Late last week Steve Stoller, a former president and current board member of the Friends of the Wake Forest Public Library, became aware that other board members were discussing dissolving the group. He informed other former board members and the concern about the possible action grew from there. The concern on the part of many stems from the fact that the libraries in Wake Forest and the Friends organization are two community touchstones, ways in which the people here have defined ourselves. It began in 1961 when a county-wide referendum to establish a library system which could have raised taxes by 7 cents was defeated though it was passed by Wake Forest voters. Catherine Paschal, who lived in the family house on Durham Road and was a member of the board at Olivia Raney Library in Raleigh, the only public library in the county, took that as a personal challenge.

To the editor: Let me introduce myself to anyone who does not already know me. My name is Connie Nourse. I was the chairman of the committee that set up the Friends of the Library at the request of the Wake Forest Town Commissioners. Then at the initial meeting of the Friends group at the old library building on South White Street, I was elected as the first president of the Friends and then was elected for one more term of office two years later. The Friends of the Wake Forest Public Library, Inc. got its start from a small article in The Wake Weekly announcing that on such-and-such date, the head of the county library system and other important county officials would be glad to meet with citizens to hear their comments and requests about what they would like in the new branch library to be built in Wake Forest. So I attended.

The Wake Forest Police Department will partner with the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), Safe Kids North Carolina, and Riverkeepers of NC to sponsor Operation Medicine Drop on Saturday, March 15. The police department will host the medicine drop-off event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the ground floor meeting room of the Wake Forest Town Hall at 301 S. Brooks St. The room is most easily accessed via town hall’s Taylor Street entrance. The police department offers Operation Medicine Drop as a prescription and over-the-counter medication take back initiative that promotes proper medication disposal. By providing a safe and secure way for people to get rid of unwanted pills, tablets and other medications, Operation Medicine Drop helps prevent accidental poisonings and drug abuse while also protecting local rivers and streams. The grassroots effort is a partnership of Riverkeepers of NC, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of NC, and local law

On Monday, March 10, the Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department will open the outdoor restrooms and water fountains at the following town parks * Ailey Young Park, 800 Juniper Ave. * E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road * .B. Flaherty Park & Dog Park, 1226 N. White St. Due to a recently revised construction schedule, the public restrooms at Holding Park, 133 W. Owen Ave., will open in late March or early April. The delayed opening is necessary to allow work crews sufficient time to install heating units and insulation and make other modifications to the restrooms essential to ensuring they remain accessible year-round. From late March through April, the town will close the restrooms periodically at E. Carroll Joyner Park while crews perform similar work to ensure their year-round availability. According to Facilities Manager Mickey Rochelle, the construction schedule will allow the restrooms to be open during

Every day is busy at the Northern Wake Senior Center on East Holding Avenue in Wake Forest where the activities are provided by Resources for Seniors. Help with income tax preparation is available through April 15 through the AARP Tax Aide program on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To get the help you must sign up at the front desk or call the senior center for an appointment, 919-554-4111. * * * * The “Blarney Blast” Dance and Potluck Social will be held Thursday, March 13, from 7 to 19 p.m. The cost is $5. Bring a dish to share. The ballroom dance lesson will be provided by Gaylord Picard from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Dressy attire; no jeans, please, 55 years and older. * * * * Rex Mobile Mammography will be on site Thursday, March 27, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call the center for appointments. * * * *