January 5, 2024

2024 MLK Day Holiday Schedule

The Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., and other administrative offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 15, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Trash and recycling collection will not be affected, but bus service and yard waste collection will be suspended.

Wake Forest Bus Service, including the Wake Forest-Raleigh Express and the Wake Forest Loop, will not be provided January 15 but will resume normal operations January 16.

Yard waste will not be collected January 15 but will resume January 16 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 routes have been completed.

Bulk pick-ups will be scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 16. To schedule a bulk pick-up, complete and submit the online bulk waste pick-up request form by 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15.

Public Hearing on 2024-29 CIP Update January 16

The Town of Wake Forest will host a public hearing on the proposed 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Update during the Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 16. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall Board Chambers, 301 S. Brooks St.

Wake Forest residents are invited to attend and provide input in this important process. The public can view a copy of the proposed CIP Update on the Town website or in the Town Clerk’s office, located in Town Hall.

Town staff are currently considering projects to include in the CIP Update which covers the five fiscal years from 2024-25 through 2028-29. Residents are invited to visit Engage Wake Forest to share their thoughts and opinions on the specific areas in which the Town should focus over the next five years. All comments received will be shared with the BOC for consideration and will become part of the public record.  

WFPD warns residents about unapproved fundraising for USDSA

The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) recently became aware of an unapproved fundraising promotion and survey initiated by the U.S. Deputy Sheriff’s Association (USDSA) distributed via US mail to Wake Forest residents.

Entitled, “2023 Wake Forest Survey on Defunding the Police & Reply Form,” the mailer references a “Drive to Protect America’s Local Police with Bulletproof Vests and Other Lifesaving Equipment” and invites recipients to “write your tax-deductible donation check” to the USDSA.



The WFPD wants residents to know the campaign has neither been coordinated with nor endorsed by the WFPD. In addition, the donations to USDSA do not go to help the WFPD.

MLK Community Celebration is January 18

Several local churches and community organizations will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a free, public celebration on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at Friendship Chapel Baptist Church, 237 Friendship Chapel Road.

The evening’s theme will center around one of Dr. King’s messages: “Be the peace you wish to see in the world.” In the spirit of the event theme, the Wake Forest MLK Committee will offer creative performance, writing, and art competitions for students in Wake Forest and Rolesville-area schools. Complete contest rules and information, along with the online contest entry form, are available on the Town website.

The competition winners will be recognized during the January 18 program.

The Wake Forest MLK Committee is accepting monetary donations from the community to help fund the monetary prizes and scholarships awarded to the competition winners. The MLK Committee hopes to raise $10,000 by January 31, 2024. Area residents can support this worthy cause by submitting online donations.

NCFST Mobile Market now coming to Wake Forest twice each month

Due to popular demand, the Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) and Ripe for Revival have agreed to bring their mobile grocery store to Wake Forest on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 3-5 p.m.

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. (across from the Northern Regional Center) on Thursday, Jan. 11, and again on Thursday, Jan. 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.

Tickets on sale for 2024 State of the Town Address & Dinner

You’re invited to join Mayor Vivian Jones for the 2024 State of the Town Address & Dinner on Monday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. Presented by the Wake Forest Rotary Club, the event will take place at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.

During her remarks, Mayor Jones will reflect on the successes and challenges of the Wake Forest community over the past year. She will also outline the goals the Town will strive towards in 2024.

Advance tickets are $15 per person and include a catered meal and dinner music by local performing artist Ronald Williams. Tickets can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit card at . Tickets may also be purchased at the Renaissance Centre Box Office with cash, check, or credit card. A limited number of tickets are available, so the event is expected to sell out. Dress for the occasion is business casual.

Anyone wishing to attend the program portion of the event only - without eating dinner - is not required to purchase a ticket. Non-ticket buyers are invited to arrive between 6:30 and 6:45 p.m. at the conclusion of the dinner portion of the program. The mayor's address typically begins between 6:45 and 7 p.m.

Wake Forest introduces new Open Data Portal to bring clarity to Town finances & performance

The Town of Wake Forest has partnered with ClearGov, a leading municipal transparency and benchmarking platform, to launch an infographic-based Open Data Portal.

Accessible from the “Government” drop-down menu on the Town website and under “Common Resources” on the website homepage, this new tool offers residents an easy-to-understand, visual breakdown of Wake Forest’s finances, as well as insights into the Town’s demographics.

Simply click on the "Dashboards" tab to view performance data from several Town departments, including Fire, Police, Planning, Inspections, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources, Downtown Development, Public Works, and Downtown Development. Town staff will continue to gather information for release to the Open Data portal as an ongoing process to make data more easily accessible and encourage residents to become more familiar with how their government is performing.

New banners add vibrancy & color to downtown Wake Forest

Several colorful pole banners are now on display throughout downtown Wake Forest thanks to a partnership between Wake Forest Downtown (WFD), Inc., and the Wake Forest Public Art Commission (PAC).

Last September, the two organizations issued a “Downtown Boulevard Banner Call for Artists” in which they invited local artists to submit “vibrant original artwork for seasonal boulevard banners in downtown Wake Forest.”

In response, 21 artists submitted over 50 designs. Ultimately, a selection committee comprised of members of the PAC and WFD chose designs by Boni Arendt (flower), Olga Lobastova (steeple), Leanna Van Der Have (tree), and Devanshi Prajapati (lily pad). For their efforts, each artist received a $100 honorarium.

Tickets on sale for 2024 Wake Forest Film Festival March 1-2

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St., will host the 2024 Wake Forest Film Festival on Friday and Saturday, March 1-2. Tickets to the two-day event are $20 and can be purchased online, in person at the RC Box Office, or by calling 919-435-9458.

Earlier this year, the Renaissance Centre invited filmmakers from our community and around the world to submit their vibrant, diverse, and original works and become a part of the 2024 film festival. Altogether, 81 films were submitted for consideration and 18 were selected to be featured during this year’s event. The complete schedule, including movie titles and times will be announced in the coming days on the RC website.

The two-day festival will spotlight passionate, creative, and thought-provoking movies by some of today's most promising and accomplished local, national, and international filmmakers.

Wake Forest ROCKS!

A lively community, with heartwarming service and rich recreation opportunities are just a few of the reasons why Wake Forest ROCKS!

Christmas tree recycling continues

The Town of Wake Forest encourages residents to make recycling a holiday tradition by recycling their live Christmas trees.

Town crews are now collecting and recycling live Christmas trees from residential homes during yard waste collection. Please note: There is no deadline for this service. The trees will be ground into mulch and made available for free to residents upon request.

All Wake Forest residents whose yard waste is collected by the Town may participate in the “Treecycling” program. To recycle your Christmas tree, remove all decorations, tinsel, nails, stands, and bags from the tree and set it behind the curb for collection. Residents are reminded that artificial trees cannot be recycled.

Downtown water tower gets a makeover

The Wake Forest skyline has a new look. In December, the 150-foot-tall water tower situated near the intersection of East Holding Avenue and South White Street in downtown Wake Forest got a makeover.

In early 2023, the Town of Wake Forest partnered with the City of Raleigh to re-paint the water tank. In case you didn’t know, Wake Forest and Raleigh merged their water and sewer systems in 2005. In accordance with the regional utility plan, the City of Raleigh assumed sole responsibility for operating, maintaining, improving, and expanding the water and wastewater collection system that serves the Town of Wake Forest. Since then, Wake Forest and Raleigh have worked together to schedule upgrades and improvements to Wake Forest's water and sewer system.

In December, Utility Service Company, a contractor working on behalf of the Town, applied the Wake Forest Downtown logo to two sides of the water tank at a cost of $17,450. The logo measures just over 35-feet long and 12-feet high.

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.

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.

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.

#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.

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.

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.

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.

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.