The Town of Wake Forest is partnering with the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, The Wake Forest Weekly, and Perkins Counseling & Psychological Services to sponsor a series of depression screenings throughout our area during the week of Oct. 3. The campaign is designed to coincide with National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) on Oct. 6 which brings public attention to the critical needs of those living with depression and other mood disorders. Free and open to the public, the depression screenings will be conducted by certified mental health professionals offering area residents a comfortable, confidential, and trusted means of assessing their mental health. Sessions will be offered from noon to 6 p.m. each day from Oct. 3  to 8 at the following locations: Monday, Oct. 3 – Crossroads Fellowship, 13029 Keith Store Road Tuesday, Oct. 4 – Carillon Assisted Living of Wake Forest, 3218 Heritage Trade Drive Wednesday, Oct.

The best way to celebrate Active Aging Week is with a band, Southern cooking and raffles, businesses in the Ligon Mill Office Plaza decided, and they are inviting seniors and their families to the Community Healthy Aging and Wellness event Thursday, Sept. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be information about aging and wellness, how people can improve their health, grow, learn and discover meaningful new interests. “Active Aging Week is an annual event and highlights the fact that people can participate fully in life at any age,” Colin Milner, CEO of the International Council on Active Aging, said. The event with free food, live music, special offers and giveaways will be held rain or shine and all ages are welcome. For more information call 919-554-0675 or visit www.preferredlivingsolutions.com.  

The Wake Forest Technology Advisory Board (TAB) is pleased to announce the activation of its new blog, “TAB Bytes.” The blog is accessible through the TAB page on the town’s website or directly via www.wakeforestnc.gov/tab-bytes.aspx. The TAB will update the blog each month with information concerning its efforts and activities. The first post, Seeking Better Broadband – A Journey to Next Generation Connectivity & Capacity, addresses the TAB’s ongoing efforts to bring enhanced broadband service to Wake Forest. Area residents interested in technology and TAB-related activities in Wake Forest are encouraged to read each month’s blog post and share their comments and questions. The TAB will attempt to respond within 24 hours. The Wake Forest Board of Commissioners approved the formation of the TAB in 2014 making it one of the town’s 14 citizen advisory boards. The purpose of the TAB is to advise the Town of Wake Forest in all areas

Forest Moon Theater will present “Arsenic and Old Lace” at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts Sept. 23-25. Show time Friday and Saturday is 7:30 p.m. Show time Sunday is 3 p.m. This is the classic comedy about a pair of elderly ladies who fill the basement of their boarding house with the remains of socially and religiously “acceptable” residents. Advance tickets are $15 plus tax for adults and $13 plus tax for students and seniors. These prices reflect a savings of $3 per adult and student/senior “day of” admission tickets. The Renaissance Centre is located at 405 S. Brooks St. in the heart of downtown Wake Forest. For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/renaissance-centre.aspx or call the Renaissance Centre Box Office at 919-435-9458.

The Town of Wake Forest is encouraging local pet owners to be a good neighbor and a great pet owner by obeying Wake County’s leash law. The town regularly receives complaints from local residents about dogs running at large – particularly at town parks. Although Wake Forest does not have an ordinance pertaining to dogs, Wake County Animal Control has jurisdiction to enforce animal control laws within the town and its park system. Wake County Animal Control Ordinance Section 2-3-7 (A) states “It shall be unlawful for any owner to permit an animal to be at large.” Section 2-3-7 (C) further states “It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody or control of any dog to take the dog into or allow the dog to enter any public park without being at all times under the restraint of a leash unless said park is designated

Applications are now being accepted for participation in the 2016 Wake Forest Christmas Parade. Applications are available online at www.wakeforestnc.gov/wake-forest-christmas-parade.aspx and at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Interested participants may submit their application online or by mail to Wake Forest Christmas Parade, c/o Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., 301 S. Brooks St., Wake Forest, NC 27587. Entries postmarked by Saturday, Oct. 15, will be considered for inclusion based on the number of entries needed for each category. Accepted entrants will be notified via email no later than Monday, Oct. 31. Payment for entry must be received by Monday, Nov. 14, to secure a position in the parade. Parade packets for accepted participants will be mailed Monday, Nov. 28. The packet will include vehicle passes, parking information, and other pertinent event details. Sponsored by PowerSecure and presented by Wake Forest Downtown Inc., this year’s Wake Forest Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10,

The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) is encouraging area residents, businesses, neighborhood groups, and homeowners’ associations to show their support for police-community crime prevention partnerships by participating in this year’s National Night Out (NNO) on Monday, Oct. 3. The WFPD is marking this special occasion by hosting a National Night Out Parking Lot Party from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Renaissance Centre parking lot, 405 S. Brooks St. The event promises something for everyone, including a DJ, food and special prizes, and fire, police, and EMS vehicle displays, along with a variety of booths highlighting crime prevention and safety. Wake Forest Police officers will also be on hand distributing information on topics such as vehicle security, home security, and personal safety. The police department will also offer a K-9 demonstration and D.A.R.E. presentation and share information on Neighborhood Watch, Special Olympics, and much more. NNO teams law enforcement agencies

The Wake Forest Greenways Advisory Board is celebrating National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 9 to 11 a.m. by hosting a Day of Service at two town facilities: Smith Creek Soccer Center information distribution booth – volunteers are needed to encourage enrollment in town’s Adopt-a-Trail program; answer questions about current and future greenway development; distribute Bike.Walk.Run maps and bicycle safety information Richland Creek Greenway at Olde Mill Stream – volunteers are needed to assist with trail cleanup and tree planting The board is inviting volunteers of all ages to sign up for one of these service opportunities at www.wakeforestnc.gov/national-public-lands-day.aspx. For more information, contact GAB Chair Deanna Walker at 919-426-5026 or dwelker@nccoastalpines.org.

Sing-WF – the Senior Information & Networking Group of Wake Forest – will fly representatives from Dementia Friendly America in Minnesota to Wake Forest for an all-day statewide conference on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Renaissance Centre. SING is expecting more than 200 attendees from state and local government organizations, non-profits, and businesses who are eager to learn how to create a dementia-friendly community. Sponsorships are being offered to help with the costs of this event. If your business or organization has multiple locations in the Triangle or North Carolina, this is an amazing opportunity to be involved! Your logo will be publicized in all marketing materials, including signage, and you will also have a table on Oct. 18 to share your promotional materials. There are three levels of sponsorship:  $250, $500, or $1,000. To be a sponsor, call Cathy Jennings at 919-522-4297.

The September Business After Hours will be hosted by Wake Electric at their new customer service office in Wake Forest on South Franklin Street. BAH runs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The gathering will be in the ground floor meeting room directly off the parking lot behind the building. Turn into one of the driveways flanking the older WEMC building on Wait Avenue to reach the parking lot. * * * * Only a few booths are still available for this year’s Business Expo. If you or your business wants to be represented at the event that draws more than 2,000 people, contact Corey Hutcherson at corey@wakeforestchamber.org or 919-556-1519, ext. 2. CenturyLink is the presenting sponsor for this year’s Business Expo to be held Thursday, Oct. 27, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Richland Creek Community Church on Burlington Mills Road. The Wake Forest Chamber is teaming with the Rolesville