Civic news

By Gina Farthing

Published: August 1, 2008

CORRECTION: On Friday’s Worship page, C1, The Last Minute Gospel group’s evening performance time was incorrect. The group will only be performing from 9:30-10:45 a.m. on Sunday, during the Westminster Presbyterian Church worship service.

The Stonewall Jackson Area Council, Valley District, Boy Scouts of America is starting its annual Cub Scout and Boy Scout recruitment. The boys must be at least 7-10 years old or in the first through fifth grades to join Cub Scouts. The boys must be 10 years old and above to join a Boy Scout Troop. For information, call the office at 943-6675, Dee Shartinger at 569-6034 or visit the Web site at http://www.joincubscouting.org. The school night recruitment is coming soon. Dates to be announced.

The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection at the University of Virginia has new hours for the summer. The new hours will be Tuesday-Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, from 1-5 p.m. through Sunday. Free guided tours take place each Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Blue Ridge Community College is now accepting applications for arts and crafts vendors and concessionaires for the 2008 Folk Arts Festival, which will take place on the Weyers Cave Campus Sept. 13-14. For more information or an application, call 453-2358 or http://www.brcc.edu/folkarts/.

Ten percent of Sunday sales at Pufferbellies in Staunton will benefit People Places. Pufferbellies is located at 15 W. Johnson St. in Staunton. The store features toys and books for children of all ages.

The American Red Cross will sponsor the following upcoming blood drives:
n Aug. 22, at the Augusta County Government Center, in Verona, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
n Aug. 23, at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, in Staunton, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
n Aug. 27, at the Staunton Gypsy Hill Park Gym, from noon to 6 p.m.
n Aug. 28, at the Waynesboro Moose Lodge, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The annual Miss and Master Augusta County Fair Beauty Pageant will be held today at 6:30 p.m. at Augusta Expoland in Fishersville. The fair runs Tuesday through Aug. 9. Special guest entertainment will be provided by Michael Kidd from American New Artists Organization. For more information, call 337-5918.

SherLynd Baptist Church will host its 4th annual Back to School Clothes Closet today, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (or until supplies last). The event will feature free gently used clothing, shoes, book bags, new school supplies and toiletry items. Hair cuts will be provided free of charge for children going back to school. There will also be face painting, blood pressure screening, finger printing and more for children and families in the community who are in need. The church is located at 20 Winterview Lane in Lyndhurst. For more information, call 943-0891 or e-mail .

The Allen sisters invite the public to Hill Top Berry Farm and Winery for its annual Blackberry Harvest Festival today. The $10 admission fee includes a logo glass, entry into the vendor area, live music, wine tasting paired with samples of food and lots of Southern hospitality. There will be bluegrass music from 1-4 p.m. by Jason Ring, a one-man blues, country and bluegrass band. The farm is at the peak of blackberry season and the field will be open to pickers for the usual price per quart, which is not included in admission to the festival. A Pig Pickin’ lunch will be catered by Rick’s Barbecue. You may purchase a meal or pack your own picnic. Pear sangria will be available by the glass. Rain or shine. For more information, call 434-361-1266 or visit the Web site at http://www.hilltopberrywine.com.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation now has a chapter in Staunton. The first meeting of B.O.N.E.S. will be held at the Staunton Public Library today, from 2-4 p.m. All are welcome. Come to share your experiences, make new friends and to support each other. Meetings are the first Saturday of each month. Call Dolores King at 885-2188.

The Community Mediation Center will present a workshop called “Mediation and Conflict Resolution and Juvenile and Domestic Relations Family Mediation.” The 40-hour training meets Virginia Supreme Court Certification Requirements and will be held Monday through Aug. 9 in Harrisonburg. This workshop combines the basic and family trainings. Each section may also be taken separately if prerequisites have been met. The cost of the training is $900, including manual fees. The Community Mediation Center will also present a seven-hour workshop on “Communication and Conflict Resolution,” on Aug. 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Harrisonburg. The cost includes training materials and costs $175. CEU credits are available. For more information, contact the Community Mediation Center at 434-0059 or 1-800-653-0019.

The Waynesboro Public Library will offer a coupon for $3 off an entrée at Foster’s Grille Monday through Aug. 29 when patrons check out six or more items.

The Shenandoah Valley Art Center will host a pastel workshop Sept 8-11. Deadline to enter is Tuesday. Greg Biolchini will teach some of his pastel techniques. This will be an intensive four-day workshop for both beginners and accomplished pastel artists. Cost for the workshop is $275 for members and $295 for non-members. For information, call 949-7662 or visit http://www.biolchini.com.

The Augusta County Fair will be held Tuesday through Aug. 9 at Augusta Expoland in Fishersville. The cost for general admission is $5, children 7-12 years old $3 and children 6 and under are free. “Pay One Price” armbands for Midway will be available Aug. 5-7. Come and see the motocross, demolition derby, tractor pulls, The Worx band, Grandstaff, fireworks, Great Lakes Timber shows, Chix of the Chainsaw, wildlife exhibits and more. Some events require an additional cost. For more information, call 245-5627 or visit http://www.augustacountyfair.com.

The Augusta Regional Free Clinic will offer school physicals on selected dates during the summer. Physicals are free to the patient and there is no income eligibility screening process. This community service is being offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Appointments for school physicals will be set for Wednesday, from 4-7 p.m. Another clinic day, or days, may be offered if there is a large waiting list.
Parents should bring in valid Virginia identification and present immunization records for copying. The physical appointment will be scheduled at this time.
Sports physicals will also be offered by appointment throughout the year on a space-available basis. These will be conducted by the nurse practitioner. This is also a two-visit process. The parent will need to present valid Virginia identification, fill out a patient registration form and schedule an appointment with the nurse practitioner. Parents will be given the standard four-page physical exam form to take home.  For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 332-5606 or 932-5606.
Local Town Wrestling would like to thank Waynesboro for coming out and supporting the organization on May 17 and helping in the Kate Collins cafeteria. The group is proud to announce the return of Local Town Wrestling on Aug. 9, as a fundraiser for a local man who had to undergo major surgery and is unable to work. The group is raising money to help pay his medical bills. Bell time is 7 p.m. WWE, TNA and WCW television stars like Qsic, Phil Brown and one-legged wonder Zack Gowen. For more information or to buy tickets, visit http://www.myspace.comLocaltownwrestling or stop by Crossroads in Staunton and Waynesboro. Tickets start at $10.

The Stuarts Draft VFW will hold a benefit bingo event on Aug. 10. The doors will open at 1:30 p.m. Games will begin at 3 p.m. No smoking will be allowed inside. Food will be available.
The event will feature an advanced sale drawing for a Lisa Geiman print. It will also include raffles, a 50/50 drawing and door prizes. Cost for advance cards are five for $25, three for $25 at the door or one ticket for $10. There are 18 guaranteed $50 prizes and two jackpot pay outs of $150 each. The event is sponsored by the Stuarts Draft VFW Ladies Auxiliary. All proceeds will go to benefit a local resident. For more information, call Sue at 337-5259 or Janet at 337-3027.

A benefit concert will be held Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. for Courtney Ott, a 10-year-old undergoing chemo-therapy due to bone cancer. Colton Berry will be the featured performer at the concert at Wilson Memorial High School Auditorium in Fishersville. Tickets are $20 per person, which includes a T-shirt that everyone is asked to wear on Courtney’s Day. All proceeds will aid with medical expenses incurred during her illness. Tickets are available at: Mill Street Salon in Staunton, Fishersville United Methodist Church, Botalis and Kline’s Dairy Bars in Staunton and Waynesboro.

The Waynesboro Choral Society will hold auditions for the upcoming Christmas concert to be held Dec. 1-2. Auditions will be held at Main Street United Methodist Church at 8 p.m. on Aug. 11 and Aug. 18. The group welcomes new members. For more information,
call Director Don Coffey at 943-2075 or visit http://www.waynesborochoralsociety.homestead.com.

Valley Music Academy will host on open house on Aug. 12, from 5-8 p.m. in the lower level of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waynesboro. Meet the individuals who provide private music instruction and direct Valley Voices Children’s Choir and the VMA Jazz Ensemble. For more information, call 942-8648, e-mail or visit VMA on the web at http://www.valleymusicacademy.org.

Applications for cooling assistance are available at the Shenandoah Valley Social Services offices in Verona and Waynesboro. Applications will be accepted through Aug. 15.
In order to be eligible, a household must have at least one household member who is over 60 years old, under 6 years old, or disabled. Households must also meet income guidelines. Households with income less than the maximum allowed for the number of the people in the home are eligible.
Income limits are as follows:
Household Size     Maximum Income
1 $1,127
2 $1,517
3 $1,907
4 $2,297
5 $2,687
Persons interested in applying may contact Shenandoah Valley Social Services. The Waynesboro location is at 1200 Shenandoah Ave., open Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call 942-6646. The Verona location is at 68 Dick Huff Lane, open Monday-Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or call 245-5890.

The Verona Moose Lodge will host Grave Digger, driver Chad Tingler and Monster Mutt Dalmation on Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Food, games and raffles will also be available. All proceeds benefit homeless pets.

The Middlebrook Volunteer Fire Department will hold its 2008 Captain’s Choice Golf Tournament on Aug. 16, at 8 a.m. at the Gypsy Hill Golf Course. The cost is $50 per player for four-man teams. For more information, call Dean Caldwell at 886-6932, Issac Wolfe at 886-5739 or Jerry Jarvis at 886-5039. The cut-off date for registration is Aug. 11.

Nelson County Parks and Recreation Department will host men’s softball tournaments on the following weekends: Aug. 16-17 and Sept. 27-28. The team fee is $200 per tournament due the Thursday before the tournament. Call for a registration packet. Round-robin format trophies will be given for first through fourth place. Call 263-7130 to register your team.

The Craigsville-Augusta Springs First Aid will hold a country dinner on Aug. 17 at the rescue squad building on Railroad Avenue. Dinner starts at noon and deliveries will be made in the Craigsville area. Dinner includes half of a barbecue chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, baked macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, homemade rolls, a variety of homemade desserts, coffee and tea. The dinner will cost $8.50 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 10. To have dinner delivered, call 997-5160.

The annual Kennedy reunion will be held Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. at Crimora United Methodist Church. Bring a covered dish to share. Games and entertainment will be provided.

The descendants of George and Sallie Estes will hold an annual family reunion on Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. at the Grottoes Town Park shelter No. 1. Please bring a picnic lunch and drink to be shared. Paper products will be furnished. For more information, call 943-8623.

A Waynesboro Writer’s Group event will be held Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. at Stone Soup Books and Café. Matthew Warner will speak on “The Business of Writing.” Warner has published three books and is just releasing his fourth, “Horror isn’t a 4-Letter Word.” Warner, a Staunton resident, is also writing the fall serial for The River City Radio Hour. Call 943-9999 if you plan to attend.

The Balsley Family Reunion will be held at the Sherando Community Center on Aug. 24, with a covered dish lunch at 2 p.m. All relatives of the Balsley family, especially descendants of Christian and Elizabeth Keinadt (Coiner) Balsley are invited. Help is needed with names and addresses. For more information, contact Joyce Balsley at 337-1891 or e-mail .

The Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival will be at Grand Caverns Regional Park on Sept. 4-6. Bands include Bluegrass Brothers, In the Tradition, The Wells Family, James King Band, Grasstowne, West Wind Bluegrass Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice, Code Blue and High Ground. Three-day tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the gate. Daily prices are $10 for Sept. 4, $20 for Sept. 5 and $25 for Sept. 6. All camping costs $20; there is no RV hookup. For information, call 804-561-0705 or e-mail .

The Booth Brothers will return to Robert E. Lee High School on Sept. 5, presenting Southern gospel music for the whole family. The Greater Love Quartet will perform a pre-show at 6:30 p.m., with the Booth Brothers taking the stage at 7 p.m. Auditorium opens at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Waynesboro Florist, Staunton Florist, Redfront Supermarket in Harrisonburg, or by calling Blue Ridge Talent at 942-0226. Prices are $16 for advance tickets, $18 at the door, or call BRT for reserved seating.

The Waynesboro High School class of 1948 will hold its 60th reunion on Sept. 9-10. All friends and graduates are invited. For more information, call Flora Larson Patterson at 434-295-5532, Walter Thompson at 434-589-5961 or George Baker at 942-9458. The group needs help locating the following classmates: Betty Altice Ross, Delores Yancey Bosard, William Folks, Mary Pratt Davis, Bob Burns, Bobby Wallace, Erma Forlines Stone, Kathryn Dobbs Johnson, Adiane Ricks Knipples, Nina McGann Orange, Frances Campbell Lowery, Mary Lee Stinespring Henderson and Bill Smith.

A golf tournament, Promoting Autism Research On the Course, will be held Sept. 20 at Stoney Creek Golf Course at Wintergreen Resort. This is the second year for the tournament and Promoting Autism Research On the Course hopes to make it an annual event. All proceeds will benefit Autism research and raise awareness. For more information, call 434-591-0702.

A Waynesboro Writer’s Group event will be held Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. at Stone Soup Books and Cafe. Clair Myers will give an introduction to dramatic writing. Myers is the executive director of the Wayne Theatre Alliance and served for 34 years as a professor of theatre before coming to Waynesboro. Call 943-9999 if you plan to attend.

The Waynesboro High School class of 1963 will hold a 45th reunion on Oct. 11 at the Waynesboro Country Club. An informal class get together will be held Oct. 10 at the South River restaurant. Class members who have not been contacted should call Barbara Dodd Ramsey at 476-5722 or e-mail .