With winter-like temperature already blasting Wake County, finding a way to stay warm is more difficult for low-income or fixed-income individuals and families. Recognizing that paying for a heating bill can be challenging, Wake County’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program works to ease the burden of utility payments for low-income residents. Beginning Monday, Dec. 2, residents aged 60-plus or those who receive benefits from the N.C. Division of Aging and Adult Services can apply for a one-time heating supplement. On Jan. 2, 2020, households meeting specified income requirements may apply for the supplement through March 31, 2020, or until funds are exhausted. “While we are a county that is growing in population and prosperity, our reality is that prosperity has not been distributed equitably,” said Jessica Holmes, chairwoman, Wake County Board of Commissioners. “Our energy assistance program is an important effort to help neighbors, seniors and community members in need stay

The Gazette will list all information from groups working to help others in need. Send information about what your group is doing to cwpelosi@aol.com. * * * * Wake Forest Police Department Turkey Drive Wow! Maybe double wow! Wake Forest residents outdid themselves responding to the annual turkey drive, far outstripping any past donations. On Monday, Nov. 25, the officers gave away 960 turkeys, 500 bags of groceries and over 100 pounds of sweet potatoes. Last year on Nov. 19, there was a new record which has been eclipsed this year. Last year the department gave away 806 turkeys, one for each family, 370 bags of side dish items provided by Living Word Family Church and a few thousand pounds of sweet potatoes donated by Wake Forest Presbyterian Church. Officer Michael Sattler has been organizing the turkey drive since 2007, and now have been able to donate about 8,000 turkeys.

The Wake Forest High School (WFHS) Theatre Department along with the Wake Forest Renaissance Arts Productions (WRAP) Drama Boosters are selling sponsorships of live Christmas trees that will be used in a holiday show, on a parade float and then donated to local families. Businesses are being asked to consider buying a Christmas tree sponsorship. The trees will be featured in the WFHS production of FrUiTCaKeS! performed on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the WFHS Auditorium, 420 West Stadium Drive in Wake Forest. The matinee show is a moving story of alienation, understanding and reconciliation and provides audiences with a heaping helping of holiday warmth and cheer. Beginning at 9 a.m., FrUiTCaKeS!-themed stations will be set up for children to enjoy some holiday fun before the show. Show tickets are $5 per student which includes one free adult ticket and may be purchased online at https://wfhs.ticketleap.com/fruitcakes/ Businesses that

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre will host a lively and educational celebration of gospel music that connects all cultures, ages and backgrounds on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at 5 p.m. The “Shades of Gospel” concert will highlight a range of traditional, southern and contemporary gospel music with featured performances by Grammy, Dove and Stellar Award-nominated artist Tim Bowman, Jr. and the Trinity Quartet. Tickets are $15 plus tax and may be purchased online at www.wakeforestrencen.org/tickets-events<https://www.wakeforestrencen.org/tickets-events> or at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St. Tim Bowman, Jr. started his music career in 2012 with the release of “Beautiful” by Trippin ‘N’ Rhythm Records. This album was his breakthrough release upon the Billboard Magazine Gospel Albums and Independent Albums charts. The song “He Will,” featuring Vickie Winans, his paternal aunt, charted on the Billboard Magazine Hot Gospel Songs chart. His critically http://medimagery.com/buyvalium/ acclaimed album “Listen” debuted at number one on

The Town of Wake Forest is introducing important changes aimed at increasing citizen awareness of scheduled public hearings. The first involves a redesign of the Town’s public hearings notice signage which are posted on properties being considered for public hearing – typically a minimum of two weeks prior to the public hearing date. The signs, which were green and white, are now bright yellow, so they are easily recognizable. In addition, the information on the signage has been streamlined and the text enlarged to make it easier to read. The reusable signs also feature sturdier bases making them less likely to tip over. Moving forward, each public hearing will be assigned a unique ID# which will be clearly visible on the new signage. Anyone with questions about a scheduled public hearing should note the ID# then choose one of the following options to obtain complete information about the upcoming public

A study by Ramey Kemp & Associates has found that the town needs 223 additional parking spaces to meet planned and anticipated new developments in downtown Wake Forest. The study was presented at the town board work session on Nov. 5 but no action was taken at that time. Lisa Hayes, the downtown development director, was asked about possible parking at the old SunTrust bank site between South White and Brooks. She said she expects the future use of the site to be a combination of retail and living. “I don’t think there’s going to be much public parking at this site.” Mayor Vivian Jones, who said the town has to address parking, said, “The parking will depend on what’s in there.” A UNC group is studying the site and helping the town determine what is best suited for the site as well as searching for possible investors/developers. The projects

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 Purple Heart Foundation and the Town of Wake Forest are pleased to introduce “The Wall That Heals in Wake Forest Commemorative Photo Book,” a treasure trove of pictures recording The Wall’s 2018 visit to Wake Forest. This beautiful 8.5″ x 11″ hardcover limited-edition volume is now on sale for $47.50 (price includes tax and shipping). Throughout the pages of this book, you can relive The Wall That Heals’ unforgettable stay in our community through hundreds of poignant photos submitted by amateur and professional photographers alike. From Oct. 18 to Oct. 21, 2018, the Wake Forest Purple Heart Foundation and the Town of Wake Forest hosted the replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at E. Carroll Joyner Park. Over those four days, approximately 20,000 people from across North Carolina and beyond visited the park to pay their respects to the more than 58,000 men and women who made

Business After Hours this month will be hosted by Capital Chevrolet, 9820 Capital Boulevard, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. It is a members-only event. * * * * Schmoozapalooza, the chamber’s signature speed networking event that was originally scheduled for Dec. 6 has been rescheduled for Feb. 7. Call the chamber to reserve your seat and start off the new year with prospects in your sales funnel. * * * * Business After Hours is the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce’s popular monthly event that provides quality networking opportunities for our members and a great marketing opportunity for your business. We are currently seeking hosts and locations for 2020. If you would like to be one of our hosts, download our host application today! The application includes all of the guidelines, FAQs, and the application form. Forms must be submitted by the end of this week. Questions? Contact Carol

SORRY! At the Dec. 3 town board work session, David Williams, owner of Focus Design Builders which has the $3.9 million contract to renovate and enlarge the building and parking lot, said he it will be another two or three weeks before the Northern Wake Senior Center will be open to the public. See Brief Bits for more. The target completion date was May 1, 2019. Focus Design won the contract because it promised to complete the work within 269 days – nine months – when the other bidders’ numbers were 300 to 365 days. The town board learned on Feb. 5 that the record amount of rain in 2018 – 36 days of rain that prevented construction when the average is 13 – means the end date had to be pushed back. Architect Matt Hale said construction would be complete on June 19 and the building will be handed