Delayed due to concerns about COVID-19, the opening of the Holding Park Aquatic Center will take place Wednesday, July 1, at 10 a.m. Open Swim times will be scheduled in three-hour blocks, with one hour in between to allow staff to clean and sanitize the facility, including deck chairs, door handles, hand rails and other high-touch areas. A maximum of 120 patrons will be allowed inside the facility during each session. Patrons must register and pay for each session in advance online at https://bit.ly/HoldingParkAquaticCenter. No walk-ins will be allowed. Community health and safety is the top priority for the Town of Wake Forest. Due to the ever-evolving situation surrounding COVID-19, the aquatic center operating schedule is subject to change with limited notice. Town officials will continue to closely monitor official updates and follow guidelines from the Wake County Health Department, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control.

The Town of Wake Forest and Wake Forest Downtown Inc. are planning to stimulate our downtown economy and reward residents who are supporting downtown businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve these goals, from June 13 through July 5, a special incentive is being offered to people who shop at participating stores. As part of “Red, White & Blue – Downtown Wake Forest Needs You,” for every $25 a customer spends at one of the following downtown businesses, he or she will receive a raffle ticket to be entered into a weekly drawing: B & W Hardware Company Bella Music Nancy Jo Photography Next Consignment North Carolina General Stores Page 158 Books Record Krate Renegade Motorcycle Southern Suds & Gifts Sweeties Candy Shop Sugar Magnolia Café (purchases of alcohol are not eligible) The Cotton Company The Lemon Tree Unwined on White (purchases of alcohol are not eligible) Wake Forest Art &

The question of masks is up in the air. Raleigh has decided to follow the example of Durham County and Orange County and require people wear masks within the city limits. It will be effective Friday, June 19, at 4 p.m. Greg Ford, the chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, and all the other commissioners wanted to have the same mask requirements for the county, but there has been a hitch. Not all the county mayors have agreed. It would create a difficult patchwork of requirements if not all county towns are on board. When asked, Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones said, “Wake Forest will continue to follow the NC State orders.” The state recommends people wear masks but does not require it. Meanwhile Governor Roy Cooper is considering requiring masks across the state given the increase in Covid-19 infections and deaths. Stay tuned. * * * *

On June 9 the Koinonia Foundation of Wake Forest presented $22,000 in grants to eight local nonprofits during an award ceremony by video conferencing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The money will help the eight local charitable organizations provide financial support and address human needs in the greater Wake Forest area. “Now more than ever, during the pandemic, our local nonprofits are serving our neighbors in need,” said Jennifer Gaston, Koinonia Foundation grants coordinator and board member. “The Koinonia Foundation is honored to provide some of the funding they require to make our communities a better place during these challenging times.” Since 1990, The Koinonia Foundation has continued to grow and provide financial support to other nonprofit organizations. Originally, the group only provided funding to nonprofits in Wake Forest, but the organization has now expanded its coverage area to neighboring towns of Rolesville and Youngsville. Here are The Koinonia Foundation 2020 grant