A number of candidates for state and national office will be in Wake Forest on Wednesday, Oct. 19, for a meet and greet from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Renaissance Centre organized by the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce. It is a free event open to the public. The candidates who have confirmed they will attend are: – John Alexander, the Republican incumbent in state Senate District 15 – Marilyn Avila, the Republican incumbent in state House District 40 – Chad Barefoot, the Republican incumbent in state Senate District 18 – Mike Causey, the Republican challenger for N.C. Insurance Co – Terence Everitt, the Democratic challenger for state House District 35 – Joe John, the Democratic challenger in state House District 40 – Chris Malone, the Republican incumbent in state House District 35 – John McNeil, the Democratic challenger for U.S. House District 2 – Charles Meeker, the

Growth planning, academic achievement, housing, and public school funding are among the topics for questions and debate at three Wake County candidate forums to be held Oct. 6 and 13. The forums for candidates running for Wake Board of Education and Wake Board of Commissioners are co-hosted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority chapters, El Pueblo, League of Women Voters of Wake County, Raleigh-Apex NAACP, Shaw University and WakeUP Wake County. Candidates will be asked questions by the organizations as well as the audience and will be allowed to make opening and closing statements. Voter education is an important objective of the host organizations, which are all non-partisan. All opposed candidates have been invited to participate. The public is encouraged to attend these free public forums. Registration is not required but encouraged. To register and for more information, visit: wakeupwakecounty.org. Voter registration will be available before the forums. El Pueblo will

The Town of Wake Forest will offer four free walking tours of the local Wake Forest Historic District on the following dates and times: Wednesday, Oct. 19; 9:30 am Wednesday, Oct. 26; 9:30 am Wednesday, Nov. 2; 1 pm Wednesday, Nov. 16; 1 pm Led by architectural historian and Town Historic Preservation Planner Michelle Michael, the tours will include areas along North Main Street, North Avenue, Front Street, and South Avenue. Along the way each group will discuss the developmental and architectural history of the area, along with the significant men and women who lived in the homes. Individual homes will not be toured. Each tour will begin and end at the Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 N. Main St. Space is limited to the first 12 participants to sign up for each tour, so pre-registration is required by completing the online sign-up form at www.wakeforestnc.gov/wake-forest-historic-district-walking-tours.aspx. Additional tours may be planned in the spring of 2017

As a Hello to Fall and in anticipation of the sights and sounds of Halloween, the Wake Forest Woman’s Club is sponsoring a Scarecrow Contest and children’s craft event on Saturday, Oct. 15, along South White Street in the historic downtown district. Local schools, churches and businesses have been invited to participate in designing and building a scarecrow up to 6 feet tall for the contest. The entries will then be secured to the lamp posts up and down South White Street on Friday, Oct. 14 and each entry will be numbered. The public is invited to view all the entries during a Scarecrow Walk-About throughout Saturday morning, and will be able to vote for their favorite at the Fidelity Bank parking lot at 231 South White Street. The Woman’s Club will have several fun activities for children and families at the Fidelity Bank site, including scarecrow-themed crafts, tattoos, a

The Town of Wake Forest is partnering with the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, The Wake Forest Weekly, and Perkins Counseling & Psychological Services to sponsor a series of depression screenings throughout our area during the week of Oct. 3. The campaign is designed to coincide with National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) on Oct. 6 which brings public attention to the critical needs of those living with depression and other mood disorders. Free and open to the public, the depression screenings will be conducted by certified mental health professionals offering area residents a comfortable, confidential, and trusted means of assessing their mental health. Sessions will be offered from noon to 6 p.m. each day from Oct. 3  to 8 at the following locations: Monday, Oct. 3 – Crossroads Fellowship, 13029 Keith Store Road Tuesday, Oct. 4 – Carillon Assisted Living of Wake Forest, 3218 Heritage Trade Drive Wednesday, Oct.

Participants in the 11th annual Gobblers Run, a 5K family event through historic downtown Wake Forest, will step out at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 24, Thanksgiving Day. Everyone in the family down to the toddler in a stroller and the dog on a leash can be part of the race which begins and ends at the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club on South Wingate Street. That is fitting because the proceeds from each race are donated each year to the club, $255,000 and counting. Sponsors, volunteers and runners are needed; go to www.gobblersrun.com to join the many others who make this one of Wake Forest’s signature events.  

Last week Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce President Ann Welton sent out a message to all chamber members and area voters urging them to contribute and to vote yes for the half-cent sales tax that will make possible the Wake County Transit Plan. “No matter which side of the fence you are on, there is a local issue that will be on the ballot that affects all of us in Wake County. The Wake County Transit Plan Referendum will, if passed, add a ½ cent to the sales tax which will enable the implementation of the Transit Plan. The plan will bring modern public transportation to our county and town, which in turn will benefit employers and residents. If the referendum passes, we will get: An all-day, every-day transit route from Downtown Wake Forest to Raleigh and back, Express rush hour routes from both Rolesville and Wake Forest to

RoseMarie Betuker, a retired teacher from Ohio, will lead information and discussion sessions about the United States Constitution on Thursday, Oct. 13 and again on Oct. 20, from 10 to 11:30. Sign up at the front desk to join the discussion. discussion about the U.S. Constitution will Thursday, Oct. 13, and 20 from 10 t 11:30 The ongoing caregiver and grief support group hosted by Heartland Hospice at the senior center will meet Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 2:30 p.m. A new legal aid one-on-one counseling program will be at the center from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Sept. 29. Appointments are required and limited; call the center for information at 919-544-4111. An overview of the Medicare options will be provided by Jason Burgess Senior Plan Advisors at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11. There will be refreshments. Sign up at the front desk. If you have questions about Social Security, Medicare,

*The Wake Forest Farmers Market will be open in the Renaissance Plaza parking lot on Saturday, Oct. 8, with its regular spring, summer and fall hours, 8 a.m. to noon. *Monday Night Bingo at The Factory is hosted by the Wake Forest Kiwanis Club in the Mill Room from 7 to 9:30 p.m. All profits support the club’s projects for children. Visit www.wakeforestbingo.com for more information. *The Class of 1955 at Wake Forest High School will hold its 61st class reunion Friday, Oct. 14, at noon at The Forks Cafeteria. *Storytelling Pajama Night featuring award-winning storyteller Donna Washington will welcome children of all ages to the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre Friday, Oct. 14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Hot chocolate will be served; there is no admission fee and no registration. The event is part of the Renaissance Centre’s Art for All free community performance series supported by the United