Letter Carriers Food Drive this Saturday

The National Association of Letter Carriers will hold their Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Saturday (5/10). You can place non-perishable food items in a bag by your mailbox on that day, and letter carriers will collect the food to be distributed to local and regional food banks.

Annual Garden Day Showcase in Lynchburg

Lynchburg’s Downtown Community Market will be the location for the Annual Garden Day Showcase on Saturday (5/10) from 7 am to 2 pm. Dozens of vendors will showcase Virginia grown bedding plants, vegetable plants, herbs and container gardens, outdoor furniture, garden accents and garden gifts. [434-455-4486]

Dawn Chorus Day & Migratory Bird Day Celebrated at Peaks of Otter

The National Park Service will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day Saturday (5/10) at The Peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Bedford County. The Migratory Bird Day walk will take place at 9 am on May 10. Walks begin at the Peaks of Otter Lodge. Pre-registration is required. [800-542-5927 or e-mail peaksofotter@aol.com]

Kids Fun Day in Henry, VA

Friends of Philpott will hold a Kids Fun Day on Saturday (5/10) from 11 am to 3 pm at Jamison Mill Park in Henry, VA. There will be games and prizes for the kids, and those 15 and under will receive a free hot dog and drink. Friends of Philpott is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the responsible use of the natural resources around Philpott Lake. [540-3046]

Gallop for the Greenways Race to be Held in Downtown Roanoke

The Second Annual Gallop For The Greenways will be held on Saturday (5/10) at Roanoke’s Elmwood Park and features a 5K Race, 1 Mile Walk, Diva Walk and G4G Party. Programs will kick-off at 5 pm. This year’s event is being held in memory of Tom Farrell, a local attorney, runner, and greenway supporter who was killed in January by a hit and run driver while jogging near his home in Roanoke County. All proceeds from the race go to Pathfinders for Greenways. [www.gallop4thegreenways.com]

Greenbrier Valley Chorale Performs in Lewisburg, WV

The Greenbrier Valley Chorale will present its annual Spring Concert at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg on Saturday evening (5/10) at 7:30. Much of the program will be devoted to music from the Broadway stage, with a medley of Stephen Sondheim tunes and selections from Lerner and Lowe’s Brigadoon. [304-645-7919 or www.gvchorale.com]

Heirloom Plant Sale at Smithfield Plantation

The Heirloom Plant Sale at Historic Smithfield Plantation in Blacksburg will be held Saturday (5/10) from 9 am to 5 pm in the demonstration garden. Locally grown herbs, annuals and perennials for sun and shade will be available. Some of the plants are old fashioned, in use for centuries in the gardens of colonial farms and plantations like Smithfield. Proceeds support the education and outreach programs of Historic Smithfield. [231-3947 or www.smithfieldplantation.org]

Bird Walk at Booker T. Washington Monument

The Booker T. Washington Monument will present a Bird Walk to explore the spring migration of many bird species. The walk will be conducted by experienced guides on Saturday (5/10) at 8 am and will begin in the parking lot, passing through the historic farm area and along the Jack-O-Lantern Branch Trail. Exploring off-trail fence rows and field edges may be included as well. Admission is free. [540-721-2094 or www.nps.gov/bowa]

Doc Watson comes to Charlottesville

Bluegrass guitar and vocal legend Doc Watson will appear at The Paramount Theatre in Charlottesville on Saturday night (5/10) at 8. Also appearing will be banjoist and storyteller David Holt and Doc’s grandson Richard Watson. The program titled Hills of Home is a multimedia evening highlighting Doc Watson’s career and his multiple talents. [979-1333 or www.theparamount.net]

Mental Health Fundraiser in Roanoke

The Heart of Virginia will hold a Music for Mental Health Fundraising Event at The Coffee Pot in Roanoke on Saturday night (5/10) at 9. Performing will be The Ben Hurt Band, Jordan Rivers and Rotgut Revival. [774-8256]

Bluegrass & Gospel Benefit Concert in Wytheville

The Primitive Quartet from North Carolina will be featured in concert on Saturday (5/10) at 7 pm in Wytheville’s George Wythe High School auditorium. The gospel music group The Riches will also perform. The concert is a fundraiser in support of the Kiwanis Club of Wythe County’s charitable projects in the community. [276-228-4427 or www.wythekiwanis.org]

Annual Discovery Dash at Virginia Discovery Museum in C’ville

The Virginia Discovery Museum’s 18th Annual Discovery Dash will be held on Saturday (5/24) at the Monticello High School track in Charlottesville. The Discovery Dash, the only community-wide children’s race in Central Virginia, consists of individual races, parent/child races, a sibling race for kids and a school relay for ages 3 thru 12. Pre-registration is required by Friday, May 16. [977-1025 or www.vadm.org]

Health Care Discussion to Be Held in Lynchburg

If you wonder about the cost of medicine or how businesses go about making health care coverage decisions and what they’re doing to combat the rising cost of health care, a panel of health care and business professionals will hold a discussion on these and other related topics. The presentation will be held on Wednesday (5/21) from noon to 2 pm at the City of Lynchburg Information Technology Conference Center, and a complimentary lunch will be provided. Information of value to business owners, financial officers and human resource professionals will be presented. Reservations are required by Friday (5/16). [455-4493]

Hamner Theater Presents Final Play of Its Season

A Shadow of Honor, a new play by local playwright Peter Coy, will open at the Hamner Theater in Nelson County on Friday (5/23) and continue through June 1st. Coy takes his inspiration from the historical record of Nelson County, beginning with the murder trial of a Civil War survivor that received national attention in 1907. He has expanded the play to present the story of a family torn apart by the Vietnam War. [434-361-1999]

Breathe Walk-a-Thon & Kick Butts Day in Big Stone Gap

The Concerned about Our Community Coalition is working to educate the community and prevent and end youth tobacco use. The Coalition will sponsor the Kick Buts Day & ‘Breathe’ Walk-a-Thon on Saturday (5/17) to coincide with a nationwide effort. The Walk-a-Thon for walkers of all ages begins at 9 am at the Green Belt Walking Trail in Big Stone Gap. Kick Butts Day, from 11 am to 2:30 pm, is for youth third through eighth grades and teaches kids to be leaders and advocates working to end youth tobacco use. [888-443-1804]

Economic Revitalization and the Arts Held in Blacksburg

The program Economic Revitalization and the Arts will be held at The Lyric in Blacksburg on Saturday (5/17) at 10 am. John W. Barrett, Mayor of North Adams, Massachusetts, and recognized as a political leader realizing the importance of the arts as an economic stimulus, will be the featured speaker. Admission is free. [231-7364 or e-mail jo.evans@vt.edu]

Economic Revitalization and the Arts Held in Blacksburg

The program Economic Revitalization and the Arts will be held at The Lyric in Blacksburg on Saturday (5/17) at 10 am. John W. Barrett, Mayor of North Adams, Massachusetts, and recognized as a political leader realizing the importance of the arts as an economic stimulus, will be the featured speaker. Admission is free. [231-7364 or e-mail jo.evans@vt.edu]

Local Colors Celebrated in Downtown Roanoke

The cultures of more than 70 countries will be celebrated on Saturday (5/17) during Roanoke’s 18th annual Local Colors Festival in Elmwood Park. This long-running event will feature music, dance, costumes and food from nations around the world. Local Colors celebrates diversity and promotes multi-cultural understanding through education, services and events. [904-2234 or www.localcolors.org]

War Impact Discussion at Unity Church in Roanoke

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke Social Action Committee and Plowshaare Peace and Justice Center of Roanoke will host a forum and discussion on Saturday (5/17) from 7 to 9 pm at the church in Roanoke. The event is titled, On the Home Front, and discusses the impact of the wars in Iraq and Afganistan on military families, veterans and communities. Admission is free. [365-4427]

Poplar Forest Restoration Open to Public

On Saturday afternoon (5/17) at 3, the public is invited to a behind-the-scenes look at the ongoing restoration of Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s retreat home. Director of Architectural Restoration Travis McDonald will present a slide talk and tour explaining why Jefferson’s design of Poplar Forest was a radically modern architectural work in early America. The talk and tour are free with regular house admission. Space is limited, and reservations are recommended. [434-534-8110 or www.poplarforest.org]

Rescue Squad Open House in Floyd

The Floyd County Rescue Squad will hold an Open House on Sunday (5/18) from noon to 5 pm at Station 1 on Floyd Highway North, Route 221. Events include a talk on medical topics, live bluegrass and gospel music and gifts for the first 100 children under age 8 attending. At 1 pm, Carilion’s LifeGuard helicopter, subject to availability, is scheduled to visit the station. Admission is free, and the public can tour the building and public displays.

Big Band Concert Benefit in Salem

The Northwest Jazz Band, under the direction of Eddie Wiggins, will present a program of big band swing music on Sunday (5/18) at 3 pm at the American Legion Post No. 3 on Apperson Drive in Salem. Proceeds will benefit the Martha Lynn Chapter of the D.A.R.

Highland Camarata Spring Concerts

The Highland Camarata, celebrating 30 years of bringing music through its concerts to the regions of Virginia and North Carolina, will hold its Spring Concerts on Sunday (5/18) at 3 pm at Galax Presbyterian Church, on Tuesday (5/20) at 7:30 pm at Sparta Presbyterian Church and Thursday (5/22) at 7:30 pm at Brush Creek Hall, 2 miles south of Independence. The June 13th concert will be held at High Meadows Golf and Country Club in Roaring Gap at 6 pm. There is no admission charge, but donations are appreciated. [276-236-8708 or 336-372-4402]

Bluefield State College Jazz Ensemble Concert

The Bill Caruth, Jr. Memorial Jazz Festival Concert will be held Monday night (5/19) at 7:30 pm in the Basic Science Auditorium at Bluefield State College. The concert features the Bluefield State College Jazz Ensemble will special guests including saxophonist Jim Calabrese (cal-ah-breeze), trumpeter Jim Williamson and drummer/vibraphonist Dave Morgan. Admission is free.

Strengthening Foster Care Training at Mountain Empire C.C.

Strengthening Foster Care is a one-day workshop from 8:30 am to 3 pm on Monday (5/19) for foster parents, foster care workers, child welfare professionals, human service professionals and prospective foster parents in recognition of National Foster Care Month. The training will take place in the Goodloe Center at Mountain Empire Community College. Pre-registration is required. [423-467-3714]

Marietta College Concert Choir Performs in Roanoke

On Wednesday evening (5/21) at 7:30, the Marietta College Concert Choir will perform at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Roanoke. The Concert Choir is one of five choral ensembles at Marietta College and one of the college’s oldest organizations. The concert program features a variety of works representing music from classic and contemporary choral literature. Admission is free. [740-376-4696]

Music Festival at Big Stone Gap

The 2008 Gathering in the Gap Music Festival, to be held at the Southwest Virginia Museum in Big Stone Gap on Saturday (5/24), offers an opportunity for area musicians to test their skills in a variety of musical competitions. Performers can compete in old-time and bluegrass divisions and on multiple instruments. A $100 cash prize will be presented to the first place winner in each category. [276-523-1322 or www.gatheringinthegap.com]

Virginia Wines Featured at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech’s Virginia Vintner’s Table at Virginia Tech: Presenting Our Best Harvests is a weekend event May 23 thru 25 at The Skelton Conference Center at Virginia Tech. The event will showcase world class wines being produced in Virginia, which has competed in and won awards on the national and international levels. Events include a wine tasting featuring Virginia wines and gourmet food in The President’s Box at Lane Stadium with live entertainment. [231-6285 or www.alumni.vt.edu]

Wintergreen Nature Foundation May Events

The Wintergreen Nature Foundation offers a number of events during May including Mornings in the Mountains, May 3, 10, 17, 25 and 31 at 10 am. A foundation naturalist will take participants on a morning interpretive hike exploring many aspects of Wintergreen’s natural environment. Also scheduled is an overlook dedication, wildflower symposium, a highland hike and more. [www.twnf.org]

May is Adult Abuse Prevention Month

May is Adult Abuse Prevention Month. Abuse hurts individuals, families and communities, and if you suspect an older adult or an adult with a disability is being abused, neglected or exploited, call the toll-free hotline at 888-832-3858 or call Adult Protective Services at you local department of social services.

Lewis & Clark Film on View at Science Museum in Roanoke

The film, Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West, is now showing in the MegaDome Theatre at the Science Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke. One of the most popular National Geographic large-format films of all time, Lewis & Clark will run through August 31st. As seen on the museum’s giant wrap-around screen, movie goers will go back 200 years to experience this quest – the adventure, danger and beauty of the unmapped West and the pioneers’ 8,000 mile journey to the Pacific Ocean and back. [540-342-5710 or www.smwv.org]

<TOP>

• Staff