Several local churches and community organizations will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a free, public celebration on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 6:30 p.m. at Friendship Chapel Baptist Church, 237 Friendship Chapel Road. The evening’s theme will center around one of Dr. King’s messages: “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” In the spirit of the event theme, the Wake Forest MLK Committee will offer creative performance, writing, and art competitions for students in Wake Forest and Rolesville-area schools. Complete contest rules and information, along with the online contest entry form, are available at http://bit.ly/WFMLKCelebration. The competition winners will be recognized during the January 19 program. The Wake Forest MLK Committee is accepting monetary donations from the community to help fund the monetary prizes and scholarships awarded to the competition winners. The MLK Committee hopes to raise

You’re invited to join Mayor Vivian Jones for the 2023 State of the Town Address & Dinner on Monday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m. Presented by the Wake Forest Rotary Club, the event will take place at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. During her remarks, Mayor Jones will reflect on the successes and challenges of the Wake Forest community over the past year. She will also outline the goals the Town will strive towards in 2023. Advance tickets are $15 per person and include a catered meal and dinner music by local performing artist Ronald Williams. Tickets can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit card at https://bit.ly/WFStateofTown. Tickets may also be purchased at the Renaissance Centre Box Office with cash, check, or credit card. A limited number of tickets are available, so the event is expected to sell out. Dress for

Kick off the New Year by tickling your funny bone at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre. Comedian Jen Kober will deliver her original blend of stand-up comedy, storytelling, and improvised rock-n-roll humor from the Renaissance Centre stage on Friday, Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $20 each plus tax and can be purchased online with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover credit card at www.wakeforestrencen.org/tickets-events. Advance tickets may also be purchased with cash, check, or credit card at the Renaissance Centre Box Office, 405 S. Brooks St. The 2017 Winner of NPR’s Snap Judgement Comedic Performance of the Year for her “Girl Scout Cookie Caper” which went viral upon its release, Kober also received the 2018 Comedic Performance of the Year for “Nana Vs. OJ.” In 2019 she appeared on Netflix for RuPaul’s sitcom “AJ & The Queen” and “Dead to Me.” Kober had audiences rolling in the aisles on HBO’s “The Righteous

With a surge in cases of the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 as we head into an eventful-holiday weekend, Wake County encourages those with mild symptoms, or other non-serious illnesses, to avoid unnecessary utilization of emergency care services if possible, and to get vaccinated or boosted if they have not already done so. The local healthcare system is experiencing a surge of patients seeking emergency care. This includes patients who may be seeking emergency care even though they may not be experiencing a life-threatening emergency. “If you are feeling sick and are concerned about a health issue, and your symptoms are mild and don’t require emergency care, consider other options to access healthcare services like urgent care clinics, telehealth or contacting your primary care provider,” said Wake County’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. José G Cabañas. Residents should still seek emergency care for any concerns for serious illness or

A Winter Celebration, The Word of God with Pastor Angie, will be held Saturday, January 21, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at 203 Capcom Avenue, Suite 114. The special guest speakers are Pastor Angela Postma, Pastor Eddie Haire and Minister Eva Cook. Tickets are $20 each and include dinner. There will be food, music and prizes. We hope you will join us. ###