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E-News

Welcome to E-News

Happy New Year! The Town of Wake Forest is pleased to present the January 2012 edition of E-News. You can receive an email notification within minutes of E-News' online publication by providing your email address in the designated signup area on this page. As an E-News subscriber you'll also receive The Week Ahead, an email publication distributed each week that provides information about upcoming local events and activities, as well as E-Alerts that offer timely notifications about breaking news, including road closings, police advisories, and important event reminders. As an E-News subscriber you may unsubscribe at any time by simply clicking HERE, and typing UNSUBSCRIBE E-NEWS in the subject line.

Tickets on sale for
2012 State of the Town Address & Dinner
Mayor Vivian Jones will deliver her 2012 State of the Town Address on Monday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m., during the Fourth Annual State of the Town Address and Dinner. Presented by the Wake Forest Rotary Club, the event will be held at Tuxedo Junction, 405 S. Brooks St.

During her remarks, Mayor Jones will highlight the Town’s key accomplishments in 2011 and outline the goals Wake Forest will strive towards in 2012. Entertainment will be provided during the dinner portion of the program by the Franklin Academy Jazz Band.

All area residents are invited to attend this special event. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit card at www.wakeforestnc.gov/marketplace.aspx through Thursday, Feb. 16. Beginning Monday, Jan. 23, tickets will also be available for purchase at Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St., and the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, 350 S. White St., with cash or by check made payable to the Town of Wake Forest.

The State of the Town Address will be recorded and replayed on Community Channel 10 throughout March. It will also be available in streaming video on the Town’s website at www.wakeforestnc.gov. For more information about the 2012 State of the Town Address and Dinner, contact Public Information Officer Bill Crabtree at (919) 435-9421 or bcrabtree@wakeforestnc.gov.

Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday schedule
The Wake Forest Town Hall and other administrative offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Police services and garbage and recycling collection schedules will not be affected. However, Wake Forest bus service and yard waste collection will be suspended.

Wake Forest bus service, including the Wake Forest-Raleigh Express and the Wake Forest Loop, will not be provided Jan. 16 but will resume its normal schedule Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Yard waste will not be collected Monday but will resume Tuesday at 7 a.m. Crews will follow the normal collection schedule beginning with Monday’s route. Collection of the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday routes will occur throughout the remainder of the week until all routes have been completed.

Town offices will re-open Jan. 17 at 8 a.m. For information throughout the year concerning the Town of Wake Forest’s holiday operations, including holiday-related changes to the garbage and recycling collection schedule, visit the Town’s website at www.wakeforestnc.gov/holidayschedule.aspx. 

Historic Preservation Workshop Jan. 12
The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is inviting area residents to offer their input on the future of the Town’s historic preservation efforts during a special public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 12. The workshop is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ledford Center, 113 N. Wingate St., located on the campus of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Light refreshments will be served beginning at 6:45 p.m.

The meeting will focus on how Wake Forest can continue to grow and prosper while preserving the historic character and charm of the community. All area residents are invited to attend and share their opinions and perspectives. Citizens may also email their thoughts to awanman@wakeforestnc.gov.

Professional planning consultant Glenn R. Harbeck, AICP, will facilitate the session. Harbeck was instrumental in the development of the Town’s Community Plan which was formally adopted in 2009.

Anyone interested in attending the Historic Preservation Workshop is encouraged to park in the lot at the corner of Wingate Street and Stadium Drive. Enter through the main door of the Ledford Center that faces Wingate Street and proceed to the multi-purpose room located on the second floor.

For more information, contact Town Historic Preservation Planner Agnes Wanman at (919) 435-9516 or awanman@wakeforestnc.gov.

Flaherty Open House Jan. 20
The Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department oversees a comprehensive system of parks, greenways, facilities, and open spaces. It also offers wide array of cultural and athletic programs that promote education, health, and wellness.

You can learn more about the cultural and educational programs the department offers on Friday, Jan. 20, at the Parks and Recreation Department’s Open House. Scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White St., the open house offers area residents an excellent opportunity to meet instructors, ask questions, and register for upcoming programs.

Instructor demonstrations as well as group performances with current participants will also take place. For more information, call (919) 435-9560 or email cfergeson@wakeforestnc.gov. 

Wake County Board of Elections seeks precinct officials
It's that time of year again and the Wake County Board of Elections (BOE) is getting ready for the 2012 elections! The BOE is currently recruiting precinct officials to work at the polls during the upcoming municipal and primary elections. These are paid positions, so officials are compensated.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete the quick and easy online application at http://www.wakegov.com/elections/getinvolved. When you visit the site, click on the "Apply Now" button. Once you complete the online application you will be prompted to print and complete a "tax" or "pay" form. Once the BOE receives both the online and mailed forms, you will be on your way to becoming a precinct official.

For more information, call (919) 857-9345 or email elections@wakegov.com.

UDO to help fulfill community's vision
Ever wonder why things get built like they do, especially if they don’t seem to look or function like you think they should? In most communities, don’t blame the developers—it’s usually the fault of some deficiency in the development rules themselves. In Wake Forest, the Town has long struggled with development rules, known as the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), that are outdated, confusing, and oftentimes contrary to the vision of the community. In fact, everything that has been built in the past 30 years—for good or for bad—has used a rulebook specifying, often to great lengths, the elements required for each new building, parking lot, and subdivision.

The comprehensive overhaul of the Town’s Unified Development Ordinance currently underway represents one of the key implementing strategies towards fulfilling the vision of the 2010 Community Plan. It will establish a new rulebook that will encourage walkable, mixed-use development; beautiful, tree-lined neighborhood streets; a vibrant downtown; attractive shopping areas; and open space that is valued, protected, useable and accessible.

• Click here to view the UDO blog

In addition, the new UDO will clarify the development process for everyone involved—developers, contractors, builders, tenants, and homeowners—ensuring a more predictable climate for growth and change. The new UDO has been prepared to make everything easy to find, including graphics, tables, and images to help clarify the rules and expectations. There will be a simplified use table, new standards for architectural design, and clear supplemental use requirements that will reduce the reliance on unpredictable Special Use Permits. Landscaping standards will protect the town’s tree canopy. And finally, the new requirements will encourage energy efficient design and environmentally sustainable neighborhoods and development.

The UDO requirements will establish a new set of rules that will raise the expectations for developers and assist in fulfilling the community’s vision. It is hoped that these new rules will help to forge a more pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use, and sustainable future for the Town of Wake Forest.

• Public meetings for UDO
  Informational meetings will be held on Thursday, Mar. 1, at town hall at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Town’s consultant is scheduled to give a short presentation and the planning department staff will be available to answer questions.

 
Candace Davis is Wake Forest's "2011 Employee of the Year"
The Town of Wake Forest recently recognized Senior Planner Candace Davis as its “2011 Employee of the Year.” Town Manager Mark Williams made the announcement during Wake Forest’s annual employee Christmas luncheon on Dec. 16.

Hired by the Town in May 2008, Davis was nominated for the award by several co-workers in various departments. Williams said such overwhelming support made Davis the perfect choice as Employee of the Year.

“Everyone who nominated Candace emphasized her enthusiasm, pleasant personality, and willingness to offer assistance on any project,” said Williams. “She always has a smile on her face and that always serves to boost everyone’s morale.”

For her part, Davis said hearing her name announced as this year’s winner was an overwhelming experience, but working for the Town and its citizens offers its own reward.

“It is truly an honor to be named employee of the year, and being nominated by my peers is very humbling,” she said. “I thoroughly enjoy working in the planning department and collaborating with my colleagues and Wake Forest citizens to continue making our community a better place.”

Each year Williams selects the Employee of the Year from nominations submitted by Town staff. Submissions must include a written narrative explaining why a nominee is deserving of the award. Recent recipients of the award include Construction Worker Lance Pontrelli (2010), Police D.A.R.E. Officer Scott Graham (2009), Assistant Public Works Director John Thrift (2008), Maintenance Worker Gennie Williams (2007), Accounting Services Manager LaVerne Harding (2006), Inspections Administrator J.J. Carr (2005), and Human Resources Director Tammy Moody (2004).

Town seeks to deconstruct former planning annex
The Town of Wake Forest is seeking individuals or organizations interested in deconstructing the former Planning Department annex, 205 S. Brooks St., in an effort to divert the demolition and construction materials from local landfills. The deconstruction and removal of the vacant facility is necessary in order to extend the parking lot situated between the former annex and the Brooks Street Police Substation.

Anyone interested in relocating the structure or salvaging the materials for reuse or recycling is encouraged to contact Facilities Supervisor Mickey Rochelle at (919) 435-9455 or mrochelle@wakeforestnc.gov.

Wake Forest Town Hall earns LEED Platinum Certification
The Wake Forest Town Hall has been awarded LEED Platinum Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The USGBC’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the foremost program for the design, construction, and operation of green buildings. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for businesses and taxpayers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, staff, and the community.

The Wake Forest Town Hall is one of only a few municipal facilities in the United States to achieve LEED Platinum status. By reaching the Platinum level, the Town is not only helping conserve resources and create a healthier environment for employees and visitors, but it is also saving substantially on costs through green building maintenance practices.

LEED features in the 44,000 square foot facility include an energy efficient lighting system, a reflective roof, low-flow water fixtures, ultra low-flush toilets, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, recycled and rapidly renewable construction materials, and use of low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Bike racks and dedicated parking spaces for carpooling and fuel-efficient/low-emitting vehicles encourage alternative transportation and maximized day lighting with lighting controls significantly reduce the building's lighting load.

Collectively, town hall’s array of energy efficient systems and strategies is expected to result in a nearly 25% reduction in overall annual energy costs. In addition, 70% of the anticipated energy usage will be offset with green power, including wind and solar farms located throughout the country.

For a complete list of the sustainable features incorporated into the Wake Forest Town Hall, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/newtownhall.aspx.

Tree sculpture contest continues through Jan. 31
The Wake Forest Parks & Recreation Department must remove most of a large willow oak tree in Holding Park, 133 W. Owen Ave., due to indications of internal decay and concern for public safety and property. The trunk of the tree is in good condition, however, so the department is sponsoring a unique and exciting contest designed to preserve the trunk and promote public art.

Starting now, area residents are invited to submit their ideas and designs as part of a competition that will result in the sculpting of the trunk into a work of public art. The winning design will be selected by the Board of Directors of Wake Forest ARTS, a non-profit organization that promotes and coordinates arts and cultural activities in the community. Once the winning submission has been selected, a local tree sculptor will transform the base of the tree into a work of art to be enjoyed by residents and visitors for years to come.

The winner will be honored at the Town’s annual Arbor Day celebration on March 15, 2012, and his or her name will be included on a plaque commemorating the completed sculpture.

For complete contest rules, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/parksrecreation_urbanforestry.aspx or contact Urban Forester Evan Keto at (919) 435-9565 or eketo@wakeforestnc.gov.

Share your place that matters
The Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is sponsoring a photo-sharing campaign through Jan. 31, 2012, that invites area residents to share their memories and stories about places in Wake Forest that are important to them.

"This Place Matters" encourages individuals and groups to take photos of themselves at buildings, residences, landmarks, and other structures in Wake Forest that hold special meaning and submit them for posting on the Town’s website. Photos of older buildings and structures are especially wanted.

To participate, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/thisplacematters.aspx and download and print the "This Place Matters" sign. Take a digital photograph of yourself or others holding the sign in front of locations in Wake Forest that matter to you. Email your photographs along with a short explanation of why each place is meaningful to thisplacematters@wakeforestnc.gov. Photographs should not exceed two MB in file size.

All photos will be compiled and displayed in a slideshow format on the Town’s website at www.wakeforestnc.gov/thisplacematters_photos.aspx. The HPC may also use the submissions to identify locations around town that deserve protection or special recognition.

For more information about "This Place Matters," visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/thisplacematters.aspx or contact Town Planner Agnes Wanman at (919) 435-9516 or awanman@wakeforestnc.gov.

Town's burial records now available online
Family members, friends, and others with an interest in researching family histories can now access and view the Town of Wake Forest’s more than 2,100 burial records online from any computer connected to the Internet by visiting the Town’s new online burial record search service located at www.wakeforestnc.gov/residents/publicworks_cemetery.aspx. In the past, the Town’s cemetery records were available for review at Town Hall and the Public Works Operations Center only. Now, the burial information can be located with the click of a mouse.

The self-service nature of Wake Forest’s online burial search helps reduce the staff time spent on fielding inquiries from the general public. In addition, genealogists and others with an interest in tracing family histories can now research burial and grave information any time of the day or night without leaving the comfort of their homes. Besides providing information about grave occupants, the service also has the ability to display family history information if it is known. Site visitors can contribute additional family details via a special online submission form that displays on each grave record’s page he explained.

For more information about Wake Forest’s new online burial search service, contact Public Works & Utilities Director Mike Barton at (919) 435-9571 or mbarton@wakeforestnc.gov.

Police Department implements new police-to-citizen website
The Wake Forest Police Department has implemented SunGard Public Sector’s OSSI Police-to-Citizen (P2C). Accessible at http://p2c.wakeforestnc.gov/p2c, P2C permits citizens to view and map police records, view daily bulletins, search for specific incidents, and access arrest records, including mug shots.

"The P2C system entirely changes the way we are able to share information," said Police Chief Jeff Leonard. "We are very excited about the benefits it offers both our citizens and the police department," said Police Chief Jeff Leonard.

The Wake Forest P2C homepage will be updated regularly with slide shows featuring missing persons and most wanted photographs, aiding the department’s efforts to keep the community safe and well-informed.

Smoking banned in Wake Forest parks & greenways
The Wake Forest Board of Commissioners has approved a smoking ban in all Town parks and greenways, except in specifically designated areas. The board adopted the ordinance Tuesday evening during its regular monthly meeting, joining a growing number of communities that have forbidden smoking in public parks. The smoking ban is designed to help curb exposure to secondhand smoke and reduce litter.

The ban takes place immediately and includes a possible $50 fine. Signage will be posted throughout the Town’s parks and greenways informing visitors about the new ordinance.

Enforcement will take the form of requesting voluntary compliance. However, if a smoker does not extinguish a smoking product, park staff will remind them of the new policy and could request exiting the property if they choose to continue smoking. For more information about the smoking ban, contact Parks & Recreation Director Ruben Wall at (919) 435-9561 or rwall@wakeforestnc.gov.

"Our Town" newsletter now available through E-Notifier
Our Town is Wake Forest's bi-monthly newsletter. Published every other month, it's mailed to all Wake Forest residents in the 27587 zip code. Our Town is also the newest addition to the E-Notifier subscription service. If you'd like an electronic copy of Our Town sent directy to your inbox, click HERE and type OUR TOWN in the subject box. The service is free and you can unsubscribe at any time. Recent editions of Our Town are also available online.

Town's holiday schedule available online
The Town of Wake Forest is making it easier than ever for you to keep track of Town-recognized holidays. We understand it’s important for you to know about any changes to the Town’s operating schedule. That’s why we’ve created a page on our website that provides a complete list of the dates in 2012 when Town Hall will be closed and Town services affected. Visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/holidayschedule.aspx to see a complete list of the 2012 Town-recognized holidays. A week or so prior to each one, we’ll post a link to a press release that provides detailed information explaining how Town operations, including bus and sanitation service, are impacted.

Register for E-Notifier
If you want to keep abreast of what's happening in the Town of Wake Forest, then be sure to register for E-Notifier - our FREE email subscription service. E-Notifier allows you to subscribe to five specific information categories and receive an email notification whenever we post new information on the website related to your chosen categories. Our goal is to help you receive the information you want as quickly and efficiently as possible.

E-Notifier alerts subscribers to the availability of Board of Commissioners and Planning Board meeting agendas; RecConnect - the Parks & Recreation Department’s program brochure; a monthly update of new businesses coming to Wake Forest; and - our newest offering - the Our Town newsletter!

E-Notifier is a free service provided by the Town of Wake Forest and your email address will only be used to deliver the information you request. Signing up is quick and easy! To learn more, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/enotifier.aspx.

Your email address is protected
Local governments in Wake County, including the Town of Wake Forest, now have the authority to deny requests for copies of subscriber email lists. Passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2010, House Bill 1921 states that email address lists are open to public inspection for those who want to come to Town Hall to see them but are no longer required to be provided. The law also states that governments may only use the lists for the purpose for which the citizen subscribed to them or for emergency communications. To read the new law, which is now in effect, visit http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H1921v6.pdf.

Community Channel 10 programming
Community Channel 10 is the Town of Wake Forest's government access channel serving the residents of Wake Forest. Community Channel 10 is produced by the Town of Wake Forest Communications Department and is available to residents and businesses that subscribe to Time-Warner Cable TV service. The information channel operates 24 hours per day and provides a variety of information about programs, services, upcoming meetings, and special events sponsored by the Town of Wake Forest. Channel 10 is also an excellent source for information about programs and classes offered by the Wake Forest Parks & Recreation Department.

The Town of Wake Forest broadcasts Planning Board meetings live on Community Channel 10 at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The meetings are then re-broadcast daily over the next two weeks at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m. In addition, Board of Commissioners meetings are broadcast live at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month and then re-broadcast daily throughout the remainder of the month at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., and 9 p.m.

To view a complete Community Channel 10 program schedule, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/channel10/schedule.aspx.

WaterSense Toilet Rebate Program
Stop flushing money down the toilet! Toilets can use up to 30 percent of indoor domestic water usage and older toilets can use up to seven gallons in just one flush! The City of Raleigh is offering WaterSense toilet rebates to all City of Raleigh water and sewer customers, including customers in Wake Forest. Rebates up to $100, to cover the cost of each new toilet, will be given for replacing an old toilet with a new EPA WaterSense labeled toilet. Installation fees are not covered.

• Click here for more information

Customer Service Central
Wake Forest is pleased to provide a one-stop site site for residents requiring information about town services. Bookmark our Customer Service Central webpage and enjoy instant access to everything you need from electric bill payment options and service requests to energy saving tools and inclement weather information.

Park in the direction of traffic flow
The Wake Forest Code of Ordinances mandates that parking on all streets within the corporate limits of Wake Forest “must be established in the direction of traffic flow.” Previously, only vehicles parked in the business district were restricted from stopping with their “left side to the curb” but now the restriction applies to the entire town. Any vehicle parked along a town street facing the opposite direction from the flow of traffic is subject to a $25 fine.

Call the "Weather Line"
The Town of Wake Forest now offers a hotline residents can call whenever inclement weather threatens to cancel or postone a Town-sponsored program or event. Wake Forest residents are encouraged to call (919) 435-9569 for information concerning changes to the Town's regular schedule, including Parks & Recreation games and practices, as well as concerts, festivals, and other special events. When a decision is made to cancel a Town-sponsored event or alter the Town's regular schedule, the Communications Department will place a message on the Weather Line stating the specific changes to the Town's schedule. For more information, visit /weatherline.aspx.

Find us on Facebook
The Town of Wake Forest has created a profile on the popular social networking site Facebook to assist with its outreach and communication efforts. The Town’s Facebook profile is an innovative way of sharing information with area residents who are linked in to the site. Facebook users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with other people.

Anyone who is interested can "Like" the Town of Wake Forest and allow information to come directly from the Town to their own Facebook profile. Less than 24 hours after the creation of its Facebook profile, Wake Forest already had nearly 50 fans. Today, the Town's fan base stands at well over 1,550.

"Fans" of the Town of Wake Forest will be able to find out about upcoming events, learn about important town news, and check out photos from around the community. Current Facebook users who want to become "fans" of the Town of Wake Forest can search for the Town of Wake Forest profile on the site, and click the link to "become a fan."