After being closed since late August, Joyner Park Pond is expected to reopen by mid-December. The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department closed the pond on August 23 due to the presence of red algae bloom. A subsequent investigation revealed that a sewer line leak contaminated the pond prompting the growth of the algae. According to Parks and Recreation Maintenance Manager Randy Hoyle, mitigation efforts in and around the pond are winding down. “Triangle Pond Management is scheduled to begin treating the pond with chemicals by early November,” said Hoyle. “Once that’s done, they will restock the pond with fish, including bass, bluegill, and catfish.” Barring any unforeseen issues, the pond and the adjacent trail should reopen sometime in mid-December. Still, officials say it could

            100 years of history by Carol Pelosi (After last week’s history column that mentioned his father, Grady Patterson sent along some of his memories of Wake Forest during World War II.)             I remember so well the dispute over Sunday movies.             I was also interested in the mention of my father’s request for a paper drive.  In addition to other things, he was chairman of Boy Scout Troop No. 5, which met in the basement of the Baptist church.              Those of us who were members of the troop collected newspapers, cardboard boxes, and other forms of paper for quite a long while during the war.  We even had a baler into which we could stuff the paper products, compress them and finally

(This is run again to emphasize how many families are in need of food help.) What an amazing summer it’s been! As we ease into the cooler days of fall, it’s time to break out the hoodies and embrace a new season of activities and community support.  This fall, we’re busier than ever. The number of families we serve continues to grow, and in October, we’ll be serving more than 1,800 families—our highest number yet! However, as the focus shifts to recovery efforts in Western NC, our donations have seen a significant drop. While we encourage you to support our neighbors in the west, please remember that there is also critical need right here in our community. Take a moment to check out our list

 Help us ring in the holiday season and launch our annual holiday donation drive during the Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-off on Saturday, Nov. 16. Free and open to everyone, this family-friendly celebration is scheduled from noon-4 p.m. in downtown Wake Forest. Promising fun-filled activities for both children and adults, our Holiday Kick-off will offer a slew of activities and attractions the entire family can enjoy, including the Carolina Hurricanes Storm Tour and Slapshot Booth, Snow Axe Throwing, Zap-A-Penguin, Curling, roaming street performers, community performances, children’s craft activities, and more! Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at several downtown restaurants, while the following food and dessert trucks will also be onsite throughout the afternoon: La Katrina Tacos, Kono Pizza, Ultimate Eggrolls and Dusty Donuts. Free parking will be available at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and along several