The Town of Wake Forest and Downtown Wake Forest, Inc. are inviting area residents to Get Up, Get Out and Get Dirty during the sixth annual Dirt Day on Saturday, April 6. Promising something for the entire family, this popular springtime event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – rain or shine – along South White Street in downtown Wake Forest. Kids will have a blast planting seeds, painting rocks and exploring a variety of trucks from S. T. Wooten Corp., while adults will have the chance to learn about new techniques in gardening and composting, check out the latest in outdoor activity gear and visit with a variety of vendors offering an array of products and insight. But that’s not all. Dirt Day participants can also take selfies with an alpaca, make crafts from recycled materials at the Scrap Exchange, interact with owls and other rescued wildlife,

ARTS Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Optimist Club invite area youth and family teams to participate in the Draw on the Street Chalk Art Contest on April 6 during the annual Dirt Day Festival in Downtown Wake Forest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Registration is FREE and must be complete by March 29 by emailing team member names to Tanya at TanyaYvonne@Live.com. Upon registration, teams will receive contest rules and other details.  Family and Youth teams are comprised of two to four individuals. Youth team members are students 18 and under accompanied by an adult teacher or parent chaperone. Chaperones are encouraged to participate with their team. Family team members may be of any age, but must include at least one adult. Each registered team will be assigned a 4’ X 4’ space on South White Street and given a large box of chalk pastels to create an artwork

In a move that reflects a nationwide trend, Lime (formerly known as LimeBike) has ended its bike-sharing program in Wake Forest. Earlier this month, the dockless bike share company known for its bright green-colored bicycles notified the Town that it would be ending the pilot program on March 15. “Lime communicated to us that it is focusing on scooters now, instead of bikes,” said Transportation Planning Manager Suzette Morales. In April 2018, the Town entered into an agreement that allowed Lime to offer bicycles for a fee anywhere in the town limits. As part of the initiative, Lime brought approximately 200 bicycles to Wake Forest and placed them in clusters in high traffic areas around town, including downtown and in parks and greenways. Now, less than 12 months later, Lime has removed its bikes and left town. Several cities across the United States have reported similar trends as “micro-mobility” companies,

Students at Heritage Middle School will perform the musical “The Music Man Jr”. from April 10 to 12 at 6 p.m. in the Heritage Middle School Auditorium. This family-friendly performance features an all-student cast and is directed by Ms. Austin Royal with musical direction by Mrs. Elsie Shuler and choreography by Mrs. Melissa Christians. The original 1957 Broadway production of “The Music Man” won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran for 1,375 performances. The show’s success led to revivals, including a long-running 2000 Broadway revival, a popular 1962 film adaptation, and a 2003 television adaptation. The Heritage Middle School’s version will contain such memorable songs as “Seventy-Six Trombones”  and “Shipoopi.” Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased at the Heritage Middle School main office.

The Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation is currently accepting applications for the inaugural class of its Career Readiness Academy. Rising juniors and seniors for the 2019/2020 school year are eligible to apply. Funded through a grant from the US Chamber of Commerce, the goal is to prepare students to successfully enter the workforce and provide area employers with capable young employees. “The academy is an extension of our nationally recognized Youth Leadership Wake Forest program,” explained Corey Hutcherson, VP of Community Relations for the Chamber. “We started with the Youth Leadership curriculum, added financial literacy and job readiness components, and integrated on-the-job internships to round out the program. After completing the academy, students will have a much better understanding of various career options and requirements as well as how to be successful in a workplace.” High school students attending public, private, or homeschools in Wake Forest, North Raleigh,