Civic news

MAY
The Stonewall Jackson Area Council Boy Scouts of America will host the 100 Years of Scouting Century of Values celebration tour bus Tuesday at the Colonial Mall in Staunton from 2-5 p.m.

The 8th Annual Ultimate Miss Staunton Pageant is planned for May 16.  Emcee for the pageant will be Miss Augusta County Fair 2008 Chassidy Ashby.  The pageant is open to young women throughout the area in 10 different age divisions from babies through single ladies, up to 28 years of age and also has added a Misses division for any age.  Pageant starts at 11 a.m. and will be held at the Weyers Cave Community Center. Contestants will compete in gown and casual wear and the entry fee is $75 for both.  All contestants will receive gifts; the new queens will receive gifts, a crown, custom satin sash and a bouquet of flowers from Sweet Williams. For entry forms or additional information, call 886-3321 or visit http://www.ultimatemiss.com. Entry deadline is Friday.

Your Business: Plan It/Start It — Thinking about starting a small business or have already started and realize a few thing, might have been missed? This workshop might help. Review the steps to a successful start and the components of sound business planning, including financial projections. Follow-up appointments are available with SCORE counselors.
The seminar will be held Tuesday at the SCORE office, 301 W. Main St., Waynesboro from 6-8:30 p.m. The fee is $25 to cover materials used in the seminar. The local SCORE volunteers are real-world professionals with time-tested knowledge who donate thousands of hours to help small businesses succeed. Counselors are experts in such areas as accounting, finance, marketing, management, international, manufacturing and business plan preparation just to name a few. Services of time and assistance are always free of charge. Contact SCORE by calling 949-4423 or e-mail .

Shenandoah Valley Social Services (serving Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County) is hosting the annual picnic for foster families at Eli’s Fun Center, 733 Lee Highway, Verona, from 6-8 p.m. May 18. Call 248-7287 for more information.

Waynesboro Public Safety Day today at Constitution Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; hosted by The Waynesboro First Aid Crew, in conjunction with the Waynesboro Fire Department, Waynesboro Police Department, Waynesboro Department of Emergency Management, PHI Medical – AirCare 5, American Red Cross, Shenandoah Valley Project Impact/Community Emergency Response Team and Virginia Blood Services.

Wild Weekend in Waynesboro on May 16: Public Works Day at Coyner Springs Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Xtremefest at Riverview Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Main Street Muscle Car Show downtown from 1-5 p.m.; for more information, call Public Works at 942-6624.

Friends of the Waynesboro Public Library is conducting its annual membership drive. The membership categories are individual for $10 or more, family at $15 or more, patron $25 or more, organization $35 or more, or an individual life member $100 or more per person. All contributions are deductible as allowed by law. Make checks payable to “Friends of the Waynesboro Library” and send to Membership chairman, Waynesboro Public Library, 600 S. Wayne Ave., Waynesboro, Va., 22980.

The annual Kids Fishing Day will take place at Upper Sherando Lake today, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The upper lake at Sherando Lake Recreation Area will be stocked with surplus hatchery fish specifically for the event. Children ages 3 to 13 will be allowed to try to catch and keep six trout, a minimum of seven inches or longer. Fishing is free; a license is not required, but state game laws apply.
A parent or adult guardian responsible for their safety must accompany the children. Kids need to bring their own rods, reels, creels, lures, bait and any other items they need to catch fish.
So that everyone has an equal chance to catch fish, participants will be allowed one fishing pole each. There will be concessions available for hotdogs, drinks and snacks. Prizes donated from local area merchants will be awarded for the “First Catch of the Day” and “Longest Fish” caught in different age categories. The lake will be closed to public fishing until after 2 p.m. today.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the USDA Forest Service are co-sponsoring the event. Dawn Kirk, the Fisheries Biologist for George Washington & Jefferson National Forests will present an educational and entertaining fish demonstration at 12:30 pm.
For more information, call the Glenwood and Pedlar Ranger District office at 291-2188. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Staunton Guided Tours announces an expansion of its staff and services. Marney Gibbs, owner, announces that regular tours will depart the Staunton Visitors Center at 35 S. New St. every Saturday through Oct. 31. A narrated trolley tour will be held at 10:30 a.m., and a trolley and walking tour at 1:30 p.m. Joining the tour service are Janie Ballurio, Karen Hudson, Karen Lynne Johnston, Phil Moran and Doug and Tidge Roller. Other tours are available by appointment. For more information and fees, visit http://www.stauntonguidedtours.com or call 885-2430.

Sixth Annual Mike Spradlin Memorial Men’s softball tournament will be held today and Sunday at Barren Ridge softball fields, concessions will be available; for more info and to enter, call Todd at 886-6461.

Summit Square open house, 501 Oak Ave., Waynesboro, offers an opportunity for the community to visit May 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition to viewing apartments and patio homes, visitors will be able to see the wellness center, library, art gallery, nearby dining room and more. Refreshments will be served.

AARP Drivers Safety Program sponsored by Summit Square will be held Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day. Adults 50 and over are invited to attend this two-day, eight-hour course which covers the normal changes in vision and reaction times associated with aging. There are no tests and you do not need to be an AARP Member. There is a $10 fee for each participant and enrollment is limited. Pre-registration is required. Contact Summit Square by calling 841-3100.

Longaberger basket and Pampered Chef Bingo will be held at Verona Volunteer Fire Company, 304 Lee Highway, Verona, today beginning at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.); $20 advance for 3 cards and $25 at the door; additional cards $10 each or three for $25; admission includes 20 regular games; for questions, reservations or to purchase tickets, call Minday Craun at 490-0340.

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

National Wild Turkey Federation Hunting Heritage banquet, at the Verona Volunteer Fire Dept. social hall, 304 Lee Highway, Verona; May 9; social hour, silent auction and raffle sales begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. and a live raffle; at least 14 guns will be given away through raffles and games; tickets: $55 for individuals, $75 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; info: Chuck or Tina Hite at 886-3141, Lennie or Bonita Tolley at 248-4564, Peery Plecker at 886-0630, Jesse Kester at 248-4722, David Propst at 248-1169, Danny or Melinda Clifton at 290-0978, Jeremiah Major at 943-8773, Jeff Smith at 886-7009, or Jan and Eddy Pitsenbarger at 337-6902.

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.

The Shenandoah Valley Holocaust Education Project has remembrance events scheduled through May. For more information, contact Rabbi Joe Blair at , Katharine Gorsuch at 817-781-9229.
JUNE
Annual Carpenter Reunion: the descendants of Joseph and Martha Wiley Carpenter will reunite June 14 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.

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.