Lock it or lose it The Wake Forest Police Department offers the following tips for protecting yourself against vehicle break-ins: n Lock your car doors.
The majority of break-ins happen to unlocked cars. Make it a habit to always roll up your windows and lock your doors. This is your best line of defense. n Remove all valuables from your car or
lock them in your trunk. If your valuables
are in plain sight, thieves will see the items, open the car (or break the window) and take them. Broken windows typically happen when a valuable item, such as a laptop or GPS device, is left in plain sight.
n Avoid parking near strangers sitting in
cars or people that are loitering.
n If you have a garage, use it. Lock
the
vehicle and the garage.
Report break-ins. It’s important to report
the theft if you’re a victim of a vehicle break-in. WFPD cannot gather evidence for leads unless officers know that a crime occurred and unless your vehicle is processed for evidence. Keep a record of serial numbers to your valuables. In the event that an item is stolen, the serial number can be entered into the police database. Without the serial number, the chance of recovering the item is slim. To report a break-in or for more information, call the Wake Forest Police Department at 919-554-6150.
TRICKS & TREATS Halloween Spooktacular—A family-friendly festival
The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will sponsor its annual Halloween Spooktacular on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St. Admission to the event is free. The Halloween Spooktacular is a familyoriented festival for children ages 12 and younger. Festivities include costume contests, face painting, a haunted maze and moon bounce, along with a variety of other ghostly games and activities, and free pumpkin giveaways—while supplies last. For more information, call 919-435-9560.
Halloween is always on Oct. 31 In Wake Forest trick-or-treating always occurs on Oct. 31 regardless of the day of the week Halloween falls on (this year it’s on a Friday).The Wake Forest Police Department encourages trick-or-treating between 6-8 p.m. and reminds parents to make sure their little ghosts and goblins observe all safety precautions. For a list of Halloween safety tips, visit wakeforestnc.gov/ halloween-safety.aspx.
PRCR introduces new, more convenient way to register for programs Registration is underway for the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department’s fall programming. The PRCR is making it easier than ever to register for programs and classes by implementing onsite registration at all the department’s staffed facilities. Now anyone interested in signing up for any PRCR program or class may register during normal business hours at town hall, 301 S. Brooks St.; Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St.; and Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 N. Taylor St. Town hall is open MondayFriday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Flaherty Park Community Center is open Monday-Friday from
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sundays from 1-5 pm. The Alston Massenburg Center is open MondayFriday from 2-8 p.m.; Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. Online registration will remain available 24-hours-a-day. For information, contact PRCR Programs Superintendent Monica Lileton at 919-4359563 or mlileton@wakeforestnc.gov. View RecConnect, the fall program guide, online at wakeforestnc.gov/ recconnect.aspx or pick up a printed copy at town hall.
On even-numbered years, the Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission and the Wake Forest Woman’s Club present the Christmas Historic Home Tour. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, from 1-7 p.m. and will feature approximately 10 historic homes. Advance tickets are $16 and $22 on the day of the tour (includes tax). Receive home tour updates. If you would like to receive email updates about the tour, including when tickets go on sale, visit wakeforestnc.gov/enotifier.aspx. After you’ve entered your email address, select ‘Historic Home Tour’ from the list of available topics. Tour information is also available on the Town of Wake Forest app which can be downloaded free on iTunes, in the iPhone app store or in Google Play. For more information about the tour, visit wakeforestnc.gov/ christmashometour.aspx or contact Michelle Michael at 919-435-9516. n n n
Parade application deadline is Oct. 15 Applications to participate in the 2014 Wake Forest Christmas Parade, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, are now being accepted. For an application, visit wakeforestowntown.com or contact Downtown Development Director Lisa Hayes at lisa@wakeforestdowntown.com or 919-435-9415. Entries postmarked by Oct.15 will be considered for inclusion based on the number of entries needed for each category.
WFTV Watch it live online Anyone with internet access can watch WFTV 10 at wakeforestnc. gov/wftv-10.aspx. Residents that subscribe to Time-Warner Cable TV service receive the channel. The channel can be viewed on Digital Channel 97.5.
Glad You Asked
TOW N O F WA K E FO R E S T Q & A
Q: How can I find out what new businesses are coming to town? A: The Wake Forest Communications Department publishes a monthly list called New Businesses Coming to Wake Forest. The list includes all businesses that have recently filed for a privilege license. (A privilege license is required of anyone who maintains a business
location within the Town of Wake Forest limits.) You can have New Businesses Coming to Wake Forest delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for E-Notifier. To enroll, visit wakeforestnc.gov/enotifier.aspx and click on ‘Sign up for E-Notifier.’ The service is free and you can unsubscribe at any time. You can also view the complete list at wakeforestnc.gov/businessnewbusinesses.aspx.
YOUR GOVERNMENT Board of Commissioners Meetings Third Tuesday | 7 pm Town Hall Board Room
Board of Commissioners Work Session
Our Town September/October 2014
Town of Wake Forest 301 S. Brooks Street Wake Forest, NC 27587 919-435-9400
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. Postage PAID Raleigh, NC Permit #722
www.wakeforestnc.gov
TOWN of WAKE FOREST POSTAL CUSTOMER
First Tuesday | 5:30 pm Town Hall Board Room
Planning Board Meetings First Tuesday | 7:30 pm Town Hall Board Room Have agendas delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up at: wakeforestnc.gov/ enotifier.aspx. n
9th Annual Good Neighbor Day The Wake Forest Human Relations Council will sponsor Good Neighbor Day on Sunday, Sept. 21. This free, family-friendly event will be held from 1-4 p.m. at Holding Park, 133 W. Owen Ave. Offering food, fun, and family entertainment, Good Neighbor Day celebrates diversity and promotes goodwill among all of Wake Forest’s citizens. The “Good Neighbor of the Year” Award will be presented at the event. The award is Wake Forest’s way of recognizing the residents who improve the quality of life in our community. The rain date for Good Neighbor Day is Sunday, Sept. 28. For more information, contact Human Resources Director Virginia Jones at 919-435-9491 or vjones@wakeforestnc.gov.
Apply now to serve on town’s advisory boards Make a difference in our community by applying for one of the upcoming vacancies on the town’s advisory boards including the new Cultural Resources Advisory Board. Seats are available on each of these boards: Cemetery, Public Art, Cultural Resources, Design Review, Greenways, Historic Preservation, Human Relations, Planning, Senior Center, Urban Forestry and the Board of Adjustment. Only people that reside in the town’s corporate limits (extraterritorial jurisdiction) are eligible for the Planning Board and Board of
Adjustment openings. Plans are underway for a new Technical Advisory Board. Look for more information regarding this new board in the near future. Applications are available at wakeforestnc.gov/advisoryboards.aspx and at the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. Completed applications must be submitted by Wednesday, Oct. 15. For more information about the advisory boards and for questions regarding eligibility, contact Town Clerk Deeda Harris at 919-4359410 or dharris@wakeforestnc.gov.
Watch meetings live on WFTV 10. n Watch meetings live or on-demand in streaming video: wakeforestnc.gov/ government-boardof commissioners.aspx. n Watch re-broadcasts of meetings on WFTV 10 at 9 am, 3 pm and 9 pm. daily for up to two weeks after the meeting.
STAYING INFORMED Sign
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E-News
Subscribe to E-News and have the town’s electronic newsletter delivered directly to your inbox each month. E-News subscribers also receive The Week Ahead, a weekly email publication that provides information about upcoming events, as well as E-Alerts offering urgent notifications and traffic alerts. Sign up for E-News at: wakeforestnc.gov/enews.aspx
Sign
up for
E-Notifier
E-Notifier alerts subscribers to the availability of Board of Commissioners and Planning Board meeting agendas. Subscribers also receive New Businesses Coming to Wake Forest. Sign up for E-Notifier at: wakeforestnc.gov/enotifier.aspx
Our Town is published bi-monthly by the Town of Wake Forest Communications Department Communications & Public Affairs Director Bill Crabtree 919-435-9421 bcrabtree@wakeforestnc.gov
News highlights
If you are planning an addition or renovation to your home, you may be eligible for same-day permit issuance.
PERMIT ISSUANCE MADE EASIER Town introduces Express Residential Plan Review
T
he Wake Forest Inspections Department is pleased to offer an express permit application review program. The Express Residential Plan Review (ERPR) is geared for specific residential additions and renovations. It may also be used for accessory structures, such as decks, covered porches, sunrooms, sheds and garages. The new process brings together the town’s plans examiner and the applicant to review the project and discuss, revise and make changes to drawings in person. This review process helps ensure zoning and building codes are met.
To participate in this program the contractor must be present during the review, which depending on the scope of the project could take an hour or more. Although the goal of ERPR is same-day permit issuance, the determining factor will be the severity of any non-compliant submittals. Projects are considered for ERPR by appointment only on Thursday mornings between 8 a.m. and noon. For more information or to schedule an ERPR appointment, contact Code Enforcement Official II Kevin Wester at 919-435-9525 or kwester@wakeforestnc.gov.
Proud to be a Tree City Community for 34 years
Youth Basketball Registration » Registration for youth basketball (ages 5-17, boys and girls) will be held Sept. 1-30 at the Wake Forest Town Hall. Returning players can register online. Games are played December through February. The fee is $40 for residents and $80 for non-residents. Visit wakeforestnc.gov/parks-recreation-culturalresources.aspx or call 919-435-9560. Labor Day Schedule » Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 1, for Labor Day. Garbage and recycling will be collected one day later than usual during the week of Sept. 1. Visit wakeforestnc.gov/holidayschedule.aspx for a complete listing of town holidays. n n n
REVERBNATION
Save the Date: Dec. 6 Historic Home Tour
Free Concert in the Park » Mel Melton & The Wicked Mojos, a cajun flavored blues band, will perform a free concert at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m. Come early and enjoy Wake Forest Unplugged activities in the park. The concert is presented by PineCone: The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music and co-sponsored by the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department, Wake Forest Arts and United Arts of Raleigh & Wake County.