Area residents are invited to the official grand reopening of the Northern Wake Senior Center (NWSC) on Wednesday, June 14, at 10 a.m. Delayed for over three years – first by COVID, then by a fire – the reopening celebration will include a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, brief remarks by Mayor Vivian Jones and other Town officials, tours of the facility, class demonstrations, and light refreshments. In June 2018, construction on the new and improved 18,000-square-foot facility began. Located at 235 E. Holding Ave., the center reopened on February 3, 2020, only to close a few weeks later in response to the COVID pandemic. After reopening to the public in early 2022, the facility was forced to close again in July 2022 due to smoke and fire damage caused by a lightning strike. Although the building was closed during this period, classes and activities continued virtually and at various Town

The Wake Forest Fire Department is asking for the community’s help renovating and restoring a “Smoke Trailer” used to teach children important lessons about the dangers of fires, how to prevent them, and ways to escape a burning home. Donations of money, labor, and materials are needed to renovate and upfit the trailer, so it functions as a mobile classroom. Once the renovations are completed, the Smoke Trailer will be used at schools, camps, and community events to teach kids what to do if a fire breaks out at home. The unit will be specially equipped with appliances, smoke machines, and heaters that can create conditions mimicking the signs of danger. “Fire education and prevention are cornerstones of our operations,” said Firefighter First Class Glenn Ebron. “We’re excited to partner with our community to renovate the Smoke Trailer and make our mobile classroom a reality.” Online donations are accepted at

The Northeast Community Coalition is partnering with the Town of Wake Forest to host Wake Forest’s 2023 Juneteenth Celebration on Friday and Saturday, June 16 and 17. Free and open to the public, the two-day event will officially get underway with a “Community Gathering” Friday, June 16, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Taylor Street Park, 416 N. Taylor St. Offering food, fun, and fellowship, the occasion will allow attendees to interact with one another and experience the Taylor Street Park Sprayground. From there, attendees can proceed to the soon-to-open Wake Forest Food Hall, 303 E. Roosevelt Ave., to purchase dinner from various food trucks that will be onsite. The festivities resume Saturday, June 17, with a “Freedom Walk” that begins and ends at The Dubois Center, 518 N. Franklin St. Anyone wishing to participate is encouraged to assemble at 11 a.m. The Freedom Walk is scheduled to end at

The Growth Rate Based on the March 2023 Monthly Development Report, WF Planning Updated April 12, 2023 There were no changes between the February and March reports. There were no additions and no deletions. 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.