The Wake Forest Community Christmas Dinner was organized in 1947 to welcome home the town’s returning World War II veterans. Created by the Wake Forest Garden Club and the Civic Club, the original dinner was held in the Community House on Owen Avenue. Over the decades, this tradition has continually ranked among the town’s best holiday celebrations. Always held on the first Monday in December, this year’s Community Christmas Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 3, at the Forks Cafeteria at 339 South Brooks Street. After the Christmas invocation, Dave Greenwell and his kitchen staff will serve a menu of fried chicken, roast beef, baked apples, potatoes au gratin, carrots, broccoli casserole, dinner rolls, and assorted desserts. There will be a brief musical program by Hallie Arrington Hearn (reprising her role as entertainer 50 years after first singing at the dinner as a child in 1968), plaques will

The family-friendly 5K Gobbler’s Run through Wake Forest will start off at 8 a.m. from the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club on South Wingate Street on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 22. The 3.1-mile loop is an easy stroll through downtown and historic Wake Forest. Push your kids or bring your dog – strollers and pets are welcome. You’ll get a race T-shirt and be able to eat more turkey without the guilt! The course is mostly flat and there will be a water stop at the half-way point on North Main Street. The Jim Allen Group is presenting this year’s race – and along with the families there are serious racers who will be competing. You can find all the details if you go to http://gobblersrun.itsyourrace.com/event. There is still the early bird registration fee, $20, in effect for those 16 and older until Oct. 31. Registration from Nov. 1 to

Forest Moon Theater will present “The Memory of Water” Friday through Sunday, Nov. 9-11 and 16-18, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405  Brooks Street. Showtime on Friday and Saturday is 7:30 p.m., while Sunday’s showtime is 3 p.m. The death of their mother reunites sisters in England who at first could seem no more different from one another. Conflicting memories of the same events from their past highlight what separates them. On the eve of the funeral, in the bedroom haunted by their mother’s ghost, confrontations amidst the laughter stir the waters and bring secrets to the surface. This play is produced by special arrangements with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Advance tickets are $15 plus tax for adults and $13 plus tax for students and seniors. These prices reflect a savings of $3 per adult and student/senior on “day of” admission tickets. Please note: Parental guidance recommended. Contains some

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 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

Because of popular demand, the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts has added a third Christmas Jubilee Concert featuring the Celtic Angels Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. The first two shows on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. are already sold out. Tickets are $25 each plus tax and can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit card at www.wakeforestrencen.org/tickets-events<http://www.wakeforestrencen.org/tickets-events>.  Advance tickets may also be purchased with cash, check or credit card at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St. Both performances are expected to sell out. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to purchase their tickets now. The Sheeva Quintet, Celtic Knights and Angel Dancers with Trinity Band Ensemble of Dublin, captivate audiences of all ages with the Magic of Christmas in an awe-inspiring show which encompasses vocal and instrumental seasonal

The Wake Forest Woman’s Club will host its second annual Shamrockin’ Casino Gala on Friday, March 15, 2019, at Cross & Main in Youngsville from 7 to 11 p.m. Funds raised will go to many of the charities the club supports, including The Purple Heart Foundation, Note in the Pocket, Safe Space and Meals on Wheels. Tickets will be available through the club’s website, beginning on November 15. Tickets are $65 per person and include hors d’oeuvres, desserts, one raffle ticket and $5,000 play money for several casino-style games. Flyers will be posted throughout Wake Forest and the surrounding areas. More information will be available on our website soon at www.wake-forest-womans-club.com  

Did you know the Chamber provides a comprehensive and affordable health benefits solution for small businesses? The plan is designed to meet all the compliance requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Not only can you remain in-network with all four major hospitals in Wake County, you will likely lower your premiums and obtain better coverage. Learn how your business can take advantage of this solution by attending a free workshop this month. Workshops will be held at the Chamber on November 8 at 12:00 pm and November 13 at 4:00 pm. Register by clicking the links above. If these times aren’t convenient, email Ann Welton and we can connect you to the provider. * * * * The Wake Forest Area Chamber’s popular speed networking event, Schmoozapalooza, returns to The Mill Room for a morning of networking rounds where you will get the word out about your business and build your prospect list. That is Nov.

The editor knows there are many readers who do not subscribe to The Wake Forest Gazette and is urging those people to subscribe. There is no charge, but you do get a weekly notice from the editor each Wednesday announcing a weekly update is on line. All you have to do is go to the first page, find the box for subscribe and enter your name and email address. If you have been a subscriber to the Gazette and find you are not receiving weekly notices that the new issue is on line, the problem lies in the software for the paper’s email service, Mailchimp. If a subscriber’s inbasket is full or if there are other reasons why the email would not accept the Gazette notice, it will be listed as bumped. If that condition continues, Mailchimp will list that subscriber as unsubscribed and stop sending notices. To remedy the

*The Wake Forest Farmers Market has moved to the town employees’ parking lot on Taylor Street behind town hall. The market will be open this Saturday, Nov. 10, from 8 a.m. to noon, its winter hours. Local farmers and artisans will have meats, seasonal vegetables, bread, baked good and other local wares for sale. See the market’s Facebook page for information about the vendors and sign up for a weekly notice about the offerings that Saturday. Remember the Wake Forest Farmers Market is unusual in that it is owned by the farmers who sell their wares there. *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