Pride Fest, the Bible and children in Gaza

It was ironic that Tuesday evening, May 21, when the Wake Forest Town Board was confirming its adherence to Title VI, a national nondiscrimination law, speakers during the public comment section of the meeting were urging the commissioners to cancel the first Pride Fest in town. Of the six speakers against the Pride Fest scheduled for October 5 on two downtown streets, at least three were from Youngsville with the others from Wake Forest. Their objections were based on the Bible and called the festival, which bills itself as “kid friendly,” as showing “the depths of depravity.” They were Jonathan Clayton, Josh Keith, Weston Keith, Will Arterburn, Christopher Rogers and Adam Short. “Because of certain funds we receive from the State, we have to meet certain Title VI requirements and include them in our contracts.  This update is a requirement also,” Wake Forest Town Attorney Hassan Kingsberry wrote in an

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Town Board OKs FNOW curfew, fire trucks

Tuesday evening, May 21, the Wake Forest Town Board, reduced to four commissioners by the absence of Commissioner Keith Shackleford, went through a lengthy agenda in near-record time. The commissioners and mayor spent more time on the proposed curfew for teenagers at Friday Night on White than on most of the agenda items, questioning what age ranges — under 16 or under 18 — and what hours — from 6 p.m. when FNOW begins or from 8 p.m., as well as logistics and costs for the police presence and for administering the fines. Downtown Director Jennifer Herbert said the most recent FNOW was not typical because a thunderstorm disrupted it early in the evening. The town had hired additional police officers from nearby towns, and there were 32 officers on site May 10. Commissioner Adam Wright said he noticed some downtown businesses closing early on FNOW nights. “We want them

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Star Road project approved, South White denied

There was mixed action on two proposed projects Tuesday evening with the four commissioners splitting on both votes. St. John Properties has been asking for a rezoning to allow six buildings on 30 acres on the east side of Star Road and, until a meeting with the town at the last minute, had refused to plan changes to meet the basics in town ordinances and plans. The Wake Forest Planning Board unanimously agreed the Star Road did not meet town standards. Even after a public hearing where the flawed plan was discussed — but just before the town commissioners would vote on the plan — the owner and developer continued with the flawed plan. Wake Forest Town Planner Patrick Reidy kept recommending that the town commissioners not approve the plan before and after the owner St. John Properties submitted some revised conditions after the public hearing. Those new conditions included

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Roaring through the 1920s

100 years of history The 1920 Census found that more people lived in towns than on farms for the first time in the nation’s history. In that year, Prohibition began and women won the right to vote. There was prosperity, but agricultural prices were falling. As the decade progressed, there was the Teapot Dome scandal, the Scopes trial in Tennessee and Ford roadsters selling for $260, while the bootlegging industry was estimated at $3.6 billion. Henry Ford revolutionized the workweek, introducing the eight-hour day and five-day week. The mechanical cotton picker was invented, Mount Rushmore was begun and Lindbergh flew to Paris. It was a dizzy time for the stock market and for the economy across the nation. In Wake Forest, the local economy centered on Royall Cotton Mill just outside the town limits to the north, the college on its central campus and the farmers all around town. There

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Holding Park Aquatic Center opens Saturday

HHolding Park Aquatic Center (HPAC), 133 W. Owen Ave., will open for the season Saturday, May 25, at 9 a.m. Daily admission fees for Wake Forest residents are $1 for children ages 2 and under; $4 for children ages 3-13; $5 for patrons ages 13-59; and $4 for ages 60 and over. Daily admission fees for non-Wake Forest residents are $2 for children ages 2 and under; $6 for children ages 3-13; and $7 for patrons ages 13-59; and $6 for ages 60 and over. Open swim times are scheduled in three-hour blocks, with 30-minute breaks in between. A maximum of 200 patrons will be allowed inside the facility during each session. To help ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone, patrons are strongly encouraged to register and pay online in advance at https://bit.ly/HoldingParkAquaticCenter. Pre-registration opens 14 days in advance. Walk-ins and on-site registration are also allowed if space is available. Beginning

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‘Beauty and the Beast’ starts free movie nights

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will host a free, monthly outdoor movie series from May through August at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park will feature a variety of family-friendly film favorites and genres, including comedies, dramas, and action, all projected on a 26-foot inflatable movie screen in the park’s amphitheater. The first in the series of Family Movie Nights will feature the 1991 animated version of the film “Beauty and the Beast” this Saturday, May 25, at 8:30 p.m. Future film screenings are scheduled on the following Saturdays: June 15 (Minions: The Rise of Gru), July 20 (Kung Fu Panda 4), and August 3 (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3). Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Anyone planning to attend is urged to arrive early as viewing space may be limited. Family Movie Nights are free and open to the

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NECC and town are hosting Juneteenth

The Northeast Community Coalition is partnering with the Town of Wake Forest to host Wake Forest’s 2024 Juneteenth Celebration on Friday and Saturday, June 14-15. Free and open to the public, the two-day event will officially get underway with a “Community Gathering” Friday, June 14, from 4-6:30 p.m. at Taylor Street Park, 416 N. Taylor St. Offering food, fun, and fellowship, the occasion will include arts and crafts and other activities for all ages. Jay’s Italian Ice will also be onsite. The Juneteenth festivities will resume Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m. with a walking parade from Hope House, 334 N. Allen Road, to the Dubois Center, 518 N. Franklin St. The parade lineup begins at 9 a.m. at the corner of East Pine Avenue and North Allen Road. The walking parade will be followed by a “Freedom Historical Walk” that begins and ends at The Dubois Center. Anyone wishing

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The Magnificents on stage at Six Sundays

You’re invited to help celebrate three decades of foot-tapping, finger-snapping good times during the 30th anniversary of Six Sundays in Spring. Sponsored by the Town of Wake Forest and ARTS Wake Forest, the free outdoor concert series will be offered from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on consecutive Sundays from April 28 through June 2 at the Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road. From big band and R&B to beach and jazz, there’s something for all music lovers at this year’s Six Sundays in Spring. The remaining musical group is the Sensory Expressions Band on June 2. A variety of food and dessert trucks will be on site for each concert. Concert goers are also invited to bring a picnic from home but are reminded that alcoholic beverages, unleashed pets, and grills of any kind are prohibited. Two large charcoal grills are provided on site. For more information about this year’s Six Sundays

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Gazette needs some new advertisers

The number of Wake Forest Gazette advertisers has dwindled to two — Bright Funeral Home and Wake Electric — and the editor is encouraging local businesses to consider advertising with this online newspaper. (The Wake Forest Historical Museum and the Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce were added by the editor years ago because they are important parts of the town; Redwood Productions set up the current Gazette website.) The Wake Forest Gazette has been a reliable source of information about the town of Wake Forest since 2003. The free online weekly newspaper is always available at www.wakeforestgazette.com. The Gazette is the only Wake Forest newspaper consistently offering news about the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners and Planning Board, events in town, calendar, obituaries and a list of community organizations and meeting times. There are also articles about town history, opinion from readers and once in a while we even print

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RenCen offering concerts and special events

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre is introducing a series of concerts and special events from June through August featuring nationally renowned acts and performers. The “Summer at the Centre” Performance Series gets underway with The Embers: Featuring Craig Woolard on Saturday, June 8, at 7:30 p.m., continues with Malpass Brothers concerts on Saturday, July 27, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and concludes with Murder Mystery Dinners on Saturday, Aug. 24, at noon and 6:30 p.m. Tickets to these events and performances are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.wakeforestrencen.org, in person at the RC Box Office, or by calling 919-435-9458. Renaissance Centre Partners, Patrons, and Friends can purchase their tickets now. For more information about ways you can support the Renaissance Centre, visit https://www.wakeforestrencen.org/donate. For more information about the “Summer at the Centre” Performance Series, email Renaissance Centre Director Debbie Dunn at ddunn@wakeforestnc.gov.

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