The Wake Forest Area Chamber’s Senior Expo presented by Cadence Living will be held Saturday, September 9, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre. This FREE expo will connect seniors and their adult children with organizations and companies that can make their lives better. From healthcare, assisted and independent living, and financial planning, to mobility solutions, legal advice, home care and more, you’ll find valuable resources and information all in one place! In addition, we will have panel discussions with local experts around health, wellness, and financial management. ###

Please see the below available resources and upcoming workshops – share them within your networks – – Greetings Villagers! We have been actively engaged in finding additional opportunities for cooperative collaboration to better serve others. Listed below are community resources and workshops organized by the Village of C.A.R.E. Should you have any further inquiries, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Kindly spread the word within your network and encourage everyone to participate. Unpacking Causes of Death/Understanding Trauma-Facilitator, Dr. Rodney Harris, PhD Location: North Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Street, Wake Forest NC, 27587 Lunch and Learn: Understanding Trauma – August 18, 2023, from 12:00 pm-2:00 pm Location: North Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Street, Wake Forest NC, 27587 Below are community resources/information on mental health topics and YMHFA registration. Study shows benefits of creativity for youth mental health https://www.eventbrite.com/d/nc–raleigh/youth-mental-health-first-aid/ https://www.eventbrite.com/d/nc–raleigh/events–next-month/youth-mental-health-first-aid/?page=1 https://www.eventbrite.com/d/nc–wake-forest/kids-events/ https://www.faithconnectionsonmentalillness.org/support-groups.html If you’re interested in participating in workshops,

Vital Theatre will present two performances of the classic tale “The Wizard of Oz” Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. Show times are at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Don’t miss this incredible re-telling of an American classic that has been entertaining audiences for ages. Rediscover the joy of following the yellow brick road with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion, and even munchkin puppetry, as they travel through a re-imagined world of Oz. Suitable for children of all ages, this scaled-down version will last approximately one hour. Advance tickets are $20 plus tax for adults and $10 plus tax for ages 12 and younger. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://bit.ly/WFRenCenTix. To receive email notifications concerning special events and programs in Wake Forest, sign up for E-Notifier at https://bit.ly/WFEnotifier. ###

Spend a couple Sunday evenings in September with family and friends at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, while enjoying some foot-tapping, finger-snapping good times during the 2023 Concerts in the Park. “SNAP” will headline the first concert on Sunday, Sept. 3, followed by “The Soul Psychedlique Orchestra” on Sunday, Sept. 10. The Soul Psychedelique Orchestra has an extensive music library than spans style from the 1940’s Big Band sounds to Beach Music, R&B, to Rock, Reggae, Latin and the best of today’s music. Free and open to everyone, these performances are scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Joyner Park amphitheater. Attendees are invited to bring a picnic, leashed pets, a blanket, or lawn chair and enjoy the music. However, alcoholic beverages, smoking, and unleashed pets are prohibited at Joyner Park. As a bonus, on September 3 from 5-7 p.m., the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Advisory

The Human Relations Council is soliciting youth and adult nominations for the 14th Annual Good Neighbor of the Year Award. The award recognizes Wake Forest residents who work to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods without seeking recognition for their efforts. Nominees are sought in two divisions: adult (ages 19 and older) and youth (ages 10-18). To qualify, a nominee must be a Wake Forest resident who has made a significant contribution to the community between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023. Employees of the Town of Wake Forest are not eligible. The online nomination form is available at http://bit.ly/WFGoodNeighborAward. Completed nomination forms must be submitted by 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31. Nominations forms must include the names of both the nominator and the nominee, along with a narrative of 400 words or less describing why the nominee is deserving of the Good Neighbor of the Year

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

Good Neighbor Day, which the Town of Wake Forest has celebrated for 17 years, will be held at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. Hosted by the Human Relations Council, Good Neighbor Day is an annual celebration that brings together Wake Forest residents from all walks of life for an afternoon of free food, fun, and family entertainment. By bringing together a mix of cultures, music, ages and ethnicities, the event celebrates diversity and promotes goodwill among all Wake Forest citizens. The Wake Forest Lions Club will provide free vision screening for children. Volunteers are critical to the success of the event and needed at various times between noon and 5 p.m. Volunteer duties will be general in nature and may include setting up, cleaning up, answering questions, and assisting attendees. Local civic groups and community organizations are especially encouraged

The Wake Forest Optimist Club will present the third annual Kars for Kids Charity Car Show on Saturday, September 16, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Market of Wake Forest shopping center located at Business 98 and Capitol Boulevard. This is a fun family friendly event and admission is free to spectators. Cars displayed and judged must pay a $20 registration fee. Antique, Pony, Trucks, Muscle, Rods, and Custom cars and trucks will be on display. Everything from mild to wild – vintage to modern. The Grand Sponsor of Kars for Kids is Ted Wilder Agency State Farm Insurance. Mr. Wilder is also an avid antique car enthusiast and collector. Gold Sponsors are Zapolski Real Estate Property Management Company, Johnson Hyundai of Wake Forest, Charlie’s Kabobs, Wake Forest Dental Arts, Sam’s Xpress Car Wash, Carolina Comfort Air, McCorkle Sign & Awning, LPL Financial/Brooks Andrews, Wake Forest Chick-fil-A.

Based on the May, 2023 Monthly Development Report, WF Planning Updated July 5, 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