ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 28, 1996 TAG: 9612300027
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Druck helps out a big fan
Jim Druckenmiller, Virginia Tech's busy and popular quarterback, showed recently that he is not too busy to brighten the spirits of a young fan who was seriously injured in a car accident.
Josh Woods, a 10-year-old fifth-grader at Elliston-Lafayette Elementary School, sustained a broken right hip and a broken left femur in an accident in July. His injuries were so serious that he could not attend school during the fall, and thus became a student of Amy Jones, a 22-year-old teacher of homebound students in Montgomery County.
Jones, knowing Josh is a big fan of Virginia Tech football, called Druckenmiller to see if he could spare a few moments for a visit. Druckenmiller called back that night, and dropped by Auburn Middle School Dec. 13 to meet the school's students at a pep rally and to chat with Josh.
"He said to work hard and always have your spirits up," said Josh, who is an honor roll student whose favorite subject is science. And working hard is one thing Josh knows how to do. The youngster has been making a strong recovery and will return to school in January, though he may have to use crutches for a while. The doctors say he should be back to normal by summer.
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More than 20 employees from the National Bank of Blacksburg did their part in providing a Merry Christmas for the residents of Warm Hearth's Showalter Assisted Living Center Dec. 17.
They sang carols for the residents, provided them catered meals, and gave each resident a Christmas gift.
The bank's employees have given the party for the past six years. Each party has been bigger than the last, and the event has become the highlight of the holiday season for the people at the center.
"We know it might be a little hard for them to get out during the holidays, so we bring the party to them," said David Capwell, manager of the bank's South Main Street branch.
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The Blacksburg Newcomers' Club gave the Montgomery County Christmas Store a check for $1,181.56 from proceeds of the club's Silent Auction, held in November.
The club also gave a check for $720 to the Christmas Store from proceeds of the club's cookbook sales. Total donations to the Christmas Store from sales of the cookbook are $4,326.
The combined donations from the two checks are about 5 percent of the Christmas Store's cash budget, and may be the largest single-group donation the Christmas Store has ever received, said Glenn Tyndall, fund-raising chairman. The Christmas Store used the money to make local purchases of clothing, toys, household and gift items for needy families in Montgomery County.
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The Christiansburg Lions Club says thanks to customers and supporters of its fifth annual holiday craft show Dec. 14.
Special thanks go to the Christiansburg Rescue Squad, the Starlight Drive-in Theatre, Gates Florist and The Roanoke Times for help in advertising. WKEX provided on-site broadcasting the day of the show.
Proceeds will go to sight and hearing conservation projects, including the Lions Eye Bank in Roanoke, which recycles used eye glasses; the Hearing Research Foundation at the University of Virginia; and the Speech and Audiology Center at Radford University, which recycles used hearing aids.
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New River Agency for Persons with Mental Retardation/Leisure Directions and Area Nine Special Olympics would like to recognize the staff at Triangle Lanes and participants of the Leisure Directions/Special Olympics for their help in creating a successful fall bowling league.
Leisure Directions and Special Olympics would like everyone to know that they are gearing up for the spring league. New River Valley residents with or without mental disabilities are invited to participate. For information, call Leisure Directions at 381-0310 or Special Olympics at 951-2918.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller joins Joshby CNBWoods (right) and Amy Jones for a special celebration. color.