ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 23, 1995                   TAG: 9504120002
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


AROUND TOWN

Mental health group seeks nominations

The Mental Health Association of Roanoke Valley is accepting nominations for its annual awards for those who have made contributions in the area of mental health.

The categories for nomination are: community service, employer of the year, media, medical, mental health professional, public policy, Robert A. Croxson memorial award (for clergy), unsung hero, distinguished service, committee chairman of the year and volunteer of the year.

Nominations must be received by Tuesday. The annual luncheon will be held May 2. For more information, call (703) 344-0931.

LOA nominations being accepted

The LOA Area Agency on Aging is accepting nominations for the Roanoke Valley's "1995 Older Worker of the Year".

To be nominated, the nominee must be 55 years old or older, employed, and nominated by their employer. Nominees will be judged for outstanding personal characteristics and life achievements and positive influences on co-workers.

Nomination forms are available at all Roanoke Valley Revco drug stores, or, by calling the LOA office. Nominations must be postmarked by April 30. A $20 nomination fee will cover the cost of the luncheon to honor the winner, which will be held May 19. For more information, call Kevin McCullough, director of public relations, at 345-0451.

Vinton dancers place at competition

Vinton's Star Dance Studio recently participated in the Heritage Classic Dancesport Competition held in Asheville, N.C.

Susan Heath received numerous first-place achievements, and a first place with honors. Hilah Terry, president of the Virginia Chapter of the United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association, received five first places.

This competition was open to international dancers throughout the world and had participants travel from as far away as Siberia.

Museum raising funds for 611

The Virginia Museum of Transportation is raising funds to build a protective cover for the steam engine Class J No. 611.

In November, the Norfolk Southern Corp. terminated the steam train excursion program and returned the J611 to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The J611 is housed in a building on Norfolk Southern property while the cover is being built. The cost to build the cover for the J611 is $150,000. The cover will protect the engine from natural elements, but still allow visitors to view the steam engine.

Donations may be sent to the Virginia Museum of Transportation at 303 Norfolk Ave., Roanoke 24016. For more information call the museum at 342-5670.

Roanoker fills new AARP position

Marie B. Foster of Roanoke has been appointed to serve as the community coordinator for the American Association of Retired Persons for the Roanoke Valley. Foster is the first to serve in the new position.

As community coordinator, Foster will be organizing the Roanoke Valley AARP Community Council. She will also work with AARP chapters from Covington and Selma, and will provide assistance to other AARP programs, including the Tax-Aide program and 55 Alive, the mature driving program.

Rescue Mission not taking appliances

The Rescue Mission has announced that it is no longer able to take major freon-operated appliances. Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners require special certified technicians and equipment to dispose of the freon. The Rescue Mission does not have certified employees to dispose of the freon.

The Rescue Mission still accepts all gifts of clothing, household goods and furniture. If you would like to have the Rescue Mission truck make a home pick-up, call 343-7227.

Girl Scouts honor Roanoke women

The Virginia Skyline Girl Scout Council has named 12 Roanoke Valley women as "Women of Distinction". Each was chosen for her significant contributions to either her profession, the community or both.

The women honored for their contributions were:

Arts/Cultural: Shirley Brand, trustee of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; Beth Poff, director of the Mill Mountain Zoo; and Pearl Fu, free-lance consultant, interpretor, writer and special events coordinator.

Business: Judy Griesenbrock, executive vice-president of the Salem/Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce.

Education: Alyce B. Szathmary, principal of William Fleming High School; Barbara Chewning, a former school teacher and the retired owner of Bootie's Hallmark and Chewning's Interiors.

Law/Government: Elizabeth Bowles, Roanoke City Council member and retired owner of Bowles Bake Shop; Lois English, vice chairman of the Franklin County Board of Supervisors.

Medicine: Angie Francis, executive director of Child Health Investment Partnership of Virginia.

Social Services: Barbara Green, social work supervisor for the Roanoke Department of Social Services.

Volunteer category: Gertrude Harris, retired recreation supervisor for the Salem Recreation Department; Patricia McMahon, homemaker, mother and volunteer.

Students place in 4-H competition

Several Roanoke-area students recently participated at the Roanoke Valley 4-H Performing Arts Competition at the Hollins College Theater.

The senior division first-place winner in the drama category was Karen Bowyer, who performed a skit titled "The Bench" from Robert Fulgham's "All I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten". Bowyer is a student at William Fleming. Misty Witt and Sherri Robinette, both students at Northside High, won second place with a jazz dance routine.

The junior division winner was Nathalie Fassie, a student at Northside Junior High, who performed a ballet dance. Amanda Naff, a student at Monterey Elementary and Jan Steffe, a student at Crystal Spring Elementary, tied for second place. Both girls played the piano.

Blue ribbon winners in the senior division were Melissa Robertson, Northside High; and Vanessa Fassie, William Fleming. Junior blue ribbon winners were Jamie Brookman, Penn Forest Elementary, and Kate Sammons, South Salem Elementary.

4 p.m. burning law now in effect

The Roanoke County office of the Virginia Department of Forestry has announced that the 4 p.m. burning law is in effect for Roanoke County residents through May 15th.

The law says that there shall be no burning until 4 p.m. daily if within 300 feet of woodland or grass and brushland leading into woodland. No fuel may be added and no fire may be rekindled after midnight. A fire must be attended at all times.

In order to insure compliance with the law, aerial and ground observations will be used to detect fires.

When doing any open burning, please notify your local fire dispatcher to prevent the fire department from making unnecessary trips. For more information on the law, call 387-5461.

YWCA accepting award nominations

The YWCA of Roanoke Valley is accepting nominations for the 1995 YWCA Women of Achievement Awards. Nominees should be noted for their contributions in the areas of: arts, public service, business, physical fitness, community service, education and health services.

The $40 tax-deductible nomination fee benefits Roanoke Valley women through the YWCA.

The deadline for nominations is April 17.

For more information, call the YWCA at (703) 345-9922.



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