County Manager Shontell Robinson reflects on Hurricane Helene and encourages residents to stay prepared for natural disasters.
October 2025 - Vol. 13
Forsyth holds Fun Fest in the park
Thank you to everyone who came out to Fun Fest last month! We had a great time at our new Highland Avenue Park with information for residents about our services, a job fair, flu shots, activities for kids, grilled hot dogs for attendees and more. We hope to see everyone next year! You can view more photos from the event here.
Food and Nutrition benefits are changing
Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) work requirements are changing. Requirements for working 80 hours a month will now include:
- Recipients age 18-64
- Veterans, homeless, youth in foster care over 18 years-old
- Able-bodied adults with children 14 years-old and older
Job training and school attendance may count towards the work requirement.
FNS recipients qualify for free job training opportunities with Forsyth Technical Community College, Second Harvest Food Bank’s Culinary Arts Training Program and Goodwill Workforce Programs.
Forsyth Social Services staff have begun working with local news media to get the word out about the FNS changes.
For more information on Food and Nutrition Services work requirements, visit our FNS page.
County Manager
In This Issue
County Commissioner Update
The Forsyth County Commissioners walked to bring awareness to infant mortality and greeted attendees at Forsyth County Fun Fest last month. They’re constantly out and about at community events and enjoy meeting their constituents.
One place you can always find them, is in their regular meetings. Here’s this month’s schedule:
- Monday, Oct. 6 Briefing at 2 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 9 Meeting at 2 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 20 Briefing at 2 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 23 Meeting at 2 p.m.
During briefings, staff brief the commissioners on the items they'll vote on in that week's meeting. During meetings, they vote on various items and hear from residents during their regular public comment session.
Meetings and briefings are held at the Forsyth County Government Center, 201 N. Chestnut St. Meetings are streamed live in their entirety on Forsyth County YouTube and Facebook, as well as the Forsyth County website and are also broadcasted live on WSTV13 on Spectrum cable.
Volunteers needed for new Forsyth County Fire Commission
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners is seeking volunteer members for its new Fire Commission.
The Fire Commission will consist of individuals representing the county fire service and those served by the fire service, which serves Forsyth County residents outside of Winston-Salem. The commission will continuously study the county's fire and rescue service and provide recommendations on how to improve them to the county commissioners.
The Fire Commission will have 11 voting members, appointed by the county commissioners. Three positions are ex officio, filled by people currently serving in certain offices:
- 1 county commissioner
- 1 president of the Forsyth County Firefighters Association
- 1 vice-president of the Forsyth County Firefighters Association
Eight voting positions on the board are open for applications:
- 6 residents of Forsyth County served by county fire service who are not an employee, volunteer, family member or board member of a fire department that contracts with the county
- 2 chief officers or board members of a fire department in Forsyth County that contracts with the county to provide fire service
Additionally, there is one representative of a contracting municipality who will be a non-voting member. This representative should be the chief fire or administrative officer of the municipality.
Terms for commission members who are not ex officio will initially be staggered:
- 2 residents and 1 non-voting representative of a contracting municipality will have a term that expires Dec. 31, 2026
- 2 residents and 1 representative of a contracting fire department will have a term that expires Dec. 31, 2027
- 2 Residents and 1 representative of a contracting fire department will have a full 3-year term that expires Dec. 31, 2028
After that, commission members who are not ex officio will serve 3-year terms and can serve no more than two full, 3-year terms.
The meeting schedule for the new commission is still being determined.
Walk brings awareness to Infant Mortality
We had more than 200 participants in the Walk a Mile to Save Our Babies, which brought attention to infant mortality.
Participants pushed 30 empty baby carriages representing the infants who died before their first birthday in 2023. This was a decline from 2022, when 40 infants died. The decline put Forsyth County’s infant mortality rate at 6.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, slightly below the statewide rate of 6.9.
Forsyth County Health and Human Services continues to work with community partners to improve pregnancy outcomes for mothers and their babies.
Overdose reversal drug available at libraries
The lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medication Narcan, also known as naloxone, is now available at all Forsyth County Public Library branches.
Narcan is a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose within minutes. It is safe to use, requires no medical training, and is recommended by health officials as a critical resource in addressing the overdose epidemic.
This initiative is made possible through opioid settlement funds dedicated to reducing the impact of the opioid crisis in our community, which Forsyth County Government has used, in part, to purchase the Narcan.
Training on how and when to use Narcan will be held at the Clemmons Branch Library, 6365 James St., on Oct. 7 from 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Forsyth HHS at the Carolina Classic Fair Oct 3-12
Forsyth County Health and Human Services (HHS) will have a Diaper Changing and Breastfeeding Station at the Carolina Classic Fair. The booth will be located in Tot Town and open daily from October 3–12, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You are welcome to stop by for a clean, comfortable space to change or feed your little ones while also connecting with HHS programs and resources.
Last year, we served more than 200 families, and we look forward to seeing even more this year. Please stop by to say hello—the HHS staff would be happy to see you!
Diabetes Prevention Classes
Our next Minority Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) enrollment event is Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. at Carl H. Russell Community Center, 3521 Carver School Road.
The free, year-long program is for those who are pre-diabetic or at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. It teaches healthy eating, meal planning, physical activity and overcoming barriers. This proven program can help you make modest lifestyle changes that will cut your risk of type 2 diabetes by more than half.
If you or anyone you know would like to learn more about MDPP or join the program, please contact Dr. Kasey Wilkie at (336) 703-3219 or wilkiekl@forsyth.cc.
Age Friendly Conference on Oct 13
Join us for this year's Age-Friendly Conference (formerly the Quality Aging Conference), on Oct. 13 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Intergenerational Center for Arts & Wellness, 114 W. 30th St. in Winston-Salem.
This free event, hosted by Senior Services Age-Friendly Forsyth and Forsyth County Health and Human Services, is designed to give seniors and caregivers resources and information on living independently and maintaining the highest quality of life possible. Topics range from physical/mental health to home safety and much more. A Spanish track is also available.
Registration is full, but you can learn more and register for the waitlist on the Age-Friendly Conference's website.
Forsyth Child Support collects millions for local families
Child Support Services (CSS) at the Forsyth County Department of Social Services recently honored employees for collecting $22.5 million for local families in the last fiscal year.
A total of $22,585,853 was collected, which was 99.54% of their goal for the year, ranking them fifth in the state for total collections. CSS agents help locate non-custodial parents, establish the paternity of the children involved, petition the court to order child support payments and enforce the child support order.
During their annual Child Support Awareness Month event, numerous child support agents were honored for their accomplishments last fiscal year. Bonnie Reynolds was celebrated for having the Highest Total Collections with $1,064,462.99. Loumay Mendez was recognized for having the Highest Collection Rate, collecting 70.87 percent of ongoing support due for her cases. Heather Boles achieved the Highest Payment to Arrears, receiving payments to past due support on 72.90 percent of her cases. Donald Wilson was recognized for having the Highest Average Paternities per month, and LaJuanda Ellis had the Highest Average of Orders Established with an average of 27.42 per month.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and everyone is encouraged to wear purple to symbolize the courage it takes to endure the power, control, and isolation in addition to the resolve it takes to reach out for help. Wearing purple recognizes the trauma of all abusive and violent acts, whether physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, or financial and the resilience to rebuild a life after healing.
Our Forsyth County Bridges to Hope Family Justice Center, 725 Highland Ave, serves local individuals and families impacted by Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Elder Abuse, Child Maltreatment and Human Trafficking. For information, visit the Bridges to Hope website.
A Domestic Violence Vigil will be held on Oct. 23 at 5:45 p.m. at the Forsyth County Government Center, 201 N. Chestnut St. Bridges to Hope will be holding “Domestic Violence: Red Flags & Resources” on Oct. 29 at 12 noon in the Annex 1 Auditorium, 725 N. Highland Avenue.
Flu Shots at Forsyth Public Health
We're now offering free flu shots at the Forsyth County Department of Public Health, 799 N. Highland Ave. No appointment is needed. Clinic hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Opioid Settlement Meeting
Forsyth County Government is holding its annual public input session on local strategies addressing the opioid epidemic with local county and municipal leaders on October 29 at the Forsyth County Central Library, 660 W. 5th St, in Winston-Salem from 6 - 7:30 p.m. There will be a short update on current trends, prioritized strategies and funding authorizations, followed by a listening session.
Surplus county items up for auction
It's time for another auction of surplus property on GovDeals! Need chairs? Filing cabinets? Gym equipment? Vehicles? And, of course, there will be many, many other surplus items on www.govdeals.com from Oct. 6-20. Items can be found after the auction starts by searching “Forsyth County, NC” on the site.
Interested parties may schedule an appointment to view the items through Oct. 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by contacting Marc Campbell at 336-703-2232.
The items that will go up for auction are listed at the bottom of the resolution approving the auction.
The Commissioners regularly approve the sale of surplus items. County staff tries to reuse items as much as possible before disposing of them through an auction. The last auction brought in $100,599.36.
Tanglewood Clubhouse now open
The brand-new Golf Pro Shop in the Clubhouse at Tanglewood Park is now open! All golf and pro shop operations are in the new building, located right where the old clubhouse once stood. While the event spaces, grill, and bar inside the new clubhouse aren’t open just yet, we’ll be sharing updates as soon as those opening dates are set. Golfers should now check in at the new clubhouse before heading out to the course.
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