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.

Spend an evening with family and friends while enjoying some foot-tapping, finger snapping good times during our 2022 Concerts in the Park.
 
The Nigel Experience Band will perform Sunday, Sept. 4, while Heads Up Penny will take the stage Sunday, Sept. 11. These free performances are scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road.

The following food and dessert trucks are scheduled to be onsite during each concert:

September 4 - Lumpy’s Ice Cream, Mr. Cheesesteak, Fishin’ Shrimp
September 11 - Lumpy’s Ice Cream, Kona Ice, Goodness GraceUs, Peyton's Place BBQ

Wake Forest Unplugged September 11
As a bonus on September 11, the PRCR Advisory Board will host Wake Forest Unplugged in Joyner Park from 5-7 p.m. This free, family-friendly event offers area residents the chance to “disconnect” from their cell phones, computers and other electronic devices and “reconnect” with their community, friends, and family by engaging in healthier, more active pursuits.

The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of updating its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), and we need your input. As a follow-up to the UDO Open House sessions on June 9, Wake Forest residents, business owners, and stakeholders are invited to visit Engage Wake Forest and complete the online survey on additional types of development standards. Available through Friday, Sept. 2, the survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 5, 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. 6, at 8 a.m.

The collection of trash and recycling for the week of September 5 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.

Wake Forest Bus Service, including the Wake Forest-Raleigh Express and the Wake Forest Loop, will not be provided September 5 but will resume its normal schedule September 6.

If you’re looking for a “hauntingly” good time this fall, then don’t miss the Spirits of Wake Forest ghost walk in downtown Wake Forest. Presented by Wake Forest Downtown (WFD), Inc., in partnership with Forest Moon Theater (FMT), these tours will be offered on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, September 29 through October 29, according to the following schedule:

  • Thursdays & Fridays - 6:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.
  • Saturdays - 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., & 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 each, go on sale Wednesday, Sept. 7, and must be purchased in advance.

The draft Historic Preservation Plan is now ready for review and comment. After reviewing the plan, you have several ways to offer your input:
       
  1. Visit Engage Wake Forest and share your comments in our Guestbook at the bottom of the page
  2. Sign-up to comment at the Planning Board Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m.
  3. Attend and provide comment at the Historic Preservation Commission meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 6:30 p.m.
  4. Email your comments to Senior Planner - Historic Preservation Michelle Michael.

The 2022 Friday Night on White concert season concludes Friday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. with Crush.

The following food and dessert trucks will be onsite for the September 9 concert (Click on the name of the respective food/dessert truck to view their menu options): 454 Grill, Beefy Buns, Charlie's Kabob on Wheels, Cousins Maine Lobster, golden K dog, Hot Chix Hotcakes and Chicken, Kona Ice, Lumpy's Ice Cream, Mama Churro's, Moonrunners, Qspresso, the VFW Chuck Wagon, and Virgil's Jamaica.

PLEASE NOTE: These food truck menus are now provided as a function of the Town app (see FNOW Food Trucks).
The Town of Wake Forest and several local veterans’ organizations will continue their monthly flag-raising ceremonies in Town Hall’s Centennial Plaza on Monday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m.
The 43rd Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremony will honor Bruce Keith, Sr. who served our nation in the US Marine Corps.
Members of Keith's family have been invited to participate in the service, which will include patriotic songs, special remarks, a memorial wreath laying, and the ceremonial flag-raising by the Wake Forest Fire Department Honor Guard.

The Wake Forest Human Relations Council (HRC) will host Good Neighbor Day on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 1-4 pm. This free, family-friendly event will take place at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road.

Good Neighbor Day assembles people from all walks of life for a day of food, fun, and family entertainment. By bringing together a mix of cultures, music, ages, and ethnicities, the event celebrates diversity and promotes goodwill among all of Wake Forest's citizens.

On November 8, Wake Forest voters will have the chance to vote on four bond referendum questions totaling $75 million. The referenda will ask voters whether they approve of the Town’s use of general obligation bond financing to pay for the following initiatives: 1) $24.4 million for parks and recreation; 2) $23.7 million for roadway and transportation; 3) $14.35 for greenway improvements; and 4) $12.5 for a public parking facility in downtown.

Responding to FAQs
Over the next several weeks, we will share 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. Starting today, we will include one FAQ in each week's edition of What's Up in Wake Forest.

Why use bond financing for these projects?
Bonds make capital projects more affordable and put less stress on the Town's budget. By using bonds to finance these projects, we can pay for them in installments over time rather than needing all the money at the outset.

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will close Holding Park Aquatic Center (HPAC) for the season at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. Until then, the HPAC will operate according to the following schedule:
  • Weekdays, 5-8 p.m.
  • Saturdays, 9 a.m.-Noon; 1-4 p.m.; 5-8 p.m.
  • Sundays, 1-4 p.m.; 5-8 p.m.
  • Labor Day, 9 a.m.-Noon; 1-4 p.m.; 5-8 p.m.

Taylor Street Park Sprayground, 416 N. Taylor St., will remain open through Sunday, Sept. 25.

Free and open to the public, the sprayground now operates according to the following schedule:

  • Monday-Friday, 4-8 p.m.
  • Saturday, 10 am-8 p.m.
  • Sunday, 1-8 p.m.
  • Labor Day, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

North Wake Theatre will present You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 17-18, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. Showtimes are Saturday at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Advance tickets are $20 plus tax for adults and $10 plus tax for ages 12 and younger.

Happiness is great musical theatre! With charm, wit, and heart, "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends in the Peanuts gang. 

Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts gang explore life's great questions as they play baseball, struggle with homework, sing songs, swoon over their crushes, and celebrate the joy of friendship. This North Wake Theatre production is guaranteed to please audiences of all ages. 

You can make a difference in our community by applying to fill one of two vacancies on the Urban Forestry Board (UFB) and one vacancy on the Technology Advisory Board (TAB). Residents of Wake Forest and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) are eligible to apply.

The application deadline for both boards has been extended to Monday, Sept. 19. Anyone without computer access is invited to complete the application by using a computer kiosk in the lobby of Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Hard copies are available upon request by contacting Communications Resources Specialist Cathi Pope.  

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St., will offer a Creating Oil & Cold Wax Paintings Workshop for artists and aspiring artists ages 14 and older on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m.

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”).

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department and the Wake Forest Pickleball Club will host the Wake Forest 2nd Annual Fall Classic Pickleball Tournament Friday-Sunday, Oct. 7-8, at the Flaherty Park Tennis Complex, 1226 N. White St.
 
The entry fee is $45 per player, plus $10 for each additional event. The registration deadline is Friday, Sept 30. No registrations will be accepted on the day of the tournament.

The PRCR Department is accepting Youth Basketball League applications for boys and girls ages 5-17.

From now through Friday, Sept. 23, the registration fee is $60 for residents who live within the Wake Forest corporate limits and $100 for anyone who lives outside the town’s corporate limits. Late registration will be offered September 24-30 but includes an additional $15 fee.

Weather permitting, on Tuesday, Sept. 6, Town crews will begin installing a new bus pad at the bus stop in front of Crenshaw Trace Apartments, 987 Durham Road. The stop is part of the Wake Forest Loop - a fare-free bus route servicing Wake Forest and a portion of Wakefield. 
The installation of the bus pad is scheduled to continue daily from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. through Friday, Sept. 9.

To help ensure the safety of work crews, a brief lane closure may be required when the concrete is poured. In the event a lane closure is necessary, signage and cones will be in place to manage traffic flow and alert pedestrians and motorists of the work in progress.

On Sunday, Sept. 18, from 3:30-5 p.m. a Benefit Concert for the Northern Wake Senior Center will be held at The Forks Cafeteria, 339 Brooks St. in downtown Wake Forest. Hosted by the Friends of Wake Forest Senior Center, tickets are $20 with all proceeds supporting the programs and activities of the Senior Center.

Featuring the Dulcimer Tapestry Players, this band’s unique sound includes five dulcimer players and one guitarist. Not a rock band and not a bluegrass band, their name describes their multi-part harmonies and instruments that weave notes and melodies into a tapestry of music.

The Public Art Commission, Wake Forest PRCR Department, and ARTS Wake Forest are inviting all Wake Forest residents to a special Community Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alston-Massenburg Center and Taylor Street Park, 416 N. Taylor St.

Open free to the public, this family-friendly event will include food, music, and a variety of indoor and outdoor arts activities for children of all ages, including rock painting, chalk art, and “do it yourself” kits to assemble on-site or take home.
Register now for “Battle in the Forest” esports gaming tournament October 22

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.

The Wake Forest Area Chamber will host the sixth annual Senior Lifestyle Expo on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. Presented by Cadence Living, the expo is specifically created for the area’s growing population of active seniors and geared for both seniors and their adult children/caregivers.
With free admission and a wide variety of vendors, it promises to be an entertaining and educational experience for all. 

Exhibitors include healthcare, assisted and independent living, financial planning, mobility solutions, legal and estate planning, and home care, as well as volunteer organizations, recreational opportunities, and more.

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.

The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of updating its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

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.

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre is selling tickets for its 2022-23 fall and winter performances - and tickets are going fast.

Visit our website or view/download our program guide for information on upcoming shows, including You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, A Fall Evening Motown Cabaret (SOLD OUT), Party to a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre (SOLD OUT), The Chairmen of the Board, Plaid Tidings, One Christmas Night in Memphis, Comedian Jen Kober, Shana Tucker, Croce Plays Croce (SOLD OUT) & more!

In the coming months, the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre will host several first-rate concerts and performances, including North Wake Theatre’s “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” The Chairmen of the Board, “Plaid Tidings,” and “One Christmas Night in Memphis” – just to name a few.

While these events offer residents the chance to experience and enjoy top quality artists and performances, they also present opportunities 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.
New RecConnect now available 
 
The September 2022-February 2023 issue of RecConnect, the Wake Forest PRCR Department's fall and winter program guide, is now available. Click on the image above to view the latest edition in digital format. RecConnect is also available in Adobe Acrobat Format (PDF).

RecConnect includes information about all programs, classes, special events, sports programs and registrations offered by the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department. Registration is open. To learn more, call 919-435-9560 or visit us online.

For nearly 20 years the Town of Wake Forest has been introducing ways for residents to stay up to date on its programs, services, and events. Those offerings range from our website, email notifications via E-Notifier, and various social media platforms to our text/phone notification system and Town app.

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.
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.

Officials are in the process of ordering a replacement but experiencing significant delays due to supply chain issues.

Until the new equipment is received and installed, Channel 10 broadcasts will continue to be limited to live meetings.

In the meantime, residents are urged to visit our Public Meetings Portal to watch replays of Town meetings.

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.
 
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
 
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.

Related
 

The Town of Wake Forest has launched a comprehensive public education campaign on proper recycling behaviors.

#RecycleRightWF introduces and emphasizes 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 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.
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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.