The Urban Forestry Division (UFD) is celebrating Arbor Day this year by again offering a contest that tree lovers across Wake Forest are sure to love. From now through Saturday, April 1, the UFD will accept nominations from residents for the Wake Forest 2023 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 3.
The tree that receives the most votes will be announced as the winner during Forest Fest on Saturday, April 15. The person who submits the winning tree will receive a certificate crowning their tree as the Wake Forest 2023 Tree of the Year.
The last time the UFD sponsored this contest in 2021, a towering willow oak tree nicknamed “Broccolini” was the winner. The tree (shown above right) is located on the Brooks Street side of the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave.
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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.
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. Tickets may also be purchased at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St.
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Area residents can remove an invasive Bradford pear tree from their property and exchange it for a free native tree at a Bradford Pear Bounty Saturday, March 18, from 9-11 a.m. at the Public Works Operations Center, 234 Friendship Chapel Road.
Bradford Pear Bounty NC is a partnership between NC Wildlife Federation, NC State Extension, NC Urban Forest Council and NC Forest Service to help control the spread of invasive Bradford pears by removing them from communities and replacing them with native alternatives.
Registration is required and will remain open until the event reaches capacity. Trees are unable to be shipped or reserved for later pickup, so pre-registered participants must collect their trees from 9-11 a.m.
Before registering, please note the following:
- Only homeowners can register and receive replacement trees.
- Tree removal is the homeowner’s responsibility. Select local tree care companies will offer Bradford pear tree removal discounts for program participants.
- Pre-registered participants must take before-and-after photos of the Bradford pear trees they’ve cut down.
- If the tree was not flowering when cut, an additional photo with a close-up of the leaves or bark is required. Participants must show the images to event organizers, who will then provide a 3-gallon native tree for each (up to five) they’ve cut down.
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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.
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Turner Asphalt, a contractor working at the future Hawthorne at the Forest, will periodically reduce to one lane portions of (northbound and southbound) Capital Boulevard/US 1 from Burlington Mills Road to South Main Street/US 1A throughout February from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. The periodic lane closures are necessary to allow crews to perform work in the median.
Signs and barrels will be in place directing traffic through the work area. Motorists may wish to avoid the area if possible and choose another route.
When traveling through the construction zone, drivers are urged to proceed with caution, watch for vehicles merging into adjacent travel lanes and double their following distances. For more information, email Brad Stewart.
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The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will host a public meeting on Thursday, March 2, at 6:30 p.m. to solicit input from residents concerning the construction of a downtown skate park, pump track, and fitness court. The meeting will take place in the Wake Forest Town Hall Ground Floor Meeting Room, 301 S. Brooks St. The room is most easily accessed via the building’s Taylor Street entrance.
The session will include a brief presentation, followed by an open discussion where attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share suggestions. Town staff and representatives from Kimley Horn will be on hand to answer questions and gather public input.
In the meantime, residents are invited to complete a brief survey that takes less than three minutes to complete.
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The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of developing a Public Transit Plan, and we need your input.
Wake Forest residents, business owners, and stakeholders are invited to visit the Town website and complete the online survey. Available through Sunday, Feb. 19, the questionnaire takes about three minutes to complete.
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The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre is hosting a Let’s Jazz it Up” Art Exhibit throughout February. While most often recognized as a type of music, Jazz also represents vibrancy, color, energy, smoothness, and fun.
The “Let’s Jazz It Up" exhibit features works by Wake Forest Guild of Artists’ members Terry Prace, Jeff Nimmer, Alison Charchar, Jane Steelman, Jeanette Stevenson, Hugh Daniel, Christy Colebank, David Nies, Judy Stines, CeeCee Taylor, Les Tryon, and Nicki Black.
To view the art exhibit, please make an appointment. All artwork is available for purchase through the artists.
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WFTV 10 is back on the air on Spectrum Cable Channel 10 and online.
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.
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.
Learn more by watching the video below.
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You can make a difference in our community by applying to fill a vacancy on the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Advisory Board. Residents of Wake Forest and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) are eligible to apply.
The online application is available through Tuesday, Feb. 28. 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.
Anyone with expertise or a special interest in recreation and/or greenways is especially encouraged to apply.
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Due to a limited response, the deadline to apply for lone vacancies on the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and Public Art Commission (PAC) has been extended to Tuesday, Feb. 28. Residents of Wake Forest and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) are eligible to apply for the PAC, but only Wake Forest residents are eligible for the HPC.
The online application will be available through the end of February. 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.
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Teams can register online and at the Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road.
Two Men’s Spring Softball Leagues will be offered – one competitive and the other recreational. Each is limited to Class E teams and lower, and you must be at least 18 years old to participate. League play is scheduled from mid-March through late May, and games will be played on Monday and Wednesday nights. The entry fee is $550 per team.
The entry fee is $225 per team, and the league is limited to participants ages 18 and older. Teams will play on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings from late March through late May.
Don't have a team? Sign up as a free agent
Anyone interested in participating in these leagues but doesn't have a team can sign up as a free agent, then be assigned to a team in need of players. To register as a free agent, complete the online registration form. For more information, email Recreation Specialist KP Kilpatrick.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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Hard copies of the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (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 March through August 2023.
Program registration is underway 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.
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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.
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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 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.
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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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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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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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