Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 12, 1994 TAG: 9410120045
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"Most people think we sell trees or something," said Shirley Markuson, a New River Valley program aid. "There are so many people out there that don't know about us."
Among the three dozen New River Valley Green Thumb participants is Laura Taylor, an active 83-year-old who said she loves her job at the Montgomery County Information and Referral office in Christiansburg, where she answers the telephone and retrieves files 20 hours a week.
"I just like being able to do something for myself," the former dressmaker and interior decorator said.
Outside of work, Taylor competes in bowling, riflery and softball with the Senior Athletes of Montgomery County and has local and state Golden Olympics silver medals in riflery and softball.
Taylor - who spent some of her younger years in the Wake Forest community and now lives in Warm Hearth Village - believes more seniors should try to do more things for themselves.
"It's really a fun thing," she said of her job, which helps her pay for needed medication.
Markuson believes there are more seniors like Taylor who could take advantage of Green Thumb.
"The sad thing is there are so many out there living on limited incomes," she said.
During training, employers can recoup 50 percent of wages paid to program participants, who earn minimum wage.
The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Labor. For more information, call Markuson at 382-5285.
"STRICTLY SENIORS" is a new cable-television offering from WTOB (Channel 2), Blacksburg public-government access television. The program premieres Monday at 10 a.m.
The initial program focuses on stress reduction and relaxation techniques. Future programs plan to address issues including health care, exercise and nutrition and finances. WTOB also welcomes your program suggestions at 961-1199.
SENIOR GATHERINGS
Triangle Lanes, N. Franklin Street, Christiansburg, offers a $1.25-per-game seniors special Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 382-2385.
The Walk-a-Roos Senior Walking Club meets Thursdays, 8 a.m., at Hardees, U.S. 460, Christiansburg. Members walk regularly and individually to reach a common goal. The new goal is Australia: 10,846 miles.
Nondenominational Bible study group meets Thursdays, 10:15 a.m., at the Christiansburg Senior Center, 655 Montgomery St.
Monday, 10 a.m. to noon, Blacksburg Seniors Association has a free coffee brunch in the activity room. Call Joy Herbert by Friday at 961-1134, if you can make it. All are welcome.
It's card night on the second and fourth Monday of each month beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Christiansburg Senior Center, 655 Montgomery St.
Elderhostel, session 2, is Sunday through Friday, Oct. 16-21, at Radford Best Western Inn, Tyler Avenue. There will be classes for seniors 60 and older on ``American Civil War and Reconstruction: A Social, Economic and Religious View''; ``Words that Changed our World''; and ``Worth a Thousand Words: When Poetry Meets Painting.'' Sponsored by Radford University, 831-5324.
Oct.19, 5 p.m., the Radford AARP chapter holds a potluck dinner at the Radford Senior Center, 27 First St.
A coffee for seniors is held the last two Thursdays of each month (that's Oct. 20 and 27), 10:30 a.m., at the Free Memorial Library, Giles Avenue, Dublin, by Pulaski County Friends of the Library. 674-2855.
CHRISTIANSBURG SENIOR CENTER, 655 Montgomery St. Sherry Kostric, 382-8173:
Friday, travel to White's Mill and Abingdon. Transportation is $4 and leaves the National Guard Armory, College and Depot streets, at 8 a.m.
Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., influenza vaccinations are offered at the National Guard Armory. Shots are $7, but free to Medicare cardholders who bring their cards. Pneumonia shots are also available.
Senior Aerobics meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8 to 9 a.m., at the National Guard Armory. The less-strenuous Easy Motions exercise group meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 to 10 a.m. Registration and a certificate from your physician are required.
Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., free stress-management seminar.
Oct. 20, the senior pool tournament is 1:30 p.m. at the Christiansburg Recreation Center, 95 College St. Ribbons and prizes are awarded.
Register now for the 55 Alive refresher class for mature drivers, Oct. 25-26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the National Guard Armory. It's $8, and completing it could mean a break on your auto insurance rates.
RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, 1 Franklin St., Courthouse Annex, Christiansburg. Victoria Scott, 382-5775:
Today, the Christiansburg morning group visits Brookmeade at 10. The afternoon group is at Riner Elementary School at 2.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., RSVP holds a bake sale and quilt raffle at Wal-Mart in the Market Place, Christiansburg.
Monday, the Shawsville group has lunch out and is at SHARE in Pulaski at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, the Warm Hearth group works on a mailing at 10 a.m. The McCoy group has lunch out and works at SHARE at 1 p.m.
Wednesday, the Christiansburg morning group is at English Meadow for the birthday party at 1:30 p.m. The afternoon group has lunch out and works at SHARE at 1 p.m.
SHARE celebrates 10 years with a covered-dish reception in Pulaski on Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. RSVP members who need transportation, call 382-5775.
The annual RSVP of Montgomery County recognition is Oct. 26 at the Holiday Inn, Blacksburg.
RADFORD SENIOR CENTER, 27 First St. Mary Jane Harmon, 731-3634:
Thursday, 9:30 a.m., free movie, ``Please Don't Eat the Daisies,'' with Doris Day and the late David Niven. A 1960 color classic.
Thursday, play bridge at 10:30 a.m.
The walking group meets in the Radford Recreation Department gym Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. Free. Sneakers only!
The senior aerobics group meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m., in the Radford Recreation Department gym. $8 per month.
Chances cost $1 for the tumbling blocks quilt made by the center's quilting group. Proceeds go to the van fund. The drawing is Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Oct. 21, travel to Mercer Mall in West Virginia. Transportation is $2 and leaves the center at 9:15 a.m. Lunch is on your own at the K&W Cafeteria. (The center is closed Fridays.)
GILES COUNTY SENIOR CENTER, 1320 Wenonah Ave., Pearisburg. Betty Letsinger, 921-3924:
Today, play party bridge from 1 to 4 p.m., and rubber bridge or canasta Mondays, 1 to 4 p.m.
Change of schedule: The swim therapy program meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., at the Blacksburg Aquatic Center.
Ceramics are offered Tuesday all day and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the second and fourth Fridays all day.
"55 Alive" - a refresher class for mature drivers that teaches defensive-driving techniques - is Monday and Tuesday, 1 p.m. both days, at the center. Marie Scaggs is the instructor. There is a small fee, but there are no tests! The center has details.
PULASKI SENIOR CENTER, 106 N. Washington Ave. Tina Faiszt, 980-1000:
Thursday, 9:30 a.m., coffee hour and prepare SHARE bags.
Tuesday, 11 a.m., Dee Smith of the Pulaski County Health Department visits the round-table discussion and luncheon to talk about the importance of flu shots for seniors. Lunch is $2 and follows the program. Reservations by noon Monday. (Flu shots will be offered Oct. 25, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.)
RSVP needs knitters for the Caps for Kids program. Yarn and patterns are available.
Oct. 22, travel to the Barter Theatre to see "To Kill a Mockingbird." Ticket and transportation are $20. The van leaves the center at 10 a.m., with lunch on your own at the Cracker Barrel.
Oct. 27 (that's a Thursday), the Dine 'Round Club meets at the Three Legged Cow in Floyd.
BLACKSBURG SENIOR PROGRAMS, Community Center, 725 Patrick Henry Drive. Joy Herbert, 961-1134:
Volume 1, No. 2 of Good Times News of the Blacksburg Seniors Association is out. Call Joy Herbert to get on the mailing list.
Senior golfers can tee off every Monday morning at 9 at the Municipal or Virginia Tech golf courses. Vernon Baldwin, 552-5845.
The walking group meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m., at the Community Center for coffee and juice. Walk in the gym or at the high school track.
Cards: Fridays, play canasta at 9:30 a.m. in the game room. Felix Sorrentino, 552-0216. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, play bridge. Bill Burgess, 552-4716.
Golden aerobics are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Oct. 27, the staff of the Cardiac Therapy and Intervention Center at Virginia Tech provides a health screening for seniors, 10 a.m. to noon in the activity room. It's free, except for the optional cholesterol check, which is $5. Free coffee and juice, too.
SENIOR SHORTS
The 16th annual Senior Arts and Crafts Fair Oct. 21-23 at the National Guard Armory in Christiansburg offers a variety of items handmade by area seniors.
The Senior Athletes plan to sell food and baked goods and $1 chances for their quilt. Admission is free. The deadline is Friday for vendor applications at the Christiansburg Senior Center, 655 Montgomery St., and at Christiansburg Parks and Recreation Department, 95 College St. Town residents have priority. It's $10 per table, limit two.
by CNB