By Tara Romano in Progressive Voices. She is president of North Carolina Women United. Speaking at a recent press event on North Carolina’s failure to expand Medicaid, I highlighted the fact that October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I’m sure many were initially surprised to hear me make the connection between these two subjects. It’s clear that many important state leaders who often pay lip service to the issue of domestic violence don’t see it. Having personally spent more than a decade providing support to victims of domestic and sexual violence, however, I can affirm that they are linked on multiple levels. How can expanding Medicaid benefit victims of domestic violence? There are many ways, not the least of which is making healthcare more affordable to the approximately 500,000 North Carolinians who currently do not have access to quality health care, some of whom are surely experiencing domestic abuse. Invariably when discussing abuse, someone will

Christmas is coming fast and members of the police department want to make sure it is a happy one for about 30 local children. For the seventeenth year, since 1999, Officer K.C. Warren has been organizing Shop with a Cop every Christmas season, and this year’s shopping spree will take place Wednesday, Dec. 16. The children will go to the department and be paired with their police officer “partners” and then driven to the Wake Forest Wal-Mart. Each child will be given $175 to spend on a winter coat and other items they choose. Afterward, everyone will enjoy a pizza party. Shop with a Cop was created to help less fortunate boys and girls in the Wake Forest area experience a joyous Christmas. Since1999, the program has helped well over 400 local children. The Wake Forest Police Department raises money for Shop with a Cop by sponsoring several fundraisers each

The finest brass musicians in the Carolinas, the Boylan Brass will perform Sunday, Nov. 22, at 3 p.m. at Wake Forest Baptist Church as part of the Virginia Tull Music & Arts Series. Affiliated with the North Carolina Symphony, the quintet is in residence at Edenton Street Methodist Church. The group recently completed their successful Triangle Education Concert Series. Purchase tickets in advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/240087 and at the door. Children 12 and younger are admitted free; seniors pay $10 ($11.34 with service fee in advance); students pay $5 ($6.17 with service fee); and general admission for adults is $12 ($13.41 with service fee).

For nine years Wake Forest adults, children and dogs have turned out early on Thanksgiving Day to have fun, work off a few pounds and, not as an afterthought, raise $202,610 for the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club. Cat Redd, the race organizer, wants to raise even more money during the tenth annual Gobbler’s Run 5K, this year sponsored by the Jim Allen Group. It is a great way to bring families together, encourage healthy lifestyles and support the community. There were over 2,000 participants last year who raised nearly $40,000. The race begins at 8 a.m. in front of the Boys & Girls Club on Wingate Street and everyone is welcome. If you are not up to running, you can volunteer to help with registration and details. To register and to find all the details, go to www.gobblersrun.com.

The Wake Forest Farmers Market will have a slightly different schedule this coming week. There will be the regular market from 10 a.m. to noon in Renaissance Plaza at the corner of Brooks Street and Elm Avenue. Then on Tuesday, Nov. 24, there will be a special Pre-Thanksgiving Market in the usual spot. But on Saturday, Nov. 28, there will not be a market. The Holiday Craft Market will be held on the following Saturday, Dec. 5. The almost balmy weather means you can still find fall greens, including salad greens and spinach, as well as home-grown tomatoes, sweet potatoes, salted peanuts in the shell, amazing chocolate candy, locally roasted coffee, pasture-raised meat, poultry, eggs, seafood fresh from the coast, honey and bee products, dried wreaths and bouquets, baked goods, artisan breads, and funky and artistic yard art. You can always check www.wakeforestmarket.org for information about the vendors and the