This week the five candidates for two seats on the Wake Forest Town Board – John Van Ness, Ned Jones, Liz Simpers, Thad Jusczcak and Bridget Lennon-Wall – answered this question: What are the problems or difficulties that town residents are telling you they think the town is facing? Are they the problems you see? If not, what do you think the challenges will be for the town in the next four years? * * * * John Van Ness: The main issues that I hear our citizens are most concerned about are: growth, traffic, schools overflowing, how student placement will be affected by growth, and that we are losing the “forest” in Wake Forest. The concerns I’m hearing today were the same concerns voiced during the 2015 municipal election. Our town has had tremendous growth and it will continue to grow because of the enviable community we have all built. We

The two candidates vying to serve as Wake Forest’s mayor for the next four years – incumbent Vivian Jones and Commissioner Jim Thompson – were asked the same questions as the five commissioner candidates: What are the problems or difficulties that town residents are telling you they think the town is facing? Are they the problems you see? If not, what do you think the challenges will be for the town in the next four years? * * * * Vivian Jones: The one challenge I hear most from residents is traffic congestion. I agree there are times of the day when it can be a challenge to get around town easily! We will be updating our transportation plan next year and everyone will have an opportunity to give us their ideas about how to make the traffic flow better. Getting the appropriate connections made to allow more ways to

On Sunday, Oct. 8, the Wake Forest Historical Association will host a meeting about country stores around Wake Forest in a format that will encourage those attending to name and reminisce about the stores they remember. The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. in the Wake Forest Historical Museum at 414 North Main Street. It is of course free and there will be refreshments – think Moon Pies and Cokes. If you have pictures of a nearby store that may have been overtaken by growth, please bring them to the meeting. WFHA, including President Sanford Bailey and the members of the committee headed by Karen Winstead – Alice Ray, Ryan Keith, Roger Shackleford – have been collecting memories and photographs about the history of more than 20 stores that were once well known, many of them on the outskirts of town or in rural areas. The photographs have been assembled

Tri-Area Ministry, supported by churches in Wake Forest, Youngsville and Rolesville as well as many individuals, has been a reliable source for food for over 700 families for years, but the food pantry has mostly only been able to provide canned and dried foods although there are some donations of fresh produce. Leslie DuBois, chairman of the board of directors, said they want to do more and provide more healthy foods to their families. They plan a dinner and auction – Stop Hunger Feed Hope – on Friday, Oct. 20, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Wake Forest Presbyterian Church on Capital Boulevard – and it is a community project. The church is providing the facility free of charge. Main Street Grille is catering the meal at a discount, and area businesses have donated gift baskets, art, gift cards and more for the auction. Tickets are $20 per person,

The Wake Forest Police Department is now accepting monetary donations through Saturday, Nov. 18, as part of its 11th annual Turkey Drive. This year the police department is making it easier than ever for area residents to support this worthy cause by accepting online donations via PayPal at www.wakeforestnc.gov/donate-to-our-turkey-drive.aspx. Cash and checks written to the Wake Forest Police Department are also being accepted. Anyone wishing to contribute cash or a check to this year’s Turkey Drive should contact Officer M.W. Sattler at 919-795-7270. All monetary donations will be used to purchase additional turkeys. On Saturday, Nov. 18, the police department will accept donations of frozen turkeys at the Wake Forest Police Department Main Station, located at 225 S. Taylor St., from 9 a.m. until noon. Police officers and staff will distribute the turkeys while they last on Monday, Nov. 20, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Wake Forest Community House,

Wake Forest’s Northeast Community Coalition, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County and Lowe’s are joining to celebrate the coming of fall and kick off the Spring Street Build in Wake Forest. It begins at 8:15 a.m. at the Spring Street Christian Church, 309 East Spring Street and that kick-off is followed by a community clean-up. The festival itself begins at 10 a.m. with lunch and a program at 11:30. Young people 16 and older will work on home preservation projects, organizer Tilda Caudle with Habitat, said, and those 12 to 15 will help with picking up area streets and the Alston-Massenburg Park. “All youth will be accompanied by police officers,” she said. “The goal of having youth and officers working together is to help develop lasting relationships between them.  The officers are excited.” Adult volunteers are needed for the home preservation projects, in setting up and cleaning up for the

During the 2017 MDA Fill the Boot campaign, the dedicated members of the Wake Forest Fire Department took to the streets to help kids and adults with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related life-threatening diseases live longer and grow stronger. Through this year’s campaign, $10,381.58 was raised to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. “The fire fighters of Wake Forest have once again shown their immense dedication and care for MDA’s families during this year’s Fill the Boot campaign,” said Associate Executive Director, Liz Shirley. “This year’s Fill the Boot was a success and we are grateful for the generosity of those in the Wake Forest community who have helped individuals with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases truly live unlimited.” Fire fighters have taken part in MDA’s Fill the Boot tradition for more than 60 years, hitting the streets or storefronts asking pedestrians, motorists, customers and other passersby to make