Civic news

Waynesboro VFW Post 2424 seeks younger veterans for membership, especially those with campaign medals, for example, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Programs to be adjusted for new needs. Dinner meetings held the third Tuesday of each month at Gavid’s steak house restaurant. Information: Post Commander William C. Hall, 941-8144.

The Waynesboro High School class of ’74 reunion is July 31, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2. The class seeks contact information for: Anthony Alexander, Annette Bell Bess,  Evelyn Blockman,  Angela M. Crawford, Millie Harris Dickson, Pamela Ellinger Dillon, Teresa Floyd Campbell, Betty Gibson, Charlotte Hall, Boyd Hetrick, David Hodge, Greg Hoke, Cathy James Culpen,  Donald Labelle, Diane K. Leavell, Monique Leroux, Roger May, Karen McCartney Hanisak, Sandra Holmes Martin, Fresia Monge, Karen Ramsey, Pamela Reade, Janet Ross, Teresa Rowe Duncan, David Schuder, Kara M Shifflet, Christopher Smith, Mark Stepp, Gloria Stewart Reynolds, Frances Truslow, Rhonda Puckett, Tim Campbell, Susan Woodruff and Kathy Yancey Cockerham. If anyone has information for these individuals: Phyllis Bare Poluito, 943-6053 and Marsha Tooley Berg, 943-4563.

World Heritage Student Exchange seeks 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, proficient in English, 15-18 years old and come for the 2009-10 school year. Information: Lori, 337-4135 or visit http://www.world-heritage.org.

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 Staunton, Augusta County and Waynesboro region. This service is provided through the generosity of volunteer drivers.  If someone is looking for an opportunity to give back to their community, if they have one day a month to become a volunteer driver, contact volunteer coordinator Jacquie at 949-7141 at Valley Program for Aging Services. With the growing number of seniors, the demand is greater than ever.

June

The Waynesboro Fire Department has tentatively set the date for its fundraising auction in September but is currently in need of items to be donated for that auction. No white goods please. Items may be dropped off at the fire station on Broad Street or call 942-6730 for pickup of large items.

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

Wayne Theatre Alliance second annual Bluegrass, Blue Jeans and BBQ Festival, Constitution Park; Hackensaw Boys perform live today. Festival hours are 4-9 p.m. and showtimes are 5-5:45 p.m. and 8-9p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate. Information:t http://www.hackensawboys.com or http://www.myspace.com/hackensawboys, or contact WTA by visiting http://www.waynetheatre.org or calling 943-9999.

A Kids’ Bicycle Race at Eastside Speedway today; three divisions; all children are welcome – bring bikes and helmets. Racing features 25 laps for the U-cars, Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds and four other divisions. Gates open at 3 p.m., roll-in starts at 5:15 p.m., with racing to begin at 7 p.m. General admission is $10. Information: 24-hour racing lines, 943-9336 or 942-1219, or visit http://www.eastsidespeedway.com.

63rd Annual Parish Fair, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 473 S. Wayne Ave. at 13th Street; today, with two events: from 8-11 a.m., Stop Hunger Now, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., fair activities. Help pack meals to help the hungry in Haiti and Africa at the first event. Fair activities include live bands, crafts, plants, a raffle, children’s games, food and a silent auction for prizes. All proceeds benefit the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Information: 942-4136 or visit http://www.stjohnwaynesboro.dioswva.org.

A Car and Truck Show, Sherando Community Center, Lyndhurst; today, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Registration: 9 a.m. to noon. Cost: $8. Trophies awarded for the show. Live music by the Southern Grass Band, a blue grass ensemble. Bring your own lawn chairs. A community yard sale, from 8 a.m. to noon. Table rentals are $5. Food available for sale, along with a 50/50 raffle and games for children. Event sponsors: Sherando Lyndhurst Ruritan Club, VFW Post 8479 and the Sherando Community Club. Information: 943-0695.

Fifth Annual Old Fashion Block Party, Craigsville-Augusta Springs First Aid Crew, 68 W. Railroad Ave., Craigsville; today, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. A country breakfast served; chicken barbecue starts at 3 p.m. Other event features: vendors, a silent auction, DJ and live entertainment, children’s games, blood pressure and glucose testing, a beauty pageant, womanless beauty pageant, live auction, raffle drawings and more. Information: 997-0218.

Book signing by Elizabeth Massie and Corney Skinner for their book “Images of America: Waynesboro,” Stone Soup Books, 908 W. Main St; 1-3 p.m. today; talk to the authors or get an autograph. Information: 943-0084 or http://www.stonesoupbooks.net.

The John Wesley — Lucy Armstrong family reunion; noon today with a covered-dish lunch at 1 p.m. at Crimora United Methodist Church, 1691 New Hope Crimora Road, Crimora. Information: Wesley or Lois Simmons, 943-4800.

The Fairfield Volunteer Rescue Squad celebrates its 50th anniversary today with an Open House fundraiser at the rescue squad building in Fairfield from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Crafters, yard and flea market sales and businesses will host displays at the event. Visit the building and see the vehicles used to provide public emergency service assistance. Partake of the chicken barbecue, blood pressure checks, horse rides by Z C Stables, music, children’s activities, ice cream, prizes and more. For more information, visit http://www.fairfieldrescue.com or call 290-0082.

ShenanArts and Stage4 Theatre will host “Curtains Up: A Musical Review” fundraiser at 7 p.m. today at the theater. This will be the last event at the Verona location before ShenanArts moves to its new location in Staunton. Funds raised will promote the group’s move to the old R. E. Lee High School building. Admission is pay what you will at the door. For more information, contact ShenanArts at Stage4 Theatre by visiting http://www.shenanarts.org or calling 248-1868.

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

Annual Carpenter Reunion: the descendants of Joseph and Martha Wiley Carpenter will reunite Sunday beginning at 10 a.m., with a noon lunch at Gypsy Hill Golf Course pavilion in Staunton; bring a picnic lunch, games and musical instruments; for more information, call 949-7883.

Flag burning ceremony, Girl Scout Troop 567, of the South River Service Unit in Waynesboro; 3 p.m. Sunday at Staunton VFW Post 2216, located on Frontier Drive in Staunton (next to Dice’s). Part of troop member Jessica Owens’ gold award – an exercise to increase awareness of patriotism. Open to the public..

Flag retirement ceremony, American Legion Post 340, 13 Eastside Highway, East Augusta County; 7:30 p.m. on Monday; public is invited to attend.

The Special Education Advisory Committee meeting; Tuesday, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Verona Government Center second floor training room. The public is invited to attend.

American Cancer Society’s Bark for Life; informational meeting on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Lifetime Education building, Room 212, Augusta Medical Center, Fishersville; Bark for Life is an ACS Relay for Life fundraising event that will honor the care-giving qualities of dogs; 1st Annual Bark for Life of Augusta County on Aug. 29, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gen. Daniel Morgan Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution meeting; Chris Hilliard, Waynesboro Police Officer of the Year, guest speaker Wednesday (meeting is held every third Wednesday monthly) at Gavid’s steak house restaurant. Hilliard will speak about police work. Information: Ron Hiserman, 943-9874 or e-mail .

The Shenandoah Valley Head Start Policy Council’s scheduled meeting; Friday at 10 a.m. at Rowe’s Family Restaurant, Staunton. The public is invited to attend. A record of minutes from each meeting is posted at each Head Start classroom site.

30th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet, Waynesboro Branch NAACP; Friday, 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Staunton. Additionally, in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the national organization, this year’s local theme is “The NAACP: Celebrating a Century, We’ve Come a Mighty Long Way.” Hilary O. Shelton, director of the Washington Bureau, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker. Tickets are $30. For more information call 942-1473 or 943-6832.

The Waynesboro YMCA will host an Outdoor Skills Course: Don’t get Lost, June 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (register by June 17). Participants should be 16 and older with parental permission and younger children are welcome with parents. Please bring the following: a flashlight or headlamp, food and drink, a rain jacket or other waterproof layer, a warm hat and mittens or gloves; no pets will be allowed to participate. R.S.V.P to the Waynesboro Family YMCA front desk (brochures are available at the YMCA and at the Rockfish Gap Outfitters). For more information, contact Greg Fife at 942-5107.

Verona Community Food Pantry Indoor Yard Sale, Weyers Cave Community Center, June 20, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; donations can be submitted to the Center on Friday; barbecue chicken halves on sale for $3 each. Information: Elwood Shrader, 234-7662.

Fundraising yard sale, Circle 8 Square Dance Club of Waynesboro; June 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Rocking R. Hardware Store parking lot, 1000 Broad St. Funds raised go toward the cost of square dance lessons, which begin Sept. 15. Information on lessons: Penny Askew, 886-4366, 292-1230 or June or Harry Baum, 456-7144.

The American Red Cross’s Summer Blood Drive; June 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit arcgiveblood.org to schedule an appointment. All presenting donors receive tie-dyed t-shirt and are entered to win a weekend travel getaway. Event sponsors: The News Virginian and Alpha Chi-ESA.

Play On! announces auditions for Joseph Kesselring’s “Arsenic and Old Lace,” a black comedy which follows a drama critic as he discovers that his two beloved spinster aunts have an unusual habit of poisoning lonely old men. Director Megan Randall seeks two women, ages 50-70; on woman aged 20-30; and eight men from 20-60 years old. Auditions will consist of readings from the script and will be held June 22-23 at 7 p.m. at The Theatre at Ix, 983 Second St. SE. Performances are Sept. 10-27. For more information, visit PlayOnTheatre.org or call 434-872-0184.

Personal Essay Workshop, with Martha Woodruff, WMRA commentator, journalist and author; two-session workshop June 22 and 29, 7:30 p.m. in the Wayne Theater Alliance building, 533 W. Main St.; free and open to the public, refreshments served. Space is limited, register in advance by calling Clair Myers, 943-9999.

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.

The Waynesboro Lady Xplosions AAU basketball team, Waynesboro YMCA parking lot, 648 S. Wayne Ave.; fundraising yard sale June 27 at 8 a.m.. Food provided by Botali’s. Funds raised will support local youth basketball teams in upcoming season. Information: John Spears at the YMCA, 942-5107.

The Wilson Memorial High School Class of ’54 will hold a 55th reunion celebration on June 27 at 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Staunton. Reservations are a MUST. For those interested in attending, return your reservation form as directed or call 294-7224 ASAP.

The annual Fauber family reunion; June 28 at 11 a.m. with a family worship service at South Mountain (Haines) Chapel at Montebello. A covered dish lunch follows at 1 p.m. at the Days Inn, Raphine. For information or to register: William C. Fauber, 776-0724 or e-mail .

July

Ten Speed Press announces the publication and release of “Mrs. Rowe’s Little Book of Southern Pies,” by Mollie Cox Bryan and Mrs. Rowe’s Restaurant and Bakery in July. The book is a collection of more than 65 of Rowe’s pie recipes. Bryan lives in Waynesboro with her family.

“Celebrate America!” luncheon, Valley Women’s Connection of Greater Staunton Area; July 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mrs. Rowe’s Country Buffet, Mt. Crawford; luncheon offers food and fellowship. Lorraine Serra, of South Park, Penn., a professional recording artist, will play her guitar and sing a selection of patriotic songs; following the performance, she will speak about her career and how she discovered the blinding effects of life in the spotlight; cost of lunch and program is $14. Reservations are required by July 3. Call 885-7353 or 248-3059. Free childcare provided.

Wounded Warrior Golf Tournament, Wintergreen Adaptive Skiing, Kingsmill Resort Plantation Course, Williamsburg; July 18, with 8:30 a.m. shotgun start; luncheon will follow tournament; register now at http://www.skiwas.org or 434-325-2007; $125 to enter, with sponsorships available.