Civic news

August
The Special Education Advisory Committee will hold its next meeting on Tuesday from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Verona Government Center, Smith West conference room. The public is invited to attend.

NARFE Chapter 178 will hold a breakfast social meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Mrs. Rowe’s Restaurant, Route 250, Staunton.

The Upper Valley Regional Park Authority Board of Directors will meet in special session Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at Grand Caverns Regional Park.

Get free assistance researching your family history from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2827 Jefferson Lane, Waynesboro; 849-9173.

Waynesboro Lions Club will hold its 2009 Annual Shrimp Feast today at the Best Western Conference Center beginning at 5 p.m.; casual attire; $30 per person; with dinner and a silent auction from 5-7 p.m.; children 10 and Under $10 at the door; all you can eat. All profits will benefit Waynesboro Lions Club charities; tickets available from Bill Phillips or any Waynesboro Lion Club Member or call 942-5280.

Volunteers needed — the Volunteer Money Management Program affiliated and insured by AARP, will be hosting a volunteer training event.  The training will take place Wednesday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Augusta County Government Center.  Learn the ins and out of how to be a payee or volunteer bill payer, and help the elderly and disabled become and remain self sufficient. Interested persons are encouraged to contact Jackie Strait, at 942-6657 for further information. 

Charlottesville Writing Center brings “Be the Writer” workshop classes to Crozet today in one four-hour session. The session will address the many aspects of writing, including the business of writing, publishing, and the creative writing phase. The second half of the session will be a peer-based, hands-on critique workshop where local writers can share ideas and learn from each other. To register for the class, or for more information, visit http://www.cvillewrites.org or http://www.heatherhummel.net or call 434-466-4338.

The “Boat Virginia” boating and safety course will be offered today only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, 520 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville. The “Boat Virginia” course is free and is offered to all ages. The class is sponsored and will be taught by instructors from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and by members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. This is a certificate-producing course and meets all the requirements of the new Virginia state laws for boating within the state. For more information, or registration, contact Bob Rorick at 295-0340 or or Tom Shepherd at 295-7443 or .

Carnival on the Commons Benefit for Blue Ridge Area Food Bank at Blue Ridge Community College is scheduled for today from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The fundraiser is a pre-kickoff for the BRCC Annual Hunger Symposium. Games include an inflatable obstacle course and rock climb, dunking booth, along with other carnival games and educational activities. Popcorn, cotton candy, chips, drinks and hot dogs will be sold! Admission price is one grocery bag of non-perishable food items or $5 cash. With each entry paid, 50 carnival tickets will be included. Additional tickets will be sold for 10 cents each.  The event rain date is Aug. 29 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Waynesboro Players is hosting auditions for another play by local author and playwright Duane Hahn, “Tuesday Mourning” today at 2 p.m. at the Waynesboro Players Warehouse, 722 E. Main St. The cast members needed include six men, ages 18-30; one woman, age 30-50; three female chorus members, ages 18-30; three male chorus members, ages 18-30. The cast has to sing and act, and the chorus members also have to dance jitterbug style. For more information, call Duane Hahn at 949-5376.

Nelson Gallery Tenth Annual Juried Show, in Lexington, continues through Saturday. For more information, visit http://www.nelsonfineartsgallery.com or Nelson Gallery, 27 W. Washington St., Lexington.

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 U.S. The students are screened by World Heritage, are proficient in English, 15- to 18-years-old and come for the 2009-10 school year. For more information, call Lori at 337-4135 or 800-888-9040 or visit http://www.world-heritage.org.
September
The Waynesboro Heritage Foundation, Inc. will be hosting USO Dance fundraiser at Fairfax Hall from 8-11 p.m. Sept. 25 Sentimental Journey Orchestra will perform. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Waynesboro Heritage Museum, 420 W. Main St., Waynesboro, or $30 at the door. For more information, call 943-3943.
The annual Wimer family reunion will be held Sept. 13 at 42 Arrow Lane, Stuarts Draft. All descendents and family of Johnnie Lee Wimer and his wife, Lydia Ann Propst Wimer, and William Roy Pullin and his wife, Josephine Catherine Page Pullin Ralston Elliott are invited. Please bring a covered dish, a lawn chair and any family history or old photographs. Lunch will begin around 1 p.m. but everyone is encouraged to come early and stay late. For more information, call 337-1494 or e-mail .

Circle 8 Square Dance Club of Waynesboro is offering square dance lessons this fall Tuesday evenings at Kate Collins School from 7-9 pm. The first two nights, Sept. 15 and Sept. 22, are FREE to give everyone a chance to experience square dancing. George Jordan, of Staunton, will be the caller and instructor and club members will be on hand to add support. The fee for 15 beginner adult lessons is $95 and for youth 10-17 is $50. Call 886-4366, 292-1230, or 456-7144 for more information.

The H.C. Edwards Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society will hold its annual sportsmen’s banquet Sept. 19, with cocktails and raffles at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. at Augusta Expoland, exit 91 off Interstate 64, Fishersville; tickets are $55 with membership, spouse dinner for $20, youth membership plus dinner for $30, pre-dinner raffle tickets are $5 each or six for $20. Sponsorships are also available. Contact Kenny Wilkinson at 337-1298 or 255-2423 or e-mail at for more information.

The Waynesboro Fire Department has tentatively set the date for its fundraising auction in September but is still 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 pick up of large items.
October
Wings of Hope Motorcycle Ministry will hold its Hope for the Valley fundraiser from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 24 at Staunton’s Gypsy Hill Park with proceeds to benefit Teen Challenge
and Restoration Ministries; food, vendors, motorcycle rides, live music all day, a bike and car show; for more information, contact Chuck Hazy at 241-9852 or e-mail wingsofhopemcm@
yahoo.com.

NAMI We Care will hold its NAMIWalks 2009 on Oct. 3 in Glen Allen. For more information, visit http://www.nami.org/namiwalk09/vir/wecare or call 332-8215.