The Wake Forest Human Relations Council (HRC) is celebrating Black History Month in 2023 by again offering residents the chance to recognize local African Americans who have made a difference enhancing and improving the quality of life in their community, family, church, business, organization, or other group. From now through Saturday, Jan. 21, the HRC will accept nominations for Wake Forest residents to be recognized for their contributions. The online nomination form is available at http://bit.ly/WFBHMHonorRoll. Wake Forest residents, former residents, and business and community stakeholders that identify as African American are eligible. Nominees should demonstrate leadership and integrity and be respected by their peers. In addition, potential nominees may be recognized for one or more of the following actions: • Helping neighbors and fellow Wake Forest citizens. • Demonstrating hospitality and/or concern for others. • Supporting local businesses and charities. • Promoting a sense of community in their neighborhood

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

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

In December the Board of Commissioners (BOC) received the results of an independent audit report from Cherry Bekaert LLP for the period July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022. In addition to not revealing any audit findings or problems, the report acknowledged that the Town is “in compliance” with all its financial policies and operating with strong internal controls in place. The report also included several financial performance highlights for Wake Forest which enjoys a triple A rating by all three national rating agencies: • Net change in the Town’s fund balance resulted in an increase of $7.6 million in the general fund. • Cash balances totaled $48.9 million, significantly higher than the $32.7 million in 2021. Along with above mentioned increase, this also includes American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds received by the Town. • Wake Forest collected 99.82% of its property taxes – higher than the average rate

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