The Wakefield Rotary Club’s Holiday Poinsettia Sale is now underway. This year, in addition to purchasing the holiday plants directly from a Rotarian, they can also be purchased securely online at www.holidayplantsale.com. Individuals and companies can order 6-inch ($10), 8-inch ($15) or 10-inch ($18) poinsettia plants in the colors of red, marble and white. To assure availability, orders must be placed online by Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015. All orders must be picked up on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Wake Forest American Legion Hall, 225 E. Holding Avenue. “Poinsettias make the perfect holiday gift for your family, friends, clients, neighbors or co-workers and purchasing the plants from our Rotary club represents a relatively simple way to give back to the Wake Forest community,” says Rotary member Allison Diego, who is coordinating this year’s poinsettia sale. Visit www.holidayplantsale.com or wakefieldrotarync.com for more information and

The Wake Forest Police Department’s 17th annual Shop with a Cop holiday shopping spree is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 16. On that day approximately 30 area children will visit the Wake Forest Police Department where they will be paired with their police officer “partners.” The kids and their partners will then be transported by bus to the Wake Forest Walmart, where each child will be given $175 to spend on a winter coat and other items of their choice. Parents are encouraged not to accompany their children. Following the shopping spree, the children and their partners will be treated to a pizza party. Shop with a Cop was created to help less fortunate boys and girls in the Wake Forest area experience a joyous Christmas. Since its inception in 1999, the program has helped well over 400 local children. The Wake Forest Police Department raises money for Shop with a

The Town of Wake Forest is seeking community-minded citizens who may be interested in serving on the planning board to enroll in the 2016 Wake Forest Planning Board Academy. The Planning Board Academy is a comprehensive training program designed to prepare residents of the town and its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to serve as members of the Wake Forest Planning Board. Completed applications will be accepted Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. Applications may be completed and submitted online by visiting www.wakeforestnc.gov/planning-board-academy.aspx. Applications are also available at town hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Academy participants will be expected to attend one training session one evening per month from February through May 2016. The session dates are the second Monday in the four months: Feb. 8, March 14, April 11 and May 9. Each session will include dinner and will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Wake Forest Town Hall,

The 36th Annual Wake Forest CROP Hunger Walk is set for Sunday, November 15. Sign in at 2 p.m. and step off at 2:30 p.m. Now is the time for community organizations to register online to walk at www.cropwalkonline.org/wakeforestnc. Sign up and donate or make a donation to support a walker who has already registered. The walk, which begins and ends at the Wake Forest Historical Museum, 414 North Main Street,  is approximately 1.5 miles on sidewalks that include a view of beautiful historic homes and part of the seminary campus in Wake Forest. Anyone may participate. Volunteers will provide water. Before and after the walk, visit the table where you can write notes of encouragement to members of the local households that receive one grocery bag filled with food once a month from Tri-Area Ministry. Visit another table to write Ministry to Military notes of encouragement to deployed soldiers.

For nine years Wake Forest adults, children and dogs have turned out early on Thanksgiving Day to have fun, work off a few pounds and, not as an afterthought, raise $202,610 for the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club. Cat Redd, the race organizer, wants to raise even more money during the tenth annual Gobbler’s Run 5K, this year sponsored by the Jim Allen Group. It is a great way to bring families together, encourage healthy lifestyles and support the community. There were over 2,000 participants last year who raised nearly $40,000. The race begins at8 a.m. in front of the Boys & Girls Club on Wingate Street and everyone is welcome. If you are not up to running, you can volunteer to help with registration and details. To register and to find all the details, go to www.gobblersrun.com

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts will commemorate its second year of bringing extraordinary and diverse cultural and performing arts experiences to our community and raise money for its youth scholarship program during the 2015 Renaissance Centre Broadway Ball. Scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, the event will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. Themed “Dance to the Music of Motown,” the Broadway Ball will feature the Richmond-based band Affirmative Groove performing a variety of Motown favorites. In addition to Affirmative Groove’s dynamic performance, the occasion will include a three-course meal and cash bar. Advance tickets are $50 (plus tax) per person and $90 (plus tax) per couple. Dress for the event is black-tie optional. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will help fund community programs and educational scholarships for area youth. Tickets may be purchased online at www.wakeforestnc.gov/tickets-events.aspx with

*The Wake Forest Farmers Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Renaissance Plaza in front of the Renaissance Centre. Food, music and farm- *The Wake Forest Town Board will hold its monthly work session Thursday, Nov. 5, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the second-floor meeting room in Wake Forest Town Hall. Please note the changed date, done because of the town election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. *The Wake Forest Planning Board will meet Thursday, Nov. 5, beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the second-floor meeting room in Wake Forest Town Hall. Please note the changed date, done because of the town election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. *A Holiday Bazaar sponsored by the St. Ives Estates Activities Committee will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the St. Ives Clubhouse at 505 Capellan Street. Vendors are asked to donate $10