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Residents & downtown merchants invited to complete Wake Forest Downtown Plan Update survey, attend Wednesday's visioning workshops
The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of updating its Downtown Plan (formerly known as the Renaissance Plan for Downtown Wake Forest).
Visioning Workshops - Wednesday, Nov. 8
Area residents and downtown businesses are invited to attend one of two visioning workshops on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Wake Forest Fire Station #1, 420 Elm Ave., to learn more and share their thoughts and opinions on such topics as development and redevelopment, vehicular connections, pedestrian and bicycle connections, streetscape and urban design, green space and gathering space, and placemaking.
Programmed (not drop-in) sessions will be offered from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Since these are programmed and not drop-in sessions, attendees are encouraged to arrive a few minutes before the advertised start time.
Do-It-Yourself Workshops
HOAs, book clubs, youth groups, and other community organizations are invited to host Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Workshops as a way of encouraging even greater public participation in the planning for the future of Downtown Wake Forest.
As part of the initiative, the Planning Department will provide participating groups with the tools and information necessary to conduct their very own community workshop, including facilitator instructions, workshop discussion questionnaires, workshop agenda and ground rules, and more. To learn more or request a DIY Workshop kit, email Jennifer Currin.
Online Survey
Residents and businesses are invited to complete an online survey. Available through Sunday, Nov. 12, the questionnaire takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Survey results will be used in preparing the plan and for other community decision-making purposes.
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Town Hall & East Owen Avenue Street Towers to glow green for veterans November 6-12
Beginning at dusk Monday evening, Nov. 6, and continuing through Sunday, Nov. 12, the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., and street towers along East Owen Avenue will be illuminated in green as part of Operation Green Light. The effort is designed to support military veterans and raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by many veterans and the resources that are available to assist veterans and their families.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to participate in Operation Green Light by changing one light bulb to green from November 6-12. This can be an exterior light that neighbors and passersby see, or an interior light that sparks conversation with neighbors and friends. By shining a green light, we can let our veterans know that they are seen, appreciated, and supported.
Area residents are also encouraged to share their participation on social media using the hashtags #WakeGlowsGreen and #OperationGreenlight.
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Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, so residents are reminded to turn their clocks back one hour before bed Saturday evening. Clocks are set back one hour at 2 a.m. local daylight time, which becomes 1 a.m. local standard time.
As clocks “fall back” one hour, the Wake Forest Fire Department encourages residents to use the occasion to replace batteries in smoke alarms, flashlights, and weather radios.
On the second Sunday in March, clocks will be set ahead one hour at 2 a.m. local standard time, which becomes 3 a.m. Daylight Saving Time. The next clock change will be March 10, 2024.
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2023 Veterans Day Holiday Schedule
The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.
Yard waste and loose leaf collection will also be suspended on November 10, but trash, recycling, and bulk waste collection will not be interrupted. Wake Forest Bus Service, including the Wake Forest-Raleigh Express and the Wake Forest Loop, will also follow the normal schedule.
During the week of November 6, yard waste crews will attempt to complete the normal five-day yard waste collection cycle in four days beginning with Monday’s route and ending with Friday’s route. So, for example, on Monday and Tuesday, crews will run the Monday and Tuesday routes and a portion of Wednesday’s route, then on Wednesday and Thursday, finish Wednesday’s route and complete the Thursday and Friday routes.
To ensure that all neighborhoods are serviced properly, residents are urged to leave their normal yard waste and loose leaves in separate piles at the curb by 7 a.m. Monday, Nov. 6. As always, please avoid placing items on or near mailboxes, utility boxes, utility poles, or other fixed objects.
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PRCR Master Plan Update open house event November 14
The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is in the process of updating its five-year Master Plan. Community input is the cornerstone of that process, also known as Play It Forward Wake Forest.
On Tuesday, Nov. 14, the PRCR Department and PRCR Advisory Board will host the second of two public meetings (drop-in style open houses) where attendees can share their thoughts and opinions on needed facilities, amenities, programs, and services – and how the Town of Wake Forest should prioritize its investments in recreational offerings.
The open house is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. in the Ground Floor Meeting Room, Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St.
The session will have an informal, open house-style format, so residents and stakeholders can drop in anytime from 6-8 p.m. to view displays, ask questions, and share comments.
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NCFST's pay-what-you-can mobile market returns Thursday
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) is partnering with Ripe for Revival to offer a monthly mobile grocery store on the second Thursday of each month from 3-5 p.m. across from the Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave.
Offering fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy from local and regional farmers on a pay-what-you-can scale, the NCFST Mobile Market will return to 350 E. Holding Ave. Thursday, Nov. 9.
The pay-what-you-can mobile market makes fresh and local produce, proteins, dairy, eggs, and other food products accessible and affordable to all, regardless of their budget. When shopping, there are some limits on the amount of protein, dairy and eggs a consumer can purchase, but no limits on produce. Shoppers can pay any portion of the suggested total at the checkout. Both cash and card payments are accepted - but no checks.
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Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-off returns to downtown November 18
Help us ring in the holiday season and launch our annual Holiday Donation Drive during the Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-off on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 1-5 p.m. in downtown Wake Forest!
Free and open to the public, our Holiday Kick-Off will offer a slew of activities the entire family can enjoy, including The Carolina Hurricanes Storm Tour and Slapshot Booth, a Winter Wonderland with everyone's favorite Ice Queen and Snowman, community performances, children's craft activities, and more!
You will also have the chance to learn more about several Wake Forest Cares initiatives and how they are making a positive difference in our community.
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Free Paper Shredding Event November 13
The Town of Wake Forest and Skylift Garage Doors will co-sponsor a drive-thru paper shredding event on Monday, Nov. 13, 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 Flaherty Park, 1226 N. White 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. Participants are urged to help reduce contamination by removing all non-paper materials in advance, such as plastic binders, plastic folders, and metal tabs. In addition, items that can damage the equipment will not be accepted, such as wet or moist paper, hanging file folders, books (hardback or paperback), credit cards, photographs, film, DVDs, and other metals (other than staples or paper clips), boxes, batteries, computer disks or other electronic media. Please note: Junk mail does not need to be shredded. Residents and businesses can recycle junk mail in their Town-issued recycling cart.
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Turkey Drive donations coming in...very...very...slowly
The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) is accepting monetary donations through Saturday, Nov. 18, as part of its 17th Annual Turkey Drive. Area residents can support this worthy cause by donating online.
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 email Officer K. Abshire. All monetary donations will be used to purchase additional turkeys.
On Saturday, Nov. 18, the Police Department will accept monetary donations and donations of frozen turkeys at the WFPD Main Station, 225 S. Taylor St., from 9 a.m. until noon.
Police officers and staff will distribute the turkeys while they last on Monday, Nov. 20, from 7:30-9:30 a.m., at the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry, 149 E. Holding Ave.
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Only a few tickets remain for Renaissance Centre’s “Celtic Angels Christmas”
The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts will present four performances of “Celtic Angels Christmas” Friday-Sunday, Dec. 15-17. Showtimes are Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m.
Captivating audiences of all ages with the magic of the season, Celtics Angels Christmas is a joyous celebration from start to finish, encompassing vocal and instrumental holiday and Irish favorites. Paired with show-stopping world class champion Irish dancing and a fully live band, this show is sure to awe and entertain.
Stadium Seating
The Renaissance Centre will provide stadium seating for all four performances.
Tickets
Tickets ranging from $35-45 (plus tax) can 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 performances are expected to sell out, so anyone interested in attending is encouraged to purchase their tickets now.
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Register now for “Battle in the Forest” esports gaming tournament November 18
The Wake Forest PRCR Department will host an online eSports gaming tournament featuring the game "Street Fighter 6" on Saturday, Nov. 18. Open to players ages 13 and older, the online tournament is free to play on all consoles and PCs and will be live streamed on Twitch.tv. Registration is open through Wednesday, Nov. 15.
Participants will compete in a one-on-one, single-day, double-elimination tournament to be run in conjunction with "Bull City Gaming." The matches will be best of three with the championship match being best of five.
In the event more than 32 people register, the tournament will expand to two days with the qualifying rounds taking place on November 18 and the top eight participants battling it out in the finals on Sunday, Nov. 19.
As an added incentive, the first 30 people to register will have their name entered into a special prize drawing. Only tournament participants are eligible to win.
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Still time to complete accessibility survey as part of ADA Transition Plan Update
Furthering its commitment to accessibility, the Town of Wake Forest is in the process of updating its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan.
The ADA Transition Plan is a comprehensive approach to improving access for individuals with disabilities to Town facilities, parks, programs, services, activities, and events. Aligning with Goal 3 of the Town’s Strategic Plan, it is an important part of Wake Forest’s continued efforts to welcome and serve all members of the community.
Citizen input is a crucial part of the ADA Transition Plan process. Individuals with disabilities, along with patrons, family members, caregivers, organizations, and agencies that support individuals with disabilities, and interested individuals are invited to visit Engage Wake Forest and complete the Community Engagement Survey to share their thoughts, opinions, and experiences on accessibility to Town programs, services, activities, and facilities. The survey is available through Thursday, Nov. 30, and takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
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Get your free 2023-24 Wake Forest wall calendar
The Town of Wake Forest is again making it easy for residents to keep track of popular Town events with its new 14-month wall calendar. Now available in the lobby of Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., and online, the free calendar offers a comprehensive listing of Town events scheduled between November 2023 and December 2024, along with the various holidays the Town will observe during that period.
The calendar is filled with dozens of photos featuring area residents enjoying local festivities ranging from Friday Night on White and the annual Easter Egg Hunt to the Independence Day Celebration and Lighting of Wake Forest – plus everything in between.
Town staff will distribute the calendars while they last at upcoming community events. In addition to Town Hall, calendars are available at other Town facilities and Wake Forest locations, including Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road; the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.; Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St., and Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave. – just to name a few.
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The Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave., offers adults age 55 and older a full schedule of recreational activities, such as aerobics, line dancing, ballroom dancing, wood carving, painting, and craft making.
The center also provides several social events each month, as well as educational classes on subjects including computers, ceramics, and clay.
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Town of Wake Forest app
The Town of Wake Forest (TOWF) offers a free smartphone app that provides direct access to useful information about Wake Forest and encourages two-way communication between the Town and its residents.
Since its update earlier this year, over 5,000 Android and iPhone users have downloaded the app allowing them instant access to important information about Town programs, services and events.
Among its many functions, the TOWF app allows iPhone and Android users to:
- Receive breaking news messages;
- Utilize “SeeClickFix” for prompt action on street maintenance, lights, potholes and graffiti, using the app to send a photo and exact location of the problem;
- Access information about Town-sponsored events and events at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre;
- View Town job openings;
- Utilize the “Waste Wizard;”
- Access contact information for every Town department.
Android and iPhone users can access and install the correct version of the TOWF app by scanning the appropriate QR code below.
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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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Tickets on sale for Renaissance Centre's 10th Anniversary Celebration Series
The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre opened in November 2013 by encouraging visitors to “Imagine the Possibilities.” Now, the Renaissance Centre (RC) is commemorating its 10-year anniversary with a series of concerts, performances, and special events designed to highlight its impact as “the place” our community gathers to celebrate and enjoy the arts.
Realizing the Possibilities
Our Realizing the Possibilities Celebration Series is underway and continues with Marcus Anderson in concert on November 18 (Sold Out), and four performances of the Celtic Angels December 15-17.
The series extends into 2024 with Mesmerizing Magic featuring Jason Hudy on January 27, Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart on February 24, the Wake Forest Film Festival March 1-2, and two concerts featuring The Drifters on April 13 (sold out).
Tickets for all these concerts, shows, and performances are on sale now and going fast.
Don't Be Scammed
While these events are opportunities to experience and enjoy top quality artists and performances, they also present openings for scammers to sell fake and/or higher-priced tickets. That’s why the Renaissance Centre (RC) is encouraging patrons to be diligent and exercise safe ticket-buying practices by always buying tickets from the source. To be certain that online tickets for RC shows are valid and that the price paid is the face-value price, purchases should always be made through the RC website.
The RC utilizes Etix as its exclusive online ticket seller. It is not affiliated with and does not cooperate with any resellers and cannot confirm the validity or stand behind tickets purchased from broker/resale sites.
Finally, anyone who purchases tickets, then wishes to sell them (for whatever reason) should contact the Renaissance Centre Box Office at 919-435-9458. The RC maintains a waitlist of people interested in purchasing tickets should they become available.
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Whoever said "nothing in life is free" didn't know about the Wake Forest Loop (WFL).
If you’re not familiar with the WFL, here are the top three reasons you should give it a try:
- It’s free
- It serves Wake Forest and part of Wakefield every day but Sunday
- It offers major stops in downtown Wake Forest, the Northern Regional Center, Heritage, Wakefield Commons, and Wake Forest Crossing.
Oh, and did we mention it’s FREE? For more information about Wake Forest Bus Service, visit our website.
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WFTV 10 is the Town of Wake Forest's government access channel serving the residents of Wake Forest. Produced by the Town's Communications Department, WFTV 10 is available to residents and businesses that subscribe to Spectrum Cable TV service. For those who don't subscribe to Spectrum Cable, WFTV 10 is also provided in real-time streaming video and as a function of the Town App.
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WFTV 10 Schedule
Board of Commissioners work sessions are broadcast live on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Regular meetings are broadcast live on the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., then re-broadcast daily throughout the remainder of the month at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m.
Planning Board meetings are broadcast live on the second Tuesday of each month, then re-broadcast daily the following week at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m.
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PRCR's RecConnect available, program registration underway
The September 2023-February 2024 edition of RecConnect is now available. Hard copies of the PRCR Program Guide are available at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St.; Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.; Joyner Park Community Center (JPCC), 701 Harris Road; Flaherty Park Community Center (FPCC), 1226 N. White St.; and Alston-Massenburg Center (AMC), 416 N. Taylor St.
Check out RecConnect for complete details on recreational programs, events, and activities for all age groups, including preschool, youth, and adult, scheduled from September 2023 through February 2024.
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Wake Forest Farmers Market
The Wake Forest Farmers Market is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating our community about the value of local farms and the importance of local food systems.
From October-March, the Farmers Market operates Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon along South Taylor Street behind the Wake Forest Town Hall.
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Transportation Planning 101
The Town of Wake Forest Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) addresses regional traffic issues from the surrounding areas as well as alternative transportation methods, such as buses, greenways, and trains.
Check out the video above on our Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) to learn more about how transportation projects are selected and funded. For more information, visit our Transportation Planning web page.
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The following monthly meeting schedule is now in effect:
Board of Commissioners Work Session
First Tuesday/month - 6 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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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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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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