Members of the Walter E. Cole Post 187 of the American Legion conducted a flag retirement ceremony on Saturday, June 27, assisted by members of Boy Scout Troop 517, which is sponsored by Post 187. The American Legion is responsible for the proper retirement of old and used national symbols and on that occasion retired just over 450 American flags. American flags that have reached retirement due to age or wear can be dropped off at the American Legion building at 225 East Holding Avenue where a used flag receptacle is position along the driveway. New American flags can also be purchased from Post 187. #

Rubber ducks adopted by the public will race in the second annual Super Duper Duck Splash on Saturday, July 18, 2020, at the WRAL Soccer Park, 7700 Perry Creek Road, Raleigh. A fundraiser for local youth-based nonprofits, the event is presented by the Wakefield Rotary Club of Wake Forest. Proceeds will be distributed to the club’s four Duck Buddies —Wake Forest Boys & Girls Club, Note in the Pocket, Kerr Family YMCA and North Carolina Football Club Youth. An individual duck can be adopted by the public for $5, or groups of ducks at a discount, with a chance to win cash totaling $3,000 and other prizes when ducks cross the finish line including last place. With uncertainty of how the public will be allowed to gather during the pandemic, the Duck Race will be broadcast live on the Wakefield Rotary Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WakefieldRotary) beginning at 11 a.m. on July 18 with the duck race

The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department will host a two-day online esports gaming tournament featuring Rocket League on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 22-23. Open to players ages 10 and older, the inaugural Battle in the Forest will be played online and live streamed on Twitch.tv. Registration begins Wednesday, July 1, at https://bit.ly/BattleintheForest, and the cost is $5 per player. Teams comprised of three players each will compete in the two-day tournament which will run in conjunction with Bull City Gaming. Qualifying rounds will take place Saturday with the top eight teams battling it out in the finals on Sunday. The top two teams will receive a variety of prizes donated by Ads N Art Screenprinting, Chick-fil-A, Barton College Esports, Wake Forest Awards & Engraving and Play4Life Comics. Considered one of the top esports games in the nation, Rocket League is a vehicular soccer video game developed and published by Psyonix. The game

The Town of Wake Forest and Wake Forest Downtown Inc. are planning to stimulate our downtown economy and reward residents who are supporting downtown businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve these goals, from June 13 through July 5, a special incentive is being offered to people who shop at participating stores. As part of “Red, White & Blue – Downtown Wake Forest Needs You,” for every $25 a customer spends at one of the following downtown businesses, he or she will receive a raffle ticket to be entered into a weekly drawing: B & W Hardware Company Bella Music Nancy Jo Photography Next Consignment North Carolina General Stores Page 158 Books Record Krate Renegade Motorcycle Southern Suds & Gifts Sweeties Candy Shop Sugar Magnolia Café (purchases of alcohol are not eligible) The Cotton Company The Lemon Tree Unwined on White (purchases of alcohol are not eligible) Wake Forest Art &

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