Civic news

By Gina Farthing

Published: August 15, 2008

Jack Higgs Bridge Reopens; Monday at 9 a.m.; Fourth Street; all necessary repairs have been made to the bridge to allow safe passage for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Second Presbyterian Church; 133 N. Delphine Ave.; food pantry, 10 a.m. to noon; for information, call 943-3211 or 943-3213.

Bethany Lutheran Church’s Recycling Center; open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and today, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; only accepts aluminum.

The Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, University of Virginia, closed through Aug. 25 for renovations and exhibit change; collection reopens Aug. 26.

Blue Ridge Community College; accepting applications for arts and crafts vendors and concessioners for 2008 Folk Arts Festival, Weyers Cave Campus, Sept. 13-14; for information or an application, call 453-2358 or http://www.brcc.edu/folkarts/.

Pufferbellies in Staunton donates ten percent of its Sunday sales to People Places; 15 W. Johnson St.; Staunton; toys and books for children of all ages.

Dooms Community Center; Dooms Crossing Road; 44th annual Dooms Ruritan horse show today; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cat’s Cradle; will attend Verona Moose Family Center’s Spay and Neuter 2008 Monster Fundraiser today, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; yard sale at 900 N. Liberty St. in Harrisonburg on Aug. 29, from noon to 6 p.m., and Aug. 30, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; anyone interested in foster parenting or adopting a pet, Cat’s Cradle is at the Waynesboro PetSmart on Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; to donate or volunteer, visit the Web site at http://www.catscradleva.org or call 438-5222.

Lyndhurst United Methodist Church; all-you-can-eat spaghetti supper and bake sale today, 4-7 p.m.; menu: spaghetti with sauce, salad, bread, dessert and beverage; cost $6 for adults, $3 for children 6-12, children free under 5; take out available; for information, 943-8386 or 943-6315; after noon on Saturday, call 943-8057.

The Verona Moose Lodge; Grave Digger, driver Chad Tingler and Monster Mutt Dalmation today, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; free admission; food, games and raffles available; proceeds benefit homeless pets.

The Shenandoah Valley Quilters Guild; meet at Bridgewater’s Town Hall at 9:30 a.m. today for annual Quilter’s Guild picnic; bring pot luck dish and hand sewing kit (needle, thread, pins and small scissors); members and non-members welcome.

Nelson County Parks and Recreation Department; men’s softball tournaments today and Sunday and Sept. 27-28; team fee is $200 per tournament due Thursday before the tournament; call for registration packet; round-robin format; trophies given for first through fourth place; call 263-7130 to register.
The Craigsville-Augusta Springs First Aid; country dinner fundrasier on Sunday at rescue squad building; on Railroad Avenue; dinner at noon; deliveries made in Craigsville area; half-chicken barbecue with sides and drink; cost is $8.50 for adults and $5 for children under the age of 10; call 997-5160 for delivery.

The annual Kennedy reunion; Sunday, 1 p.m., Crimora United Methodist Church; bring covered dish to share; games and entertainment.

The descendants of George and Sallie Estes; annual family reunion on Sunday, 1 p.m.; Grottoes Town Park shelter No. 1.; bring picnic lunch and drink to share; paper products furnished; for information, call 943-8623.

The Waynesboro Choral Society; auditions for upcoming Christmas concert to be held Dec. 1-2; auditions held at Main Street United Methodist Church at 8 p.m. on Monday; new members welcome; for information, call Director Don Coffey at 943-2075 or visit http://www.waynesborochoralsociety.homestead.com.

The 2008 Virginia in History panel exhibition from the Library of Virginia; at Waynesboro Public Library until Sept. 15; exhibit program Wednesday at noon, presented by Jennifer McDaid, local records appraisal archivist for Library of Virginia; exhibit highlights outstanding Virginia women.

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

Mt. Salem Baptist Church; 1015 Stuart St.; Staunton; lawn party on Friday at 5 p.m.; fun, food and fellowship.

Verona Volunteer Fire Company; 304 Lee Highway; Verona; Old Fashioned Community Day on Friday and Aug. 23 at the fire station; on Friday: tenderloin dinner at 5 p.m., $8 for adults, $4 for ages 6-12; children’s rides, $15 for an armband or $3 per ride; bingo; games; on Aug. 23: parade at 6 p.m.; children’s rides; bingo; games; for information, call 248-2480.

The Shenandoah Valley Chapter of USA Dance; monthly dance at the Dayton Learning Center on Aug. 23; free beginner East Coast Swing at 7:15 p.m.; dance starts at 8 p.m.; August theme is “Elvis Night,” featuring swing music, ballroom and Latin; for information, call 879-9126.

Waynesboro Lions Club; 2008 annual Shrimp Feast on Aug. 23; Best Western Conference Center in Waynesboro; all-you-can-eat shrimp dinner for donation of $30; proceeds benefit the Waynesboro Lions Club; for information, call Marsden Champaign at 949-4525 or a member.

Waynesboro Writer’s Group; Aug. 23, 10 a.m.; Stone Soup Books and Café; Matthew Warner will speak on “The Business of Writing”; if planing to attend, call 943-9999.
Autumn Hill Vineyards; Standardsville; sixth annual Harvest Prevue and Perspective Open House, from noon to 5 p.m., Aug. 23-24; admission $7; rain or shine; picnics welcome; no reservations; for information, call 434-985-6100 or visit http://www.autumnhillwine.com.

The Balsley Family Reunion; Sherando Community Center, Mount Torrey Road, Route 664; Aug. 24; covered dish lunch, 2 p.m.; all relatives of the Balsley family, especially descendants of Christian and Elizabeth Keinadt (Coiner) Balsley invited; help needed with names and addresses; for information, call Joyce Balsley at 337-1891 or e-mail .

Valley District of the Stonewall Jackson Area Council; Boy Scouts of America; annual school night recruitment; must be at least 7-10 years old or in the first through fifth grades to join Cub Scouts; must be 10 years old and above to join a Boy Scout Troop; schools and corresponding dates:
n Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at Rockfish Gap Elementary.
n Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at individual locations for remaining Augusta County Schools.
n Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at individual locations for Waynesboro Elementary Schools.
n Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. at Craigsville Elementary.
n Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at Skatetown: Bessie Weller Elementary, A.R. Ware Elementary, Dixon Elementary and McSwain Elementary registrations.
For information, call Dee Shartinger at 569-6034 or visit http://www.joincubscouting.org. Annual popcorn and peanut fundraiser sales to begin soon; to order, call Shartinger or the Council office at 943-6675.

The Waynesboro Public Library; offers a Foster’s Grille $3 off through Aug. 29 when patrons check out six or more items.

The Shenandoah Valley Disability Employment Awareness Committee is seeking nominations for: Employer of the Year, including self-employed; Employee of the Year; Mentor of the Year; Training Site of the Year; Assistive Technology Device/Aid; and the Peter Giesen Humanitarian Award. Nominations due by Aug. 29; forms at http://www.svdeac.net; submit to Oakley Pearson at or send mail to Oakley Pearson, Talking Book Center; 1 Churchville Ave.; Staunton; annual awards luncheon Oct. 30 at the Holiday Inn, Staunton; guest speaker: Debra Ruh, founder and president of TecAccess; information: Karen Stevens, 332-7761 or e-mail .

First Baptist Church; 301 S. Wayne Ave.; two-part series: “A Time for Sharing and Support Following the Death of a Loved One to Suicide;” Aug. 31 and Sept. 7, from 10-10:45 a.m.; church fellowship hall; moderated by grief support specialist Dr. Cynthia Long Lasher, Lutheran Family Services; open to the public.

The Stonewall Jackson House Lexington; seeking volunteers for docents, shop assistants, garden volunteers and special volunteers; orientation and information session, Sept. 4; session begins at the Museum Shop of the Stonewall Jackson house; 8 E. Washington St.; free tour, 10 a.m.; information: call volunteer coordinator Lucy Wilkins at 463-2552.

The Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival; Grand Caverns Regional Park, Sept. 4-6; bands: Bluegrass Brothers, In the Tradition, The Wells Family, James King Band, Grasstowne, West Wind Bluegrass, Jr. Sisk and Ramblers Choice, Code Blue and High Ground; three-day tickets, $45 in advance and $55 at gate; daily prices, $10 for Sept. 4, $20 for Sept. 5 and $25 for Sept. 6; all camping costs $20; no RV hookup; for information, call 804-561-0705 or e-mail .

The Booth Brothers; Robert E. Lee High School, Sept. 5; The Greater Love Quartet pre-show at 6:30 p.m.; Booth Brothers at 7 p.m.; auditorium opens 6 p.m., purchase tickets at Waynesboro Florist, Staunton Florist, Redfront Supermarket in Harrisonburg, or Blue Ridge Talent via 942-0226; price is $16 in advance tickets, $18 at the door, or $25 for reserved seating.

National Osteoporosis Foundation Support Group, B.O.N.E.S.; Staunton Public Library; Churchville Avenue; monthly meeting; Sept. 6, from 2-4 p.m.; second floor board room; guest speaker: Gold’s Gym Fitness Manager Sharon Tolley; exercising with osteoporosis; information: call Delores King, 885-2188.

The Waynesboro High School class of 1948; 60th reunion, Sept. 9-10; all friends and graduates invited; for information, call Flora Larson Patterson at 434-295-5532, Walter Thompson at 434-589-5961 or George Baker at 942-9458; group needs help locating: 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.

The Inaugural Fishersville Cruise In, Sept. 13; Windward Shopping Center; rain date, Sept. 14; parking starts at 7:30 a.m.; official start is 9:30 a.m., entry fee $5 per car or truck; three top awards given; first 100 cars receive prizes; door prizes, discounts area businesses; proceeds benefit the Children Miracle Network and the University of Virginia hospital; bring a chair; participants can register now or the morning of the event; to register, call 946-3701 or 447-0835.

A golf tournament, Promoting Autism Research On the Course; Sept. 20; Stoney Creek Golf Course at Wintergreen Resort; all proceeds benefit Autism research; for information, call 434-591-0702.

Waynesboro Writer’s Group meets; Sept. 27, 10 a.m.; Stone Soup Books and Café; Executive Director of the Wayne Theatre Alliance Clair Myers gives introduction to dramatic writing; Myers served 34 years as a professor of theater; to attend, call 943-9999.

The Mental Health Association of Augusta; accepting nominations for J. Lewis Gibbs Distinguished Service Award; individuals or groups may make nominations by sending in names of persons or organizations who have done work in the interest of mental health in the Staunton, Waynesboro or Augusta County area; submit nominations in writing to the Mental Health Association Nominating Committee, Room 206, Professional Building, Staunton, VA 24401; due date, October 1; nominations should include clear and detailed information about what the person or organization has done to deserve the recognition, including: publicity, support documents, or letters of recommendation; the winner to be presented at 54th annual dinner meeting, Nov. 21 at the Holiday Inn Golf and Conference Center; for information, call Mental Health Association at 949-0169, 886-7181or e-mail .

The Waynesboro High School class of 1963; 45th reunion, Oct. 11, Waynesboro Country Club, informal class get together, Oct. 10 at South River restaurant, class members who have not been contacted should call Barbara Dodd Ramsey at 476-5722 or e-mail .