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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 6, 1995                   TAG: 9509060068
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AROUND NEW RIVER

CHRISTIANSBURG - The Coalition for Community, a citizen group for building community through diversity, will sponsor a forum at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the library in Christiansburg Middle School.

The forum will be on "Political Codewords: What Are We Arguing Over?" Participants will be Bob Denton, from the department of communication studies at Virginia Tech; Julie Lapham, from Common Cause in Richmond; Cody Lowe, religion writer for the Roanoke Times; David Nutter, chairman of the Montgomery County Republican Party; and Lindsey West, chairwoman of the Montgomery County Democratic Party.

The free event will focus on the inseparability of culture wars and politics in today's America. Audience questions and participation will be welcome.

For more information, call 951-2751.

Blacksburg Community Band

BLACKSBURG - The Blacksburg Community Band starts its concert schedule tonight at Blacksburg High School, where it plays every Wednesday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The band's fall concert schedule:

Thursday Warm Hearth Village, 7 p.m.

Friday Radford River Festival, 11 a.m.

Sept. 16 Wilderness Trail Festival, 11 a.m.

Sept. 27 Richfield Nursing Home, Salem, 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 14 Warm Hearth Village, 7 p.m.

The Blacksburg Community Band is a volunteer community organization that was formed in 1989 under the auspices of the town and its Department of Parks and Recreation. The band performs throughout the New River Valley. Membership is open to individuals of all ages and ability levels from the New River Valley and surrounding areas. No auditions are required and there are no dues or fees.

Development seminar

ROANOKE - The Virginia Institute for Economic Development starts a program on "Community Economic Development: The Basic Course" today at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.

The program lasts until Friday and will be followed by a second session Oct. 23-25 at Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center at Virginia Tech.

The program is for volunteers and local government officials who want a better understanding of the economic development process and how it is used to benefit Virginia's cities, counties and towns in furthering economic growth. The program is a noncredit course that leads to a certificate of study in economic development.

Tuition is $250 and includes instruction, course materials, textbook, five meals, six coffee breaks and two receptions.

For more information, call Karen Burkholder 231-6638.

Teen pregnancy forum Sept. 13

BLACKSBURG - The League of Women Voters sponsors a "Forum on Teen-age Pregnancy" Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Blacksburg Municipal Building. The program is also sponsored by the Better Beginnings Coalition of the New River Valley.

The program is free and intended for teen-agers, parents and professionals. For information, call 552-3446.

Tech homecoming planned Oct. 14

BLACKSBURG - The annual Virginia Tech homecoming parade will be Oct. 14, at 10 a.m. The university encourages the surrounding community, including all types of civic organizations, antique cars, clowns and groups, to participate in this year's festivities. To submit an entry or for more information, call the Virginia Tech University Unions and Student Activities program office at 231-5661.

Blacksburg fall cleanup

BLACKSBURG - The town has scheduled four days for town cleanup. Crews will collect bulky materials from curbside that are not included in the regular trash pickup. Materials for collection must be separated and placed at the curb side or alleys for collection no later than 7:30 a.m. on the day of the pickup. The service is available only to town refuse customers.

The following materials will be collected: air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, stoves, lumber, all household supplies, furniture, carpet, tires (from passenger vehicles only) sinks, commodes, water heaters, brush and tree limbs.

Household and yard chemical products, tree stumps, batteries and other hazardous waste will not be collected.

Cleanup dates and locations are:

Northeast Sept. 18.

Northwest Sept. 25.

Southeast Oct. 2.

Southwest Oct. 9.

For more information about the fall cleanup, call the public works department at 961-1142. For recycling information, call 961-1851.