J.M. Thompson Company, a contractor working on behalf of the Town of Wake Forest, has started work on Phase 1 of the Miller Park Upgrades & Stream Restoration Project. Located at 401 Elm Avenue in downtown Wake Forest, Miller Park is situated at the intersection of South Franklin Street, Elm Avenue, and South Taylor Street. The two-acre wooded park features a picnic area and paved trails that loop throughout the park. The Phase 1 improvements are designed to restore an unstable stream that flows through the park and renovate the park’s amenities and greenway system to enhance connectivity. For more details, including construction plans, visit the Town’s IDT website or https://bit.ly/MillerParkImprovements. The stream is now called Spring Branch, short for Kemp’s Spring Branch named for a large landowner in the area in the 1800s, and it eventually flows into Smith Creek.  This project is supported by a grant from US Treasury as part

The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has partnered with Historic Preservation Planning staff, GIS (Geographic Information System) staff, and the Wake Forest Historical Museum to launch the Wake Forest History Exchange – an interactive GIS-based program that allows community members to share information about Wake Forest’s history. The history exchange is available on the Town website at https://bit.ly/WFHistoryExchange. “There are many layers to the history of Wake Forest, some well-known some not so well-known,” says Senior Planner for Historic Preservation Michelle Michael. “The Historic Preservation Program created the history exchange map to provide the public an opportunity to celebrate and share Wake Forest’s special places, people, and traditions.” According to Michael, the History Exchange has four main goals: 1) Engage with the public about Wake Forest’s history; 2) Explore lesser-known and underrepresented histories in Wake Forest; 3) Educate the public, Town officials, and Town staff about Wake Forest’s unique history;

The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) will host “Coffee with a Cop” Monday, March 3, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Wake Forest Coffee Company, 156 S. White St. “Coffee with a Cop” provides a unique opportunity for law enforcement and community members to come together in an informal, neutral setting to discuss community issues and build relationships – one cup of coffee at a time. Most of the contact law enforcement officers have with the public tends to occur during emergencies or emotional situations, which are often not the best times to build relationships. “Coffee with a Cop” aims to breaks down barriers and allow for relaxed, one-on-one interaction. Several Wake Forest Police officers will be on hand. All community members are invited to attend, ask questions, and learn more about the WFPD. However, attendees are discouraged from making speeches or airing grievances. “Coffee with a Cop” is a national initiative supported by

The Town of Wake Forest is about to begin a major road rehabilitation and resurfacing project targeting over 60 local streets and roadways. Weather permitting, the 2025 Road Resurfacing Project will consist of concrete work starting in February and asphalt work starting in June. The initiative will involve full depth patching, roadway repairs, and repaving, along with the replacement and repair of curb and gutter. Several black ADA ramps will also be replaced with yellow mats per national standards. Beginning Monday, Feb. 17, and continuing weekdays from 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Fulford & Jones, a subcontractor of Blythe Construction working on behalf of the Town of Wake Forest, will begin concrete work along the following streets:   Flemming House Street  Affected residents will be notified of work in advance by door hangers. During the scheduled work dates, these residents will be prohibited from parking their vehicles along the street. Vehicles left on

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department is partnering with Play4Life Comics & Used Books to host a Comic Book & Toy Expo Saturday, March 22, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St.  Free and open to everyone, the expo will feature dedicated vendors of your favorite pop culture nostalgia selling vintage comics, rare action figures, and more.  For more information, email Community Center Supervisor Grayson Pridgen at 919-554-6726 or gpridgen@wakeforestnc.gov.  ###

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will partner with the Shepherd Center to offer the 2025 SPIRIT of Inclusion Expo on Sunday, March 23, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road. Free and open to everyone, the Spirit of Inclusion Expo is a one-day event designed to empower individuals with disabilities and connect them and their families to valuable resources and services. The expo will provide information, support, and opportunities to enhance the quality of life for attendees.  A diverse range of vendors, organizations, and experts are scheduled to participate, including (but not limited to) the Shepherd Center, NC Adapted Sports, Journey League, Special Olympics of NC, Triangle Disability & Autism Services, The Miracle League of the Triangle, Confidence, NC Spinal Cord Injury Association, and Triangle Special Hockey Association.  For more information, including the full list of participants, visit https://bit.ly/SPIRITExpo or email Specialized Recreation &

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St., will host the 2025 Wake Forest Film Festival on Saturday, March 1. Intended for filmmakers, film enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys a good story, the film showcase will engage audiences with films of all lengths and genres, including short and feature, documentary, sci-fi, music, family, and student (high school and college). The Renaissance Centre invited many of today’s most promising and accomplished local, national, and international filmmakers from our community and around the world to submit their original works and become a part of the 2025 film festival. Altogether, 106 films were submitted for consideration, while 14 vibrant and diverse works were selected to be featured during this year’s event. The complete schedule, including movie titles and times, is available on the Renaissance Centre website at http://bit.ly/WFFilmFestival. Tickets are $25 (plus tax) and can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/WFRenCenTix, in person at the

The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is coordinating a comprehensive lighting system upgrade at several Town facilities resulting in better lighting with less energy consumption at a lower cost.  A 2022 Wake Forest Bond Referendum initiative, the Relamp Project includes replacing metal halide light fixtures with more energy efficient and effective LED light fixtures at the following locations: *Flaherty Park pickleball/tennis courts, 1226 N. White St. *Flaherty Park fields 1, 2, and 3, 1100 N. White St. *Heritage High Park baseball/softball fields and tennis courts, 1150 Forestville Road.  The initiative also includes the installation of a new LED lighting system at Tyler Run Park, 830 Pineview Dr. The work has been completed at the Flaherty Park tennis/pickleball courts and baseball/softball fields, is underway at Tyler Run Park, and will begin later this year at the Heritage High Park baseball/softball fields and tennis courts.  The LED lights produce significantly greater

Tickets are on sale and going fast for two performances of TheaterWorks USA’s “Pete the Cat” on Saturday, April 26, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. The morning show begins at 11 a.m., while the afternoon show gets underway at 3 p.m. TheaterWorks USA has been delighting audiences young and old for nearly 60 years. In this New York City-based touring production, the groovy blue cat, Pete, meets The Biddles and has the whole family rocking, except for young Jimmy. Jimmy is the most organized second grader on planet earth. Before long Pete and Jimmy team up on an adventure of friendship that helps Jimmy conquer second grade art. Advance tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for ages 16 and under and can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/WFRenCenTix, in person at the WFRC Box Office, or by calling 919-435-9458. Recommended for Pre-K to third graders, this

The Town of Wake Forest and the Wake Forest Historical Museum are partnering to offer free Black History Month Walking Tours of the Northeast Community every Friday in February at 1 p.m. Pre-registration is required by completing the online sign-up form at https://bit.ly/BHMWalkingTours. Space is limited to the first 15 participants to sign up for each tour. Please note: The February 7 walking tour is full. Led by staff from Historic Preservation Planning and the Wake Forest Historical Museum, the tours will include Olive Branch Baptist Church, Alston-Massenburg Center, the newly restored Ailey Young House, the African American Cemetery, and more. Along the way, each group will discuss the developmental and architectural history of the area, along with the significant men and women who shaped the Northeast Community. Tours are outside only and will not include the inside of individual homes or buildings.  Each tour is approximately 90 minutes and will begin