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Saturday’s Minority & Women-Owned Business Expo to feature over 30 local vendors
The Human Relations Council (HRC) will host the 2024 Minority & Women-Owned Business Expo this Saturday, March 16, from 1-4 p.m. at Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road. The event is free and open to everyone.
Over 30 area minority and women-owned businesses are expected to participate in the expo designed to increase recognition and opportunities for minority and women business owners in our community.
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Comic Book & Toy Expo coming Saturday to Flaherty Park Community Center
The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is partnering with Play4Life Comics to host a Comic Book & Toy Expo this Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St.
Free and open to everyone, the expo will feature over 15 vendors of your favorite pop culture nostalgia offering for sale vintage comics, rare action figures, popular Pokemon cards, and more.
The PRCR Department has scheduled future Comic Book & Toy Expos on June 15 and November 9. For more information, email Community Center Supervisor Grayson Pridgen.
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PRCR introduces bench donation opportunity at Holding Park Inclusive Playground
The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is pleased to introduce an honorary/memorial bench donation opportunity at the new Holding Park Inclusive Playground, 133 W. Owen Ave.
The playground opened on March 2. Now, the PRCR Department has designated eight benches within the playground as available for honorary or memorial donor funding.
The cost of each bench is $1,000, including installation (by the PRCR Department) and donor inscription.
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Seats still open for Saturday’s Cemetery Workshop at Friendship Chapel’s “Old Cemetery”
The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) will host a Cemetery Workshop this Saturday, March 16, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Friendship Chapel Baptist Church “Old Cemetery” located along South Franklin Street in Holding Village.
Due to limited seating, registration is required by contacting Senior Planner for Historic Preservation Michelle Michael at 919-435-9516.
The Historic Preservation Commission and Town of Wake Forest received a Historic Preservation Fund Grant to host a series of Historic Preservation workshops. Saturday’s workshop is the first of 2024 and will focus on cemetery preservation, identification of cemeteries, cemetery maintenance and long-term care, removal of vegetation and litter, and maintaining fences and protective barriers.
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Flaherty Park Field 2 closed for renovations
Field 2 at J.B. Flaherty Park, 1100 N. White St., is closed for renovation and upgrades.
Earlier this month, the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department initiated the first phase of a comprehensive renovation project at Field 2 that will include:
- Demolition of the existing stairs leading up to the field, concrete walkways, bleachers, dugouts, backstop; and a portion of the perimeter baseball field fencing.
- Construction of new stairs and walkways leading up to the field, gated entry, concrete walkways, shaded seating areas, dugouts, bullpens, irrigation system modifications, tension netting backstop with decorative knee wall, baseball field fencing, decorative fencing around the perimeter of the site, and electrical and landscape improvements.
Signage is posted around the field to inform the public of the closure. Flaherty Park visitors are urged to stay off the field and avoid the construction area.
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Easter Eggstravaganza at Joyner Park March 23
Join us for an EGG-citing Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, March 23, at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road.
Hop on over to Joyner Park for a "sunny-side" time filled with Easter joy! This year, we've spruced things up to ensure a positively "over-easy" experience.
No more feeling be"deviled." Join us on the Bunny Trail any time between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to "poach" your eggs. That's right! No more hard "scramble" leaving you "fried." You now have two hours to leisurely hop in and collect your eggs - entirely at your convenience.
Don't miss out on the EGG-citement! DJ Royal will be pumping out fun tunes while a roaming magician and bubble artist will keep you entertained. The kiddos can unleash their creativity with Easter-themed crafts.
And guess what? The Easter Bunny will be making a special appearance to spread Easter cheer! Bring your cameras and get ready for some EGG-STRA special moments.
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Egg-Ceptional Egg Hunt March 23
Join us at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, for our Egg-Ceptional Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23, at 10 a.m.
This egg hunt will provide a fun, safe, family-friendly environment for children who may have difficulty participating in a traditional egg hunt.
For more information, call the PRCR Department at 919-435-9560.
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Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremonies resume April 1 with service honoring David Cooke
The Town of Wake Forest and several local veterans’ organizations will resume their monthly flag-raising ceremonies in Town Hall’s Centennial Plaza on Monday, April 1, at 11 a.m.
The 52nd Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremony will honor David Cooke, who served our nation in the US Marine Corps.
Members of Cooke’s family have been invited to participate in the ceremony, which will include patriotic songs, special remarks, a memorial wreath laying, and the ceremonial flag-raising.
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We want to hear from you! PRCR’s “Parks & Facilities Satisfaction Survey” available through March 22
The PRCR Department and the PRCR Advisory Board are updating the 2015 PRCR Master Plan through “Play It Forward Wake Forest,” a campaign to raise awareness about the initiative and encourage community participation in the process.
Citizen input is the cornerstone of “Play It Forward,” so we want to hear from you. You’re invited to visit Engage Wake Forest and complete Community Survey #3 to rate your satisfaction with Wake Forest parks and facilities.
The survey is available through Friday, March 22, and takes less than 30 minutes to complete.
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Men’s Church Softball registration continues through March
The PRCR Department is accepting team registrations throughout March for Men’s Church Softball. Online registration is available.
The entry fee is $550 per team, and the league is limited to participants ages 18 and older. Beginning in mid-April, league games will be played primarily on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Anyone interested in participating who does not have a team can sign up as a free agent, then assigned to a team in need of players. To register as a free agent, complete the online registration form.
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Magic Pipers to kick off Friday Night on White April 12
Friday Night on White (FNOW) returns to downtown Wake Forest on April 12 and continues the second Friday night of each month through September 13. This year’s FNOW promises to be bigger and better than ever thanks to a power-packed lineup featuring several of our area’s most popular bands.
Our 2024 concert series includes The Magic Pipers (April 12); Irresistible Groove (May 10); Bounce! Party Band (June 14); The Brickhouse Band (July 12); Sleeping Booty (August 9); and Crush (September 13). Each concert is scheduled from 6-9 p.m.
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WF Fire Department Fish Fry April 19
Mark your calendar for this year's Wake Forest Fire Department Fish Fry on Friday, April 19, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. – or until all the fish plates are sold - at Fire Station #1, 420 Elm Ave.
Plates are $10 each and will include generous portions of fried flounder, boiled potatoes, coleslaw, and hush puppies. Cash, check, and credit card accepted. Fish fry proceeds will benefit the Wake Forest Firefighters Foundation.
No preorders will be accepted, but both eat in and drive thru take-out options will be available. Desserts will be sold separately for guests dining inside.
Delivery service is available for orders of 15 plates or more.
A special part of this year's Fish Fry will be a food drive to benefit the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry. Throughout the day, the WFFD will collect non-perishable food items to help feed hungry people in our community.
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Free Paper Shredding & Electronics Recycling Event coming to Northern Wake Senior Center April 20
The Town of Wake Forest will host a Paper Shredding & Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave.
Sponsored by Civic Federal Credit Union, the paper shredding portion of the event will offer area residents and businesses the opportunity to protect themselves from identity theft and dispose of confidential documents in an environmentally responsible manner.
As part of the electronics recycling effort, residents can properly dispose of items that may otherwise end up in landfills. Accepted items include, but are not limited to, laptops, servers, cell phones, mainframes, circuit boards, keyboards, VCRs, electric typewriters, and radios. To view a complete list of accepted items, visit our website.
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Beatlesque to kick off 30th Anniversary of Six Sundays in Spring April 28
You’re invited to help celebrate three decades of foot-tapping, finger-snapping good times during the 30th anniversary of Six Sundays in Spring. Sponsored by the Town of Wake Forest and ARTS Wake Forest, the free outdoor concert series will be offered from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on consecutive Sundays from April 28 through June 2 at the Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road.
From big band and R&B to beach and jazz, there’s something for all music lovers at this year’s Six Sundays in Spring. Beatles tribute band, Beatlesque, will kick off this year’s performances on Sunday, April 28, followed by Eduardo and the Paco Band on May 5, Soul Pyschedelique Orchestra on May 12, Marcus Anderson on May 19, The Magnificents on May 26, and Sensory Expressions Band on June 2.
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NCFST Mobile Market returns March 25
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) and Ripe for Revival typically bring their mobile grocery store to Wake Forest on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 3-5 p.m.
However, this month's schedule is different. Due to Good Friday, the NCFST Mobile Market will return to 350 E. Holding Ave. (across from the Northern Regional Center) on Monday, March 25.
Open to everyone, the pay-what-you-can mobile grocery store makes fresh and local produce, proteins, dairy, eggs, and other food products accessible and affordable to all, regardless of their budget.
At checkout, shoppers will be given a suggested total. Shoppers can then pay the full amount, a portion of that amount, or nothing at all. Both cash and card payments are accepted, along with Android/Apple Pay.
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Still time to nominate your favorite tree for 2024 Tree of the Year
The Urban Forestry Division (UFD) is celebrating Arbor Day this year by again offering a contest for tree lovers across Wake Forest. From now through Sunday, March 31, the UFD is accepting nominations from residents for the Wake Forest 2024 Tree of the Year award.
Trees may be nominated for their size, species, historic significance, personal meaning, community benefit or general notoriety – but they must be located within the Wake Forest town limits.
To submit your choice, visit our website, complete the nomination form, and upload a photo of your tree. Finalists will be selected by Town staff, then voted on by the community during the week of April 8.
The tree that receives the most votes will be announced as the winner during Forest Fest on Saturday, April 20. The person who submits the winning tree will receive a certificate crowning their tree as the Wake Forest 2024 Tree of the Year.
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PAC issues “Call for Artists” for Alston-Massenburg Center mural, application deadline is March 22
The Wake Forest Public Art Commission (PAC) is partnering with the Northeast Community Coalition to issue a Call for Artists for a community engagement mural to be applied to the exterior of the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St.
The theme of the piece is open to the artist’s discretion but should reflect themes of family and history.
Only artists that have applied for and been accepted into the PAC’s Pre-Qualified Artist Registry are eligible.
A selection committee comprised of members of the Wake Forest PAC and Northeast Community Coalition, and other relevant parties will jury all submissions and select the winning artist who will enter a contract with the Town of Wake Forest.
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Upcoming outdoor events easy to find on Town website & app
Beginning with the Easter Eggstravaganza on March 23 and continuing through Good Neighbor Day on September 21, the Town of Wake Forest offers an incredible array of free outdoor events and activities for the entire family. From Friday Night on White and Six Sundays in Spring to Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park and Concerts in the Park, spring and summer in Wake Forest are jam-packed with fun-filled events guaranteed to get you out of the house.
To help inform area residents about all these events, the Town offers the Wake Forest Outdoors portal on its website. The webpage provides detailed information about our area’s most popular spring and summer happenings, including the Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremonies, Forest Fest, Meet in the Street, Independence Day Celebration, National Trails Day, and Good Neighbor Day - just to name a few. Offering dates, times, locations, event descriptions and more, the portal is a useful reference for anyone anxious to get outside and take advantage of Wake Forest’s array of warm weather activities.
In addition, Android and iPhone users can have a handy pocket guide to this year’s spring and summer events in the palm of their hands by downloading the Town of Wake Forest app and using the app’s "Wake Forest Outdoors" function.
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Public Art Commission introduces Pre-Qualified Artist Registry
The Wake Forest Public Art Commission (PAC) is inviting artists and artist teams to apply for its new Pre-Qualified Artist Registry.
The registry will serve as a resource for the PAC’s selection of artists and artist teams to create Wake Forest cultural and public art projects. It will make the process for responding to calls for artists more efficient by providing access to a predetermined network of qualified professional artists. The registry will also strengthen and streamline PAC efforts by maintaining a database of artists with specific skill sets.
Artists and artist teams may apply at any time but must be pre-qualified to be considered for public art opportunities with the Town of Wake Forest.
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Spring & Summer RecConnect now available
The March-August 2024 edition of RecConnect, the Wake Forest PRCR Department's spring and summer program guide, is now available.
Hard copies of the PRCR Program Guide are now 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.
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2024 State of the Town Address now airing on WFTV 10 & streaming online
Mayor Vivian Jones’ 2024 State of the Town Address is now airing three times daily on Wake Forest TV 10. The mayor’s 35-minute speech, which began with "I am pleased to report that the State of Wake Forest is excellent," can be viewed on WFTV 10 from now through March at 8 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. The address is also provided in streaming video on the homepage of the Town website.
Mayor Jones delivered the annual address to over 200 people during the State of the Town Address & Dinner on February 19. Emceed by Wake Forest Renaissance Centre Director Debbie Dunn, the event was sponsored for the 15th consecutive year by the Wake Forest Rotary Club.
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Holding Park Inclusive Playground now open
The Holding Park Inclusive Playground, 133 W. Owen Ave., officially opened to the public on March 2. The playground is now open daily from dawn to dusk.
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Wake Forest ROCKS!
A lively community, with heartwarming service and rich recreation opportunities are just a few of the reasons why Wake Forest ROCKS!
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Wake Forest Disc Golf Course
Wake Forest's new disc golf course is open year-round for free use to the public Monday-Friday from 4 p.m.-dusk, and Saturdays and Sundays from dawn to dusk.
The rules for disc golf are similar to traditional golf by way of scoring and etiquette. Standing on what is generally a five-foot by 12-foot concrete tee pad, a player aims their disc towards a disc golf basket that’s placed from distances between 150 to 570 feet from the tee pads.
These discs differ from non-competitive discs in that they have a thinner profile and a sharper outer edge to increase aerodynamics and distance. Different discs are used for different parts of the course.
Just like with mainstream golf, the idea is to complete the course in the fewest throws.
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Connections...100 Years of Wake Forest History on sale
The Town of Wake Forest is offering Connections…100 Years of Wake Forest History for $30 each.
Authored by Wake Forest resident and “Wake Forest Gazette” Publisher Carol Pelosi, “Connections... 100 Years of Wake Forest History” was written and released in 2009 to commemorate Wake Forest's Centennial Celebration.
A treasure trove of pictures, original artwork, and stories recording the people, places, and events of Wake Forest’s first 100 years, the photo-filled hardcover book chronicles the town’s rich history and details its growth from a small college town to a thriving community of more than 50,000 residents.
Connections may be purchased online with credit card or debit card or in person at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., with cash, check, credit card or debit card. After ordering your copy, stop by the Information Desk in the lobby of Town Hall at your convenience to pick it up.
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Engraved bricks make great gifts!
The Town of Wake Forest is pleased to offer you the opportunity to purchase an engraved brick paver.
The 4" x 8" engraved brick pavers cost just $125 each and once ordered become a permanent part of the Wake Forest Town Hall Centennial Plaza - to be viewed and enjoyed by residents and visitors for years to come.
Located along South Brooks Street, Centennial Plaza is the focal point of Wake Forest's municipal campus and a gateway to town hall.
Here's your chance to join over 100 local businesses, civic clubs, residents and former residents that have already purchased a personalized brick. Engraved bricks are a unique way to honor loved ones, commemorate special events and recognize civic clubs and social groups, youth athletic teams, businesses and not-for-profit groups.
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#RecycleRightWF
In 2021, the Town of Wake Forest launched #RecycleRightWF, a comprehensive public education campaign on proper recycling behaviors. Through a series of easy-to-understand messages, the initiative attempted to simplify the recycling process and improve the quality of materials residents place in their rollout recycling carts.
Thanks to the invaluable cooperation and efforts of residents, Wake Forest recorded a significant decrease in recycling contamination over the next year.
In recent months, however, officials have noticed a steady increase in the number of contaminated recyclables in recycling carts throughout Wake Forest. As a result, the Town is reintroducing #RecycleRightWF.
The effort will address contamination by providing Wake Forest households with direct mail pieces, social media messaging, and concentrated feedback. Messaging will consistently remind residents who recycle to “Stick with These 6” - plastic bottles, jugs, and jars; metal cans; paper; and cardboard, and “Never These 9” - plastic bags, food waste, cups, to-go containers, paper towels, tiny things, plastic packaging, Styrofoam, and gloves/masks.
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Northern Wake Senior Center - Adding Shine to Your Golden Years
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.
Over 6,000 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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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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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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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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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.
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