If Wake County seems as though it’s all high-tech warehouse conversions, sprawling suburbs and shopping malls, have a talk with county commissioner Joe Bryan some time.

“I got an eight-point buck the other day with my muzzle loader,” said Bryan, who maintains some 19th century habits while working days in the 21st century world of finance.

Out in Eastern Wake, which Bryan represents, he stalks the woods not only with an old-fashioned rifle, but also with a bow. The buck he shot the other day was “on the other side of Old Crews Road,” he said, near the place where Midway Plantation was moved.

Fans of the award-winning documentary “Moving Midway” will recall that the historic Knightdale home was moved from its site off Business 64 when development got too near. It was moved across the country, through a herculean effort, to a spot near where Bryan shot a buck the other day.

Rich: Buses not public forums

Chapel Hill Town Council member Penny Rich expressed what she called her “strong opinions” Thursday during a hearing on whether political and religious advertising belongs on buses.

The town is reviewing its policy allowing such ads after a church-sponsored advertisement calling for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel provoked a community debate.

Rich said the issue hits her hard as a Jewish person.

“I believe in free speech, but I just don’t believe that our buses are public forums,” Rich said. “I think that we should not make people feel uncomfortable. We want people to do business here. We don’t want racial slurs coming down the sides of our buses in the name of freedom of speech.”

She also called the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina to task for taking her remarks “out of context” in a Sept. 28 letter. The ACLU recently sent town leaders a letter saying not letting the ads on buses would be a violation of free speech.

“By the way,” Rich said to the ACLU during Thursday’s hearing, “you owe me 45 cents, because you didn’t put enough postage on the letter.”

Church to host debate

The site of Monday’s candidates forum for state school superintendent wouldn’t exactly be considered neutral ground.

Democratic incumbent June Atkinson and Republican challenger John Tedesco, a member of the Wake County school board, will be discussing issues affecting the state’s public schools at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Raleigh. The church has been one of the hotbeds for critics of the former Republican school board majority, including Tedesco.

“I’ve shown I’m willing to go anywhere to talk to anyone,” Tedesco said.

The forum, sponsored by WakeUP Wake County and the League of Women Voters of Wake County, will start at 7 p.m. The church is at 3313 Wade Ave. in Raleigh.

Political Trails

• State Sen. Josh Stein of Raleigh, who is running for re-election in District 16, will speak at the meeting of Wake County Senior Democrats on Wednesday at the Crabtree Marriott Hotel on Glenwood Avenue. A dutch lunch will begin at 11 a.m., with the program following lunch. The meeting is open to the public.

• Markham Chapel Baptist Church at 3630 Old Chapel Hill Road in Durham is holding an “Early Vote Watch Night and Sleep In” Wednesday night, followed by a caravan to vote Thursday morning. A church service begins at 9:30 p.m. and includes an opportunity for elected officials to speak. After breakfast and a morning service, the caravan leaves at 8:15 for the early polling place at Githens Middle School. Contact: the Rev. Dr. B. Angeloe Burch Sr. at 919-672-1058 or at idma.secretary@gmail.com.

• Dr. Greg Brannon of Founder’s Truth will speak about the effects of the federal Health Care Reform Act to the Wake County Republican Women’s Club on Oct. 18 at North Ridge Country Club, 6612 Falls of Neuse Road in Raleigh. The social begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by the lunch/program at 11:45 a.m. Lunch is $25 at the door. Make reservations by emailing 1wcrwc@gmail.com by Monday.

Compiled by Tammy Grubb, Thomas Goldsmith and T. Keung Hui.

Got a tip, item or coming event? Fax Triangle Politics at 919-829-4529, or send e-mail to metroeds@newsobserver.com. Send items by noon Thursday.