The Wake Forest Police Department is encouraging area residents, businesses, neighborhood groups, and homeowners’ associations to show their support for police-community crime prevention partnerships by participating in Wake Forest’s National Night Out on Monday, Oct. 2. The event will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road. NNO promises something for everyone, including a DJ, games, food, special prize drawings, and fire, police, and EMS vehicle displays, along with a variety of booths highlighting crime prevention and safety. Wake Forest Police officers will be on hand distributing information on topics such as vehicle security, home security, and personal safety. The police department will also offer a K-9 demonstration, D.A.R.E. presentation, and information on Neighborhood Watch, Special Olympics, and more. Although NNO is offered nationally on the first Tuesday in August, the Wake Forest Police Department schedules its event

Normalize AI is a unique event aimed at equipping businesses with the knowledge and tools to leverage AI for their advantage. The event will feature a keynote speech by the renowned Stefan Youngblood, followed by a panel discussion with four successful business owners who are already utilizing AI. The event is scheduled for October 5th, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Renaissance Center in Wake Forest. Attendees will not only enjoy a delicious breakfast, but will also have the opportunity to engage in insightful conversations with experts in the field. AI is transforming the way we do business, and this event will provide you with the necessary information to stay ahead of the curve. Don’t miss out on this cutting-edge event. Register now to secure your spot! Tickets are $55 for chamber members, $70 for nonmembers. To reserve your seat, call or email Julie Kruse-John at the chamber. ###

The Public Art Commission is promoting the October 7 Community Celebration of the Arts and raising awareness about Wake Forest’s amazing array of public art by hosting a “Public Art Selfie Contest.” Through Thursday, Oct. 5, Wake Forest residents and families are invited to take selfies in front of works of public art, then share their photos through the online form on the Town website at https://bit.ly/WFCelebrationoftheArts. Each week, we’ll post on the Town of Wake Forest Facebook page the pictures we’ve received that week and upload them to our online photo gallery. The submitted photos will also be included in a photo slideshow unveiled during the Community Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, Oct. 7. Everyone who enters the contest will be entered in a prize drawing for “Downtown Dollars” during the event.  Please note: You do not have to be present to win. To learn more about Wake Forest’s

The Town of Wake Forest and Wake Forest Power (WFP) are joining more than 2,000 not-for-profit utilities in celebrating Public Power Week October 1-7. As part of this annual week-long celebration, the Town and Wake Forest Power will offer the following free events and activities: Public Power Week Trivia ContestFrom now through Wednesday, Oct. 4, WFP residential customers can enter to win free electricity in October by visiting http://bit.ly/WFPublicPowerWeek and participating in the Public Power Week Trivia Contest. Everyone who answers all the questions correctly will be entered in the drawing for free electricity. Three winners will be announced during the afternoon Energy Expo on Thursday, Oct. 5. Savings for Seniors BingoWake Forest-area seniors are invited to enjoy a special morning of bingo on Monday, Oct. 2, from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Ground Floor Meeting Room of the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Highlighting a variety of energy-savings ideas,

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department and the Wake Forest Pickleball Club will host the Wake Forest Third Annual Fall Classic Pickleball Tournament Friday-Sunday, Oct. 6-8, at the Flaherty Park Tennis Complex, 1226 North White Street. The entry fee is $45 per player, plus $10 for each additional event. No registrations will be accepted on the day of the tournament. Complete tournament details, including registration information, are available at https://bit.ly/WFPickleball. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 27. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact Sandy Brasseale at 501-772-7439 or sandybpickleball@gmail.com. ###

The Town of Wake Forest and several community partners will host a Mental Wellness & Self Care Fair Saturday, Oct. 21, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. Free and open to the public, the event is designed to raise awareness about mental wellness and share information about programs, services, and resources available to loved ones who may be suffering from untreated or undertreated mental illness. Led by Commissioner Nick Sliwinski, the fair will feature presentations on a variety of topics by experts from several local mental health organizations. Several vendors will also be onsite from organizations, agencies, and non-profits that provide services in the areas of mental health, health care, social services, and more.  This event is open to all – whether you need help or want to know how to support those who do. Preregistration is encouraged – but not required –

The Public Art Commission is inviting residents to help shape the future of public art in Wake Forest by completing a brief survey. From now through October, residents can complete the survey by visiting Engage Wake Forest at https://engagewakeforest.org/ and clicking on “Wake Forest Public Art.” Designed to gauge community interest in public art, assess preferred types of art, and more, the questionnaire takes less than five minutes to complete. The insights and ideas of respondents will help shape the foundation for Wake Forest’s public art program and suggest recommendations for future initiatives. Community input will also help guide the work of the PAC and Town staff when planning and implementing future public art projects. Finally, the feedback will provide a framework for partnerships with other Town departments, artists, cultural organizations, and developers to help the PAC advance a compelling vision for public art. For more information, email Renaissance Centre Specialist Debra

Based on the June, 2023 Monthly Development Report, WF Planning Updated September 18, 2023 The updated Wake Forest population as of January 1, 2023 was 54,274. In 2021 the population was 50,244. The best current estimates are that between seven and eight people move to town each day. 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

Below is a list of groups – and if your group is not included and should be – please send a note with the information to cwpelosi@aol.com. If the information about your group is wrong or out of date, please send a note with the corrections to that same email address. Aren’t we lucky to have so many groups that benefit our town and its resident! Last updated on July 1, 2023. *American Legion Post 187 meets the second Thursday at 7 p.m. in the American Legion Hall at 225 East Holding Avenue. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. and costs $5. For information and membership, call Commander Doug Doster at 1-603-660-6948. *American Heritage Girls (AHG) meets at 6:30 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church on Rogers Road on the second and fourth Thursdays. Get in touch with Amy Minor at chrisnamy34@hotmail.com or see the website, www.hopelutheranwf.org. *The General James Moore