A new Town of Wake Forest policy requires residential and commercial developers and installers in the Town’s right-of-way to submit a right-of-way encroachment application before beginning work. The policy, which applies to all new and existing major and minor encroachments, is designed to ensure that there is no adverse impact to public safety or future roadway or utility needs. Major encroachments include, but are not limited to, hardscape (pavers, fences, retaining walls); streetscape (benches, bike racks); landscaping (planting, irrigation); and utilities (stormwater devices, wells, grease traps, meter repair). Minor encroachments may include outdoor merchandise; street furniture (movable); and awnings. Generally, the right-of-way is the strip of land the Town maintains and owns which includes the public road, sidewalk and utility corridor. While there are exceptions, the right-of-way generally extends past the sidewalk one foot toward the building or home. The town will waive the encroachment application fees through the end

On Tuesday, April 30, a gas leak caused the evacuation of the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre and other nearby buildings and interrupted what is called Senior Scam Jam, a seminar about scams, threats, prevention and solution headed by North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. Those two officials will not be returning, but there will be distinguished presenters on Wednesday, June 12, when Wake Forest Commissioner Greg Harrington will welcome and introduce them at the “Seniors at Risk: 21st Century Scam Threats, Preventions and Solutions” from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Renaissance Centre. The featured speakers will include Stephanie Bias, North Carolina Department of Insurance; John Maron, North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State; and Hugh Harris, North Carolina Department of Justice. Among the topics they will discuss are Medicare and healthcare fraud, counterfeit prescription drugs, and pyramid and Ponzi schemes,

The Wake Forest Chamber Foundation has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Chamber to create the Wake Forest Career Readiness Academy. The academy’s goal is to help students learn the skills required to be tomorrow’s successful employees. Along with classroom training, on-the-job internships will complete each student’s experience. The Chamber Foundation is seeking the support of area businesses and asking them to host a high school intern for a semester during the 2019/2020 school year. Businesses that participate can benefit in many ways: Interns provide an extra pair of hands to help with projects; they can be groomed into a potential future employee; and businesses will have access to professional human relations consultants and attorneys at no charge. “Many businesses today report that they are lacking in qualified, trained young employees,” said Corey Hutcherson, vice president of community relations for the chamber. “This Career Readiness Academy is an attempt to

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will host a free, monthly outdoor movie series from May through August at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. The first in the series of Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park will feature the film “Incredibles 2” on Saturday, May 25, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Each Family Movie Night will also include a movie-related pre-show activity for kids beginning at 7:15 p.m. The theme for the May 25 pre-show activity will be “Becoming an Incredible.” Children 12 and under are invited to bring a T-shirt from home. PRCR staff will add an iron-on Incredibles decal and help participants make Incredibles masks. Presented by Walters Insurance Agency, Inc. and Mosquito Joe of Eastern Wake County, Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park will feature a variety of family-friendly film favorites and genres, including comedies, dramas and thrillers, all projected on a

Runners and walkers are invited to register for the annual Embrace Uganda 5K coming up Saturday, June 1, in downtown Wake Forest, 7:30-11 a.m. Sign up to run or walk at www.EmbraceUganda.org. Your registration and donations help provide clean water, medical care and education to some of the 2.3 million orphaned children in Uganda. All participants receive an event T-shirt and free participation in the JerryCan Challenge, which replicates a Ugandan child’s daily trek just to find clean water. The 5K begins and ends at Town Hall on Taylor Street. Race timing is by Young & Associates, and the course is USATF certified Sponsors are also needed; promote your business at this worthy cause by calling 919-760-3520.