The Rockin’ the Forest music series continues with the popular beach band, The Catalinas, on Friday, Nov. 8. The concert gets underway at 7:30 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts at 405 South Brooks Street. The Catalinas were inducted into the Beach Music Hall of Fame in 1995, followed by the NC Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Best known for their classic hit, “Summertime’s Callin’ Me, The Catalinas spotlight their musical roots by performing music by groups such as Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gay, Huey Smith, The Falcons, The Del Vikings, The Gladiolas, Ray Charles and more. Advance tickets are $15 each plus tax and selling fast. Tickets 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,

The Town of Wake Forest is partnering with Trees for the Triangle to help the non-profit meet its goal of planting 50,000 trees in Wake, Durham and Orange counties by 2050. Starting now, Wake Forest property owners can request to have up to two trees planted on their property by visiting https://treesforthetriangle.org/ and completing the online request form. Once a tree has been requested, Trees for the Triangle will visit the property and identify an appropriate tree species for the site. The Town will provide trees for properties inside the Wake Forest town limits, while Trees for the Triangle will supply the tree planting volunteers. There is a limit of two trees per property. Wake Forest Urban Forestry Coordinator Luke Devores emphasized that once the trees are planted, the property owner will be responsible for their care and maintenance. “Since the trees will be planted on private property, neither the Town (of

The Town of Wake Forest is recruiting friendly, outgoing volunteers to greet and help direct customers visiting Town Hall as part of the Guest Services Volunteer Program. Wake Forest introduced the initiative in 2010. Since then, dozens of area residents have volunteered to manage the Guest Services Counter. Responsibilities include greeting visitors in person and on the telephone, helping direct them to their destination and performing other tasks as needed. Approximately 20 area residents currently participate in the program. Most are recent retirees and senior adults looking for opportunities to give back to their community. Located in the lobby of town hall, the Guest Services Counter is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Guest services volunteers are expected to man the desk at least two three-hour shifts per month. Volunteers must also participate in mandatory training where they will learn about guest services desk responsibilities, participate

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is set to implement an important part of its recently updated fees and charges policy by requiring non-Wake Forest residents to pay a fee to obtain a Recreation Card (Rec Card). Both residents and non-residents ages 11 and older must have a Rec Card to use the amenities offered at parks and rec facilities, including the Joyner Park Community Center and Flaherty Park Community Center. Although Rec Cards are free for Wake Forest residents, the following fees now apply for people who live outside the Wake Forest town limits and do not pay Wake Forest property taxes: Individual, $25; Family, $50; Drop-in fee, $5. For both residents and non-residents, there is a $5 replacement fee for lost or stolen cards. To obtain a Rec Card you must first create an online profile at http://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/recdeskportal/. Then, visit the Flaherty Park Community Center at 1226

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts will host three performances of Live from Nashville – Merry Country Christmas on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15. Saturday’s show time is 7 p.m., while Sunday show times are 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. It’s a Merry Country Christmas indeed, when all your favorite Christmas songs are presented in authentic Nashville country style with dazzling guitars and fiddles along with soaring harmonies. The joy of Christmas comes to you in this delightful production of toe-tapping, heartfelt music of the holidays. From the fun of “Old Saint Nick” to the profoundly moving “Oh Come all Ye Faithful,” and from the playful “Up on the Housetop” to the poignant “Silent Night,” songs of fun, faith and hope are presented by the finest musicians and singers steeped in the traditions of America’s genre – country! Tickets are $25 each plus tax and can be purchased

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department and the Northeast Community Coalition are partnering to offer Wake Forest residents an afternoon of family-friendly fun and share useful information during Unity in the Community on Saturday, Nov. 9. Free and open to everyone, the inaugural event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. both inside and outside the Alston-Massenburg Center at 416 North Taylor Street. Featuring free food, music and fun, Unity in the Community will also present several local churches and community organizations interacting with residents and sharing information about resources and services they offer. Churches scheduled to participate on Nov. 9 include St. John’s Episcopal Church, Olive Branch Baptist Church, Wake Forest United Methodist Church, Friendship Chapel Baptist Church, Wake Forest Baptist Church and Church of God of Prophecy of Wake Forest. The participating local organizations include Dress for Success, Smart Start, Temple Vitality, Fundamental IQ

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts will host two performances of Joshua Lozoff’s Life is Magic on Friday, Nov. 22. Showtimes are 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. From his full stage show to his closeup Strolling Magic, Joshua Lozoff’s performances combine his love for the art of magic with his fascination with psychology and the powers of observation and influence. In one moment, he makes a drawing come to life just by pointing, and in the next he predicts an audience member’s choices even before she knows them herself. An evening spent with Joshua will amaze and entertain the entire family! To learn more about Joshua Lozoff, visit https://joshualozoff.com/. Tickets are $12 each plus tax for adults and $10 for children and seniors 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

The Alzheimer’s Association – Eastern North Carolina Chapter will host an advocacy training session on Tuesday, Oct. 29 for residents throughout Eastern North Carolina. Advocacy In Action will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Wake Forest Town Hall at 301 South Brooks Street. Those not able to attend can participate online via a webinar. The training will touch on: current legislative priorities and grassroots advocacy efforts at both the state and federal level; volunteer opportunities as a State Champion or Congressional Team Member; how to be an effective advocate; and how to get connected to local advocacy resources. The session is free, but registration is required. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP online at https://tinyurl.com/AdvocacyInActionOct29. For questions, contact Scott Herrick at sherrick@alz.org or by calling 336-814-3721. “The fight against Alzheimer’s isn’t a red or blue issue; it’s both. More than five million Americans – including 170,000 North Carolina residents – are living with Alzheimer’s; the most

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will sponsor its annual Halloween Spooktacular on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the new Joyner Park Community Center at 701 Harris Road. 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 best costumes will be featured on the Town’s website and social media pages. For the last several years, the PRCR Department offered the Halloween Spooktacular at the Flaherty Park Community Center. Due to the event’s tremendous popularity, organizers decided to relocate the event to the more spacious Joyner Park Community Center. Anyone planning to attend is

The Town of Wake Forest will host a Smart Cycling class for beginners on Saturday, Oct. 26, and advanced riders on Saturday, Nov. 2. Both sessions will be offered from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the ground floor meeting room of town hall at 301 South Brooks Street. Designed for ages 14 and older, Smart Cycle Classes emphasize safe riding techniques, the proper way to scan for automobiles, intersection safety tips, how to avoid road hazards, such as tree limbs, pot holes and rocks, and more. Each class is $25 per person and $15 for each additional family member (limit four family members per class). Advance registration is required at http://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/recdeskportal/<http://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/recdeskportal/?fbclid=IwAR3EohdDGhAL_Oh6ZaKm1dL6RLrA1j2CeCsosntu0Jd6XH948Nt_YFpU9Hs>. On the day of the class participants should bring their own bicycles and helmets. Both sessions will begin with classroom instruction, continue with a variety of bicycle drills in the town hall visitor parking lot (located along Brooks Street),