Events, non profits, human interest
The Bradford pear Wake Forest problem is worse than most residents realize. Spring in Wake Forest is undeniably beautiful, but it often arrives with a deceptive, snow-white veil. If you drive through our local neighborhoods and commercial lots right now, youâll likely see dense, perfectly rounded trees bursting with white blossoms. To the untrained eye, […]
Happy Monday, Wake Forest! We have some fantastic news to kick off your week. If youâve been missing our local book haven, the wait is finally over. The Wake Forest Community Library officially reopened its doors today, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. For those who have walked past 400 E. Holding Avenue recently, you might have
A demonstrator holds a handwritten sign warning that the targeting of individuals like “Renee” today could lead to “You or Me” tomorrow. Out of the many signs held high up and down South Main Street this past weekend, one small one stood out to me. On a simple sheet of printer paper, a mother had
Tonight, inside the chambers of the Town Hall she helped build, the gavel will fall for the final time on the era of Vivian A. Jones. After 24 years of continuous serviceâa tenure spanning six terms and a quarter-century of explosive transformationâWake Forestâs longest-serving mayor will preside over her last Board of Commissioners meeting. For
This Sunday reflection Wake Forest community needs to hear begins simply. Surrounded by family memories and holiday warmth, itâs easy to forget the cold reality just outside our doors. Our community coverage regularly highlights these realities. True peace on earth means ensuring this warmth extends beyond our own four walls. Itâs a Sunday afternoon here
The Wake Forest parade cancelled liability question has stirred deep emotions across our community. I am from here. My roots in this soil are deep. My great-great-grandfather, John, who was known to everyone as âPeg Leg John,â lost a leg at Gettysburg. Two of his brothers never came home from Petersburg. But John did. He
An illustrated visualization of the site plan for the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging, detailing the buildingâs location, surrounding parking infrastructure, and nearby green spaces along E Holding Avenue and Brooks Street Editorâs Note: This transcript begins shortly after the meeting commenced. The recording started in progress due to overflow attendance; the Center for
The Wake Forest Center for Active Aging The Wake Forest Mayor forum misinformation trust crisis is real. Walking into the newly rebranded âWake Forest Center for Active Agingâ (formerly the Northern Wake Senior Center), the first thing you notice is the atmosphere. Itâs quiet. We have begun digging into the data to understand why the
The official agenda for the December 3, 2025, Mayorâs Roundtable Open Forum. This document outlines the Townâs structured approach to addressing the communityâs top concerns, focusing on the future of the Center for Active Agingâs operations under Town management. The key operational areas and leadership responsible for addressing them are clearly listed. The air in
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
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,
For generations, the Wake Forest Christmas Parade was the heart of the holiday season. As a child, I remember standing with my family and neighbors along Main Street, feeling the shared excitement that filled the chilly winter air. Those memories â the music, the laughter, the sparkle of the season â still bring a smile
As winter approaches, federal cuts to food-assistance programs like SNAP will ripple through every North Carolina town, including ours. While these decisions are made far from Wake Forest, their effects land here at home, in grocery lines, classrooms, and kitchen tables. For many of our neighbors, the difference between stability and hunger may soon depend
(This commentary is offered in the spirit of civic reflection, not political endorsement. Its purpose is to encourage respect, understanding, and neighborly relations in Wake Forestâs public life.) I believe that everyone in Wake Forest, North Carolina â candidates, elected officials, and all residents alike â should join in a commitment to civility. In an
Wake Forest civic discourse is something I think about often â especially late at night, when the noise of the day fades and what remains is love for this community. It’s late, and I’ve been thinking about my family, my town, and my country â about how much I love this place and the people
Wake Forest Matters — Independent local journalism for Wake Forest, NC
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