Arts & Entertainment

Two members of the Rockbridge Pickleball Club won medals at the Virginia Commonwealth Games held July 14-16 at Liberty University. ABOVE LEFT, Tony Subrizi (left) and Joel Roy display their silver medals in the men’s doubles skill: 3.5 and under for the 50-59 age group. ABOVE RIGHT, Roy (center) won a gold medal in the men’s singles skill: 3.0 and under for the 50-and-over age group. (photos courtesy of Patti Subrizi)

The Relay For Life American Cancer fundraiser is making its return to the Rockbridge area for the first time since 2019.

Eight area teenagers enjoyed a week of CyberCamp in July at Mountain Gateway Community College, where they were introduced to cybersecurity principles, online safety, cyber ethics, virtual machines, cyber threats, and securing various operating systems, such as Linux and Windows. The camp concluded with a competition that challenged the students to secure both a Linux and Windows environment. This is the first year that MGCC has hosted the camp, created by the Air & Space Forces Association. Tamra Lipscomb and Alex Morrow, program head and instructor, respectively, with the MGCC Information Systems Technology program, served as instructors. Pictured are (seated, from left) James Conner, Alleghany County High School; Evan Raynor and Thomas Jones, Rockbridge County High School; (standing) Lipscomb; Sahasra Kandregula, RCHS; Alex Kent, RCHS; Gavin Welsh, ACHS; Victoria Webb, James River High School; and Morrow. Not pictured was Alexander Miller, RCHS. MGCC offers an associate degree in information systems technology and career study certificates in cybersecurity, as well as a pathway to earning a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity through Old Dominion University.

Kendal Launches Talk Series

Goshen is the place to go for a beach party Saturday, Aug. 12, from 1 to 7 p.m. at the steel bridge across from the first aid field.

Resilient Farm Systems

Wednesday,Aug. 9

The Lexington Garden Club came to Mayflower on Main on July 25 to engage with the residents in making floral arrangements. Flowers were donated by M and M Flower Farm. The Mayflower provided glass containers and the residents each had a garden club member work with them to create an arrangement. Refreshments were served by the garden club afterwards. Pictured with some of the residents are club members Marilyn Pearson, Zora Jenkins, Carolyn Elliott and Becky Patton. The Lexington Garden Club has upcoming meetings at several historic and business locations. Anyone interested in learning about these events, which are open to the public, can get in touch with the publicity chairman, Becky Patton, at [email protected].

“Hercules” is a big, strong and dominate boy. He is approximately 85 pounds and 2 to 3 years old. Hercules needs to be an only dog, he is very strong and needs a big strong owner to give him some guidance and obedience. Could that be you? Visit him at the Rockbridge SPCA.

The Rockbridge Retired Teachers will meet on Monday, Aug. 21, at the Holiday Inn Express on U.S. 11 north of Lexington. The meeting will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a bag lunch at noon.

The Caravan of Fools, a Rockbridge-based acoustic band, will take to the Boxerwood stage this Friday, Aug. 11. Holly Ostby and Ben Worth began the path towards the band during the Covid winter of 2020, playing music on the screened in porch with masks, space heaters and hand warmers. Burr Datz joined in the spring of 2021 and the band was formed. Lee Sauder then sat in on a gig, the chemistry was there, and the Fools became a quartet. With John Prine songs a frequent staple of their playing, what better way to name the band than with a tribute to Prine and a song from his last album. The Fools perform songs from John Prine and Keb’ Mo’ to Elvis Costello, Janis Joplin, The Dead and The Band. Admission is free for Boxerwood members, $5 per person for nonmembers. Kids under 18 and parking are free. Pass-the-hat proceeds go to the musicians. The gate opens at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking, and music begins at 6:30.

Karyn Gardner, (540) 228-2176, (540) 655-3646 [email protected]

It’s summer! It’s vacation time! And when you go, remember to take along a copy of your News-Gazette and get a photo of you and your family with it in front of some great vacation spot Once you have the photo, you can email it to editor@thenewsgazette. com or mail it to us at P.O. Box 1153, Lexington, VA 24450.

Local NAACP Fundraiser Aug. 19

Mt. Olivet Bazaar This Saturday

A member of Congressman Ben Cline’s staff will hold mobile office hours at the Rockbridge County Administrative Offices, 150 S. Main St., Lexington, on Thursday, Aug. 17, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

A large crowd turned out for a Back 2 School Bash at Glen Maury Park on Sunday that was hosted by Calvary Brethren Church of Buena Vista. Free school supplies were available, along with pizza, snacks, drinks and sno-cones. There were also drawings for gift baskets for teachers, and the new Buena Vista police chief, Wayne F. Handley, and his wife Megan Zwisohn (seen in photo at right) were introduced to those attending. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)

Deborah Potter McCormick, 463-7652

A new playground that was installed at Glen Maury Park in Buena Vista this spring is proving to be a big hit with area children. The playground is on the river side of the Oyler skating rink/pavilion, near the entrance to the park. The $102,000 project was funded with a $30,000 Carilion Clinic community health and outreach grant and $72,000 from the sale of The Vista Links golf course. A fence is to be installed that will encircle the playground. Among the fundraisers for this are a tribute concert for longtime sound engineer Bobby Smith that was held at the park July 30 and the recent Guns ‘N Hoses softball game between the Buena Vista fire and police departments. (Stephanie Mikels Blevins photos)

Esther Pennington, 291-2629

Rachel Clark, (630)