“When the town of Wake Forest asked residents to define what gives our community its small town character, they identified our Fourth of July Celebration as one of the things that make Wake Forest the charming small town it is.” That is how Rob Mitchell, president of the July Fourth Committee, began a fundraising letter sent to many town residents, giving them the opportunity to sponsor all or part of the event. Sponsorships range from $15,000 – exclusive sponsorship of the fireworks show – to $200 – business name in the program and two tickets to the fireworks show – but people and businesses can also donate smaller amounts to help put smiles on thousands of faces. The deadline to sponsor or donate is June 1. Newcomers may not realize that the town’s Fourth of July celebration, which began in 1973, is not a Town of Wake Forest function. The

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is partnering with Camp Gladiator to launch its first Camp Gladiator (CG) evening session on Tuesday, May 26, at 6:15 p.m. at Flaherty Park, 1226 N. White St. The on-going four-week program will be held at Flaherty Park on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting at 6:15 p.m. Created by American Gladiator Grand Champion Ally Davidson, Camp Gladiator has become the fastest growing and most dynamic fitness program in the nation. According to its website at http://campgladiator.com/, Camp Gladiator is a four-week adult fitness boot camp that promises a motivating and challenging environment where men and women of all ages and fitness levels can push themselves. Campers should expect a total body workout. A typical session could include interval training, sprint and agility drills, stations, plyometrics, body weight strength drills, cardio mix, and much more. Camp Gladiator is designed to increase

The Holding Park Pool will open Saturday, May 23, for the Memorial Day weekend and will remain open through Monday, May 25, with swimming permitted from 1 to 7 p.m. The pool will also be open the weekends of May 30 and 31 and June 6 and 7 and 13 and 14. It will open for weekdays on June 15. The weekend hours are 1 to 7 p.m., and the weekday hours are 1 to 6 p.m. Swimming lessons will be offered in June, July and August, and again the American Red Cross, other health organizations and the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department strongly urge all parents to make sure their children learn to swim. Registration for the swimming lessons will be online only at www.wakeforestnc.gov/swim-lessons.aspx. You can also call 919-435-9560 for more information. The park and the pool at the corner of South Main Street and

Members of the Wake Forest Lions Club are inviting the public to join us on Thursday, May 28, at 7:00 pm. We invite you to come and learn what being a Lion is all about, and how the Club helps those in need in the community. Please join us at The Forks Cafeteria, 339 Brooks Street, in downtown Wake Forest. We look forward to seeing you!  

Area residents are invited to attend the fifth Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremony on Monday, June 1, at 11 a.m. The service will be held in Centennial Plaza in front of the Wake Forest Town Hall at 301 South Brooks Street to honor Elvira R. Espinoza, who served her nation in the U.S. Air Force from 1987 to 2009. Members of Espinoza’s family have been invited to participate in the ceremony which will include patriotic songs, special remarks, a memorial wreath laying and the ceremonial flag-raising by members of the Wake Forest High School JROTC. After raising the American flag, the JROTC will raise the U.S. Air Force service flag in recognition of the military branch in which Espinoza served. Both flags will fly in Centennial Plaza throughout June. Photographs and other remembrances of Espinoza will be displayed in Centennial Plaza during the ceremony, then in the town hall lobby