Orange County coming events

ARTS CENTER OPENING
Artists Emma Lou Martin and Barbara Collins team up to present mixed media and water color paintings illustrating seasonal views of gardens and landscapes exploring light and shadow in a new exhibit at The Arts Center in Orange. The exhibit opens Thursday, Jan. 7 with a reception at 6:30 p.m. and continues through Feb. 27. The public is invited. For more information, visit the Arts Center In Orange at 129 East Main Street, P.O. Box 13, Orange, VA, Phone - 540-672-7311, web site - artscenterorange.org. Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Saturday.

MASTER GARDENER
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
A weekly Master Gardener volunteer training will start in January on Tuesdays and Wednesday mornings for 16 weeks at the Culpeper, Madison, and Orange Extension offices. The fee is $125. Contact (540) 341.7950 ext 210 or tohlwile@vt.edu for more information on volunteering and registration.

FOSTER PARENT INFO
SESSION
Orange County Department of Social Services, foster care and adoption will begin training session for people interested in becoming foster care providers or adoptive parents on Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Contact OCDSS Family Development Specialist Bernadine C. Meyer at 672 - 1155, ext. 124. If no answer, leave name, address and phone number.

PARENTING
COOPERATIVE
PROGRAM
Learn positive parenting techniques to stimulate healthy youth development in ages 4 - 12 in classes held Jan. 7, 9, 14, 16, 21 and 23. Thursday classes are 6 - 8 p.m.; Saturday classes are 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Class meets at Reformation Lutheran Church in Culpeper.

JEWELRY MAKING CLASS
The very, very basics of jewelry making, a class dealing with the basics of metal forming will be Jan. 8, 6 - 9 p.m. at the Arts Center in Orange. $20 fee plus $20 supply fee. Instructor: Mike Bender. Using annealed sterling silver, copper and brass wire, make a simple ring, bracelet and cuff, using tools provided. No heat or tool costs involved.

SPECIAL NEEDS
AWARENESS FAIR
The Destiny Center for Children will host a special needs awareness fair Jan. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center, as well as other organizations, will be on hand to provide materials on many disorders, disabilities and health information for children with special needs. The Destiny Center for Children is located at 13296 James Madison Highway, Orange. Call 672-7310.

EDUCATION FUNDING TOWN HALL MEETING
Senator Edd Houck will host an education funding town hall meeting Jan. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon at Germanna Community College's Locust Grove Campus, Room 114.

NAACP MEETING
The Orange County Branch NAACP executive and regular membership meetings will be held Monday, Jan. 11. The executive meeting will be held at 6 p.m., followed by the regular membership meeting at 7 p.m. in the Sedwick Building community room. The NAACP annual Freedom Fund Banquet will be held Saturday, March 27 at 5:30 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel in Charlottesville. For more information, contact president Ruth Lewis Smith at 854-5318.

MADISON CHORAL
SOCIETY
The Madison Choral Society, with guest director Allen Miller, is beginning rehearsals for their spring concerts. The choir will meet each Monday evening beginning Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at Madison United Methodist Church. No auditions are held and all with some knowledge of choral music are invited. Please come and bring a friend. Call 672-3297 or 540-923-5123 with questions.

ORANGE AARP
The Orange Chapter 5373 of AARP will meet Jan. 11 for the monthly meeting, at the Orange County Rescue Squad building at 1 p.m. The speaker will be from Ellwood and the visitors center. The community project for January will be snacks and/or paper products for the Boys and Girls' Club. If the schools are closed for weather, the meeting will be cancelled. AARP is open to all persons over the age of 50. For more information, call Dottie Wampler, 672-4335.

MATURE ADULT
ACTIVITY CLUB
The Mature Adult Activity Club will meet at St. Isidore the Farmer Catholic Church in the community room Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. The guest speaker will be Nancy Rhoades of Aging Together Orange. Call or email Ray Lonick for information 672-4131, rlonick72@yahoo.com.

RRCSB-AAA MEETING
The Rappahannock-Rapidan Community Services Board and Area Agency on Aging (RRCSB-AAA) will hold its regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m., at its office at 15361 Bradford Road, Culpeper. Individuals with disabilities who require special assistance to attend and participate in this meeting should contact Kimberley Martin at 825-3100, ext. 3146 or TTY 825-7391.

THE YOUNG AT
HEART CLUB
Otis Gooding will be the speaker at the Jan. 13 Young at Heart Club. The club meets every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the East Orange Ruritan Building at the intersection of Route 20 and 522. The club, which takes local trips and performs community service, is open to anyone. For more information call Alice Lumsden (540) 672-2841.

G'VILLE LITTLE LEAGUE MEETING
Gordonsville Little League's monthly board meeting will be held Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Gordonsville field. Please note the change of day and time of this month's meeting. All interested parties are invited to attend. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Robin Davies at 661-0380.

VFW POST #2217
The Orange VFW Post #2217 regular meeting will be Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at the post home on Brick Church Road. All members invited.

RVFD LEE-JACKSON
DINNER
The Rapidan Volunteer Fire Department's annual Lee-Jackson dinner is Friday, Jan. 15, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. $10/adults, $5/kids 12 and under. Menu: pork tenderloin, fried apples, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, beverages and desserts.

4CP BENEFIT CONCERT
Four County Players is pleased to welcome the renowned Orange Community Chorus for a special fundraiser concert Saturday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. at the theater in Barboursville. Tickets are general admission, and are $10 a person. To reserve tickets, call the Four County Players Box Office at 540-832-5355. For more information, visit www.fourcp.org, or www.orangechorusandband.com.

LZBC KING SERVICE
A fellowship service will be held in honor of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. at Little Zion Baptist Church, Orange. The guest messenger will be the Rev. Ellis R. Hill, pastor of Gloryland Church of God, Charlottesville. A reception will be held with birthday cake following the service.

NBC KING SERVICE
The Nazareth Baptist Church family will be observing and celebrating the birth, life and dream of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a special fellowship service Jan. 18 at noon. The guest preacher will be the Rev. Walter E. Bryant, pastor of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, Tanners. He will be accompanied by his choir and congregation. A reception will be held with cake and punch following the service.

GRYMES
VISITATION DAY
Grymes Memorial School will sponsor a "Student Visitation Day" for second through sixth graders Jan. 18. All area public schools closed on this day which will provide an opportunity for students to spend a day at Grymes. Students participating must plan to visit for the entire school day, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please RSVP by Jan. 11 to lberry@grymesschool.org or call 672-1010. School closure due to inclement weather will cancel this event; an alternative day to visit can be scheduled. Call 672-1010.

G'VILLE LITTLE
LEAGUE SIGNUPS
Gordonsville Little League will be holding Spring 2010 baseball, softball, and T-ball registration Saturday, Jan. 23 from 9 a.m. to 12noon and Saturday, Jan. 30, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Gordonsville field. Any child who is 5 (born before May 1, 2005) is eligible to play. The cost is $60 for baseball and softball and $40 for T-ball. Please call Robin Davies at 661-0380 if you have any questions.

BOOSTERS SOFTBALL/BASEBALL SIGN-UPS
Orange County Boosters Club will hold baseball and softball sign-ups from 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 27 and Feb. 3 and from 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 6 at the Prospect Heights Middle School cafeteria. Baseball is open to boys and girls ages 4-15. Softball is open to girls 8-16. Divisions depend on the number of participants. Entry fee is $45 per child. A $10 late fee will be assessed after Feb. 7. For baseball questions, contact Steve or Mickey at 854-4435. For softball questions, contact Teri at 672-1606.
GRYMES OPEN HOUSE
Grymes Memorial School will host a winter open house Sunday, Jan. 31 from 2 - 4 p.m. in the school library. Teachers and parents will be available to answer questions about the school program. Tour the school and enjoy coffee and conversation as you learn more about Grymes! Call 672-1010 for more information. In case of inclement weather, this event will be postponed to Sunday, Feb. 28, 2 - 4 p.m.

FREE LECTURE SERIES
The Orange County Historical Society and Frank Walker will present a free lecture series based on his Remembering: A History of Orange County, Virginia at Grymes Memorial School's duPont Hall. Lectures are 10 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Light refreshments will be served. "Beginnings for a County and a Courthouse Town," Feb. 6; "Before the Beginning: the Land and Its People," Feb. 13; "James Madison, His Life, His Wife, His House and His Constitution," Feb. 20; "The Civil War: Much Too Close For Comfort," Feb. 27; "The Commerce of a County," March 6. Call the Orange County Historical Society, 672 - 5366 (afternoons).

FREE CLINIC BENEFIT DANCE
A Valentine dinner/dance, "Share Your Heart for Healthcare" to benefit the Orange County Free Clinic will be at the Stonefire Station in Barboursville Feb. 6 Reception at 7 p.m.; dinner at 7:30 p.m. Dancing to the John D'Earth Quintet. Smart attire. Contact Megan Parman, (615) 491 - 2615; or the clinic office, 672 - 0793.

FAIR BOARD
FUNDRAISER
The annual semi-formal Valentine's dance sponsored by the Orange County Fair Board is Feb. 13 with cocktails from 6 - 7 p.m., dinner from 7 - 8 p.m., and dancing from 8 - midnight with music by Silvercreek. A limited number of tickets go on sale Jan 1. $100 per couple. Call Susie Swope 672-0410 to reserve tickets early.

OCHS ANGLERS’ SHOW
The Orange County High School Anglers will host their annual sportsman's show March 6-7 at the OCHS Hornet Sportscenter. Hours Saturday, March 6 are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 7 hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults. All county elementary school students will receive a ticket for free admission through their school. Call 661-4300, ext. 1155 for more information.

GSA VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED
The Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council Orange County Service Unit is looking for friendly and helpful adult volunteers to help train the leaders of tomorrow and make a difference in young girls' lives. For information on dedicating your time to building girls of courage, confidence, and character, email brasher23@hotmail.com or call 661-0471. Visit http://orangecountyvagirlscouts.webs.com/.

OCHS CLASS OF 1960
A 50-year reunion for the Orange County High School Class of 1960 is being planned for 2010. For more information, alumni should contact Courtenay Fry Janes, (828) 627-1529, cjanes@hughes.net; Betty J. Carpenter Doyle, (904) 241-7842, bettydoyle@comcast.net; or Jane Hale (804) 272-4181, jallie23225@yahoo.com.

OCHS CLASS OF 1980
The Orange County High School Class of 1980 30-year is being planned for 2010. Organizers are searching for class members. Please contact Judy Harlow Moubray, 832-0464; Susie Koontz Swope, 661-4324; Larry Wilson, 672-3834; Michael Altman, 672-5886; Sean Gregg; Patsy Martin, 854-6305, or Paige Green Deitrick, 854-0828.

V.F.W. BINGO
Thursday is bingo night at Gordonsville V.F.W. beginning at 7 p.m. Jackpot guaranteed $1,000.

RAPIDAN FIRE
DEPARTMENT BINGO
Rapidan Volunteer Fire Department, located at 9729 Locust Dale Rd. in Rapidan, will he holding Bingo every Saturday night. Come check out our new menu. Doors open at 5 p.m. and early birds begin at 6:45 with regular games starting at 7 p.m. For more information or directions call 672-5744.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The Celebrate Orange Committee needs volunteer help to plan and carry out Picnic in the Park, which will be held Monday, July 5. The committee meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the choir room of Orange Presbyterian Church. We will not meet in December. For further information or directions, please call or email Bill Chapman, 672-1794, chapmans1@comcast.net.