The long-standing North Carolina law that required quasi-judicial hearings for special use permits issued by municipalities and the addition to the law in 2009 that added subdivision master plans and site master plans trumped the voices of Wake Forest residents again this spring. Despite what the Community Plan says about encouraging community involvement in land use and development decisions, ordinary people are shut out of major decisions about our town because their opinions, many based on years of observation and experience, are judged not “expert.” The contrast between the plans for the Sam’s Club and the Tryon subdivision demonstrate the value of information and opinion from neighbors and interested town citizens. When one person tried to speak in opposition to the plan for Sam’s Club, the town attorney warned members of the planning and town boards to ignore his statements because he is not an expert. There were several people

In March of 2011 the Town of Wake Forest finished switching old fluorescent tubes for new LED lighting in the police station on Taylor Street and the Northern Wake Senior Center on East Holding as well as installing solar panels to heat water and a hybrid heat unit at the Community House on West Owen Avenue. Mickey Rochelle, the director of public facilities, reported this month that in just two years the town has saved almost $17,000 in energy costs. He compared the energy costs for the year ending in February of 2011 against the same period for 2012 and 2013. The grant paid for the LED retrofit at the police station, but the town paid for the station renovation in 2012 which upgraded the heating/cooling system, changed the balance of the lighting and added new communications equipment. The 2011 energy costs were $19,533.21; the cost rose to $19,933.31 in

For the second consecutive year, the Annual Tour of Artists sponsored by the Wake Forest Guild of Artists has grown in size and scope. The two-day event to be held Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7, now boasts a significant increase in the number of participating artists (62 versus last year’s 24) and sites (16 versus last year’s 10). In 2013, the tour opened up to remote sites, and in 2014 there will be nine remote studios/galleries, a 300 percent increase. The number ofgalleries and studiosin Historic DowntownWake Forest has remained the same with seven, including the new Artists’ Nook at Mimosa and Artists’ Loft & Gallery at the Wake Forest Coffee Company.“We are really excited about the number of artists participating this year,” Beth Massey, president of the guild, said. “There is just so much incredible talent. We will have something of interest for everyone.” Galleries and studios

“Please bring a friend and attend the next Cash Mob Event which will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 26th,” downtown Wake Forest business owner Pam Jay said in an email this week. We will hold a meet and greet in front of Town Hall and divulge the Renaissance Area business location where each of us is committed to spending $20. We are changing it up a bit this time by announcing ahead of time where we will gather after the shopping spree to eat. It will be (DRUM ROLL PLEASE…) Brooks Street Bowl!!! where some lanes will be saved for those who want to stick around and bowl after we eat. ”Experience how Cash Mob can be another avenue to help you connect to your local community. Please consider joining us for a couple of hours. Bring the kids to help you shop, and teach them at an early

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre will host the inaugural Forest Storytelling Festival on Saturday, Aug. 9. Featuring four professional storytellers, along with entertaining workshops and concerts for children and adults, the festival will introduce the art of storytelling to the Wake Forest community and celebrate one of humanity’s oldest art forms. With four renowned tellers of different backgrounds, audiences of all ages are sure to relate to their colorful, humorous and inspirational stories. For years Gale Buck shared the stories and music of the Great Highland Bagpipes in schools around Wake County, but it wasn’t until he shared stories of the Magic of Christmas that he was called ‘Storyteller.’ Author of over 200 short stories and two published books, Gale is now an avid storyteller and promoter of the vocal art. Gale and his wife, Christy, enjoy traveling to festivals and helping others find the magic in our lives. Gale is