Coming events for the week

RSA MEETING
The Rapidan Service Authority meeting will be April 16 at 2 p.m. in the Madison County Administration Building.

JAM SESSION
Friday April 17, from 7-10 p.m., enjoy an evening of bluegrass and gospel at the clubhouse next to Waugh’s off Rt. 20. Come for the fun and music or bring your bluegrass Instruments and play. Open to all individuals and groups. Please call Pete, (540) 854-7468 to schedule your group to play. Contributions go to area children’s groups.

BLOOD DRIVE
The Piedmont Chapter of VirginiaTechforlife blood drive will be April 17 from 2-6 p.m. at Culpeper United Methodist Church, 1233 Oaklawn Drive. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. If you are interested in volunteering or need additional information, contact Andrew Moody at

MOOSE LODGE DINNER
The Orange Moose Lodge #2198 will hold a soup and sandwich dinner April 18 at their lodge.

LOHR FAMILY REUNION
Martin Luther Lohr’s descendants’ annual family reunion will be April 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the old home place: 1930 Carpenters Mill Road, Madison (currently the home of Colin and Betty Mallory). Bring a covered dish and dessert. Contact Steve and Annette Willis, (540) 672-2004 or Russell and Janet Lohr, (540) 948-4737.

LONGABERGER/VERA BRADLEY BINGO
A Longaberger/Vera Bradley Basket bingo to benefit Relay for Life will be at Mineral fire hall April 18. Doors open at 5 p.m., games start at 6 p.m. The evening will include raffles and a baked goods auction. Concessions start at 5 p.m. Daubers available for sale. Tickets in advance: $20, at the door: $25. Contact Darlene Straley, (434) 293-7343, or Debbie Hoffman, (540) 832-3297.

WOODBERRY BENEFIT
The Woodberry Cemetery Association will host a musical gospel service on April 18 at 5 p.m. at Union Baptist Church, 312 Cobb Street, Gordonsville. The service will benefit upkeep and beautification of Woodberry Cemetery, one of the oldest African-American landmarks in the area. Contact Emily Winkey, (540) 832-3055 or Gloria Gilmore, (540) 832-3410.

DRIVING CLINIC
A one-day, DMV-approved defensive driving clinic will be at the OCHS field house April 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Five points will be awarded for successful course completion. No preregistration required, walk-ins welcome. Contact Anne Arborgast after 6 p.m., (540) 672-9232.

CHILDREN’S SCREENING
A no-cost screening clinic to evaluate children who might benefit from expert orthopedic and burn care at Shriners Hospitals will be April18, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Orthopedic Specialty Clinic, Fredericksburg. For information, call (540) 854-6589 or (540) 903-2010.

GVFC OUTLAW PULL
The Gordonsville Volunteer Fire Company’s fourth Outlaw Pull is April 18 at the fire company fairgrounds. The gate opens at 8 a.m; first pull starts at 9 a.m. with ATVs; stock garden, modified, and mini rods will follow. Cost is $5 at the gate, free for kids six and under. Food and drinks available, vendors welcome. E-mail , call 832-5222 or visit http://www.gordonsvillefirecompany.com

BABE RUTH TRYOUTS
Orange Babe Ruth Baseball tryouts will be Saturday April 18, 10 a.m. at Prospect Heights Middle School. Sign-ups for boys 13-15 will be held 9 to 10 a.m. Boys age 13 and not yet 16 by April 30 can register. Bring a copy of child’s birth certificate to registration. Fee: $70. Contact Tina Eheart, (434) 981-7382, or . Registrations deadline: no later than April 18. 

MOOSE DINNER
Orange County Women of the Moose will be serving dinner April 18 at 6 p.m. for members and their guests only. The Moose Lodge is located at 16706 Mountain Track Road. Members bring your family and enjoy a home cooked dinner for only $7 per person.
GORDONSVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE MEETING
The Gordonsville Little League business meeting has been rescheduled to April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Blue Omohundro Field in Gordonsville. All interested parties are invited to attend. For further information, please contact Tracy Haney at (540) 832-2502.
STRONG QUALITY
BASKETBALL
SQBA seeks unsigned players with college eligibility looking for exposure to college coaches. April 25, SQBA’s Unsigned Hype Basketball Classic will be at Madison High School. College coaches will evaluate players. Registration: $30, limited to first 40 boys and 20 girls. Register: http://www.sqba.org; by mail: SQBA 362 Twymans Mill Rd., Madison. Deadline: April 19. Call (540) 222-9346 or (540) 718-0190.

VACCINATION CLINIC
Orange County Animal Shelter’s semi-annual rabies and distemper vaccination clinic April 19, 1 to 3 p.m., Unionville Elementary parking lot. Rabies: $8.50, or rabies plus distemper: $21. Dogs must be on leash/ crated at all times; cats must be on harness/ in appropriate carrier. For three-year rabies vaccination, please bring your current certificate. Contact (540) 672-1124.

NAACP MEETING
The regular membership meeting of the Orange County Branch NAACP will be held April 20 at 6 p.m. at the Sedwick Building Community Room. Mrs. Ruth Lewis Smith is president.

PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE
Orange Cooperative Preschool will have an open house April 21-23. Families can come see classrooms, meet staff and speak with other families of the school.  Call (540) 672-7877 for information.

PANCAKE SUPPER FUNDRAISER
Support Orange Boy Scout Troop 14 by attending a pancake supper April 21, at Orange Elementary School, 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Adults: $5, $3 for children 10 years and under. Menu: pancakes, sausage, bacon, OJ, milk, coffee. Fixings included. Troop 14 holds fundraisers to support scout activities. For information, contact Sherry Norton-Williams: , (703) 310-6133.

RRRC RETREAT
In lieu of its regularly scheduled April meeting, members and staff can participate in the annual RRRC Board/Staff retreat, April 22 at 10 a.m. at the Inn at Vint Hill, 4200 Aiken Drive, Warrenton, for the purpose of discussing goals and objectives, and reviewing the commission’s annual work plan.

YOUNG AT HEART CLUB
April 22, The Arts Center in Orange. The Young at Heart Club meets every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 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; Hank Lewis (540) 972-0359 or Paul Tobin at (540) 972-6256.

ART EXHIBIT OPENING
An opening reception for “America the Beautiful,“ pastel landscapes by Daivd Earl Miller will be April 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Arts Center in Orange. The exhibit will run April 23 through May 31 at the Arts Center. For information, call (540) 672-7311, or visit http://www.artscenterorange.org. 

R.A.D. CLASS
Orange County Sheriff’s Office will offer Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes, a combination of education and defensive techniques, for women ages 16 and older Thursdays, April 23, April 30 and May 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Locust Grove Middle School gym. For information or to register, please call Bob Canosa, (540) 661-5501 ext. 7222, or Cassy Ridgeway (540) 672-1200.

JUICE BAG TOTES
A juice bag totes workshop for ages nine to adult will be April 23 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Orange Extension Office meeting room. Learn to sew a tote bag. All materials provided. Each person will go home with a tote bag. Fee: $10, scholarship available. Pre-registration required no later than April 21. Limited seating. Contact Terrie Richardson at (540) 661-0471 or

PLANT AND BAKE SALE
The James Madison Museum’s plant and bake sale is April 25, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 26, noon to 5 p.m. in the museum’s Hall of Agriculture and Transportation. Sale includes herbs, flowers, baked goods, vegetables, shrubs, hanging plants, and gifts. Master Gardeners will be present.

ACS FUNDRAISER
The Americare Plus Cares relay team for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life is holding a fundraiser event for the American Cancer Society. Americare Idol will be held April 25 at Not the Same Old Grind in Orange at 7 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for first place in two age groups: eight through 15 years and 16 years and up. Tickets in advance, $5 or at the door, $7. Call (540) 661-0232.

RVFD FIELD OF WHEELS
The Rapidan Volunteer Fire Company Field of Wheels car and crafts festival is April 25 at Belmont Farms Distillery, Mitchells from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family-oriented event with antique vehicles exhibits, crafts, food, games, activities, music, clogging and petting zoo. Call (540) 672-5744 and leave a message, or e-mail . Belmont Farms Distillery address is 13490 Cedar Run Road, Mitchells.

CHORUS REHEARSAL
The Orange Community Chorus will begin rehearsals Sunday, April 26 at Orange Presbyterian Church hall at 7 p.m. Come join us! Contact Al Packard, (540) 672-3322 for more information.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Orange County Historical Society and Orange County African-American Historical Society will host a lecture Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. entitled Paul Jennings: enamoured with freedom, by Montpelier Director of Education Beth Taylor. The lecture will be at the historical society’s research center, 130 Caroline Street in Orange. Refreshments will be served beginning at 7 p.m.; the talk will begin at 7:30 p.m.

SPAY/NEUTER TRANSPORT
The Orange County Humane Society will be having low cost spay/neuter transports to the Shenandoah Valley Spay & Neuter Clinic in Harrisonburg once a month through 2009. Please call the humane society voicemail, (540) 672-0069, to schedule your dog or cat. The next scheduled transport is April 28. All animals must be registered in advance.

DUCT TAPE WORKSHOP
Make a duct tape wallet or purse at a workshop April 30 from 6-9 p.m. at the Orange Extension Office library meeting room. Materials provided, each person will go home with a finished project. For ages nine to adult. Fee: $10, scholarship is available. Preregistration required, must register before April 28. Seating is limited. Contact Terri Richardson, (540) 661-0471, or . 

CHOPIN
The fifth annual “Chopin in Barboursville” introduces Julia Kochiucan, winner of the 2008 National Chopin Piano Competition of Poland, April 30 at 7 p.m. at Barboursville Vineyards. Tickets: $60; black tie optional. Hors d’oeuvres and Barboursville wines. For information, call (540) 832-0071 or visit premiervirginiaproperties,com.

RURITAN BASEBALL TRIP
Brightwood Ruritans will host a trip to see the Washington Nationals play the Baltimore Orioles May 23 at 7 p.m. Transportation via luxury coach, dinner optional. Sign up soon and get the best seats. Must have 50 participants by May 1. Call for details and cost: (540) 948-4026 or (540) 407-0070.
BATTLE OF WILDERNESS ANNIVERSARY
The 145th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of the Wilderness with a program entitled “Uncommon Hardship: Soldier and Civilian in the Wilderness,“ will be May 2-3. Includes programs at the Wilderness Battlefield, Ellwood Manor and the FoWB dinner, program and auction. Contact for additional details.

WALK FOR LIFE
The Pregnancy Centers of Central Virginia annual Walk for Life is May 2. Start at Trinity United Methodist Church with food, music and family fun. Registration at 8:30 a.m. The one and-½-mile walk starts at 9 a.m. To sponsor, stop by the Pregnancy Center at 323 N. Madison Rd. Suite C in the Silk Mill building or call at 661-0099.

BAZAAR AND SALE
The Orange Cooperative Preschool’s second annual spring bazaar and yard sale is May 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the TEAC parking lot. $20 per space. Call (540) 672-7877 for information.

CHOCOLATE LOVERS
Celebrate Orange’s annual “Chicken & Chocolate” dinner/ musical entertainment/silent auction is May 2, 5:30-7 p.m. at OCHS cafeteria. Menu: baked chicken, mashed potatoes, green bean salad, bread, coffee, tea, lemonade, chocolate desserts. Tickets at the Visitors Bureau or at the door: $15/ adults, $10/ students, free/children six and under. Proceeds help fund Picnic in the Park fireworks. To donate items for the silent auction call 672-1794 or 672-3322.

BOOSTERS YARD SALE
A yard sale will be held at Booster Park Pavilion May 2 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ball games are also scheduled the same day-there should be lots of traffic. Tables are $10 each. Table proceeds benefit Orange County Boosters Club. To reserve your space, call Juanita, (540) 672-5488.

D.A.R. MEETING
The Montpelier Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will meet May 7 at 11 a.m. at Stanardsville United Methodist Church. A $15 luncheon reservation check needs to be sent to the chapter treasurer by May 1. The American Heritage Conservation program, “Heirloom Gardening,“ will be presented by Bill Steo.

LOW LIONS PIG ROAST
A community pig roast, sponsored by LOW Lions Club, is scheduled May 9, 4-7 p.m. at the Lions Pavilion in Sweetbriar Park. $15/ adults, $5/ for kids aged five-12. Limited tickets sold at the door. For advance tickets, call Joe, 972-8403 or Will, (434) 960-3316. Proceeds benefit SightFirrst II and community projects.
SCHOLARSHIP DINNER/FUNDRAISER
The Ruth Lewis Smith Scholarship annual dinner and auction fundraiser will be held Saturday, May 9 at 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, Orange. Adult tickets: $15, children and students: $10. Contact Marilyn Williams, Ruth Lewis Smith or NAACP members.