IN & AROUND GREENE

Contributed Article
Published: May 30, 2008

May 30
On Friday, May 30 the William Monroe Middle School eighth grade dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Eligible eighth graders can purchase tickets for $8 from their Core 1 teacher. Viva Las Vegas! is the theme, so play your cards right and join your classmates at this year’s dance. Parents interested in volunteering please call the school office at 985-5240.

May 31

Strawberry Festival is Saturday, May 31. Don’t miss breakfast at 8am. Also, at the festival: Vintage Cars - including NASCAR Wood Brother’s 21 Ricky Rudd Car.

The Circle of Friends and Bumblebees and Butterflies youth groups at Stanardsville United Methodist Church will be offering something new at its annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, May 31. The children and adults will be hosting activities including a cupcake walk, tattoo station, nail-painting and slushies. Games include a duck pond, water balloon relay, putt-putt, beanbag toss and more. The activities will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; join us for some summer fun.

The George James Community Center, Inc., 1215 George James Loop, Radiant will have its spring barbecue featuring Max Lacy’s famous pork barbecue prepared on site with his special barbecue sauce. Dinners will consist of cole slaw, baked beans, applesauce, dessert and beverage and can be purchased between the hours of 4-7 p.m. on May 31. The cost for dinner is $10 each for eat-in or carryout. Hot dog and barbecue sandwiches can also be purchased. Come join us for warm fellowship, fun and activities starting at 2 p.m. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards the cost of building renovations. For information, call the center at (540) 672-7138.

June 3
The Ruckersville Citizens Council will meet on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 in the Ruckersville Fire Hall at 7:00 PM. Our guest for the meeting will be will be Mi-chael Barnes, representing Midway Corner, a proposed residential to B-3 commercial rezone on the southwest corner of 607 and 29, opposite Food Lion on 607 and Rapidan Center on 29.  The concept plan will be presented to the group, followed by our usual roundtable discussion. (A speaker from Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission may be present as well to provide in-formation regarding the Multimodal Transportation Planning Grant recently awarded by the VDOT to Greene County.  If you have questions about our organization, you can contact us by telephone by calling 985-3870, or check out our website at: http://www.orgsites.com/va/ruckersvillecitizens/index.html.

Tuesday, June 3 from 5-6:30 p.m. at Sage Moon Gallery, 420 E. Main Street, learn what the Center for Nonprofit Excellence is all about while you network with community leaders and nonprofit professionals. This event is free and open to the public, although RSVP is requested at ().

June 5
The Greene Library Book Discussion Group meets Thursday, June 5 at 7 p.m.  to discuss “The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse” by Louise Erdich; As a priest nears the end of his life, he is asked to prove or disprove the sainthood of a woman he knows well and struggles to guard his own secret identity in the process.

June 7
Clarence G. and Mary M. Collier family reunion will be held Saturday, June 7, from 12-noon to 6 p.m. at Shelter 1, Pen Park, E. Rio Road, Charlottesville. Turn left just before tennis courts to reach the shelter. Contact Jo Ann at 434-985-7591 for more information.

June 14
Spring Hill Baptist Church is holding a car show and chili cook-off Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you have a classic car, truck or motorcycle you would like to display at the show or if you would like to compete in the chili cook-off call Tom at (434) 985-2780.

June 18
A free Greene County Triad Workshop for all seniors over 50 will be held at 10 a.m. June 18 at the JABA Senior Center, Library Building, Stanardsville, with guest speaker, Gail Berry, Greene County Treasurer. If you have questions call Beverly at 434-990-0225.

June 28
The 25th class reunion of William Monroe High School Class of 1983 will have a cookout on June 28. For more information contact Sherri Herring Huff at 985-6989 or Jeff Brill at 981-0020.

June 28, Sept. 11, Nov. 13
Blood is needed! The Women’s Committee of Greene County Farm Bureau is sponsoring the following blood drives in 2008. On June 28 from 9 a.m.-12-noon in parking lot of Vo-Tech School; Sept. 11 from 3-7 p.m. and Nov. 13 from 3-7 p.m. inside Stanardsville Firehouse. Please donate - you just may save a life.

Through June
During the month of June the Greene County Food Bank is requesting donations of peanut butter and jelly. Donations can be dropped off at Social Services at 10009 Spotswood Trail (old Rt. 33) Stanardsville, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Your tax-deductible money donations to the food bank can be mailed to the Woman’s Club of Greene County, P.O. Box 352, Stanardsville, VA 22973. For more information, contact Nancy at 985-5063.

Applications for the 2008-2009 school year are now being accepted for the Skyline CAP Head Start program in Greene County, open to preschool children three to five years old. Children must have turned at least three years of age by Sept. 30. Those with special needs are encouraged to apply. Skyline CAP Head Start is a free program for income eligible families. The only cost to parents is a small amount of your time each month. For more information on the Greene County program, please call Jennie Sherrill at 985-6930.

July 4
It’s that time of year again; time to start planning the annual July 4 parade sponsored by STAR. If you would like to volunteer or participate call Beth at 985-6226.

August 23
Attention WMHS Class of 98! William Monroe High School Class of 1998 will be celebrating their 10-year class reunion Saturday, Aug. 23. Please e-mail . with your name (if married include maiden name,) phone number and address or visit http://www.geocities.com/wmhs1998reunion/ for more information.

NOTICES
Drug abuse and addiction affects school-aged children in many ways. Some kids live with an addicted family member while others have started using themselves. If you suspect that someone is struggling with addiction, call Narconon Arrowhead today. Narconon offers free addiction counseling, assessments and referrals to rehabilitation centers nationwide. Call 800-468-6933 or log on to http://www.stopaddiction.com to speak to a qualified counselor today.

Are you a teen Mom? Have you heard of teen MOPS? We are planning a new Teen Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) group in Orange. If you are interested in helping with or joining this new group, contact Gail Gibson at or (540) 661-1310. The meetings will be held at Grace Community Church, 105 North Madison Road, Orange.

The Greene County Taxpayers hold monthly meetings the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. For more info call 985-4530 or 985-3794.