Celebrate the world of literature that opens doors, creates new opportunities and enriches lives at the first-ever Wake Forest Lit Fest Friday-Saturday, Oct. 19-20. Page 158 Books and the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts have joined forces to launch an immersive cultural experience for all ages that celebrates literature and the arts in and around beautiful and historic downtown Wake Forest. Lit Fest gets underway with “Biscuit” on Friday, Oct. 19, at 6:30 p.m. Young readers and their families will have the opportunity to witness the popular children’s book come to life on stage through the talent of ArtsPower National Touring Theatre. Tickets are $12 plus tax and available for purchase at www.wakeforestrencen.org/event/biscuit<http://www.wakeforestrencen.org/event/biscuit>. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Then, throughout the day and into the evening on Saturday, Oct. 20, Lit Fest will feature locally- and nationally-recognized, best-selling authors from many different genres discussing their work,

The Wake Forest Police Department is accepting donations from area residents and businesses for the 20th Annual Shop with a Cop. To contribute online via PayPal, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/donate-to-shop-with-a-cop.aspx<http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/donate-to-shop-with-a-cop.aspx>. Checks and cash can be mailed or delivered to the Wake Forest Police Department, 225 S. Taylor St. This year’s Shop with a Cop holiday shopping spree is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 18. On that day approximately 30 area children will visit the Wake Forest Police Department where they will be paired with their police officer “partners.” The kids and their partners will then be transported by bus to the Wake Forest Walmart, where each child will be given $175 to spend on a winter coat and other items of their choice. Parents are encouraged not to accompany their children. Following the shopping spree, the children and their partners will be treated to a pizza party. Shop with a Cop was created

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is recruiting instructors and soliciting youth and adult course/program ideas for 2019. PRCR is especially in need of the following program instructors: Preschool/School-age Dance, Preschool Sports Fundamentals, Preschool Music, Preschool/School-age Art, Parent-Child programs, and Adult Fitness. 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

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will sponsor its annual Halloween Spooktacular on Thursday, Oct. 25, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 North White Street. Presented by Tuscan Ridge Animal Hospital and Champion Windows, Sunrooms & Home Exteriors, the Halloween Spooktacular is a free, family-oriented festival for children ages 12 and younger. This year’s festivities will include a balloon artist and cupcake walk, along with a variety of ghostly games and activities, and free pumpkin giveaways – while supplies last. Costumes are optional, but the best costumes will be featured on the town’s website. For more information, call 919-435-9560 or visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/halloween-spooktacular.aspx<http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/halloween-spooktacular.aspx>.    

The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission and the Wake Forest Woman’s Club will present their biennial Christmas Historic Home Tour on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 1 to 7 p.m. – rain or shine. Offered only in even-numbered years, the Christmas Historic Home Tour is a self-guided tour featuring several Wake Forest homes and other properties decorated for the holidays and open for viewing. This year’s event will also offer wonderful Christmas music and more. Advance tickets are now on sale for $20 (price includes tax). Tickets are available for purchase online with a credit card and at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 Brooks Street, and Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 Brooks Street. Tickets can also be purchased with cash or check only at the following area locations: Arrow Tree Boutique, 415 Brooks Street North Carolina General Store, 150 South White Street Page 158 Books, 415 Brooks Street The Cotton Company, 306 South

The Wake Forest Police Department has scheduled a third Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events class on Monday, Oct. 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and only a few seats remain available. The session will take place inside the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre at 405 Brooks Street. Led by Wake Forest Police Lt. L. Danforth, the session will teach participants what to do if confronted with an active shooter event. Designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD) strategy developed by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University, the class will provide strategies, guidance and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. Topics will include the history and prevalence of active shooter events, civilian response options, medical issues and considerations for conducting drills. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required at www.wakeforestnc.gov/civilian-response-to-active-shooter-events.aspx<https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/civilian-response-to-active-shooter-events.aspx>. Class size is limited to the

In Wake Forest, residents have a voice in town government through the various advisory boards the town commissioners have created. Seats are now open on the following boards, and applications will be accepted through Wednesday, Oct. 31, for appointments to the following boards: *  Board of Adjustment *  Cultural Resources *  Design Review *  Greenway *  Historic Preservation *  Human Relations *  Planning *  Recreation *  Senior Center *  Urban Forestry Please note: Current advisory board members are not required to re-apply. Instead, they should notify Executive Assistant Cathi Pope at 919-435-9467 or cpope@wakeforestnc.gov<mailto:cpope@wakeforestnc.gov>. Only residents who live in Wake Forest or within its extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) are eligible to fill seats on the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment. Candidates for the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) must reside in the Historic District, in Wake Forest, or within its ETJ. Professionals with historic preservation expertise are especially encouraged to apply for

The Wake Forest Police Department has begun accepting checks and cash for its 12th annual Turkey Drive, and on Saturday, Nov. 17, it will accept donations of frozen turkeys at the Wake Forest Police Department’s Main Station on Taylor Street. The money will buy additional turkeys. On Monday, Nov. 19, police officers and staff will be at the Wake Forest Community House on West Owen Avenue to give the turkeys to needy community families from 9 to 11 a.m. or until they run out of turkeys. Want to help? You can donate online using PayPal at www.wakeforestnc.gov/donate-to-our-turkey-drive.aspx<http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/donate-to-our-turkey-drive.aspx>. If you want to  give cash or checks, call or email Officer M.W. Sattler at 919-795-7270, msattler@wakeforestnc.gov<mailto:msattler@wakeforestnc.gov>. Officer Sattler organized the police department’s first Turkey Drive in 2007. Since then, the department has distributed nearly 7,000 turkeys to needy families in our area, including over 800 turkeys last year.

There are only 50 seats left for the customer service seminar. SERVPRO of North Raleigh, Wake Forest and North Durham is the presenting sponsor, and Coastal Credit Union is sponsoring students who can attend. Also some Team Builder sponsors will bring many employees to learn how to improve their customer service: North State Bank, Wake Tech, Curtis Media Group, Union Bank, Headway Workplace Solutions and Candlewood Suites. The Wake Forest Chamber and Greater Franklin Chamber have partnered to offer this high impact customer service seminar workshop to local businesses. This lively and interactive two-hour workshop will motivate employees to improve customer service and help them make positive changes that will stimulate company growth. This seminar is geared toward all businesses, especially those in hospitality, municipal government, banking, and retail. David K. Aaker will lead two seminar sessions on October 30. Join us from 9 to 11 a.m or 1 to

Below is a list of groups – and if your group is not included and should be – please send a note with the information to cwpelosi@aol.com. If the information about your group is wrong or out of date, please send a note with the corrections to that same email address. Aren’t we lucky to have so many groups that benefit our town and its resident! *American Legion Post 187 meets the second Thursday at 7 p.m. in the American Legion Hall at 225 East Holding Avenue. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. and costs $5. For information and membership, call Commander Dave Goetze at 569-0471 or visit www.alpost187.org. *American Heritage Girls (AHG) meets at 6:30 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church on Rogers Road on the second and fourth Thursdays. Contact Amy Minor at chrisnamy34@hotmail.com or see the website, www.hopelutheranwf.org. *The General James Moore Chapter of the Daughters of the