ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 19, 1997 TAG: 9704210024
SECTION: NRV-2 CURRENT EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: TOM ANGLEBERGER
Jonathan Lee Gogal received a special birthday present from the Blacksburg Junior Women's Club. The newborn was the first recipient of a book from this year's Books for Babies program.
To encourage literacy at an early age, the club gave every baby born in April at Columbia Montgomery Regional Hospital a book. The club also funds "Shared Beginnings," a program that gives books to teen-age mothers.
These and other programs are funded by an annual art auction being held tonight at First National bank in Christiansburg at 6:30. For more information, call 951-0670.
Blacksburg resident Krisha Chachra, a student at the College of William and Mary, recently coordinated a weeklong multicultural event at the university.
Mosaic '97 was designed to celebrate diversity on campus and featured speakers, music, a charity ball and a street fair.
Chachra is also the Student Assembly cultural director.
The Montgomery County Courthouse bowling team collected the most money for Big Brothers/Big Sisters at the Bowl For Kid's Sake fund raiser.
Team members Tammy Akers, Bonnie Heinline, Jill Middleton, Jessie Moede and Betty Page won a free meal for their efforts. Moede and Mike Slayton also received gift certificates for raising the most money individually.
Many local businesses contributed to the event also. All money raised is used locally.
The Free Clinic of the New River Valley and Program for Special Medical Care provided almost $1 million in free health services in 1996.
In all, 360 volunteers served 1,785 patients, providing $962,441 worth of service.
The clinic provides medical and dental care and prescriptions to low-income, uninsured or underinsured residents of the New River Valley.
Support for the program is given by local hospitals, the United Way, Radford Community Health Foundation, Virginia Health Care Foundation and Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield.
For more information, call 381-0820.
Blacksburg police Officer Keith R. Spence was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for the most drunken driving arrests by a Blacksburg police officer during 1996.
Spence was also commended by the Blacksburg Police Department for his 12 DUI arrests.
The Montgomery County chapter of the American Red Cross celebrated its 80th anniversary in March.
At the Annual Membership and Volunteer Recognition Meeting, Carol Kroeger, chapter board chair, was presented with certificates and proclamations from American Red Cross President Elizabeth Dole, Gov. George Allen, Blacksburg Mayor Roger Hedgepeth and Christiansburg Mayor Harold Linkous.
William and Audrey Skidmore, Mary Santoroski, Romney Smith, Alan Raflo, Sally Fennick and Eileen Hadbavny were all honored for their contributions to the chapter.
Hills Department Stores is donating $5,000 to Virginia Children's Healthcare System, an affiliate of the Children's Miracle Network. Special fund-raising events will be held in Hills stores, leading up to a telethon in June.
The Blacksburg Intermediate Woman's Club served dinner to the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad. This annual event has been a tradition since the 1950s.
The club's 32 members prepare most of the food and serve the dinner at the squad station on Progress Street.
Phi Sigma Pi, a coed national honor fraternity, received special thanks from Blacksburg for a special cleanup project earlier in April.
Fraternity members cleaned the area behind Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium. The fraternity has been a member of Blacksburg's Adopt-A-Spot program since 1991.
The Auburn High School Swing Choir recently performed at Heritage Hall Nursing Center. The choir sang oldies and gospel hymns for the residents of the center and their families.
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. Laura Mann presents book to Nancy Gogal and sonby CNBJonathan Lee Gogal. 2. (headshot) Chachra