ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, March 27, 1997               TAG: 9703270024
SECTION: QUICK LOOK               PAGE: 3    EDITION: METRO 

THINGS TO DO WALK AMID ARCADIA'S EARLY BLOOMERS RICH CRITZ CAN MAKE EVEN TEEN-AGE BOYS INTERESTED IN WILDFLOWERS. I'VE SEEN IT. THE VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE BIOLOGY PROFESSOR KNOWS NOT ONLY THE ``IMPORTANT STUFF'' ABOUT THE FLOWERS, BUT ALSO THE OFFBEAT. SATURDAY, HE'LL BE LEADING A WALK IN ARCADIA IN NORTHERN BOTETOURT COUNTY. EVERYONE'S WELCOME TO SEE TROUT LILY, SPICE BUSH, SPRING BEAUTY, HEPATICA AND OTHER EARLY BLOOMERS.

Meet at 10 a.m. by the bridge over Jennings Creek on Virginia 14. Take the Arcadia exit off I-81, just past Buchanan. Follow the road to Arcadia, then go a half-mile to the bridge. Park on the right. The drive is 30 to 40 minutes from Roanoke. Bring lunch and wear comfortable shoes. Call 774-4518 for more info.

According to Critz, interest in wildflowers is growing like - dare we say it? - a weed.

Furry friends and kid pix

Your precious child, your precious pet or your pet, Precious, and a certain seasonal giant bunny can all be photographed together Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pet Food Superstore in Roanoke's Town Square Boulevard, near Sam's.

A full-color 8''x10'' print is $20; a 5''x 7'' print is $10.

It's a benefit for other furry friends at the Roanoke Valley SPCA. Need to know more? Call 344-4840.

Hale-Bopp comes this way but once

If you don't want a better look at comet Hale-Bopp, you probably haven't seen it yet. It's spectacular, and unless the elixir for eternal life is found, this is your only chance. There's a special program on comets Saturday at 4 p.m. in Hopkins Planetarium of the Science Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke. Also, around dusk (7-ish), the astronomical society will set up telescopes at Devil's Backbone at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 144. There's no charge. If clouds get in the way, comet-gazers can try again there April 5.

Kadeem Hardison and Marlon Wayans are devoted brothers and teammates in ``The Sixth Man.''

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