Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 19, 1994                   TAG: 9405200032
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AROUND TOWN

The Blue Ridge Interstate Impact Network will give a program entitled "Take A Walk on the Wild Side," Friday and Saturday.

The program will highlight rare, endangered and unusual species of wildflowers, birds and wildlife.

A slide-show introduction to area wildlife will be presented from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, and a silent auction, featuring works by Roanoke Valley artists and craftspeople, will be held. Both events will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke, 2015 Grandin Road S.W.

Saturday will feature a 6 a.m. birdwalk, a wildflower walk at 10 a.m., and an exploration of streams and ponds at 1 p.m. Meeting site for all walks is at the Bent Mountain Elementary School.

Admission for Friday's events is $5, and admission for all Saturday events is $5. Proceeds going to the Blue Ridge Interstate Impact Network, which was organized recently because of concerns about a proposed Interstate 73 route through Bent Mountain.

For more information and to register, call Jan Dowling at 774-9301.

Council, members get state reading awards

The Roanoke Valley Reading Council was recently honored by the Virginia State Reading Association.

The group earned the state Merit Council Award and the international Honor Council Award. The council also received the President's Club Award for a 20 percent increase in membership.

The council also received the Anne Henry Award for the largest number of returned members, and the Betty Yarborough Award for the greatest percentage of increased membership.

Pam Jones of Botetourt County received a literacy award, and Shirley Boone of Oak Grove Elementary School was named the Roanoke Valley Reading Council's Teacher of the Year.