GoTriangle, the transit authority overseeing the transit plan Wake voters approved in 2016, plans a series of meetings across the county seeking input about future transit priorities. The Wake Forest meeting will be Wednesday, Nov. 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Wake County Northern Regional Center at 350 East Holding Avenue. Since Wake County voters approved a half-cent sales tax dedicated to transit in November 2016, bus routes have been expanded and frequency increased, more bus shelters are on the drawing board and major corridor studies are underway as part of the 10-year Wake County Transit Plan. Now it’s time to decide what should happen next, and transit planners are seeking the public’s help in setting priorities. Is it more important to extend buses to areas of the county that do not have service or to add more frequent service where there is already a high concentration of

The Wake Forest Fire Department has recently embraced the use of an advanced Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), also sometimes called a drone, to better assist people in emergency situations. Using drones in the fire service is a benefit to all residents. By utilizing this new aerial technology the Wake Forest Fire Department is in a unique position to assist with locating missing persons, gather critical information about structure fires to protect citizens and firefighters, gather important firefighting information when dealing with wild land fires, and provide rapid safety assessments following natural disasters to aid residents. “Our new technology was donated by supporters of the Wake Forest Fire Department,” Fire Chief Ron Early said. “We were fortunate to be able to serve such supportive people in our community.” Chief Early feels the integration of the firefighting drone into the fire service is a tremendous benefit to the residents the department serves.

The N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council is advising water users in Wake and other nearby counties to minimize non-essential water use because of the moderate drought in Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Orange, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Lee, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties. For those area residents who remember the drought in 2007, the idea of a rapidly falling water level in Falls Lake is scary. Today, Wednesday, the lake level had fallen to 249.04 feet below its normal level at the top of the conservation pool of 251.5 feet above mean sea level. By this time in the year, the Piedmont normally would have received between 35 to 40 inches of rain, but this year pockets of the Piedmont have received only 25 to 30 inches. In the Raleigh area, there is a statistical surplus of 3.98 inches because of heavy rains early in the year. The area has received 40.43

The Town of Wake Forest will host Special Olympics Basketball Skills Competitions for high school and middle school youth on Wednesday, Nov. 8, and children in elementary school on Thursday, Nov. 9. The skills competitions will take place each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St. Volunteers are needed to perform a variety of roles and must be available for the entire competition. Volunteers also have the option of participating one day or both days. Businesses, civic groups, and community organizations of 10 or more individuals are especially encouraged to volunteer. For more information, contact Recreation Specialist Kelly Schurtz at 919-556-7093 orkschurtz@wakeforestnc.gov.  

The Wake Forest Business & Industry Partnership (WFBIP) has launched a new website that provides useful information on the Partnership, its current projects and the economic development opportunities available in Wake Forest. Located at discoverwakeforest.org, the site offers a functional and responsive design, which means it is resizable for any screen, including any mobile device for mobile web users. The WFBIP’s site also features a variety of photos and videos, along with useful demographic, land development, and quality of life data about Wake Forest – all geared towards attracting a variety of new business and industry, including technological, pharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing and entrepreneurial. “As our virtual front door, discoverwakeforest.org offers a tremendous opportunity to highlight the economic diversity we have in Wake Forest, and the incredible resources available – particularly to tech-related companies,” said WFBIP President Jason Cannon. “The site also exposes visitors to Wake Forest’s incomparable quality of life,