The Wake Forest Police Department and the Wake County Sheriff’s Office will co-host Coffee with a Cop on Friday, April 5, from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Wake Forest Coffee Company at 156 South White Street. Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for law enforcement and community members to come together in an informal, neutral setting to discuss community issues and build relationships – one cup of coffee at a time. Most of the contact law enforcement officers have with the public tends to occur during emergencies or emotional situations, which are often not the best times to build relationships. “Coffee with a Cop” aims to breaks down barriers and allow for relaxed, one-on-one interaction. All area residents are invited to attend, ask questions, and learn more about the Wake Forest Police Department and the Wake County Sheriff’s Department. Wake Forest Coffee Company will provide free standard

Tickets are on sale for “GRITS The Musical” Dinner Theatre on Saturday, April 6, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 Brooks Street. Perfect for a girls’ night out, GRITS (Girls Raised in the South) is a lively musical based on the book, “Friends are Forevah” by Deborah Ford. A full-production journey that will take you to and through the heart of the South, GRITS will have you laughing and crying, while transporting you back in time. Its four women, four generations and four different views. It’s your mother, your sister, your grandma, your best friend. Its sweet tea, collard greens, fresh tomatoes and banana pudding. Its country music, jazz tunes, old time blues and toe tappin’ rock. Its the old, the new and some things in between. Its about love and laughter, revelation and grace. GRITS The Musical is comprised of a four-woman cast spanning age groups from young

On Mondays at 6 p.m. from March 25 through April 29 local people are invited to the Alston-Massenburg Center at 416 North Taylor Street for a program called Beyond Bites, six weeks of free cooking classes to help them make better nutritional decisions, save money on groceries and improve your overall well-being and that of your family. The classes are limited to 25 adults who are encouraged to bring their children 5 and older. Preference will be given to residents in Wake Forest’s East End community. The classes are sponsored by Wake County, the Northeast Community Coalition, the Northern Community Food Security Team, the Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP). To register, either see Garrett at the center or call, email or text Paula Norris, ppnorris@ncsu.edu or 919-914-4115.

When someone you love gets a diagnosis of any kind of dementia, you have a choice.  What kind of journey do you want your loved one and yourself to take?  This talk is about your experience of the disease and how to make that much better. It will take place Thursday, March 21, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., one of several future events the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre is hosting to educate area residents about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Each event is designed to offer local families the opportunity to learn about dozens of dementia-related programs, services, products, and resources – all in one location. Pat Snyder will present “Choose Your Attitude for the Dementia Journey.” She is the author of “Treasures of Darkness: Extending the Early Stage of Lewy Body Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.” The Renaissance Centre is presenting these sessions in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association Eastern

Teens and young adults are encouraged to attend a Job & Resource Fair on Friday, March 29, at the Alston-Massenburg Center, 416 North Taylor Street, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event will offer those attending tips on preparing for an interview and creating a resume along with information about summer jobs, internships and career opportunities. Participants will be able to meet with area employers and agencies. The day will begin with a job readiness workshop from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. During the session, participants will learn how to prepare for an interview and build a resume. Lunch will be served from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by the job fair from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Preregistration is required at www.wakeforestnc.gov/job-resource-fair<http://www.wakeforestnc. /job-resource-fair>. A free lunch will be provided to everyone who preregisters. Preference for those attending will be those who live in Wake Forest’s East End. The Job

The first year of Wake Forest’s film festival, A Light in the Forest, will be Friday through Sunday, March 28 through 30, at the Renaissance Center on Brooks Street. Renaissance Centre Manager Cathy Gouge and Assistant Manager Debra Horton have lined up a wide range of films, from shorts to feature-length films, from documentary to horror, animation and narrative. There will be awards in all categories as well as certificates for screenplays and production. The festival is intended for both the general public and film professionals. Screenings and related activities all take place at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre. Full Film Fest packages are available that include all films, the festival opening reception, and the awards ceremony. Tickets are $40 per person, or for students with ID, $20 per person. A Films Day Pass is available for Friday, movies only, at $10 per person. A Friday+Saturday movies-only pass is $20 per

The Wake Forest Technology Advisory Board is inviting area middle and high school students and their parents to Wake Forest STEM Saturday 2019 on Saturday, April 13. Presented by the Wake Forest Wireless Research Center, this free family networking fair is scheduled from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 South Brooks Street. Celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM Saturday will expose students to a variety of STEM career options, while featuring STEM-related exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on learning activities. Parents can attend a panel discussion with some of our area’s top experts and STEM-related career professionals. Discussion topics are expected to include the importance of supporting children’s interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and the importance of attracting girls to fun and fascinating careers in STEM fields. The event will also feature several interactive booths where representatives from a variety of local businesses,

The Wake Forest Technology Advisory Board is inviting area middle and high school students and their parents to Wake Forest STEM Saturday 2019 on Saturday, April 13. Presented by the Wake Forest Wireless Research Center, this free family networking fair is scheduled from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 South Brooks Street. Celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM Saturday will expose students to a variety of STEM career options, while featuring STEM-related exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on learning activities. Parents can attend a panel discussion with some of our area’s top experts and STEM-related career professionals. Discussion topics are expected to include the importance of supporting children’s interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and the importance of attracting girls to fun and fascinating careers in STEM fields. The event will also feature several interactive booths where representatives from a variety of local businesses,

Area residents are invited to the 31st Wake Forest Memorial Flag-Raising Ceremony on Monday, April 1, at 11 a.m. The program, which will launch the 2019 memorial flag-raising season, will take place in Centennial Plaza, gateway to the Wake Forest Town Hall, at 301 Brooks Street. The April 1 service will honor George P. Timberlake Jr., who served his nation in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Members of Timberlake’s family will participate in the ceremony, which will include patriotic songs, special remarks, a memorial wreath laying and the ceremonial flag-raising. After raising the American flag, the Wake Forest Fire Department Honor Guard will raise the U.S. Navy service flag in recognition of the military branch in which Timberlake served. Both flags will fly in Centennial Plaza throughout April. Photographs and other remembrances of Timberlake will also be displayed in Centennial Plaza during the ceremony, then in the Town

“Southern Soul” performing artist Rissi Palmer will take to the stage at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts Saturday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale for $15 (plus tax) and can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit card at www.wakeforestrencen.org/tickets-events<http://www.wakeforestrencen.org/tickets-events>. Advance tickets may also be purchased with cash, check or credit card at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 Brooks Street. 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. Palmer, who describes her musical style as “Southern Soul,” has received widespread media attention in national publications including Ebony, Parade, People, Newsweek, Huffington Post, Rolling Stone, The Wall Street Journal and more. She has performed on the CBS Early Show, CNN, The Tavis Smiley