Civic news

MAY
Mental Health America of Augusta will host its 14th Annual Pete Giesen Golf Tournament on May 29 at the Country Club of Staunton. Teams representing local businesses and organizations participate in the 18-hole tourney and compete for awards including get-away vacations in Bonita Springs, Fla., donated by the retired delegate and his wife, Pat, and the Holiday Inn Golf and Conference Center in Staunton.

The Waynesboro Fire Department will be conducting its annual Fire Hydrant Testing starting Tuesday.

Stuarts Draft VFW Ladies Auxiliary will host a benefit Longaberger bingo June 7. Doors will open 1:30 p.m. and games begin 3 p.m. with raffles, a 50/50 and door prizes; food available. All proceeds go to benefit a local 11-year-old child, Kawan McCarthy and the family for surgery and medical expenses. There will be a Lisa Geiman print giveaway for advanced sales drawing. Advanced cards: five for $25; at the door: three for $25 and one for $10.

Augusta County Republican Women will host a dinner meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Gavid’s restaurant at 1501 W. Broad St. The guest dinner speaker will be Andrew Clem, Ph.D., speaking on “How a Bill Becomes a Law: Federal and State Methods.” For more information, call Betty Cox 248-2410.

The TED (Transportation for Elderly and Disabled) Transportation Program offers door-to-door transportation for persons who are 60 years and older and for persons with disabilities.  The Program operates Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. throughout the SAW (Staunton Augusta County Waynesboro) region. This service is provided through the generosity of volunteer drivers.  If those who are looking for an opportunity to give back to the community and have one day a month to become a volunteer driver, contact volunteer coordinator Jacquie at 949-7141 with the Valley Program for Aging Services.  With the growing number of seniors, the demand is greater than ever.  The value of the services provided is priceless.

Most of the Waynesboro High School Class of 1962 turned 65 years old this year. To celebrate, a birthday party and mini reunion was held at Byers Street Bistro in Staunton on Sunday. Twenty-five plus classmates attended and talked about their years at WHS. After singing “Happy Birthday” a black-and-white decorated cake with photos from the class’ yearbook “The Skyline” was revisited. Classmates visited from as far as Los Angeles, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina. One
member, Bennie Harrison, from Los Angeles, was the guest of honor. Anne White Ramsey, Amelia White Ammons, Ann Troxell Bryant and Judy Berry planned the reunion. The next time the class plans to get together will be in 2012 for its 50th reunion.

Second Presbyterian will host guest speaker Liz Spewak for Sunday school and church Sunday. Spewak will speak about the Presbyterian Group Home and Family Services at the 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. service.

Staunton Waynesboro Association Tennis will offer 2009 NJTL summer tennis day camp from June 10 to July 20 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Boys and girls, ages 7-10, will meet from 9-10:30 a.m. and 11-14 year olds from 10:30-noon. The Staunton location will be at Lee High School and in Waynesboro at Ridgeview Park Courts.
Cost is $40 for the first child, $30 for the second child and $25 each additional child. Registration forms are online at http://www.swatennis.org or contact Anita Sowers at 885-0766.

Nelson Gallery Call for Artists:  Nelson Gallery, in Lexington, invites artists to submit entries for possible inclusion in the gallery’s Tenth Annual Juried Show. Entry deadline is 5 p.m. June 23. The exhibit will display from Aug. 3-29. Submit up to three works in digital jpeg format. The theme for 2009 is Light Play. For more information, visit http://www.nelsonfineartsgallery.com or Nelson Gallery, 27 W. Washington St., Lexington.

American Legion Post 340, East Augusta County, will host a Memorial Day Ceremony at Waynesboro Riverview Cemetery at 11 a.m. May 25. The public is invited to attend.

A YMCA hike on Humpback Mountain is scheduled for today. Anyone may participate who is 16 and older with parental permission and younger children are welcome with parental supervision. The trip begins at 10 a.m. (with no set return time); register at the YMCA by May 20. Please bring the following on the trip: a flashlight or headlamp, spare food or water, a rain jacket or other waterproof layer, a warm hat and mittens or gloves and there are no pets allowed. R.S.V.P. to the Waynesboro Family YMCA front desk. (Brochures are available there and at the Rockfish Gap Outfitters). For more information, contact Greg Fife at 942-5107.

The Fairfield Volunteer Rescue Squad is accepting registration forms for vendors to help celebrate its 50th anniversary on June 13 with an open house fundraiser at the rescue squad building in Fairfield.  Information may be obtained by visiting http://www.fairfieldrescue.com or by calling 290-0082. Crafters, yard and flea market sales and businesses are welcome to display at the event. On tap will also be a chicken barbecue, blood pressure checks, horse rides by Z.C. Stables, music, children’s activities, ice cream, prizes and more. Members of the area are welcomed and invited to volunteer their time and talents towards helping with the day’s activities. The day will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Vendors will need to bring their own tables, chairs and tent, if desired. Reserved spaces will be 12-foot by 12-foot and will be filled on a first-come basis. 

Play On! will hold open auditions for its July production of “The Rocky Horror Show” on Sunday and Monday at 7 p.m. Those auditioning should prepare a few bars from an up-tempo song and come prepared to learn a short movement routine and read from the script. Production dates are Thursdays through Saturdays July 16 through Aug. 1. Persons who audition must be at least 18 and all experience levels welcome. Auditions will be held at Play On’s Theatre at Ix, 983 Second St. S.E., Charlottesville. For more information, visit playontheatre.org or e-mail

The Vesuvius Community Association Inc. spaghetti supper on Friday begins at 5 p.m. The Vesuvius Community Center is the place for the “All You Care to Eat” supper featuring spaghetti with homemade meat or marinara sauce, salad, garlic bread, beverage and dessert. Take-out meals also will be available. Adult dinners are $6 each, with a reduced rate of $3 for children under 12. Couples, families and singles are invited to attend. Proceeds from the event will go towards operation and maintenance of the Vesuvius Community Center. The club invites individuals and business owners interested in membership to attend the association’s monthly meeting, held the third Monday of each month. A covered dish supper begins at 6:30 p.m., with the meeting following at 7.

The annual United Daughters of the Confederacy Confederate Memorial Service will be presented by area chapters at Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The program will feature an address by Scott Harris, director of the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, titled Remembrance and Reconciliation. Events include memorial music performed by bagpiper Kathy Hawkins; fife and drum renditions of Confederate music performed by Dylan Sheffer and Hunter Desper; and “Taps” played by Billy Brooks. Appearances will be made by the Confederate regiments — the Fifth Virginia Infantry, West Augusta Guard and the Staunton Artillery. Displays of artifacts collected from Valley battle sites will be on-hand for viewing. There will be refreshments available. Admission is free. For more information, call 886-6456.

Buddy Ball baseball league for youth with disabilities is plays at 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday evening during May at William Perry Elementary School ballfield. A cheering section is welcomed.