'Burg Arts Fest
Collective Arts of Franklin County will have their 'Burg Arts Fest, 3 - 7 p.m., Saturday, April 25, in Downtown Louisburg on Nash and Main streets. There will be free games, a 50/50 raffle, paint and sip, and a paint and throw activity. For information, email: info@collectiveartsfc.org.

Relay for Life
Franklin County Relay for Life will hold its main Relay event Friday, April 24 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Franklinton High School Football/Track Stadium, 910 Cedar Creek Road, Franklinton. In case of rain, the event will be held in the gym.
The theme this year is "Cancer is No Match for Us." Dress as your favorite Superhero or Avenger character. The survivor walk is at 6:15 p.m.
The Relay team will be selling luminarias and torches to honor your loved one, while raising money for the American Cancer Society.
To donate or for team information, contact Danette Cheatham at (919) 906-5002.

Home Builders offering a scholarship
The Franklin County Home Builders Association Craftsman Legacy Scholarship is designed to support students pursuing careers in the residential construction industry or skilled trades, including fields such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, welding, masonry, and related technical programs -- and now is the time to apply.
Applicants must be a resident of Franklin County and desire a career in the residential construction industry or related skilled trades.
Applications were due by April 15. For additional information and the link to apply, email info@franklincountyhba.org.

Boys State candidates sought
The American Legion Post 52 in Franklinton is looking for two candidates for the June 21-27 Tar Heel Boy's State to be held at Chowan University in Murfreesboro, NC.
The $500 delegate tuition is paid by Post 52. Candidates are current High School juniors and public, private and accredited home school students are eligible.
Tar Heel Boy's State is a week-long program that will bring 200 boys from around the state to learn about the workings of state government by participating in creating a mock government with all position from governor, legislators, and event elected county officials. This is a real scholarship application booster and can be a beneficial credential for college applications and military academy appointment, organizers said.
Tar Heel Boys' State delegates can apply for the prestigious Samsung Scholarship that has awards of $10,000, $5,000, and $1,250 for each winner.
Learn more about Tar Heel Boy's State and the Samsung Scholarship visit https://tarheelboysstate.org/ and https://www.legion.org/get-involved/scholarships/samsung-american-legion-scholarship. Parents that have a child interested should contact Commander Chris Smith at csmithforest@gmail.com to learn more information and how to apply.

Picnic in Park for teen parents
A Picnic in the Park event called Building Your Village is planned for Friday, May 9, in the Franklinton Park, 99 Park Avenue in Franklinton.
The event will provide health screenings, other resources, giveaways, fun and food between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
This is a free community event open to teen parents, their families and support systems.
Call 919-496-2533, extension 2355 for more information.

Local foods farm tour
The fifth annual Women in Ag Local Foods Farm Tour is slated for Sunday, May 10.
A total of 12 local food, flower and fiber farms will be open to the public on Sunday, May 10 (rain or shine), from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Hardly Farm near Centerville will open to the public at 1 p.m.)
This year's Women in Ag "local foods" tour is dedicated to the Franklin County Women in Ag network and its promotion of Agritourism in Franklin County. 2026 is also the International Year of the Woman Farmer.
For more tour information visit: http://franklin.ces.ncsu.edu/, or call the Franklin County Cooperative Extension office at 919-496-3344, Martha Mobley, Ag Agent, martha_mobley@ncsu.edu.

County Memorial Day schedules
The only Franklin County government operations that will be open normal hours on Monday, May 25, as Memorial Day is observed, will be the various convenience centers and the county's airport.
The solid waste transfer station will be open from 7 a.m. until noon that day as well.
All library branches will be closed on Saturday, May 23, and Monday May 25.
All other Franklin County government offices will be closed on Monday, May 25.

Public can address county's budget
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners will meet Monday, May 18, for a special-called meeting in order to conduct a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 county budget. The session will begin at 6 p.m. in the Franklin Plaza Training Room (Room 102) located at 279 South Bickett Boulevard, Louisburg.

Library has variety of free art programs
The Franklin County library has many free art programs coming up for school age children, teens and adults starting in May.
Coming up first is a painting workshop with Boni Arendt on Tuesday, May 5, at Bunn Library for adults at 2:30 p.m. and teens at 4 p.m. Check the library events calendar for info on a graphite drawing workshop with Todd Kreisman at Louisburg Library and ceramics workshop by Michele Ragaglia at Youngsville and Bunn Library.

County's farmers market to reopen
The Franklin County Farmers Market will reopen on Friday, May 1, at 9 a.m. and remain open until 1 p.m.
The opening coincides with the beginning of the local strawberry season. Strawberry ice cream will be served and every 15 minutes a raffle is planned to give away a free quart of berries.

Mental health, wellness fair slated
The Omega Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in partnership with the Wake Forest/Rolesville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. will be hosting a Mental Health & Wellness Fair on May 2 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
There will be games, activities, giveaways, health screenings, and the opportunity to connect with health and wellness professionals from local/surrounding areas. This is a free and family-friendly event open to all.
The fair will be held at St. Paul Presbyterian Church, 928 South Main Street, Louisburg.
For more information email: aka.oloprograms@gmail.com.

Dr. Hardy to mark 100 days
"The Hardy Harvest," marking Franklin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nakia Hardy's 100 days in office will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 14, in the new board room at the West River Road campus.
She said the event will serve as a State of the District-style reflection of her first 100 days at the helm of the county district. She said she will "share insights from my entry plan and outline our path forward."
She said the event "will focus on three key areas:
•"What we must preserve - the strengths that define Franklin County Schools;
•"Where we must prune - the challenges we must address;
•"What we will plant - the opportunities and innovations that will shape our future."

Library planning to 'bale out'
The Franklin County Library's adult program for May is 'Bale Out!' where Porte NOIRE Gardens will demonstrate how to grow food in a hay bale! They will be at Louisburg Library on May 7 at 11 a.m., Franklinton Library on May 12 at 11 a.m. and Youngsville Library on May 21 at 11 a.m.
The Library and Parks and Rec is having a Touch-a-Truck event at Louisburg High School on Saturday, May 30 from 2 to 4 p.m. for some family fun and cool vehicles from community helpers and business across the county!

Birdwatchers Club plans meeting
The Franklin County Birdwatching Club will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 29, at Owens Park on Massenburg Baker Road in Louisburg.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and end around 8. Club members will be looking and listening for birds and talking about migration.
For more information contact Lee Justice at 919-495-2516. In the event of rain the club will meet at the Cooperative Extension building at 103 South Bickett Boulevard in Louisburg.