The life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored at a celebration on Thursday, Jan. 18, at Friendship Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on Friendship Chapel Road. Several local churches and organizations are involved in the annual remembrance wich will begin at 6 p.m. with a light meal followed by the program at 7 p.m. Part of the program focuses on local students who entered and won the three contests – art, essay and performance – at the different school levels. The committee will also award two $500 scholarships to local graduating seniors

Mayor Vivian Jones will deliver her 2018 State of the Town Address on Monday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. during the 10th annual State of the Town Address and Dinner. Presented by the Wake Forest Rotary Club, the event will take place at the Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, 12605 Capital Boulevard. During her remarks, Mayor Jones will highlight the Town’s key accomplishments in 2017 and outline the goals Wake Forest will strive towards in 2018. All area residents are invited to attend. Tickets are $15 per person in advance and $20 on the day of the event and include a catered meal. Dress for the event is business casual. Tickets can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit card at www.wakeforestnc.gov/state-of-the-town.aspx. Tickets may also be purchased at the Renaissance Centre Box Office with cash, check or credit card. A processing fee will be added to the cost

North East Wake Backpack Buddies provides weekend meal bags for 400 children in 20 elementary and middle schools from Wake Forest to Zebulon. “In order to continue to provide weekend meal bags to hungry children and grow our program with the increasing need, we have started a winter giving campaign,” organizers said last week. It costs $10 to fill each weekend bag with well-rounded, healthy breakfasts, lunches and dinners. The group needs the community’s help with financial or food donations and always needs volunteers to pack and deliver the bags. To learn how to donate, go to the website, www.newbackpackbuddies.org or send an email to Kelley Barnes, secretary@newbackpackbuddies.org, or Meghann Smits, communications@newbackpackbuddies.org. The year-round schools served are Heritage Elementary, Heritage Middle, Sanford Creek Elementary, Rolesville Middle, Jones Dairy Elementary, Harris Creek Elementary and Durant Middle. The traditional calendar schools are Rolesville Elementary, Wake Forest Elementary, Wake Forest Middle, East Millbrook

The Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce is teaming with the Wake Forest Rotary Club, Wake Technical Community College, and the Town of Wake Forest to “Launch Wake Forest.” The free program mirrors one in Raleigh in which entrepreneurs are provided training, resources, and mentors to help them start or grow a business. The coalition will provide eight weeks of classes (one evening per week). The curriculum has been developed by Wake Tech’s Entrepreneurship Initiative. At the end of the training, students are paired with experienced businesspeople who will act as mentors for another six months. Students will also have access to microloans and possibly investments. The program is aimed at entrepreneurs who have a great idea but don’t know where to start, as well as those who are already in business and need to learn how to get to the next level. At the end of the sessions, students

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre is inviting local veterans and their families to the Operation A.R.T. Open House on Thursday, Jan. 4, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Arts Annex at 405 Brooks Street. From January through April, the Renaissance Centre will partner with The Joel Fund to offer photography, drawing, painting and writing classes for local veterans and their families through Operation A.R.T. – a collaborative project designed entirely for active and military personnel in and around our community. The Jan. 4 Open House is an opportunity for active military, veterans and their families to learn about these classes and register. The classes will meet according to the following schedule: Writing – Wednesdays, Jan. 3-31; 3-4:30 p.m. Painting – Thursdays, Jan. 4-25; 6-7:30 p.m. Photography (Session One) – Mondays, Jan. 8-Feb. 5; 6-7:30 p.m. Photography (Session Two) – Wednesdays, Feb. 7-28; 6-7:30 p.m. Drawing – Wednesdays, March 7-28;

*The Wake Forest Farmers Market will be open from 10 a.m. to noon (winter hours) Saturday, Dec. 23, in Renaissance Plaza on Brooks Street. Local farmers and artisans will offer meats, seasonal vegetables, bread and baked goods and other local wares. See the market’s Facebook page for information about the vendors. *Monday Night Bingo at The Factory is hosted by the Wake Forest Kiwanis Club in the Mill Room from 7 to 9:30 p.m. every Monday night. All profits support the club’s projects for children. Visit www.wakeforestbingo.com for more information. *Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry at 149 East Holding Avenue is now open from 9 to 11 a.m. every third Saturday along with its regular hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for food distribution. It serves about 700 families in Wake Forest, Youngsville, Rolesville and their surrounding areas. Call 919-556-7144 for information about receiving food, volunteering