — located at 4285 Trinity Rd. The last day to file is Fri., Dec. 17. 🗳️

Development

Beacon Street — a Raleigh developer — has announced plans to turn the former Josephus Daniels House and Masonic Temple in Raleigh into Caswell Heights, an 11-home community at 1520 Caswell St. There has been no information released regarding the price of the homes, but Beacon Street plans to have lots for sale by the spring. 🏗 (Triangle Business Journal)

Sports

The All ACC football teams were released this week, with eight NC State football players named on the list. You can see the full list of players named to the team + Offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu was the only offensive first-team player to make the list from the Wolfpack’s offense. 🏈 (Fayetteville Observer)
Baseball America has named the Durham Bulls as the 2021 Minor League Team of the Year. Durham is the first Triple-A team to land that honor since 2006 + the Bulls finished with a 86-44 record, matching the third-most wins in the franchise’s history while playing 14 fewer games. ⚾

Job

The ArtsCenter is currently looking to fill an AfterSchool Arts Immersion Leader. This is a part-time, seasonal position that runs now through Tues., June 7, 2022. The position requires about 18 hours a week on Mon.-Fri. + starting pay is $14 an hour. 💼

Community

The Morrisville Parks and Rec. "King of the Court" Racquetball Tournament is happening this Sun., Dec. 5. Any and all skill levels are welcome to participate + whoever wins keeps control of the court and the goal is to stay on the court as long as you can.

Outdoors

Blue Jay Point staff invites you to join them for the Nature Peekers program: Forest Tracks, on Tues., Dec. 7. The in-person program will meet on the front porch of the Blue Jay Point Education Center and teach young participants about animal tracks + how to make their own. 🐾

Traffic

The City of Cary announced that the closures from the One Walker Project that impact S. Walker St. between E. Park St. + Walnut St. will remain in effect into May 2022. The extension of the closure is intended to accommodate curb and street improvements in the area + residents can expect the existing conditions to continue through this extended construction period. 🚧

Holiday

The City of Raleigh will host a Santa Crafts class with Susan Stephenson on Tues., Dec. 7 at the Walnut Terrace Center. No experience is necessary for this beginner-level craft class for individuals 18 years of age and up. Register here.

Coronavirus

Starting today, the free Wake County COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites will now be by appointment only. This was implemented in order to prioritize residents who are symptomatic, have been exposed to COVID-19 or are at higher risk + you can sign up to get your test at any location across the county.

Shop

In case you missed it, 6AM Rewards has officially launched. Join now with the email you’re reading this with, then start discovering all the ways to earn + redeem points for discounts and free Raleigh merch at The 6AM Shop.

Correction

In yesterday’s newsletter, we shared that St. Nick’s: A Raleigh Jolly Pop-Up Bar opened yesterday, Dec. 1. That information was incorrect, and the pop-up bar will officially open tomorrow on Fri., Dec. 3. Get your tickets here.

📸 @jnkpublicrelations

The town of Clayton has something to look forward to this weekend.

Chef Scott Crawford’s Crawford Cookshop is opening at 401 Main St., Clayton this Fri., Dec. 3. The new casual dining experience will feature “Americana'' comfort foods like house-made pork rinds, pimento cheese on brioche, and fried chicken. Find more on the menu here.

Crawford Cookshop will be open Tues.-Sat. and does not take reservations.

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