Because of the inclement weather last week, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration has been rescheduled to Jan. 30, 2025. 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. 23, 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: “Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” 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 18 program. The Wake Forest MLK Committee is accepting monetary donations from the community to help

You’re invited to join Mayor Vivian Jones for the 2025 State of the Town Address & Dinner on Monday, Feb. 17, 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 2025. 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

Forest Fest returns to downtown Wake Forest on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Presented by Wake Forest Downtown, Inc. (WFD), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to champion the economic health, growth, and vitality of downtown Wake Forest, Forest Fest is a family friendly event celebrating nature and outdoors in the heart of Wake Forest. WFD is now accepting applications from vendors and nonprofit organizations that wish to participate in this year’s Forest Fest. The online application is available at visit https://bit.ly/WFForestFest. Application and payment are due no later than Sunday, Feb. 9.  PLEASE NOTE: Food trucks have already been secured for this event, and no additional food vendors are needed. As interest in Forest Fest continues to grow, WFD is committed to securing vendors and nonprofits whose missions and efforts align with the purpose and spirit of the event. As a result, participating vendors and nonprofit organizations

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S. Brooks St., is inviting artists of all ages to submit up to three works of art for its March exhibition entitled: “Land That I Love – A Tribute to Western NC.” Artists are encouraged to consider the title of the exhibition as inspiration for their submission. Designed to give visual artists an opportunity to display and sell their work in a gallery setting, the March exhibit will include 120 linear feet of hanging space and a medium-sized display cabinet to showcase 3D works. To learn more and/or apply, visit www.wakeforestrencen.org/tickets-events/2025-art-exhibits. The submission deadline is Monday, Feb. 10. Selected works of art will be displayed in the Renaissance Centre Arts Annex from Thursday, March 6, through Friday, April 4. The Renaissance Centre will honor the artists and their works during a special reception on Friday, March 14, from 6-8 p.m. in the Renaissance Centre Arts

There was little development activity in December. The Inspections Department issued permits for 15 single-family homes and seven townhouses. The department also performed pre-occupancy inspections for the following businesses: American Laundromat LLC at 12213 Capital Boulevard Navadhaanya LLC at 12223 Hampton Way Drive, Suite 100 St. John Properties at 1725 Heritage Center Drive, Suite 201 Visible Motorsports LLC at 745 Merritt Capital Drive, Suite 120 ###