Wake Forest Power has been named a 2017 Tree Line USA utility by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The award acknowledges Wake Forest Power’s commitment to proper tree pruning, planting and care and is the third year Wake Forest Power has earned the honor. “Wake Forest Power’s efforts in meeting Tree Line USA requirements, which include training our workers in quality tree-care practices and helping our customers plant appropriate trees near utility lines, not only helps to enhance our urban forest, but also results in long-term operation savings,” Forest Mayor Vivian Jones said. “The fact that we experienced very few power outages during Hurricane Matthew and January’s ice storm is a testament to our tireless efforts regarding the care of our urban forest.” The Tree Line USA award will be presented formally to Wake Forest Power during Saturday’s Annual Arbor Day Celebration at E. Carroll Joyner Park. Wake Forest Power

The Wake Forest Dream League is inviting area residents to help celebrate its 10th anniversary season during a special opening day on Saturday, April 22, at Heritage High Park, 1140 Forestville Road. Opening Day 2017 will begin with player introductions at 10 a.m., followed by the ceremonial throwing of the first pitch of the season by Wake Forest Mayor Vivian Jones. The event is free and the entire community is invited. Open to school-age participants with special needs, the Wake Forest Dream League is the result of a vision of two brothers, Maurice and Nicholas Savage. In 2007 Maurice and Nicholas sought assistance from the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department in developing and administering a baseball league for children with special needs. League play began on April 26, 2008, with nearly 20 area children signed on to participate. Since then well over 200 young people have enjoyed playing America’s

April 22 is an important date for12 Wake Forest high school seniors because two of them will be named the 2017 Trentini scholars for their schools, Heritage and Wake Forest high. The names of the winners will be announced during the 37th annual Trentini Banquet at The Forks Cafeteria. It begins at 6 p.m. and tickets are still available at www.trentinifoundation.org. The speaker is Coach George Whitfield, a member of seven different halls of fame including the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, who began coaching in 1959, the same year as Coach Tony Trentini. Whitfield’’s baseball teams won eight state championships and 15 conference titles. The faculty and administration at the two high schools select six nominees for the scholarships, and a committee from the Trentini board of directors interview and choose the winners. The selection criteria include overall achievement in academics, athletics, leadership and school activities; fulfilled potential

A Wake Forest favorite, Marcus Anderson and his band will lead off this year’s Six Sundays in Spring concert series on Sunday, April 30, in the amphitheater at E. Carroll Joyner Park on Harris Road. The rest of the lineup for the series will offer something for all music lovers – from jazz to bluegrass to Celtic and mariachi. It begins with Faol Liath on May 7; the EG Peters Band on May 14; Hank, Pattie & The Current on May 21; Walking for Pennies on May 28; and Charros de Mexico on June 4. The concerts are free and last from 5 to 7 p.m. A variety of food and dessert trucks will be on site for each Six Sundays in Spring concert. Food and dessert trucks scheduled to participate on April 30 include the VFW Chuckwagon, Lumpy’s Ice Cream, Baozi, Cocoa Forte, Big Al’s BBQ, and Bam Pow

Not only will there be the expected arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, live music and children’s activities during the 37th annual Meet in the Street on Saturday, May 6, but there will be a special section – the chamber parking lot – for 15 young entrepreneurs ages 9 to 14 selling their wares – bird houses, dog treats, jewelry and more. Vendor booths, food booths, and entertainment will be spread throughout downtown, filling South White Street, South Brooks Street and South Taylor Street. The live music stage, presented by UNC Rex Healthcare, will be at the corner of White and Owen Street next to the beer garden. Four groups – URMOM, Rebekah Todd & the Odyssey, Arts Fishing Club and East Coast Rhythm & Blues – will perform during the day. The performing arts stage presented by WakeMed will be in Centennial Plaza in front of Wake Forest Town

Acclaimed gospel and blues singer and 2015 Grammy Award-winning performer Mike Farris will perform at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts, on Friday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 (plus tax) for adults and $13 (plus tax) for seniors and can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit card at wakeforestrencen.org. Advance tickets may also be purchased with cash, check or credit card at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St. On the day of the concert tickets can be purchased at the door for $18 (plus tax). A processing fee will be added to the cost of any ticket purchased with a credit card. With his sensational, original voice and The Roseland Rhythm Revue, Farris makes music that both transcends and blends gospel, blues, Memphis soul, old-time string band, hokum and New Orleans. Farris formed the Screamin’

There is still time to sign up for the Archeology Workshop on Saturday, April 29, sponsored by the Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission that will be held at both the Alston-Massenburg Center and the Ailey Young House on North White Street. The house, a one-and-one-half-story saddlebag house (that description will be explained during the workshop) is a rare example of Reconstruction-era rental housing that was the childhood home of Allen Young, an important educator in the history of Wake Forest and the state. It is named for his mother, who bought the house after renting it, and one of his daughters, who was the first black and second woman commissioner in the town. The April 29 workshop is open to everyone, but may be of particular interest to those with an interest in history, historic preservation and archaeology. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required at www.wakeforestnc.gov/archaeology-workshop.aspx.

On Saturday May 13, 2017, the Wake Forest Garden Club will host its annual Mad Hatter Tea Party at the Wake Forest Historical Museum at 414 North Main Street. This year the Garden Tour is back featuring local garden-themed artists at each lovely garden location. The events will include the Mad Hatter Tea from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Garden and Art Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  This is a two-ticket event, so pick and choose your preference for the Tea Party or Garden Tour or don’t miss out on either and attend both. The $20 traditional plated tea will be served in the Wake Forest Historical Museum. The $15 garden tour featuring 10 area gardens and artists will wend through the historic area. Free events include a plant sale and classic car show. Tickets for both events are available on-line at Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ 

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will sponsor the D.R.I.V.E. (Dedication, Reach, Innovative, Vision, Endurance) for Success Men’s Workshop on Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Alston-Massenburg Center at 416 N. Taylor St. Designed for young men ages 10 to 18, the free workshop will be hosted by Wake Forest Commissioner Anne Reeve and Parks and Rec Director Ruben Wall and focus on a variety of topics of importance to young men. The event is free and a continental breakfast will be provided. A limited number of seats are available. Pre-registration is required at http://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/recdeskportal/. For more information, contact Lisa Jacobs at 919-556-7063 or ljacobs@wakeforestnc.gov.

Wake Forest RFL Fundraising Inc. – a tax-exempt organization made up of a group of community volunteers – will sponsor a 5K themed run in downtown Wake Forest on Saturday morning, April 29, beginning at 9 a.m. This fundraiser is in support of the Raleigh Relay For Life that will be held in June at Leesville High School. This is a run for individual participants and a real 5K relay for three-people teams, each person running one mile. The run is a timed event by Precision Race on a certified course starting and finishing in front of the Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce at 350 South White Street in downtown Wake Forest. Each participant receives a runner bag of goodies including a runner shirt and valuable items from local merchants. First place overall men and women will receive a pair of Rayban Sunglasses from the Eyecare Center of Wake Forest.