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.
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Whether you are looking for a complete home remodel, a kitchen or bath makeover, a newly landscaped yard, or just want to shop the local vendor marketplace for your home, you will find it all at the Wake Forest Home & Garden Show!
Returning this year, don't miss the "Buy at the Show" opportunities available in the Shopping Marketplace sponsored by Patti's Pretties. The Shopping Marketplace will feature everything from local art and handmade decor to kitchen essentials and cleaning products for your home.
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The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and the Wake Forest Woman's Club will present their biennial Historic Home Tour on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1-7 p.m. – rain or shine.
Offered only in even-numbered years, the Historic Home Tour is a self-guided tour featuring several Wake Forest properties decorated for the holidays and open for viewing. This year’s event will also offer wonderful Christmas music and more.
Tickets are available for purchase for $25 (plus taxes and fees) online and at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St. The box office is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m.
Tickets are limited to a total of 1,800 to ensure the best possible experience for everyone and will not be available for purchase on the day of the tour. Tickets are selling fast, so this event will likely sell out. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to purchase their tickets now.
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Town staff often receive complaints from residents about dogs running at large – particularly at Town parks and along local greenways. Although Wake Forest does not have an ordinance pertaining to dogs, Wake County Animal Control has jurisdiction to enforce animal control laws within the town and its park system.
Wake County Animal Control Ordinance Section 91.07 (A) (1) states “It shall be unlawful for any owner to permit an animal to be at large.” Section (C) further states “It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any dog to take the dog into or allow the dog to enter any public park without being at all times under the restraint of a leash unless the park is designated as a dog park.”
To report an animal control problem, including dogs running at large, call Wake County Animal Control at 919-212-PETS (7387).
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You can make a difference in our community by applying for one of the upcoming vacancies on the Town’s advisory boards. The boards were established to give residents input into what happens in the community and advise the Board of Commissioners (BOC) on matters that affect citizens and their town government.
Applications are being accepted through noon, Friday, Oct. 14, for appointments to the following boards and commissions:
- Board of Adjustment
- Historic Preservation Commission
- Human Relations Council
- Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory Board
- Planning Board
- Public Art Commission
- Technology Advisory Board
- Urban Forestry Board
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The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) is accepting monetary donations through Saturday, Nov. 19, as part of its 16th Annual Turkey Drive. Area residents can support this worthy cause by submitting online donations via PayPal.
Cash and checks written to the Wake Forest Police Department are also accepted. Anyone wishing to contribute cash or check to this year’s Turkey Drive should contact Officer K. Abshire. All monetary donations will be used to purchase additional turkeys.
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Early voting begins Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., and 14 other locations throughout Wake County ahead of the November 8 General Election. Early voting will continue daily through Saturday, Nov. 5, according to the following schedule:
Weekdays, 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Saturdays, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sundays, 1-6 p.m.
Lines are historically shortest on the first days of Early Voting. The busiest times are around lunchtime on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturdays, and the last three days of the Early Voting period.
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Award-winning storyteller Donna Washington will offer a free performance at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St., on Friday, Oct. 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Families and children of all ages are invited to attend what promises to be a highly animated performance, but seating is limited.
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The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is inviting local families to participate in the third annual Family Gobblequest on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 10 a.m. at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road.
The event is $5 per child, and space is limited to the first 25 families to register via RecDesk (search “gobble”).
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The Town of Wake Forest and the Local Government Federal Credit Union will co-sponsor a drive-thru paper shredding event on Monday, Nov. 14, from noon-4 p.m. – or until the two paper shredding trucks are full. Free and open to the public, the shred event will take place rain or shine in the parking lot of the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.
The occasion will offer area residents and businesses the opportunity to protect themselves from identity theft and dispose of confidential documents in an environmentally responsible manner.
All paper will be shredded on-site, then recycled.
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Area residents are invited to enjoy the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn while also learning about native trees during a series of Fall Foliage Tours in early November at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road.
Urban Forestry Coordinator Luke Devores will offer the free, one-hour tours “rain or shine” on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 12, at noon and 2 p.m.
Parents and children of all ages are welcome, and no registration is required. Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to assemble at the kiosk adjacent to the entrance to the Joyner Park parking lot.
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The Town of Wake Forest, in partnership with Rebuilding Together of the Triangle and the Northeast Community Coalition, recently completed the first year of its Housing Rehabilitation Program (HRP).
An affordable housing initiative, the HRP assists qualifying homeowners in the Northeast Community with critical home repairs. Eligible applicants must earn 80% or less of the Raleigh Metropolitan Area’s median family income as established by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and own a home within the Northeast Community boundaries as defined in the Town’s 2021 Northeast Community Plan.
In its first year, the initiative managed a series of repairs to five homes in the Northeast Community, including flooring, roof, and bathroom replacements, kitchen repairs, and more.
In one notable example, a resident’s bathroom floor had collapsed, and the ceiling was caving in creating a serious hazard. Using the Town’s HRP funds, crews from Rebuilding Together of the Triangle constructed a new bathroom and repaired the roof and ceiling. Crews also installed a new shower designed to provide easier access for the resident. See before and after example above.
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The Town of Wake Forest’s annual loose leaf collection program started Monday, Oct. 3, and will continue through Friday, March 10, 2023. Residents are reminded that the Town provides bi-monthly loose leaf collection service which calls for crews to service Wake Forest streets twice each month.
When preparing leaves and yard waste for collection, residents are urged to follow these guidelines:
- Rake leaves into piles behind the curb, so they do not interfere with traffic or drainage.
- Do not mix sticks, rocks, pinecones, limbs, or other debris with loose leaves. The Town’s vacuum equipment is only designed to pick up loose leaves. Your cooperation will help prevent mechanical breakdowns and collection delays.
- Place limbs and brush behind the curb in a pile separate from leaves.
- Limbs and brush larger than one inch but smaller than six inches in diameter must be no longer than six feet. Limbs and logs larger than six inches in diameter must not exceed two feet in length. Logs must not exceed 10 inches in diameter.
- Keep brush away from other objects such as, fences, walls, water meters, utility poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, and cars.
- Keep debris free of animal waste. Animal waste should be bagged and placed in rollout garbage carts.
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Coats of all shapes and sizes are welcome and may be dropped off at one of the following PRCR facilities (during normal operating hours):
- Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St.
- Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St.
- Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road
All donated coats will be distributed to children and teens in need of a winter jacket on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Alston-Massenburg Center (AMC).
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Mark your calendars for a cinematic tour de force! The Fourth Annual Wake Forest Film Festival is scheduled for Friday-Saturday, March 3-4, 2023, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. Tickets are $20 and go on sale Tuesday, Nov. 1.
The Renaissance Centre is accepting film submissions via FilmFreeway through Wednesday, Oct. 12. The website includes film screening fees and submission requirements.
In addition, the Renaissance Centre is seeking volunteers to judge submitted films. Selected judges will be given a link to view the films, then asked to provide feedback and scores. To learn more, email Renaissance Centre Director Debbie Dunn.
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Responding to FAQs
Over the next several weeks, we will continue sharing important information about the 2022 Bond Referendum. The Town of Wake Forest cannot advocate for a vote one way or the other on the referendum questions. Instead, all we can do is present the facts for voters to consider as they determine how they will vote.
One way we will present the facts is by providing answers to a series of Frequently Asked Questions. This week’s question is:
What happens if the bonds don't pass in November?
If the bonds do not pass, some projects will likely be postponed or eliminated. Some projects are completely designed, and other sources of revenue will have to be identified to complete construction. After operational expenses are calculated, remaining funds are left for capital improvements.
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Tickets for these performances may be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit card. Advance tickets may also be purchased with cash, check, or credit card at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St.
These shows are expected to sell out, so anyone interested in attending is encouraged to purchase their tickets now.
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The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will host the 2022 Halloween Boo Bash Friday, Oct. 28, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road.
The Halloween Boo Bash is a free, family-oriented festival for children ages 12 and younger. This year's festivities will include a variety of ghostly games and activities, and free pumpkin giveaways - while supplies last. Costumes are optional, but best costumes may be featured on the Town website and social media pages.
Halloween is (always) October 31
On a related note, the Town of Wake Forest often receives inquiries concerning when families should go trick-or-treating. Since Halloween is always October 31, that’s the day the Town encourages families to go door-to-door in costumes for candy and fun – regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. The Wake Forest Police Department also recommends that little ghosts and goblins trick-or-treat between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m.
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From November 21-December 4, the PRCR Department will host a Virtual Bass Fishing Tournament for ages 13 and older and a Virtual Youth Fishing Tournament for ages 12 and under (non-competitive). Over this two-week period, local anglers can visit any public fishery in Wake or Franklin County to try and catch the biggest fish. Participants in the Youth Fishing Tournament may catch any species of fish, while anglers in the Bass Fishing Tournament will be limited to bass only.
Online registration for both tournaments is available through Thursday, Nov. 3 (search “fishing”). The cost to participate is $10 for the bass tournament and $5 for the youth tourney.
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The PRCR Department will host an online esports gaming tournament featuring "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" Saturday, Oct. 22.
Open to players ages 10 and older, the online tournament is free to play and will be live streamed on Twitch.tv. Registration is open through Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Participants will compete in a one-on-one, single-day, double-elimination tournament to be run in conjunction with "Bull City Gaming." Matches will be best of three the championship match being best of five.
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WFTV 10 is off the air - except during live meeting broadcasts
WFTV 10 is off the air (except during live meeting broadcasts) due to malfunctioning equipment that controls scheduled video playback.
We have ordered a replacement but continue to experience delays due to supply chain issues.
Until the new equipment is delivered and installed, Channel 10 broadcasts will continue to be limited to live meetings.
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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 (as needed) - 7:30 p.m.
Planning Board Meeting
Second Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.
Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
Third Tuesday/month - 6 p.m.
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Led by Dr. Jane Steelman, the workshop will highlight the fundamentals of oil and cold wax painting which combines oil painting and encaustics without the use of heated wax or the lengthy drying time of traditional oils.
The cost of the workshop is $75. Online registration is available at RecDesk (search “Creating”).
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The Northeast Community Coalition, Faith Tabernacle Church, and Garner 5th Avenue Pharmacy are partnering to offer flu vaccine shots on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 10 a.m. at Faith Tabernacle Church, 741 E. Juniper Ave.
The cost is free for anyone who has insurance, and $24 for those without insurance. Pre-registration is required by emailing the Northeast Community Coalition.
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The UDO combines into a single document the Town's zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, storm water management, and historic preservation regulations. It outlines the requirements for all development activity.
The UDO was first adopted in 2013, along with the Manual of Specifications, Standards and Design (MSSD). With the update and adoption of several comprehensive plans, including the 2022 Community Plan and 2021 Northeast Community Plan, as well as several other comprehensive plans that are underway, the UDO and MSSD must be updated to implement the policies and recommendations of the plans.
In addition to reflecting the goals and actions of the comprehensive plans, the UDO needs to maintain compliance with state, federal and case law, which are constantly evolving. Finally, the update will exam best practices and trending topics.
The update process will involve multiple steps and take approximately two years. The updated UDO and MSSD will set the development rules for Wake Forest.
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In 2021 the Town of Wake Forest launched a comprehensive public education campaign on proper recycling behaviors.
#RecycleRightWF introduced and emphasized 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.
Thanks to the cooperation and efforts of our residents, we have recorded a significant decrease in recycling contamination over the past year. Great job!
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Despite our best efforts, there are still some who complain about not knowing what is happening in our community. That's why we thought it might be useful for Talbot the Town Crier to again offer his "olde school" overview of all the ways you can stay informed.
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The Town of Wake Forest is inviting individuals, families, churches and civic clubs to join the “Show Some Love, #KeepWFclean” campaign by picking up trash in their neighborhoods and along local streets and roadways. The initiative allows volunteers to pick up litter on a one-time or ongoing basis. Participants may also choose the area they wish to clean or request direction to high need areas around town.
To aid the effort, volunteers may reserve litter kits at no charge by completing the online reservation form. Each litter kit includes reflective vests, gloves, buckets, grabbers, trash bags, data collection sheets, hand sanitizer and litter education materials. A special thanks to B&W Hardware for donating the litter kits.
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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
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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.
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