The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of updating the Community Plan and creating a Future Land Use Map, and we need your input. On Tuesday, April 13, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and again on Saturday, April 17, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., the Town will host virtual visioning workshops that give residents, business owners and stakeholders the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions on the future of land use and development in Wake Forest. Both workshops will have the same format and content. Each will include a short presentation on existing conditions in Wake Forest; highlights of important issues and key opportunities to include in the Community Plan; and interactive participant polling via smartphone, computer or tablet. Anyone wishing to participate should register for the meeting of their choice at www.wakeforestnc.gov/planning/community-plan. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the virtual workshop. The Town

The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Friday, April 2, in observance of Good Friday. Curbside trash and recycling collection schedules will not be affected, but yard waste collection will be suspended. During the week of March 29, yard waste normally collected on Friday will be collected Thursday. Residents are encouraged to place their yard waste at the curb by 7 a.m. Thursday to ensure collection. As always, please avoid placing items on or near mailboxes, utility boxes, utility poles or other fixed objects. The Wake Forest-Raleigh Express will operate as usual on Friday, April 2, but the Wake Forest Loop will not. The Loop will resume its normal schedule Monday, April 5. Town offices will also re-open April 5 at 8 a.m. #

Wake Forest was one of nine communities to receive an award for excellence in downtown revitalization during the March 10 NC Main Street Awards Ceremony. Liz Parham, Director of the NC Main Street and Rural Planning Center, presented the awards virtually in categories that included economic vitality, design, promotion and organization. Wake Forest earned its award in the “Economic Vitality” category, Best Adaptive Reuse Project subcategory for Norse Brewing Company. Located in the heart of Downtown Wake Forest, Norse Brewing opened in December 2019 in the former La Foresta Italian Café at 203 South Brooks Street after a comprehensive redesign by Bobbitt Design Build. Co-founded by Chris and Jennie Jorgensen, Jeannie Jones, and Brad and Lynn Wynn, the brewery features new craft beer releases on-tap and Scandinavian food “with a Southern twist.” Boasting a maximum capacity of roughly 330 and 5,000 square feet of space, the brewery offers a 40-person

Although COVID-19 has pushed many events online or even canceled them altogether, it won’t stop the Wake Forest Fire Department from frying fish this year. The firemen will host a “Drive By Fish Fry” on Friday, April 16, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. – or until all the fish plates are sold. The drive-thru event will be offered along Elm Avenue in front of Fire Station #1, 420 Elm Ave. An illustrative map of the drive-thru system will be provided in the coming days. Dinners are $10 each and will include generous portions of fried flounder, boiled potatoes, coleslaw, and hush puppies. No beverages will be provided. Online orders will be accepted through Thursday, April 15, at www.wakeforestnc.gov/fire/fish-fry. Only available while supplies last, orders may also be accepted on the day of the event. Please note: Due to a limited number of meals, ordering ahead is strongly encouraged. Fish fry

Note: Real fish are involved The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources  Department will host a Virtual Bass Fishing Tournament for ages 13 and older and a Virtual Youth Fishing Tournament for ages 12 and under May 10-23. Over this two-week period, local anglers are encouraged to visit any public fishery in Wake or Franklin County to try and catch the biggest fish. Participants in the Youth Fishing Tournament may catch any species of fish, while anglers in the Bass Fishing Tournament will be limited to bass only. Online registration for both tournaments is available through Thursday, April 22, at  https://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/Community/Home. The cost to participate is $10 for the bass tournament and $5 for the youth tourney. Participants in the bass tourney will receive a fishing scale to be used in the competition, while contestants in the youth tournament will receive an “Early Fisherman” packet. Fishing scales and “Early Fisherman”