Wilson This Week

The Wilson City Council has set its monthly meeting dates for 2024. The big, televised meetings are typically the third Thursdays of the month, beginning at 7 p.m. Council also have work sessions the first Thursday morning in eight months. You can see all the dates by clicking the button link below. 

The first meeting of this year will be Thursday, Jan 21. We don't know all what's on the agenda yet, but we do plan to have a presentation in honor of the city's 175th birthday later this month. Keep watch on the city's social media channels for more information.

All evening meetings are televised and streamed online. If you will bookmark this link, it will always bring you to the Council meetings.

However, if you just want to keep up, Wilson This Week is entering its third year this week and we try to always tell you what Council has done and, more importantly, explain the details and the reasons behind the decisions. If you know people whose 2024 goal is to be better informed, forward this email; a link to subscribe is at the bottom.

The Wilson Human Relations Commission has already begun selling tickets for the 53rd annual Human Relations Awards, which will be Friday, Feb. 23, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Darden Alumni Center, 1600 Lipscomb Road.

This year's theme is "Build the Bridge that Uplifts the Future," a perfect opportunity to nominate and honor those who are making a difference in our community. 

Nominations are currently being accepted, and everyone nominated will be recognized at the event. We have several categories, including the prestigious Paul Lee Stevens Humanitarian of the Year. When submitting a nomination, please include a support letter and any relevant materials such as articles, photos, or social media posts. We are looking for volunteers who have made significant contributions to our community, so nominations based solely on employment or profession will not be considered. If there is overlap with employment, the nomination letter should clearly demonstrate how the individual has gone above and beyond their job expectations.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to honor someone exceptional! All nomination forms and support letters must be submitted by Wed. Jan. 31. For more information, call the Human Relations office at 252-399-2308 or click the link below to see award categories and nomination applications.

Here are some events that you can put in your 2024 calendars:

• The MLK Jr. Commission of Wilson will host the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, at the Darden Alumni Center. Purchase tickets in advance at the city's Human Relations Office, 104 Goldsboro St.
• Friday, March 29 -- City offices closed for Good Friday.
• The Wilson Farmers & Artisan Market opens for the 2024 season on Saturday, April 20, and will run every Saturday, weather permitting, 8 a.m. to noon, until September. 
• Gig in the Park concerts will be Thursdays every other week from April to June in the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park. Tentative dates are April 11, April 25, May 9, May 23, and June 6. 
• Monday, May 27 -- City offices closed for Memorial Day. The Wilson Committee on Patriotism will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. on the Wilson County Courthouse plaza, weather permitting.
• The annual Gig East summit will be Thursday, June 13. Keep tuned for program information.
• N.C. Whirligig Festival will celebrate its 20th year on Nov. 2-3.