January 27, 2023


The Town of Wake Forest will host Public Transit Plan Open House sessions on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St. Each 90-minute drop-in session will give residents, business owners, and stakeholders the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions on a range of topics related to public transit in Wake Forest, including bus routes and service, commuter rail, improving connectivity, and alternate modes of public transit.

Both sessions will have an informal, open house-style format, along with the same content, so residents may drop in anytime from 1-2:30 p.m. or 6-7:30 p.m. to view displays, ask questions, and share comments. Lawrence & Perry BBQ will provide free food at each session while supplies last.

No formal presentation will be given. Each session will engage participants in discussions regarding key issues and priorities to be considered as part of the Wake Forest Public Transit Plan.

In the meantime, Wake Forest residents, business owners, and stakeholders are invited to complete the online Wake Forest Transit Plan Community Survey. Available through Sunday, Feb. 19, the survey takes about three minutes to complete.

The 2023 Spring & Summer edition of RecConnect, the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Program Guide, is now available. Hard copies 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 March through August 2023.

Program registration begins Wednesday, Feb. 1, online and in-person at JPCC, FPCC, and AMC during normal business hours. Online registration closes two business days before the start of a program.

The Town of Wake Forest is now accepting applications for the 2023 session of Wake Forest Planning 101 (formerly known as the Citizens Planning Academy). The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6.

Wake Forest Planning 101 is designed to educate residents of Wake Forest and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) on fundamental topics in planning and development in Wake Forest, with an emphasis on hands-on learning. Participants will explore a variety of topics pertaining to planning and zoning, including their history, the framework for local regulations established by state law, trends in growth and land development in Wake Forest, adopted Town plans, land development considerations and processes, the Town’s development regulations, public hearings, and more.

Participants will be expected to attend three sessions on the following Mondays in May: May 1, May 8, and May 15. Each of the three two-hour sessions will be scheduled from 6-8 p.m. at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., and will include dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. Sessions will be taught by Planning Department staff and guest speakers.

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre opened in November 2013 by encouraging visitors to “Imagine the Possibilities.” Later this year, the Renaissance Centre (RC) will commemorate 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.

The RC’s Realizing the Possibilities Celebration Series gets underway with The Malpass Brothers concert on July 22 and continues with two Murder Mystery Dinners on August 12, the Celebration of the Arts on October 7, Marcus Anderson in concert on November 18, and four performances of the Celtic Angels December 15-17.

The series then extends into 2024 with a North Wake Theatre stage show in January, Black History Month performances in February, the Wake Forest Film Festival in March, and a concert featuring The Drifters in April. Additional information about these special events will be provided in the coming days.

In the meantime, everyone who has ever attended an event or participated in an activity at the RC is invited to help celebrate its 10-year anniversary and commemorate its impact on our community by visiting the RC website and using the online form to share favorite memories and photos from their RC experience(s).

Photos and comments will be compiled and shared on the RC website and social media. Everyone who submits at least one photo and recounts a favorite experience will be eligible to win tickets to events in the “Realizing the Possibilities” Celebration Series.

CSX is scheduled to temporarily close several Wake Forest railroad crossings in early March. According to CSX, the following crossings will be closed for maintenance at the same time on or around March 1:


Once the work on the Rogers Road crossing is completed and the crossing and road reopened, CSX will close the railroad crossing on Ligon Mill Road (click on the map to view a larger version).

Crews will replace railroad ties at each crossing, then resurface the road. The crossings will be closed for 1-3 days pending weather, equipment, and any unforeseen circumstances.

CSX officials say the Brick Street, Elm Avenue, Holding Avenue, Friendship Chapel Road, and Rogers Road crossings must be closed concurrently due to the size of the equipment convoy. Comprised of nearly 30 kinds of equipment and spanning nearly two miles, the convoy travels along the train tracks transporting the equipment and crews needed to perform the scheduled work.

Electronic message boards announcing the closures will be set up several days in advance to alert drivers. The closures will require motorists to take alternate routes as no vehicular traffic will be allowed over the rail crossings during the closure periods. Residents and visitors are advised to plan accordingly and allow for additional travel time to and from destinations while crossings are closed.

Updates to the schedule will be provided as they are made available.
The Town of Wake Forest is sharing this information as a courtesy. The Town neither permits nor controls railroad closures. The initiative is entirely a function of CSX, so all inquiries should be directed to CSX at 1-877-744-7279 or via the CSX website.

The Wake Forest Human Relations Council (HRC) is celebrating Black History Month in 2023 by again offering residents the chance to recognize local African Americans who have made a difference enhancing and improving the quality of life in their community, family, church, business, organization, or other group.

The HRC extended the nomination deadline to Friday, Jan. 27.

Wake Forest residents, former residents, and business and community stakeholders that identify as African American are eligible. Nominees should demonstrate leadership and integrity and be respected by their peers. 

Comedian Jen Kober will bring her original blend of stand-up comedy, storytelling, and improvised rock-n-roll humor to the Renaissance Centre stage on Friday, Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m.
 
The 2017 Winner of NPR's Snap Judgement Comedic Performance of the Year for her “Girl Scout Cookie Caper” which went viral upon its release, Kober also received the 2018 Comedic Performance of the Year for “Nana Vs. OJ.”
 
In 2019 she appeared on Netflix for RuPaul's sitcom “AJ & The Queen” and “Dead to Me.” Kober had audiences rolling in the aisles on HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones,” played a no-nonsense detective in “The Purge” on USA Network and was a wacky science teacher in “Diary of A Future President” on Disney+. She has also had a hilarious guest starring role on the CBS sitcom “How We Roll” and appeared on the HBO hit series “Hacks.”
 
General admission tickets are $20 plus tax. Please note: This performance contains adult language and content.

Nothing could be more romantic than treating your special someone to a Valentine’s Brunch featuring Shana Tucker. The talented cellist and singer-songwriter will headline this special event on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.

Tucker invites you in with her voice and captures your heart with her unique ChamberSoul style. She’s opened for heavy hitters, including the Indigo Girls and Blind Boys of Alabama and played several years in Las Vegas with Cirque du Soleil.
 
Reserved seats are $60 plus tax (includes brunch). View the full menu on our website.

You’re invited to join Mayor Vivian Jones for the 2023 State of the Town Address & Dinner on Monday, Feb. 20, 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 2023.

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. 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.

The Town of Wake Forest will offer free Black History Month Walking Tours of the Northeast Community Thursdays in February at 1 p.m.

Pre-registration is required and space is limited to the first 15 participants to sign up for each tour.

Led by staff from Historic Preservation Planning and the Wake Forest Historical Museum, the tours will include Olive Branch Baptist Church, Alston-Massenburg Center, the newly restored Ailey Young House, the African American Cemetery, and more. Along the way, each group will discuss the developmental and architectural history of the area, along with the significant men and women who shaped the Northeast Community. Tours are outside only and will not include the inside of individual homes or buildings.

Friday Night on White (FNOW) returns to historic downtown Wake Forest on April 14 and continues the second Friday night of each month through September. 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 2023 concert series will include The Magic Pipers (April 14); Sleeping Booty (May 12); Love Tribe (June 9); The Brickhouse Band (July 14); Stone Age Romeos (August 11); and Crush (September 8). Each concert is scheduled from 6-9 p.m.

A variety of sponsorships remain available for FNOW which drew well over 50,000 people to downtown Wake Forest in 2022. Each sponsorship is guaranteed to bring attention and recognition to local businesses through on-site exhibit space; assorted radio and television ads; printed posters, flyers, and banners; social media posts; email announcements and more.

The Town of Wake Forest is now accepting applications from food truck vendors interested in participating in Friday Night on White (FNOW). The Town will accept online applications through Friday, Feb. 3.

FNOW takes place along South White Street on the second Friday night of each month from April through September. The 2023 series gets underway on April 14 and continues May 12, June 9, July 14, August 11, and September 8. Each concert begins at 6 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m., but food truck vendors are required to arrive and set up between 2:15 and 3 p.m.

The event fee for food truck vendors is $150 per event. Each concert includes space for 10 food trucks and three dessert trucks. The Town will assign trucks to specific concert dates based on a lottery system and grant special preference to Wake Forest-area vendors.

Make plans now to attend the 2023 Wake Forest Film Festival on Friday and Saturday, March 3-4, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.
 
The two-day event will engage film enthusiasts with more than 20 films of all lengths and genres, including short and full-length, documentary, student, family, and music. Intended for both movie-goers and film professionals, the Wake Forest Film Festival is an opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their films in a unique location to a discerning audience. The complete two-day schedule, including movie titles and times, is provided at http://bit.ly/WFFilmFestival.
 
All-access screening passes are on sale for $20 each and will allow unlimited access to the schedule of films throughout the two-day festival. Tickets may be purchased online in advance at http://bit.ly/WFFilmFestival. Tickets may also be purchased at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St. 

You can make a difference in our community by applying to fill single vacancies on the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and Public Art Commission (PAC).

While residents of Wake Forest and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) are eligible to apply for the PAC, only Wake Forest residents are eligible for the HPC.

The online advisory board application is available through Tuesday, Jan. 31. 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 Deputy Town Clerk Ella Dowtin.

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will host an online esports gaming tournament featuring "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" Saturday, Feb. 25. 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, Feb. 22.

The first 30 people to register will have their names entered into a drawing for a chance to win a HORI Nintendo Switch Split Pad Pro Controller. Only tournament participants are eligible to win.

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.

During the winter, the Farmers Market operates Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon along South Taylor Street behind the Wake Forest Town Hall.
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.
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 and hope to have it delivered and installed in early 2023. Until then, Channel 10 broadcasts will continue to be limited to live meetings.

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

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.

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!

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.

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
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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.