The fireworks! The parade! The games! Yes, the Wake Forest Fourth of July celebration is on the horizon, and the people who volunteer each year to make it happen say they need some help. They can always use volunteers – go to WFJuly4th@aol.com to sign up – but they also need the help of individuals and businesses to provide the contributions that buy the fireworks, the balloons, hire the bands and all the other necessary parts of a two-day event. Rob Mitchell, president of the July 4th Committee, has sent out a letter asking for sponsors and patrons. For $15,000 you will have exclusive sponsorship of the fireworks show in Trentini Stadium with your business name in newspaper advertisements, in the program and 50 tickets to the fireworks show. For $5,000 you can have exclusive sponsorship of the live music show before the fireworks with the same advertising but 25

Strawberries, chocolate, coffee, baby spinach, whole-grain bread, cheese Danish, red and yellow grape tomatoes, kale, ham slices, granola, lamb chops – and much much more is available every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Wake Forest Farmers Market in Renaissance Plaza on Brooks Street. The vendors include the following although not every vendor is there every week: A Stitch Niche, Back Alley Roasters, Blueberry Hill, Brachi-Le Petit Roll, Brogden’s Produce, Bullocks Nursery, Edna Lee’s Farm, The Flour Garden, Gabie’s Garden Vegetables, Good Grace’s Dog Treats, Green Knight Farm, Heaven Scent Honey, Heritage Farm Eggs, Heritage Seafood, Homestead Flower Farm, Jay Woodcraft, Kalawi Farms, New Light Baskets, Poppy and Purl, Redman Pottery, Rolling Fog Farm, Serenity Meadows Farm, Strong Arm Baking Company, That’s Good Chocolate, Triple B Farms, Turtle Mist Farm, Walk Ahead Farms, WF Veterans Organizations, Wood Leaf Honey, Wrenns Farm and Yummies. If you go to www.wakeforestfarmersmarket.org

At a ceremony on May 5, David Martin, the senior vice commander of the Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466, Veterans of Foreign Wars, awarded teachers and other community stalwarts for their contributions. Those honored and their profession are: Firefighter of the Year, Lewis Dunston, Youngsville Fire Department; Policeman of the Year, Roy Holloway, Rolesville Police Department; EMS Professional of the Year, William Capps, Franklin County; High School Teacher of the Year, Dustin Baker, Franklin Academy; Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Julie Coveleski, Wakefield Elementary School; and Middle School Teacher of the Year, Janel Grosshiem, Saint Catherine Catholic School.All Teachers of the Year awardees were also selected as winners of the District 7 Teacher of the Year. They will now compete for the North Carolina VFW Teacher of the Year. Selection will be announced in June at the annual convention in Cary.

Forest Moon Theater will present “Shakespeare in Hollywood” at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts June 10-12 and June 17-19. Friday and Saturday show times are 7:30 p.m.; Sunday show times are 3 p.m. It’s 1934 and the famous Max Reinhardt is filming Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” When two of the bard’s most famous fairies, Oberon and Puck, appear by magic on the Hollywood set, the result is a hilarious combination of potent flowers, blonde bombshells, movie moguls and arrogant “asses” embroiled in multiple love triangles. Winner of the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play in 2004, Ken Ludwig’s take on Shakespeare’s well-known comedy is a fun-filled romp that sparkles with wit and charm. Advance tickets are $15 plus tax for adults and $13 plus tax for students and seniors. These prices reflect a savings of $3 per adult and student/senior “day of” admission tickets. The

During April the Wake Forest Inspections Department issued permits for 31 single-family houses, six townhouses and two new commercial buildings – a gas station to be built by Carmel Contractors and owned by HT Fuel NC based in Matthews at 13640 Capital Boulevard, the Harris Crossing shopping center anchored by a Harris Teeter grocery with $857,988 improvement value and the amenity center for the Holding Village subdivision at 1498 South Franklin Street with $460,000 improvement value. The department also inspected the fit-up for The Vitamin Shoppe at 12616 Capital Boulevard and pre-occupancy for Cloud 9 Vapor at 12516 Capital Boulevard and Southern Suds & Gifts at 222 East Jones Avenue. The six townhouses will be built by Wilson Parker Homes at 450 through 460 Retreat Lane in the Franklin County area of the Richland Hills subdivision. The total fees were $27,793 and the estimated improvement value is $580,700. The single-family

Wake Electric Membership Corporation has announced the 19 winners of the 2016 college scholarships totaling $24,500. The top scholarship of $2,000 was awarded to Hannah Jordan, a student at Wake Forest High School. The scholarship honors the memory of former Wake Electric employee Fred M. Alford. There were 18 winners of the $1,250 Touchstone Energy Scholarships: Jacob Faulkner of Franklin Academy Abigail Keel of Franklin Academy Jonasha Green of Bunn High Sage Pritchet of Franklinton High Sterling Grissom of J F Webb High Shannon Stephens of Appalachian State Evan Gales of Thales Academy Brittaney Dahle of Methodist University Audra Chenoweth of Franklin Academy Emilee Britton of Wake Forest High Kathleen Goss of Franklin Academy Payton Baker of Wake Forest High Michael Richards of N C State Neva Yinger of Willowdell Heritage School Taylor Sabia of East Wake Academy Abby Trotter of Appalachian State Chloe Lang of Franklin Academy Meredyth Albright

Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina announced the recipients of the Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 BBB Torch Scholarships at a ceremony held at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary on May 11. BBB Torch Scholarships recognize students who personify high ethics as demonstrated through leadership, community service, overall personal integrity and academic history. BBB Torch Scholarship entries were evaluated by an independent panel of judges comprised of volunteer business and community leaders in eastern North Carolina. A record number of entries were received this year from both high school students and college undergraduates in BBB’s 33-county service area. Applicants were evaluated primarily on an essay involving an ethical dilemma. They were also evaluated on their involvement in the community, leadership and academic achievement, and were required to obtain a letter of recommendation from a BBB Accredited Business. Fall 2015 BBB Torch Scholarship Winners: $5,000 BBB Torch Scholarship Sydney Parrish,

The Town of Wake Forest has unveiled an interactive tool on its website designed to help residents stay connected about its garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection programs. Known as Waste Wizard and available at www.wakeforestnc.gov/waste-wizard.aspx, the interactive tool allows users to sign up for waste collection reminders and download collection schedules. In addition, the Waste Wizard allows users to type in key words related to disposable household materials and receive valuable disposal tips. From aluminum cans and phone books to popcorn bags and plastic beverage bottles, the search tool helps residents determine which items can be recycled and which ones should be thrown away. As an added bonus, the Waste Wizard is also provided as a function on the Town of Wake Forest app. For more information or to download the town’s app, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/app.aspx. For more information about the Waste Wizard, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/waste-wizard.aspx or contact Public Works Director Mike

The folks at the Wake County Animal Center want to keep you and your pets safe from rabies this summer and have issued the following advisory: When going out for a hike, scheduling a camping trip or even just enjoying time in your backyard this spring and summer, the last thing you should have to worry about as a pet owner is the threat of rabies to your dog, cat or other pet. To ensure the safety of all members of your family, including the four-legged ones, Wake County is encouraging pet owners to make sure their pet’s rabies vaccinations are up-to-date. Rabies is most commonly transmitted from animal to animal, particularly through bites or scratches from wild raccoons, skunks or bats. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. The good news

May is Building Safety Month and the Town of Wake Forest Inspections Department is launching the observance with a “Building Safety Month Kick-Off Event” on Saturday, April 30. The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Town & Country Hardware, 910 Gateway Commons Circle. The kick-off event will include free hot dogs (while they last), games, prizes, and the Wake Forest Fire Department’s Fire Safety House. The Fire Safety House is used to teach children how to safely evacuate their home in the event of fire. Inspections staff will also be on hand throughout the event to answer questions about building safety, best practices, and the building permit process. Area residents are invited to come out and learn about the services the department offers, including Express Residential Plan Review, and talk one-on-one with town inspectors about building safety, codes, and inspections as they pertain to common