The Town of Wake Forest began the process of updating its UDO (Unified Development Ordinance) in the summer of 2022. Now, after more than two years of soliciting community input, the Town has prepared a draft UDO available for review and comment at https://engagewakeforest.org/udo-update. Public hearings on the draft UDO are scheduled for the Board of Commissioners meetings on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and Tuesday, Dec. 17. The meetings will begin at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall Board Chambers. Anyone wishing to speak during either of these meetings must complete and submit the “Board of Commissioners – Sign Up to Speak Form” available at www.wakeforestnc.gov/public-meetings-portal by 3 p.m. on the day of the respective meeting. First adopted in 2013, along with the Manual of Specifications, Standards and Design (MSSD), the Wake Forest UDO combines into a single document the Town’s zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, stormwater management, and historic preservation regulations. The UDO

The holiday season is upon us, and the NCFST Mobile Market will be here to make holiday meal shopping easier on Thursday, Nov. 14, and Monday, Nov. 25. You read that right! The second November visit is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 25. The Northern Community Food Security Team (NCFST) and Ripe for Revival typically park the mobile grocery store along South Brooks Street (across from the Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave.) on the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 3-5 p.m. – rain or shine. This month, since Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday, the mobile market’s second visit will occur on Monday, Nov. 25. Open to everyone, the NCFST Mobile Market is a pay-what-you-can mobile grocery store that makes fresh and local produce, proteins, dairy, eggs, and other food products accessible and affordable to all, regardless of their budget. When shopping, there are limits on

The Town of Wake Forest will host a free Paper Shredding Event on Monday, Nov. 18, from noon-4 p.m. (or until the two paper shredding trucks are full) in the accessible parking lot of E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Sponsored by Skylift Garage Doors, the event will offer community members the opportunity to protect themselves from identity theft and dispose of confidential documents in an environmentally responsible manner. A drive-thru system using the main entrance and exit to Joyner Park will be used to help ensure a smooth drop-off experience. Anyone wishing to visit the park during the event should utilize the Joyner Park Community Center entrance located west of the main entrance. There is a limit of four “banker-box” sized boxes or four large bags of paper per household or business and a limit of one trip per household. All paper will be shredded on-site, then recycled.

Pictures with Santa will be offered in downtown Wake Forest during the following community events this holiday season: *** Wake Forest Cares Holiday Kick-off on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 12:30-4 p.m. at The Makery, 317 E. Roosevelt Ave., courtesy of Birkner Insurance. *** Downtown Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Makery. A limited number of slots are available on each occasion, so guests planning to have a photo taken with Santa Claus must register in advance at https://bit.ly/WFSantaPics beginning Friday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m. Please note: Pictures with Santa will not be offered as part of the Lighting of Wake Forest. Designed to reduce wait times, each reservation will indicate the time guests should arrive at the line-up to have their photo taken with St. Nick. Pictures taken during the WF Cares Holiday Kick-off can be viewed and downloaded from the Town website after

The Friends of the Northern Wake Senior Center will host the 2024 Jingle Bell Walk on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave. Registration and check-in on the day of the event starts at 9:15 a.m., and the walk begins at 10:05 a.m. Online registration is available at https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/northern-wake-senior-center, and the entry fee is $20 per person. Children ages 10 and under are free. Everyone who registers will receive a Kazoo and an invitation to play with the Kazoo Band during the Jingle Bell Walk. Funds raised through the entry fee will be used to support Northern Wake Senior Center programs and initiatives. Open to community members of all ages and abilities, the Jingle Bell Walk is an easy, 1.3 mile walk through Downtown Wake Forest. Children, parents, grandparents, and well-behaved dogs are invited to participate wearing their most colorful and fun holiday attire. Following