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

DATE: FRIDAY, March 31, 1995                   TAG: 9504060007
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: STACY JONES
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE TIPOFF

MR. SMITH COMES TO ROANOKE: Although no longer in office, or running for one, former Massachusetts governor Michael S. Dukakis is taking a cue from Washington incumbents: he's presiding over a town hall meeting at Roanoke College on Thursday. Officially titled "The Future of American Social Policy," Dukakis' remarks will span a range of issues including welfare reform, national health care, Social Security, the state of American families and the minimum wage. Dukakis will lecture, answer questions from a media panel and respond to queries from the audience. The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Bast Center. Tickets are free, but reservations are required. Call 375-2333 between 2 and 5 p.m.

A QUICK PICK-ME-UP: Booker T. Washington believed in the dignity of labor, and Wednesday his admirers will have the chance to act on that sentiment. On the 139th anniversary of the educator's birth, the Booker T. Washington National Monument will hold a Park Clean-Up Day. This means monument staff and volunteers will toil to put up historic fencing, plant a vegetable garden, weed flower beds and beautify the park for the coming season. "Operation Spruce Up," runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a picnic lunch will be provided. The park is located 20 miles southeast of Roanoke via Virginia116 and 122. Interested volunteers should contact the park at 721-2094.

UNCONVENTIONAL DRAMA: Labeled the "anti-play" by theater historians, "The Bald Soprano," a 1949 play by Eugene Ionesco, takes center stage at Virginia Tech. This play was the first in a long line of absurdist scripts written by the Romanian playwright that chronicle the social relationships of the middle class - absurd behavior and all. If you need a modern reference, consider "The Bald Soprano" the "Seinfield" of its day, but a little more thought-provoking. The production, by students in the Theatre Arts Department, runs Monday-Wednesday at 8 p.m. in room 204 of the Performing Arts Building. Admission is free. Call 231-5200.

AND GOD SAID, "LET THERE BE ...": Virginia's Explore Park, of course. Maybe not, but the natural beauty contained within the park's 1,300 acres is impressive. Explore Park reopens Saturday for its first full season, and with added attractions. They include working blacksmith and wheelwright shops, a one-room country schoolhouse and a farm, circa 1830, stocked with a variety of domestic animals. The old standbys - six miles of hiking trails and the wildlife of the Blue Ridge - are still reason enough to give frontier life a try. The park is on the Roanoke River at Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 115 between U.S. 220 and Virginia 24. Visiting hours are Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults, $2.50 for students and free for children under 6. Call 427-1800.

ART CONFIRMATION: The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center had no reservations about decorating its walls with the work of local artists. In fact, the new "inn" place is so proud it's throwing a bash to showcase the 50-plus pieces. Hosted by the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, the evening celebration will involve champagne, dessert, coffee bars and tours of the much talked about establishment. Musical entertainment will be provided by No Strings Attached, Harpist Betty Ashton Andrews, the Roanoke College Suzuki Violinists, gospel singer Daniel Womack and more. The event takes place next Friday, April 7, from 8-11 p.m. at the Hotel Roanoke. Tickets are $25 per person, and all proceeds will be used to support programs and services of The Arts Council. To make reservations call 342-5790.

PACK RATS EXTRAORDINAIRE: Some people save everything, old boxes, old papers, old anything, but all worthless. A new exhibit opening Wednesday at the Salem Museum highlights individuals who know how and what to keep. "Collector's Collections: The Art of Keeping" features nine local collectors and their treasures. The conglomerations range from military items to postcards to children's tea sets. The opening reception begins at 7 p.m., and admission is free. Call 389-6760.

by CNB