The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will sponsor a Youth Empowerment Workshop for young men and women ages 11 through 18 on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 North Taylor Street. The seminar will be hosted by Wake Forest Commissioner Anne Reeve and parks and rec Director Ruben Wall. Entitled “Back 2 School Success,” the workshop will feature these three facilitators and their respective topics: Mechelle Degree McKenney: “GPS – Positioning Yourself for Success” Krista Pimental: “GOAL Diggers” Vincent Sawyer: “The Power of YES” The event is free, and a continental breakfast will be provided. A limited number of seats are available, so pre-registration is required at www.wakeforestnc.recdesk.com. For more information, contact Recreation Program Superintendent Monica Lileton at 919-435-9563 or mlileton@wakeforestnc.gov.

Due to the community’s overwhelming response to the Aug. 30 “Lawn Care 101” workshop, the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will offer a second session on Thursday, Aug. 31. The Aug. 30 session is now full, so organizers have scheduled a second workshop the following day to accommodate interested residents. The Aug. 31 workshop will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Wake Forest Town Hall Ground Floor Meeting Room at 301 Brooks Street. The meeting room is most easily accessed via town hall’s Taylor Street entrance. Park Maintenance Superintendent Josh Glover will lead both workshops. Geared to homeowners, the “how-to” sessions will emphasize cool season turf management and fall over-seeding, while also providing useful information about plant beds. An N.C. State graduate with a degree in turfgrass science, Glover has 10 years turf management experience involving everything from parks and golf courses to professional

The Wake Forest Police Department will host a free BikeSafe Rider Skills Day on Friday, Aug. 25, beginning at 8:45 a.m. at the Wake Forest Police Department, 225 South Taylor Street. Area motorcyclists are invited to participate in the course designed to make riding a motorcycle safer and more enjoyable. BikeSafe Rider Skills Days involve background information and training related to five areas: Motorcycle Control – acceleration, braking, clutch control, and smoothness; Hazard Management – observation, planning, approach position, safety margin, reaction to signs, perception of danger and reaction to danger; Cornering – curve assessment, approach position, approach speed and safety margin; Overtaking – planning and following position; Roadcraft – mirrors and rear obstacles, use of signals and attitude. The course includes classroom discussion, along with advice and active riding skills assessment by qualified BikeSafe assessors. The course includes classroom discussion along with advice and active riding skills assessment by qualified BikeSafe assessors. On the

If you’re interested in learning more about the Wake County Transit Plan and its potential impact on the local business community, then don’t miss the upcoming session of “Wake Up Wake Forest.” The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce will present the third in the series of morning information seminars on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 a.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 Brooks Street. Regional Transportation Alliance Executive Director Joe Milazzo will discuss the Wake County Transit Plan with a special emphasis on the initiative’s impact from a regional business community perspective. All area residents are invited to attend, including both chamber and non-chamber members. Tickets are $10 each (plus tax), including breakfast, and available for purchase online at www.wakeforestnc.gov/wake-up-wake-forest.aspx. Wake Up Wake Forest is offered through a partnership between the Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Area Chamber of

Area residents are invited to listen to great music and dine outside, while enjoying the fall season during Wake Forest’s Music at Midday weekly concert series. Co-sponsored by the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department and Wake Forest ARTS, the free music series begins Thursday, Sept. 7, and continues on consecutive Thursdays through Sept. 28. Scheduled from noon to 1 p.m., the concerts will feature a variety of local performers and take place in Centennial Plaza, the gateway to the Wake Forest Town Hall at 401 Brooks Street. This year’s fall concert lineup includes Mister Felix on Sept. 7; Capital Transit on Sept. 14; and Loos Change on Sept. 28. The performer for the Sept. 21 concert will be announced in the coming days. Assorted dessert trucks will be on site during each concert selling desserts and sweet treats. Area residents are encouraged to bring lunch –

Wake Electric will host the Business After Hours on Thursday, Aug. 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. It will be held in their downtown Wake Forest location at 100 South Franklin Street. * * * * The Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 2017 Golf Tournament at the Hasentree Golf Club on Monday, Oct. 2, and there are many ways for area businesses to be involved by becoming a sponsor, contributing a prize or playing in the tournament. Remember that date is also the tournament’s 25th birthday! This year’s registration includes greens fees, range balls, mulligans, a shotgun raffle ticket with the chance to win $200, beverages during play and a lunch reception. To learn more about sponsorships and prizes, call Sherry at 919.556.1519 or sherry@wakeforestchamber.org * * * * There are still booths available for the chamber’s Business Expo presented by CenturyLink. It is early this

*The Wake Forest Farmers Market will be held in Renaissance Plaza on Brooks Street Saturday, Aug. 12, from 8 a.m. to noon. On Sept. 9 the market will host the Pottery and Craft Market. See the market’s Facebook page for vendors for the market and later for the Pottery and Craft market. *Monday Night Bingo at The Factory is hosted by the Wake Forest Kiwanis Club in the Mill Room from 7 to 9:30 p.m. every Monday night. All profits support the club’s projects for children. Visit www.wakeforestbingo.com for more information. *Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry at 149 East Holding Avenue is now open from 9 to 11 a.m. every third Saturday along with its regular hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for food distribution. It serves about 700 families in Wake Forest, Youngsville, Rolesville and their surrounding areas. Call 919-556-7144 for information about receiving food,