Civic news this week

By Gina Farthing

Published: August 22, 2008

Food Pantry, Second Presbyterian Church, 133 N. Delphine Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon; information: 943-3211 or 943-3213.

Bethany Lutheran Church accepts aluminum recycling only; take all other recyclables to the Waynesboro Recycling Center.

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

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

Pufferbellies, 15 W. Johnson St., Staunton; donates 10 percent of Sunday sales to People Places; toys and books for children of all ages.

Mental Flossing, Holiday Inn, Harrisonburg (Route 33 East); continues today starting at 8 p.m.; $5 for non-hotel residents; proceeds aid upcoming benefit shows; information: http://www.mentalflossing.org or 271-8002.

Pancake breakfast, Applebee’s, 139 Lee Jackson Highway, Staunton; today, from 8-10:30 a.m.; benefits Augusta County Memory Walk; information: Wendy DeLawder at 437-7444.

Real Estate Plus, 15 Boyington Blvd.; today, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; DNA kits and demonstrations on how to use them, safety tips and donated products from area businesses; pictures will be taken for the kits; information: 943-3030.

Old Fashioned Community Day; Verona Volunteer Fire Company; 304 Lee Highway; Verona; today at the fire station; parade at 6 p.m.; children’s rides, $15 armband or $3 per ride; bingo; games;  information, call 248-2480.

Monthly dance; The Shenandoah Valley Chapter of USA Dance; at the Dayton Learning Center today; 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.

2008 annual Shrimp Feast; Waynesboro Lions Club; today at 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.

Matthew Warner will speak on “The Business of Writing”; Waynesboro Writer’s Group; today at 10 a.m.; Stone Soup Books and Café; to attend, call 943-9999.

6th annual Harvest Prevue and Perspective Open House; Autumn Hill Vineyards; Standardsville; from noon to 5 p.m., today and Sunday; admission $7; rain or shine; picnics welcome; no reservations; for information, call 434-985-6100 or visit http://www.autumn-hillwine.com.

The Balsley Family Reunion; Sherando Community Center, Mount Torrey Road, Route 664; Sunday; 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 .

The American Red Cross sponsors following blood drives:
n Today, Covenant Presbyterian

Church, in Staunton, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
n Wednesday, Staunton Gypsy Hill Park Gym, noon to 6 p.m.
n Thursday, Waynesboro Moose Lodge, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission has rescheduled it’s regular monthly meeting to Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.; Jack Manch Conference Room of the General Aviation Terminal

Annual school night recruitment; Valley District of the Stonewall Jackson Area Council; Boy Scouts of America;; 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 Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Rockfish Gap Elementary.
n Thursday at 7 p.m. at individual locations for remaining Augusta County Schools.
n Thursday 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 order, call Shartinger or the Council office at 943-6675.

Waynesboro Public Library, 600 S. Wayne Ave.; Pre-K Project meets Thursday at 6:30 p.m.; discussion of the lack of pre-k afterschool care in Waynesboro elementary schools and how to influence a change; information: 941-0354.

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 Friday; 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 .

Foster’s Grille $3 off coupon; The Waynesboro Public Library; through Friday when patrons check out six or more items.

Cat’s Cradle, 900 N. Liberty St., Harrisonburg; yard sale on Friday, 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.

Verona Fire Department; spaghetti dinner fundraiser for Jill Mullins on Aug. 30, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.; $10 for adults, $5 for children 4-12 and free for children 3 and under; Thomas Kincaid framed picture raffle, 50/50, door prizes; information: 248-3018.

The 72nd Annual Mathias Reunion, Lost River State Park, Mathias, W.Va.; Aug. 31; lunch at 12:30 p.m.; all relatives and friends invited to bring picnic lunch; in case of rain, held at the Mathias Civic Center, off the park road.

Two-part series: “A Time for Sharing and Support Following the Death of a Loved One to Suicide”; First Baptist Church; 301 S. Wayne Ave.; 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’s 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.

The 2008 Virginia in History panel exhibition from the Library of Virginia; at Waynesboro Public Library until Sept. 15; exhibit highlights outstanding Virginia women.

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

Nelson County Parks and Recreation Department; men’s softball tournaments Sept. 27-28; team fee is $200 per tournament due Thursday before the tournament; round-robin format; trophies given for first through fourth place; to register: 263-7130.

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

Accepting nominations for J. Lewis Gibbs Distinguished Service Award; The Mental Health Association of Augusta; 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, Oct. 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 .
45th reunion the Waynesboro High School class of 1963, 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 .