The City of Salem Parks and Recreation Department will open its 2013 outdoor movie season at Longwood Park on Sunday, May 26. “Brave” – the Walt Disney and Pixar animated comedy, featuring the voices of Kelly Macdonald, Julie Walters, Billy Connolly and Emma Thompson will begin around 9pm and admission is absolutely free.

The first 50 families to arrive will receive a free bag of popcorn courtesy of Frito Lay. Food will be available to purchase at the concession stand and everyone is welcome to bring chairs and a blanket. This event is designed for the entire family to enjoy a night at the movies under the stars.

This year’s movies are sponsored by Frito Lay, Fun Times and the Salem Parks and Recreation Department.

No roller blades, skateboards or pets are allowed on the premises.

For additional information, call Salem Parks and Recreation at 375-3057.

– Submitted by Mike Stevens, City of Salem

The 22nd-annual Roanoke Valley Spring Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show will be held May 24-26 at the Salem Civic Center.

The winner of the nationwide craft contest sponsored by Martha Stewart called the Simply ReMarthable Contest, JoAnn Lunsford, will be at our Salem show all day on Saturday, May 25. JoAnn won first place from over 3,500 entries with her craft of Needle Felting. She will have examples and be demonstrating at our show all day on Saturday. Come meet JoAnn and see her remarkable craft. She will be sharing a booth with Bonnie “Bee” Quilting.

– Submitted by Treasures of the Earth Gem and Jewelry Shows

On Friday, May 24, Taylor Masonic Lodge will be holding a blood drive at Salem First Baptist Church on 103 N. Broad St., from 12 to 6 p.m.

Please come and donate before the holiday.

– Submitted by Bob Gladwell, Taylor Lodge

From the Roanoke County website:

Renewable Energy Family Class Coming May 25

Bring your family members ages 8 and up to Green Ridge Recreation Center this Saturday to get creative with wind and solar technologies! We’ll design an electricity producing windmill & a car that will run on solar energy. We will also try our hand at cooking with a homemade solar oven which can be taken home and used again. Prizes will be awarded to the top scientists! Program runs form 10am to 1pm.

Come join us at Living Well Church of the Nazarene’s 2013 Spring Fish Fry on Saturday, May 25 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Living Well Church of the Nazarene is located at 3631 Evelyn Drive in Salem. The cost is free, but donations are welcome. The meal will include fish, fries, dessert and drink.

– Submitted by Todd Sutphin

From the Roanoke County website:

Final preparations are being made for the opening of Splash Valley Water Park on Friday, May 24. Visit our website for a complete season schedule. This year we’ve added new special events, weekly discounts and more! Full season add-on passes are available for Green Ridge Recreation Center members only.

Sherry Cameron Cox, Compassionate Friends Chapter Leader and Eddie Cox.

The Compassionate Friends (TCF),
Roanoke Valley Chapter
Walk to Remember
Our Children Gone Too Soon
May 11, 2013 at Green Hill Park, Salem Virginia

On behalf of Sherry Cameron Cox, chapter leader of The Compassionate Friends’ (TCF) Roanoke Valley Chapter, who organized and lead the Walk to Remember, thanks to all of you who walked with us (and your loved ones — with us in spirit), sponsored walkers, and helped at the event. And those of you who weren’t able to join us, you were part of the love that inspired our Walk to Remember.

Before the Walk, families and friends gathered to share memories of much-loved children missed but not forgotten. Despite threats of thunderstorms throughout the day, Nature was good to us — delaying the downpour just long enough for us to get back to our park shelter after we had walked.

As our motto attests: We Need Not Walk Alone

We especially want to thank Cathie Meadow Thomas, Jon Wilson, and Randy Gleason all with John M. Oakey & Son in Salem for sponsoring our walk for the second straight year. JMO’s Randy joined us for the Walk.

Submitted by Michele Moldenhauer

On Friday May 9, William Webster was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army at Radford University. The next day, William received a diploma from the university so it was a big week for him. This is a very special time for this young man who has wanted to serve his country since he was a small child. He resides with his grandparents, Dr. Fred and Carolyn Eichelman of Salem. He is the son of Carol and Buddy Webster and brother of Michael Webster.

– Submitted by Fred Eichelman

Picture yourself at the end of this rope! The GE Energy team “tugging for children’s health.” Photo courtesy of Nancy Fralin

Reigning champions will defend their titles at CHIP’s 17th annual Tug for Tots competition on Friday, May 17th, at Noon, Spartan Field, Salem High School. All funds raised will benefit the Child Health Investment Partnership (CHIP) of Roanoke Valley. Nineteen teams in three weight divisions have signed up for the old-fashioned tug of war. David Camper, Jeff Copeland and Jackie Smith, long-time CHIP volunteers and Board Members, are co-chairing this year’s event.

Teams from local hospitals, corporations, public safety agencies and other major Roanoke Valley employers will participate this year. In the 2,000-pound lightweight division, the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Department will defend its eight-year championship reign. The Branch Group team will be back to defend their heavy-weight title. Each team has 10 members, including at least two women. The teams will be weighed as a group on a large scale before the competition begins. Several teams have expressed excitement over the opportunity to “tug” on Spartan Field’s synthetic FieldTurf–the playing surface of choice for numerous professional and collegiate venues across the country. This year’s “celebrity referees” understand what competition is all about! CHIP welcomes former VT and NFL football player Lee Suggs and former UVA and NBA basketball player Cory Alexander. They will join head referee, Paul Higgins, who is in his 17th year as head referee and Coach Joe Gaither.

The teams pay a $1,000 entry fee. Funds raised through the event will enable CHIP to continue to provide health care and family support services to low-income children in the Roanoke Valley. The public-private partnership is in its 25th year.

– Submitted by Nancy Fralin, CHIP of Roanoke Valley