The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will host the second in a series of Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park this Saturday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m. The featured film will be “Encanto.” In addition, the following food and dessert trucks will be onsite: Mamma Churros, Cilantro Mexican Cuisine, Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ, and Lumpy’s Ice Cream. Free and open to the public, Family Movie Nights feature a variety of family-friendly film favorites and genres, including comedies, dramas, and thrillers, all projected on a 26-foot inflatable movie screen in the park’s amphitheater. Each will also include a movie-related pre-show activity for kids beginning at 7:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket and/or chairs but are reminded that alcohol, smoking, and unleashed pets are prohibited. Future film screenings are scheduled on Saturday, July 22 (Zootopia), and Saturday, Aug. 5 (Spider Man: No Way Home). Showtime

The Wake Forest Police Department will host a Touch-A-Truck fundraiser for Special Olympics of NC this Saturday, June 17, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at The Factory, 1839 S. Main St. Families and children of all ages will be granted an all-access pass to police cars, fire trucks, a helicopter, boat, Humvee, military vehicles, and more. The cost is $5 per person and $20 per family of any size. All proceeds will benefit Special Olympics of NC. In addition to trucks and vehicles, Charlie’s Kabob Grill and Two Roosters Ice Cream will be onsite selling food and sweet treats. Throughout the day officers will also be selling 2023 Special Olympics NC Torch Run T-shirts for $20. The T-shirts feature the WFPD badge in recognition of the department’s Top 10 ranking among NC law enforcement agencies for Special Olympics fundraising in 2022. For more information, contact Cpl. J. McArthur at 919-554-6150 or

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St., opened in 2013 by encouraging visitors to “Imagine the Possibilities.” Now, 10 years later, the Renaissance Centre (RC) is “Realizing the Possibilities” as northern Wake County’s premier cultural and performing arts venue. Between July 2023 and April 2024, the RC will commemorate its 10th anniversary and thank the community for its continued support by offering a series of concerts, performances, and special events featuring nationally renowned acts and performers. The “Realizing the Possibilities” Celebration Series gets underway with The Malpass Brothers in concert on July 22 and continues with two Murder Mystery Dinners on August 12, the Celebration of the Arts on October 7, Marcus Anderson in concert on November 18, and four performances of the Celtic Angels December 15-17. The series then extends into 2024 with Mesmerizing Magic featuring Jason Hudy on January 27, Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart on

A newly elected board of officers took the Oath of Office at the monthly meeting of the Walter E. Cole American Legion Post 187 on June 8, 2023. Commander Doug Doster accepted the Leadership change from outgoing Past Commander David Vaughn. The swearing in ceremony was conducted by Judge Advocate Rich Heroux. Repeating the Oath of Office were Commander Doug Doster; Senior Vice Commander, Tim Mock; Junior Vice Commander, Ed Lind; Finance Officer, Mike Janssen; Chaplain Steve Haffly; Sergeant at Arms, Don Sajecki; Adjutant, Tammy Cancilla; and Historian. Ronnie Floyd. The term of office will end with the election scheduled for June 2024. ###

The Town of Wake Forest is initiating a study to identify potential upgrades for Miller Park, 401 Elm Ave. The initiative will also propose greenway improvements and address water quality and erosion issues involving two streams within the two-acre park. A wooded oasis in the heart of downtown Wake Forest, Miller Park features picnic tables and a half-mile of paved trails that loop throughout the park. Citizen input is the cornerstone of the Miller Park Upgrades & Stream Restoration Study, so we want to hear from you. Residents and visitors to Miller Park are invited to visit https://engagewakeforest.org/miller-park-upgrades-stream-restoration and provide their input via an online survey. Available through Friday, June 30, the survey takes less than five minutes to complete. For more information, email CIP Manager Steve Meyer at smeyer@wakeforestnc.gov. This project is supported by a grant from US Treasury as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus

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

During its regular meeting this week the Wake Forest Rotary Club presented a check for $10,698 to its partner, WakeMed Health & Hospitals, that will pay off the cancer-related medical debt for 26 residents or families who live in the 27587 ZIP Code. The money was earned from the club’s Cars and Carnivores Street Festival held in March of this year. ###