Monthly Inspections Report: February

The Wake Forest Inspections Department issues a monthly report about all new building permits and new businesses. In February there were 57 permits issued for new single-family dwellings, 36 permits for townhouses and 26 permits for multi-family dwellings. There were no new commercial buildings approved . There were no fit-ups approved. There were four pre-occupancy inspections: Proforce Pest Control Raleigh LLC at Merritt Capital Drove, Suite 102 Mattress Now at 12267 Capital Boulevard Revolution Hearing at 2006 South Main Street, Suite 202 Big Blue Marble Academy at 1941 Heritage Branch Road Monarch Mental Health Counseling at 1780 Heritage Center Drive, Suite 204 ###

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The Growth Rate

Based on the February 2024 Monthly Development Report, WF Planning Updated April 10, 2024 The updated Wake Forest population as of July 1, 2023 was 56,681. That figure included the new homes which were approved for occupancy. When all the current approved apartments, townhouses and single-family homes are built the population will rise to 69,956. 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 There were only three changes between the January and February list of plans under review. No. 13, Traditions Grande Care Facility, a 119-bed nursing home nearing or completely built, was replaced by Friendship Chapel Road Spring Branch Crossing, a town infrastructure project for the bridge

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Clubs and organizations

The Wake Forest Gazette has been a reliable source ofinformation about the town of Wake Forest since 2003. The free online weeklynewspaper is always available at www.wakeforestgazette.com. The Gazette is the only Wake Forest newspaper consistentlyoffering news about the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners and Planning Board,events in town, calendar, obituaries and a list of community organizations andmeeting times. There are also articles about town history, opinion from readersand once in a while we even print recipes. The Gazette currently has 1,550-plus subscribers and 1,500people who read it without subscribing, reaching a substantial number of arearesidents. The advertising rate for the Gazette is $100 per month. There are nocharges for obituaries or any news. If you want to advertise, please email orcall the editor, Carol W. Pelosi, at cwpelosi@aol.comor 919-556-3409. #  

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Advertise in the Gazette

The Wake Forest Gazette has been a reliable source of information about the town of Wake Forest since 2003. The free online weekly newspaper is always available at www.wakeforestgazette.com. The Gazette is the only Wake Forest newspaper consistently offering news about the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners and Planning Board, events in town, calendar, obituaries and a list of community organizations and meeting times. There are also articles about town history, opinion from readers and once in a while we even print recipes. The Gazette currently has 1,550-plus subscribers and 1,500 people who read it without subscribing, reaching a substantial number of area residents. The advertising rate for the Gazette is $100 per month. There are no charges for obituaries or any news. If you want to advertise, please email or call the editor, Carol W. Pelosi, at cwpelosi@aol.com or 919-556-3409. # The Wake Forest Gazette has been a reliable

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Obituaries

ThomasDavie ‘Tommy’ Dean Youngsville Thomas Davie “Tommy” Dean, age 81, wasborn on October 30th, 1942 in Wake County North Carolina. He passed awaypeacefully on April 28th, 2024, to be with his Lord and Savior. Tommy grew upin Samaria in Nash County and has lived in Youngsville for the last 33 yearswith his loving wife Kay. He was preceded in death by his parents,Herbert Thomas Dean and Annie Pearl Richardson. And one special aunt ElgieMorgan. Tommy is survived by his dedicated andloving wife Kay Rogers Dean, daughter, Dawn Yates (Matt), stepdaughters, KristaJohnson and Missy Dodrill (Dan), grandchildren, Jacob and Caroline Yates, andstep grandchildren, Cody Johnson, Jared and Sarah Dodrill, sister, Sue Sledge(George) and many nieces and nephews. He was a 3-Medal decorated VietnamVeteran and a member of the American Legion Post 105- Louisburg,NC. Retired long distance truck driver. His truck driving career allowedhim to travel the U.S. which he enjoyed. He took

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‘Save the Forest’ petition surpasses 5,000 signatures

By Joyner-Harris Forest Conservation  A Change.org petition spearheaded by long-time Wake Forest resident Angela DiPaolo, pleading with stakeholders to preserve the 68-acre forested parcel located on Harris Road directly across from Joyner Park, has surpassed 5,000 signatures. DiPaolo created the petition in August 2022 after learning the parcel was under contract with a Raleigh-based developer, Church St. Company, who planned to clear most of the land for single-family homes and townhomes. Given its proximity to Joyner Park and high value for education and conservation, DiPaolo felt it was necessary to inform residents of the upcoming rezoning hearing.  The property extends along Harris Road for about 3,000 feet, from the Harris Point Way neighborhood northwest up to Wallridge Drive near the shopping center entrance. From the street view, the site’s southern edge looks like a rather ordinary mix of young pine forest toward the center and older mixed hardwood and pine

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Town builds its first water/sewer systems

100 years of history By Carol W. Pelosi In 1920, with the Great War won and the Spanish Flu becoming history, Wake Forest began a number of improvements. The town’s voters had approved $100,000 of bonds for a water system in December of 1919, and in 1920 that bond was increased to $125,000, with $105,000 for water and $20,000 for a sewer system. The town requested and was granted approval from the state to release the collected — and untreated — sewage into the Neuse River. The letter from the state remains in the minute book for that year. Water had to be treated, at that time mostly filtered and chlorinated, which meant a treatment plant. For $2,500, the town bought land across from the electric plant on East Elm Avenue from W.W. Holding and built a treatment plant there. (It has been renovated and now is a dentist’s office,

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Bits and pieces

Wake Forest Garden Club President Karen Diebolt has confirmed that WRAL-TV’s Scott Mason and the Tar Heel Traveler has recorded a segment about Wake Forest, the Garden Club and maybe the Wake Forest Historical Museum that will air on Thursday, April 25, at 5:55 p.m., at the end of the 5:30 news with this caveat: “will likely air.” ## The NECC Leadership Team is sponsoring the third annual Community Kickback from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at 154 North Allen Road at the DuBois basketball courts. “Come out and play all day,” they say. There will be games, food, music and more. ### If you thought the Wake Forest tap water tasted funny or funky or downright bad recently, you were right, and it is all because of a change in the algae in Falls Lake. It will soon be corrected, maybe as soon as this

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At 30, Six Sundays still can draw a crowd

You’re invited to help celebrate three decades of foot-tapping, finger-snapping good times during the 30th anniversary of Six Sundays in Spring. Sponsored by the Town of Wake Forest and ARTS Wake Forest, the free outdoor concert series will be offered from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on consecutive Sundays from April 28 through June 2 at the Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road. From big band and R&B to beach and jazz, there’s something for all music lovers at this year’s Six Sundays in Spring. Beatles tribute band, Beatlesque, will kick off this year’s performances this Sunday, April 28, followed by Eduardo and the Paco Band on May 5, Soul Pyschedelique Orchestra on May 12, Marcus Anderson on May 19, The Magnificents on May 26, and Sensory Expressions Band on June 2. A variety of food and dessert trucks will be on site for each concert. Concert goers are also invited to bring

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100-year-old tree wins Tree of the Year title

A Japanese weeping cherry tree situated along West Sycamore Avenue is the 2024 Wake Forest Tree of the Year. Thought to be nearly 100 years old, the tree was the narrow winner in this ar’s voting. Of the 454 votes cast, the weeping cherry received 120 votes, followed by a Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary magnolia tree with 109 votes, and a Wingate Street flowering cherry tree with 106 votes. As the person who submitted this year’s winner, Anthony Graber will receive a certificate crowning his tree as the 2024 Wake Forest Tree of the Year. The Town of Wake Forest wishes to thank everyone who submitted a tree for consideration and voted in this year’s contest. The Urban Forestry Division plans to offer the competition again next year. To view the photo gallery of 2024 Tree of the Year submissions, visit http://bit.ly/WFTreeofYear. For more information, email Urban Forestry Program Manager Luke

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