In the good news department, Wake Forest area folks donated enough turkeys and cash to allow the Wake Forest Police Department to give away 806 turkeys on Monday, Nov. 19 at the Wake Forest Community House.
In addition to the one turkey for each family, there were 370 bags of side dish items provided by Living World Family Church and a few thousand pounds of sweet potatoes provided by Wake Forest Presbyterian Church.
The 806 turkeys this year match or nearly match the 800-plus turkeys contributed last year. It brings the total through the years to over 7,000 turkeys.
Officer M. Sattler has been organizing this turkey drive since 2007. He and his fellow officers who helped deserve our thanks. You can reach him at 919-795-7270 or msattler@wakeforestnc.gov.
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Another bit of good news is that about 35 volunteers have signed up to plant 200 trees throughout the town, according to Luke Devores, the urban forestry coordinator. These people will be undertaking heavy tasks – digging holes, planting trees, spreading mulch and watering the trees.
“Hopefully all of those that help us will become tree stewards. We will schedule the introductory class when we get a group together before the spring,” Devore said. Two hundred new trees a year will help us keep the forest in Wake Forest.
Even if you cannot plant, you can become a tree steward, caring for those trees in future years. Ask Devores about the program at 9199-435-9565, ldevores@wakeforestnc.gov or go to www.wakeforestnc.gov/tree-steward-program.aspx.
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The Wake Forest Police Department’s annual Shop with a Cop event will be Tuesday, Dec. 18, when 30 area children will be matched with a police officer for a trip to the Wake Forest Walmart and given $175 to purchase presents for their families and themselves. Afterward they will be treated to a pizza party.
Lt. Brian Mote said this week that donations for the event are slowly arriving at the department.
To contribute online via PayPal, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/donate-to-shop-with-a-cop.aspx<http://www.wakeforestnc.gov/donate-to-shop-with-a-cop.aspx>. Checks and cash can be mailed or delivered to the Wake Forest Police Department at 225 South Taylor Street.
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The week before Thanksgiving the Town of Wake Forest closed three greenways – Smith Creek, Sanford Creek and Dunn Creek. Thanksgiving has come and gone, the high waters have receded, but some damage remains.
This week Environmental Engineer Holly E. Miller said, “The heavy rains prior to Thanksgiving caused flooding and erosion on a spur access trail at Foundation Drive to Smith Creek Greenway.
“The creek overtopped its banks and out into the floodplain where the trail spur is. This caused the trail to also overtop and undercut the downstream side of the trail’s stone and shoulder section.
“We are looking at a surge or class a or class b stone to handle the flow. The greenway spur runs perpendicular and crosses a City of Raleigh sewer easement, otherwise it would be a boardwalk.
“We are discussing temporary and permanent solutions this afternoon. We hope to have this spur back up and open to the public soon.”
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There is another project that has been sort of off the radar recently, the expansion and renovations to the Wake Forest Community Library. Fortunately, Mark Forestieri, director of Wake County Facilities Design & Construction, was able to give the Gazette an update.
“You may recall that when construction started I estimated that if all went well, we would open in October 2018.
“Well, unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, all has not gone well.
“Generally speaking, the contractor’s team has not performed in a timely manner. This has been compounded by the effects of Hurricanes Florence and Michael, and the scarcity of skilled labor which has caused some of the subcontractors to underman the job. This combination of factors has left us unacceptably far behind on this project.
“You asked when the library originally closed and it was September 10, 2017. With time needed after construction is finished for occupancy transition, we are now aiming to reopen the library by early February. Fortunately, I can say that the level of quality and design is consistent with the County’s high standards and this will be a nice project when complete.”
