Community events

EOCLL SIGN-UPS
East Orange County Little League will hold baseball and softball sign-ups for boys and girls ages 5-16. Sign-ups will be held: Jan. 27 at Wilderness Library 6-8 p.m.; Feb. 6 at the East Orange Ruritan Building 9-11 a.m. and Feb. 11 at Wilderness Library 6-8 p.m. Fees are $25 for t-ball; $45 for one child for baseball or softball, $80 for two children and $110 for three or more. No late sign-ups. Call John Rabak 540-399-9844, Heather Coleman 854-5170 or Diane Jobe 540-406-0237 for more information. Anyone interested in umpiring is encouraged to call Joshua Burruss at 672-0330.

CANTOR REP IN ORANGE
A staff representative from Congressman Eric Cantor’s Congressional office will be available to discuss constituent concerns Wednesday, Jan. 27 from 4-5 p.m. in the Gordon Building meeting room in Orange. Call 540-825-8960 (Culpeper) or 1-800-438-3793 or visit http://cantor.house.gov.

GRAHAM CEMETARY ASSOC. MEETING
The annual meeting of the Graham Cemetery Association, Inc. will be held in the Orange County Library Conference Room in the Sedwick Building Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.

WELLNESS SYMPOSIUM
A wellness symposium will be held Thursday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Village at Gordon House. The event is free and open to the public with health care vendors, speakers throughout the day, door prizes and give-aways. Free blood pressure and glucose checks.

G’VILLE LITTLE LEAGUE SIGNUPS
Gordonsville Little League will be holding Spring 2010 baseball, softball, and T-ball registration Saturday, Jan. 30, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Gordonsville field and Sundays, Feb. 7 and 14 from 1-3 p.m. at the Hornet Sports Center at OCHS. 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.  New league boundaries correspond with the county’s middle school boundaries. Students who attend Prospect Heights Middle School fall within Gordonsville’s region. Please call Robin Davies at 661-0380 if you have any questions.

HAITI RELIEF
The Orange Moose Lodge will hold a “poor man’s” dinner Saturday, Jan. 30 at the lodge at 16706 Mountain Track Road. The menu includes cabbage, stewed tomatoes, brown beans, cornbread and coffee or tee for $5. Funds benefit Haiti relief.

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.

HARLEM SUPERSTARS BENEFIT
The Harlem Superstars are coming to Orange for a “globetrotters” style event Sunday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m. at the Orange County High School Field House. The Superstars will play against Orange County school teachers and members of the O.C. Sheriff’s Office. The halftime show will include audience participation and fun for the entire family.  Advance tickets are $7 and $8 at the door. Tickets are available at the Orange Extension Office in the Sedwick Building, 146 North Madison Road. All proceeds benefit Orange County 4-H TACO (Therapeutic Adventure Camp of Orange), a 30-year tradition serving community children with disabilities.  For more information call Orange County 4-H Program Coordinator Ashley Elgin at the Extension Office, 672-1361, Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

OVFC MEMORIAL SERVICE
The Orange Volunteer Fire Company will hold a memorial service for charter member Walker “Butch” P. Carpenter Jr. Jan. 31 at 3 p.m. at Orange Baptist Church. A fellowship time will be held at the American Legion Hall following the service. Carpenter was a charter member of the Orange Junior Fire Department and was employed with the Fredericksburg Fire Department. He retired as a lieutenant with the Washington D.C. Fire Department. For more information, call Elliott Fox at 672-3309.

BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN
Battlefield Back Country Horseman (BBCH) is holding an informational membership meeting Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the community room at the Wilderness Library. The goal of BBCH is to work with government agencies, land managers, and public officials to promote recreational livestock use on public lands. The main focus at this time is to re-establish equestrian trails in the Wilderness Battlefield. The group is circulating an online petition for citizens who would like to see equestrian trails opened in our local National Military Parks, as is common in the Manassas, Gettysburg, and Petersburg National Military Parks. The petition can be accessed at http://www.petitiononline.com:80/BBCHpet/petition.html.

FREE TAX HELP
AARP, in conjunction with the IRS and with the assistance of the Virginia Cooperative Extension, is sponsoring free tax preparation for taxpayers with low and middle incomes and senior citizens. All returns, prepared by trained and certified counselors, will be filed on-site electronically. Tax sites will be open Feb. 3 through April 15. The tax site in Orange is in the Sedwick Building, across from McDonald’s and is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call 672-1361 for an appointment. The tax site at Lake of the Woods (in the Holcomb Bldg, just inside the LOW main gate) is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 972-0350 for an appointment.

BOOSTERS SIGN-UPS
Orange County Boosters Club will hold baseball and softball sign-ups from 6-7:30 p.m. 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.

YOUNG AT HEART CLUB
Join the Young at Heart Club Feb. 3 for a book sale and games. The club meets every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the East Orange Ruritan Building at the intersection of Route 522 and 20. The club is open to senior adults and provides a social outlet including games, guest speakers, luncheons and other entertainment.  For more information contact Alice Lumsden 672-2841.

FREE CAREGIVER TRAINING
If you are or have been a caregiver, or are a caring individual who’s a good listener, then please consider being trained as a leader for a caregiver support group. The Alzheimer’s Association of Central and Western Virginia and Aging Together are hosting this free one-day training on Thursday, Feb. 4, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Madison County Department of Social Services.  Facilitators are especially needed in Madison and Rappahannock counties. For only 2-4 hours per month you can help and meet wonderful people in the process. For more information or an application for the training, call 829-6405 or email . 

PARENTING CLASSES
The Parenting Cooperative Program-a non-profit “community partner” with Piedmont United Way, Healthy Culpeper, and Culpeper Human Services-offers parents and caregivers “Positive Parenting” - research-based methods and techniques, proven to stimulate healthy growth and development in youth, ages 4-12. Class Location: Reformation Lutheran Church, Culpeper. Dates: Feb. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, & 20 - Thurs: 6-8pm and Sat.: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Cost: $90. For information and to register, call: 540/522-6112, or email:

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 held 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.

FORGOTTEN PATRIOTS
The James Madison Museum announces “Forgotten Patriots,“ a special lecture and exhibit Sunday, Feb. 7 focusing on finding forgotten patriots of the Revolutionary War. Genealogist Hollis Gentry will speak at 3:15 p.m. at the museum at 129 Caroline Street in Orange. The exhibit also features bronze sculptures for the Black Revolutionary War Patriots Foundation, a framed commemorative coin and stamp set created by the U.S. Mint, reenactors and a fife and drum corps. For more information, contact the museum at 672-1776.

AARP MEETING
The Orange Chapter 5373 of AARP will meet Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. at the Rescue Squad Building on Route 20. The speaker will be Jerry Bledsoe, chairman of the Orange County School Board. The community service project for February is school supplies for your favorite elementary school. If the schools are closed for weather, we will not meet. AARP is open to anyone 50 years or older and guests are always welcome.  For more information, call Dottie Wampler, 672-4335.

RRCSB-AAA MEETING
The Rappahannock-Rapidan Community Services Board and Area Agency on Aging (RRCSB-AAA) will hold its regularly scheduled Board Meeting Tuesday, Feb. 9 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 540-825-3100, ext. 3146 or TTY 540-825-7391.

UDC MEETING
The 13th Virginia Regiment Chapter UDC will hold its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. at Dogwood Village of Orange. For more information, call Beverly Tucker at 832-3421.

VFW POST 2217
The Orange VFW Post 2217 regular meeting will be Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. at the post home on Brick Church Road. All members are encouraged to attend.

DMGC CONSERVATION MEETING
The Dolley Madison Garden Club is hosting its annual conservation meeting Feb. 11. The meeting will be held at Orange Presbyterian Church, 162 West Main Street, Orange, in the fellowship hall.  The guest speaker is Jean Kane, research chemist, master gardener, international speaker and columnist.  Kane will present a program about invasive, non-native plant species that affect our landscape in central Virginia.  The meeting is open to the public, free of charge.  Refreshments will be served.  For more information call Serena Wiley 672-1675.

CELEBRATE ORANGE SUPPER
Celebrate Orange will hold a full spaghetti supper Friday, Feb. 12 from 5-7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Trinity United Methodist Church, 143 W. Main Street, Orange.  Musical entertainment will be provided by the Kenwood Players and others.  Donations will be accepted and will be used for fireworks for the Celebrate Orange Picnic in the Park July 5.  Please call 672-1794 for information.

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 went on sale Jan 1. $100 per couple. Call Susie Swope 672-0410 to reserve tickets early. 

RURITAN EVENTS
The East Orange Ruritan Club will host an “All You Can Eat” Pancake Breakfast Saturday, Feb. 13 from 7 to 11 a.m. Bring your sweethearts for a pre-Valentines day treat! The first basket bingo of the year will be Saturday, Feb. 20 with all proceeds going toward the scholarship fund. The club will celebrate its 70th anniversary of community service March 8. If you are interested in becoming a member, contact Perry Marshman at 854-5026.

TELLING HISTORY CONTEST
The Orange County African-American Historical Society is hosting the first annual “Telling History Contest,“ open to all students in Orange County, grades 4-12. This year’s theme for the contest asks student to Tell What the Jim Crow Era Was Like in Orange County and/or Virginia.  Entries are due Feb. 16. They can be turned into any Orange County school’s main office. The entry form must be completed and attached to the project. Winners will be announced the following week. Questions may be directed to Dr. Jennifer Curtis, Unionville Elementary School Principal and OCAAHS Board Member, 672-7412.
BLUEGRASS MUSIC
Friday, Feb. 19 from 7-10 p.m., the public is invited to enjoy an evening of bluegrass and gospel music at the clubhouse next to Waugh’s off Route 20. Come for the fun and music or bring your bluegrass instruments and play.  Open to all individuals and groups.  Please call Pete (854-7468) to schedule your group to play. Contributions go to area children groups.

BVFD DANCE
A dance to benefit the Barboursville Volunteer Fire Department will be held Feb. 27 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Music by Spellbound. Advance tickets recommended. $10 per person. Contact 832-0530.

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.

INTERPRETERS NEEDED AT HISTORIC ELLWOOD
Friends of Wilderness Battlefield and Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park will conduct training for new and veteran interpreters of historic Ellwood Manor.  Training for new volunteers will be March 6. Training for all volunteers will be March 22 or March 27.  Contact Carolyn Elstner at 540-373-6240 or .

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM
The Strengthening Families Program is for parents of 10-14 year olds and their children-both parents and children participate. The group’s goals are to build on family’s strengths, encourage appreciation for one another, improve relationships, and decrease the likelihood of family conflict and risky adolescent behaviors. The program is free of charge, child care for younger siblings is offered for free, a $15 gas card, and dinner are all included! The group meets for three hours once a week for seven weeks. Beginning in mid-March, the Strengthening Families Program will meet on the second floor of the Sedwick Building from 5:30-8:30 p.m.  Only 10 families will be selected to participate, so register soon to reserve your space. For more information or to sign-up, call Nora at the Orange County Office on Youth, 661-5457 or send an email to

HABITAT DINNER DANCE
Hold the date for Habitat. The annual big band dinner dance will be Saturday, March 27. Tickets are $45 apiece and available from Liz or Skip Bond at 540-972-9157. Reservation deadline is March 20. Sponsorships available. 

GIRL SCOUT VOLUNTEER
The Orange County Girl Scouts Service Unit seeks a dedicated and energetic volunteer to fill the position of Service Unit Manager. This position requires a dedication to the Girl Scout mission and core values, and to the troops and leaders of Orange County.  Training will be provided.  You may download a complete position description and volunteer application packet below.  Contact Terrie Richardson at 540-661-0471 or for more information or to express your interest.

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, ; Betty J. Carpenter Doyle, (904) 241-7842, ; or Jane Hale (804) 272-4181, .

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.

RVFD BINGO
Rapidan Volunteer Fire Department, located
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, .