You can help plan town’s recreation

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is asking local residents to participate in a series of focus groups on Wednesday, Sept. 3, designed to evaluate the town’s parks and recreation services. The PRCR Department will incorporate the focus group findings in the development of the new Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The Sept. 3 focus groups are scheduled at the following times and locations: 9:30 a.m. – Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 East Holding Avenue 11 a.m. – Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 South Brooks Street 2 p.m. – Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 South Brooks Street Area residents are also invited to attend the Master Plan Public Meeting on Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the ground floor meeting room at the Wake Forest Town Hall. The ground floor meeting room is most easily accessed via town hall’s Taylor Street entrance. During the focus groups

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Unplug and enjoy the music

Fifth annual Wake Forest Unplugged set for Sept. 7 The Cajun-flavored blues band Mel Melton & The Wicked Mojos will headline the fifth annual Wake Forest Unplugged…Get Connected on Sunday, Sept. 7. The free concert gets underway at 5 p.m. at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Area residents are invited to bring a picnic, along with a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the music. Concert-goers are reminded that alcoholic beverages, smoking and unleashed pets are prohibited at Joyner Park. Prior to the concert the Wake Forest Recreation Advisory Board will provide an array of organized games and activities as part of Wake Forest Unplugged…Get Connected. This free, family-friendly event offers Wake Forest-area residents a unique opportunity to “disconnect” from their cell phones, computers and other electronic devices and “reconnect” with their community, friends and family by engaging in healthier, more active pursuits. The festivities get underway at

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Antique Road Show Extravaganza

The Wake Forest Woman’s Club invites you to find out if that treasured heirloom or something you found in your grandmother’s attic is really valuable to others or just priceless to you. The club is sponsoring a professional appraiser who will be at Carillon Assisted Living at 3218 Heritage Trade Drive on Saturday, Sept. 6, for the Antique Road Show Extravaganza. The appraiser will give verbal fair market evaluations for each item. The event will last from 1 to 4 p.m. and those wanting an appraisal must arrive by 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 each for the appraisal of one item and there is a limit of two tickets per person. You can buy tickets in advance at Carillon Assisted Living, the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce or a member of the Wake Forest Woman’s Club. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. All the proceeds from the

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Brief Bits

The heavy equipment and raw dirt next to the Wake Forest U.S. Post Office does not signal an addition to the building. Postmaster John Thompson said, “We are expanding our parking lot.” The three identical mail blue drop boxes were moved to the end of the existing parking lot before the construction began and reduced to two. Thompson said they will remain where they are when the parking lot expansion is complete. * * * * “It is far better to have people wonder why you were NOT recognized for something than to have them wonder why you were.” Hildreth Barnes This popped up during a search for something else. Some very wise words from a beloved teacher. * * * * Late this Wednesday, Aug. 27, about 4 p.m., Town Manager Mark Williams, Police Chief Jeff Leonard, Deputy Town Manager Roe O’Donnell, Human Resources Director Virginia Jones and about

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No planning board meeting again

For the second month in a row there will not be a Wake Forest Planning Board meeting on the evening of the first Tuesday. There will be a work session for the town commissioners and mayor at 5:30 p.m. that day, Sept. 3. Unfortunately the agenda for the work session was not complete by press time. It is not that growth and development have slowed or stopped in town. But all the proposed plans in the pipeline need a thorough review by the town’s planning department and other town departments and outside agencies. The plans that are currently under review include: A possible Publix grocery store on Forestville Road between its intersection with Rogers Road and the entrance to Heritage High School, Foundation Drive. It will require rezoning and approval of the master plan which means a quasi-judicial public hearing. One of Andy Ammons’ corporations is listed as the current

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Worms on oaks are a nuisance

The Town of Wake Forest has received several calls in recent days concerning the large numbers of Orangestriped Oakworms on oak trees around town, including the town’s street trees. Many residents have expressed particular concern about the caterpillar’s long-term effect on the town’s urban forest. According to the NC Cooperative Extension Service, the Orangestriped Oakworm tends to be more of a nuisance than anything else. It is not uncommon for this invading caterpillar to be especially abundant on oaks during this time of year. Locally, willow oak and pin oak tend to be their preferred hosts, but they occasionally feed on other hardwoods as well. In large numbers, these ravenous feeders can quickly defoliate a tree. Fortunately, late summer defoliations are much less damaging to the health of trees than early spring defoliations. Their greenish droppings can cover decks, vehicles and streets but they will wash away with the next

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Full fall offerings at the RC

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre is pleased to announce its schedule of fall 2014 classes and workshops. The Renaissance Centre’s Fall Arts Program offers a range of classes in a variety of disciplines designed to excite and develop the artistic vision and creative talents of youth, starting at age four, and adults. These courses are designed to spark the imagination, teach technical skills, promote creative problem-solving, build respect for the expression of others and inspire a lifelong connection to the visual and creative arts and art making. Each class is taught by an accomplished artist-instructor in a relaxed environment that encourages exploration of process and self-expression. Class offerings cover a range of media including knitting, quilting, screenwriting, acting and more. Class sizes are limited to allow for attention to individual interests and skill development. The center is at 405 South Brooks Street. The Fall Arts Program gets underway Tuesday, Sept.

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Rabies/microchip clinic Oct. 11

Pet owners should mark their calendars because one of the most popular events at the Northern Regional Center in Wake Forest will return on Saturday, Oct. 11. It is the semi-annual Rabies and Microchip Clinic hosted by the Wake County Animal Center, and it will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $5 for rabies shots and $10 for microchips, and it is cash only, please. All dogs must be on a leash and all cats must be in carriers. Go to the NRC’s Facebook page for more information as the date gets closer.

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Get moving for the CROP Walk

The 35th Annual Wake Forest CROP Hunger Walk is set for Sunday, September 28, at 2:30 p.m. Now is the time for churches, organizations, school groups, businesses, and individuals to set up your team online at www.cropwalkonline.org/wakeforestnc, to join an existing team, to register and make a donation as an independent walker, or to donate on behalf of a team, a friend, or a family member who has already signed up to participate in CROP Walk 2014. This 35th year is an important milestone, and we are introducing the Golden Sneaker Award Challenge, a traveling trophy that will be inscribed this year (and in the future) with the name of the walking team that raises the most money in donations and returns all donations by October 15, 2014. The walk, which begins and ends at Wake Forest United Methodist Church, 905 South Main Street, is approximately 3.5 miles on sidewalks

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Still time to donate school supplies

There is still time and ways to donate money or school supplies to the Wake Forest Kiwanis Club’s effort to help children in the area’s elementary schools. The club is partnering with Walmart, Staples, Rex Health Care and Chick Fil-A; members of the Key Clubs in area high schools will assist. They are looking forward to a record response. You can drop off donations at two convenient locations. Wake Forest Federal Savings & Loan will take the donations every day through Friday, Aug. 29, and Rex Wellness Center in Wakefield will accept donations on Saturday, Aug. 30. You may also donate money for the club to purchase the school supplies. Make the check payable to the Wake Forest Kiwanis Foundation, a 501 c (3) nonprofit corporation, to make it tax-deductible. You will not only be helping area children whose parents cannot afford all the school supplies, you will also help

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