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Welcome to the Wednesday Wink!
In this week's installment, we offer details on our RecDesk "How To" videos and March 19 Coffee With a Commissioner, share information about upcoming classes and Meals on Wheels, including the March menu, remind you about our Book Worms Book Club, Learn to Play Crokinole sessions, Wake Forest Bridge Club, and Tuesday Karaoke, share "News You Can Use" & more!
| | Registration for April-June classes are coming up! | |
Resident registration opens Monday, March 9, at 8 a.m.
Non-Resident registration opens Wednesday, March 11, at 8 a.m.
Be sure to check out our new category filters to narrow down your search!
PLEASE NOTE: Programs are organized alphabetically on the RecDesk Community Portal. We encourage you to scroll through all of our program offerings or try out the search bar so you don't miss a thing!
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In 2025 the Town of Wake Forest developed a series of videos that provide useful instructions on the following RecDesk topics:
Click on each of the links above to view the corresponding video or click on the image above/button below to access our library of videos on the Town website.
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You're invited to share coffee and conversation with Wake Forest Commissioner Faith Cross!
Commissioner Cross is now hosting "Coffee With a Commissioner" on the third Thursday of each month from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the WFCAA lobby.
Coffee With a Commissioner is an opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee with Commissioner Cross while sharing your thoughts and opinions about the WFCAA - and anything else that's on your mind - in a relaxed and comfortable setting.
No appointment is necessary and everyone is welcome, so we look forward to seeing you on Thursday, March 19, at 9:30 a.m.
For more information, email Monica Lileton.
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Register Today for These Upcoming Classes | |
March Introduction to Gmail
Monday-Thursday | March 9-12 | Noon-2 pm
This four-day Introduction to Gmail (Google Electronic Mail) class provides students with hands-on experience using a function rich electronic mail (Email) application.
The Google Gmail browser application is free to use and each student will create their own account and profile to practice in a classroom environment.
FREE for residents & non-residents
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March Scrapbook Page
Monday, March 9 | 10 am-Noon
Scrapbook Page - Highlight your favorite memories in this fun, engaging free community class offered by the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre! Bring your favorite photos from home and the rest of the materials will be provided to create a one-of-a kind scrapbook page you will feel proud to display. Inspiration as well as guided instruction will also be provided.
FREE for residents & non-residents
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Mountain Dulcimer Advanced Beginner
Tuesdays | 9:30-10:45 am
*Registration for this program begins Monday, March 9, at 8 a.m. for residents and Wednesday, March 11, for non-residents.
Now that you know how to play the mountain dulcimer, this class explores folk songs, hymns, and traditional mountain music in various styles and tempos.
Emphasis is on playing melodies and harmonies smoothly by improving fingering, listening skills, changing rhythms, flat picking, and creating arpeggios. Whether you’re playing solo or in a group, this class will help you be creative and have fun.
Must Have: Basic beginner skills for playing
Course Materials: If you have a Dulcimer, please bring it. If you do not have one, you may borrow one from the WFCAA by completing the loaner form.
FREE for residents & non-residents
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Plein Air Watercolor
Tuesdays | March 10-24 | 1-3 pm
Plein-Air is French for “in the open air”. Join us out in nature as we capture the spring scenes. Both beginners and experienced students will find joy in capturing color and practicing movement. All materials provided.
*THIS IS AN OUTDOOR CLASS. Please dress accordingly!*
Residents: $25 | Non-Residents: $32
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Beginner Chess
Thursdays | March 19-May 7 | 8:30-9:30 am
Learn the basics of chess in a relaxed and supportive setting. This class will cover the rules of the game, how each piece moves, and simple strategies to help you build confidence. Participants will have time to practice, play, and enjoy this classic game while developing their skills at their own pace.
FREE for residents & non-residents
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March Spring Clean the Natural Way
Tuesday, March 24 | 10-11 am
Give your home a fresh start this spring with simple, non-toxic cleaning solutions that really work. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to replace harsh chemical cleaners with safe, natural alternatives using essential oils – not only for cleaning but also for naturally freshening the air.
We’ll create a natural all-purpose cleaning spray for counters, sinks, and everyday surfaces, plus a refreshing room spray to brighten your home with uplifting, clean scents. You’ll also discover which essential oils work best for freshening the air, cutting through grime, and supporting a healthy, sparkling home.
This class is easy, fun, and perfect for anyone looking to simplify their cleaning routine and enjoy a cleaner, greener spring.
Residents: $10 | Non-Residents: $13
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Beginner Guitar
Fridays | March 27-May 22 | 9:30-11 am
*Registration for this program begins Monday, March 9, at 8 a.m. for residents and Wednesday, March 11, for non-residents.
Now is your chance to get that guitar out of the closet and learn how to play it. You will learn to read music, different strumming patterns, and chord structure.
Please bring your own guitar to class. No class April 3rd.
FREE for residents & non-residents
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Virtual Lecture through OLLI: Congressional Committees
Wednesdays | March 18 & 25 | 9-10:30 am
While mentioned nowhere in the Constitution, from the first Congress, committees have been an integral part of congressional operations. They have been central to congressional efforts to make laws, conduct oversight, and "advise and consent,” among other responsibilities.
Committees have served as platforms upon which productive political careers and legacies have been built, as well as a stage for historical events.
This course will look at the evolving role of congressional committees over time, looking at what they do, how their role has changed and what it all means to the modern political and governmental processes.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a virtual lecture offered by Osher Life Long Learning through NC State.
$2 for Residents & Non-Residents
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Discovering NC Mountains to Sea Trail
Monday, March 23 | 10-11 am
Jerry Barker is a lifelong outdoorsman and hiker, and first director of Camp Oak Hill & Retreat Center north of Oxford. He retired as an administrator from NC State University, as Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Emeritus.
Jerry maintains a section of the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) at Falls Lake, and in 2025 was named Falls Lake section volunteer of the year.
He served on the board of Friends of MST for nine years with three years as Board President. He completed the entire trail in 2017 at age 71, as a three-year “section hiker,” which inspired him to write a book with UNC Press focused on history and culture along the MST. It is not a guidebook but a companion for hikers and armchair explorers.
The MST is the longest NC state hiking trail and stretches approximately 1,175 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. Along the trail, you will see mountain vistas, rolling Piedmont farms, rivers and streams, miles of seashore, and more, as Barker offers a new way to understand and appreciate not only the natural beauty of North Carolina but also its people and history – the stories that live on each segment.
Join us for this hour-long presentation and Q&A to learn more about the MST and Jerry’s in-depth book. Following the presentation, you can purchase your own copy of the book for $28 via cash, credit card, or check (made out to Friends of MST).
*All book proceeds directly benefit the non-profit Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea-Trail.
FREE for residents & non-residents
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Virtual Lecture through OLLI: The American Presidency
Monday, March 23 | 3-4 pm
There is little doubt that the American presidency has undergone significant changes in recent years.
This lecture will examine the political, social, and institutional conditions that contributed to this evolution, as well as the potential long-term impacts on the office for future administrations.
We will also explore the historical foundations of the presidency and consider what changes might be necessary for the institution to align more closely with the vision outlined by the Founders in the U.S. Constitution.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a virtual lecture offered by Osher Life Long Learning through NC State.
$2 for Residents & Non-Residents
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WakeMed: BEFAST Stop Stroke in its Tracks
Wednesday, May 27 | 2-3 pm
Join WakeMed to learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of a stroke using the easy-to-remember acronym BEFAST. Knowing what to look for, and how to respond, could help save a life.
FREE for residents & non-residents
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Open Session Poetry Writing
Wednesdays | April 1-29 | 2-3 pm
Join us for a relaxed open writing session where participants can write and share their poetry in a supportive and creative environment.
Whether you are a seasoned writer or just getting started, this is a wonderful opportunity to express yourself and connect with others who enjoy the written word.
Drop in, no registration required. Please bring a notebook and pen/pencil. No class on April 15.
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WakeMed: BEFAST Stop Stroke in its Tracks
Wednesday, May 27 | 2-3 pm
Join WakeMed to learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of a stroke using the easy-to-remember acronym BEFAST. Knowing what to look for, and how to respond, could help save a life.
FREE for residents & non-residents
| Recurring Events & Initiatives | |
Tech Assistance Program
Monday-Friday | 3-5 pm
We've expanded our Tech Assistance Program!
Our free technology assistance program has been a huge success in helping our members get the help they need with phones, computers, tablets and more!
Now, the WFCAA is offering technology assistance Monday through Friday from 3-5 p.m.
Act now to book an hour-long appointment with one of our student volunteers and obtain invaluable assistance with your smartphone, computer, or tablet.
To make an appointment, call 919-554-4111.
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Learn to Play Crokinole
Second & Fourth Mondays | 3-5 pm
Third Wednesdays | 2-4 pm
Crokinole is commonly referred to as "the most fun game you've never heard of."
Crokinole is a disk-flicking dexterity board game, possibly of Canadian origin, similar to the games of pitchnut and carrum, with elements of shuffleboard and curling reduced to table-top size.
Players take turns shooting discs across the circular playing surface, trying to land their discs in the higher-scoring regions of the board, particularly the recessed center hole of 20 points, while also attempting to knock opposing discs off the board, and into the 'ditch.
Learn to play Crokinole in 15 minutes, then enjoy it forever!
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Tuesday Karaoke
Tuesdays | 1-2 pm
Join us for Tuesday Karaoke every Tuesday from 1-2 p.m. This FREE program is first come, first serve, members only, no registration required.
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Wednesday Bingo
Wednesdays | Noon-1:30 pm
Join us for FREE drop-in bingo games every Wednesday from noon-1:30 p.m.!
This program is first come, first serve, members only, no registration required.
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Book Worms Book Club
Second Wednesday/Month | 1-2 pm
Meetings are scheduled on the second Wednesday of each month from 1-2 pm in the WFCAA Library. No registration needed. All members are welcome, regardless of whether they've read the book.
At each session, we share lively discussions about that month's selected book, exchange recommendations for future reads, and enjoy connecting over our shared love of literature. Whether you're a devoted reader or just curious, our club is a great place to meet new friends and discover interesting stories together. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming meetings and hope you'll join us in exploring our 2026 Reading List.
Remaining 2026 Reading List
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Mar 11: James by James Percival Everett
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Apr 8: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
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May 13: Homecoming by Kate Morton
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Jun 10: The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
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Jul 8: The Second Home by Christina Clancy
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Aug 12: The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer
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Sep 9: The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
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Oct 14: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman
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Nov 4: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (November we meet on the first Wednesday)
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Dec 10: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
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Acoustic Jam
Second & Fourth Thursday/Month | 2-4 pm
Hosted by Steve Pfanenstiel, Acoustic Jam is open to all ages and skill levels.
Traditional, Folk, Bluegrass, Country, Rock and Pop music welcome.
All musical instruments are also welcome (guitar, ukulele, voice, banjo, violin, mandolin etc.)
Bring your own instruments, sing along, or just listen!
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Wake Forest Bridge Club
Fridays | Noon-3 pm
New identity … same beautiful WFCAA location. Pre-game mini lesson; intermediate level bridge experience.
Take your seat and play to win. See what good fortune the cards have in store for you! Will it be 4 Aces, a 5-card Major, a No Trump Stayman-Blackwood combo, or the elusive Grand Slam? The sky's the limit when you play bridge in the Wake Forest Bridge Club.
For more information or to reserve a seat at the table, call Jane at 919-529-4385.
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Meals on Wheels of Wake County strives to nourish and enrich the lives of its clients through the services it provides, including Home-Delivered Meals and Friendship Cafes.
The Home-Delivered Meals program helps clients maintain a healthy lifestyle and remain living independently by providing nutritious meals, a weekly safety check, and friendly interaction.
To be eligible for a home-delivered meal, you must be:
- 60 years of age or older
- Living in Wake County
Additional factors contributing to eligibility may include:
- Being homebound or needing help leaving your home
- Unable to prepare meals or shop for yourself
- Recent hospital stay or ongoing health problems
- Primarily living alone or with a caregiver
To apply for home-delivered meals, complete the Application for Services. For more information, call Meals on Wheels of Wake County at 919-833-1749.
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Meanwhile, Meals on Wheels also offers a Friendship Café at several locations throughout Wake County, including the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging.
The Friendship Cafe is a space for seniors to eat with their peers and enjoy experiences together. Friendship Cafe provides the much-needed social connections that are proven to improve both health and wellness in seniors.
Meeting Room E at the WFCAA serves as the Friendship Café Monday-Friday according to the following schedule:
- 9-10 a.m. - Social hour
- 10-11 a.m. - Activity hour, including mentally and physically stimulating activities
- 11-11:20 a.m. - Meals served
- 11:20 a.m.-Noon - Lunch and fellowship
The Friendship Cafe serves anyone who is 60 or older and registers to participate. To register, please visit the Friendship Café Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and noon and ask to speak with Site Managers Ann Casey or Cynthia Wooten. For more information, email Ann Casey or call her at 480-612-1767.
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Want to be featured in the Wednesday Wink?
The Member Spotlight is an article in our weekly newsletter that highlights one WFCAA member and gives them the opportunity to share their favorite things about the center.
Complete and submit our Member Spotlight Form and share a bit about yourself with our fellow members!
| Calling All 2D Visual Artists | | |
The WFCAA, in partnership with the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, is accepting art submissions for the WFCAA's hallway gallery.
Submissions will be considered on a rolling basis, but the WFCAA is currently accepting artists' submissions for January through March 2026.
To submit your work, please complete our Gallery Submission Form.
Please note the following:
- Submitting artists must be members of the WFCAA to be eligible for consideration.
- Artwork must be original work, created solely by the artist.
- A committee comprised of WFCAA and Renaissance Centre representatives will select up to 10 submissions each quarter to be displayed in the WFCAA hallway gallery.
- Selected artwork must be framed and/or wired and ready to hang.
- All artworks will be available for purchase directly through each artist. Once a piece of artwork sells, the artist will replace the sold artwork with a new artwork. This practice will continue until the quarter is complete.
For more information, contact Renaissance Centre Arts Coordinator April Cannon at 919-435-9568.
| | WFCAA Renovation Project Update | | |
The carpet for the renovated offices is scheduled for installation in early March.
Thank you for your patience! Please email Monica if you have any questions.
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Tickets on sale for 2026 Wake Forest Film Festival
The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St., will host the 2026 Wake Forest Film Festival on Friday and Saturday, March 6-7. Tickets are $25 (plus tax) and can be purchased online, in person at the RC Box Office, or by calling 919-435-9458.
Earlier this year, the Renaissance Centre invited filmmakers from our community and around the world to submit their vibrant, diverse, and original works and become a part of the 2026 film festival. Altogether, over 150 films were submitted for consideration and 22 were selected to be featured during this year’s event.
The complete schedule, including movie titles and times, is now available in the playbill and on the Renaissance Centre website. For more information, call the Renaissance Centre at 919-435-9458 or email the box office.
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Wake County EMS to host community meeting about emergency response at Northern Regional Center March 9
Wake County EMS is making changes to its call response plan to ensure it gets the right care to the largest number of patients in the right amount of time. As always, the safety of patients and providers will be the top priority.
As part of these efforts to improve public safety for all, Wake County EMS will be reducing its use of lights and sirens. Studies conducted locally and nationwide have shown that in some cases, turning off the lights and siren during EMS response is the safest choice for everyone.
Wake County EMS has scheduled several public meetings across the county to provide more information, including one on Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m. at the Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave. Community members are invited to attend to learn more, ask questions, and provide feedback. Registration isn't required but is encouraged. Anyone who is unable to attend in person can register for a virtual option.
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Upcoming outdoor events easy to find on Town website & app
Beginning with the Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, March 28, and continuing through Good Neighbor Day on Saturday, Sept. 19. the Town of Wake Forest offers an incredible array of free outdoor events and activities for the entire family. From Friday Night on White and Six Sundays in Spring to Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park and Concerts in the Park, spring and summer in Wake Forest are jam-packed with fun-filled events guaranteed to get you out of the house and make winter but a distant memory.
To help inform community members about all these events, the Town offers the Wake Forest Outdoors portal on its website. The webpage provides detailed information about our area’s most popular spring and summer happenings, including the Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremonies, Forest Fest, Meet in the Street, Independence Day Celebration, National Trails Day, and Good Neighbor Day - just to name a few. Offering dates, times, locations, event descriptions and more, the portal is a useful reference for anyone anxious to get outside and take advantage of Wake Forest’s array of warm weather activities.
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Wake Forest Fire Department offering CPR classes for Wake Forest residents
The Wake Forest Fire Department (WFFD) offers monthly American Heart Association CPR Certification classes for Wake Forest residents at the Wake Forest Center for Active Aging, 235 E. Holding Ave. Classes are scheduled on the following Saturdays: March 21, April 18, May 16, and June 20.
Attendees can enroll in a four-hour or seven-hour class. In the four-hour session (9 a.m.-1 p.m.), participants learn CPR and how to correctly use an automated external defibrillator, or AED, a medical device that can help restore a normal heartbeat in certain situations. In the seven-hour class (9 a.m.-4 p.m.), participants learn CPR, how to use an AED, and basic first aid. Students who complete either session earn American Heart Association CPR Certification.
The cost for either class is $35 per person and preregistration is required. Please note: Only community members with a Wake Forest address are eligible to enroll in these classes.
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You have received this e-mail because you are subscribed to E-Notifier – part of the Town of Wake Forest’s e-mail subscription service. E-Notifier keeps you up-to-date on Town of Wake Forest news, information, and special events. If you believe you have been subscribed in error, or would like to cancel your subscription, you may unsubscribe below.
If you have questions or comments about the Town of Wake Forest website or E-Notifier, please contact Bill Crabtree by email or call 919-435-9421.
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