Next Monday, Jan. 18, 2021 marks the 26th year of service honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And while celebrations and service opportunities may be different this year due to COVID-19, the importance of MLK Day nevertheless stands — to reflect, learn, and give back to our community.
Did you know Martin Luther King, Jr. was no stranger to the Triangle? That’s right. Between 1956 and 1964, the Civil Rights leader visited several times and gave six different speeches in Durham alone.
So, in honor of next week’s holiday, we’verounded up a few local ways you can get involved on MLK day.
Monument at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gardens via City of Raleigh
Volunteer ○ MLK Day of Service 2021 | Mon., Jan. 18 | 9–3 p.m. | Various locations | Join United Way of the Greater Triangle for a socially distanced drive to support four local nonprofits. ○ Dignity Week | Jan. 15–23 | Various times + locations | ActivateGood has put together a collection of volunteer opportunities taking place throughout the Triangle.
Celebrate ○ 41st Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony | Fri., Jan. 15 | 9 a.m. | Virtual | Free | A small gathering of local leaders + clergy will lay a wreath beside the statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to honor his life and symbolize solidarity towards achieving a more beloved community. ○ Dreamfest | Jan. 16–18 | Virtual | Free | The Town of Cary will be streaming various performances and films. They will also stream a virtual prayer breakfast on January 17.
Use the link below to share this info with friends + family who are also looking for ways to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. this holiday.
NEWS NOTES
Weather ○58º | Partly cloudy | 10%chance of rain ☁️
Coming Soon ○ Urban Air Raleigh — an indoor adventure park featuring virtual reality, bumper cars, and trampolines — will open its doors Saturday, Jan. 30. The 34,000-square-foot facility offers a full range of activities for children + adults. The park is located at 7810 Poyner Pond Circle. 🕹️ ○ Heavenly Buffaloes, a popular wing restaurant in Durham, will be opening up a second Durham location. The second shop will move into the former Tamale Factory & Tequila Bar at 2816 Erwin Rd. Owners Dain Phelan and Mark Dundas plan to open before the end of January. 🍗
Announced ○ Dix Park Conservancyhas named Janet Cowell as its new president + CEO. The nonprofit works to provide the City of Raleigh with philanthropic support to ensure the execution and long-term success of Dorothea Dix Park Master Plan. Cowell will begin her new role Monday, Jan. 18. 🌳
Edu ○ The Johnston County school board rejected a plan to keep all students in remote instruction into the end of the third quarter. Instead, students will participate in a blend of in-person and online classes. K–12 students will resume in-person instruction on Feb. 1, while pre-K + special education students in self-contained classrooms will resume next week. 🍎 (The News & Observer)
WaterCooler ○Hockey is back. The Carolina Hurricanes will kick off the season with an away game against the Detroit Red Wings later today. Watch the game live on Fox Sports — starting at 6:30 p.m. 🏒
Arts ○ Got talent? Raleigh Parks is now looking for entertainers — including talented singers, musicians, and magicians — for its “Moore Busker” shows. The entertainment series will return to Moore Square Park in March 2021. Apply to perform online. 🎤 ○ The second installment of the pop-up outdoor art series “Glow” can now be seen in downtown Cary. The animated virtual reality mural “Unseen Nature” is temporary + viewable by car or sidewalk after sundown. The mural is located at 108 E. Chatham St. 🎨 (CaryCitizen)
Ranked ○ Cary was ranked No. 2 on RetailMeNot’s recent list of 15 Best Cities for Remote Workers. Researchers ranked cities based on several metrics including community, safety, living costs, health + weather. Cary received an overall ‘work-from-home score’ of 88.55. 💻
TryThis ○ The North Carolina SweetPotato Commission is hosting #TeachSweet — a social media contest for teachers + homeschool parents all across the country. Participants will have a chance to win a $500 classroom shopping spree and a $500 cash prize. You can find more information on the contest here. 🍠
Correction ○ In yesterday’s email, we mistakenly identified actress Betty White’s birthday as Sunday, Jan. 19. In fact, she celebrates her 99th birthday this Sunday, Jan.17. We apologize for the error and any confusion it may have caused. Click here to check out local author Wesley Hyatt’s new biography of Betty.
Click the button below for local resources regarding the coronavirus. ⬇️
This Saturday, Jan. 16, Harris Lake County Park will unveil its first ever StoryWalk featuring Jane Yolen’s “Owl Moon.”
New to the StoryWalk concept? The project was created by Anne Ferguson in 2017 as a way for individuals to enjoy a children’sbookwhile also getting a nice stroll in. The self-guided StoryWalk at Harris Lake will be located along the freshly mulched pathways in the Educational Garden and Natural Play Area.
Harris Lake County Park is located at 2112 County Park Dr. + open each day from 8–6 p.m. 📚
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Civic ○ Environmental Advisory Board | Thurs., Jan. 14 | 5–7 p.m. | Virtual | Free | The Raleigh Environmental Advisory Board provides suggestions for City Council on policies + changes related to preserving environmental quality across the city.
Learn ○ Science Tonight: Cryptic Crayfishes | Thurs., Jan. 14 | 7–8 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Zoo science professional + NC Museum of Natural Sciences research associate Dr. Zachary Loughman will present his findings on crayfishes and their scientifically enlightening behaviors. 🐟
Drink ○ Virtual Cocktail Class with Dram and Draught | Thurs., Jan. 14 | 8–9:30 p.m. | Virtual | Varies | Join BLOOMHERE for a cocktail class featuring Dram and Draught legend, Kevin Barrett. Learn how to craft some of your favorite classic cocktails while also supporting a good cause.
Disclaimer: It is up to readers’ discretion to determine whether they feel comfortable participating in any mentioned events based on COVID-19 protocols and precautions. If you have questions, please contact the event’s organizers directly.
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