Friends of Library plan book sale

The Friends of the Youngsville Library are planning a three-day Spring Book Sale on May 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on May 18, from noon to 4 p.m.
This year the group has teamed up with Youngsville Baptist Church meaning that there will be more space to display books and all the books will be indoors. The sale will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the church, 315 East Main Street, Youngsville.
Books are price at $1 for hardbacks and 50 cents for paperbacks. Also available will be jigsaw puzzles and DVDs.
Book donations for the sale are being collected at the Youngsville Library.
For more information, call Bill Whitehouse at 919-556-2689.

Epsom chicken plate sale
The Epsom Fire Department is planning a chicken plate sale for Friday, May 16, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. or until sold out.
Plates will include 1/2 chicken, two sides and dessert and will be available for $12 each, take-out only.

Church women sponsor blood drive
Louisburg United Methodist Church will be hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross on Monday, May 5, from 1 to 6 p.m.
This blood drive is a service project of the Louisburg Women in Faith. If you are healthy and eligible, please come out to donate. Only 3 percent of the general population donates blood and there is a constant need for blood, organizers said.
Most donations take about an hour, so book your appointment at www.redcrossblood.org, roll up your sleeve and become a part of the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross.

GOP slates May meeting
The Franklin County Republican Party will hold its monthly covered dish dinner meeting at 6:30 p.m. for the dinner and meeting following at 7 p.m., Thursday May 8, at the Youngsville Community Building, 115 East Main Street.
All Republicans are invited. Hot dogs and drinks will be served, covered dishes would be appreciated.
For further information, contact GOP Chairman Ed Strickland @ 919-210-7629, or email: edstrickland1@aol.com.

Local farmers market opens May 9
The Franklin County Farmers Market, located in the Shannon Village Shopping Center in Louisburg, will open Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Opening day will include free strawberry ice cream and a raffle drawing every 15 minutes for a quart of fresh, locally grown strawberries.

4-H summer sessions planned
4-H and Franklin County Cooperative Extension are planning Sizzling Summer Sessions 2025 where there will be face-to-face opportunities for youth ages 5-18 to create summer memories through fun and hands-on activities. Camp times vary.
Registration opened Friday, April 25, at 10 a.m. Register online via Eventbrite for Franklin County 4-H Sizzling Summer sessions: https://go.ncsu.edu/2025sizzlingsummersessions. For more information, contact the local 4-H office at 919-496-3344 or meg_wyatt@ncsu.edu.

Fund-raising festival slated
The 2025 Lynch Creek Festival -- a fundraiser for Freedom Ranch Animal Sanctuary is planned for 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
The Preserve at Lynch Creek is at 403 J.A. Rogers Road, Kittrell, NC.
The entry fee is $20 per car and there will be a number of activities, including 50/50 and other raffles, kids games, face painting, horseshoes, cornhole and a chance to enjoy some beautiful scenery.
Organizers suggest bringing a chair or blanket for the lawn. For more information, contact FreedomRanchNC@gmail.com.

Spanish CPR and safety training
Spanish CPR and safety training for farm workers classes will begin at 9 a.m. Friday, May 9, at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Annex, 103 South Bickett Blvd, Louisburg.
This training will satisfy GAP Connections requirement, and cover workers' protection standards, green tobacco sickness, heat stress, CPR and will be conducted in Spanish. To register for the training, contact the Cooperative Extension office at 919-496-3344.
For additional information, call the office 919-496-3344, Ag Agent Matthew Place or email matthew_place ncsu.edu.

Sheep shearing days planned
For those who have sheep or alpacas that need shearing, the Cooperative Extension, Franklin County Center, is planning to have a professional sheep shearer from West Virginia visit the county on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11, to shear sheep for producers in the area.
If you would like to be included in their visit, contact Martha Mobley, Ag agent, at martha_mobley@ncsu.edu or call 919-496-3344, to schedule a time for your farm's visit. Price is based on a per head basis and each farm set-up fee.
A live demonstration of sheep shearing for the public will be held on Sunday morning, May 11, during the Fourth Annual 'Women in Ag' Local Food & Fiber Tour at one of the farm stops.

New 'pint night' events planned
American Legion Post 52 in Franklinton is inviting all veterans and spouses/significant others to a new monthly event - Pint Night.
The event is a relaxed, social atmosphere away from the structured business meetings that are held at the Post, organizers said. It is a way for veterans of all ages to come together to share experiences, needs, and ideas on how veterans can be supported within our communities.
The event also helps recognize and patronize local small businesses that invest in our communities.
The next Pint Night is on May 7 at 7 p.m. at Yacht Club Beverage House in Youngsville. All veterans are welcome. You do not have to be a member of The American Legion to attend.

Father-son, mother-daughter dance
The Franklin County 4-H Father-Son, Mother-Daughter dance for families and 4-H'ers is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Franklin Plaza, (beside Tractor Supply), 279 S. Bickett Blvd, Louisburg. Light refreshments, photo ops and lots of dancing are planned, organizers said.
To attend, youth must join 4-H Online at https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in and register through Eventbrite at https://www.go.ncsu.edu/franklin-county-4h-family-dance-party.
Deadline to register is May 2. For more information contact the Cooperative Extension office, 919-496-3344, or Meg Wyatt, 4-H agent, meg_wyatt@ncsu.edu.

Women in Ag farm tours slated
Discover local food, new winery, Tempest Cellars, flower and fiber farms here in diversified Franklin County! Nine countywide farms will be open to the public on Sunday, May 11, (rain or shine), from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Hardly Farm near Centerville will open at 1 p.m.
For more information about the tour, visit the website: https://franklin.ces.ncsu.edu/, call the Cooperative Extension office at 919-496-3344, or contact Martha Mobley, Agricultural Extension agent, martha_mobley@ncsu.edu.