The Urban Forestry Division is celebrating Arbor Day this year by again offering a contest for tree lovers across Wake Forest. From now through Sunday, March 31, the UFD is accepting nominations from residents for the Wake Forest 2024 Tree of the Year award. Trees may be nominated for their size, species, historic significance, personal meaning, community benefit or general notoriety – but they must be located within the Wake Forest town limits. To submit your choice, visit http://bit.ly/WFTreeofYear, complete the nomination form and upload a photo of your tree. Finalists will be selected by Town staff, then voted on by the community during the week of April 8. The tree that receives the most votes will be announced as the winner during Forest Fest on Saturday, April 20. The person who submits the winning tree will receive a certificate crowning their tree as the Wake Forest 2024 Tree of the

The Wake Forest Public Art Commission is partnering with the Northeast Community Coalition to issue a Call for Artists at https://bit.ly/WFPAC_CallforArtists for a community engagement mural to be applied to the exterior of the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 North Taylor Street.  The theme of the piece is open to the artist’s discretion but should reflect themes of family and history. Only artists that have applied for and been accepted into the PAC’s Pre-Qualified Artist Registry are eligible. To learn more and/or apply, visit https://bit.ly/WFPACPreQualifiedArtistRegistry. A selection committee comprised of members of the Wake Forest PAC and Northeast Community Coalition, and other relevant parties will jury all submissions and select the winning artist who will enter a contract with the Town of Wake Forest. The selected artist will be responsible for initiating the design of the artwork, engaging community feedback on design, and completing the artwork in conjunction with the community. Selection criteria include the applicant’s proven ability to

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department and the PRCR Advisory Board are updating the 2015 PRCR Master Plan through “Play It Forward Wake Forest,” a campaign to raise awareness about the initiative and encourage community participation in the process. Citizen input is the cornerstone of “Play It Forward,” so we want to hear from you. You’re invited to visit https://engagewakeforest.org/parks-recreation-master-plan-update and complete Community Survey #3 to rate your satisfaction with Wake Forest parks and facilities. You may also complete the survey at the following PRCR facilities during normal operating hours: Alston-Massenburg Center,416 N. Taylor St.; Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St.; and Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road. The comprehensive survey is available through Friday, March 22, and takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The PRCR Master Plan reflects the Town’s vision of a vibrant community that responds to the needs and desires of its

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources (PRCR) Department will host its first-ever Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, March 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road. Presented by Bumgarner & Martin Orthodontics and Skylift Garage Doors, this free family event will offer a fresh approach to the traditional egg hunt. This year, instead of different age groups “scrambling” for eggs at assigned times, children and their families are invited to stroll along the “Bunny Trail” and collect their eggs any time between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The festivities will also feature DJ Royal pumping out fun tunes, a roaming magician, bubble artist, Easter-themed crafts, and – of course – a visit from the Easter Bunny. Registration is not required, but participants should come with baskets in hand ready to fill at designated stops along the Bunny Trail. The following local businesses

The Wake Forest Human Relations Council will host the 2024 Minority & Women-Owned Business Expo Saturday, March 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road. The event is free and open to everyone. Over 20 area minority and women-owned businesses are expected to participate in the expo designed to increase recognition and opportunities for minority and women business owners in our community. Local businesses already scheduled to participate include Aging Care Matters, Ataraxis Travel, Body20, Cryo Wake Forest Recovery & Wellness Spa, Kwench Juice Café, Remarkable Reflexology LLC, and Well Kept Brands. To view a complete list of participating businesses, visit https://bit.ly/WFMinorityWomenOwnedBusinessExpo.  According to a 2023 report, of all US businesses, only 2% are Black-owned, just 6% are Hispanic-owned, and only 5% are women-owned. The 2024 Minority & Women-Owned Business Expo will bring enterprising professionals together from the Wake Forest community to network and showcase their

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is partnering withPlay4Life Comics to host a Comic Book & Toy Expo Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St. Free and open to everyone, the expo will feature over 20 vendors of your favorite pop culture nostalgia offering for sale vintage comics, rare action figures, popular Pokemon cards, and more. The PRCR Department has scheduled future Comic Book & Toy Expos on June 19 and November 9. For more information, email Community Center Supervisor Grayson Pridgen at 919-554-6726 or gpridgen@wakeforestnc.gov.

The Rotary Club of Wake Forest announces its 2nd annual Cars and Carnivores Street Festival featuring a steak cookoff competition, car show, vendors and food booths on Saturday, March 23, 2024, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. in historic downtown Wake Forest.   Following last year’s success, the free street festival on Brooks Street and Owen Avenue combines a love for classic cars with the passion for grilling while raising funds to pay off past-due medical bills for local cancer patients.   “Our inaugural event raised enough money to erase the medical debt of 26 local cancer patients through our partnership with WakeMed Health & Hospitals,” said Johnny Whitfield, Wake Forest Rotary club president. “We believe alleviating financial stress for cancer patients and their families during difficult times is important in our community. By entering the car show and steak cookoff, becoming a sponsor, attending our free street festival and buying lunch from our

Wake Electric members are invited to the electric cooperative’s annual meeting at 7 p.m. Friday, March 22, in the auditorium at Louisburg College. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Join other Wake Electric members in reviewing the business of your co-op, receive free gifts and get a chance to win $1,000. Wake Electric’s business is providing electricity, but our heart is empowering our members and building the communities we serve. Cooperative businesses are not-for-profit and exist to provide exceptional service to members, rather than to make a profit. At Wake Electric, we: ** Provide payment assistance to members in need. ** Award $70,000 in teacher grants each year. ** Support local nonprofits with quarterly grants through the member-funded We Care Foundation. ** Award scholarships for local students to attend basketball camps at NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill. ** Hold three gift card drawings annually for students who make at least one

The Town of Wake Forest is introducing a free education series for residents interested in learning how to reduce their environmental footprint. Offered by Sustainability Coordinator Jeanette Johnson, “Wake Forest Sustainability 101,” is comprised of six classes on topics ranging from composting and recycling to combating litter and creating household food circularity. Future sessions will include Earth Day Education (March 20); Communities Combating Litter (May 22); and Creating Household Food Circularity (July 24). Free and open to the public, each class is scheduled from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Public Works Operations Center, 234 Friendship Chapel Road, or Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Online registration is open to the first 20 people to register for each class at https://bit.ly/WFSustainability101. Please note: Registrants may enroll in one or more classes and are not required to sign up for the entire series. For more information, contact Sustainability Coordinator Jeanette Johnson at

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 was 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 Bog Blue Marble Academy at 1941 Heritage Branch Road Monarch Mental Health Counseling at 1780 Heritage Center Drive, Suite 204 ###