In America, it is the people as a whole who decide will lead the country, the states, the counties and the towns and cities. Voting then is not just a right, it is an obligation on each person to join their neighbors to select the best people for all the leadership posts. We urge you to vote this fall, either during early voting or on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6. Wake Forest has an early voting site at the Northern Regional Center at 350 East Holding Avenue. The remaining hours for voting are: – Monday, Oct. 22 through Friday, Oct. 26, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Saturday, Oct. 27, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Sunday, Oct. 28, 1 to 6 p.m. – Monday, Oct. 29 through Friday, Nov. 2, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Saturday, Nov. 3, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. There are eight other early

Due to popular demand, the Wake Forest Police Department has scheduled a fourth Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) class on Monday, Nov. 26, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The session will take place inside the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required at www.wakeforestnc.gov/civilian-response-to-active-shooter-events.aspx<https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/civilian-response-to-active-shooter-events.aspx>. Class size is limited to the first 100 people to register. Please note: Every participant must register individually – one person per form. On the evening of the class, attendees will be required to show proof of registration prior to entering the Renaissance Centre. Led by Wake Forest Police Lt. L. Danforth, the session will teach participants what to do if confronted with an active shooter event. Designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD) strategy developed by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University, the class will

The first Family Gobblefest sponsored by the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will be held Saturday, Nov. 17, beginning at 10 a.m. in E. Carroll Joyner Park on Harris Road. Gobblefest is an opportunity for families to spend a morning together outdoors participating in an activity similar to a scavenger hunt. Turkey cutouts will be hidden throughout Joyner Park’s various trails and greenways. Families that “find” one of the turkey cutouts can redeem it for a special award (limit one per family). The event is free, but space is limited. Pre-registration is required at https://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com. As part of the event, the PRCR Department will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items for the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry. Tri-Area Ministry will distribute the donated food items to people in need in our community. For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/family-gobblefest.aspx<http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/family-gobblefest.aspx> or contact Special Events Specialist Suja Jacob at 919-556-7063 or sjacob@wakeforestnc.gov<mailto:sjacob@wakeforestnc.gov>.

On Nov. 2, veterans from across Wake County will receive recognition and support during the 12th annual Capital Area Veterans Stand Down. The yearly event provides assistance to those who have served our nation as they work to achieve stability in their lives. The year’s event will happen Friday, Nov. 2, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Wilmington Street Center at 1420 South Wilmington Street in Raleigh. It opens with breakfast at 7:30 and a ceremony at 8:30. All veterans are welcome at this event. The Stand Down provides veterans a hand up, not a handout, by bringing together a variety of service providers to connect veterans with health care referrals and information on Department of Veteran Affairs benefits. Veterans can also receive consultation on a variety of topics including legal education, mental health, substance abuse counseling, spiritual guidance, employment help and housing assistance. Those participating will

A lively and educational celebration of gospel music connecting all cultures, ages and backgrounds will be held Saturday, Nov. 3, at 5 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre on Brooks Street. The Shades of Gospel concert will highlight a range of traditional, southern and contemporary gospel music with featured performances by Macedonia New Life Choir, the New Bethel Baptist Praise Team, the Trinity Quartet, and Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award nominated artist Tim Bowman, Jr. Tickets are $15 plus tax and may be purchased online at www.wakeforestrencen.org/event/shades-gospel-concert<http://www.wakeforestrencen.org/event/shades-gospel-concert> or at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 Brooks Street. The Trinity Quartet has opened the Lexington BBQ Festival with “God Bless America” for the last seven years. The group also won the Male Quartet division in the annual Benson State Singing Convention in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Known for such hits as “Wake Up Call,” “I Have Tomorrow,” “Listen With Your

The Wake Forest Police Department’s annual Turkey Drive got underway in September, but the campaign organizer says donations are coming in slower than usual. “So far donations have been coming in little by little,” said Officer M.W. Sattler. “Things usually pick up in November, so we’re hoping for the same this year.” The police department will accept donations through Saturday, Nov. 17. Area residents can support this worthy cause by submitting online donations via PayPal at www.wakeforestnc.gov/donate-to-our-turkey-drive.aspx<http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/donate-to-our-turkey-drive.aspx>. Cash and checks written to the Wake Forest Police Department are also accepted. Anyone wishing to contribute cash or a check to this year’s Turkey Drive should contact Officer Sattler at 919-795-7270 or msattler@wakeforestnc.gov<mailto:msattler@wakeforestnc.gov>. All monetary donations will be used to purchase additional turkeys. On Saturday, Nov. 17, the police department will accept monetary donations and donations of frozen turkeys from 9 a.m. to noon at the Wake Forest Police Department Main Station at