The Town of Wake Forest and Wake Forest Power are joining more than 2,000 not-for-profit utilities in celebrating Public Power Week Oct. 2-8. As part of this annual week-long celebration, the town and Wake Forest Power will offer several special events and activities: Customer Appreciation – Public Power Week is also Customer Appreciation Week. As our way of saying “thank you” to our valued customers, town staff will serve popcorn each day in the lobby of town hall, 301 S. Brooks St., and give away special prizes. Staff will also be available to share information and answer questions about Wake Forest’s array of customer programs and services. Energy Expo – On Thursday, Oct. 6, the lobby of the Wake Forest Town Hall will be the scene of a daytime and evening energy savings and electric safety expo featuring hands-on demonstrations and representatives from Wake Forest Power, ElectriCities, Northern Regional Center,

The Wake Forest Police Department is accepting monetary donations through Saturday, Nov. 19, as part of its 10th Annual Turkey Drive. Cash and checks are accepted and will be used to purchase additional turkeys. Checks should be written to the Wake Forest Police Department. Donations of frozen turkeys may be dropped off at the Wake Forest Police Department, 225 S. Taylor St., on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. until noon. The police department will distribute the turkeys while they last on Monday, Nov. 21, from 9-11 a.m., at the Wake Forest Community House, 133 W. Owen Ave. Anyone wishing to contribute to this year’s Turkey Drive should contact Officer M.W. Sattler at 919-795-7270. Officer Sattler organized the police department’s first Turkey Drive in 2007. Since then, the department has distributed nearly 5,000 turkeys to needy families in our area, including over 800 turkeys last year.  

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department has released a new promotional video highlighting its array of cultural and athletic programming, parks and greenways, urban forestry initiatives, and special events. Entitled “Creating Experiences for Everyone,” the video features Director Ruben Wall, along with several local young people and adults, discussing their favorite PRCR offerings, including youth and adult athletic leagues, Holding Park Pool, Arbor Day, Joyner Park and more. “We are extremely proud of our new video and believe it effectively underscores our wide variety of programs and services,” said Wall. “Thanks to our staff, who recruited the young people and the adults who appeared in the video. And a special thank you to those residents who actually took part in the video. They all did a phenomenal job representing the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department and sharing with the world all that we have to offer.”

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts will commemorate its third year of bringing extraordinary and diverse cultural and performing arts experiences to our community during the 2016 Renaissance Centre Broadway Ball for the Arts. Scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 12, the event will take place from 6 to 10:15 p.m. at the Renaissance Centre on Brooks Street Themed “To Broadway and Back,” this year’s Broadway Ball will feature a show-stopping performance by JTL (Just a Touch of Love) performing a variety of dance favorites. In addition to JTL’s dynamic performance, the occasion will include a Broadway reception compliments of Cannon Catering, a three-course meal, and a cash bar serving beer, wine, and soft drinks. 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 free community arts programming and

The Town of Wake Forest’s annual loose leaf collection program is underway and continues through early March. When preparing leaves for collections, residents are urged to adhere to the following guidelines: Rake leaves into piles behind the curb, so they do not interfere with traffic or drainage. Do not mix sticks, rocks, pine cones, limbs or other debris with loose leaves. The town’s vacuum equipment is only designed to pick up loose leaves. Your cooperation will help prevent mechanical breakdowns and collection delays. Place limbs and brush behind the curb in a pile separate from leaves. Limbs and brush larger than one inch but smaller than six inches in diameter must be no longer than six feet. Limbs and logs larger than six inches in diameter must not exceed two feet in length. Logs must not exceed 10 inches in diameter. Keep brush away from other objects such as, fences, walls,