Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 5, 1995 TAG: 9505050050
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Lots of local businesses have sweetened the pot with donations of goods and services. You'll find everything from health and beauty gift certificates to pet supplies.
How about a day of golfing? A weekend getaway? A cruise on Claytor Lake? Martial arts lessons?
Come early for the silent auction. It runs from 7 to 8 p.m. Live bidding commences at 8 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m.
You can munch on yummy hors d'oeuvres and enjoy the live music while you're there.
Admission is $3. The annex is at 44 Fourth Street in Pulaski. For more information, you may call the Fine Arts Center at 980-7363.
JUST A-SWINGIN': The Southwest Virginia Swing Dance Society is putting on a dance with live music this Saturday. The King Bees, a group out of Boone, N.C., will buzz up to Blacksburg for this one.
The trio features vocalist Penny "Queen Bee" Zamagni on bass, Rob "Hound Dog" Baskerville on guitar and Mike "Kid" Rhodes on percussion. They are just back from a tour in Europe where they were promoting their latest release, "Boogie Buzz."
The King Bees play a sweet blend of R&B, blues and early rock'n'roll. In addition to appearing at festivals across the country, the musicians have performed twice at the Lincoln Center. Closer to home, they're a favorite with swing dancers in Charlottesville and Roanoke.
Saturday's dance runs from 8 to 11 p.m. at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School on Toms Creek Road. Get there early, though, if you want to take advantage of the beginning jitterbug class. Steve LaPlante will teach it from 7 to 8 p.m. The class is designed for inexperienced dancers. You don't even need a partner.
Admission at the door is $8 for adults and $6 for students with identification.
THOSE MAD METHODISTS: St. Paul United Methodist Church on West Main Street in Christiansburg is having "May Mission Madness" Saturday. The fund-raiser runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with all kinds of activities.
You can shop at the yard sale, chow down at the bake sale and get your car washed at the same time. Kids will enjoy the games, the juggling act, the face painting, the "Whopper Hopper" and other fun stuff at the "Kids for Kids" attraction.
A chicken barbecue dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $5.
It's all for a good cause, too. Profits from Saturday's event will be donated to three local agencies providing assistance to local families in need.
TUNE IN: "Turn Your Radio On: Radio Culture Comes to Floyd" is the current exhibit at the Old Church Gallery.
Bob Shelor, curator of the exhibit, has assembled a collection of early radios and broadcasts. He's also a walking encyclopedia when it comes to radio history.
Wireless voice broadcasting was invented in 1915, but Shelor says radio sets did not come to Floyd until 1922 or 1923. The only station within broadcast range at the time was KDKA in Pittsburgh. Folks in Floyd back then had to listen carefully after 11 p.m. to pick up the broadcast.
Shelor will be at the Old Church Gallery Sunday for an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. He'll be showing his old radio sets and playing some early radio shows and historic programs.
Other events include a live radio broadcast by WGFC (1030 AM) and a demonstration of Morse code.
The gallery is at 110 Wilson St., one block from the stoplight off East Main Street in downtown Floyd. Admission is free.
The radio collection will be on display through June. There's also an exhibit of clay sculptures by Floyd artist Jayn Avery on display through May 21. Regular gallery hours are Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SPEAKING OF FLOYD: That's where you'll find the bargains Saturday.
The Barter Faire, an annual country life festival featuring traditional crafts, spring plants and lots of yard sale treasures, runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pine Tavern Restaurant just north of Floyd. All kinds of foods, drinks and goodies to satisfy your sweet tooth will be available at the festival, too.
Don't forget the kids. They can dance around the Maypole or have their faces painted while they're there. Children's activities are part of the fun.
The festival is a fund-raiser for the Blue Mountain School, a parent cooperative alternative school in Floyd, and the CERC Museletter, a community journal published each month.
IT'S A SPRING THING: The annual spring plant sale sponsored by the Virginia Tech Horticulture Club starts Thursday at the greenhouses on Washington Street.
Now's the time to get vegetables and flowers for the gardens, as well as hanging baskets for the porch. The club will have all kinds of annuals and perennials.
The sale will continue May 12 and 14. Hours this Thursday and May 12 are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. On May 14, it runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. If it rains, just grab your galoshes - the sale will go on.
Proceeds from the event benefit service projects of the Horticulture Club.
LEAPS AND BOUNDS: Four local students will perform with the Southwest Virginia Ballet Company in a production of "Coppelia" Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Blacksburg High School Auditorium.
Blacksburg's Desiree Reese, 15, is dancing the leading role. Lana Beex, 14, and Marji Rose, 16, also of Blacksburg, perform in the ballet, along with 16-year-old Michelle Lookado of Radford.
Following the Blacksburg production, the dancers will take "Coppelia" to Roanoke College for two performances on May 27.
Admission to Thursday's show is $6 for adults or $4 for children under 12. Tickets will be sold at the door.
by CNB