Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 27, 1995 TAG: 9505300016
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKD
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
\ High stepping horses, shiny red fire trucks, booming bands and flag-wavers everywhere - now that's an old-fashioned Memorial holiday celebration!
Shawsville is where you'll find it this weekend.
The Shawsville Ruritan Club is putting on the patriotic community bash today, beginning with a parade at 2 p.m. The parade will start at the Sisson & Ryan office and end at Shawsville High School, where a full afternoon of fun and festivity is planned.
In the past, the Ruritans have sponsored the community celebration on Independence Day. In fact, the Fourth of July wingding in Shawsville, which started in 1978, was the first of its kind in the New River Valley.
Apparently, the idea caught on in other areas of the valley.
"July 4th was simply getting too crowded with competing events in our area," said George Smith, chairman of the Shawsville Ruritan Club's celebration committee.
That's why members voted to move the celebration to coincide with the Memorial Day weekend.
"The club felt the community would be better served by moving the celebration date," Smith said, noting that July's hot weather also contributed to the decision. "Hopefully, more marching bands will participate in the parade since school will still be in session."
Parade organizer Scott Hagood said the Shawsville High School Marching Band will perform today, along with another well-known local strutting group.
"Oh, yes, we'll have the infamous Shawsville Ruritan Kazoo Band," Hagood said.
Following the parade, field events and games for kids will be held at the high school football field. They run from 3 to 6 p.m.
Also, don't miss these special events:
String band music, 3:30-4:15 p.m., on stage at the football field.
The Riverboat Ramblers concert featuring Dixieland jazz, 4:30-6 p.m.
Live auction of donated items, 6-7:30 p.m.
Fort Vause Bluegrass Band concert, starting at 7:30 p.m.
The Shawsville High School Athletic Boosters will have refreshments, so don't hesitate to work up an appetite. You're also welcome to pack your own picnic.
By the way, the Shawsville Ruritan Club and Sisson & Ryan still will sponsor the traditional fireworks display at sundown on the Fourth of July.
FLIRTY DANCING: They'll look so cute in their tutus and frilly frocks!
Lots of dance students are getting ready for their spring recitals this weekend. Whether you like ballet, clogging, jazz or tap, it's on tap now.
Dancer's Dreams, the Christiansburg studio directed by Amy Rush, will present "The Dancing Sea" tonight at 7 at Christiansburg High School. The production has a set depicting an underwater scene that includes a 24-foot sunken treasure ship. The young dancers will perform a variety of dance styles (including pompon routines) in this aquatic spectacle.
Admission at the door tonight is $3.
On Sunday, you can take in two recitals. The first is a show by students of Mildred Deans' Basic Dance Etc. It starts at 3 p.m. in the Blacksburg High School auditorium and features ballet, creative movement and jazz dance. Admission is free.
Also on Sunday, Danielle Bland's dancers from The Dance Place in Christiansburg will present a recital that includes a story dance based on the classic fairy tale, "Cinderella." The recital starts at 7 p.m. in the Christiansburg High School auditorium. Admission here is free, too.
SINGER WITH AN ATTITUDE: Amy Coleman's attitude has been described as "in-your-face, break-your-heart, save-your-soul, down-and-dirty blues deliverance."
Coleman, aka Flamin' Amy, is a blues-rock singer from New York who puts her heart and soul into the music. Her vocal range is as wide as the barn door.
Coleman is the lead singer for the five-woman blues band Sweet Potata, and also leads her own Flamin' Amy Blues Band.
She'll be visiting Southwest Virginia this holiday weekend to team up with some friends in the local group WildLife.
You can catch Flamin' Amy tonight at The Cellar, 302 N. Main St., in Blacksburg. On Sunday, she will be at The Mill Coffeehouse. It's on Virginia 720 off U.S. 221 in Floyd.
IN FINE FETTLE: Gather up the family and head for Margaret Beeks Elementary School this afternoon. The PTA, along with physical education majors from Virginia Tech, are offering a Community Wellness Fair that promises to be informative and entertaining, too.
From 1 to 4 p.m., you can participate in carnival wellness games, a treasure hunt, an obstacle course and line dancing. Lots of good food that's good for you, too, will be there for the tasting.
Admission is free, but you might want to bring some cash for the raffle and plant sale. If you're in the market for a fire extinguisher or first aid kit, you'll find them Saturday.
Many organizations - including the YMCA, Red Cross, Montgomery Regional Hospital, Blacksburg Police Department, Montgomery County Regional Library and others - will have activities and information related to wellness.
The Blacksburg Fire and Rescue Squad will have a truck for exploring, Kyle Edgel will be drawing caricatures and The Sweet Adelines will sound off with their barbershop-style singing.
Margaret Beeks Elementary School is at 709 Airport Road in Blacksburg.
by CNB