The Town of Wake Forest is in the process of developing a conceptual site plan for a new park in the Northeast Community anchored by the Ailey Young House, 400 N. White St. Community input is the cornerstone of the effort to produce a concept plan that respects the unique history of the site, celebrates the rich history of the Northeast Community, and provides park space for the community. On October 24, Wake Forest hosted a public meeting (drop-in style open house) at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St., and invited attendees to share their thoughts and opinions on park priorities, opportunities, and challenges.  Now the Town is asking residents to complete a short survey about the project. Available at https://engagewakeforest.org/ailey-young-house-heritage-site-northeast-gateway-park, the survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and is open to everyone, including those who attended the October 24 open house. The survey will be open until

Happy reading! Please join us in November for some wonderful activities at the Wake Forest Library.  Remember, we have a calendar full of free virtual events: bit.ly/virtualWCPL Fall in Love with Words: Open Mic Night! Wednesday, Nov 6 @ 6:30 pm Calling all local writers! Share your creativity – you will have up to five minutes to showcase your work. Social Media for Non-Profits presented by Wake Tech Small Business Center Wednesday, Nov 13 @ 6:30 pm Learn the best ways to promote your non-profit or religious institution through social media. Sign up bit.ly/wakebiz Tuesday Night Teen Takeover! for grades 6-12 Tuesday, November 19 @ 6:30 pm Gather with other teens and learn how to use skill toys to have fun and develop focus. Wake Forest Library Stitchers 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 12:00 to 3:00 pm Bring your latest project and connect with fellow makers who share your passion for all things handmade. All stitchers

Currently the Town of Wake Forest assesses developers two impact fees, one for parks and recreation which has just been updated and increased and one for fire station construction. Now the commissioners and town officials will have to determine if they want to have developers help pay for the new roads and streets that future growth and development will bring. The consulting firm Benesch has just concluded a Multimodal Transportation Impact Fee Study including the possible fees developers could pay for single-family and multi-family development as well as commercial and industrial growth. The report suggests a transportation fee of $4,431 per house for single-family developments and $6,748 for multifamily units and fees ranging from $4,431 to $14,085 for commercial and industrial developments. Benesch’s draft report is available for review and comment at https://engagewakeforest.org/multi-modal-transportation-impact-fee. The Benesch staff provided a full briefing to the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 6

The Wake Forest Police Department is accepting monetary donations through Saturday, Nov. 23, as part of its 18th Annual Turkey Drive. Area residents can support this worthy cause by submitting online donations at http://bit.ly/WFPDTurkeyDrive.  Cash and checks written to the Wake Forest Police Department are also accepted. Anyone wishing to contribute cash or check to this year’s Turkey Drive should contact Officer K. Abshire at kabshire@wakeforestnc.gov. All monetary donations will be used to purchase additional turkeys.  On Saturday, Nov. 23, the Police Department will accept monetary donations and donations of frozen turkeys at the WFPD Substation, 225 S. Taylor St., from 9 a.m. until noon. Police officers and staff will then distribute the turkeys while they last on Monday, Nov. 25, from 8-11 a.m., at the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry, 149 E. Holding Ave.  ###

The Wake Forest Woman’s Club is sponsoring its 4th Scholarship Poinsettia Fundraiser during the month of October. Proceeds will support a Continuing Education Scholarship awarded to a graduating Wake Forest area student. The beautiful red poinsettias with green foil container covers are locally grown by Homewood Nursery and will be available for pickup in Wake Forest on Tuesday, December 3, 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Wake Forest Baptist Church Sanctuary parking lot, 107 E. South Avenue, Wake Forest. Only preordered plants will be available at pickup. No sales that day. The plants are 6 1/2″ pots, 16-20″ tall, with six to eight blooms per plant and are offered for sale at $20.00 each. To order and pay for your plant, please visit www.wake-forest-womans-club.com The Wake Forest Woman’s Club works to strengthen the community and enhance the lives of others through volunteer service. ###

Join us for the 19th Annual Jim Allen Group Gobbler’s Run 5K! Where else can you run with 2,000 of your closest friends, exercise before the biggest meal of the year AND help 1,000 kids at the same time? This family-friendly Thanksgiving Day event is a great way to support the community. The Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club receives 100% of the proceeds. Over the years, Gobbler’s Run has donated more than $850,000! The 3.1-mile loop is an easy stroll through downtown and historic Wake Forest. Push your kids or bring your dog – strollers and pets are welcome. Registration is easy. Kids 5 & under are free! You’ll get a race T-shirt and be able to eat more turkey without the guilt! To register, or for more info, visit www.gobblersrun.com. See you on Turkey Day! Some information about the club, which is on South Wingate Street behind Wake

After over 30 years, management of the Wake Forest Historic Home Tour is transitioning from the Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) back to the Wake Forest Woman’s Club. The Woman’s Club introduced the Historic Home Tour in the 1980s and later partnered with the HPC to co-host the event. In the decades that followed, the holiday tour has become a beloved community event offered every other year. All was well until 2020 when the tour was canceled due to COVID. According to Senior Planner for Historic Preservation Michelle Michael, the pandemic ushered in a new era for the event marked by a drastic decline in the number of property owners willing to showcase their homes. “COVID changed the way the community interacts in many ways but especially when it comes to people opening their private homes to the public,” said Michael. “People simply aren’t as open to inviting 2,000

The Wake Forest Inspections Department issues a monthly report about all new building permits and new businesses. The department issued permits for 69 single-family houses, 16 townhouses, no multi-family dwellings, and one swimming pool. There was one new commercial building, 4 Rivers Wake Forest Self Storage at 1950 Friendship Chapel Road. There were four fit-up inspections and 11 pre-occupancy inspections. Fit-ups: Carolina Restaurant at 535 S. White St., Suite 120 Ll’ Hombre Restaurant at 535 S. White St., Suite 125 Cook Out Restaurant at 11690 Northpark Drive Sable Fermentation at 745 Merritt Capital Drive, Suite 122 Preoccupancy: Papa Murphy’s (change of owner) at 11721 Retail Drive, Suite 105 El Patron Barbershop Bar Inc at 12520 Capital Boulevard, Suite 501 Wellons Inc. at 12339 Wake Union Church Road, Suite 104 Home Staging To Sell LLC at 5205 Unicon Drive Suite J A Place to Copy at 10501 Ligon Mill Road, Suite

Based on the October 2024 Monthly Development Report, WF Planning Updated November 12, 2024  The town keeps a running tally of approved projects with counts of those completed. The best inspections current estimate is that between seven and eight people move to town each day, moving into newly-built houses, townhouses or apartments and a few existing houses that were for sale. Projects under review 1. 418 Jones Dairy Road SP-23-11 is a request by David Williams Sr. to rezone 5.61 acres on the south side of Jones Dairy Road from RH rural holding and LI light industrial to NB-CD conditional neighborhood business to allow construction of two 24,502 square foot buildings side by side, one restaurant and one an office. The plans call for space for a public art statue and seven handicapped parking spaces. The Town Board voted unanimously to approve at their October 15, 2024 meeting. 2. Hawthorne