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“Touch-A-Truck” Special Olympics Fundraiser at The Factory June 22
The Wake Forest Police Department will host a Touch-A-Truck fundraiser for Special Olympics of NC on Saturday, June 22, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Factory, 1839 S. Main St.
Families and children of all ages will be granted an all-access pass to police cars, fire trucks, a helicopter, boat, Humvee, military vehicles, Oscar Mayer Weinermobile, and more. The cost is $5 per person and $20 per family of any size. All proceeds will benefit Special Olympics of NC.
Throughout the day officers will also be selling 2024 Special Olympics NC Torch Run T-shirts for $20. In addition, WFPD will be selling food, while Two Roosters Ice Cream will be onsite selling sweet treats. For more information, email Sgt. J. McArthur.
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BOC approves $128.7 million budget for FY 2024-25
During its June 18 meeting, the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners approved a $128.7 million budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, which begins July 1.
Aligned with the goals and strategies in the Town’s strategic plan, the budget will serve as the financial and spending plan for the next fiscal year, authorize resources, and establish a direction for Wake Forest programs and services for 2024-25.
The approved budget includes a property tax rate decrease from $0.505 to $0.42 (per $100 of assessed property valuation), $0.14 downtown municipal service district tax (per $100 assessed property valuation) and the vehicle fee which remains at $30.
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Wake Forest clarifies Community Events vs. Town-Organized Events
In recent weeks, Wake Forest officials have fielded numerous inquiries from community members seeking clarification on the difference between “Town-Organized Events” and “Community Events.”
Town-Organized Events (commonly referred to as Town Events) are those the Town of Wake Forest creates, pays for, plans, and executes. Town staff are responsible for managing the event programming, including activities, logistics, and vendors. Examples of Town events include Friday Night on White, Halloween Boo Bash, and the Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kickoff.
Community Events are approved “Special Events” in a public area (Festival Street/East Owen Avenue, South White Street, etc.) that a business, church, community group, or other organization manages, pays for, plans, and executes after applying for and receiving a Special Event Permit from the Town. As part of the permit process, Town staff approve the event location and may require the involvement of staff from Police, Public Works, and/or other departments, as necessary. Community Event organizers are invoiced for the cost of Town staff required to work at the event.
Examples of Community Events include the Cars & Carnivores Street Festival (Wake Forest Rotary Club), Meet in the Street (Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce), and Wake Forest Pride Festival (Wake Forest Pride).
Adopted by the Board of Commissioners in 2018 and available on the Wake Forest website, the Town’s Special Events Policy describes the process of applying for a Special Event Permit.
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Youth Flag Football registration continues through June
The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is accepting applications through June for Youth Fall Flag Football for boys and girls ages 7-12.
Online registration is available. Team placement and draft information, along with additional registration details and league rules are also available at the Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road.
A participant’s eligibility is determined by his or her age on August 31, 2024, and a birth certificate is required for new participants. The in-town registration fee is $60, and the out-of-town fee is $100.
Team practices will begin in August and games will be played through mid-October.
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Officer L. Middleswarth wins 2024 NC Strongest Man & Woman Competition for Open Women’s Class
The Wake Forest Police Department is pleased to announce that Officer L. Middleswarth earned first place in the Open Women’s Class of the 2024 NC Strongest Man & Woman Competition on June 15 at Cabarrus Arena in Charlotte, NC.
The competition consisted of five events that tested the strength and endurance of the participating athletes. Officer Middleswarth finished first in four of the five events to secure first place overall in the Open Women's Class.
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Free Car Seat Check & Installation Event June 29
The Wake Forest Police Department and Wake County Health & Human Services are partnering to make sure small children are safe in the car by offering a free Car Seat Check & Installation Event on Saturday, June 29, from 9-11 a.m. at the Wake Forest Library, 400 E. Holding Ave.
Certified Car Seat Safety Technicians will be on hand to answer questions and assist parents and caregivers with the proper installation of their child’s car seat. Technicians will also let you know if your children are in the right seats for their ages and sizes and explain the importance of registering car seats with the manufacturer, so you can be notified if there is a recall.
No appointment is necessary. For more information, email diana.browndiaz@wake.gov or call 919-250-3989.
Anyone who is unable to attend the June 29 event but would like assistance installing their child’s safety seat can set up an appointment by calling the Wake Forest Police Department at 919-554-6150.
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2024 Independence Day Holiday Schedule
The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Thursday, July 4, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. In addition, curbside trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will be suspended July 4, along with Wake Forest Bus Service.
During the week of July 1, the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday trash and recycling routes will operate according to the normal schedule. The Thursday and Friday routes will operate one day later than normal and extend into Saturday. So, Thursday’s route will be collected Friday, and Friday’s route will be collected Saturday.
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Independence Day Celebration July 3-4
Fireworks, games, live entertainment and more await you at Wake Forest’s 2024 Independence Day Celebration. This community extravaganza is the Town’s most eagerly anticipated summertime event serving up two days’ worth of free fun and excitement for the entire family.
Fireworks Spectacular
The festivities get underway with the Fireworks Spectacular on Wednesday, July 3, inside Husky Stadium on the campus of Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Road.
Gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and our opening act, the Tyson Brothers, will take the stage at 6 p.m. The Band of Oz will headline the celebration just after 7 p.m. The fireworks show will begin around 9:30 p.m.
Children's Parade
The Independence Day revelry continues Thursday, July 4, with the popular Children’s Parade sponsored by the Wake Forest Optimist Club. Area youngsters are invited to hop on their bicycles and be a part of their very own “walking parade.” The lineup begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of North Main Street and West Juniper Avenue, near the Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 N. Main St. The procession will get underway at 10:30 a.m.
Art & More in the Park
The festivities will conclude at 11 a.m. with Art & More in the Park. Sponsored by the Wake Forest Woman’s Club, free arts and crafts activities will take place inside the Community House, including the creation of various patriotic-themed crafts for all ages, cupcake decorating and more. Children’s Parade participants are also invited to enjoy Holding Park, located adjacent to the Community House.
In addition to the arts and crafts projects offered inside the Community House, the Wake Forest Fire Department will be outside grilling and serving free hotdogs, interacting with the children and their families, and providing information on fire prevention and safety.
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Youth Fall Baseball, Softball & T-Ball registration continues
The PRCR Department is accepting applications for Youth Fall Baseball, Softball, and T-Ball for boys ages 4-16 and girls ages 4-15 through Friday, June 21. Late registration will be offered June 22-28.
Online registration is available. Team placement and draft information, along with additional registration details and league rules are also provided online and at the Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road.
A participant’s eligibility is determined by his or her age on April 30, 2024, and a birth certificate is required for new participants. The in-town registration fee is $60, and the out-of-town fee is $100. The late registration fee is $75.
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Expressive Arts Series continues
The Town of Wake Forest, the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, and Resources for Seniors are partnering with Village of C.A.R.E. to offer a free Expressive Arts Series at the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave., from 10 a.m.-noon on June 22 and June 29.
Open to families and people of all ages, the intergenerational arts classes will encourage participants to discover how expressive arts can be therapeutic and foster meaningful connections by creating their own music, paintings, poetry, ceramics, quilting, dances, and more.
Online registration is required. For more information, call 919-714-3854.
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NCFST Mobile Market returns June 27
The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) and Ripe for Revival provide a mobile grocery store in 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, June 27.
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.
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Flag-Raising Ceremony to honor Timothy Bonner July 8
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, July 8, at 11 a.m.
The 55th Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremony will honor Timothy Bonner who served our nation in the US Marine Corps.
Members and friends of the Bonner family have been invited to participate in the ceremony, which will include patriotic songs, special remarks, a memorial wreath laying, and the ceremonial flag-raising.
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Friday Night on White returns with Brickhouse Band July 12
Friday Night on White (FNOW) returns to downtown Wake Forest on Friday, July 12, with Brickhouse Band.
The free outdoor concert will be from 6-9 p.m. along South White Street in historic downtown Wake Forest.
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at several downtown restaurants. A variety of food and dessert trucks will also be on site in the Depot Parking Lot, 110 S. White St., and along East Owen Avenue.
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Family Movie Night to feature “Kung Fu Panda 4" on July 20
The PRCR Department is hosting a free, monthly outdoor movie series through August at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road.
The third in the series of Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park will feature the film “Kung Fu Panda 4” on Saturday, July 20, at 8:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public, Family Movie Nights also feature a movie-related pre-show activity for kids beginning at 7:30 p.m.
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Tickets available for two Malpass Brothers concerts on July 27
Back by popular demand, The Malpass Brothers will perform two shows at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre (RC), 405 S. Brooks St., on Saturday, July 27, taking the stage at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Advance tickets are on sale for these performances with reserved seats ranging in price from $20-$30 plus tax. Tickets can be purchased online, in person at the RC Box Office, or by calling 919-435-9458. These performances are expected to sell out, so anyone interested in attending is encouraged to purchase their tickets now.
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NWSC to host "De-Prescribe & Thrive: Empowering Caregivers" August 10
The Northern Wake Senior Center and the Wake Forest Senior Information Networking Group (SING) are partnering to host a series of free classes, workshops, and other events over the next several months to raise awareness about aging, Alzheimer’s, and related dementias.
Each event in the 2024 Age & Dementia Education Series will offer attendees the opportunity to learn about dozens of aging and dementia-related programs, services, products, and resources – all at the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave. These free events are scheduled from 9-11:30 a.m., and no registration is required.
The series continues Saturday, Aug. 10, with "De-Prescribe & Thrive: Empowering Caregivers." Led by Dr. Leon Canterbury, this session will provide caregivers with the knowledge and tools necessary to optimize medication regimens for their loved ones. Through education and support, caregivers learn how to safely reduce or discontinue unnecessary medications, promoting better health outcomes and improving overall well-being.
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Board of Commissioners agrees not to hold second vote on FNOW curfew, measure fails
During its June 18 meeting, the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners (BOC) voted not to proceed with a second vote on an amendment to the Town’s Curfew Ordinance (Sec. 20-131) that would have established an 8 p.m. curfew during Friday Night on White for unsupervised minors under the age of 18.
Approved by the BOC during its regular meeting on May 21, the amendment required a second reading to take effect.
As a result, the measure failed.
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WFPD will never contact you by phone & request payment for a fine or warrant
The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) is again urging residents to guard against becoming the victim of fraud following several recently reported phone scams involving Venmo and Apple Pay.
Several residents involved in different traffic accidents have reported receiving calls from someone posing as a Wake Forest Police officer who claims they owe money for missing a subsequent court date. According to various reports, the caller, who uses the names of actual WFPD officers, says a warrant has been issued for their arrest, or soon will be, but they can pay a fine now via Apple Pay, Venmo, or some other form of electronic payment and avoid being arrested.
It’s a scam.
Neither the WFPD nor any other government agency make such calls, nor would they ever ask anyone to make a payment via Apple Pay, Venmo, Cash App, Green Dot cards, store gift cards, Playstation/Xbox cards, Apple iTunes gift cards, Bitcoins, or any other electronic payment app.
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Wegmans Outdoor Fitness Court
Wake Forest unveiled the new Wegmans Outdoor Fitness Court at Flaherty Park on May 13, 2024.
The unveiling ceremony featured brief remarks by Mayor Vivian Jones, Wegmans Manager Patrick McGuinness, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Advisory Board member Sandy Thomason, and PRCR Director Ruben Wall, along with fitness court demonstrations by Cynergy Fit.
In June 2022 the PRCR Department opened the Outdoor Fitness Court at Flaherty Park. One year later, Wegmans secured the naming rights to the facility for five years through a $40,000 investment.
Open daily from dawn to dusk, the Wegmans Outdoor Fitness Court® at Flaherty Park is an open-air wellness center that allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout. Created for adults of all ages, the Fitness Court is free to use and adaptable for all fitness levels.
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Holding Park Aquatic Center is open, patrons should register & pay in advance
Holding Park Aquatic Center (HPAC), 133 W. Owen Ave., is open for the season.
Fees
Daily admission fees for Wake Forest residents are $1 for children ages 2 and under; $4 for children ages 3-13; $5 for patrons ages 13-59; and $4 for ages 60 and over. Daily admission fees for non-Wake Forest residents are $2 for children ages 2 and under; $6 for children ages 3-13; and $7 for patrons ages 13-59; and $6 for ages 60 and over. Open swim times are scheduled in three-hour blocks, with 30-minute breaks in between.
Register Online
A maximum of 200 patrons will be allowed inside the facility during each session. To help ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone, patrons are strongly encouraged to register and pay online in advance. Pre-registration opens 14 days in advance. Walk-ins and on-site registration are also allowed if space is available.
Punch Pass
Patrons may purchase a Punch Pass worth 20 daily swim sessions at HPAC. Punch Passes are available to Wake Forest residents for $60 and non-Wake Forest residents for $100. Punch Passes must be purchased online and picked up at either Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road, or Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St., during normal operating hours.
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NCDOT's bridge preservation project continues along Dr. Calvin Jones Highway/NC 98 Bypass
Work on an NCDOT Bridge Preservation Project will continue to require overnight closures along Dr. Calvin Jones Highway/NC 98 Bypass through October. American Contracting & Services, Inc., a private contractor working on behalf of NCDOT, is alternately closing all lanes along eastbound and westbound Dr. Calvin Jones Highway/NC 98 Bypass from Ligon Mill Road to Galaxy Drive weeknights and (some) weekends from 9 p.m.-5 a.m.
The lane closures are necessary to allow crews to preserve the bridge over Richland Creek.
Detour signage will be in place each evening to manage traffic flow and safely direct traffic around the work area. Delays are expected, so motorists are encouraged to avoid the area if possible and plan an alternate route.
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Taylor Street Park Sprayground now open
Taylor Street Park Sprayground, 416 N. Taylor St., is now open for the 2024 season. Free and open to the public, the sprayground will operate according to the following schedule through Friday, June 7:
- Sundays, 1-8 p.m.
- Monday-Friday, 4-8 p.m.
- Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Please Note: The sprayground will be open Memorial Day (Monday, May 27) from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. The facility will offer extended hours beginning Saturday, June 8. To view the 2024 operating schedule, visit our website.
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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.
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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.
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Outdoor events easy to find on Town website & app
From March through September, the Town of Wake Forest offers an incredible array of free outdoor events and activities for the entire family. From Friday Night on White and Six Sundays in Spring to Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park and Concerts in the Park, spring and summer in Wake Forest are jam-packed with fun-filled events guaranteed to get you out of the house.
To help inform area residents about all these events, the Town offers the Wake Forest Outdoors portal on its website. The webpage provides detailed information about our area’s most popular spring and summer happenings, including the Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremonies, Forest Fest, Meet in the Street, Independence Day Celebration, National Trails Day, and Good Neighbor Day - just to name a few. Offering dates, times, locations, event descriptions and more, the portal is a useful reference for anyone anxious to get outside and take advantage of Wake Forest’s array of warm weather activities.
In addition, Android and iPhone users can have a handy pocket guide to this year’s spring and summer events in the palm of their hands by downloading the Town of Wake Forest app and using the app’s "Wake Forest Outdoors" function.
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#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.
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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.
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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 9,000 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.
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Check out WFTV 10
WFTV 10 is on the air on Spectrum Cable Channel 10 and streaming 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.
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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.
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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 April-September, the Farmers Market operates Saturdays from 8 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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Monthly meeting schedule
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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“Show Some Love” by picking up litter along streets & roadways
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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Secure your load!
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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