Public Art Commission wants your opinions

The Public Art Commission is inviting residents to help shape the future of public art in Wake Forest by completing a brief survey. From now through October, residents can complete the survey by visiting Engage Wake Forest at https://engagewakeforest.org/ and clicking on “Wake Forest Public Art.” Designed to gauge community interest in public art, assess preferred types of art, and more, the questionnaire takes less than five minutes to complete. The insights and ideas of respondents will help shape the foundation for Wake Forest’s public art program and suggest recommendations for future initiatives. Community input will also help guide the work of the PAC and Town staff when planning and implementing future public art projects. Finally, the feedback will provide a framework for partnerships with other Town departments, artists, cultural organizations, and developers to help the PAC advance a compelling vision for public art. For more information, email Renaissance Centre Specialist Debra

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The Growth Rate

Based on the July, 2023 Monthly Development Report, WF Planning Updated September 25, 2023 The updated Wake Forest population as of January 1, 2023 was 54,274. In 2021 the population was 50,244. The best current estimates are that between seven and eight people move to town each day. How rezoning and development requests are now heard Planning Director Courtney Tanner gave this response to a query: All legislative cases (rezonings) have a public hearing at the Commissioner meeting and a public comment session at the Planning Board. A special use permit has a public hearing at the Commissioner meeting. Administrative (correct zoning and comply with the UDO) cases are approved at the staff level. What town board approval means now Senior Planner Patrick Reidy explained what the town board’s approval of new subdivisions means under the new state and town requirements. “They approved the conditional rezoning/master plan. Both projects will

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Clubs and organizations

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 If the information about your group is wrong or out of date, please send a note with the corrections to that same email address.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

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Obituaries

Arnold G. Salcedo Wake Forest Arnold G. Salcedo, 96, of Wake Forest passed away Sunday, October 1, 2023. The family will receive friends Thursday, October 4, 2023 from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Bright Funeral Home. A complete obituary will be posted soon. Bright Funeral Home is serving the Salcedo family. ### Harold Barton Wake Forest Harold Barton, age 85, passed away Saturday, September 30, 2023.  He was the son of the late Floyd and Nervie Harrison Barton.  He was also preceded in death by five brothers and one sister. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. at Bright Funeral Home with Pastor Ryan Walcott officiating.  Burial will follow in Pine Forest Memorial Gardens in Wake Forest with Pastor Jared Hinson officiating.  The family will receive friends Wednesday from 2:00 – 3:00 P.M. at the funeral home. He is survived by his loving wife

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Candidates answer our questions

Density Overview: Increasingly the residential projects that are submitted to the Wake Forest Planning Department are for rows of townhouses, several apartment buildings or a combination of the two because the owners or would-be owners of the land have to maximize the number of dwellings to make a profit after the land purchase and the total development costs. They can be assured of future buyers/renters because on average something over seven people move into Wake Forest every day, buying and/or renting the newly-built homes and apartments. If our mental picture of Wake Forest is North Main Street with its old college faculty houses or Traditions with its winding streets lined with pines, we are fooling ourselves. Reality is the not-yet-complete Holding Village with 11 or 12 apartment buildings and streets lined with townhouses where well over 1,000 people could live. Or it is the former Schrader-Hannifin site at the intersection

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Community Celebration of the Arts at RenCen Oct. 7

The Wake Forest Public Art Commission, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department, and ARTS Wake Forest are inviting residents to a special Community Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks Streeet. Free and open to the public, this family-friendly event will include food, music, and a variety of arts activities for children of all ages. The occasion will also highlight the public art murals and sculptures installed throughout Wake Forest and included in the Virtual Public Art Tour available on the Town website. The PAC is promoting the Community Celebration of the Arts and raising awareness about Wake Forest’s array of public art by hosting a “Public Art Selfie Contest.” Through Thursday, Oct. 5, Wake Forest residents and families are invited to take selfies in front of works of public art, then share their photos through the online

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National Night Out welcomes everyone

The Wake Forest Police Department is encouraging area residents, businesses, neighborhood groups, and homeowners’ associations to show their support for police-community crime prevention partnerships by participating in Wake Forest’s National Night Out on Monday, Oct. 2. The event will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Joyner Park Community Center, 701 Harris Road. NNO promises something for everyone, including a DJ, games, food, special prize drawings, and fire, police, and EMS vehicle displays, along with a variety of booths highlighting crime prevention and safety. Wake Forest Police officers will be on hand distributing information on topics such as vehicle security, home security, and personal safety. The police department will also offer a K-9 demonstration, D.A.R.E. presentation, and information on Neighborhood Watch, Special Olympics, and more. Although NNO is offered nationally on the first Tuesday in August, the Wake Forest Police Department schedules its event

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Free events at Public Power Week

The Town of Wake Forest and Wake Forest Power are joining more than 2,000 not-for-profit utilities in celebrating Public Power Week October 1-7. As part of the annual week-long celebration, the Town and Wake Forest Power will offer the following free events and activities: Public Power Week Trivia ContestFrom now through Wednesday, Oct. 4, WFP residential customers can enter to win free electricity in October by visiting http://bit.ly/WFPublicPowerWeek and participating in the Public Power Week Trivia Contest. Everyone who answers all the questions correctly will be entered in the drawing for free electricity. Three winners will be announced during the afternoon Energy Expo on Thursday, Oct. 5. Savings for Seniors BingoWake Forest-area seniors are invited to enjoy a special morning of bingo on Monday, Oct. 2, from 10-11:30 a.m. in the Ground Floor Meeting Room of the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Highlighting a variety of energy-savings ideas, “Savings

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It’s time for WFPD Turkey Drive

The Wake Forest Police Department is accepting monetary donations through Saturday, Nov. 18, as part of its 17th 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. 18, the Police Department will accept monetary donations and donations of frozen turkeys at the WFPD Main Station, 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. 20, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry, 149 E. Holding Avenue. The WFPD organized its first Turkey Drive in 2007. Since then, the department has distributed nearly 11,000

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Teens invited to serve on town boards

The Town of Wake Forest is accepting applications from local 11th and 12th graders interested in serving on the following advisory boards: Each board has at least one seat designated for a youth representative. To qualify, the youth member must be a Wake Forest resident enrolled in the 11th or 12th grade. The online advisory board application is available through Friday, Oct. 6, on the Town website at http://bit.ly/TOWFAdvBoardApplication All candidates will be expected to attend the October meeting of the advisory board to which they applied to introduce themselves to the current members and explain why they wish to serve. Following these interviews, each advisory board will review its slate of candidates before submitting its recommendations to the BOC. The BOC will announce the advisory board appointments during its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 19. New terms will commence in January 2024.  For more information, contact Deputy Town Clerk Ella Dowtin at 919-435-9436

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