Local barbershop harmony chorus seeking members with the gift of voice

Looking for a new passion? Enjoy harmony singing in barbershop style? Want to work on developing your voice in a great singing environment? Wish to get involved in the community, but not sure how? Well Gentlemen…listen up!

The Virginia Gentlemen Barbershop Harmony Chorus will hold guest night on Monday, June 17, 2013 beginning at 7 p.m. Guest Night gives prospective members and guests an opportunity to learn more about the Virginia Gentlemen Barbershop Harmony Chorus, a premier male a cappella singing organization which participates in performances, social engagements, and in competitions throughout the Roanoke Valley. Guest night will be held at College Lutheran Church located at 210 S. College Avenue in Salem. This is an evening of great food, fun, fellowship and spirited music, and home to all practices for these musicians. Those attending Guest Night are not committed to joining.

The Virginia Gentlemen is the Roanoke Valley Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society which appeals to men of all ages seeking to be part of a high quality vocal performing group. If you can match a pitch and “carry a tune” then you should be a part of this enjoyable organization. Proceeds earned by the organization support the John Tully Memorial Scholarship Fund to aid local college-bound high school students with an interest in music, and The Harmony Foundation, providing grants promoting vocal music education in schools and communities.

To learn more about The Virginia Gentlemen, visit www.vagents.org. For questions regarding Guest Night or to RSVP (optional), contact Ed Burke at 540.977.0472 or by email at eburke1038@aol.com.

Submitted by Lisa Soltis

Roanoke County Opens New Boardwalk Trail System 

Ceremonial Ribbon Cutting on Tuesday Behind South County Library

ROANOKE COUNTY, VA (June 3, 2013) –Roanoke County will hold a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. to celebrate the opening of a new trail system. This event will take place behind the South County Library (6303 Merriman Rd. 24018), with parking and access down the steps to the left of the building.

Tuesday’s ribbon cutting program will include remarks from Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman, Charlotte Moore; Roanoke County Administrator, Clay Goodman; Roanoke County Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Lorraine Lange; and administrators from Roanoke County’s Parks, Recreation & Tourism and Library divisions. 

The new trail – located across from Penn Forest Elementary School, behind South County Library, and within walking distance of three County parks – features a raised boardwalk through a wetland area, making it a great educational opportunity for students of all ages. Parks, Recreation & Tourism Director, Doug Blount, believes that one of the most important aspects of the trail is the sense of community it creates. “Libraries, schools, and parks provide government services that touch the lives of almost every citizen,” says Blount. “The wetland trail project not only provides a physical link between all three, but also enhances the mission of each department in one key area where they overlap – education. This trail will give back to the community for generations to come, by helping youth gain a better appreciation of the natural world through good stewardship and environmental education.”

For questions about the new trail system or inquiries about the ribbon cutting event, please contact Scott Ramsburg with Parks, Recreation and Tourism at (540) 777-6327.

Submitted by Scott Ramsburg 

The Virginia Chapter March of Dimes and HCA-Virginia Capital Division have announced that HCA-Virginia’s Vice President of Women’s and Children’s Services, Toni Rice, will serve as the Chair of the 2013 Virginia March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards Program and Gala. HCA-Virginia is also supporting the event as a $10,000 corporate sponsor. The Nurse of the Year Awards is a statewide program that recognizes exceptional nurses, creates awareness of professional excellence, and promotes the future of the nursing profession.

The awards will be presented at a gala on Saturday, November 9th at the Omni Hotel in Richmond, VA. Funds raised by the event via corporate sponsorships and gifts will go to medical research and programs that are dedicated to healthy birth outcomes. The March of Dimes is the leading non-profit organization for pregnancy and baby health. In Virginia 84 cents of every dollar raised goes toward the mission of preventing premature birth, birth defects, and infant mortality. The March of Dimes is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2013. There are over four million babies born each year, and through research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs, the March of Dimes has helped each and every one.

Now through June 7th, the Virginia Chapter March of Dimes is accepting nominations for its Nurse of the Year Awards via an online nomination form at http://bit.ly/nurseoftheyearVA.

The awards will recognize 15 or more Virginia nurses in a variety of disciplines. The March of Dimes is calling for statewide nominations of RNs, LPNs, advanced practice nurses, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, and nursing students in a wide range of healthcare settings including hospitals, home health agencies, rehab centers, hospices, etc.

Awards Chair Toni Rice understands the importance of recognizing and honoring nurses here in Virginia: “When I was asked to chair the 2013 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year Awards, I was quick to accept! I saw it as a wonderful opportunity to work with an organization that has touched the lives of so many people and families around the country. Nurses, of course, are an integral part of that mission.”

A panel of nursing leaders from all over Virginia will select award winners based upon criteria that include professional credentials and achievements, leadership skills, and impact upon the profession. There is no charge to nominate a nurse or to apply for an award. Nurse nominees will be contacted and asked to complete an Awards Application. All applications will be blinded and judged by the above criteria, with three to five finalists and one winner selected per category. Winners will be announced at the Awards Gala on November 9th.

Awards Chair Toni Rice is Vice President of Women’s and Children’s Services for HCA Virginia. Prior to her current position, Toni held such senior leadership positions as Associate Administrator and Business Development Officer for Chippenham and Johnston-Willis Hospitals. She holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and has served on the boards or participated as a member in a number of business and non-profit organizations, including the Virginia Workers Compensation Committee, the VHHA’s Task Force on Legislative Advocacy, the Chesterfield Family Practice Residency program, the Richmond Academy of Medicine’s ACCESS NOW program, and Brandermill and Bon Air Rotaries. Toni and her husband Stuart reside in Chesterfield County, Virginia.

– Submitted by Jeanne Chitty

Quigg Lawrence shares these photos from the Church of the Holy Spirit Rwanda mission trip.

Dr. Lucy Ann Price, Bent Mountain Woman’s Club president, and scholarship recipient Kenneth Rhyn Tryal. Photo courtesy of Pam English

Bent Mountain Woman’s Club (BMWC) is proud to announce the 2013 winner of the Mary Patterson Memorial Scholarship to Kenneth Rhyn Tryal, a graduating senior from Cave Spring High School.  Kenneth is the son of Jared & Amalia Tryal of Bent Mountain.  He and his family attended a potluck at the Bent Mountain Fire Station on Tuesday May 14, where he was awarded a scholarship for $750.  Kenneth will be attending Roanoke College in the fall to study engineering with hopes for a career in toy design.

Since 1994, the Bent Mountain Woman’s Club has awarded the Mary Patterson Memorial Scholarship to students within the Bent Mountain community.  The scholarship is named for the former club president and special educator for Roanoke County Schools.  Applicants must possess a 3.0 GPA or higher, be a resident of the Bent Mountain community, have verification of financial need, and acceptance into an accredited two- or four-year college. A committee of three BMWC members reviews and selects the best candidate based on their above credentials. Photos of recipients are featured at club events throughout the year and on permanent display at the Bent Mountain Library.

– Submitted by Pam English, Bent Mountain Woman’s Club

Thanks to the generosity of residents in southwest Virginia, letter carriers collected a record amount of food during the recent Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

Letter carriers gathered 415,800 pounds of food in the 26-county, 10-city region, topping last year’s haul of 411,330 pounds.

On May 11, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) teamed up with Feeding America Southwest Virginia and Kroger for the annual event. Residents in the region were encouraged to leave non-perishable food donations for pick-up by letter carriers on their routes from 108 post offices in the region.

“We are thrilled with the generosity of people of southwest Virginia who are so eager to help neighbors in need,” said Steve Young of NALC Branch 524 in Roanoke. “We appreciate everyone’s support and assistance for another record-breaking event as we collected 4,470 additional pounds of food compared to 2012.”

The regional effort benefits food banks and pantries affiliated with Feeding America Southwest Virginia.

“We are so proud of the letter carriers in our region for their commitment to fight hunger close to home,” said Pamela Irvine, president and CEO of Feeding America Southwest Virginia. “Stamp Out Hunger is a critical annual event to ensure we can satisfy the increased needs of neighbors around the region. We have a lot of people to thank, starting with generous people in every community in our region. We salute the letter carriers for their record haul and we thank our partners who made Stamp Out Hunger such a success, especially Kroger.”

– Submitted by Thomas Becher

The Parrotheads of the Blue Ridge Car Wash will be held Saturday, June 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Firestone Complete Auto Care Complex/Tanglewood, 2048 Electric Road, Roanoke. There will be a car wash, hot dogs and clowns. This event will benefit Relay for Life. The PHBR has three teams participating, and many of its members are cancer survivors.

– Submitted by Mary Jo Reed, PHBR Secretary

WHAT: “Boy Scout Tiger Trails Event”

WHEN: Saturday, June 1st 2013, 10:00 am till 2:00 pm

WHERE: Tanglewood Mall, Roanoke, VA and at Vinton Farmers Market, Vinton VA

WHY: We will be hosting a “Join Scouting” event for boys 6-18 to sign up for scouting in your area.

Scouting creates character, improves outdoor skills, boost team building and provides service opportunities to our community. We hope to see you at Tanglewood Mall or the Vinton Farmers Market on June 1. A host of activities will be available. Please contact biglickde@bsa-brmc.org for more information. We would especially like to see the new first graders come and talk to us. Join Scouts today!

– Submitted by Lee Anderson

When most James Madison University students were packing up for the year and heading home, local student Cory D’Orazio, a media arts and design major from Roanoke, VA, quickly shifted gears from focusing on studying to focusing on others. Fifty JMU students packed up and loaded a bus bound for New Orleans, La. on JMU’s eighth annual Alternative May Break trip.

Started in 2005 as a response to Hurricane Katrina, JMU has broadened the focus of the trip, dubbing it “AMB: Rebuilding New Orleans.” Misty Newman, assistant director of Community Service-Learning for Alternative Break Programs said, “While the focus remains rebuilding houses and communities, our trip incorporates whatever type of work is most necessary at the time of arrival.”

JMU’s volunteers stayed at Camp Hope whose mission focuses on housing volunteers who are rebuilding and providing new construction for New Orleans. Trip participants are assigned to a small group of eight or nine with one student leader and one faculty or staff leader for each group. Students paid $300 to participate.

Alternative May Break is part of JMU’s award-winning Alternative Break Program, which coordinates opportunities for students to assist people while learning more about societal issues, including homelessness, education, immigration and health problems.

JMU’s Alternative Break Program is a two-time recipient of the Break Away National Program of the Year award in recognition of the university’s commitment to active citizenship.

James Madison University offers each student a future of significance — not an education of mere prestige, but an extraordinary education of exceptional scholarship, inventive thinking, unparalleled attention to the world community, a university-wide enthusiasm for teaching, and a commitment to student success.

– Submitted by James Madison University

Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a nonprofit organization working to preserve, promote, celebrate and enhance the Blue Ridge Parkway is looking for volunteers to help with event planning, coordinating projects and assisting staff with programs. Volunteers are needed for Monday-Thursday from 10-3. If you are interested in volunteering for a few hours each week, please email Fernando Gracia at Fernando_Gracia@FriendsBRP.org or call 540.772.2992. Please visit our website www.FriendsBRP.org to learn more about us.

– Submitted by Fernando Gracia, Director of Programs & Community Outreach, Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway