ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, July 10, 1996 TAG: 9607100027
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: for seniors
SOURCE: TRACY WHITAKER
Between the Fourth of July and the first day of school, the summer can sometimes stretch out as hot and sticky as bubblegum on the bottom of a sneaker. New River Community College's division of arts and sciences has put together a program that will help grandparents and grandchildren get off the porch and make the lazy days of late July and early August less languid and a lot more fun.
"Building Bridges" is a two-week program that provides planned activities for grandparents and grandchildren that are either free or at group rates. Participants can attend as few or as many events as they choose.
"We've set up the program so that grandparents could even bring a different grandchild to each event," said Debbie Douthat, coordinator for the program. "Suppose a grandfather has three grandchildren: he might take one fishing at Claytor lake, another to 'The Long Way Home' and the third hiking."
The events were chosen to appeal to a variety of ages. The program was developed to help families, particularly grandparents and grandchildren, spend quality time together.
"So often, we want to get out and do things together, but the time just isn't right or something comes up. This is a way for grandparents and grandchildren to have fun and make some memories without the hassle of trying to figure out what to do and when to do it," Douthat said. "The events have been carefully planned out and most are free or cost very little."
The schedule is as follows:
* July 29, New River Valley Airport, Dublin. Watch planes take off, tour hangars. Meet in parking lot at 9:45 a.m. Free.
* July 30, Claytor Lake fishing trip. Meet at the Dublin McDonald's parking lot at 10 a.m. Bring a bag lunch. Park entrance fee is $2.
* July 31, a day at Newbern. Meet at 9:30 a.m. in center of Newbern to visit a dairy farm. Pet baby animals and watch a milking demonstration. Visit museum at 1 p.m.
* Aug. 1, Smithfield Plantation, Blacksburg. Meet in Smithfield parking lot at 12:45 p.m. Walk through the home of two former Virginia governors, browse gift shops and grounds. Ice cream social after tour. $4 per adult, $1.50 for children 12 and younger.
* Aug. 2, "Long Way Home Outdoor Drama," Radford. Meet at 6:45 p.m. at the Long Way Home entrance. $6 for adults, $3 for children 12 and younger.
* Aug. 5, New River Valley Trail Hike, Draper. Meet at Bryson's General Store in Draper, 10 a.m. Three-mile round trip hike with NRCC's Charlie White as guide. Free.
* Aug. 6, Brush Creek Buffalo Farm, Riner. Meet at 10:15 a.m. at Brush Creek Store. Jan and Jim Politis will talk about buffalo. Pet buffalo and tour the barn. Free.
* Aug. 7, Virginia Tech Museum, Blacksburg. Tour the Geological Museum and Museum of Natural History at Virginia Tech. Pack your lunch for a picnic at the Duck Pond. Meet in front of Derring Hall at 10:45 a.m.
* Aug. 8, Pioneer Maid, Claytor Lake, Dublin. Enjoy lunch while captain narrates tour. $10 per person. Meet at McDonald's parking lot in Dublin at 10:30 a.m.
* Aug. 9, Building Bridges Picnic, Shelter No. 2. Blacksburg Park, Patrick Henry Drive. Parents, grandparents and children meet at 5 p.m. and bring a covered dish. Powwow dance by American Indians. Drinks and dessert provided. Door prizes.
The Building Bridges Senior Advisory Committee planned the program. Members are: Nancy Alexander, Dublin; Jody Adams, Blacksburg; Martha Lassiter, Radford; Tom Pullen and Lettie Harrell, both of Pulaski. For more information about the program, directions to events and costs, call Debbie Douthat at ext. 292 at 674-3600, 382-4595, 745-4595, or 921-4595.
RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, 1 Franklin St., Courthouse Annex, Christiansburg. Victoria Scott, 382-5775:
* Today, 2 p.m., both Christiansburg groups meet at Heritage Hall.
* Thursday, 9 a.m., Rock-a-thon committee meets; 1:30 p.m., Blacksburg Group works on SHARE mailing.
* Friday, 9 a.m., Rock-a-thon committee meets.
* Monday, 9 a.m., quilters meet and travel to Hillsville to buy fabric; 2 p.m., Shawsville group meets at Heritage Hall.
* Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Warm Hearth Group will clean up at Pandapas Pond. Picnic lunch.
BLACKSBURG SENIOR PROGRAMS, Blacksburg Community Center, 725 Patrick Henry Drive. Joy Herbert, 961-1134:
* Today, 9 a.m. van departs for the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, Beckley, W.Va. Transportation is $4. Museum is $5.50; dance, 5:30-8 p.m.
* Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Conversation and Coffee. Monica Appleby of Virginia Mainstream will speak on issues affecting local government.
* Monday, noon. Movie Day: "Gone With The Wind."
* July 23, Weaving classes begin. $30 for six weeks. Call Joy to register.
CHRISTIANSBURG SENIOR CENTER, 655 Montgomery St. Sherry Kostric, 382-8173:
* Today, 8:30 a.m., van departs for blueberry picking in Rich Creek. Transportation is $4 for seniors, $8 for ages 21-54.
* Thursday, 11 a.m.-noon, Heritage Home blood pressure screening.
* Friday, 7 a.m., van departs from National Guard Armory for Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass, W.Va. Transportation is $5 for seniors, $10 ages 21-54. Tickets are $9 for seniors, $10, adults.
* July 17, 10 a.m., van departs from National Guard Armory for Senior Athletes of Montgomery County picnic at Claytor Lake.
RADFORD SENIOR CENTER, 27 First St. Mary Jane Harmon, 731-3634:
* Thursday, 10 a.m.-noon, free blood pressure clinic.
* Friday, 9:15 a.m., van trip to Mount Airy, N.C.
* July 17, 5 p.m., American Association of Retired Persons dinner.
GILES COUNTY SENIOR CENTER,1320 Wenonah Ave., Pearisburg. Betty Letsinger, 921-3924:
* Tuesday, 10 a.m., "Focus on Health" video.
PULASKI SENIOR CENTER, 106 N. Washington Ave. Carolyn Duncan, 980-1000:
* Thursday, 9 a.m., coffee hour and SHARE bags.
* Friday, 11:45 a.m., Dine 'Round at Homestead Inn.
|Senior shorts| * Senior Dances: Wednesdays, 5:30-8 p.m., Blacksburg Community Center. Joy Herbert, 961-1134.
* New River Community College 18th Annual Poetry Contest: Deadline for entry is July 31. Poems must be original, never before published, and less than 60 lines in length. Writer's name and address should be included on each entry. Open to men and women 60 years of age and older. Send poems to Poetry, Arts and Sciences Division, New River Community College, P.O. Box 1127, Dublin, Va. 24084.
* Senior Employment Program: Job placement assistance and skills training for job seekers 55 years or older. New River Valley Agency on Aging, 980-7720 or 639-9677.
* Senior Centers: offer a variety of ongoing activities, trips and classes. Call for a newsletter and a calendar of events.
LENGTH: Long : 123 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: File. One of the "Building Bridges" outtings includes aby CNBlunch cruise on Claytor Lake's Pioneer Maid.