By Rob Thompson This article originally was published by NC Policy Watch The word “consistency” suggests stability, predictability, normalcy. It implies that we can move on and not worry. When the State of North Carolina announced our 2014 infant mortality data this week, the official release [2] said “the 2014 statistics are consistent with previous years.” But for our state, consistency in the infant mortality rate is not good—stalled would be a more forthright description. North Carolina’s infant mortality rate of 7.1 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births remains well above the national average of 5.96 and hasn’t improved since 2010. Furthermore, racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality persist year after year. Big problems, like North Carolina’s consistently high infant mortality rate, demand bold solutions. Closing the health insurance coverage gap for working North Carolinians, particularly women of childbearing age, would be a good start. The Most Recent Data The 2014

Tuesday’s meeting of the Wake Forest Town Board was largely given over to reports from some of the town’s advisory boards. The board itself had a very short agenda with routine items before going into a closed session to discuss the “location or expansion of industries in the Wake Forest area.” No action was taken when they returned to the meeting chamber. Five of the 13 advisory boards – the Historic Preservation Commission, Human Relations Council, Recreation Advisory Board, Technology Advisory Board and Urban Forestry Advisory Board – made oral presentations while the rest submitted written statements. One of the newest boards is the Technology Advisory Board and it is also distinguished by having a high school senior as its chairman, Haleigh Tucker. Created at a time when the town hoped to make high speed fiber cable internet connections available throughout town, the new board is not only exploring that

The American Cancer Society seeks volunteers in Northern Wake County to be a part of the annual Relay For Life Leadership Team. To learn more, visit the Relay booth at the Wake Forest Chamber Business Expo on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 3-7 p.m. at Richland Creek Community Church. Local volunteers and ACS staff will be there to answer questions and provide details on joining the fight against cancer. Community volunteers lead and organize each event with the support of ACS staff. From assisting with planning the annual event to taking part the day-of, there are various volunteer opportunities for interested community members. The Relay For Life program is a community-based event where teams and individuals camp out at a school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team has at least one participant on the track at all times and participates in raising funds to

The Wake Forest High School Juniorettes can help you with your Christmas, birthdays or “just because” gifts while you support a worthy cause. On Sunday, Nov. 1, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 N. Main Street, the Juniorettes will host a social to introduce you to the KEEP-Collective, a collection of one-of-a-kind, interchangeable keepers (bracelets and pendants) and keys (charms) that slide onto the keepers. Each one is a wearable instant reminder of the big things, the small things, and all the things that matter. For a preview before Nov.1 please visit www.thisandthatmom.weebly.com to see the offerings and options to make creative and unique gifts for someone special including yourself. Can’t make the social, click on the WFHS Juniorettes’ tab at the top of the page to learn how you can place your order online before Dec. 31 to support the Juniorettes’ cause. The WFHS

The 36th Annual Wake Forest CROP Hunger Walk is set for Sunday, November 15. Sign in at 2 p.m. and step off at 2:30 p.m. Now is the time for community organizations to register online to walk at www.cropwalkonline.org/wakeforestnc. Sign up and donate or make a donation to support a walker who has already registered. The walk, which begins and ends at the Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 North Main Street,  is approximately 1.5 miles on sidewalks that include a view of beautiful historic homes and part of the seminary campus in Wake Forest. Anyone may participate. Volunteers will provide water. Before and after the walk, visit the table where you can write notes of encouragement to members of the local households that receive one grocery bag filled with food once a month from Tri-Area Ministry. Visit another table to write Ministry to Military notes of encouragement to deployed soldiers.