WalletHub, a personal finance website, has recognized Wake Forest as the 9th best place in North Carolina to raise a family. In order to help families find the best North Carolina cities for putting down roots, WalletHub conducted a study comparing 85 cities in the state across four key dimensions: 1) Family Life & Fun; 2) Education, Health & Safety; 3) Affordability; and 4) Socioeconomics. WalletHub’s analysts evaluated those categories using 21 key metrics, ranging from “number of attractions” to “median family income” to “school-system quality.” According to WalletHub’s findings, Wake Forest scored among the best cities in the state in nine of those metrics (1=Best; 43=Avg.): 10th – Median Family Income (adjusted for cost of living) 7th – % of Families with Children under 18 14th – Quality of School System 17th – High School Graduation Rate 10th – Violent Crime Rate 15th – % of Families Living Below Poverty

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts will host the inaugural Wake Forest Guild of Artists and Wake Forest ARTS Art Exhibit on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Over 20 artists will display their works of art in a variety of mediums and styles, including acrylic, oil and watercolor paintings, sculpture, jewelry, glasswork, encaustic, woodworking, and mixed media. Free and open to the public, the event offers an exciting opportunity for area residents to see firsthand what local artists offer the community. The Renaissance Centre is located at 405 Brooks Street in downtown Wake Forest.    

The City of Raleigh and Park Construction of NC began blasting and excavation operations south of Durham Road on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The work is part of the Richland Creek Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Project. Residents who live in the vicinity of Durham Road and West Holding Avenue are advised that blasting is scheduled to begin as early as Tuesday and continue for the next two weeks depending upon weather conditions. The blasting operations are expected to produce construction-related noise and sounds associated with demolition activities, but residents should not be alarmed. Residents are advised of the following alerts both prior to and following a blast: Five-Minute Warning: a series of long horn blasts. One-Minute Warning: Short horn blasts, separated by short pauses. All Clear Signal: A prolonged horn blast following inspection of the blast. The sewer line replacement project is expected to be completed in late December. The initiative is

The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Friday, Nov. 11, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. Yard waste collection will be suspended Nov. 11, but police, garbage, recycling, and bulk pick-up services will not be interrupted. Wake Forest bus service, including the Wake Forest-Raleigh Express and the Wake Forest Loop, will also follow the normal schedule. During the week of Nov. 7, the town will complete its normal five-day yard waste collection cycle in four days beginning with Monday’s route and ending with Friday’s route. So, for example, on Monday crews may run Monday’s route and a portion of Tuesday’s route, then on Tuesday finish Tuesday’s route and complete a portion of Wednesday’s route. In order to ensure that all neighborhoods are serviced properly, residents are urged to leave their normal yard waste and loose leaves in separate piles at the curb by 7

Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina (BBB) is now accepting applications for the Fall 2016 BBB Torch Scholarships, which recognize students who personify high ethical standards as demonstrated through leadership, community service, overall personal integrity, and academic history. Torch Scholarships are given to college-bound high school juniors, seniors, and college undergraduates who reside or attend school within BBB of Eastern NC’s 33-county service area. Scholarship prizes totaling $15,000 will be awarded. Fall 2016 Torch Scholarship Awards: $1,000 Air Experts BBB Torch Scholarship $1,000 Air Works BBB Torch Scholarship $1,000 Confero, Inc. BBB Torch Scholarship $1,000 Jan-Pro Cleaning Systems BBB Torch Scholarship $1,000 NC Rebuild BBB Torch Scholarship $1,000 Triangle Office Equipment Systems BBB Torch Scholarship $1,000 The Vericom Group BBB Torch Scholarship $3,000 National Pawn BBB Torch Scholarship $5,000 Student of Ethics BBB Torch Scholarship To be eligible, students must submit an essay of 1,000 words or less, along