Commander Joe Csuka of the Wake Forest Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 8466 announced the kick-off of this year’s VFW Student Essay competitions. Local students have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in awards, scholarships, trips to Washington, DC and more. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) started the Voice of Democracy Scholarship program in 1947. The VFW became a national sponsor in the late 1950s and assumed sole responsibility for the program in 1961. The competition was created to provide students grades 9-12 the opportunity to express themselves in regard to democratic ideas and principles. Around 40,000 students participate in the competition each year and VFW awards more than $2 million in scholarships every year. The program was expanded to include middle school students with the Patriot’s Pen competition in 1995. Since then hundreds of thousands of students have participated. High school students (grades 9 – 12

The Town of Wake Forest is inviting individuals and families to join the “Show Some Love, #KeepWFclean” campaign by picking up trash in their neighborhoods and along local streets and roadways. Designed to encourage maximum public participation, the initiative allows volunteers to pick up litter on a one-time or ongoing basis. Participants may also choose the area they wish to clean or request direction to high need areas around town. To aid the effort, volunteers may reserve one or more litter kits at no charge by completing the online form at www.wakeforestnc.gov/keep-wf-clean. Each litter kit includes reflective vests, gloves, buckets, grabbers, trash bags, data collection sheets, hand sanitizer and litter education materials. A special thanks to B&W Hardware for donating the litter kits. Once reserved, litter kits may be picked up at the Public Works Operations Center, 234 Friendship Chapel Road, Monday-Friday, between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and must be returned within

The Wake Forest Fire Department will kick off a year-long centennial celebration on August 4 – the date the department was created 100 years ago. Planning is underway for a series of events and activities over the following 12 months to honor the past, celebrate the present and look ahead to the future. The complete schedule will be announced no later than early July. In the meantime, the fire department is inviting residents and businesses to participate in the commemoration by sharing photos, documents, stories, equipment and other memorabilia that can be used to celebrate the centennial and recognize the service and commitment of Wake Forest firefighters since 1921. Long independent, the Wake Forest Fire Department became a part of the Town of Wake Forest last year. Anyone wishing to share photos, documents, stories or even compliments and best wishes is encouraged to complete and submit the online submission form at www.wakeforestnc.gov/fire/centennial-celebration. For more

Great companies start with great people. But these days, those great people are hard to find! If you are hiring, reserve your booth today for our upcoming Wake Forest Works Job Fair. The job fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 South Brooks Street. Each participating employer will receive booth space where they may display information about their business and job openings and meet potential applicants. A dedicated Interview Room will allow participating businesses to have private one-on-one interviews with prospective employees on the spot. Employers in all industries, offering all types of jobs – full-time, part-time, contract, or seasonal positions – are welcome to participate, as well as those offering internships and and service opportunities. Only 36 booths are available. Sponsors receive premium booth locations and additional marketing prior to the job fair. Call the

There is big news from Jennie Grieg, the director of the Northern Wake Senior Center. In-person classes at the center will resume on Tuesday, July 6, the day after the holiday for the Fourth of July. There will be more information later this week about the classes, masking and other topics. #

Annie Mae Keith Lowery Wake Forest Annie Mae Keith Lowery, 89, of Wake Forest, passed away on June 13, 2021 after enjoying a long, full life. She was born in Granville County to the late Joe and Meda Tharrington Keith. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Elton Lowery, and an infant son. Annie worked for a number of years at Hollowell’s Grocery Store, Central Carolina Bank and retired from Nationwide Insurance Company. Annie loved taking her morning and afternoon walks, clipping coupons and finding bargains. Mrs. Lowery was a lifetime member of Stony Hill Baptist Church and served faithfully as long as her health permitted. Friends may visit with the family from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Clancy Strickland Wheeler Funeral Home, followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in the Tharrington Family Cemetery on Tharrington