Civic news

APRIL
ESA chapters, Alpha Chi of Waynesboro and Beta Omicron, will host their 22nd anniversary of their Sweetheart Baby Photo Contest at 4 p.m. on Sunday benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  The awards ceremony will begin at 4 p.m at the Waynesboro Elks Lodge.  There are 24 children participating in the contest and they and their parents, will be present to be recognized and awarded prizes. 

Sharon Day, animal communicator and founder of Healing Hearts Rescue, an animal rescue organization, shares her experiences and insight on how animals are healers, teachers and guides Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 565 Pine Ave. and 14th St., Waynesboro; by donation.

SAW2010 Community Rally from 7-9 p.m. through today at Wayne Hill Baptist Church, 877 Ladd Road, Waynesboro; learn how deep gang activity goes in the community; this year includes a dessert theater for production of “R+J” based on both Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” viewer discretion is advised for explicit language, violence and adult content. Admission tonight is $5 per person and $8 per couple. The admission price includes several dessert options as well as free child care. Tickets are available in Staunton at Bookworks, Staunton Recreation and Parks, and the Clocktower Tavern, and in Waynesboro at Stone Soup Books. For additional information, call Diane at 942-6757 or visit http://www.saw2010.info

The Shenandoah Valley Holocaust Education Project has many remembrance events scheduled throughout the area through May. For more information, contact Rabbi Joe Blair at , Katharine Gorsuch at 817-781-9229.

Peter Sklar to appear at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at Valley Dance Studio, 1744 Englewood Drive, Staunton; to present “So You Want To Be a Star” a free lecture for aspiring dancers, singers and actors and their parents; is open to teenagers, young adults, older children, and parents. There is no charge for admission, but reservations are strictly required. Nobody under age six will be admitted with or without a parent, and nobody under age 18 will be admitted without their own mother, father or legal guardian. (Substitute non-legal adult guardians are not permissible.)

Glenmore Hunt Club Spring Hunter Pace and Luncheon: April 18 (rain date April 19), at Cottage Hill, Swoope; all riders welcome: English, Western, Gaited, Trail, Pleasure, Event and Walking Horse; rider entry fees include luncheon: adults $35, junior (17 and under) $25 and luncheon only (non-riders) $6; for more info, call or e-mail Jewell Phelps at 337-6659 or .

The GFWC Waynesboro Junior Woman’s Club is sponsoring its annual award for Waynesboro’s Outstanding Woman. Nomination application(s) can be picked up at the Central Virginia Rentals at 2482 Jefferson Hwy. or e-mail the search committee c/o Debbie Thompson at . Deadline to receive nominations is April 11. For more information, contact WOW Search Committee, c/o Kim Mace and Debbie Thompson, P.O. Box 1841, Waynesboro, Va., 22980.

The Sherando Lyndhurst Community Benefit Indoor Auction Sale will be held today beginning at 9 a.m. at the Wilson Fire Department Station located on Mount Torrey Road in Lyndhurst. For more info, call 943-8556, 943-4341 or 943-2507.

Barbecue dinner to benefit Kayla Abshire, an 11-year-old kidney transplant recipient, from 4-7 p.m. today at Preston Yancey Fire Department, Fishersville; tickets $6 and available at Valley Fabric (Stuarts Draft), Augusta Office Supply (Waynesboro), Klassic Kutts (Fishersville), the Candle and Gift Shop (Verona); for more info, call 942-3274 or 946-0708.

All Girl Conference hosted by the Staunton Recreation Department and DuPont Community Credit Union; includes a special keynote speaker, workshops, free food and lots of great giveaways! Free event from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., today at the Booker T. Washington Community Center. Pre-registration is required by March 27. Registration forms available at Booker T. Washington Community Center, Staunton Recreation and Parks Department facilities, local libraries and also school offices. For more info, visit http://www.myspace.com/allgirlconference or contact Makeba Robinson at e-mail
.va.us, or 332-3991 or 332-3945.

Parenting classes, Mental Health of Augusta and the Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth, United Way agencies: “For Kids Sake:” A program for parents, step-parents and grandparents who share custody or visitation of a child, whether or not there was ever a marriage. The class is appropriate for adults who are currently going through the courts, as well as those who have been separated for years. Charmi Neely, from Kuley, Ryan, and Associates, teaches this one-time, 4-hour seminar. The next class will be today at the Mary Switzer building on the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center campus.

“The Wall That Heals,” Ralph Sampson Park, E. Washington Street, Harrisonburg (near blue water tower); on display through Sunday; one-half scale replica exhibit of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C., which travels with a museum and information center; museum chronicles the Vietnam War era and the unique healing power of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; open to the public, free of charge, 24 hours-a-day.

11th annual yard sale today at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center Council of Organizations; held indoors in the WWRC gym; ample parking; area is accessible with restrooms onsite; food for sale; doors open to the public from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; oak pie safe, made by WWRC students, will be raffled; to purchase a ticket, call 332-7939; all proceeds benefit students at WWRC.

Rockfish Valley Kite Flying Festival, Spruce Creek Park (in big field off Glenthorne Loop, Route 627); April 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; kite demonstrations and competitions courtesy of members of Richmond Air Force, professional organization of kite flyers; some performances done to music; noon: unfurling of 1,200 square foot flag by children in attendance while Star Spangled Banner plays; 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.: free dual line group lasting half-hour; stunt kites flown, instructions given and kites available for purchase from 2 Guys Flying; children’s activities: free kites and assembly to first 100 children and basket races with parachutes; bring a picnic; food vendor, Botali’s, of Staunton; no rain date; free and open to the public; sponsors: Rockfish Valley Foundation, http://www.rockfishvalley.org, 434-361-2251 or ; and Richmond Air Force, http://www.richmondairforce.com and 2 Guys Flying.

World Heritage Student Exchange is seeking local families interested in sharing their home to provide a high school exchange student a positive encounter with the United States. Students are screened by World Heritage, are proficient in English, 15-18 years old and come for the 2009-10 school year. For more info, call Lori at 337-4135 or visit http://www.world-heritage.org.

Free tax preparation with AARP Tax-Aide through April 15. This service is for moderate to low income taxpayers of any age, with special consideration given to those age 60 and over. Times and locations are as follows:
- Waynesboro Senior Center: Mondays, 1-4 p.m.; Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to noon; Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon; appointments are recommended and will be given priority; call Joanne Swanda, 942-9518; for tax information call Dick Eller, 943-6214.
- Augusta County Government Center, Verona: Wednesdays, 2-5 p.m.; Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon and 2-5 p.m.; Fridays, 9 a.m. to noon; walk-ins only, no appointments; call Rob Saylor, 337-7067.
- Nelson County Library, 8521 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston: Tuesdays, 1-4 p.m.; call Marlene Howard, 434-361-0283.

MAY
Walk MS on May 9, at 9 a.m. at Augusta Medical Center, Fishersville; to participate, visit http://www.walkMSva.org.

Hunting Heritage banquet, Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 152 Fairway Lane, Staunton; National Wild Turkey Federation hosts annual banquet on May 9; social hour, silent auction and raffle sales begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and a live raffle of wildlife and outdoor prints, sculptures and many other items; at least 14 guns will be given away through raffles and games; tickets: $60 for individuals, $80 for couples and $25 for J.A.K.E.S. or youth members; each ticket includes one regular N.T.W.F. membership; “supporter,” sponsor and corporate table tickets also available; print sponsors and silent auction donations are also needed; info.: Chuck or Tina Hite at 886-3141, Lennie or Bonita Tolley at 248-4564, Peery Plecker at 886-0630 or Jan and Eddy Pitsenbarger at 337-6902.

JUNE
Bike MS 2009: Tour de Vine on June 13-14: summer bike event to be held in Charlottesville; start and finish line at The Miller School of Albemarle; visit http://www.bikeMSva.org.

Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative annual meeting; June 11, 4 p.m.; meeting will feature a barbecue chicken dinner, live entertainment and a special Kids’ Zone area; scheduled speakers: SVEC President and CEO Myron D. Rummel, SVED Board of Directors Chairman Larry E. Garber and CFC’s CEO Sheldon Peterson; other speakers to be confirmed at later date.