Welcome to The Line, a newsletter for Cary and Western Wake from The Assembly Network. The Line connects the dots for local life with timely info, relevant news, interesting people and expert guides. 

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Off the Top: The Line is on an abbreviated schedule this week and will be taking a break on New Year’s Day. See you in your inbox again next Tuesday!

🚉 Arriving Now: I’m sharing some reads from around The Assembly Network to read on your holiday break. Plus, see if you guessed the coffee shop! 

–Sarah Day

Recommended Reading

📰 Read No. 1: Into the Woods With the Dix Park Trolls: The week of the new year is a perfect time to visit the Thomas Dambo trolls in Dorothea Dix Park. INDY’s story by Janine Latus follows behind the scenes of the three-week build with 336 volunteers. 

“The trolls are spread around the 308-acre park. Walking among them takes about an hour, and that hike is part of Dambo’s goal. “My art is about getting people off of their screens and getting children out to experience all that magic that I experienced growing up, like searching in the forest,” he said. “I’m always imagining my own kids going on that hike. It’s easy to be motivated if you’re going to see trolls!” ” Keep reading…

📰 Read No. 2: Who’s Your People?: In light of the full federal recognition ofNorth Carolina’s Lumbee tribe, signed into law as part of the national defense spending bill, revisit thisThe Assembly story by Julian Brave NoiseCat about the Lumbee’s 137-year fight for recognition. “Their story reveals a great deal about race, identity, and who does—and does not—count as ‘Native.’” Keep reading…

📰 Read No. 3: INDY Stories That Stood Out in 2025: INDY’s editorial team identified a few storylines that stood out this year–and will continue to influence the Triangle in 2026. 

“Over in Wake County, land trusts are having a moment. The Raleigh Area Land Trust was expected to bring 30 units online, after selling two affordable homes in its seven-year existence. And Apex launched its own community land trust, a unique model in that it is town-sponsored and uses town-owned land. In Cary, Greenwood Forest Baptist Church made its foray into what associate pastor Wesley Spears-Newsome referred to as the “yes, in God’s backyard” movement, winning approval to build 62 affordable units on the church’s property, Chloe Courtney Bohl reported.”

📰 Read No. 4: The Race to Save America’s Favorite Christmas Tree:As you take down that Fraser fir, a behind-the-scenes story on its greatest risk–and the Christmas tree genetics lab at N.C. State University that is working on a solution. 

“Temperatures are rising. The climate is drier, but when it rains, it tends to pour. Phytophthora root rot, a fungus-like organism that evolved from brown algae, is thriving, and it’s killing Fraser firs more and more often during the 10 years or so that it takes to grow them to a size favored by most consumers. Once it takes hold, it’s nearly impossible to eradicate.” Keep reading…

Did You Guess the Coffee Shop?

Many of you recognized this Downtown Cary coffee shop. Mike S. guessed it correctly first.

Jenn T. also guessed it correctly, and wrote “I have spent many hours at those windows trying to work instead of people-watch. Great mission, great coffee.”

It’s Esteamed Coffee! This shop has a meaningful mission as a nonprofit organization:, to employ and increase quality of life for adults with “intellectual, developmental, communication, and/or visual disabilities by creating meaningful jobs and social opportunities in a warm, supportive environment.”

A 1940s cottage on Academy Street in Downtown Cary is home to the business that employs baristas, cashiers, and other workers with disabilities. Featured work from artists and makers who have disabilities are also on display and for sale.

The menu includes classic espresso bar items and a seasonal menu includes flavored lattes, matcha, cider, and hot chocolate. I got a peppermint mocha and got my on-school-break second grader a “kids temp” hot chocolate.

What else to know: Besides the standard seating, there’s a small conference room on site that can be reserved. Esteemed Coffee also hosts events and clubs. 

Find it: 114 S. Academy Street, Cary, open 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. 

The Line will be back in your inbox next Tuesday! 

Sarah Day Owen Wiskirchen is the head of newsletters for The Assembly Network and editor of The Line.