SALT SHAKES

Onondaga County Parks is collecting old and tattered American flags for proper disposal. Drop off your flag at any county park during business hours until Wednesday, May 25. All flags collected will be disposed of at the annual Watchfire ceremony at the New York State Fairgrounds on Sunday, May 29. That event also commemorates veterans who have served the country. For more information, call 451-7275.

Fair Deals

It’s time to assess your contest mojo and enter the State Fair’s annual competitions. In 2010, more than 40,000 individual entries were submitted in such categories as photographs, paintings, wine, beer, flowers, antique cars, baked goods, cattle and dairy goats. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.nysfair.org/competitions, filled out and submitted online or mailed. Call 487-7111, Ext. 1337. 

Drive Their Car

CuseCar can now be found at the Westcott Community Center. The community car-sharing organization strives to provide a sustainable transportation program in Onondaga County that will reduce vehicle miles traveled, lower the carbon footprint, improve air quality and assist in developing new green energy fuel distribution. With usage rates as low as $5.95 an hour, all you need is a membership in the program and you’re good to go. For more information, visit www.cusecar.org or call 287-3227.

Lakefront Song

Oswego Harborfest is soliciting entries for the event’s official song. It can be in any musical style and should capture the excitement of the annual event and convey the essence of the festival to the listener. The winning song will be performed live during Harborfest’s opening ceremonies on July 28 and it will be recorded for use to accompany the amazing fireworks display on July 30. The winning composer will receive a $500 honorarium. Official applications are available at 41 Lake St., Oswego; A&J Music, 104 W. Bridge St., Oswego; or www.oswegoharborfest.com. Deadline for entries is May 27. Call 343- 6858 for more information.

Flea Circus

The 40 Below Public Arts Task Force is soliciting all sorts of goodies for its Funky Flea, an outdoor flea market slated to set up at Marcellus and Wyoming streets. “The Funky Flea encapsulates and embraces everything that the Near West Side community stands for: an eclectic mix of people, homes and businesses,” said Maarten Jacobs, director of the New Westside Initiative. If you want to be a vendor at the June 4 market, you can apply until Saturday, May 21. Visit http://funkyfleasyracuse.blogspot. com or send an email to funkyfleasyracuse@gmail.com.

Grand old flags: (above) The annual Watchfire ceremony could use your tattered and torn Old Glory.