July 22, 2011
Jones Dairy Road expected to re-open today
If all goes according to plan, then Jones Dairy Road will finally re-open today by 1 p.m. The NCDOT closed the road from Averette Road to the Calvin Jones Bypass (NC 98) in mid-June last year, so the contractor could replace the bridges over Austin Creek and Smith’s Creek.
Construction on both bridges was projected to be completed by June 15, but after several delays, it looks as though all of the work is done and the road will re-open this afternoon. There was some concern earlier in the week that only one lane would be opened while crews finished their work. However, the DOT’s resident engineer said late yesterday that he didn’t anticipate the need for any lane closures once the road re-opens.
UPDATE: Jones Dairy Road was officially re-opened at approximately 12:50 p.m. on Friday.
Do your part to keep Wake Forest beautiful
Wake Forest has always been a charming community, known across our region and state for its history, small town character, and generous people. Unfortunately, the trash and other debris carelessly strewn alongside many of our roads and highways is a blemish on our town that we should all take very seriously. 
The litter is much more than an eyesore as the financial and environmental costs are equally disturbing - if not more so. North Carolina spends millions of dollars annually on roadside cleanup which is especially alarming in this current economy. But once trash gets free, wind and weather move it from streets and highways to parks and waterways where it can harm and even kill animals and other forms of wildlife.
In response to what seems to be a growing problem, Wake Forest is stepping up its efforts to urge citizens to report incidents of littering and illegal dumping and remind residents of the importance of proper waste disposal. In the coming months, you'll be seeing more information in all of our communications media stressing the need for everyone to take responsibility for a clean and healthy environment.
One of our primary efforts will involve promoting the NCDOT's Swat-a-Litterbug program. The concept is simple, yet effective. Anyone who observes someone littering is encouraged to report the license plate number of the offending vehicle to the NCDOT's Office of Beautification Programs at 1-877-DOT-4YOU (1-877-368-4968). Upon receipt of the litterbug information, the NCDOT will notify the vehicle owner of the littering offense; inform the vehicle owner of the penalties for littering; and urge the litterbug to stop littering.
Illegal dumping is another matter we take very seriously. Illegal dumping is the dumping of any waste, such as construction and demolition debris, furniture, appliances, trash, litter, or landscaping cuttings, upon any public right-of-way, Town property or private property, without the consent of the owner.
According to our police department, community assistance is essential to catching and deterring illegal dumps. Anyone who observes a person illegally dumping should report it immediately to the police department at (919) 554-6150. With adequate information from an eyewitness, we can and will pursue prosecution.
If you witness illegal dumping, be sure to note the date, time, location and type of material being dumped; the vehicle’s license plate number, color, make, and model; the gender, age, hair color, and clothing of the person doing the dumping; and any other identifying or incriminating evidence. You won't be required to provide your name and phone number.
Finally, we are all responsible for preserving Wake Forest’s beauty, so let’s make sure we each do our part to keep litter in our community to a minimum. For starters, never let trash escape from your car, and make sure household garbage bins are sealed tightly so animals can’t get at the contents. Also, always remember to take your garbage with you upon leaving a park or other public space. If everyone will do their part, we can take enormous strides towards keeping Wake Forest beautiful.
H.O.P.E. receives special attention
In 2006 we introduced the H.O.P.E. program as a way to help electric customers struggling to pay their electric bills. Since then, thanks to the generous donations of area residents, the initiative has helped hundreds of customers keep their lights on.
This week’s edition of the North Raleigh News offered an interesting look at the H.O.P.E. program and the important role ChurchNet plays in administering the funds and helping the less fortunate in our community. If you didn’t get to see it, here’s a link to the article: http://www.northraleighnews.com/2011/07/20/8932/group-helps-folks-keep-the-lights.html.
Make plans now to attend National Night Out
I hope you and your family are planning to participate in the 28th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 2. On that night, neighborhoods, businesses, churches, and community groups throughout our area are invited to join our police department and Target for this year’s “National Night Out Parking Lot Party” at the Wake Forest Target Superstore, 12000 Retail Drive.
Scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the event promises something for the entire family, including food and special prizes, an inflatable playground, and a martial arts demonstration, as well as fire, police, and EMS vehicle displays. Several area church choirs will also perform and an Army National Guard helicopter will fly in and make what is sure to be a memorable landing.
Our police department will sponsor a child identification booth where parents can have their children photographed and fingerprinted. “Safe Kids” child safety seat technicians will also be on hand to demonstrate the proper installation of child safety seats and community crime prevention officers will distribute information on topics such as vehicle security, home security, and personal safety.
The police department will also offer a K-9 demonstration and D.A.R.E. presentation, share information on upcoming Community Watch initiatives and provide rosters designed to help new neighborhoods develop their own Community Watch programs.
To be included in the Wake Forest Police Department’s NNO observance on Tuesday, Aug. 2, contact Officer S. Graham at (919) 554-6150 or sgraham@wakeforestnc.gov. For more information about NNO, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/residents/police_nationalnightout.aspx.