The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will host its first-ever Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, March 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Presented by Bumgarner & Martin Orthodontics and Skylift Garage Doors, this free family event will offer a fresh approach to the traditional egg hunt. This year, instead of different age groups “scrambling” for eggs at assigned times, children and their families are invited to stroll along the “Bunny Trail” and collect their eggs any time between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The festivities will also feature DJ Royal pumping out fun tunes, a roaming magician, bubble artist, Easter-themed crafts, and – of course – a visit from the Easter Bunny. Registration is not required, but participants should come with baskets in hand ready to fill at designated stops along the Bunny Trail. The following local businesses

The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of conducting a study to evaluate the access and mobility along the South Main Street/US 1A corridor. Upon completion, the initiative will recommend ways to improve the safety, comfort, access, and multimodal mobility for everyone that uses the corridor, including drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Public input is a major component of the South Main Street Corridor Study. Area residents are invited to attend an open house Wednesday, March 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the front entrance of The Factory, 1839 S. Main St. During the open house, attendees will be presented with two high-level concepts for improving traffic and safety along the South Main Street/US 1A corridor. These concepts are designed to mitigate several of the traffic and safety concerns expressed by the public and transform the corridor into an attractive, green gateway into the heart of Wake Forest.

Wake Forest Power (WFP) recently implemented a new Outage Management System (OMS) that utilizes one phone number to make reporting power outages and other issues easier. The new OMS will also allow WFP to introduce an online outage map later this year. Featuring Interactive Voice Response (IVR), WFP’s new automated phone system allows customers to dial 919-435-9478 to report a power outage, make a payment, start/stop service, reconnect electric service, and report a street light outage. Previously, customers had to call a different number to report outages. WFP officials say having one number for customers to call 24 hours a day simplifies the outage reporting process and enhances the overall customer experience. Later this year, WFP will introduce an outage map on the Town of Wake Forest website (wakeforestnc.gov). The tool will assist in keeping WFP customers informed of outages and the status of those outages. It will also show

On Monday, Feb. 26, the Wake Forest Police Department received a report of a bear sighting in E. Carroll Joyner Park at 701 Harris Road. Although no one captured a photo or video, the bear was described as a cub which means its mother was likely nearby. According to the NC Wildlife Commission, bears tend to be shy and non-aggressive toward humans. However, a bear will be defensive when protecting their young or a food source or if they are startled. Although bears tend to avoid confrontations with humans in most cases, here are additional steps you can take to avoid problems with them: Finally, though it may be “easier said than done,” if you see a bear, stay calm. They are usually wary of people – unless humans feed or provoke them. Never approach, surround, or corner a bear. If it changes its natural behavior because of your presence,

The Wake Forest Human Relations Council will host the 2024 Minority & Women-Owned Business Expo Saturday, March 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road. The event is free and open to everyone. Over 20 area minority and women-owned businesses are expected to participate in the expo designed to increase recognition and opportunities for minority and women business owners in our community. Local businesses already scheduled to participate include Aging Care Matters, Ataraxis Travel, Body20, Cryo Wake Forest Recovery & Wellness Spa, Kwench Juice Café, Remarkable Reflexology LLC, and Well Kept Brands. To view a complete list of participating businesses, visit https://bit.ly/WFMinorityWomenOwnedBusinessExpo.  According to a 2023 report, of all US businesses, only 2% are Black-owned, just 6% are Hispanic-owned, and only 5% are women-owned. The 2024 Minority & Women-Owned Business Expo will bring enterprising professionals together from the Wake Forest community to network and showcase their