January 26, 2024

2023 Year in Review

We got a lot done last year in Wake Forest! Check out our latest video to see just a few of the things we accomplished.

“Clearing the Air: Navigating COVID-19, Tobacco Cessation & Vaping Realities” February 15

The Town of Wake Forest is partnering with Wake County to host Clearing the Air: Navigating COVID-19, Tobacco Cessation & Vaping Realities Thursday, Feb. 15, from 6-7 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.

Free and open to all, the workshop will explore health risks associated with smoking and teen vaping, offer effective tobacco cessation strategies, and share the latest on COVID-19.

The event will feature an interactive panel discussion moderated by Dr. Rasheeda Monroe MD of the UNC School of Medicine and Director of the Kenan Urban Scholars. Panelists will include Dr. Stefanie Etienne MD, Medical Director/Family Physician at WellCare of North Carolina; Bolu Abe-Latham, Physician Associate at the Duke Smoking and Tobacco Cessation Program; and Michael Scott, Program Manager at the Center for Black Health & Equity.

Registration is encouraged but not required. However, everyone who registers in advance by Friday, Feb. 9, will receive a free boxed dinner.

Youth Baseball, Softball & T-Ball registration begins February 1 for residents, February 8 for non-residents

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will accept online and in-person registrations throughout February for youth baseball, softball, and T-ball for boys and girls ages 5-17 according to the following schedule:

• February 1-7 – Wake Forest residents only
• February 8-29 - Wake Forest residents & non-Wake Forest residents
• March 1-8 – Late registration, including a $15 late fee.

Beginning Thursday, Feb. 1, online registration will be available, along with team placement and draft information and league rules. In-person registrations will be accepted at the Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road.



The fee is $60 for Wake Forest residents and $100 for non-Wake Forest residents. A participant’s eligibility is determined by his or her age on April 30, 2024, and a birth certificate is required for new participants.

Wake Forest Planning 101 applications accepted January 29 - February 12

The Town of Wake Forest will begin accepting Wake Forest Planning 101 (formerly known as the Citizens Planning Academy) applications on Monday, Jan. 29.

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 four sessions on the following Wednesdays in May: May 1, May 8, May 15, and May 22. Each session is scheduled from 5:45-8:15 p.m. at Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., and will include dinner starting at 5:15 p.m. All sessions will be taught by Planning Department staff.

Participation in Wake Forest Planning 101 is limited to residents within the corporate limits or the extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the Town of Wake Forest. Class size is limited, and pre-registration is required.

Applications must be completed and submitted online by 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12.

Planned power outage Wednesday morning to affect Wake Forest Power customers along Mangia Drive, Brunello Drive & Piazza Way

Wake Forest Power has scheduled a brief power outage early Wednesday morning, Jan. 31, that will affect approximately 135 customers along Mangia Drive, Brunello Drive, and Piazza Way.

The outage is scheduled from 5-6:30 a.m. Electricity will be turned off, so crews can safely install a transformer for the new WakeMed currently under construction.



Wake Forest Power wishes to thank the affected customers in advance for their patience and understanding during Wednesday’s planned outage.

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.

Click on the playbill cover to view the complete schedule, including movie titles and times, or visit the RC website.

Wake Forest Downtown seeking 2024 Forest Fest vendors & nonprofits

Forest Fest returns to downtown Wake Forest on Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc. (WFD), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to champion the economic health, growth, and vitality of downtown Wake Forest, Forest Fest is a family friendly event celebrating the heart of Wake Forest, where history is cherished and nature thrives.

WFD is now accepting applications from vendors and nonprofit organizations that wish to participate in this year’s Forest Fest. Food trucks have already been secured for this event, and no additional food vendors are needed.

As interest in Forest Fest continues to grow, WFD is committed to securing vendors and nonprofits whose missions and efforts align with the purpose and spirit of the event. As a result, participating vendors and nonprofit organizations must provide products, services, education, or activities that relate directly to the history of Wake Forest or the outdoors.

WFPD & Torchy’s Tacos partnering to support Special Olympics February 7

The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) and Torchy’s Tacos, 505 Dr. Calvin Jones Hwy., are joining forces to raise awareness and money for Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC).

You're invited to support this worthy cause by visiting Torchy’s Tacos on Wednesday, Feb. 7, between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. For everyone who either mentions the fundraiser or presents the fundraiser flyer, Torchy’s will donate 15 percent of their food and beverage sales to support Special Olympics.

The WFPD also accepts online SONC donations year-round. All funds raised go to SONC as part of The Law Enforcement Torch Run. For more information, email Sgt. J. McArthur.

Registration continues for February’s Black History Month Walking Tours

The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Historical Museum are partnering to offer free Black History Month Walking Tours of the Northeast Community at 1 p.m. on the following dates in February:

• Wednesday, Feb. 7
• Friday, Feb. 9
• Wednesday, Feb. 14
• Friday, Feb. 16 (only a few spots left)
• Wednesday, Feb. 21 (only a few spots left)
• Friday, Feb. 23
• Wednesday, Feb. 28

Pre-registration is required by completing the online sign-up form. 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.

"Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart" coming to Alston-Massenburg Center & Wake Forest Renaissance Centre February 24

Mike Wiley Productions will present two free performances of “Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart” in Wake Forest on Saturday, Feb. 24. The first performance will take place at 11 a.m. at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St., while the second show is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St.

“A Game Apart” provides a glimpse of Jackie Robinson’s life during a bygone era of separate and unequal locker rooms, whites-only hotels, and restaurants with only a back door for colored athletes to enter.

Witness the hopeless humiliation of a star player who was showered with adulation on the field and became a second-hand citizen when he walked off the diamond. Meet Jackie’s compatriots fighting the same battles between the end zones, inside the ring, and around the track.

Alston-Massenburg Center to host Black History Expo February 10

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is partnering with Wake Forest native Ronald “Skip” Parker to host a “Black History Expo” Saturday, Feb. 10, from noon-4 p.m. at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St.

Free and open to the public, the expo will feature on display many of Parker’s unique and authentic antiques and collectibles from the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s, including an 1842 wooden washboard, a vintage 1954 DeLaval stainless steel milk can, antique dolls depicting Rosa Parks, Ida B. Wells, Ella Fitzgerald, Katherine Johnson, and Maya Angelou, and much more.

For more information, email Community Center Supervisor James Triplette.

Suja Jacob earns Certified Festival & Event Associate Certification

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is pleased to announce that Special Events Specialist Suja Jacob (photo attached) has successfully earned the Certified Festival & Event Associate (CFEA) credential from the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA).

Jacob earned CFEA certification after completing an intensive two-year (one week per year) Event Management School in Wheeling, West Virgina. The Event Management School provides more than 64 hours of education and applied project experience covering a thorough overview of festival and event management. Topics covered include event administration, advanced risk management, contingency planning, budget development, volunteer management, and designing accessible events.

Mikkel Patterson earns Youth Sports Administrator Certification

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is pleased to announce that the National Alliance for Youth Sports has awarded the Certified Youth Sports Administrator (CYSA) credential to Athletics Specialist Mikkel Patterson. Patterson earned the certification by successfully completing the Academy for Youth Sports Administrators.



As a CYSA, Patterson joins an elite group of professionals that have earned certification in the field of youth sports and demonstrated that professional development is essential to the delivery of quality sports programs. 

2024 Road Resurfacing Project continues

A major road rehabilitation and resurfacing project targeting over 20 Wake Forest streets and roadways is underway.

The 2024 Road Resurfacing Project will consist of concrete work which will begin in mid-January, and asphalt work that is scheduled to start in March (weather permitting). The initiative will involve full depth patching, roadway repairs, and repaving, along with the replacement and repair of curb and gutter. Several black ADA ramps will also be replaced with yellow mats per national standards.

Fulford & Jones, a subcontractor of Fred Smith Company working on behalf of the Town of Wake Forest, has started concrete work weekdays from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. along the following streets:



• Fairlake Drive
• East Dunpatrick Place
• Guinness Place
• St. Catherines Drive
• West Dunpatrick Place
• Wahlbrink Drive

Spring & Summer RecConnect is now available

The March-August 2024 edition of RecConnect, the Wake Forest PRCR Department's spring and summer program guide, is now available.

Hard copies of the PRCR Program Guide are now 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.

RecConnect includes information about all programs, classes, special events, sports programs, and registrations offered by the Wake Forest PRCR Department.

Registration opens Thursday, Feb. 1, for Wake Forest residents and Thursday, Feb. 8, for non-Wake Forest residents. 

Friday Night on White food truck vendor applications accepted through February 12

The Town of Wake Forest is accepting applications from food truck vendors interested in participating in Friday Night on White (FNOW) through Monday, Feb. 12.

FNOW takes place along South White Street on the second Friday night of each month from April through September. The 2024 series gets underway April 12 and continues May 10, June 14, July 12, August 9, and September 13. 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.



Participating food trucks are required to obtain all necessary Wake County permits, including a Mobile Food Unit (MFU) permit. Each truck must also provide a copy of its Certificate of Insurance designating the Town of Wake Forest as an additional insured for the event date. A minimum of $1 million in insurance is required.

Register now for “Battle in the Forest” Esports gaming tournament February 24

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will host an online Esports gaming tournament featuring the game "Street Fighter 6" on Saturday, Feb. 24. The tournament will serve as a qualifier for the BODYARMOR State Games FGC Gohon Kumite eSports Tournament in March. Results from this tournament will determine participant positioning in the BODYARMOR tournament.



Open to players ages 13 and older, the online tournament is free to play on all consoles and PCs and will be live streamed on Twitch.tv. Registration is open through Wednesday, Feb. 21.



Participants will compete in a one-on-one, single-day, double-elimination tournament to run in conjunction with "Bull City Gaming” and BODYARMOR State Games. The matches will be best of three, while the championship match will be best of five.

NCFST Mobile Market offered in 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, Feb. 8, and again on Thursday, Feb. 22.

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.

Open Data Portal brings 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, 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.

Wake Forest ROCKS!

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

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.

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.