The Town of Knightdale hosted its first State of the Town event on Wednesday, December 13, at the Life Enrichment Center in Raleigh, NC. Over 100 guests attended the event, including town citizens, the Knightdale Town Council and a host of elected officials across Wake County.
The event, themed “Start Something,” was held to update attendees on the accomplishments and successes of the year as well as provide a glimpse of projects in the works for 2024. Knightdale Mayor Jessica Day addressed several key projects, including the creation of a Community Relations department, investing in new software to strengthen engagement with the public, partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, initiating a safety action plan with a U.S. Department of Transportation-awarded grant, and so much more.
“Our Town motto is a vibrant charge to every citizen,” Mayor Day said. “It is a continuous mission. We in the Town ‘started something’ this year, and we will start something again in 2024 and build on our recent successes.”
Noted guests in attendance included: Dr. Robert Taylor, Wake County Public Schools Superintendent; Wake County Commissioners Shinica Thomas (Chair), Don Mial, and Vicki Adamson; Judge Julie Bell, Zebulon Mayor Glenn York, City of Raleigh Council Members Corey Branch and Megan Patton; Wake County School Board Member Cheryl Caulfield; Morrisville Town Councilor Steve Rao; and Knightdale Town Councilors Steve Evans, Mark Swan, Ben McDonald, and Mayor Pro Tem Latatious Morris. Music was provided by the Knightdale High School Jazz Band, and catering was provided by A Touch of France Catering. The MC for the evening was Knightdale’s Community Relations Director, Rachel Morris.
“United in purpose and propelled by community, our town's progress is a testament to the power of collaboration,” Morris said. “The great work being done cannot be done alone. We are shaping our future together and building an inclusive haven we proudly call home.”
The event concluded with the 2023 Community Appearance Awards, which recognizes the efforts of individuals, organizations or businesses that strive to enhance the appearance of Knightdale. This year’s recipients were The Depot on First (Christopher Critzer, owner), The Pink Magnolia (Nikki and Keith Sanders, owners), and contributors to the Knightdale Marketplace Murals, Sean Kernick (artist) and M&J Wilkow (owners).
The Knightdale State of the Town is set to be an annual event.