The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of developing an Affordable Housing Plan to help better analyze and mitigate housing conditions within our community. As a first step in that process, the Town is inviting residents to complete a brief survey by visiting https://bit.ly/WFAffordableHousingPlan. Designed to help the Town better understand the housing experiences and challenges of the Wake Forest community, the questionnaire takes approximately five minutes to complete.  Once completed, the Wake Forest Affordable Housing Plan will examine existing local housing conditions, determine housing needs, establish a vision and goals, and recommend community housing policies to help achieve this vision. For more information, email Long Range Planning Manager Brad West at bwest@wakeforestnc.gov. #

If you’re looking for a “hauntingly” good time this fall season, then don’t miss the “Spirits of Wake Forest” ghost walk in downtown Wake Forest. Presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc., in conjunction with Forest Moon Theater, these tours will be offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, September 30 through October 30, at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Downtown Wake Forest’s buildings and sidewalks have seen well over 100 years of history, and they have some spooky stories to tell! Join Wake Forest Downtown and Forest Moon Theater’s incredible cast of storytellers to learn about the tragic train wrecks, murderous mamas and restless spirits that make up just a small piece of downtown’s haunted history. Tockets are $15 for adults and $12 for children 10 and under. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Sept. 8, and must be purchased in advance at https://bit.ly/SpiritsofWF. Please note: Tickets are non-refundable/non-transferable. Tours will take place rain or shine.

You can make a difference in our community by applying for one of the upcoming vacancies on the town’s advisory boards. The boards were established to give residents input into what happens in the community and advise the Board of Commissioners on matters that affect citizens and their town government. Applications are being accepted through noon Thursday, Sept. 30, for appointments to the following boards and commissions:   Board of Adjustment (BOA) Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Human Relations Council (HRC) Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Advisory Board Planning Board Public Art Commission (PAC) Technology Advisory Board (TAB) Urban Forestry Board (UFB) The online advisory board application is available on the Town website at http://bit.ly/TOWFAdvBoardApplication. Anyone without access to a computer is invited to complete the application by using a computer kiosk in the lobby of Town Hall, 301 South Brooks Street. Hard copies are available upon request by contacting Executive Assistant

The Wake Forest Fire Department offers a life-saving initiative that provides firefighters with the safe and efficient entry they need into the homes of vulnerable residents during fires or medical emergencies. The Knox Homebox program involves homeowners buying a steel lock box and firefighters locking their house key in it. Fire crews have a master key that opens the box in the event of a medical emergency, fire or other urgent need. According to Fire Logistics Specialist David Davis, the initiative saves precious time for first responders and the potential expense of costly repairs for the homeowner due to forced entry. “Our number one concern is getting inside the house to provide aid to someone who may be in trouble,” said Davis. “This program allows us to gain entry quickly without breaking down the door or breaking windows.” Davis said the program also offers peace of mind for the homeowner and their

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will close Holding Park Aquatic Center for the season at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12. Until then, the aquatic center will operate according to the following schedule:   Weekdays, 5-8 p.m. Saturdays, 9 a.m.-Noon; 1-4 p.m.; 5-8 p.m. Sundays, 1-4 p.m.; 5-8 p.m. Labor Day, 9 a.m.-Noon; 1-4 p.m.; 5-8 p.m.   Taylor Street Park Sprayground will remain open through Sunday, Sept. 26. Located at 133 W. Owen Avenue, Holding Park Aquatic Center features a six-lane, 25-yard lap pool, two water slides with plunge pool and children’s pool with water play. Open during the summer months, the facility offers swimming to the public, as well as swim lessons. Open swim times are scheduled in three-hour blocks, with one hour in-between to allow staff to clean and sanitize the facility, including deck chairs, door handles, hand rails and other high-touch areas. A maximum of 160

Save the date for Wake Forest Virtual CROP Hunger Walk, Sunday, September 26, 2021, beginning at 2 p.m. Register online to walk and/or donate: https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2021/event/wakeforestnc Following last year’s format that worked so well, this year’s walking events will have do-it-yourself themes, with the individuals and teams having the option to plan their own routes. Our vision is for people to stay safe on September 26 while they celebrate their own successes of supporting the missions of CROP Hunger Walk.  Suggestions for where to walk are the greenways, parks, neighborhoods, parking lots, neighborhoods, or at home. We encourage walkers to share their participation with social media.  Stay connected with others who are walking to show support for our most vulnerable neighbors, both near and far. Last year the community’s generous walkers, their families, and their friends raised a record-breaking $17,000 for this worthy outreach. The event’s generosity goal this year is $20,000. 

The Town of Wake Forest will host a Northeast Community Plan Open House on Thursday, Sept. 9, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. outdoors on the grounds of the DuBois Campus, 518 N. Taylor St. The event will give residents, business owners and stakeholders the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions on the proposed update to the Northeast Community Plan. The session will have an informal, open house-style format, so there will not be a formal presentation. Attendees may arrive any time between 4:30-6:30 p.m. to view displays about the plan, ask questions and share comments. A boxed meal will be provided by The Forks. Due to COVID-19, attendees may wish to wear a mask. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved indoors where masks will be required. Community input is the cornerstone of the Northeast Community Plan, which will recommend policies and actions responding to current and future community needs.

The Town of Wake Forest partnered with WakeMed and Wake County Health & Human Services to host a free webinar on COVID-19 vaccinations in Auust. Moderated by Commissioner Adam Wright, COVID-19 Vaccines: Separating Fact from Fiction, featured a research-based presentation by Dr. Chris DeRienzo, System Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Quality at WakeMed Health and Hospitals and Dr. Nicole Mushonga, Wake County Government’s Associate Medical Director and Epidemiology Program Director. The hour-long session addressed how COVID-19 vaccines were created and work, vaccine safety and efficacy, the Delta variant, local resources and more before concluding with an extensive question-and-answer period. Wake Forest residents who subscribe to Spectrum Cable TV service can now watch the webinar on Wake Forest TV 10 (WFTV 10) daily over the next several weeks at 8 am., noon, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.  Area residents may also view the forum in streaming video on demand at wakeforestnc.gov and www.wakeforestnc.gov/covid-19-coronavirus/covid-vaccine-webinar. WFTV 10 is

The N.C. Department of Transportation needs volunteers to help clean up trash along roads during the Adopt-A-Highway Fall Litter Sweep from Sept. 11-25. Each April and September, NCDOT asks volunteers to help remove litter from roadsides. Volunteers from local businesses, schools, nonprofits, churches, municipalities, law enforcement and community groups play an important role in keeping North Carolina’s roads clean. Joining this effort is easier than ever before as volunteers can now sign up by way of a convenient online form. “Since this year began, NCDOT and our partner organizations have picked up more than eight and a half million pounds of litter,” said State Roadside Engineer David Harris. “We need everyone’s help to keep that momentum. The Litter Sweep is a great opportunity to get outdoors with family and friends and work alongside NCDOT to ensure North Carolina remains a beautiful place to live and work.” Volunteers can request clean-up supplies

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is partnering with Resources for Seniors to offer residents 55 and older free blood pressure checks and medication management classes on the second Wednesday of each month. Dr. Casey Baldwin of Resources for Seniors will conduct the blood pressure checks from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 North Taylor Street. Then, from 12:15 to 1 p.m., she will lead a free medication management class. Dr. Baldwin will also offer the blood pressure checks and medication management class at the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 East Holding Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following days each month: First Monday and Thursday Third Friday Fourth Tuesday Again, the blood pressure checks and medication management classes are free, and no registration is required. For more information, email Dr. Casey Baldwin at caseyb@rfsnc.org. #