Wake Forest is one of 39 North Carolina communities that has achieved accreditation from the National Main Street Center for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation In addition to Wake Forest, the North Carolina Main Street communities that earned accreditation for their 2016 performance are Belmont, Boone, Brevard, Cherryville, Clinton, Concord, Eden, Edenton, Elkin, Garner, Goldsboro, Hendersonville, Hickory, Kings Mountain, Lenoir, Lexington, Lumberton, Marion, Monroe, Morganton, North Wilkesboro, Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount, Roxboro, Rutherfordton, Salisbury, Sanford, Shelby, Smithfield, Spruce Pine, Statesville, Sylva, Tryon, Valdese, Waxhaw, Waynesville, Williamston, and Wilson. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street® programs, which have demonstrated best practices in community revitalization through the Main Street Four Point Approach. “Strong, thriving main streets are a key in ensuring strong communities, especially in rural

The contractor developing the Preserve at Kitchin Farms subdivision will begin closing a single lane in a part of Burlington Mills Road east of One World Way in August, and then in mid- to late-August will close the road entirely for about two months. The closures will allow crews to widen the road. The official start and end dates will be announced soon, but the work is scheduled to be complete by late October. Gaines and Company is the contractor. Electronic message boards announcing the road closure will be in place in early August. Once the road is closed, a signed detour will be in place to direct traffic around the work area. Although this is not a public project, the Town of Wake Forest has received several inquiries from area residents with concerns about the project. Officials are urging area drivers that travel through the area to plan ahead

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts welcomes the return of the “Neck of the Woods” performance series on Friday, July 21, at 7:30 p.m. Presented and sponsored by Wake Forest ARTS, Neck of the Woods is a variety performance series featuring emerging local artists. The July 21 Neck of the Woods will feature professional concert dance performer and dance educator Mariya Dashkina Maddux; jazz and gospel artist Ronald Williams; Wake Forest storyteller Drew Bridges; and comedy improv group Free, Loose, and Naked. Mariya Dashkina Maddux is a professional concert dance performer and a dance educator. A native of Kiev, Ukraine, she was first introduced to dance through the classical Vaganova ballet technique. After moving to United States, she studied under the direction of Ruth Weisen at the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet of Miami, Florida and ultimately graduated summa cum laude with her BFA from New World School of the Arts

The 2017 Wake Forest Dementia Awareness Education Series begins Thursday, July 20, with “The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.” The series continues Thursday, Aug. 17, with “Effective Communications Strategies” and concludes Thursday, Sept. 21, with “Understanding & Responding to Dementia-Related Behaviors.” Each session will take place inside the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre at  405 Brooks Street. Presented by the Renaissance Centre and the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern North Carolina, these workshops will address a variety of dementia-related topics while also offering local families the opportunity to learn about dozens of related programs, services, products, and resources – all in one location. “The Basics: Memory Loss, Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease” on July 20 is intended for anyone interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. “Effective Communications Strategies” on Aug. 17 will provide tips on how to have honest and caring conversations with family members about deciding

Sponsors are needed for the ninth annual Wake Forest Purple Heart Banquet at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at Richland Creek Community Church. Hosted by the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation, the banquet invites the public to help honor those wounded in battle. In addition to Purple Heart Medal recipients and their families, the event is open to all veterans, military families, and the public. Last year’s celebration saluted 60 Purple Heart recipients from around the Triangle. This year’s banquet features retired Army Maj. Gen. Douglas Lanier Carver as keynote speaker and includes the Walk of Honor, entertainment, patriotic tributes, and a catered meal. Sponsors make this tribute possible. Sponsorship levels are Premier ($1,000), Blue ($500), White ($250) and Red ($100). For sponsor details, call Marty Coward at 919-792-0316 or email marty.coward@edwardjones.com. Contributions may be made payable to Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation, P.O. Box 168, Wake Forest, NC, 27588.