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.

In an ongoing effort to promote community involvement, art and creativity, while also emphasizing the importance of staying home during the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Town of Wake Forest is inviting residents to participate in Chalk Your Walk Week .

During the week of April 13, Wake Forest families are invited to use chalk to draw pictures and write positive and uplifting messages on their driveways and sidewalks.

Each day that you participate, please share with us photos of your pictures and messages through the online form on our website . Throughout the week, we’ll post on the Town of Wake Forest Facebook page the pictures we’ve received and upload them to our online photo gallery. We also invite you to post your pictures on social media and use the hashtag #StayStrongWF. 
Please...don't...litter!

The Town of Wake Forest often receives reports about trash of all kinds along our roads. It's a shame we're forced to constantly reinforce this message - but please don’t litter! We need everyone to help keep Wake Forest and North Carolina beautiful and safe, and it starts with each of us doing our part.

In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, the Raleigh Yard Waste Center closed in late March. In response, the Town of Wake Forest suspended yard waste collection until further notice.

Many yard trimmings can be quickly composted at home and re-used as mulch. If you aren't already backyard composting and would like to learn how, visit our website . 

According to the US Census Bureau,  46 percent of households  across the nation have responded to the 2020 Census since invitations began arriving in mailboxes March 12-20. In North Carolina, the response rate is slightly less at 43 percent, but Wake County’s rate exceeds the national rate at just over 52 percent.

The Census Bureau strongly encourages the public to respond to the  2020 Census online  using a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet. It's never been easier to respond on your own - all without having to meet a census taker. This is really important with the  current health and safety guidance  being provided by national, state and local health authorities.

Learn more about the   2020 Census .
RecConnect Cover Design Contest continues

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is promoting community involvement, art and creativity by inviting Wake Forest-area youth ages 4-17 to create the cover of the 2020 Fall/Winter edition of RecConnect .

The PRCR Department publishes RecConnect, twice each year – once in the spring and again in the fall. The program guide offers complete information on parks and recreation-sponsored programs and activities for people of all ages, including youth and adult athletics, cultural programs and classes and special events. The deadline to enter the cover design contest is Friday, May 1.

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin distributing COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments in the next few weeks. IRS – Criminal Investigation and the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina continue to warn North Carolina taxpayers to be alert about possible scams relating to these payments as well as other malicious attempts to defraud people relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For most Americans, the Economic Impact Payment will be distributed automatically and result in a direct deposit into the bank account designated by their 2018 or 2019 federal tax return. For eligible recipients who have traditionally received tax refunds via paper check, they will receive their economic impact payment in this manner as well. The IRS will calculate and automatically send the Economic Impact Payment with no action required by most eligible recipients.

Please note these tips to avoid becoming the victim of a scam.


In accordance with Wake County’s Stay-at-Home Order , the Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. will be conducted virtually and not open to on-site visitors. The virtual meeting will allow the Board to conduct the important business of government, while protecting the health and safety of the Commissioners, the public and Town staff. The only individuals expected to be physically in attendance are the Mayor and most of the Commissioners, the Town Manager, Town Clerk and Town Attorney. All will be seated in a manner that ensures proper social distancing.

Members of the public may live stream the meeting at bit.ly/WFTV10 and https://bit.ly/TOWFPublicMeetingPortal  and view it on Spectrum Channel 10 (WFTV10). There are also two ways the public can participate via audio only in the April 21 meeting.

Residents are encouraged to use the Town of Wake Forest  e-comment form  to provide comment on individual agenda i tems. The Town Clerk will compile and distribute to the Board of Commissioners all comments received at least 24 hours prior to the start of the meeting. The clerk will read into the record the names of everyone who submitted comments. The comments will be made part of the permanent Official Record.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Wake Forest safe, and for proving every day that the caring community we know and love is still here and as strong as ever.  #StayStrongWF

The Town of Wake Forest is under a State of Emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic . Town Hall and all other staffed facilities are closed to the public as are playgrounds and picnic shelters. Parks and greenways remain open, but restrooms are closed and water fountains are turned off.

Wake Forest is taking a series of precautionary steps to limit the community spread of COVID-19 and do our best to maintain Town operations. For a complete listing of COVID-19-related alerts, cancellations and closures, visit our website .

Wake County has launched a new dashboard that provides important and current data about how COVID-19 is affecting our community. The dashboard is available at https://covid19.wakegov.com/ .

The dashboard is updated three times per day – at around 8:15 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. It includes the:

• Total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases;
• Average age of those with the virus; and
• A gender breakdown (when provided on testing forms).

Also, if you have COVID-19-related questions, please note the following:

Specific questions about your risk
email  covid19.questions@wakegov.com  or call 919-856-7044.
Someone from Wake County's public health team will return your message within the next business day.

General feedback

Health-related questions
email  covid19.questions@wakegov.com  or call 919-856-7044

Business-related questions
call 919-856-7420

All  Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources' playgrounds, restrooms and athletics fields are closed until further notice. All PRCR-maintained picnic shelters, basketball, pickleball and tennis courts are also closed until further notice. This is in addition to the closure of all facilities and the cancellation of all programs, special events, and facility rentals.
 
All Town parks and greenways remain open to the public, but water fountains are turned off.
 
Parks and greenways users are urged to remember the following:
  • Refrain from using parks or trails if you are exhibiting symptoms.
  • While on trails, warn other users of your presence as you pass, and step aside to let others pass.
  • Always observe CDC’s minimum recommended social distancing of 6 feet from other individuals. If this is not possible, find an alternate location or depart that space.

Police officials are reminding Wake Forest motorists to park in the direction of traffic flow or risk a $25 fine. Wording in Sec. 30-251 of the Town's Code of Ordinances addresses "Parking in direction of traffic flow."

"Parking shall be established in the direction of traffic flow on all streets within corporate limits of the Town of Wake Forest with passenger side (right) tires to the curb on two-way streets."

In summary, on a two-way road, you must park with the right-hand wheels next to the right-side curb. Otherwise, you are parked illegally.  More>>
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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.