The Urban Forestry Division (UFD) is celebrating Arbor Day this year by again offering a contest that tree lovers across Wake Forest are sure to love. From now through Saturday, April 1, the UFD will accept nominations from residents for the Wake Forest 2023 Tree of the Year award. Trees may be nominated for their size, species, historic significance, personal meaning, community benefit or general notoriety – but they must be located within the Wake Forest town limits. To submit your choice, visit http://bit.ly/WFTreeofYear, complete the nomination form and upload a photo of your tree. Finalists will be selected by Town staff, then voted on by the community during the week of April 3. The tree that receives the most votes will be announced as the winner during Forest Fest on Saturday, April 15. The person who submits the winning tree will receive a certificate crowning their tree as the

You are invited to a special meet and greet event with Dr. Shaun Price, author of Our Story of Faith: the History of Wake Forest Baptist Church, 1835-2015, on Sunday, March 5 at 2 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Wake Forest Baptist Church. During the presentation, Dr. Price will share his experiences researching and writing the history of Wake Forest Baptist Church. After the presentation you will jjave an opportunity to take a tour of the historic Sanctuary, purchase a book and have your book signed by Dr. Price. The event is co-sponsored by the Wake Forest Historical Association and Wake Forest Baptist Church. ###

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre will host the 2023 Wake Forest Film Festival this Friday, March 3, from 6-9:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 4, from 11 a.m.-8:15 p.m. The two-day event will engage film enthusiasts with more than 20 films of all lengths and genres, including short and full-length, documentary, student, family, and music. To view the complete schedule, including movie titles and times, visit http://bit.ly/WFFilmFestival. All-access screening passes are on sale for $20 each and will allow unlimited access to the schedule of films throughout the two-day festival. Tickets may be purchased online in advance at http://bit.ly/WFFilmFestival. Tickets may also be purchased at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St. Designed for both movie-goers and film professionals, the Wake Forest Film Festival is an opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their films in a unique location to a discerning audience. For more information, call 919-435-9458 or email rcboxoffice@wakeforestnc.gov.

Based on the January 2023 Monthly Development Report, WF Planning Updated January 11, 2023 The updated Wake Forest population as of July 2022 is 54,274. In 2021 the population was 50,244. How rezoning and development requests are now heard Planning Director Courtney Tanner gave this response to a query: All legislative cases (rezonings) have a public hearing at the Commissioner meeting and a public comment session at the Planning Board. A special use permit has a public hearing at the Commissioner meeting. Administrative (correct zoning and comply with the UDO) cases are approved at the staff level. What town board approval means now Senior Planner Patrick Reidy explained what the town board’s approval of new subdivisions means under the new state and town requirements. “They approved the conditional rezoning/master plan. Both projects will need to go through Construction Plan approval before they can start site work. I would expect a

In November and December you blessed us with a generous bounty of donations which we are distributing now that giving has slowed. We continue to provide all of our families with 100 pounds of food each month. SNAP & FNS BENEFITS Starting in March 2023, the Extra Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits for COVID-19 will end. This means Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (food stamps) subsidies will revert to pre-pandemic rates, reducing benefits by $95 per month per household. At the same time, food prices have risen approximately 10% since January 2022. Throughout the past year, we have served a record number 1,500 families per month. We expect this number to surge as SNAP reductions take place. DONATE NOW Your donations are very important to help us meet the expected surge in demand. Click here to make a financial donation. Food donations are accepted 24×7 at our after-hours drop