Blue lights disappeared as did carts

The editor apologizes for two articles in the April 3 edition which were misleading to her and the Gazette readers.

The first was a press release from the Town of Wake Forest about the blue lights illuminating town hall to help raise awareness of the autism disorder and the Light It Up Blue Campaign by Autism Speaks. It was released just before 4 p.m. on April 2 with the blue lights due to be turned on that evening.

Part of the press release said: “Throughout April, Wake Forest area residents can lend their additional support by getting involved in four key ways:” The first key way was to post a picture of yourself in front of town hall on social media and post it.

The editor mistakenly thought the town hall illumination was going to be throughout the rest of April. It was not. The lights were only blue that one night.

The second was a press release about 100 free 48-gallon rollout carts that were being made available to town residents by filling out an online request or calling the public works department. The press release came in at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, just before the Gazette was to go on line so it was included in the April 3 edition.

That evening a reader said he had gone to the web site only to learn they had already been distributed. Within minutes, apparently. A second press release before 5 p.m. would have prevented some frustration.

The Gazette will attempt to avoid these types of situations in the future.