For the 33rd straight year, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Town of Wake Forest for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. This year’s award is for the period ended June 30, 2022. To view the 2022 report, visit wakeforestnc.gov and search “Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.” The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 21,000 government finance professionals. Its Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by the Town and its management. An Award of Financial Reporting Achievement was awarded to Finance Director Samantha Sanchez whose staff was responsible for preparing the award-winning report. The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report is one of several the Town produces to promote accountability. It provides the mayor, board of commissioners,

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will begin accepting 2024 facility rental reservations online Monday, Aug. 7, according to the following rental procedure: 1. Call the facility you wish to rent to confirm availability. 2. Following confirmation, complete the online rental agreement at www.cognitoforms.com/TownOfWakeForestNC1/FacilityRentalAgreement; 3. Once the agreement has been submitted, reviewed, and accepted, you will receive confirmation via email or telephone, followed by an invoice for the rental deposit or full rental fee. 4. Pay rental deposit or full fee via RecDesk. If you do not already have a RecDesk account, set up an account at https://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/Community/Home; Please Note: Submitting a rental request does not guarantee approval or reserve a date. All requests are considered “tentative” until the entire process has been completed, including payment of the rental deposit or full rental fee. You may also call to check availability and schedule an in-person meeting

The Wake Forest Area Chamber’s Senior Expo presented by Cadence Living will be held Saturday, September 9, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre. This FREE expo will connect seniors and their adult children with organizations and companies that can make their lives better. From healthcare, assisted and independent living, and financial planning, to mobility solutions, legal advice, home care and more, you’ll find valuable resources and information all in one place! In addition, we will have panel discussions with local experts around health, wellness, and financial management. ###

Please see the below available resources and upcoming workshops – share them within your networks – – Greetings Villagers! We have been actively engaged in finding additional opportunities for cooperative collaboration to better serve others. Listed below are community resources and workshops organized by the Village of C.A.R.E. Should you have any further inquiries, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Kindly spread the word within your network and encourage everyone to participate. Unpacking Causes of Death/Understanding Trauma-Facilitator, Dr. Rodney Harris, PhD Location: North Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Street, Wake Forest NC, 27587 Lunch and Learn: Understanding Trauma – August 18, 2023, from 12:00 pm-2:00 pm Location: North Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Street, Wake Forest NC, 27587 Below are community resources/information on mental health topics and YMHFA registration. Study shows benefits of creativity for youth mental health https://www.eventbrite.com/d/nc–raleigh/youth-mental-health-first-aid/ https://www.eventbrite.com/d/nc–raleigh/events–next-month/youth-mental-health-first-aid/?page=1 https://www.eventbrite.com/d/nc–wake-forest/kids-events/ https://www.faithconnectionsonmentalillness.org/support-groups.html If you’re interested in participating in workshops,

Vital Theatre will present two performances of the classic tale “The Wizard of Oz” Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. Show times are at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Don’t miss this incredible re-telling of an American classic that has been entertaining audiences for ages. Rediscover the joy of following the yellow brick road with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, and even munchkin puppetry, as they travel through a re-imagined world of Oz. Suitable for children of all ages, this scaled-down version will last approximately one hour. Advance tickets are $20 plus tax for adults and $10 plus tax for ages 12 and younger. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/WFRenCenTix. To receive email notifications concerning special events and programs in Wake Forest, sign up for E-Notifier at https://bit.ly/WFEnotifier. ###

Spend a couple Sunday evenings in September with family and friends at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, while enjoying some foot-tapping, finger-snapping good times during the 2023 Concerts in the Park. “SNAP” will headline the first concert on Sunday, Sept. 3, followed by “The Soul Psychedlique Orchestra” on Sunday, Sept. 10. The Soul Psychedelique Orchestra has an extensive music library than spans style from the 1940’s Big Band sounds to Beach Music, R&B, to Rock, Reggae, Latin and the best of today’s music. Free and open to everyone, these performances are scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Joyner Park amphitheater. Attendees are invited to bring a picnic, leashed pets, a blanket, or lawn chair and enjoy the music. However, alcoholic beverages, smoking, and unleashed pets are prohibited at Joyner Park. As a bonus, on September 3 from 5-7 p.m., the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory

The Human Relations Council is soliciting youth and adult nominations for the 14th Annual Good Neighbor of the Year Award. The award recognizes Wake Forest residents who work to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods without seeking recognition for their efforts. Nominees are sought in two divisions: adult (ages 19 and older) and youth (ages 10-18). To qualify, a nominee must be a Wake Forest resident who has made a significant contribution to the community between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023. Employees of the Town of Wake Forest are not eligible. The online nomination form is available at http://bit.ly/WFGoodNeighborAward. Completed nomination forms must be submitted by 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31. Nominations forms must include the names of both the nominator and the nominee, along with a narrative of 400 words or less describing why the nominee is deserving of the Good Neighbor of the Year

Good Neighbor Day, which the Town of Wake Forest has celebrated for 17 years, will be held at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. Hosted by the Human Relations Council, Good Neighbor Day is an annual celebration that brings together Wake Forest residents from all walks of life for an afternoon of free food, fun, and family entertainment. By bringing together a mix of cultures, music, ages and ethnicities, the event celebrates diversity and promotes goodwill among all Wake Forest citizens. Volunteers are critical to the success of the event and needed at various times between noon and 5 p.m. Volunteer duties will be general in nature and may include setting up, cleaning up, answering questions, and assisting attendees. Local civic groups and community organizations are especially encouraged to participate, along with local students interested in earning community service hours.

The Hope House Back to School event will be held Saturday, August 12, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 334 North Allen Road. Along with the Bookbag and School Supplies Giveaway, there will be a food giveaway, vision screening for children and adults and a giveaway of adult readers glasses and sunglasses. ###

The Wake Forest Optimist Club will present the third annual Kars for Kids Charity Car Show on Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Market of Wake Forest shopping center located at Business 98 and Capitol Boulevard. This is a fun family friendly event and admission is free to spectators. Cars displayed and judged must pay a $20 registration fee. Antique, Pony, Trucks, Muscle, Rods, and Custom cars and trucks will be on display. Everything from mild to wild – vintage to modern. The Grand Sponsor of Kars for Kids is Ted Wilder Agency State Farm Insurance. Mr. Wilder is also an avid antique car enthusiast and collector. Gold Sponsors are Zapolski Real Estate Property Management Company, Johnson Hyundai of Wake Forest, Charlie’s Kabobs, Wake Forest Dental Arts, Sam’s Xpress Car Wash, Carolina Comfort Air, McCorkle Sign & Awning, LPL Financial/Brooks Andrews, Wake Forest Chick-fil-A.