A phone call from Santa Claus is on every child’s wish list. The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is making those wishes come true by offering “Calls from Santa” to kids ages 3 through 9 on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Registration forms will be available on Friday, Nov. 30, at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., and online at www.wakeforestnc.gov/calls-from-santa.aspx<http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/calls-from-santa.aspx>. Completed forms must be received at the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources office, located in Town Hall, by 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6. Telephone registrations will not be accepted. There is no charge for the event, but all calls must be local. For more information, call 919-435-9560 or email Recreation Program Superintendent Monica Lileton at mlileton@wakeforestnc.gov<mailto:mlileton@wakeforestnc.gov>.

Volunteers are needed in the next several months to help Wake Forest’s Urban Forestry division plant 200 or so street trees throughout the town. They will be expected to dig holes, plant trees, spread mulch and water the trees, efforts that will extend into early 2019. The tree-planting project offers a great opportunity for local students to earn community service hours. However, volunteers under the age of 18 must have the permission of a parent or legal guardian. Anyone interesting in volunteering is encouraged to register at www.wakeforestnc.gov/tree-planting-volunteers.aspx<http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/tree-planting-volunteers.aspx>. The town also seeks volunteers with a passion for trees, a desire to learn and an interest in helping to become certified tree stewards. The Tree Steward Program provides a unique opportunity for citizens to learn about trees and the care of trees through a comprehensive introductory class followed by optional trainings on special topics throughout the year. Trained and certified tree

Because of popular demand, the Wake Forest Police Department has scheduled a fourth Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) class on Monday, Nov. 26, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The session will take place inside the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. 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 first 100 people to register. Please note: Every participant must register individually – one person per form. On the evening of the class, attendees will be required to show proof of registration prior to entering the Renaissance Centre. 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

The first Family Gobblefest sponsored by the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will be held Saturday, Nov. 17, beginning at 10 a.m. in E. Carroll Joyner Park on Harris Road. Gobblefest is an opportunity for families to spend a morning together outdoors participating in an activity similar to a scavenger hunt. Turkey cutouts will be hidden throughout Joyner Park’s various trails and greenways. Families that “find” one of the turkey cutouts can redeem it for a special award (limit one per family). The event is free, but space is limited. Pre-registration is required at https://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com. As part of the event, the PRCR Department will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items for the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry. Tri-Area Ministry will distribute the donated food items to people in need in our community. For more information, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/family-gobblefest.aspx<http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/family-gobblefest.aspx> or contact Special Events Specialist Suja Jacob at 919-556-7063 or sjacob@wakeforestnc.gov<mailto:sjacob@wakeforestnc.gov>.

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