Pay $50,000, get a traffic signal

  If the town ponies up $50,000, it is very likely, almost a sure thing, that the state Department of Transportation will install a traffic signal at the South Franklin Street/N.C. 98 bypass intersection.   That is what Planning Director Chip Russell told the mayor and commissioners Tuesday night at the close of their work session.   He happened to see the assistant district engineer for DOT’s Division Five at a meeting in the last few days. Russell said the engineer told him that “if the town makes a contribution the benefit-cost ratio jumps to a level where it may be considered.   “They understand that it is a priority,” Russell said. “We think this can be done relatively quickly.” Russell said that could mean the traffic signal would be installed “by this time next year.”   Mayor Vivian Jones may be sending out the letter today, and Town Manager

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Paschal subdivision ‘scratched’

A subdivision proposed at the edge of the seminary campus and along the most scenic entrance to Wake Forest has been withdrawn from consideration, Planning Director Chip Russell told the planning board and town board members Tuesday night. “Scratch through that,” Russell said about the listing for the Paschal subdivision on the planning board agenda. It was listed as one of four projects that could be heard in future months that would require quasi-judicial hearings. After the meeting, Russell said he had received an email from Richard Paschal who, with his mother, Marguerite, owns the 14 acres on the north side of Durham Road (N.C. 98) from the Paschal Golf Course east to the large white house on a hill that his grandfather, Wake Forest College Professor George Washington Paschal, built for his large family. Paschal told Russell that Sanford Bailey, the subdivision developer, had withdrawn and that he, Paschal,

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More money needed, fire chief says

Williams: County ‘not paying its share’ Last Thursday night Wake Forest Fire Department Chief Ron Early, backed by several members from the department’s board of directors, laid out the case for additional funding from the Town of Wake Forest to buy the equipment and staff Station #4 on Jenkins Road. The construction cost, estimated at $1.75 million, should be covered by the fire impact fees that the town has been collecting since 2007. In addition, the fire department has to hire, equip and train 12 additional firefighters for three four-person crews to provide 24/7 coverage and purchase the firefighting equipment, about $450,000, for a 1,000-gallon tension pumper and perhaps a brush truck for forest fires. The aim is to have the station built and opened by June of next year. Early had the facts and figures ready in a PowerPoint presentation; he received a lot of help from Town Manager

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World War II exhibit opens in June

One of the most popular movies about World War II – and most realistic, in the opinion of the airmen who flew those precision bombing raids over Germany – was “Twelve O’Clock High” starring Gregory Peck. His character was based on Gen. Frank Armstrong, a Nash County native and a Wake Forest College student. The two men, Peck and Armstrong, became good friends as a result of the film. That is just one of the many local aspects of World War II that will be explored this summer when the Wake Forest Historical Museum stages a special exhibit. The exhibit will open in the Wilson Gallery on June 22 and run through the first week of October, closing just before the Wake Forest Birthplace Society holds its annual meeting on Oct. 12. The exhibit will be free and open to all as are all the museum’s exhibits. Museum Director Ed

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Get back to the earth with Dirt Day

Will we, might we, have fine weather this Saturday for the first weekend in April and Wake Forest’s inaugural Dirt Day in downtown. Everyone is invited to a special day along South White Street from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is a time to celebrate and explore all things fun in the outdoors from hopscotch, hula hoops, jump rope and sidewalk art for children, camping for everyone and gardening for adults There will be a large pile of gravel with sharks’ teeth, an oversized sandbox and arts and crafts for the children. Adults can learn the latest techniques for gardening and composting, enjoy a beekeeping demonstration, chat with Master Gardeners and with outdoor educators from the N.C. Museum of Natural History. One of the highlights of the day will be the Shorty’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in front of Shorty’s Famous Hot Dogs at 2 p.m. There will be

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Bunn to headline Trentini banquet

Graham Bunn, a standout basketball player for Coach Chuck Hess at Wake Forest-Rolesville High School who went on to play at Appalachian State and then professionally in Europe, will be the keynote speaker for this year’s 34th annual Trentini Foundation banquet on Saturday, April 10, at The Forks Cafeteria. In late 1997 he and two college friends launched “46,” an apparel company that designs, manufactures and markets its own line of clothing to raise money and awareness for causes that impact our global community.  The mission of 46 is “to unite 4 the 6 areas of need (abuse, poverty, disease, birth defects, educational disparities and unsafe drinking water).”  The aim is to take a basic necessity, like clothing, and use it to show friends, family members and people around the world that their needs have not been forgotten. 46NYC is dedicated to fighting disease, abuse, poverty, birth defects, malnutrition, inadequate education,

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Hunt for eggs at Joyner Park on Saturday

The Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department will sponsor its annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 5, at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Children ages 3 and younger will hunt for eggs beginning at 10 a.m.; ages 4-6 will begin at 11 a.m.; ages 7-9 get underway at 1 p.m.; and ages 10-12 get started at 2 p.m. Event organizers will hide over 10,000 eggs. Kids who discover the rare golden eggs will receive a special prize. Android and iPhone users can have a handy pocket guide to the Easter Egg Hunt in the palm of their hands by downloading the Town of Wake Forest app and using the app’s “Easter Egg Hunt” function. Offering smart phone users instant access to important details about the Easter Egg Hunt, the function features egg hunt times and information about E. Carroll Joyner Park. IPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android

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Carnival for the Kids begins April 8

The Wake Forest Police Department’s annual Carnival for the Kids begins Tuesday, April 8, and runs through Sunday, April 13. The carnival will be held in the parking lot of the Wake Forest Home Depot on Retail Drive The Carnival for the Kids promises fun and entertainment for the entire family, including rides, games and lots of food. Admission to the event is free and open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday from 1 to 10 p.m.; and Sunday from 1 to 8 p.m. Unlimited ride wristbands will be available for purchase at the carnival for $20 each. Coupons worth $2 off the wristbands are available in the lobby of Town Hall at 301 S. Brooks St. and the Police Department at 225 S. Taylor St. The coupons may only be used to purchase the wristbands on Tuesday evening, April 8, and Saturday and Sunday, April

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Rabies/microchip clinic Saturday

The next Rabies and Microchip Clinic at the Northern Regional Center on East Holding Avenue in Wake Forest will be Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to noon. This is always a popular semi-annual event held in conjunction with the Wake County Animal Center. It is also a good way to get your picture on the NRC Facebook page. The rabies shots are $5 and the microchip shots are 420. All dogs must be on a leash and all cats must be in carriers. Cash only, please. http://www.wakegov.com/pets/events/Pages/default.aspx

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WF Singers to perform in concert

Tired of winter blahs? Join the Wake Forest Singers for a musical celebration of “Seasons” at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at Franklin Academy Middle School, 1127 Chalks Road. Cross a “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and “Try To Remember” what “Summertime” is like.  Do some “California Dreamin” about all the “Seasons of Love”. These are just five of the arrangements that will be performed under the direction of Ginger Graves. The Singers are also proud to introduce Mike Olson, their guest accompanist.  Admission is free of charge. Donations can be made to Wake Forest ARTS to support future concerts by the Singers.  

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