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The Town of Wake Forest is pleased to present the May 2013 edition of E-News.
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Historic Cemetery Walking Tour May 11
The Wake Forest Cemetery Advisory Board will sponsor a free walking tour at the Wake Forest Cemetery on Saturday, May 11, from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The cemetery is located at 400 N. White St., less than a quarter-mile from downtown Wake Forest.
The self-guided tour will celebrate the lives of the men and women who established the Wake Forest community, as well as its culture and destiny.
Docents will be stationed at various locations throughout the cemetery to share interesting stories about specific gravesites, as well as photographs of loved ones bearing their ancestral names. Representatives of the Sons of Confederate Veterans clad in Confederate uniforms and carrying Civil War-era firearms will also be on hand to share tales of soldiers who served in the War Between the States. Ladies in period costume from the same era will also participate, along with representatives of the Wake Forest-Rolesville Junior ROTC, under the direction of Colonel Dimitri Belmont.
Admission is free and parking will be permitted in designated areas of the cemetery.
Six Sundays in Spring continues through June 2
From jazz to reggae and from bluegrass to funk, there’s something for all music lovers at this year’s Six Sundays in Spring Concert Series. Sponsored by Wake Forest ARTS, the weekly performances began April 28 with Children of the Horn.
Featuring free, live, outdoor entertainment, the Six Sundays in Spring concert series offers area residents an opportunity to enjoy a variety of local and regional performers offering enriching cultural experiences.
The performances begin with opening acts at 3 p.m., followed by the main acts taking the stage at 5 p.m.
All concerts are held in the E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater, 701 Harris Road. Alcoholic beverages, firearms, and unleashed pets are prohibited. Food and refreshments will be available - or bring your own picnic.
Popular community events now featured on Wake Forest app
The Town of Wake Forest is utilizing its app to make it easier than ever for you to obtain important information about popular local events.
IPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Android users who have downloaded the town's app now enjoy instant access to information about Six Sundays in Spring (starts April 28), the Wake Forest Cemetery Walking Tour (May 11), and the Fourth of July Celebration (July 3-4) - just to name a few.
To download the app, search for "Town of Wake Forest" on iTunes, in the iPhone app store or in the Android Market. You can also download the app by visiting www.wakeforestnc.gov/app.aspx and scanning the appropriate QR code.
Public Art Commission issues "Call to Artists"
The Wake Forest Public Art Commission (PAC) is celebrating the completion of the South White Streetscape project and Wake Forests’ first two pieces of town-funded public art by issuing a “Call to Artists” for its upcoming juried art show entitled “Foundations – Renaissance Exhibition.”
The PAC is accepting amateur and professional artists’ applications from now through Friday, May 17. Interested artists are invited to apply by emailing digital images of their artwork, along with their full name, mailing address and phone number to Agnes Wanman at awanman@wakeforestnc.gov. Please include the work’s title and a brief statement explaining how the work reflects the spirit of Downtown Wake Forest’s Renaissance Area.
Public hearing set for May 21 on 2013-14 budget
Town Manager Mark Williams presented the Fiscal Year 2013-14 budget to the Board of Commissioners for consideration on Tuesday, May 7. The budget will serve as the town’s financial and spending plan for the year and, once adopted, will authorize resources and establish a direction for Wake Forest programs and services for the coming year.
The proposed budget includes a $0.51 tax rate ($0.51 per $100 of assessed property valuation), $0.14 downtown municipal service district tax ($0.14 per $100 assessed property valuation) and no electric rate increase.
In regard to personnel, the plan proposes 12 new full-time positions, including eight police officers, three construction workers and a recreation specialist. It also recommends funding four existing positions, including three powerline technicians and a senior code enforcement officer. A code enforcement officer position remains authorized but not funded in the 2013-14 fiscal year. Finally, the proposed budget includes performance pay or merit funds, plus career ladders for eligible departments.
The public is invited to view a copy of the proposed budget in the town clerk’s office, located in town hall, from now until Tuesday, May 21. On that date, a public hearing is scheduled during the regular Board of Commissioners meeting to receive public comment. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the town hall board chambers, 301 S. Brooks St.
Interested citizens may also view a copy of the proposed budget, the town manager’s budget message, and the 2013-14 budget highlights by visiting the town’s website at www.wakeforestnc.gov/residents-finance_budget.aspx.
Final budget approval by the Board of Commissioners is scheduled for the June 18 meeting. For more information, contact Finance Director Aileen Staples at astaples@wakeforestnc.gov.
Youth Advisory Board sponsoring coat drive
through May 24
The Wake Forest Youth Advisory Board will collect clean, gently used coats and jackets from Monday, April 29, through Friday, May 24, as part of a community service project. Coats of all shapes and sizes are welcome and may be dropped off at one of several area locations.
Town accepting applications
for Youth Advisory Board
The Town of Wake Forest is currently accepting applications from area high school students who are interested in serving on the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) for the 2013-14 school year. Applications are available in the town clerk’s office at town hall and on the town’s website at www.wakeforestnc.gov/government-youthadvisoryboard.aspx. Completed applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. Friday, May 10, and should be mailed or delivered to Town Clerk Deeda Harris, Town of Wake Forest, 301 S. Brooks St., Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Only high school students (grades 9-12), including rising ninth graders, are eligible to serve on the YAB. YAB members serve one-year terms but may be re-appointed.
Town unveils new downtown video
The Town of Wake Forest, in cooperation with Kino Mountain Productions, is pleased to present a video designed to offer residents and visitors an intimate look at all that downtown Wake Forest has to offer. Entitled “The Renaissance of Downtown Wake Forest,” the video brings to life downtown’s charm and vitality by highlighting the wonderful array of shopping, dining and entertainment options available in the Renaissance Area.
The eight-minute video currently airs on Wake Forest TV 10 at approximately 16 and 40 minutes past the hour. It can also be viewed on demand on the town’s website at www.wakeforestnc.gov.
Applications now accepted for town hall volunteers
The Town of Wake Forest is again recruiting friendly, outgoing volunteers to greet and help direct customers visiting town hall. In November 2010, Wake Forest introduced a guest services desk in the lobby of town hall. Open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., the counter is managed by volunteers who greet visitors in person and on the telephone, help direct them to their destination, and perform other responsibilities as needed.
Approximately 24 area residents currently participate in the Guest Services Volunteer program. Most are recent retirees and senior adults looking for opportunities to give back to their community.
Guest services volunteers are expected to work at least two three-hour shifts per month. Volunteers must also attend a mandatory orientation where they will learn about guest services desk responsibilities, participate in a brief tour of town hall, and complete and submit a background check form.
Carolyn Cort Griffin recognized as 2013 Guest Services Volunteer of the Year
Carolyn Cort Griffin is the recipient of the Town of Wake Forest’s 2013 Michealle Bozman-Barton Guest Services Volunteer of the Year award.
Office Assistant Jannie Chaffin made the announcement on Thursday, April 25, during the town’s third annual Guest Services Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Alston-Massenburg Center.
In presenting the award, Chaffin acknowledged Griffin’s willingness to volunteer often and on short notice, along with her contribution of nearly 300 volunteer hours since February 2011.
Approximately 50 volunteers and Wake Forest staff attended the April 25 luncheon that also included remarks by Mayor Vivian Jones, Town Manager Mark Williams, and local personality Mark Roberts.
The Guest Services Volunteer of the Year award is named in honor of Michealle Bozman-Barton who was instrumental in establishing the town’s guest services program in 2010 and continues to serve as the program’s volunteer coordinator. Previous winners of the award include Rosa Miller-Boykin (2011) and Rob Rooney (2012).
Memorial Day holiday schedule
The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Monday, May 27, for Memorial Day. No garbage or recycling will be collected on Memorial Day. The garbage and recycling collection schedule for the week of May 27 will operate one day later than normal and will extend into Saturday.
Classic & Antique Charity Car Show coming to downtown Wake Forest
Displays of classic, antique and muscle cars will be showcased along South White Street in downtown Wake Forest on Saturday, June 15, during the Wake Forest Classic & Antique Charity Car Show. Scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the event will include vehicles of all makes and models, including muscle cars, sports cars, pony cars, classic and antique autos, street rods and trucks. Live music by The Results will be featured as well.
The car show is being presented by the Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation for the benefit of Hospice of Wake County and local charities.
Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, contact lisa@wakeforestdowntown.com.
Sprite Sparks Parks Contest nets $15,000 to refurbish local basketball courts
The Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department recently received a $15,000 grant through the Coca-Cola Company’s “Sprite Spark Parks Promotion” and Lowes Foods, its North Carolina partner, to refurbish the basketball courts at three local parks.
A collaborative effort between Sprite, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and Lowe’s Foods, the “Sprite Spark Parks Promotion” is an initiative designed to refresh courts in public parks and recreation centers throughout the United States.
Last year the Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department entered Tyler Run Park, Ailey Young Park and Holding Park in the grant competition. During the promotion, held May 21 through June 16, shoppers at Lowes Foods voted online for their favorite local public park from a list of parks in Hickory, Wake Forest, Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem.
Thanks to votes from the community and from around the country, the Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department received the grant and will use the funding to resurface and repaint the playing surfaces on the basketball courts at the three town parks.
Safe Routes to School project is underway
Work on Wake Forest’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Project is underway. In 2009 the town received $300,000 in funding from the N.C. Department of Transportation through the federal SRTS program. The project will improve infrastructure and construct sidewalks within a one-mile radius of Wake Forest Elementary School and Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School to make it safer for children to walk or bike to school.
As part of the grant, the town is providing $40,000 of in-kind services. Town crews are currently installing a multi-use path to connect Wake Forest Elementary School to Holding Park, Forrest Field and the Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club. The work will continue throughout the month and is expected to be completed in mid-May.
Construction of the remainder of the project is expected to begin this summer.
City of Raleigh begins sewer system construction project
The City of Raleigh Public Utilities Department (CORPUD) began the South Allen Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements Project earlier this month. The initiative will include the installation of sewer lines and manholes within the right of way of South Allen Road from Robin Avenue to Wait Avenue.
T.A. Loving Company will perform construction for the project which is expected to be completed in late June or early July.
Wake Forest Power offers
"Pay-As-You-Go" payment option
Wake Forest Power has unveiled a new payment option that allows residential customers to pay for electricity in advance. Known as “Pay-As-You-Go” electricity, the initiative utilizes advanced metering technology that also enables customers to more closely monitor their energy usage.
Under the Pay-As-You-Go program, residential customers have the flexibility and control to pay for electricity when they want in the amount they want. By paying for electricity before they use it, pre-pay customers never pay a late fee and are never charged disconnect and reconnect fees if their account runs out of credit.
Customers also have the opportunity to more closely monitor how much energy they use. Instead of appearing on a traditional paper bill that is generated once a month, electricity usage is calculated daily and the cost is deducted each day from the pre-paid account. As a result, customers have the opportunity to observe in real time what happens when they adjust the thermostat a few degrees or turn off an extra light.
Wake Forest transitions to CodeRED mass notification system
The Town of Wake Forest has a new emergency and mass notification provider. In March the town began the transition from DeltAlert to the industry-leading, high-speed mass notification system, CodeRED®.
The change to CodeRED offers the town access to patented technologies that were not available with the previous provider. Wake Forest will now be able to more effectively communicate time-sensitive messages using the CodeRED system’s robust dialing infrastructure that is entirely managed by its parent company, Emergency Communications Network. This access will allow calls to be delivered seconds after town officials launch a message. Additionally, Wake Forest will have the ability to better target notifications geographically, only notifying those community members impacted by an alert.
Messages regarding the safety, property or welfare of the community may be disseminated using the CodeRED system. These may include AMBER alerts, notifications of hazardous traffic or road conditions, boil water advisories or evacuation notices. The system may also be used to promote town programs and special events, provide information about power outages and road closures and announce changes to the town's operations schedule.