In the midst of plenty . . . we all do not fare equally at all times. These are the places all, adults and children, can find one of the greatest gifts, a shared meal. **School-age children will find a free lunch on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Northern Regional Center on East Holding Avenue from now through August 4. **Wake Forest Community Table serves nutritious and delicious meals at 5 p.m. on Monday nights at Hope House (334 North Allen Road) and at 6 p.m. on Wednesday nights at Olive Branch Baptist Church (326 East Juniper Avenue). All ages are welcome to stop by for dinner and for fresh produce from the Wake Forest Presbyterian Giving Garden. We are thankful to all of or volunteers and the donors who make this organization possible. To learn more about our program and mission and

The Town of Wake Forest is inviting residents who live in Wake Forest and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to apply for two vacancies on the Planning Board. One seat must be filled by a Wake Forest resident, while the other is reserved for someone who lives in the ETJ. Applications will be accepted through Friday, July 28. The online advisory board application is available on the Town website at http://bit.ly/TOWFAdvBoardApplication. Anyone without computer access is invited to complete the application by using a computer kiosk in the lobby of Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Hard copies are available upon request by contacting Deputy Town Clerk Ella Dowtin at 919-435-9436 or edowtin@wakeforestnc.gov. Planning Board candidates will be introduced to the Board of Commissioners during its regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Appointments to the Planning Board will also be announced during this meeting. The new terms will commence immediately following

Wake Forest Memorial Post 8466, Veterans of Foreign Wars, conducted the first Charter Draping Ceremony paying tribute to a departed comrade at the monthly meeting July 6, 2023. The Draping Ceremony consists of draping the Post Charter with a ceremonial black cloth signifying to all that a member has died. The draped Charter lasts for 30 days on each occasion. Performing the Ceremony Commander, Bill Wade, while the members present stand at attention, directs the Officer of the Day, Doran Johnson, to Drape the VFW Post 8466 National Charter. As this is being accomplished, Commander Wade said; “By doing the Draping Ceremony, we the members of VFW Post 8466 of Wake Forest, NC offer solemn tribute to our departed comrade.” The ceremony was conducted in honor of the death of Anthony Attina. Tony passed away unexpectedly on June 22, 2023. He was buried last week with full military honors in

Based on the May, 2023 Monthly Development Report, WF Planning Updated July 5, 2023 The updated Wake Forest population as of July 2022 is 54,274. In 2021 the population was 50,244. How rezoning and development requests are now heard Planning Director Courtney Tanner gave this response to a query: All legislative cases (rezonings) have a public hearing at the Commissioner meeting and a public comment session at the Planning Board. A special use permit has a public hearing at the Commissioner meeting. Administrative (correct zoning and comply with the UDO) cases are approved at the staff level. What town board approval means now Senior Planner Patrick Reidy explained what the town board’s approval of new subdivisions means under the new state and town requirements. “They approved the conditional rezoning/master plan. Both projects will need to go through Construction Plan approval before they can start site work. I would expect a

On Monday, June 26, crews arrived to begin preparing for the construction of the Holding Park Inclusive Playground, 133 W. Owen Ave., by assembling equipment and supplies onsite. The effort will require the closure of 11 parking spaces along West Owen Avenue for the foreseeable future. Holding Park has been closed since late October 2022. Barricades and signage announcing the closure are posted around the park perimeter. Area residents are urged to obey the signs and avoid the area as construction continues. Although Holding Park is closed, the Wake Forest Community House, Holding Park basketball courts, and R.H. Forest Field remain open. Weather permitting, the installation of the new Holding Park Inclusive Playground is expected to be completed by September 2023. Upon completion, the new playground will feature: • Fully ramped playground structures that offer ease of access for people of all mobility ranges. • Multiple sensory experiences, including tactile,