ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 24, 1997 TAG: 9704240021
SECTION: QUICK LOOK PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER
CHIP Day with Bloopy and friend at Tanglewood Mall
A purple dinosaur teaches kids to be nice, an aardvark teaches kids that adversity makes you stronger and now something that looks like a large-headed doodle with big-feet is teaching kids to ``Be well, eat well, live well, learn well.''
Bloopy and his friend, Jumping Jack, will perform two shows, telling stories and leading a singalong at Tanglewood Mall on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Bring your camera for a photo op with the characters.
It's part of ``Have a Happy Day,'' an event to increase awareness about the Child Health Investment Partnership of Roanoke Valley. CHIP provides health care, outreach and information to needy children and families in hopes of creating a safe and healthful home environment.
``Bloopy's Buddies'' is a television show aired locally Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on Blue Ridge Public Television.
For more information, call 857-6993.
'A loaf of bread, a jug of wine ...'
Well, a jug might be overdoing it, but you can at least have a few glasses and bread baked fresh in outdoor ovens at the first Valley of Virginia Bread and Wine Festival at Rockbridge Vineyard and at Wade's Mill in Raphine (Rockbridge County) on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Savor the fruit of the vine of five Shenandoah Valley wineries and sample the staff of life as you enjoy crafts, folk music, tours of the mill and workshops - makes for a nice day. The mill, built around 1750, is offering an elegant luncheon, including wines. Call for reservations and directions, (800) 290-1400.
Special Love, a program for children with cancer, will benefit from the ticket sales
And don't forget to lift your eyes from your plate. The surrounding area is beautiful.
Take only photographs, leave only footprints
If you've already picked up your bag of wildflower mix at Wal-Mart, you've got a lot to learn. There are many more flowers in the forests. Learn about the beauty and diversity of our local wildflowers on one of the annual Wildflower Pilgrimages Saturday and Sunday.
Paul James II, a Franklin Countian with a spectacular garden of wild and cultivated flowers (one of the walk options), will start off the weekend with a talk Friday at 7 p.m. in the Science Museum of Western Virginia's Hopkins Planetarium. The talk is free and you can preregister at that time for the walks - only $2.50, two walks for $2 each. A real bargain.
The walks wander through forests, stroll along creeks and include some private gardens. Sites are as close as Roanoke and as far as the Peaks of Otter. Leaders of the walks all have firsthand knowledge and lots of it.
Call for a schedule, 342-5710. Leave your shovels at home, but bring a camera and wear walking shoes (and maybe a raincoat).
THINGS TO DO
Wopat is Vinton grand marshal
Some screen (TV and silver) stars mature well - Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Tom Wopat. See for yourself when Wopat - ``Cybill's'' ex and former Duke of Hazzard - spends the day Saturday as the grand marshal at the 42nd annual Vinton Dogwood Festival.
While you're waiting to snag an autograph, enjoy the bands, crafts, exhibits and children's activities at the War Memorial and Farmer's Market. The parade marches at 2:30 p.m. from Gus Nicks Boulevard to the War Memorial.
A herd of 100 Harleys, an avenue of antique autos, the cacophony of a carnival and the aesthetics of an art show will offer something for everyone.
Deck the walls with auction art
Whether you'd rather roll up the sleeves of your T-shirt or straighten your tie, dig your poodle skirt out of mothballs or have an excuse to buy a new frock, there are two Art & More auctions you can attend Saturday. Of course, the decision on where to go may depend on your allegiance.
The Art Museum of Western Virginia's auction is at Hollins College's Ballator Gallery. Silent bidding begins at 6:30 p.m.; the action gets noisier at 8:30 p.m. Call 342-5760 to find out more.
The Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley's event, ``The Fab Fifties,'' is in the center's annex in Pulaski. Silent auction and social hour begin at 7 p.m.; the live auction is at 8 p.m. Call 980-7363.
PLACES TO GO
Salem After Five season opens
Before you head home Friday after work or as an hors d'oeuvres to the evening's main event, listen to The Worx at the season's first Salem After Five gathering from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Salem Farmer's Market.
The $2 admission (free, if you're under 12) benefits the Community Christmas store. Call 375-4046 if you need to know more.
Whitewater rodeo in New River
Up the creek without a paddle will be a tough situation at the 10th annual New River Rodeo, but it could happen. Bucking hooves are replaced by froths of rushing water in this whitewater competition at McCoy Falls on the New River Friday through Sunday.
Kayakers are judged on tricks and maneuvers. More than 150 men, women and juniors (under 18) are expected, and anyone is eligible to compete. For more info, call 387-6091.
Symphony open rehearsal tunes up
Top five reasons to go to the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's open rehearsal:
It's Sunday from 2 to 4:30 p.m., so it's not a school night.
It costs $1.
You don't have to dress up.
It's your only chance to hear the concert. Monday night is sold out.
You still have money and time left afterward for pizza.
Monday's performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 is being recorded live - a first for the RSO. Cassettes and compact discs, shipped in late June, can be ordered through the symphony office (343-6221).
LIVING WELL
Unplug the idiot box
If you're so attached to your remote that you're afraid your thumb will atrophy if you don't use it for a week, unplug the TV and carry the remote around with you. The third annual National TV Turnoff Week begins today.
TV-Free America, sponsor of the event, says the average American watches more than four hours a day.
Spend that time thinking up all the things you could be doing if you weren't watching TV.
Job stress doesn't affect heart
Your boss will be glad to hear that researchers at Stanford University discovered that stress on the job doesn't appear to increase your risk of heart disease. (Blood pressure and evil thoughts, probably.)
Medic Alert helps in emergencies
If a health emergency leaves you unable to communicate, the Medic Alert Foundation can help provide medical personnel with vital information. Their emergency ID system includes a wallet card and bracelet or necklace tag, inscribed with medical data, a personal code number and a 24-hour telephone number medical teams can call for more information.
The cost is $35 for registration and $15 annual dues. Call (800) 625-3783.
HELPING HANDS
Locked up for charity
No one gets out of jail free at the ``Mock Lock-up'' fund-raiser Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. at Valley View Mall in Roanoke.
Volunteer to spend some time behind bars, call friends to ``make bail'' or pledge to get someone else out of the slammer.
Money raised will help TAP's Women's Resource Center free families from the prison of domestic violence. To help, call 345 -6781.
GREEN THUMB
Track flower failures, veggie victories
Don't make the same mistake twice. Keep a garden journal to record your triumphs and your failures, what you liked and what you didn't.
Take photographs of your garden during spring, summer and fall and make a map of plantings. It helps to see what needs to be moved or filled in - and where plants will be coming up in the spring before you cover them with mulch or think they're a weed and yank them out.
Give mites wet welcome
Spider mites hate cold water. If you find an infested plant, spray it with water that is between 32 and 40 degrees. Keep a spray bottle in the refrigerator and mist the plant once or twice a day until all the little buggers are gone.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Who: Anyone 16 and older.
For what: To restore and repair exhibits.
Day required: Saturday.
Where: Virginia Museum of Transportation.
Training: Will be provided.
Where to call: 342-5670.
LENGTH: Long : 173 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. Hillsides of trillium will be found on the Scienceby CNBMuseum of Western Virginia's 27th annual Wildflower Pilgrimages this
weekend. 2. Wade's Mill and Rockbridge Winery in Raphine will be
hosts to a wine and bread festival Saturday and Sunday. Graphic:
Bloopy, whose television show airs on PBS, will star in two shows
Saturday at Tanglewood Mall.