The Wake Forest Town Board is inviting local youth and adult community organizations to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each board meeting. The invitation includes sports teams, church groups, civic clubs and scouts. The commissioners and mayor meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the second-floor board chamber in the Wake Forest Town Hall. Contact Executive Assistant Cathi Pope at 919-435-9467, cpope@wakeforestnc.gov to volunteer. * * * * Perhaps the second oldest house in the Wake Forest area, the Purefoy Dunn house between Capital Boulevard and the street Sam’s Club is on is for sale and has been for more than a year. It stands next to the nearly complete new ABC store, which will probably open in early March if there is enough good weather to pave the parking lot. Kima Commercial Real Estate is advertising the house as either a

Monday the Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce announced it is partnering with Food Lion for a Community Raffle with a top prize of $10,000 in cash and 15 other prizes. The money raised will benefit the chamber, and Tri-Area Ministry Food Pantry will receive a $5,000 donation. Only 1,500 tickets – which are $50 each – will be sold. The drawing will be held May 5. You do have to be 18 or older to participate. You can purchase tickets online at https://go.rallyup.com/wfcommunityraffle or in person at the Wake Forest Chamber office at 350 South White Street or at B&W Hardware at 232 South White Street. The prizes apart from the $10,000 in cash are $5,000 AAA Travel Voucher Full Set of Braces/Invisalign ($5,000 value) or $2,000 cash presented by Bumgarner & Martin Orthodontics $2,000 Triangle Town Center Gift Card $1,000 Food Lion Gift Card $1,000 B&W Hardware Gift

Join your friends and neighbors in downtown Wake Forest this Saturday, Feb. 10, for the Sixth Annual Wake Forest Mardi Gras Street Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. And it is free. Promising fun-filled activities for both children and adults, the Mardi Gras Street Festival will include face painters, strolling entertainers, live music, an inflatable playground, special contests and much more. One of the day’s highlights promises to be the Mardi Gras Walking Parade. The lineup will begin at 12:45 p.m. in town hall’s Centennial Plaza at 301 Brooks Street, and the parade gets underway at 1 p.m. The parade route will extend from town hall, up East Owen Avenue and north along South White Street before ending at the Depot Parking Lot. The walking parade is open to both children and adults. No pre-registration is required; however, all children must be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Youngsters

The 2018 Koinonia Cares Charity Auction will be held where The Koinonia Foundation began, the Wake Forest Baptist Church, on Saturday, March 24, from  5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Formed in 1990 by the Koinonia Sunday School Class at Wake Forest Baptist to help the disadvantaged in the community, The Koinonia Foundation of Wake Forest has grown to be an interdenominational non-profit providing financial support for organizations that address human needs which are not otherwise adequately funded and periodically to individuals demonstrating a critical need. The event features a full dinner and a silent and live auction of unique items and valuable services donated by local businesses, artists and individuals. Tickets are $20 per person and only 175 will be sold. Tickets may be purchased online at www.koinoniaWF.org or at these downtown Wake Forest locations: Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce, 350 South White Street Ollies Café & Gifts, 213 South White Street

Bright Star Touring Theatre, a national professional touring theatre company based in Asheville, will offer a free performance of “Black History Heroes, Soldiers & Spies” Saturday, Feb. 17, at 11 a.m. at the Alston-Massenburg Center at 416 North Taylor Street. Geared for ages 6 and older, this exciting production will captivate audiences as they are drawn into some of the most interesting stories from Black History. Experience the work of the Buffalo Soldiers as they explore the American West. Join the Tuskegee Airmen as they take flight to help win World War II. Travel with spies such as Mary Elizabeth Bowser who worked for the Union during the Civil War. Admission is free and everyone is invited. For more information, call the Alston-Massenburg Center at 919-554-6189.