Wake Forest will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a free, public celebration on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, 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: “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” In the spirit of the event theme, the Wake Forest MLK Committee is offering 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 19 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, 2023. Area residents can support this worthy cause by submitting online donations via PayPal. For more information, email Margo Grant.
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CSX is scheduled to temporarily close several Wake Forest railroad crossings in late February. According to CSX, the following crossings will be closed for maintenance at the same time on or around February 22:
- Brick Street
- Elm Avenue
- Holding Avenue
- Friendship Chapel Road
- Rogers Road
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.
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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The Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., and other administrative offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, 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 16 but will resume normal operations January 17.
Yard waste will not be collected January 16 but will resume January 17 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.
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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 will accept nominations through Saturday, Jan. 21.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In December the Board of Commissioners (BOC) received the results of an independent audit report from Cherry Bekaert LLP for the period July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. In addition to not revealing any audit findings or problems, the report acknowledged that the Town is “in compliance” with all its financial policies and operating with strong internal controls in place.
The report also included several financial performance highlights for Wake Forest which enjoys a triple A rating by all three national rating agencies:
Net change in the Town’s fund balance resulted in an increase of $7.6 million in the general fund.
- Cash balances totaled $48.9 million, significantly higher than the $32.7 million in 2021. Along with above mentioned increase, this also includes American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received by the Town.
- Wake Forest collected 99.82% of its property taxes - higher than the average rate of 98.95% for towns of similar size.
- The Town’s property tax base was $7.1 billion on June 30, 2022, compared to $6.8 billion at the same time last year.
- Property tax collections were $35.4 million - $1.7 million more than last year.
- The electric fund’s change in net position increased $29,000.
- Wake Forest has a total outstanding debt of $42.8 million, which is substantially less than the legal debt margin of $531 million. Also, the percentage of the debt compared to the tax valuation is 0.56% - considerably less than the Town’s policy of 2% or the state’s statute which is 8%.
“We had a record-breaking year,” said Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Aileen Staples. “We increased our fund balance over $7 million and enjoyed a clean audit with no findings. The icing on the cake was that we received the Certificate for Achievement of Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 32nd year in a row.”
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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. 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.
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The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre is hosting a new art exhibit designed to warm your heart and put a smile on your face. From stunning hanging art to beautiful sculptures and lovely folk art, the “Things That Make Me Happy” showcase features works by Wake Forest Guild of Artists members Les Tryon, CeeCee Taylor, Delphine Peller, Brittney Switala, Alison Charchar, Erin Day, Deanna Brancaccio, Aline Long, Diana Cook, Terry Marchon, and Kathy Street.
The Renaissance Centre will honor these artists and their works during a special reception on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 6-8 p.m. in the Renaissance Centre Arts Annex, 407 S. Brooks. St. The reception is free and open to the public.
Anyone who is unable to attend the reception, but would like to view the art exhibit, is invited to make an appointment. All artwork is available for purchase through the artists.
Visit the Wake Forest Guild of Artists and Renaissance Centre Facebook pages to view examples of the incredible art that will be on display leading up to the January 18 reception.
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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.
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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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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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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.
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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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