As we enter the dog days of August, many of us are longing for cooler weather. Some of our volunteers are already saying they prefer winter—it’s easier to warm up than to cool down! While I’m not entirely convinced, I wouldn’t mind seeing temperatures dip below 90 degrees. July was a remarkable month for us. We provided food to over 1,700 families—the highest number in our 36-year history. Thanks to the dedication of our incredible volunteers and the unwavering support of our community, we were able to distribute 100 pounds of food to each family in need. However, summer is traditionally our slowest season for donations. With vacations and back-to-school preparations, it’s easy for our focus to shift elsewhere. As a result, our shelves are alarmingly bare. We’re urgently asking for your help to keep our community fed. We particularly need canned goods—soup, Chef Boyardee, beans, vegetables, and fruit. Our shopping

This September 11th, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., there will be a 9/11 Remembrance Special Event at the Northern Wake Senior Center at 235 E. Holding Avenue, Wake Forest. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the 200 Club of Wake County, to provide immediate financial assistance to the surviving families of fallen First Responders in Wake County. The event will feature:*Law Enforcement and Fire vehicle displays*K9 demonstration*Honor Guard and presentation of the American and Freedom Flags*Display of steel from the Twin Towers*Invocation*Proclamation*Video Memorial and Tribute to our First  Responder Heroes*12 piece Bagpipe and Drum band*Silent Auction*Raffles*Live music*Food , ice cream, and beverages available All are welcome and admission is free.###

Warning: The article in last week’s Gazette was old. This is the 2024 ComiCon article.) Whether you’re a serious collector, or just someone who enjoys the art, characters, and costumed cosplayers of the comic book scene, the 2024 Wake Forest Comic-Con is the place to be. This year’s “con,” as they’re known, is Saturday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre. The cost is just $5, and free for kids under 12. The event features over 35 vendor tables, with 100,000 comic books, anime figurines and vintage toys, Pokémon cards, D&D stuff, books, art, T-shirts and trinkets, and all things cute and creative. There’s a supervised kids area for coloring and crafts as well. Attendees run the gamut: youth, teens, and adults all find something of interest at the con. “There’s lots to see, costumes, fun stuff to buy or just check out,”

The Town of Wake Forest will host UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) Comprehensive Update Open House sessions at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St., Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 5, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  Both drop-in sessions will give community members the opportunity to review the completed UDO draft, learn more about potential changes to zoning districts and development standards, and provide feedback. Both sessions will have an informal, open house-style format, along with the same content, so community members may drop in anytime to view displays, ask questions, and share comments. No formal presentation will be given.   Feedback will be incorporated into a final draft that will be presented to the Planning Board and Board of Commissioners for approval. Community input is the cornerstone of the UDO Comprehensive Update. Following the update and adoption of several comprehensive plans, including the 2022 Wake Forest Community

Spend a couple Sunday evenings in September with family and friends at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, while enjoying some foot-tapping, finger-snapping good times during the 2024 Concerts in the Park. “Throwback Collaboration Band” will headline the first concert on Sunday, Sept. 1, followed by “The Breakfast Club” on Sunday, Sept. 8.  Throwback Collaboration Band will play your favorite old-School funky music. With the rich melodies they create, you would think they are a group of 12, but they are merely composed of six brilliant musicians. The Breakfast Club is the longest running, most recognized ’80’s tribute band in the United States. The group embodies the enigmatic, creative, and buoyant spirit of music and live performances of the original MTV generation of the 1980s. Free and open to everyone, these performances are scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Joyner Park amphitheater. Attendees are invited to bring a picnic,