Wake Forestâs quiet streets are giving way to mid-rise buildings, construction cranes, and steady urban growth. Wake Forest growth small town identity is at a crossroads. Wake Forest still trades on small-town charm, but the numbers donât lie: this is a city now, whether or not its residents admit it. The Wake Forest growth small […]
I was seventeen when the towers fell. On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was in the weight room at Wakefield High School for first-period weight training. Coach Steve Rivers came in and turned on the TV. We stood there, silent, as the second plane hit. In that moment, everything changed. Or at least,
The Wake Forest democratic process board seat question is front and center. When Commissioner Ben Clapsaddle is sworn in as Mayor, his commissioner seat becomes vacant. Our town government section covers the full story. This Wake Forest democratic process board seat guide explains what North Carolina law and the Town Code say about who certifies
Wake Forest is growing fast, and so are the questions about what kind of town weâre becoming. Thatâs why Iâve launched the Wake Forest Matters Facebook group â a space for serious debate, open discussion, and honest conversation about what matters most to the people who call Wake Forest home. This isnât about shouting matches
In a 3â1 vote Thursday night, the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning that will allow up to 108 condominium-style townhomes on Star Road â despite the townâs planning staff and the Planning Board both recommending denial. The decision underscores the challenge of balancing Wake Forestâs rapid growth with the tools local leaders
Drive through Wake Forest, North Carolina, today, and youâll see cameras on lampposts, sleek license-plate readers at intersections, doorbells with glowing lenses. But listen closely, and youâll hear something quieter than sirens, steadier than trafficâthe hum of surveillance. The townâs police department has deployed more than 24 Flock Safety automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras.
When the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners sits down for its work session on Thursday, November 6, at 6 p.m., they wonât be voting yet â but theyâll be setting the stage for the next round of decisions that shape how this town grows, spends, and looks in the years ahead. Work sessions are where
Friends, neighbors, readersâ this Wake Forest post-election reflection 2025 is for you. Firstâthank you. Your trust, your voices, and your engagement are what make our town strong. Weâve just witnessed a significant moment in Wake Forest, North Carolinaâs civic life, and this Wake Forest post-election reflection 2025 captures what it means. After six terms, Mayor
The 2025 Wake Forest election delivered a decisive result: Democrats swept every contested race on the ballot, reshaping the political landscape of one of North Carolinaâs fastest-growing towns. Here is a breakdown of the Wake Forest election results, what they mean for local governance, and how this shift could affect the community going forward. Wake
A dimly lit office glows with the cold light of four monitors, each showing fragments of the U.S. Capitol shrouded in smoke â a silent vigil for democracy, five years after the attack. Iâd Seen This Before â in War Zones This January 6 insurrection reflection begins overseas. In 2010, I was in Iraq during
Traffic Alert for North White Street â temporary lane reduction and traffic changes starting November 4, 2025, for storm drain and water line work. Wake County, North Carolina Precinct 19-07 map, showing boundaries with adjacent precincts and major streets in the Wake Forest area. While the scheduling of this construction is likely an unintentional oversight,
Iraq and Afghanistan didnât happen in a vacuum. The problem was the entire post-9/11 projectâthe wars, the Patriot Act, rendition, GITMO, the Obama-era drone program, even the killing of U.S. citizens abroad without due process. Iâm a veteran of Iraq and a contractor in Afghanistan. I took part in operations across the globe. Looking back,
Evening view of Civic Plaza with an upside-down American flag, symbolizing distress, against a backdrop of vintage architecture and classic cars. Damaged campaign signs for multiple WF candidates were found cut and tossed on the ground on November 2, 2025âscreenshot taken at 6:30 p.m. by Tom Baker IV. It would be easy to dismiss this
Old fear in a new form â a white hood fades into the glow of a smartphone screen. What once hid in the woods now spreads online. The message hasnât changed; only the tools have. In the summer of 1966, the Ku Klux Klan burned a cross in front of the Franklin County Board of
Iâm Tom Baker IV, founder and editor of Wake Forest Matters.Today Iâm making something official: Iâve formed Wake Forest Matters, LLC, an independent local-news company dedicated to reporting our townâs public life with clarity, courage, and receipts. A Family Measured in Service My family has lived on this ground for twelve generations. The Bakers, Harrises,
Wake Forest Matters — Independent local journalism for Wake Forest, NC
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