Articles

The Rockbridge Community Table has closed for two weeks so the board can strategically plan for the upcoming fall and winter seasons at TCT.

“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.

Tuition Rate Decision Delayed Since May Due to Lack of State Budget

Registration is now open for the Rockbridge Youth Chorale 2023-2024 season, which begins on Tuesday, Aug. 22, in the Grace Episcopal Church choir room at 123 Washington St., Lexington.

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)

Rockbridge Regional Library in Lexington will host author Melanie Forde on Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 3 p.m. for a presentation about her process to become a published novelist, a summary of her books, and a reading. A book signing will follow.

Esther Pennington, 291-2629

Rachel Clark, (630)

Young artist and recent Southern Virginia University graduate Jonah Brown is showing his powerful portraits and paintings at Nelson Gallery again, for the month of August. Brown is from Salt Lake City, Utah, but was raised in Rock Hill, S.C. His interest in art and painting goes way back, to grade school, then high school when he was inspired by the art (at the time featured on YouTube videos) of an Austrian artist named Voka. This is the second time his large portraits have graced the Nelson Gallery walls. The theme underlying all the paintings in his current show is music, in all its forms: folk, rock, hip hop, but especially expressed in the meaning implied by the words or melodies of the songs or lifestyle of each musician.

Carolyn Terrell, (540) 649-3828/[email protected] Happy birthday wishes are being sent to Terry Stump, Behr Lovelace, Jeffery Groah, Terry Groah, Benjamin Fields and Rhonda Fitzgerald. My uncle, Terry Brooks, will be celebrating his 90th birthday on Aug. 19. The family would like to do a card shower for him. His address is 115 Baynes Road, Waynesboro, VA 22980.

Mountain Gateway Community College’s division of Workforce Solutions and Community Education is offering several training courses for in-demand careers in health care this fall. There is limited space available.

Congressman Ben Cline has been visiting local restaurants to meet with constituents in a series of town hall events called “Coffee with your Congressman.” While visiting The Pink Cadillac in Natural Bridge on July 31, Cline talked about the “four functions of government,” which he believes are spending, oversight, infrastructure, and transportation. In addition to answering questions, Cline touched on various topics including the Farm Bill, veterans’ rights and health care, and the maintenance of Interstate 81. Cline’s next town hall meeting will be held in Lexington today, Wednesday, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Salerno Wood Fired Pizza and Taphouse.