100 years of history At first it was just Wake Forest College, with students and professors, professors’ families and slaves, living and studying in the former home of Dr. Calvin Jones and spreading out to the outbuildings and even a tent that served as a dining room. The town, with stores and substantial homes, was at Forestville, a mile down a dusty road. After 1840, Forestville also had the train station and post office. The town of Wake Forest only really began in 1839 when the college offered 80 one-acre lots for sale at $100 each except for those on the west side of North Main Street, which were $150. The lots sold slowly, mostly to professors, and by the end of the Civil War there were only 15 homes, one hotel and one store. The college sorely felt the lack of a railroad station for its students and had

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will host the 2025 Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Presented by Bumgarner & Martin Orthodontics and Skylift Garage Doors, this free family event offers a fresh approach to the traditional egg hunt. 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 a.m. and 1 p.m. The festivities will also feature a DJ 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. In addition, an Egg-ceptional Zone will cater

The Wake Forest Police Department) is inviting residents to “Cover the Cruiser” March 14 and 15 to raise money for Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC). Weather permitting, on Friday, March 14, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Wake Forest Police officers will be at the Wake Forest Sam’s Club, 11460 Royall Cotton Road, selling “Cover the Cruiser” stickers for $5 each. Anyone who purchases one or more stickers can write their name on the sticker(s), with the goal of completely covering a WFPD “cruiser.” “We’re proud to help Special Olympics NC, and every dollar counts,” said Sgt. J. McArthur. “We’re hoping to see one of our cruisers covered in stickers with people’s names on them to show our community’s support for Special Olympics.” As part of the WFPD’s efforts, officers will also be selling 2025 Special Olympics NC Torch Run T-shirts for $25. Cash,

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 &