Although the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre is closed and in-person events canceled, “the show must go on-line.” As we continue adjusting to life in the midst of COVID-19, the Renaissance Centre is set to begin offering a series of free online visual and performing arts experiences you can enjoy from the comfort of your home.  One of the Renaissance Centre’s signature events, The Malpass Brothers in concert, will take place virtually on Saturday, July 25. The event will begin at 7 p.m. and can be streamed via the Renaissance Centre Facebook page. Steeped in traditional country music, The Malpass Brothers feature a smooth vocal blend and skillful musicianship while performing in the styles of Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins and Hank Williams Sr. As young boys, Christopher and Taylor Malpass embraced the music of their granddad’s phonograph records. Christopher earned his first talent show trophy at age 7, and Taylor was playing mandolin

Wake Forest’s annual Embrace Uganda 5K race is still on this year, but in a virtual world. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, organizers have switched from a live, in-person race to a virtual, online event set for Saturday, June 13. Sign up at https://www.embraceuganda.org/EU5K2020. Participants can then run or walk their 5K from anywhere, at any time that day. Young & Associates will provide official timing for each runner, who will have an opportunity to post times and check overall results at www.EmbraceUganda.com. Founded in Wake Forest, Embrace Uganda works to provide access to clean water, medical care and education to the orphans of Uganda. This month, a mission team was scheduled to leave for Uganda but that trip has been postponed due to the virus. “Embrace Uganda will mark the weekend our team was due to leave by holding a virtual 5K to help our partners assist these children in

Although hampered by the limiting conditions of COVID-19, the newly elected officers of VFW Post 8466 properly installed the officers that will lead the veterans group for the year 2020-2021. The installation ceremony was conducted Tuesday afternoon, June 9, 2020, in front of the Wake Forest Post Office. Installation Officer was Rich Heroux; the installed officers were Commander Joe Csuka, Senior Vice Commander, Glen Shoenling, Junior Vice Commander, Allen Zack, Quartermaster, Charlie Cable, Chaplain, Jim Dyer, Sergeant at Arms, Robert Sargent, Judge Advocate Howard Lowdermilk, Service Officer Brian Hopf, and Trustees, Greg Harrington and Dave Martin. The officers will take up their assigned duties with the regularly scheduled monthly membership meeting on July 2, 2020. The meeting will take place at the American Legion Hall, 225 East Holding Avenue, Wake Forest at 7 p.m. #

In May the downturn in residential building permits in Wake Forest continued, with only 22 single-family permits issued and 12 town house permits. The Wake Forest Inspections Department did issue one new commercial permit for a Take 5 Oil Change Center at 2880 Rogers Road is being built by G.W. Liles Construction, which paid $5,126.54 in fees. The building will add $323,000 to the tax base. The inspectors approved the fit-up for Family Health Solutions at 11635 Northpark Drive, Suite 320, and the pre-occupancy inspection for North Wake Comm Realty at 10520 Ligon Mill Road, Suite 116 and Advanced Rehab Technologies at 12339 Wake Union Church Road, Suite 105. Capital City Homes will build six of the townhouses on Etteinne Garden Lane in the Carraway Gardens area of the Tryon subdivision. McKee Homes will build six townhouses along Gateway Commons Circle in the Gateway Commons shopping center. Together the two

The 2020 State of the Chamber will be held Thursday, June 18, from 4 to 5 p.m. – and you guessed it: it is virtual. It will be held on the new Remo platform which allows for both group presentations and private small-group networking. There will even have prize drawings. Go to the chamber’s website to register and to read more about Remo and what you can do at the meeting. Also be sure to get your Growler from White Street Brewing Company so you can drink along with everyone. * * * * Leadership Wake Forest is the longest standing Foundation program with over 25 years of helping up and coming local leaders. It will begin in September and end in May. There is a cost of $500, but scholarships are available. Potential attendees can learn more about the program by attending one or more of the online information