Friday Night on White (FNOW) returns to historic downtown Wake Forest on April 14 and continues the second Friday night of each month through September. This year’s FNOW promises to be bigger and better than ever this year thanks to a power-packed lineup featuring several of our area’s most popular bands. Our 2023 concert series will include The Magic Pipers (April 14); Sleeping Booty (May 12); Love Tribe (June 9); The Brickhouse Band (July 14); Stone Age Romeos (August 11); and Crush (September 8). Each concert is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. A variety of sponsorships remain available for FNOW which drew well over 50,000 people to downtown Wake Forest in 2022. Each sponsorship is guaranteed to bring attention and recognition to local businesses through on-site exhibit space; assorted radio and television ads; printed posters, flyers, and banners; social media posts; email announcements and more. Attendance at each concert in 2022

Pike Electric, a contractor working on behalf of Duke Energy Progress, has closed the far-right southbound lane along South Main Street/US 1A from Rogers Road to Wake Drive. The temporary lane closure is necessary to allow crews to install new power lines. The work is expected to continue daily from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. through Friday. Signs and cones are in place directing traffic through the work area. Motorists may wish to avoid the area if possible and choose another route. The Town of Wake Forest offers an interactive map that gives residents a user-friendly and convenient way to view local road closures and restrictions. Available at https://bit.ly/WFTrafficMap, the Traffic Alerts Map allows visitors to point and click on current road and lane closures throughout Wake Forest. Motorists are encouraged to use the information to help plan their route and move safely through work areas. ###

Nothing could be more romantic than treating your special someone to a Valentine’s Brunch featuring Shana Tucker. The talented cellist and singer-songwriter will headline this special event on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St. Tucker invites you in with her voice and captures your heart with her unique ChamberSoul style. She’s opened for heavy hitters, including the Indigo Girls and Blind Boys of Alabama and played several years in Las Vegas with Cirque du Soleil. Reserved seats are $60 each (plus tax) and include a brunch buffet catered by Cannon Catering. Tickets 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. For more information, including the brunch buffet menu, visit www.wakeforestrencen.org/ or call the Renaissance

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will host an online esports gaming tournament featuring “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” Saturday, Feb. 25. Open to players ages 10 and older, the online tournament is free to play and will be live streamed on Twitch.tv. Registration is open through Wednesday, Feb. 22, at https://wakeforestnc.recdesk.com/Community/Home. Participants will compete in a one-on-one, single-day, double-elimination tournament to be run in conjunction with “Bull City Gaming.” Matches will be best of three the championship match being best of five. In the event more than 32 people register, the tournament will expand to two days with the qualifying rounds taking place on February 25 and the top eight participants battling it out in the finals on Sunday, Feb. 26. As an added incentive, the first 30 people to register will have their name entered into a drawing for a chance to win a HORI Nintendo Switch Split Pad

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. ###

Starting today and continuing through the end of January, Secure Traffic Control, a contractor working on behalf of Ting Fiber, will reduce to one lane with alternating two-way traffic the portion of West Pine Avenue from Rock Spring Road to North Wingate Street daily from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The temporary lane closures are necessary to allow crews to install underground cable.  Signage and flaggers will be in place to manage traffic flow and safely direct motorists through the work area. Delays are expected, so drivers are encouraged to avoid the area if possible and take an alternate route. For more information, email Carlos Linares at linaresc@easternncundergroundinc.com.  The Town of Wake Forest offers an interactive map that gives residents a user-friendly and convenient way to view local road closures and restrictions. Available at https://bit.ly/WFTrafficMap, the Traffic Alerts Map allows visitors to point and click on current road and lane closures throughout Wake Forest.

The monthly American Legion Post 187 famous Pancake Breakfast will be served on Sunday, January 15, from 8 to 12 a.m. The breakfast is presented every second Sunday of every month at the American Legion Hall, 225 East Holding Avenue, Wake Forest, NC., (across the street from the Wake Forest Post Office). The breakfast offers a menu of pancakes, several types of sausage (mild and spicy), coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and orange juice. The aspect that has made the offering unique is that customers can eat as much as they care to for one low price. Adults eat for $6.00 per person – Children under 12 for $1.00 and children under 7 eat free. The proceeds from the breakfast are used to assist rehabilitating veterans. #  

Kaitlyn Corona Wake Forest Kaitlyn Corona, age 23, of Wake Forest died at a result of an automobile accident on Saturday January 7, 2023. Katie was born in New Jersey on September 21, 1999 to Sugeiry Abreu and Jose Corona. She was educated in New Jersey and moved to Wake Forest four years ago. Kaitlyn was an exceptional hair stylist who worked at Great Clips in Youngsville. She is survived by her parents Sugeiry Abreu and Jose Corona of Wake Forest; brothers and sisters Koralee Pinales, Aubyn Pinales, Gabriel Cuteo, Dynalee Corona, Joseph Corona and Raymond Corona. A Celebration of her life will be held in the Bright Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday January 12, 2023  at 11AM. A Visitation will be on Wednesday January 11, 2023  from 4 to 7 PM at Bright Funeral Home. The Bright Funeral Home is serving the Corona family www.brightfunerals.com (919) 556-5811 #     William David ‘Bill’ Mowbray