White Street downtown was a busy place

100 Years of History By Carol Pelosi In the decade between 1910 and 1920, the businesses along South White Street provided goods and services for the 300 to 400 college students and 20 or so professors, for the 1,443 residents of the town and for the numerous farmers of the area. The town fathers worried about parking space for all the horse and mule teams when the farmers came to town to shop on Saturday. Cotton was the biggest cash crop. Its importance had grown since 1869 when Peterson Dunn was presented a silver cup for shipping the county’s first bale of cotton. The Dunn family had been in the area since 1781 when John Dunn moved from Virginia and bought land in what is now Franklin County. His son, Bolling, bought an original land grant just north of the Neuse River from Francis Perry – land where Riverplace, once

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Students, parents invited to STEM Saturday

The Wake Forest Technology Advisory Board is inviting area elementary, middle, and high school students and their families to the 2024 Wake Forest STEM Saturday on Saturday, April 27. Presented by the Wireless Research Center, this free family networking event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road. Celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, STEM Saturday will expose students in grades K-12 to a variety of STEM career options, while featuring STEM-related exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on learning activities. STEM Saturday will also include several interactive booths where representatives from a variety of local businesses, schools, and organizations will engage with parents and students, share professional insights and experiences, and offer an array of interesting demonstrations. Throughout STEM Saturday, youth can experience the wonders of STEM hands-on, ask questions, and be inspired to pursue a degree or occupation in a related field. A special thanks

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Planning board recommends mixed-use building

Tuesday night the Wake Forest Planning Board recommended the Wake Forest Town Board approve a conditional rezoning for 3.93 acres on North White Street owned by Thales Academy from neighborhood business to Neighborhood Mixed-Use Conditional Use. Member Michael Almquist pointed out one problem. While Wake Forest Power plans to have most if not all power lines underground in the near future, the northern end of North White Street is served by Wake Electric, and there is a transmission line and a feeder line on or near the project. Wake Electric has said it would take their crews a year to bury the lines. Almquist also asked Senior Planner Tim Richards about affordable apartments in the planned four-story building without a real answer. Member Matt Davis asked about a traffic signal at the Royall Mill Avenue and North White Street intersection, and Member Adam Redlar questioned the number of parking spaces

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Magic Pipers start 2024 FNOW April 12

The Magic Pipers will kick off the 2024 Friday Night on White concert series on Friday, April 12. The free outdoor concert will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. along South White Street in historic downtown Wake Forest. Food & Refreshments Food and refreshments will be available for purchase at several downtown restaurants. A variety of food and dessert trucks will also be on site in the Depot Parking Lot, 110 S. White St., and along East Owen Avenue. Food and dessert trucks scheduled to participate on April 12 include Chirba Chirba Dumpling, The Naked Empanada, VFW Chuck Wagon, Cousins Maine Lobster, Virgil’s Jamaica, Charlie’s Kabob Grill on Wheels, Mama Churros, La Katrina Tacos, Kono Pizza, Not Just a Fry Guy, Crumbstruction, Lumpy’s Ice Cream and Kona Ice. Menus for these food trucks are provided on the Town website at  https://bit.ly/FNOWFoodTrucks and as a function of the Town app (see Friday Night on White,

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Vote now for Wake Forest Tree of the Year

Voting is now open for the 2024 Wake Forest Tree of the Year. From now through 5 p.m. Friday, April 19, residents can visit http://bit.ly/WFTreeofYear and vote for their favorite tree. Five local trees were selected as finalists for this year’s award. The tree that receives the most votes before the 5 p.m. April 19 deadline will be announced as the winner.  The submitter of the winning tree will be awarded with a certificate crowning their tree as the 2024 Wake Forest Tree of the Year. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/WFTreeofYear or email Urban Forestry Program Manager Luke Devores at ldevores@wakeforestnc.gov. ###

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50-mile walking challenge now open

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will commemorate “National Physical Fitness Month” in May by offering a 50-Mile Walking Challenge for area residents ages 11 and older. Residents who accept the walking challenge commit to walk at least 50 miles in May and use a tracking card to record their progress. Walking locations may include neighborhoods, schools, churches, parks, and greenways – just to name a few. There is no cost to participate, and online registration is open through Friday, April 26, at https://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/Community/Home (search “Walking Challenge”). Tracking cards will be emailed to all registered participants and available for pickup at Joyner Park Community Center (JPCC), 701 Harris Road. The first 100 participants to complete at least 50 miles and return their completed tracking cards to JPCC by Monday, June 3, will receive a 50-Mile Walking Challenge T-shirt. For more information about the 50-Mile Walking Challenge and the May

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44th Trentini Dinner on April 18 at the RenCen

The 44th annual Trentini Dinner will be held in the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre Thursday, April 18, and will celebrate seven Wake Forest High School students who are examples of the qualities Coach Anthony Trentini instilled and expected from his students and players. Those students are Alexander Schnegelberger, Alexandria Vasquez, Jilian Weidner, Lily Hare, Niah Smith and Roderick Alston. This year’s Trentini Community College Scholarship winner is Dylan Medlin.  The $20 tickets are available by going to www.trentinifoundation.org or mailing a request to Trentini Foundation, PO Box 806, Wake Forest, NC 27587. Please also enclose a deductible donation. Those donations are crucial to the Trentini Foundation’s success and its ability to provide scholarships to our graduating seniors. At the first dinner in 1981, the selected student received a $500 scholarship; now the winner receives a $30,000 scholarship and the other finalists receive $1,000 each. Another student receives a $1,000 scholarship

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Lilly Hare receives Woman’s Club scholarship

The Wake Forest Woman’s Club is pleased to recognize Lilly Hare as the winner of their 2024 Continuing education Scholarship for demonstrating outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and community service. Hare, a graduating senior from Wake Forest High School, plans to attend University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in the fall. Club members hosted Hare and her family for dinner at their April general club meeting and the $2,000.00 scholarship presentation. In addition to receiving her award, individual clubwomen presented Hare with cards, gifts, and gift cards to begin her university studies.

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Age & Dementia series begins April 13

The Northern Wake Senior Center and the Wake Forest Senior Information Networking Group (SING) are partnering to host a series of free classes, workshops, and other events over the next several months to raise awareness about aging, Alzheimer’s, and related dementias. Each event in the 2024 Age & Dementia Education Series will offer attendees the opportunity to learn about dozens of aging and dementia-related programs, services, products, and resources – all at the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave. These free events are scheduled from 9 to 11:30 a.m., and no registration is required. The series gets underway Saturday, April 13, with “Empowering Caregivers: Navigating the Journey Together.” Led by Lynette Wilson, this presentation will focus on equipping caregivers with the tools, resources, and support networks they need to confidently navigate the challenges of caregiving. The series continues Saturday, June 8, with “The Senior Expo for Caregivers &

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Senior Center hosting ‘Fear of Falling’ April 15

The Town of Wake Forest and the Northern Wake Senior Center will partner to host a “Fear of Falling” workshop on Monday, April 15, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. The session may be viewed online or in person at the NWCS, 235 E. Holding Ave. To register or receive the streaming link, call 919-554-4111. Over one in four Americans over the age of 65 fall each year. The April 15 workshop will offer facts, statistics, and information about the risks associated with falling. It will also equip attendees with the tools they need to prevent falls and provide tips on managing the fear of falling. Free and open to all, the seminar will feature presentations by Credentialed Balance & Falls Professional Kristina Wolfe, Clinical Hypnosis Specialist Sharon Jackman, Assistive Technology Consultant Sarah Gachuz, and Director of Northern & Eastern Wake Senior Centers Jennie Griggs. This event is part of the Town of

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