Hi there — We’re excited to share some tasty updates from Shake Shack. Read on for the latest offerings and ways we can collaborate to bring even more joy to our communities. 

Calling all Black Truffle fans! Shake Shack’s fan-favorite Black Truffle menu has returned to menus nationwide for a limited time.  

The star of the menu is black truffle sauce, made with black truffle oil hand-crafted in Umbria, Italy, available as an add-on for the first time to sides including the NEW Mac & Cheese Bites, Chicken Bites and Onion Rings.  

Check Out Shake Shack’s Full Black Truffle Menu Below:

Black Truffle Burger 

A made-to-order quarter pound* per patty of 100% Angus beef topped with fontina cheese, crispy sweet onions and black truffle sauce made with truffle oil imported from Umbria, Italy on a toasted potato bun.  

Black Truffle ‘Shroom 

Crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheeses, shredded lettuce, and black truffle sauce made with truffle oil imported from Umbria, Italy on a toasted potato bun. 

Black Truffle Shack Stack 

A made-to-order quarter pound* of 100% Angus beef topped with fontina cheese, a crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheeses, and black truffle sauce made with truffle oil imported from Umbria, Italy on a toasted potato bun. 

Black Truffle Parmesan Fries 

Crispy crinkle cut fries dusted with parmesan cheese, served with a side of black truffle sauce made with truffle oil imported from Umbria, Italy. 

Mac & Cheese Bites 

Crispy bites filled with ditalini pasta and creamy cheddar and American cheese sauce.

Black Truffle menu images are attached to this email. 

Plus, Spooky season just got a whole lot tastier! Starting October 1, we are kicking off a month-long Halloween celebration with a variety of scary-good deals. 

10/1–10/11: Free Chicken Shack with $10 minimum purchase 

Featuring Antibiotic-free, hand-breaded, white-meat chicken breast over lettuce, pickles, and buttermilk herb mayo on a toasted potato bun. Want to try something new, you can also get the West Coast Chicken Sandwich while supplies last! Use code SCARYGOOD to get the Chicken Shack or West Coast Chicken for FREE with a $10 minimum purchase.  

10/12–10/18: Free Single Cheeseburger with $10 minimum purchase 

A made-to-order 100% Angus beef burger with American cheese on a toasted potato bun   

10/19–10/31: Free Single ShackBurger with $10 minimum purchase 

Our signature burger with 100% Angus beef, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce, it’s the perfect classic to cap off spooky season and head into Halloween! 

You’re Invited to Transitions LifeCare’s Open House! Join us on October 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to tour our campus, enjoy light refreshments, and learn more about the compassionate care and support we provide throughout our community. As a proud Medicare 5-Star Quality Rated Hospice, we’re honored to serve patients and families with excellence and compassion. Meet our team, explore our facilities, and discover what makes Transitions LifeCare a trusted community resource. We can’t wait to welcome you!

5 Healthy Habits That Can Help With Depression

Depression can make even simple tasks feel out of reach. While therapy and medication are often essential, the small habits you build day to day can meaningfully support your recovery too. According to Manpreet Lehal and Kelsey Milam of Wake Counseling, small, intentional actions can gently shift your mood and energy over time — and you don’t need a complete life overhaul to get started. As we head into the fall and winter months, when shorter days and colder weather can make low mood harder to shake, these habits are especially worth building now. In fact, experts recommend beginning with the bare minimum to build momentum safely. Here are five habits worth trying.

1. Start Small with Behavioral Activation

One of the hardest parts of depression is the loss of motivation — you may find yourself waiting to “feel ready” before doing anything. But action often has to come first. Kelsey Milam, Director of Clinical Operations at Wake Counseling, calls this behavioral activation: “It’s starting at the very, very bare minimum. I’m going to wake up every morning, I’m going to brush my teeth.” Research shows this approach can be as effective as CBT or medication for easing symptoms.

• Start small — if a shower feels like too much, just wash your face
• Plan one small task each morning to create a sense of purpose
• Build gradually, adding a slightly bigger habit once the first feels automatic

2. Move Your Body and Get Some Sunlight

Depression often brings a pull toward stillness, which can deepen fatigue. Manpreet Lehal encourages carving out intentional time for movement — even just a daily walk. Pairing that with fresh air offers extra benefit: “Are you getting fresh air and Vitamin D?” Milam asks, noting these are often the first things to slip when someone is struggling. Exercise can be as effective as antidepressants for some people, and low Vitamin D has been linked to higher depression risk.

3. Check Your Thyroid and Support Your Brain with Omega-3s

Sometimes what feels like depression has a biological root. Lehal notes that thyroid dysfunction can mimic depressive symptoms — fatigue, weight changes, low mood — and roughly 40% of people with hypothyroidism develop clinically significant depression. It’s worth asking your doctor for a blood panel to rule this out. Nutrition matters too: Omega-3s (found in fatty fish or fish oil) support brain function and have anti-inflammatory effects that may ease symptoms.

4. Make Room for Mindfulness and Journaling

When your mind is crowded with negative thoughts, getting them out matters. Lehal recommends journaling and meditation as steady anchors. Journaling helps interrupt rumination by moving thoughts from your head onto paper, and studies show expressive writing can meaningfully ease depressive symptoms. For mindfulness, Lehal suggests just 15–20 minutes of being present and breathing deeply — a practice shown to lower relapse risk and reduce stress in recurrent depression.

5. Protect Your Basic Self-Care

Self-care is often the first thing to slip when depression hits. “Are you getting enough sleep? Are you eating well?” Milam asks — and these foundations aren’t optional.

• Sleep: Keep a consistent wake time to help regulate your body’s clock
• Nutrition: Balanced meals keep your brain fueled to help regulate mood

A Gentle Reminder

These habits won’t “cure” clinical depression on their own, but they build the foundation that makes other treatment work better. Start small, rule out physical causes like thyroid issues, and lean into movement and mindfulness where you can. And if it feels like too much to do alone, reaching out to a mental health professional is always a strong next step.

If you want to learn more, visit our resource hub: https://wakecounseling.com/blogs-depression/

The Block on Main is looking for local businesses, organizations, families, and community members to host trunks at our 6th Annual Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, October 24 from 4–6 PM in downtown Holly Springs.

Hosting a trunk is completely free—just decorate your trunk, bring plenty of candy, and join us for the afternoon. We typically welcome 1,000+ local attendees, making this a great opportunity for businesses and organizations to get in front of local families in a fun, relaxed, community-focused setting. You certainly don’t have to be a business, though—we’d love to have families, friends, clubs, teams, and anyone else who wants to participate.

Interested in hosting a trunk?
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48ABAF2CAAFFC07-65796180-theblocks#/

Want to learn more about the event?
https://www.facebook.com/share/1FLQayzPtU/

What really makes an athlete successful? Is it strength, speed, talent, or something deeper? While physical training is essential, the greatest challenge often happens inside an athlete’s mind. In sports, confidence, focus, and the ability to overcome pressure can make the difference between giving up and pushing through. Many coaches and athletes even say that success is 90 percent mental and only 10 percent physical.

As the school year begins, sports teams are ramping up, and athletes are getting ready for practices, games, and competitions. While most athletes understand the importance of physical preparation—such as attending practice, maintaining a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep—the mental side of sports is often overlooked until problems emerge. Athletes can struggle for many reasons: fear of making mistakes, returning after an injury, performance pressure, or conflicts with coaches or teammates. Sometimes, the cause of a drop in performance is unclear, leaving athletes feeling stuck. Prioritizing the mental game is just as essential as preparing physically.

Take baseball, for example: a player might start the season hitting well, only to suddenly enter a slump. At first, this seems normal—just part of the game—but sometimes the slump lasts longer than expected. The player may start to worry whether they’ll ever break out of it, practicing harder but seeing no improvement. At this point, it’s helpful to examine the mental side. What does the player’s self-talk sound like? Has a coach or teammate made an offhand comment, or is the player replaying a bad game in their mind?

Just as sleep, nutrition, and hydration are essential, athletes also need to practice positive self-talk and visualize success. Younger athletes, in particular, often underestimate the power of their inner dialogue. One simple way to build confidence is to repeat a personal mantra before a game, such as: “I’m a good baseball player. I practice well. I can hit the ball hard.”

Sometimes, the reason a player is in a slump goes deeper than mindset or visualization. In these cases, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can make a significant difference in sports performance by helping athletes process and move past negative or stressful experiences more efficiently. EMDR can also reduce performance anxiety, build confidence, and help manage pressure.

(EMDR is a therapeutic technique that helps athletes process stressful thoughts or experiences by focusing on them while engaging in guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation.)

One last thing, dear athletes: remember that one performance doesn’t define you. Believe in yourself, trust the work you’ve put in, and most importantly – have FUN!

Sue Tafalla, LCMHCA

Raleigh Tax Partners is thrilled to announce that we are officially an IRS Authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA)!

We can now authenticate foreign passports and ID documents for Form W-7 (ITIN) applications right here in Holly Springs or via secure video. This highly restricted designation allows our clients—including international students, foreign investors, and non-resident spouses—to securely apply for an ITIN without the risk of mailing their original passports to the IRS in Texas.

If your business works with foreign nationals who need U.S. tax IDs, we would love to connect and serve as a reliable local resource for your clients. Learn more about our new CAA services here: www.raleightaxpartners.com/certifying-acceptance-agent-nc

Capital Chevrolet Commercial Sales helps businesses of all sizes find the right vehicle solutions to operate more efficiently and grow with confidence. From work trucks and cargo vans to large fleet acquisitions, our team provides specialized commercial financing, leasing programs, and access to exclusive business rebates and incentives. By taking a consultative approach, we help companies optimize their vehicle investments while delivering the personalized service and long-term partnership they deserve. We encourage Chamber members to reach out for a one-on-one consultation to learn how Capital Chevrolet Commercial Sales can become a valuable partner in helping their business reduce costs, improve productivity, and prepare for future growth.

Dawson’s Electric & Air is proud to partner with Lennox for the Feel the Love® campaign, a national program dedicated to helping families in need by providing free HVAC installations. This year, Dawson’s will select one deserving homeowner in our community to receive a brand-new HVAC system, with our team providing the complete installation at no cost.

We’re inviting community members to nominate someone who deserves a little extra support and comfort. Nominees may include veterans, first responders, educators, individuals or families facing medical or financial hardships, or someone who consistently goes above and beyond to make a positive impact in their community.

When submitting a nomination at www.feelthelove.com, be sure to mention Dawson’s Electric & Air as the participating dealer. Nominations are open through August 31, and we encourage everyone to help us recognize a deserving neighbor and give them the gift of a safer, more comfortable home.

Together, we can help someone in our community feel the comfort, safety, and peace of mind they deserve.

Local Time Brewing is proud to once again partner with IBM in support of Children’s Flight of Hope through the annual Hops for Hope campaign.

This marks our fourth consecutive year participating in this incredible community fundraiser, which helps provide free air transportation for children who need access to specialized medical care that isn’t available close to home. Children’s Flight of Hope removes one of the biggest barriers families face—getting to life-saving and life-changing treatment.

Between now and the Hops for Hope festival on Saturday, September 19, we’re raising funds while also seeking raffle prizes, gift cards, themed baskets, and local businesses willing to host fundraising events.

We invite fellow Chamber members to join us in making a difference. Every donation, raffle item, event partnership, and shared post helps bring hope to families when they need it most.

Project Overview

Get ready for a whole new vibe in Downtown Holly Springs! The Town is moving forward with plans to transform Avent Ferry Road between W. Ballentine and Center streets into a pedestrian-friendly festival street. By introducing new paving materials and enhanced landscaping, plans call for this stretch of road to become a flexible, dynamic hub that can be completely closed to vehicles during special events, turning it into an open-air plaza perfect for festivals, markets, and community celebrations.

Learn more and share your thoughts to help shape this project.

• Stakeholder/Property Owner Meetings
• • Project Kickoff – June
  • Project Check-ins – September, October, and January 2027
• Community Meetings
• • July 15 – Community Open House
  • August 21 – Festival Street Design Lab 
  • October 14 – Community Open House

Check out project information boards, interactive stations, and opportunities to engage directly with the project team. 
Attendees are encouraged to share ideas for the future streetscape, complete the community survey, and learn about upcoming engagement opportunities, including a hands-on prototyping event planned for August. Drop by anytime between 6-8 p.m. to explore, ask questions, and add feedback for this exciting initiative.

The festival street was one of five key community priorities identified during the development of the Downtown Area Plan, which describes the community’s vision for downtown. The plan aspires to create a downtown where people can live, work, and be entertained.

Location

Avent Ferry Road between W Ballentine Street and East Center Street

Status

Living Your Corporate Values: The Secret to Long-Term Business Growth in Holly Springs

Company values are the true foundation of a successful organization. They do far more than sit on a plaque in the lobby; they actively shape your workplace culture, define your brand identity in the local marketplace, influence daily decision-making, and establish clear expectations for employees and leadership alike. When an organization’s values are consistently reflected in everyday actions, they create a thriving business environment built on trust, accountability, and a shared sense of purpose.

However, simply displaying a list of principles on your website or office walls isn’t enough to move the needle. The most successful businesses in southwest Wake County actively integrate their core beliefs into every single layer of their operations. Aligning your daily practices with your organizational philosophy is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your team culture and support sustainable, long-term business success.

It All Starts with a Clear and Collaborative Definition

Before an organization can rally around its core principles, those guiding beliefs must be clearly and authentically defined. It requires asking foundational questions: What does our business truly stand for? What specific principles should guide our toughest decisions? How do we want local customers and our team members to experience our brand? Your final values should directly reflect your mission, your ethics, and your long-term vision for the future. Keeping them concise and meaningful ensures they are easy for everyone to understand, remember, and put into practice.

Crucially, these defining elements shouldn’t be handed down solely from a closed-door executive session. Employees bring invaluable, ground-level perspectives because they live and breathe your workplace culture every single day. Gathering direct feedback through informal team meetings, workshops, or internal surveys does more than just generate great ideas—including your workforce in refining these principles naturally drives engagement and inspires a deeper, personal commitment to living those values across the entire company.

Embedding Principles into Onboarding and Daily Operations

For values to truly take root, consistency is everything. Your core beliefs should be highly visible and felt across every operational touchpoint, from initial candidate recruiting and customer service standards to internal communications, strategic planning, and vendor relationships. When a team sees these principles actively guiding high-level business strategies, the words shift from being simple text in an employee handbook to becoming the actual heartbeat of the organization.

This alignment is particularly vital during the hiring and onboarding phases. Bringing on team members whose personal ethics naturally complement your corporate culture is the most effective way to build strong, deeply engaged teams. By explicitly weaving your organizational philosophy into local job descriptions, interview questions, candidate evaluations, and new hire orientation, you set clear expectations from day one. This proactive approach helps new employees integrate smoothly and become productive, connected team members much faster.

Leading by Example and Championing Your Team

Leadership has the single greatest impact on whether company values become a living reality or remain just talk. Executives, managers, and supervisors must consistently model the exact behaviors they expect to see from their staff. Employees are far more likely to embrace a corporate mission when they watch their leaders making ethical choices, treating others with respect, communicating transparently, and taking ownership of mistakes. Authentic leadership builds the psychological safety and trust that underpins organizational credibility.

Beyond modeling the right behavior, leadership must also actively champion it. Consistent recognition reinforces positive actions and keeps your company’s mission top of mind. Celebrating employees who exemplify your core beliefs can happen seamlessly through peer-nominated awards, public appreciation during team meetings, or formal recognition programs. This praise doesn’t always have to be monetary; frequently highlighting real success stories and customer testimonials demonstrates to the entire team that their formatting of these values truly matters, fostering a deep-seated culture of appreciation.

Connecting Culture to Measurable Growth

Ultimately, a strong workplace culture must support measurable business objectives. Whether your current organizational goals involve boosting local customer satisfaction, driving service innovation, breaking down communication silos, or significantly enhancing employee retention, your core values should serve as the roadmap to get you there. When your workforce clearly understands how their individual, daily efforts support both the company’s internal principles and its overarching commercial success, they become inherently more motivated and committed to achieving those milestones.

Because businesses naturally grow and the southwest Wake County economic landscape continues to evolve, your organizational framework should be revisited over time. Regularly evaluating your cultural alignment through annual engagement surveys, performance reviews, and client feedback ensures your guiding principles remain modern, relevant, and fully aligned with customer expectations without ever compromising your core identity.

Aligning corporate action with organizational belief is an ongoing journey rather than a one-time HR initiative. Businesses that successfully bridge this gap build resilient workplace cultures, cultivate deeper customer trust, and position themselves for lasting, sustainable growth in our community.

Community Friends,

As a follow-up to the support that many of our staff provided to the St. Charles School when they traveled to Tanzania last summer, Pine Springs Preparatory Academy is serving as host site for a shipping container as part of the Crutches for Africa initiative.  With the support of community contacts like you, the goal is to fill the container with donated mobility equipment. Even if you do not have any crutches to donate, please consider sharing this email and the attached flyer with individuals and organizations who you think may have items to donate. Once filled, the container will be shipped to a community in Africa that is in need of such supplies. 

At this time the only donations being accepted are unwanted crutches. Here is how you can donate a pair (or many pairs) of crutches that you no longer wish to have in your home or business.

Items wanted: Crutches (Wooden, metal, doesn’t matter)

How and when to donate: Donations will be accepted Monday – Friday after 4:00pm; any time on Saturday and Sunday.  Simply place crutches that you wish to donate next to the shipping container, which can be found in the field behind the PSPA Middle School located at 1729 N. Main St.  They will be put inside the container later that day. 

Our goal is to fill the remaining space with crutches and then have the container shipped to a location in Africa later this Spring.

Thank you for your consideration.

Bruce Friend
Superintendent
Pine Springs Preparatory Academy