The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) is reminding residents to report crime and suspicious activity to law enforcement before posting the information on social media. Due to the popularity of Facebook and other social media, many people use those platforms to discuss suspicious activity and crime. The problem is that not all who describe such activity online also report it to the police. Simply put – tagging the WFPD on a social media post is not reporting a crime. Not even close. By calling 9-1-1 or 919-556-9111 and reporting the proper way, WFPD can establish credible, official records of what’s going on or what’s happened, along with the sources of the information. It’s also easier than chasing down what are sometimes dubious or fake social media posts. “We understand that most people who post warnings and similar kinds of information on social media are trying to look out for their friends

The holiday season is upon us, and the NCFST’s mobile grocery store is returning to Wake Forest just in time to make your holiday meal shopping easy. Offering fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy from local and regional farmers on a pay-what-you-can scale, the NCFST Mobile Market returns to 350 E. Holding Ave. on Thursday, Dec. 14, from 3-5 p.m. Open to everyone, the pay-what-you-can mobile grocery store 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 some limits on the amount of protein, dairy, and eggs a consumer can purchase, but no limits on produce. At checkout, shoppers will be given a suggested total. Shoppers can then pay the full amount, a portion of that amount, or nothing at all. Both cash and card payments are accepted, along with Android/Apple Pay. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/WF_NCFST or email Community Outreach Manager

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts, 405 S. Brooks St., will present “Mesmerizing Magic” featuring Jason Hudy on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Mystery. Intrigue. Comedy. Bewilderment. These are only a fraction of the qualities Jason Hudy delivers in every performance. Guaranteed to amaze and amuse the entire family, “Mesmerizing Magic” will transport you into the intricate world of magic and illusion. Promising to leave you breathless, this spellbinding one-of-a-kind performance will redefine your idea of what a magic show is! Advance tickets are $25 plus tax and can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/WFRenCenTix, in person at the RC Box Office, or by calling 919-435-9458. For more information, visit www.wakeforestrencen.org/ or call the Renaissance Centre Box Office at 919-435-9458.

Just in time for the holidays, The Town of Wake Forest is again offering “Connections…100 Years of Wake Forest History” for $30 each. Authored by Wake Forest resident and “Wake Forest Gazette” Publisher Carol Pelosi, “Connections… 100 Years of Wake Forest History” was written and released in 2009 to commemorate Wake Forest’s Centennial Celebration. Jean MaCamy and Stephanie Kaeberlein had begun work on the book before they asked me to write it, and they are responsible for the wonderful array of original art and pictures as well as the layout of the pages. A treasure trove of pictures, original artwork, and stories recording the people, places, and events of Wake Forest’s first 100 years, the photo-filled hardcover book chronicles the town’s rich history and details its growth from a small college town to a thriving community of more than 50,000 residents. Connections may be purchased online at www.wakeforestnc.gov/marketplace with credit card or debit card

The Wake Forest Woman’s Club is pleased to announce the continuation of offering a scholarship competition for both male and female seniors attending Franklin Academy, Heritage High School, and Wake Forest High School, who are in the top 25% of their class and will be attending an in-state, four year college or university in the fall of 2023. The winner of the Wake Forest Woman’s Club Continuing Education Scholarship will receive a one-time $2,000 award from our club. Please encourage all seniors who meet the criteria for consideration to contact their guidance counselor for an application.  The application period commences November 6, 2023 and the deadline for the application submission is January 12, 2024. Finalists will be interviewed in person or virtually on January 20, 2024. For more information, please visit www.wake-forest-womans-club.com ###

The Wake Forest Inspections Department issues a monthly report about all new building permits and new businesses.   In November 2023, there were 28 permits issued for single family dwellings, 15 for townhouses and 5 for accessory structures. There were no new commercial building permits issued. There were the following fit-ups fot new businesses: Happy Healing at 744 Merritt Capital Drive, 104 Wells Family Dental at 911 Gateway Commons Drive, 104 Taza Grill at 1898 S. Franklin Street, 110 Soo Café at 12281 Capital Boulevard Super Homes Services (lawn care) at 741 Merritt Capital Drive, 113 There were the following pre-occupancy inspections for new business: The Makery at 327 East Roosevelt Avenue Wake Forest Natural Hair Salon at 10520 Ligon Mill Road, 116 Visible Motorsports at 745 Merritt Capital Drive, 105 ###

Based on the October, 2023 Monthly Development Report, WF Planning Updated November 29, 202 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 bestpections current estimates are that between seven and eight people move to town each day. New plans on the list Item #1 on the list for at least two years has been White Street townhomes SP-21-06 requested by the landowner David Smoot with The Nau Company drawing the plans. The planning board members recommended 7 to 0 it not be approved, and instead the town board sent it back to the planning department and the owner for revisions. Since then

Below is a list of groups – and if your group is not included and should be – please send a note with the information to cwpelosi@aol.com. If the information about your group is wrong or out of date, please send a note with the corrections to that same email address. Aren’t we lucky to have so many groups that benefit our town and its resident! Last updated on July 1, 2023. *American Legion Post 187 meets the second Thursday at 7 p.m. in the American Legion Hall at 225 East Holding Avenue. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. and costs $5. For information and membership, call Commander Doug Doster at 1-603-660-6948. *American Heritage Girls (AHG) meets at 6:30 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church on Rogers Road on the second and fourth Thursdays. Get in touch with Amy Minor at chrisnamy34@hotmail.com or see the website, www.hopelutheranwf.org. *The General James Moore