The Wake Forest Police Department is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of a program to achieve accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). On Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, a team of assessors from the cimmission will arrive to examine Wake Forest Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. Verification by the team that Wake Forest Police Department meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation, a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence. As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees, local law enforcement agencies, local organizations, and members of the community are invited to offer comments by calling 919-435-9632 on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, from 1 to 3 p.m. Comments can also be heard during a public information session on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, at 4 p.m. The public information session will

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is recruiting instructors and soliciting youth and adult course/program ideas for 2018. PRCR is especially in need of the following program instructors: Preschool/School-age Dance, Preschool Sports Fundamentals, and Preschool Music. The department offers an array of year-round recreation classes and activities. Many are the result of a local enthusiast expressing a desire to teach a program on their particular topic of interest. “We offer a wide variety of classes, activities, and camps that meet the diverse needs and interests of the Wake Forest community,” said Recreation Program Superintendent Monica Lileton. “However, our programming success is due to our quality instructors and their dedication, enthusiasm, and knowledge.” Adult offerings may involve one-night workshops, active classes or unique programs. Instructors set their own class schedules, title, content and topic subject to the approval of the Recreation Superintendent and dependent upon facility availability.

Area residents are invited to experience the wonder and magic of the holiday season at the annual “Lighting of Wake Forest” on Friday, Dec. 1. Sponsored by Traditions at Wake Forest and presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., the tree lighting will take place in Centennial Plaza at 301 Brooks Street, the gateway to the Wake Forest Town Hall. The evening’s festivities will get underway at 6 p.m. with Mayor Vivian Jones lighting the town’s 30-foot Christmas tree, followed by Santa Claus’ exciting arrival aboard a Wake Forest fire truck. The event will also include performances by local choirs, a children’s craft activity, “Pictures with Santa” in the town hall lobby, a Tri-Area Ministry Food Drive, and free cookies and hot cocoa, while supplies last. Guests planning to have a photo taken with Santa Claus must pick up a time ticket in the town hall lobby beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Wake Forest Community Christmas Dinner, now in its 70th year, was first held in 1947 as a way to show appreciation to the town’s returning World War II veterans. Organized by the Wake Forest Garden Club and the Civic Club, the original dinner was held in the Community House on Owen Avenue, which was decked in live greenery for the occasion. The event was a tremendous success and a new tradition was born. In the seventy years since, the Wake Forest Community Christmas Dinner has retained that spirit of giving and friendship and has become part of the story of Christmas in Wake Forest. The dinner still ranks among the very best celebrations the town has to offer each and every holiday season. Always held on the first Monday in December, this year’s Community Christmas Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, at the Forks Cafeteria,

Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., announces the Parade Grand Marshal and the event co-broadcasters for the 2017 Wake Forest Christmas Parade to be held in historic downtown Wake Forest on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 1 p.m. Participants from the Field of Dreams program will serve as Grand Marshal of the 70th annual parade. The program was founded in 2008 by Wake Forest High School teacher Gail Tucker and Wake Forest JROTC Command Sergeant Major Ginger Cribb. Each spring, the Field of Dreams baseball competition provides more than 200 local special needs students with an opportunity to get involved in high school athletics. The Grand Marshal float, along with 120 other parade entries, will be announced by CBS North Carolina News Anchor Sharon Tazewell and UNC Rex Healthcare’s Bonnie Little who will serve as parade co-broadcasters stationed on South White Street. Tazewell anchors the WNCN local evening news, a job she’s held since