HomeSnacks recently published its sixth annual study on the 10 best places to live in North Carolina and Wake Forest placed seventh. HomeSnacks analyzed cities and towns with populations over 5,000 using the following criteria: *  Median Home Values *  Median Income *  Population Density (Higher better) *  Unemployment Rate *  Commute Time *  Crime *  Education Levels *  Health Insurance Coverage *  Poverty rates Sources of criteria included Census data and FBI crime data. According to HomeSnacks, Wake Forest earned its ranking because of its high incomes (16th overall) and low crime (17th overall and one of the best in the top 10). Other Wake County cities making the top 10 are Cary (2), Apex (3) and Holly Springs (5). To view the entire top 10 list, visit www.homesnacks.net/these-are-the-10-best-places-to-live-in-north-carolina-125130/<http://www.homesnacks.net/these-are-the-10-best-places-to-live-in-north-carolina-125130/>.    

Wells may have uranium, radon or radium Through Feb. 29, Wake County is offering free water testing for lower-income homeowners and renters who get their water from a private well. To qualify, families may have incomes up to 2.5-times the federal poverty level. For an individual living alone, the limit is $31,225, and a family of four may earn up to $64,375. A full table of qualifying incomes is available online. “Ordinarily, these well water tests would cost hundreds of dollars to purchase,” Groundwater Protection and Wells Manager Evan Kane said. “This is an outstanding opportunity for families to make sure there’s nothing amiss with the water they use every day for drinking, bathing, cooking and more.” To apply for financial help, residents will need to complete a request for testing and an affidavit attesting to their eligibility under the income requirements. Affidavits must be notarized by a registered Notary Public.

People of all ages can get free help with filing their federal and state tax returns and electronic filing at the senior centers in Franklinton and Louisburg. And, after the Northern Wake Senior Center opens in February, that free help will be available there. The free help is provided by the AARP Foundation, which was formed over 50 years ago to help anyone seeking professional income tax assistance. Counselors are qualified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and offer this assistance after successfully completing a through written examination and proficiency testing. Individual income tax returns are being prepared at the Franklinton Senior Center, 206 East Mason Street, Franklinton every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at the Louisburg Senior Center, 127 Shannon Village Shopping Center, Louisburg, Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Feb 2, through April 15, 2020. If you desire assistance please call

Several local churches and community organizations will sponsor a free, public celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 23, at Friendship Chapel Baptist Church, 237 Friendship Chapel Road. This will be the 25th year of the celebration in Wake Forest. Area residents are invited to attend the observance, beginning with a light meal at 6 p.m. followed by the program at 7 p.m. The evening’s theme will center around one of Dr. King’s messages: “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” In the spirit of the event theme, the Martin Luther King Committee is offering creative performance, writing and art competitions for students in Wake Forest and Rolesville-area schools. Complete contest rules and information, along with the online contest entry form is available at http://bit.ly/WFMLKCelebration. The competition winners will be recognized during the January 23 program. The celebration is organized by

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) recently named the Town of Wake Forest as the recipient of the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its fiscal year 2019-20 annual budget. This marks the sixth consecutive year Wake Forest has earned the GFOA honor. The award represents a significant achievement by the Town and reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. To receive the budget award, Wake Forest was required to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications device. Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories and the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award. When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted,