Welcome to our weekly e-newsletter - What's Up in Wake Forest . Here you'll find information about Town programs, services, activities, projects, special events and more! If you haven't already, tell your friends and neighbors to visit our E-Notifier page to learn about our full array of free email offerings.

Beginning the week of January 6, the Wake Forest Loop (WFL), a weekday, fare-free bus for residents traveling within Wake Forest and a portion of Wakefield, will add a second bus to run a reverse route and introduce Saturday service.

Currently, the WFL is comprised of one bus running the hour-long route Monday-Friday in a clockwise direction. Beginning Monday, Jan. 6, the WFL will operate six days-a-week enabling riders to travel both clockwise and counter-clockwise along the existing route cutting wait times in half from 60 to 30 minutes. The local service will remain free of charge.

Flaherty Dog Park , 1100 N. White St., will be closed for renovations Monday-Friday, Jan. 6-10. The dog park is expected to re-open Saturday, Jan. 11.

Park renovations will include new fencing and self-closing gates; fully accessible main entrance with large concrete area and separate entrance and exit gates; secondary entrance/exit; fully accessible shade structure and much more.

The  next census  is coming this year! By April 2020, households will receive an invitation to participate in the census. The process is quick and easy. You'll then have three options to respond: 1) Online (for the first time!); 2) By phone; and 3) By mail. Learn more about the  2020 Census .

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre will host a lively and educational celebration of gospel music that connects all cultures, ages and backgrounds on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at 5 p.m.

The Shades of Gospel concert will highlight a range of traditional, southern and contemporary gospel music with featured performances by Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award-nominated artist Tim Bowman, Jr. and the Trinity Quartet. Tickets are $15 plus tax.
The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Garbage and recycling collection schedules will not be affected. However, bus service and yard waste collection will be suspended.
Put on your blue suede shoes or pink poodle skirt and get ready to “rock around the clock.” Dance the night away to your favorite 50's tunes spun by DJ Randy "Sting" of 1st Choice Customized DJ Services. Emcee and special music by Roseann McFadden. Advance tickets are $12 plus tax and $15 plus tax at the door.
The Town of Wake Forest and a network of local partners are inviting current and aspiring entrepreneurs to apply for Launch Wake Forest . The initiative will offer 20 selected students a nine-week accredited Kaufman business course, business mentorship, planning and financial support, along with resources and connections to boost their current or potential business.
Several local churches and community organizations will sponsor a free, public celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 23, at Friendship Chapel Baptist Church, 237 Friendship Chapel Road. Area residents are invited to attend the observance, beginning with a light meal at 6 p.m. followed by the program at 7 p.m. 
The fourth edition of a guide designed to help inform citizens about the Town’s financial condition is now available. For the fourth consecutive year, Wake Forest has prepared the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). Also known as the Citizens’ Financial Report, the document is an abbreviated summary of the Town’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
The Town of Wake Forest is encouraging residents to make recycling a holiday tradition by recycling their Christmas trees . Town crews are now collecting and recycling live Christmas trees from all Wake Forest sanitation customers according to the normal yard waste collection schedule.
The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre hosts free, movie showings at 7 pm on the first Friday of each month. Free and open to the public, tonight's featured film will be "Toy Story 4." For more information, call the Renaissance Centre Box Office at 919-435-9458. 
Wake Forest officials are urging area motorists to pay attention to an updated parking ordinance or risk a hefty fine. The updated ordinance specifically prohibits all motorists, regardless of whether the driver and/or the passenger(s) have a disability plate or placard, from parking in the access aisles of handicap parking spaces .
Before wintry weather strikes our area, all Wake Forest residents are encouraged to opt-in to the Town's phone notification system and provide their complete contact information, including cell phone numbers and email addresses.
The Town of Wake Forest is introducing important changes aimed at increasing citizen awareness of scheduled public hearings .  
Sanitation customers can complete and submit an online form to request a variety of assistance related to their rollout trash and recycling carts. The form can be used to request service, request an upgrade to your recycling cart, order extra carts and report damaged or missing carts.
You can receive email notifications concerning road closures and traffic alerts in Wake Forest by signing up for E-Notifier - our free email subscription service. The service allows you to subscribe to several specific information categories and receive an e-mail notification whenever we post new information on the website related to your selected categories.
Stay In Touch
You have received this e-mail because you are subscribed to E-News – part of the Town of Wake Forest’s e-mail subscription service. E-News keeps you up-to-date on Town of Wake Forest news, information, events and services. If you believe you have been subscribed in error, or would like to cancel your subscription to The Week Ahead, you may unsubscribe below.
 
If you have questions or comments about the Town of Wake Forest website or E-News, please contact Bill Crabtree by email or call 919-435-9421.