Bright Star Touring Theatre, a national professional touring theatre company based in Asheville, will present “The Story of Anne Frank” on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The performance is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts, 405 S. Brooks St. Join Bright Star in honoring the end of World War II with this production that celebrates the courage of young Anne Frank and her family. Designed to offer an engaging and accessible approach to this time in history, The Story of Anne Frank seeks to honor the strength of the human spirit even in the most challenging of times. The Story of Anne Frank is best appreciated by audiences in 4th grade and higher. Tickets are $7 each (plus tax) and available for purchase online at wakeforestrencen.org and at the Renaissance Centre Box Office.

As a Christmas gift to our community and surrounding area, Wake Forest Presbyterian Church delivers the true Christmas story in a stirring virtual “walk” through Bethlehem to the stable where the Christ Child was born. Please join us this 15th year as, under the night sky, the campus of Wake Forest Presbyterian Church is transformed into the most breathtaking outdoor, living nativity program that you can imagine. With a cast and crew of more than 150, we will bring the story of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to life before your very eyes. As you journey through the streets of Bethlehem you will be engulfed in such emotion as this most beautiful and amazing story unfolds. Authentic costumes and settings will immerse you into believing you are actually witnessing that most holy miracle. Please come walk with us and receive the true meaning of Christmas. All

The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce are partnering to present a new morning information series designed to keep area residents up to date on important topics affecting our community, while also connecting them with local political, business, and civic leaders. “Wake Up Wake Forest” will feature renowned experts in a variety of fields addressing a range of popular issues, including the economy, growth management, and public transportation. Each event will begin at 7:30 a.m. and take place at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts, 405 S. Brooks St. Wells Fargo Managing Director & Senior Economist Mark Vitner will kick off the 2016-17 Wake Up Wake Forest series on Tuesday, Dec. 6, with “Trends Impacting the Economy.” Vitner’s presentation will include his annual economic analysis, along with predictions on global, national, regional, and local trends that will impact our economy. Future sessions are

The Town of Wake Forest is partnering with the City of Raleigh and Special Olympics of Wake County to host a series of basketball clinics for children and adults with special needs on Sundays from Nov. 20, 2016, through Feb. 26, 2017. The clinics will be offered from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St. The deadline to register is Thursday, Nov. 3. Registration forms are available on the town’s website at www.wakeforestnc.gov/special-olympics.aspx. Participants must be at least 8 years old and have valid Special Olympics Medical and Parent Permission forms on file with Special Olympics Wake County prior to the first day of practice. For more information about the required forms and other conditions, visit www.sonc.net. A mandatory parent/guardian meeting is scheduled during the first practice on Nov. 20. Participants should bring/wear the following items to practice: tennis shoes, comfortable athletic clothing (no jeans), and

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will sponsor the inaugural R.I.S.E. (Rise, Inspire, Succeed, Empower) Women’s Empowerment Workshop on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Alston-Massenburg Center at 416 North Taylor Street. Designed for young women from 12 to 22, the free workshop will be hosted by Wake Forest Commissioner Anne Reeve and PRCR Director Ruben Wall. A free lunch will be served. R.I.S.E. will feature five facilitators discussing topics of importance to young women: Rosemary Pimentel – Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Sheila Tolbert – Being a BOSS: Leadership Development Lorna Harris – Beauty: Inside and Out Valerie Frazier – Unconditional LOVE Lisa Hayes – Empowered to Overcome A limited number of seats are available. Pre-registration is required by emailing Event Coordinator Lisa Jacobs at ljacobs@wakeforestnc.gov. For more information, contact Lisa Jacobs at 919-556-7063 or ljacobs@wakeforestnc.gov.  

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts will offer up two days’ worth of time-honored film favorites during theBig Screen Classics Movie Marathon Weekend Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4-5. Free and open to the public, the movie screenings will begin each day at 10 a.m. and continue at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Concessions, including popcorn and soft drinks, will be available for purchase. Here’s your chance to experience an entire weekend of unique and universal works of cinema that have transcended time and trends, with indefinable quality. Due to the terms and conditions outlined in its agreement with the Motion Picture Licensing Corporation, the Renaissance Centre is not permitted to announce the film titles to the general public. However, the Renaissance Centre is publicizing the movie titles through its email subscription service and the Special Events Hotline. To obtain the film titles for the Movie Marathon

Children can dress up, bring their bags and trick or treat their way through all the vendor booths at the Wake Forest Farmers Market in Renaissance Plaza on Brooks Street Saturday, Oct. 29, when the market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon. Saturday is the last day of summer hours. Beginning Saturday, Nov. 5, winter hours will begin with the market open from 10 a.m. to noon. But there are some special events planned for November and December. On Saturday, Nov. 19, there will be a chili cook off. Come and vote for your favorite chili. Then on Saturday, Dec. 3, there will be a special Holiday Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a Holiday Artisans Market inside the Renaissance Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring local artists and crafts people with a wide variety of gift items and prices. For this Saturday,

With the election in full swing and North Carolina a coveted battleground state, consumers can expect an onslaught of calls, television ads, mailers and neighborhood canvassers. The Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina (BBB) is warning area residents of scammers that will be taking advantage of the election to try and take money or personal information. “There are a variety of scams that pop up during election season,” said Mallory Wojciechowski, president and CEO of BBB serving Eastern NC. “We want all consumers to be aware of what scams are happening and how they can protect themselves if they become targets.” Fake Campaign Fundraising Crooks sometimes make random calls claiming to represent a political party, an election committee member or an actual candidate. Don’t fall for their request asking you to donate. Instead, ask for their contact information and try to reach them after hanging up. If you are

The 69th annual Wake Forest Community Christmas Dinner will be held on Monday, Dec. 5, at The Forks Cafeteria on Brooks Street. The $15 tickets are now available at The Forks, the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, the Wake Forest Historical Museum, and the offices of The Wake Weekly. Additional tickets are being sold through local organizations such as the Wake Forest Rotary, the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Wake Forest Woman’s Club. The Christmas Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and ushers in the holiday season with a Southern menu of fried chicken, roast beef, bread, sides, and dessert. The invocation will be offered by the Reverend Joey Chafton of Oak Grove Baptist Church and Committee Chair Durward Matheny will open and close the program. This is also the yearly event at which Mayor Vivian Jones presents the Wake Forest Citizen

The Wake Forest Police Department’s annual Turkey Drive got underway in September, but donations are way down compared to previous years. “So far donations have been sparse,” said turkey drive organizer Officer M.W. Sattler. “Now that we’re getting close to November, we’re hoping they will begin to pick up.” The police department is accepting monetary donations through Saturday, Nov. 19. 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 to 11 a.m. at the Wake Forest Community House on West Owen Avenue. Anyone wishing to contribute to this year’s Turkey Drive should contact Officer