The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Wake County will sponsor a forum for the mayoral and town commissioner candidates on Sunday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. at the Del Webb Community Center – the rear patio – 905 Del Webb Manor Avenue, Wake Forest. A reception will follow from 2 to 3 p.m. Masks are required. The forum may also be viewed live on Zoom using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86076642275?pwd=SklBZ1d5RHAxemNIQzU3ZzBSMUFRZz09 Meeting ID: 860 7664 2275 Passcode: 762385 * * * * The Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidates’ forum in the Renaissance Centre on Thursday, Oct. 7, and has invited the two candidates for mayor and the five candidates for town commissioner. The public is invited to this free event that will last from 6 to 8 p.m. Each candidate will have five minutes to state who they are, what their positions are, and why people should

The Human Relations Council is pleased to announce Jordan Kaplan and Ronnie Jackson as Wake Forest’s 2021 Youth and Adult Good Neighbors of the Year. Mayor Vivian Jones and Human Relations  Chairman  Robin Smith presented each with a commemorative plaque during a special video presentation recorded last week and posted today on the Town of Wake Forest website and Facebook page. Kaplan was nominated by her neighbor, Jessica Roth, who praised Jordan’s “big heart and selfless acts.” “During the pandemic (Jordan) painted rocks with inspiring messages and laid them all around the neighborhood for neighbors to find,” wrote Kaplan in her nomination narrative. “Many neighbors posted in our community page about how lifted their spirits were, and some paid it forward. She is truly one of a kind and well deserving of recognition.” Margaret Watkins nominated Jackson and noted his “countless efforts to help his fellow neighbors.” She concluded by noting, “He’s someone

By Jordan Wilkie Reprinted from Carolina Public Press A law to require voter identification in North Carolina discriminates against Black voters, making it unconstitutional, according to a 2-1 Superior Court ruling Friday in Wake County. Citing a federal court ruling, the judges explained that the decision did not find “any member of the General Assembly who voted in favor of S.B. 824 harbors any racial animus or hatred towards African American voters,” but instead that the Republican majority targeted “voters who, based on race, were unlikely to vote for the majority party.” They said that constitutes racial discrimination “even if done for partisan ends.” Under the ruling, no voter will be required to produce identification to cast a ballot in the next election. The judges left the door open for legislative defendants to rewrite the law, noting “less restrictive voter ID laws would have sufficed to achieve the legitimate nonracial

 The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of updating its Strategic Plan, and we need your input. On Monday, Sept. 27, the Town will host virtual visioning workshops at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Each one-hour session will give residents, business owners, and stakeholders the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions on Wake Forest’s long-term vision, vitality, and sustainability. Both workshops will have the same format and content. Each will include a short presentation on the draft strategic plan elements developed by the Board of Commissioners (BOC) and engage participants in discussions regarding key issues and priorities for the Board to consider as part of the updated Strategic Plan. Anyone wishing to participate should register for the session of their choice at www.wakeforestnc.gov/strategic-plan/strategic-plan-update. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the virtual workshop. The Town’s 2017 Strategic Plan articulated a vision for our community’s future and provided

The Town of Wake Forest will host a Follow-up Northeast Community Plan (NECP) Open House Tuesday, Sept. 28, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Wake Forest Town Hall Ground Floor Meeting Room, 301 S. Brooks St. The room is most easily accessed via the building’s Taylor Street entrance. During the NECP Open House on September 9, several attendees requested another opportunity to review and discuss the Future Land Use Map recommendations and the proposed DuBois Campus concept. As a result, the September 28 session will focus on addressing those questions and concerns. The session will have an informal, open house-style format, so there will not be a formal presentation. Attendees may arrive any time between 4:30-6:30 p.m. to view displays about the plan, ask questions and share comments. Anyone who was unable to attend the September 9 session or would simply like to review the presented information again is