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.

On Thursday, the Town of Wake Forest partnered with WakeMed and Wake County Health & Human Services to host a free webinar on COVID-19 vaccinations. Moderated by Commissioner Adam Wright, COVID-19 Vaccines: Separating Fact from Fiction, featured a research-based presentation by Dr. Chris DeRienzo, System Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Quality at WakeMed Health and Hospitals and Dr. Nicole Mushonga, Wake County Government’s Associate Medical Director and Epidemiology Program Director.
 
The hour-long session addressed how COVID-19 vaccines were created and work, vaccine safety and efficacy, the Delta variant, local resources and more before concluding with an extensive question-and-answer period.
 
Wake Forest residents that subscribe to Spectrum Cable TV service can now watch the webinar on Wake Forest TV 10 (WFTV 10) daily over the next several weeks at 8 am., noon, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.  Area residents may also view the forum in streaming video on on demand.

The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 6, in observance of Labor Day. Police services will not be interrupted, but other Town services, including bus service and solid waste, will be affected. Town offices will re-open Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 8 a.m.

Wake Forest Bus Service, including the Wake Forest-Raleigh Express and the Wake Forest Loop, will not be provided September 6 but will resume its normal schedule September 7.

The collection of trash and recycling for the week of September 6 will operate one day later than normal and extend into Saturday. So, for example, Monday's route will be collected Tuesday and Friday's route will be collected Saturday.

Yard waste collection will be suspended Monday, Sept. 6, but will resume Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 7 a.m. Crews will follow the normal collection schedule beginning with Monday’s route. Collection of the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday routes will occur throughout the remainder of the week until all have been completed. To ensure that all neighborhoods are serviced properly, Wake Forest residents are urged to leave their normal yard waste at the curb by 7 a.m. Tuesday. Please avoid placing items on or near mailboxes, utility boxes, utility poles or other fixed objects.

Bulk pickups will occur Wednesday, Sept. 8, and may extend into Thursday, Sept. 9. To schedule a bulk pickup, complete the online request form or schedule a pickup by calling 919-435-9570 by 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 6.

Related

On Wednesday, Aug. 18, Wake Forest Fire Department Capt. Ian Moffatte was awarded the prestigious VFW National Firefighters Award during a ceremony at Fire Station #1, 420 Elm Ave.

Battalion Chief Ed Barrett nominated Moffatte for the award, for which he was initially selected by Wake Forest VFW Post 8466. After being recognized at the local level, Moffatte’s nomination was forwarded on to the Department of NC VFW competition before proceeding to the VFW national office.

In his nomination letter, Barrett praised Moffatte’s tireless and innovative efforts to protect Wake Forest firefighters from COVID-19.

“Captain Moffatte has led the effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic response at the Wake Forest Fire Department. Force protection was identified as one of the goals to ensure department emergency operations and provide seamless emergency response to the Wake Forest and surrounding communities. Early in the pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) was in short supply nationwide. Wake Forest has about 70 personnel that would be asked to respond on fire, rescue and emergency medical calls to include COVID-19 potential patients. Acquiring PPE vital for operations and devising new efficiencies to extend the current stock of PPE was critical. Working with Wake County Emergency Management and studying the Centers for Disease Control recommendations Captain Moffatte built a COVID-19 Response Program to protect fire personnel and citizens in the community. Captain Moffatte engineered PPE disinfection protocols that extended current PPE stocks. This program was so successful agencies in the county adopted Captain Moffatte’s innovations… His contributions to the department and his community have been exemplary.”

From Reggae to Motown and Salsa to Jazz, there’s something for all music lovers at this year’s Six Sundays in Fall concert series. Sponsored by the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department and ARTS Wake Forest, the performances get underway Sunday, Sept. 5, at 5 p.m. with “Sensory Expressions.”

COVID-19 forced the cancellation of Six Sundays in Spring in 2020 and 2021. But now that pandemic-related capacity restrictions have been lifted, the PRCR Department is pleased to partner with ARTS Wake Forest to offer an autumn edition of this popular community event. Featuring free, live, outdoor entertainment – rain or shine - Six Sundays in Fall will feature a variety of local and regional performers in the spacious E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road.

In addition to Sensory Expressions, other acts scheduled to perform include The Magnificent’s Band on September 12; Orchesta K’che on September 19; Revolution Beatles Tribute Band on September 26; Tea Cup Gin on October 3; and Chatham Rabbit on October 10.

No food or refreshment vendors will be on site during this year's Six Sundays in Fall concert series, so attendees are encouraged to pack a picnic and enjoy the music. Concert goers are reminded that alcoholic beverages and unleashed pets are prohibited. In addition, gas and charcoal grills are not allowed, but two large charcoal grills are provided on site.

What do you get when you spend an entire afternoon free from electronic devices that often seem to control us instead of the other way around? The answer: Wake Forest Unplugged...Get Connected.

Sponsored by the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board, "Wake Forest Unplugged...Get Connected" is a rare opportunity for residents to "disconnect" from cell phones, PDAs, and computers, and "re-connect" with their community, friends, and family.

The RAB will host a variety of organized games and activities, including sack and relay races, corn hole, and miniature golf, from 4-6 p.m. in the vicinity of the Walker Garden.

Popular party band Crush will headline the long awaited, highly anticipated return of Friday Night on White on Friday, Sept. 10. The free outdoor concert will take place from 6-9 p.m. along South White Street in historic downtown Wake Forest.
 
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at several downtown restaurants. Plus, the following food and dessert trucks will be on site: Bo's Kitchen, Charlie's on Wheels, Cousins Maine Lobster, Crumbstruction, Goodberry's Frozen Custard, Hale Yeah Kitchen, Kona Ice, Lawrence & Perry Barbeque, Lumpy's Ice Cream, Southern Fried Lumpia Co., Stavi's Sandwiches, The Naked Empanada, the VFW Chuck Wagon, and Virgil's Jamaica.

Related

The Town of Wake Forest will host a Northeast Community Plan Open House on Thursday, Sept. 9, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. outdoors on the grounds of the DuBois Campus, 518 N. Taylor St. The event will give residents, business owners and stakeholders the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions on the proposed update to the Northeast Community Plan.

The session will have an informal, open house-style format, so there will not be a formal presentation. Attendees may arrive any time between 4:30-6:30 p.m. to view displays about the plan, ask questions and share comments.
A boxed meal will be provided by The Forks.
Due to COVID-19, attendees may wish to wear a mask. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors where masks will be required.

Community input is the cornerstone of the Northeast Community Plan, which will recommend policies and actions responding to current and future community needs. The goal is to help preserve the history, diversity, and affordability of the area while addressing issues of growth, economic health, public infrastructure, and preservation. The plan is scheduled for completion in early 2022.

Wake Forest Power residential customers will see a slight increase in their electric rates when a new rate schedule takes effect September 1. It is Wake Forest Power’s first rate adjustment since a rate decrease in September 2016. Projected to cost the average customer approximately $5 a month, this year’s four percent rate increase is WFP’s first since April 2009.

In December 2020, Booth and Associates presented to the Board of Commissioners (BOC) the results of a cost of service and rate study along with recommended changes to the electric rate structure. At that time, the Board agreed to revisit and discuss rate adjustments in April due to the challenges presented over the past year by COVID-19. As a result, the implementation of the rate increase was delayed and included with the Board’s approval of the fiscal year 2021-22 operating budget.

Under the old rates, customers paid $129.05 for 1,000 kWh - $113.10 for the power and $15.95 for the basic charge. Beginning in September, the bill for the same amount of power will be $133.95. The energy charge for power is $4.15 less, but the basic charge has been increased to $25.

All five Wake County COVID testing sites, including the Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., now operate 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

There is no cost, no ID required and no appointment necessary. All sites use self-administered PCR tests which are painless and require people to swab just inside their nose. Results should come back within 12-24 hours.

Accessing the Northern Regional Center
To ensure an orderly traffic flow, Town officials encourage anyone planning to visit the testing site at the Northern Regional Center to approach the facility from the Dr. Calvin Jones Highway/NC 98 Bypass.

Motorists should then turn onto South Franklin Street and then onto Yellow Poplar.

From there, turn right onto South White Street and right along East Holding Avenue before turning right into the NRC lot. 

Drivers are advised to plan ahead, remain patient and follow the direction of traffic control and all signage.

The Wake Forest Human Relations Council (HRC) is soliciting youth and adult nominations for the annual Good Neighbor of the Year Award. The award recognizes Wake Forest residents who work to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods without seeking recognition for their efforts.
 
Nominees are sought in two divisions: adult (ages 19 and older) and youth (ages 10-18). To qualify, a nominee must be a Wake Forest resident who has made a significant contribution to the community between Sept. 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2021. Employees of the Town of Wake Forest are not eligible.
 
Completed nomination forms must be submitted by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31. Nominations must include the names of both the nominator and the nominee, along with a narrative of 400 words or less describing why the nominee is deserving of the Good Neighbor of the Year Award.

The Town of Wake Forest is inviting local companies interested in learning more about “doing business” with the Town and its community partners to a How to Do Business Networking, Reception & Table Expo on Tuesday, Aug. 24. Designed to connect attendees with purchasing directors and project managers from several state and local agencies and organizations, the event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.
 
Several community partners have been invited to attend and share information about the types of contracts they award, their bidding and award processes, and details about upcoming projects. Among the community partners planning to participate are the NC Department of Transportation, NC Department of Administration’s Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB), Wake County, Wake Tech, the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, and Town of Rolesville.

Provided below are announcements about projects that will impact Wake Forest motorists over the next several weeks. Please use the information to help plan your route and move safely through the affected areas.

Through Mid-September
From now through mid-September, Moffat Pipe, Inc., a contractor working to widen a section of Burlington Mills Road in the vicinity of Endeavor Charter School, will reduce to one lane with alternating two-way traffic the portion of Burlington Mills Road from Urial Drive to just beyond 1 World Way daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Signage and flaggers will be in place to manage traffic flow and safely direct motorists through the work area. Delays are expected, so motorists may wish to avoid the area and take an alternate route.
Through the end of September, Fred Smith Company, a contractor working on the Holding Village subdivision, will initiate lane reductions and other restrictions at various times along portions of South Main Street/US 1A, Friendship Chapel Road, South Franklin Street and Dr. Calvin Jones Highway/NC 98 Bypass. An overview of the roadwork is provided below:

South Main Street/US 1A from Dr. Calvin Jones Highway/NC 98 Bypass to The Lodge at Wake Forest
The contractor will install an additional westbound left turn lane onto Dr. Calvin Jones Highway/NC 98 Bypass and a receiving lane along South Main/US 1A.

Friendship Chapel Road/South Main Street/US 1A
Crews will install an additional turn lane at the intersection of Friendship Chapel Road and South Main.

Dr. Calvin Jones Highway/NC 98 Bypass/South Franklin Street
Crews will extend South Franklin Street and convert the intersection to a Reduced Conflict Intersection, also known as a superstreet.

Signage and cones will be in place to manage traffic flow and safely direct motorists through the work areas. Delays are expected, so motorists may wish to avoid these areas if possible and take an alternate route.

Related

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will host a country western-themed Father-Daughter Dance on Friday, Sept. 17, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Wake Forest Community House, 133 W. Owen Ave. Fathers and daughters (ages 3-12) throughout Wake Forest are invited to celebrate their special bond during an unforgettable evening that will include music, dancing and refreshments.

The cost is $30 per couple (Wake Forest residents) and $38/couple (non-Wake Forest residents), plus $8 for each additional daughter.

A limited number of seats are available, so anyone interested in attending is encouraged to register now.

For more information, email PRCR Events Coordinator Suja Jacob.  

Related
 
Loose trash in trucks creates litter along Wake Forest roadways.
 
Help keep Wake Forest roadways clean by securing any trash in your truck bed. When you throw trash in the back of your truck, it inevitably blows out and becomes litter on the roadside. In fact, half of all litter is blown, not thrown! Roadside litter costs millions of dollars to remove, decreases property values and has a negative impact on tourism.
 
The NC Department of Public Safety reports that an even bigger problem is unsecured loads in the back of trucks. At high speeds, even large items can fly out and hurt or startle other drivers causing accidents. Put trash into built-in containers. Use tarps, cargo nets and tie-downs to secure any loads. #KeepWFclean

Related
 
The following monthly meeting schedule is now in effect:
 
Board of Commissioners Work Session
First Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.

Joint Public Hearings
First Tuesday/month - 7:30 p.m.

Planning Board Meeting
Second Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.

Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
Third Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.
 
View Town meetings live & on demand

Planning Board and Board of Commissioners meetings can be viewed both live and on demand by visiting our Public Meetings Portal. Meetings are available in streaming video for one year after their original air date and featured in a convenient scroll-down menu. 
 
These meetings are also shown live on Wake Forest TV 10 - the Town of Wake Forest’s government access channel - then re-broadcast daily for two weeks at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m. 
 
Although WFTV 10 is available only to Wake Forest residents and businesses that subscribe to Spectrum Cable TV service, WFTV 10 is also provided online in real-time streaming video.

The July/August 2021 edition of Our Town is now available. Click on the cover image on the right to view the latest issue in digital format.
 
Our Town is Wake Forest's free bi-monthly newsletter. Published every other month, Our Town is mailed to every home in the 27587 zip code and residents of Wakefield. If you live in one of these areas, you should have already received the latest edition in your mailbox. The cover of the current issue is shown.

PLEASE NOTE: The November/December 2021 edition of Our Town will mark the end of a 12-year run for the official Town newsletter. Beginning in 2022, Our Town will no longer be produced or published in any format. Residents can stay informed about Wake Forest programs, services and events in a variety of ways, including email and Facebook. To view a complete listing of all the ways you can stay informed about what's happening in and around Wake Forest, visit us online.

The Town of Wake Forest has launched a comprehensive public education campaign on proper recycling behaviors. Over the next year, #RecycleRightWF will introduce and emphasize a series of easy-to-understand messages aimed at simplifying the recycling process and improving the quality of materials residents place in their rollout recycling carts.

The Town of Wake Forest is encouraging residents to stay informed about trash, recycling and yard waste collection by signing up for the “Waste Wizard.” The Waste Wizard is a free interactive tool that allows users to sign up for personalized trash and recycling collection reminders, download collection schedules and access online service request forms for bulk waste pickup, brush pickup and missed collections.

But that’s not all. The Waste Wizard also allows users to type in key words related to disposable household materials and receive valuable disposal tips. From aluminum cans and phone books to popcorn bags and plastic beverage bottles, the search tool helps residents determine which items can be recycled and which ones should be thrown away.

Related

The Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave., offers adults age 55 and older a full schedule of recreational activities. Programming at the center is provided by Resources for Seniors, Inc. The organization serves senior and disabled adults in Wake County by providing home and community-based services and information, thereby allowing them to maximize their choices for independence, comfort, safety, security and well-being.

Check out Jennie's Weekly Jots, the senior center's weekly newsletter, for information on current programming and initiatives.
Stay In Touch
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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.