County Manager Shontell Robinson thanks Forsyth County employees for their efforts during the recent winter storm.
February 2026 - Vol. 17
Primary Early Voting is Feb 12-28
Early Voting for the March 3 Primary begins Feb. 12. For more information, including sample ballots, visit fcvotes.com.
| Thursday – Friday | Feb. 12-13 | 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
| Monday - Friday | Feb. 16-20 | 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Feb. 21 | 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
| Sunday | Feb. 22 | 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. |
| Monday - Friday | Feb. 23-27 | 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. |
| Saturday | Feb. 28 | 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
Locations
- Clemmons Branch Library, 6365 James St, Clemmons
- Paddison Memorial Branch Library, 248 Harmon Lane, Kernersville
- Lewisville Branch Library, 6490 Shallowford Road, Lewisville
- Mazie Woodruff Center, 4905 Lansing Drive, Winston-Salem
- Old Town Neighborhood Center, 4550 Shattalon Drive, Winston-Salem
- Rural Hall/Stanleyville Branch Library, 7125 Broad St, Rural Hall
- Southside Branch Library, 3185 Buchanan St, Winston-Salem
- United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, 450 Metropolitan Drive, Winston-Salem
Health Fair and Naloxone Training at Rupert Bell
Forsyth County, in partnership with Winston Salem Transit Authority and Winston-Salem Recreation Centers is hosting monthly resource fairs. The next fair will be at Rupert Bell Neighborhood Center, 1501 Mt Zion Place on February 10, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. The fair features community organizations that offer healthcare, counseling and social service resources.
The naloxone training will be held 6-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 and will teach participants how to reverse an opioid overdose.
The Naloxone Training will be held 6-7:30 p.m. on Feb.17 and will teach participants how to reverse an opioid overdose.
Monthly resource fairs and trainings will be held at different recreation centers or the Clark Campbell Transportation Center. You can see the full list of health resource fairs and Naloxone training events here.
County Manager
In This Issue
County Commissioner Update
Late last year, Forsyth County Commissioners approved leasing the unused Annex 2 Building on our Health and Human Services Campus to the City of Winston-Salem for use as an overflow shelter for unhoused individuals. This has helped ensure that unhoused individuals can find shelter in the cold winter months, even when the regular shelters are full, and was vitally needed with the recent winter storm.
Here’s this month’s full county commissioners meeting schedule:
View the County Commissioners' 2026 meeting schedule.
Here’s this month’s full county commissioners meeting schedule:
- Monday, Feb. 9 Briefing at 2 p.m.
-
Thursday, Feb. 12
Winter Work Session at 1 p.m.
Meeting at 6 p.m.
They’ll be attending the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference in Washington, DC from Feb. 21-24.
Cots in Annex 2 before they were placed for the overflow shelter that serves unhoused individuals.
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.
Early Literacy Workshop at Central Library
Join us for an Early Literacy Workshop on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Forsyth County Central Library Storytime Room. Youth Services librarians will be hosting a workshop to teach parents and caregivers how reading to, and later with, children from the time they’re babies through toddlerhood and preschool engages children’s curiosity and lays a foundation for them to be successful in elementary school.
Following the workshop, parents and caregivers can take a tour of the stacks on the third floor to review the library’s collection of nonfiction books on childhood literacy.
The blood pressure monitors are a collaboration between the Forsyth County Department of Public Health and the American Heart Association of the Triad.
Children of attending adults will be entertained in the auditorium during the workshop. Space is limited to 40 children. Registration is required.
Income Tax Filing Assistance
Help with filing your taxes is available at several Forsyth County Public Library branches through two different programs.
AARP WS Tax-Aide is accepting appointments for free tax assistance online or by calling 336-777-6189.
Appointments for the IRS’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program can be scheduled by calling 336-714-9206.
Be sure to come to your appointment prepared. Federal 1040 forms and instructions are available to pick up at Forsyth County Central Library. Call your local Library branch to see which forms are available to pick up. All federal and state tax forms and instructions are linked from the 2026 Free Tax Assistance Flyer.
AARP WS Tax-Aide appointments require completed tax packets, which are available for pick up at Central, Clemmons, Reynolda, and Southside branches. Packets can also be downloaded and printed from the AARP WS Tax-Aid website.
You also need to bring the following documents to your appointment:
- Photo ID for taxpayer (and spouse if filing jointly)
- Last year’s tax return
- All documents reflecting earnings
- W-2s, 1099s, Social Security statements (SSA-1099)
- Social Security ID or ITIN ID of each person on the tax return
- All childcare provider names, addresses and employer ID numbers (EIN) or SS numbers
- Evidence of deductible expenses
- Income and expenses for sole proprietorship (Schedule C)
- 1095-A form if health care coverage is through Marketplace (ACA) insurance
- Checking or savings account number for direct deposit of a refund
Library staff and volunteers are NOT able to provide any tax assistance or advice regarding tax forms or tax returns.
Black History Month at Public Library
All month long
Black History Month Scavenger Hunt at Southside Branch Library: Find 12 photographs of modern-day Black Leaders in the branch's children's area, decode a message, and receive a prize. For children ages 3-13.
Harriet Jacobs in the Attic at Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center: Learn about Harriet Jacobs, a fugitive North Carolina slave, by exploring a to-scale recreation of an attic space where she hid for seven years and listening to readings from her book, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, which was published in 1861. For all ages.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 4 p.m.
STEAM for Tweens at Paddison Memorial Branch Library: Make art projects in the style of African American artist Alma Thomas. For children ages 8-11. Registration required.
Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 4:30 p.m.
STEAM for Tweens: Black History Month Bottle Rockets at Carver School Road Branch Library: Learn about Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel in space and build stomp rockets. For children ages 8-12.
Saturday, Feb. 7 at 11 a.m.
Alma Thomas-inspired Collage at Rural Hall/Stanleyville Branch Library: Make colorful collages inspired by the artistry of Alma Thomas. For children ages 3-5.
Monday, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m.
STEAM for Teens at Paddison Memorial Branch Library: Make art projects in the style of African American artist Alma Thomas. For teens ages 12-18. Registration required.
Thursday, Feb. 12 at 3:30 p.m.
African American Read-In at Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center: A lively, welcoming celebration of stories, poetry and voices from African American authors. Register to be a reader by Feb. 9.
Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.
African American Read-In Chain at Forsyth County Central Library: This event will feature readings from books, poetry, plays and sermons by local or national African Americans. Register to be a reader by Feb. 3.
Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m.
Black History Month Trivia at Forsyth County Central Library: Join us at Black History Month Trivia Night in a Family Feud-style competition as we test your knowledge of the culture, the innovations and the way that Black Americans have changed the world.
There will be three rounds of trivia with the final teams going head-to-head for the Grand Prize, so team registration is required. Team registration required.
Thursday, Feb. 19 at 4:30 p.m.
Quilting on the Underground Railroad at Carver School Road Branch Library: Learn about the history of quilting during the Underground Railroad and complete a simple quilting project. For children ages 6-12.
Joseph Sloop is the New County CIO
Joseph Sloop has been promoted to chief information officer (CIO) for Forsyth County Government.
Sloop emerged as the top candidate after the county conducted a nationwide search. In his new position as CIO, he leads Management Information Services (MIS), which provides and maintains technology used by county departments. He previously served as deputy CIO for 3 years. He joined Forsyth County in 2011 as the county’s Geographic Information Office who led MapForsyth for nearly 12 years. Prior to that, he served in various positions for Yadkin County and the Town of Yadkinville, including a year and a half as town manager.
Sloop is a Certified Government CIO and GIS professional and holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Appalachian State University along with a doctorate from UNC Greensboro.
“Joseph is a respected and effective leader and a trusted colleague,” said County Manager Shontell Robinson. “I have full confidence in his ability to lead the department, advance the county’s technology initiatives, and continue delivering high-quality service to the organization.”
He succeeds longtime CIO, Gary Koontz, who retired in December.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as Forsyth County's chief information officer and look forward to continuing to use technology thoughtfully, transparently, and in ways that support county staff and our community,” said Sloop.
Property Tax Listing Deadline Looms
Residents have until Feb. 16 to list taxable property. Real estate in Forsyth County is permanently listed and does not require an annual listing unless you’ve made improvements to your property.
For more information, visit the pages for Individual Personal Property or the Business Personal Property.
No Ice is Safe Ice
No ice is safe ice! Don't walk on frozen lakes, creeks or ponds!
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