Win an NC Wine Experience!
North Carolina Wine lovers, enter to win one of five fabulous NC winery experiences—brought to you by NC Wine! Here are the exciting details of each experience:
Enjoy a complimentary Luxe Tasting for 4, plus a $75 Gift Certificate to enjoy lunch at The Bistro at Childress Vineyards.
Enjoy a $100 Gift Certificate that can be used for tasting, as well as at their restaurant.
Enjoy a $100 Gift Certificate that can be used for tasting, as well as at their Bistro Europa.
Enjoy a complimentary tasting for 2, plus a voucher for their Adopt a Vine Program—where you can have your very own vine make your very own wine!
Enjoy a complimentary Tasting for 2, plus an $80 Gift Certificate to enjoy lunch at the Harvest Grill at Shelton Vineyards.
Fursday: Meet Baba from Saving Grace Adoptions!
Baba is a sweet black pup with short, shiny fur and the gentlest of hearts. A lab mix who weighs about 20 lbs, Baba has lots of room to grow. While he’s still learning the ropes of puppyhood and figuring out just how wonderful people can be, he’s already showing his affectionate side. He’s known for giving kisses freely, proving that even a slightly shy pup can have endless affection to share. Baba is a fun boy who loves a good squeaky toy, especially if he use it to play together with his siblings. With patience and love, Baba is sure to grow into a loyal companion who will shower his family with sweetness for years to come.
Hometown Hero of the Week: Wyatt Godwin, November 19th, 2025
Our QDR Hometown Hero of the week is Wyatt Godwin, Police Officer for the town of Cary.
“I would like to nominate Officer Wyatt Godwin for the Hometown Hero Award. For the past three years, Wyatt has served the town of Cary as a dedicated police officer. His commitment to protecting and serving our community extends beyond the badge—he’s a compassionate and hardworking individual who always puts others first.
Service runs deep in Wyatt’s family. His father proudly served as the Chief of Police in Cary, and Wyatt is now following in his footsteps with the same strength of character, integrity, and dedication. It’s clear that the values of leadership and public service have been passed down, and Wyatt honors that legacy every day he puts on the uniform.
Whether he’s responding to emergencies, engaging with the community, or offering a helping hand to someone in need, Wyatt consistently leads with courage, humility, and heart. He has made a meaningful impact on countless lives, and he truly embodies what it means to be a hometown hero.
Cary is safer and stronger because of Officer Wyatt Godwin. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.”
Thank you, Wyatt, for your service! As a token of our appreciation, we’re sending you a $50 gift card to Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q to thank you for all you do.
Holiday Live and Kickin’ Friday with Mike and Amanda!
Join Mike and Amanda for a Live and Kickin’ holiday celebration! Be a studio guest on Friday 12/5 or 12/12 and see what happens behind the scenes and be part of the show! Register below to attend. Breakfast will be provided by Hardee’s, and our friends at Jernigan’s in Dunn will provide you with a special gift! Shop fabulous gifts, jewelry, and more!
This NC plant eats bugs for breakfast — and looks beautiful doing it
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend Gardener
Most of us have seen or have some knowledge of the most iconic plant in the world: It’s the “Venus Flytrap”, which is native to a small area of southeastern North Carolina. One of its cousins, also a native to the “Tar Heel State”, is the venerable “Pitcher Plant”. It is also carnivorous and has an equally insatiable appetite for insects. This is another plant I don’t have in my landscape. I do need one after seeing the crop of the Purple Pitcher Plant at the North Carolina Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill.
“Sarracenia purpura” is a striking, fascinating, sneaky plant that just loves creatures like bugs, spiders, and small frogs! Find it growing in marshes and bogs along the eastern seaboard, all the way up into zone 3. It has upright pitcher-shaped leaves that are open to collect rainwater. Insects are attracted to droplets of nectar on the rim of the leaves and the leaf color. Interested insects and amphibians crawl into the tube where some hairs grow to prevent them from getting back out. There is of course water at the bottom that contains special enzymes. The victims eventually fall in the water, drown, and are digestive. What a meal! The folks at the extension service point out the larvae of the Pitcher Plant fly which feeds on the remains of dead insects.
To provide the correct environment for the Pitcher Plant you need a bog garden that you may happen to have on your tract of land or you have to create one which can be tedious and time-consuming. Probably not! Fortunately, they can be grown in specially prepared containers.
Now how do you design a bog garden you ask? Find a location in a really low location on your property, possibly near a downspout or even a ditch. You need at least 6 hours of sun too. That’s essentially full sun. Create a perimeter and dig down 12 to 18 inches. Still want to tackle this? Then place a pond liner in the hole and make sure it extends up the sides of the hole. The liner will need to be anchored with rocks, etc. Cover the bottom with some sand. Add a soil mix of 5 parts peat moss and 1 part sand. You can also add some sphagnum moss. It likes very acidic soil. Anne Clapp would recommend playground sand. Water the soil mix thoroughly. Now add a variety of bog-loving plants to the mix. For the Pitcher Plant, don’t get any of the soil in its crown, keep the soil consistently wet, as it sports shallow, fibrous roots. Don’t fertilize the Pitcher Plant and don’t feed it insects. If the plant is happy, it will use natural abilities to sustain itself. I have read that they can live 50 years!
There are many varieties of Pitcher Plants available for sale in catalogs and you may find them in a carnivorous plant nursery. However, they are now rare in the wild because of poaching and changes to their habitat, so don’t harvest one if you happen upon it. I have read that over 97 percent of the Pitcher Plant’s habitat has been destroyed by development.
The “Sarracenia purpura” does have a couple of disease issues and few insect problems believe it or not. It can’t eat everything! Try if you must to grow one. But if you are not that ambitious, at least appreciate this unique carnivorous native wonder plant while it is still around.
Fursday: Meet Goosey from Second Chance Adoptions!
Meet Goosey, a stunning Siberian Husky who’s as sweet as she is beautiful! At a petite 40 pounds, she’s full of energy, love, and personality. Goosey is a total people-pleaser who gets along with other dogs and is generally submissive in her doggie relationships. She absolutely thrives on attention and is always ready to make new friends—two-legged or four-legged when out and about in the world. Goosey is an affectionate and mostly well-behaved girl, but she does like things her way and can be possessive of her toys, food, and personal space. She’s been making great progress with a trainer and is learning to share her world a bit more each day. To help her continue building on that success, her adopter should have experience with resource guarding and be ready to continue working with her trainer. With the right structure and support, Goosey can truly thrive. Given her needs, she’ll do best as the only pet in the home. As for crate time, she’s definitely not a fan—she’s a certified escape artist when it comes to her crate, often pulling off Houdini-level escapes! Because of her escape artistry, a 6-foot fence or an active home ready for regular leash walks is a must for her. If you’re looking for a loyal, affectionate, and playful companion who will keep you on your toes, Goosey is the one! She’s ready to bring her energy and love into your home, and she’s sure to be your best friend for life.
Hometown Hero of the Week: Jay Foushee, November 12th, 2025
Our QDR Hometown Hero for the week is Jay Foushee, Firefighter Bahama Volunteer Fire Department.
Jay’s service as a firefighter began as a volunteer with the Hurdle Mills Volunteer. Fire Department over 30 years ago. As a local farmer, he rarely missed a call. Neighbors would call him directly because they knew he would hustle over to help. He later joined the Roxboro Fire Department until he retired a couple of years ago. During the same time frame, he joined the Bahama Volunteer Fire Department, where he continues to serve. During the recent flooding, he was involved with rescuing 2 ladies in their car from the flooded Moores Mill Road. Since Helene hit the mountains in September 2024, Jay has made it a mission to coordinate supplies for Burnsville, NC, and the surrounding areas, which continues to this day. He has made well over 14 trips to take supplies. He has made at least one trip a month, paying for the fuel to transport himself. He is still organizing supplies to help WNC. Jay is the best kind of neighbor, willing to serve when called. While still farming and running a mulching business, he still serves the fire service 5 nights a week. His dedication to service has been instilled in our whole family.
Thank you, Jay, for your service! As a token of our appreciation, we’re sending you a $50 gift card to Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q to thank you for all you do.
“Wicked: For Good” Watch Party: Sing Wicked Good and WIN!
Get ready for a Wicked good time, QDR style! See the new “Wicked: For Good” movie with us on Thursday, December 4th, at Paragon Theatre at Fenton in Cary. It will be a Wicked Good Watch Party that includes a grand prize giveaway to see Ariana Grande on her Eternal Sunshine Tour in Atlanta next July! But the ONLY way in IS TO WIN and the ONLY way to win is to SING!
Click here to sign up to sing for your seats and, if you’re chosen, you’ll be put on the QDR Karaoke stage to sing your favorite Wicked song… ON THE RADIO! It’s a night of magic, music, and maybe even a little mischief!
Click here for the complete “Wicked: For Good” Watch Party contest rules.
Hop in the QDR Hot Tub Time Machine, Powered by Bullfrog Spas
ENTER THE CONTEST KEYWORDS HERE
Hop in the QDR Hot Tub Time Machine this weekend powered by Bullfrog Spas! We’re fillin’ up the playlist with your favorite ’90s Country and, while you’re reminiscing, you could win a brand-new hot tub from Bullfrog Spas. When we power up the Hot Tub Time Machine, we’ll give you a keyword to enter here for your chance to win a new A7 Series Select Hot Tub. Listen between 6 am – 10 pm Saturday and 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday.
The Bullfrog Spa Model A7 Select stands out for its spacious design, extensive therapy options, and premium features, making it one of the most appealing mid-size luxury spas available today. Here are four of the Model A7 Select’s most beloved features :
- Customizable JetPak Therapy lets everyone pick their own jets for a truly personal spa experience.
- Worry-free relaxation with up to 90% less plumbing—you get a hot tub with more reliability and less maintenance.
- The A7’s premium frame won’t rot, warp, or fall victim to pests. Plus, it’s perfect for any climate.
- Free Delivery within a 90 mile radius of downtown Raleigh
Don’t miss the Bullfrog Spas’ Black Friday Sale happening November 26th – December 1st! Save up to 50% off on clearance hot tubs and swim spas and receive a free accessory, just in time for the holidays—all with warranties and free standard delivery. Bullfrog Spas feature the patented JetPak Therapy system allowing you to customize your spa to fit your therapy needs. Visit your local Raleigh Bullfrog Spa Factory store in Cary or bullfrogspas.com
Click here for the complete Hot Tub Time Machine contest rules.
The Nashville Songwriters Return to DPAC!
Some of the Nashville’s greatest storytellers, Jeff Outlaw, Tim Nichols, Wynn Varble, Monty Criswell, and special guest Phil Vassar, are coming to DPAC on Friday, March 6th, 2025, for an exclusive QDR country music event.
Get full show details here.
