Dan Murphy, a Rolesville resident and Democrat, sent out a news release Sunday announcing he will be a candidate for the state’s 2nd Congressional District, a seat now held by Republican Representative George Holding. Murphy’s only agenda is to protect Social Security and Medicare for future generations. “The current Congress is preparing to sell out these critical programs to Wall Street interests,” he said in his statement. “There is constant talk about cutting benefits, raising the minimum eligibility age, eliminating cost-of-living adjustments and turning Medicare into a voucher-based program. When a worker pays into a program like Social Security for 30, 40, even 50 years, those anticipated benefits can no longer be referred to as an entitlement. That becomes a right. I’m not going to let anyone take these programs away from my children and grandchildren. Not on my watch.” The elections for congressional seats will be held in November

During April the Wake Forest Inspections Department issued permits for 68 new homes – 31 of them single-family homes and 37 townhouses. In addition, inspectors with the department approved six fit-ups and four pre-occupancy permits. The fit-ups were for Great Clips at 1009 Stadium Drive (Wake Forest Crossing shopping center owned by Weingarten Investments Inc. of Houston, Texas); office space at 143 South White Street (also home to Wake Forest Art & Frame and Domino’s and owned by BAJO of Wake Forest, Barbara and John Lyon); SAT Prep Center at 110 Capcom Avenue, Suite 101 (owned by Tuan Ong NC LLC of New Jersey); Thales Academy at 3115 Heritage Trade Drive (owned by Thales Academy Inc. in Raleigh, Bob Luddy of Youngsville); Maverick Solutions at 3150 Rogers Road, Suite 202 (owned by MOJAH in Raleigh); and Language Planet at 4154 Shearon Farms Road (owned by Willis & Cabot Properties LLC

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will sponsor a R.I.S.E. (Rise, Inspire, Succeed Empower) Women’s Empowerment Workshop on Saturday, May 20, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St. Designed for young women ages 11 through 18, the free workshop will be hosted by Wake Forest Commissioner Anne Reeve and PRCR Director Ruben Wall. The theme will be “The Amazing Girl: Be Fearless, Be Fabulous & Be You.” The event is free and a continental breakfast will be provided. A limited number of seats are available. Pre-registration is required at http://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/recdeskportal/. For more information, contact Lisa Jacobs at 919-556-7063 or ljacobs@wakeforestnc.gov.  

For all of you who wondered when or if Capital Chevrolet (formerly Bobby Murray Chevrolet) would move to town, you will be cheered to hear the Wake Forest Design Review Board will meet at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, and take up a request filed by HagerSmith Design for the design of the auto firm at 9820 Capital Boulevard. If the design is approved, construction might follow fairly quickly. The design board will also hear a request filed by The Carroll Companies for a Bee Safe Storage that would be located at 939 Gateway Commons Circle, and a request by ai Design for the proposed Food Lion that would be the anchor store for the new Crenshaw Commons shopping center at the intersection of Durham Road (N.C. 98 business) and the Dr. Calvin Jones Highway (the N.C. 98 Bypass). Last month the design board reviewed and approved the plan

Faol Liath (foe lee-ah) may mean grey wolf, but there is nothing gray or drab about this Celtic band which plays everything from traditional to rock and roll. The group blends bagpipes, fiddle and electric guitar for a sound that everyone can enjoy as you can Sunday, May 7, for the second week of Six Sundays in Spring in E. Carroll Joyner Park. Bring a picnic, lawn chairs and a blanket to spread under the trees. There will also be a variety of food and dessert trucks. Remember alcoholic beverages and gas and charcoal grills are not allowed, but there are two large charcoal grills at the park. Unleashed pets are also banned. The lineup will continue with the EG Peters Band on May 14; Hank, Pattie & The Current on May 21; Walking for Pennies on May 28; and Charros de Mexico on June 4. The concerts are free