The Joyner-Harris Forest Conservation is holding a shoe collection drive to raise funds for their ongoing community advocacy and outreach mission to promote the sustainability of natural lands in the face of ongoing development in Wake Forest and the surrounding areas. Partnering with Funds2Orgs, JHFC will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used, and new shoes collected. Those dollars will benefit JHFC’s continued work to protect natural habitats and promote sustainability through advocacy and education Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used, and new shoes at any of these drop-off locations: 1) The Loading Dock-Wake Forest (525 S. White St. Wake Forest, NC 27587) Contact: Maddie Pike 2) Kerr Family YMCA (2500 Wakefield Pines Dr., Raleigh, NC 27614) Contact: Brett Scott 3) Youngsville Smiles Dentistry (775 Tarboro Rd. STE. 155, Youngsville, NC 27596) Contact: Julia Sommer 4) Printers Alley (5910 Duraleigh Rd,

The Town of Wake Forest is celebrating Historic Preservation Month in May by offering free walking tours of the Northeast Community, Local Historic District (North Main Street), and South Main Street.  Pre-registration is required for each tour by completing the online sign-up form at https://bit.ly/WFHistoricWalkingTours. Space is limited to the first 15 participants to sign up for each tour.  ed by staff from Historic Preservation Planning Program, each tour will include discussions of the developmental and architectural history of the area, along with the significant men and women who shaped the community. Tours are outside only and will not include the inside of individual homes or buildings. Each tour is approximately 90 minutes and will be offered according to the following schedule: For complete details, visit https://bit.ly/WFHistoricWalkingTours or contact Senior Planner for Historic Preservation Michelle Michael at 919-435-9516 or mmichael@wakeforestnc.gov. ###

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will offer a free outdoor fitness series four nights a week in May at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Free and open to area residents of all ages, May Month of Fitness will consist of the following weekly classes:  ·         Mondays – Women’s Self Defense ·         Tuesdays – Cynergy Fit ·         Wednesdays – Yoga ·         Thursdays – Zumba  All classes are free and require no registration. Each will be offered on its respective night from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Joyner Park Amphitheater. During the Women’s Self Defense classes, instructors from Quest Martial Arts will teach participating women a variety of techniques to avoid danger and defend themselves if necessary. Sessions will focus on practical and instinctive methods to get you out of harm’s way. Participants are encouraged to bring water. Cynergy Fit is an Outdoor Bootcamp Community in Wake Forest. Personal Trainer

The Inspections Department is hosting a Popsicle Stick House-Building Contest for three age categories as part of this year’s Building Safety Month Kick-Off.  The kick-off event is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Town & Country Hardware, 910 Gateway Commons Circle. Young people ages 7 and under, 8-9, and 10-11 are invited to build a house using popsicle sticks. Design of the house, including painting and decorations, is left up to each contestant. Entries will be judged on creativity, imagination, quality, and workmanship. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required by Monday, April 21, at https://bit.ly/WFBuildingSafetyMonth. Each contestant must deliver his or her completed popsicle house to the April 26 Building Safety Month Kick-Off between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Inspections staff will begin judging the submitted popsicle houses at 2 p.m. and announce the winners at 3 p.m. One winner will be selected

Checkmate! Chess Club – Third Tuesdays Monthly Tuesday, April 15 at 6:30 Join our Chess Club and sharpen your skills in a friendly, welcoming environment. For ages 10+ Yoga Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30 Join us for an evening of yoga! Please dress comfortably, bring water, and a mat or beach towel. Also, yoga blocks for yourself or to share. No yoga experience necessary. Waiver must be signed to participate. For ages 12+ Space is limited. Please arrive early to reserve your spot. Sign up for a reminder via the link above. How to Start a Business Wednesday, April 23 @ 6:30  Learn key strategies for startup, financing, and marketing, as well as information about legal issues, licensing, zoning, operations, and morDiscover the resources to help you start and successfully operate your business. Limited seating Please pre-register at bit.ly/wakebiz  Cosplayers’ Night Thursday, April 24 @ 6:00 – Calling all cosplayers! Bring your current projects

Below is a list of groups – and if your group is not included and should be – please send a note with the information to cwpelosi@aol.com. If the information about your group is wrong or out of date, please send a note with the corrections to that same email address. Aren’t we lucky to have so many groups that benefit our town and its residents? *American Legion Post 187 meets the second Thursday at 7 p.m. in the American Legion Hall at 225 East Holding Avenue. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. and costs $5. For information and membership, call Commander Doug Doster at 1-603-660-6948. *American Heritage Girls (AHG) meets at 6:30 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church on Rogers Road on the second and fourth Thursdays. Get in touch with Amy Minor at chrisnamy34@hotmail.com or see the website, www.hopelutheranwf.org. *The General James Moore Chapter of the Daughters of the