Blog Archives
Veterans Day Recognition Concert at Valley Pike Farm Market
Valley Pike Farm Market will host a Veterans Day Recognition Concert featuring Little Walter and the Convictions on Friday, November 11th in the Granary, the Market’s exclusive event venue below the store. Music will take place from 6:30pm – 8:30pm and will highlight many of the band’s favorites along with patriot classics to pay tribute to our Nation’s Heroes.
Admission to the concert will be a $10 cover for the general public and includes one beer or wine of the patron’s choice. A Veteran’s discount will apply for all past and current service members and children ages 12 and under will be free.
The National Veterans Day theme for 2016 is “Courage – Honoring All Who Served” a slogan that as an organization Valley Pike fully supports. “Taking the time to thank and pay tribute to those who have served and currently serve to protect our freedoms is not day that should pass by unnoticed” states Yount.
For information about the Valley Pike Farm Market or the event, visit ValleyPikeFarmMarket.com.
About Valley Pike Farm Market
Located in Weyers Cave, Virginia Valley Pike Farm Market features different products from local producers throughout the Commonwealth. The Market is home to a deli, bulk foods store, sweets shop, the Rumor Mill Coffee Company, and an exclusive event venue.
VMI Founders Day parade, 17-gun salute to stream live
The VMI Corps of Cadets will commemorate Founders Day this Friday with a parade featuring a 17-gun salute executed by the Cadet Battery to honor VMI’s founders and the nation’s veterans.
The anniversary, which marks 177 years since 23 VMI cadets relieved the state militia and converted the state arsenal into the Institute, will also see the dedication of the recently renovated Cormack and Cocke halls at 10 and 11 a.m., respectively.
The parade can be viewed live at www.vmi.edu/livestream and on this page beginning at 3:30 p.m., and the video will remain available following the completion of the parade.
Parade Live Stream
Shenandoah Conservatory celebrates world-renowned composer John Corigliano
Shenandoah Conservatory celebrates Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Corigliano with two concerts in this year’s Pulitzer Prize Composer Festival on Nov. 11 and 12. The first concert begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, at Bright Box Theater (15 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, Virginia) and features Shenandoah Conservatory’s in-house new music group EDGE Ensemble. The second concert begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, in Armstrong Concert Hall on the campus of Shenandoah University and features Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Shenandoah Chorus.
A world-renowned American composer, John Corigliano has created one of the richest, most unusual, and most widely celebrated bodies of work of any composer over the last forty years, winning him the Pulitzer Prize, Grawemeyer Award, five Grammy Awards, and an Academy Award. During his time at Shenandoah Conservatory, the celebrated composer will conduct masterclasses for composition students, coach instrumental students and ensembles in advance of their performances, and participate in Q&A’s and meet-the-artist receptions.
“I’m simply thrilled that Shenandoah Conservatory students will have this opportunity to dig into John Corigliano’s music and do some work alongside him,” said Shenandoah Conservatory Dean Michael Stepniak, Ed.D. “He is virtually without equal among composers alive today. I’m always struck how he has been able to shape music which was simultaneously graceful and grounded in extraordinary form. John Corigliano’s music speaks with extraordinary power.”
Friday’s concert features three works by Corigliano: “Mr. Tambourine Man,” for amplified soprano and chamber group, “Stomp” for solo violin, and “Soliloquy” for clarinet and string quartet. The recipient of the fourth annual William Averitt Prize for Excellence in Composition is also to be announced Friday evening. Saturday’s concert features four works for large ensembles: “Fern Hill” for chorus and chamber orchestra, “Gazebo Dances” for orchestra, “Chiaroscuro” for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart, and “Tarantella” from Symphony No. 1 for wind ensemble.
“John Corigliano is no less than a living legend, and the body of work he has created in the last fifty years delineates the limits of what is possible in both live concert music, and music for film,” said Director of Composition and Coordinator of New Music Jonathan Newman, M.M. “Our students, now exposed to his music, and soon to himself as a person, will be rewarded for their hard work with a unique and enriching experience.”
Tickets for each performance are $15 general admission, $13 senior citizens and $5 for military, students, and youth. Tickets and information are available at the Shenandoah Conservatory Box Office, (540) 665-4569, located in the lobby of Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre and online at conservatoryperforms.org.
For a full calendar of events at Shenandoah Conservatory, visit conservatoryperforms.org or on Facebook under Shenandoah Conservatory.
Mary Baldwin Theatre Presents: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
F-U-N, fun. Definition: seeing the Mary Baldwin Theatre production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This 2005 Tony Award winning musical was conceived by Rebecca Feldman, written by Rachel Sheinkin with music and lyrics by William Finn as well as additional material by Jay Reiss. Directed by alumna Michelle Laurence, performances run Nov. 11-12, 16-19 at 7:30pm and Nov. 13, 20 at 2:00pm. Some viewer discretion is advised due to adult language.
Set at the titular 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee this musical comedy follows six elementary children as they compete for the chance to become a champion. The speller who wins this competition will go on to the long-dreamed-of next level in Washington, D.C. Over the course of the Bee each young speller grapples with their own skill, their families’ expectations, and what it really means to be a winner. Watch as anything can happen in this delightfully funny production when audience volunteers and improvisation make every performance truly unique.
Jesi Dunnivan and Christia Moore return to the Mary Baldwin stage as the organizers of this year’s Spelling Bee, Vice Principal Douglas Panch and Ms. Rona Peretti, respectively. The youngest competitor, Logainne SchwartzandGrubenniere is played by Myra Diehl. Alex Carther plays the timid, yet talented Olive Ostrovsky. The practically perfect Marcy Park is portrayed by newcomer, Mikayla Mattocks. Also new to the Mary Baldwin stage are Logan Davenport, Emil Ljubovic, Clay Renner and Bryan Pugh. Davenport portrays the imaginative Leaf Coneybear while Ljubovic takes on the role of last year’s Spelling Bee winner, Chip Tolentino. Renner plays the part of the slightest bit bizarre William Barfée and Pugh joins the adult characters as comfort counselor Mitch Mahoney. Completing the cast are Rachel Jensen, understudy for Logainne and Olive, and Vivian Ruiz, understudy for Marcy.
All shows will run in Fletcher Collins Theatre in Murphy Deming Fine Arts Center at Mary Baldwin University. Tickets are available by calling 540-887-7189 Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm, or online at www.marybaldwin.edu/arts/theatre. Single show tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for students, MBU faculty, and seniors.
Book, documentary video on history of Woodrow Wilson Hospital
For the past many months, Nancy Sorrells and Connie Doebele have poured through historical documents and pictures, and interviewed numerous individuals for a new book and documentary video.
On November 11 at 2:00 pm, in the Harold E. Watson Auditorium at the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, they will officially release the fruits of their labor, entitled “Hope Reborn of War,” the story of a World War II military hospital, a world famous rehabilitation center, and a unique educational community in Fishersville, VA.
At the November 11 event, which is open to the public, community members will see Doebele’s documentary video for the first time and hear highlights from the new book by Sorrells. The WWRC Foundation will host a reception immediately following the presentation.
This project was supported by a generous grant from the Carroll and Grace “Patsy” Guynn Memorial Fund, one of several donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, to the Augusta County Historical Society. The collaboration of Sorrells and Doebele brought together their respective strengths as story tellers. Sorrells is well known and respected as a local historian and author. Doebele, a former C-SPAN Executive Producer and Staunton resident, presently documents personal stories nationwide for families through video.
The catalyst for this effort was the personal ties of the Guynn family to the Woodrow Wilson medical and training-educational complex, known affectionately then as “The Post” because of its WWII military origins, and their desire to capture the stories of veterans, doctors, nurses, patients, educators and others before that remarkable history is lost. Carroll and Patsy Guynn, career educators, lived on The Post with their three sons, Jack, Jimmy and Doug.
The Guynn brothers, who penned the Foreword to Sorrells’ book, noted that “The Post was and is so much more than a name or a place. It represents a rich and uniquely interwoven story about local, state, and national history and a singular community with a shared connection of struggles and blessings—and about hope reborn of the horrors of war and sacrifice that few of us can begin to fathom.”
After the Army closed the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Hospital at the end of World War II, representatives from Virginia’s Department of Education and Augusta County School Board submitted a plan for the use of the surplus hospital buildings to the War Assets Administration. This led to the creation of a unique campus that includes what is now known as the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, Wilson Memorial High School, and Valley Career and Technical Center.
The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge is one of the largest philanthropic organizations in our region. As it prepares to enter its 25th year of service to the community, the Foundation has grown to hold over $20 million in assets, from which it distributes over $1 million annually to the community through grants, scholarships, and awards.
Shenandoah Valley Art Center schedule for November 2016
The Shenandoah Valley Art Center, during the month of November, is exhibiting in the Cabell/Arehart Gallery the artwork of the Beverley Street Studio School. The exhibit demonstrates the diverse activities of the School, founded in January 1992.
It began with an educational mission when a group of artists recognized the potential of an art school offering a program for the study of still-life, figure, landscape, and art appreciation classes and workshops. Initially begun upstairs in the historic Crowle Building, the BSSS started an invitational gallery and biweekly model sessions for a small fee. Travel programs began for students to study in the Southwestern USA, Italy, and France.
In 1998, when street-level space became available, the BSSS members formed a cooperative and opened Beverly Street Galleries, composed of CoART Gallery and the School Gallery. In this exhibition, the School presents works by national and international faculty and students, as well as participants in other programs including travel study programs and model sessions. The school is currently operating out of the Stonewall Jackson School on Beverly Street in Staunton.
In the SVAC Members’ Gallery, member artists will interpret the theme of “Figures” with works selected by the artists from their preferred medium.
An opening will be held Saturday, November 5, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and the public is encouraged to come and meet the artists.
Want to study art? Come learn the art of making Ceramic Christmas Ornaments for package or tree decorations. This adult workshop will teach you simple hand-building and glazing techniques to make holiday relevant shapes. Taught by Lynn Hilton Conyers on Tuesdays, November 8 and 15, 6 – 8 p.m. in the SVAC Pottery Studio with all supplies included.
This two day class is a great introduction to the ancient art of ceramics! ($100) Don’t miss the Easy “One Brush” Watercolor Class taught by Joe Philips on Thursday, November 10, 1-4 p.m. at SVAC. Joe will work with everyone at all skill levels. Experience the “no secrets”, “easy to master” approach to watercolor painting. You will need only your palette, paints and brushes. Mats and paper are provided. ($55) Metalsmith, Karen Friedlander, presents Torch Fired Enamels on Thursday, November 17, 1-4 p.m. at SVAC. You will be painting with fire! Fusing enamels onto metal with a torch is an affordable and fun technique for students of entry level. All supplies included. Class size limited to 6 students!($55)
Are you a collector of Santa Clauses? The Felted Woodland Santa Workshop, taught by Karen Shapcott on Wednesday, November 30, 1-3p.m. at SVAC with supplies included, will teach you the art of wool felted sculptures. ($30) For the young artist, Shenandoah Valley Art Center offers, the ever popular Saturday Art for Kids, presenting a creative art experience for young artists. Designed as a program that expands upon art offered in school or as an art experience for the home schooled, the classes are taught by artists who are amazing with kids. All supplies and snacks included for children ages 6 – 10. Preregistration required. (November 5, 12, & 19, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.,$15 per class).
Looking for the unique and creative holiday gift? SVAC opens its new building at 416 W. Main Street for the 416 Holiday Market. Formatted like a farmer’s market, each artist will fill a space with their handcrafted artwork. This will be a fun and festive event to kick off holiday shopping. The first market will be November 3, 6-8 p.m., November 4 and 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to be followed by a second market on December 8, 6-8 p.m., December 9 and 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Open studio opportunities in the Virginia Ross Education Studio are available to printmakers and ceramic artists. Access to top of the line clay and printmaking equipment and space to work will be furnished for $60 per quarter. Apply on line at www.SVACart.com.
The art center is a retail alliance partner with the Artisan Center of Virginia. In the SVAC Gift Shop you can find the perfect creative gift in fiber, jewelry, wood, glass, pottery, and more by juried artisans from Virginia and SVAC member artists.
The Shenandoah Valley Art Center is located in downtown Waynesboro at 122 S. Wayne Avenue. Galleries are open to the public 10:00a.m. – 4:00p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call (540) 949-7662 or visit www.svacart.com.
Shenandoah Valley artisan expert to speak at Augusta County Historical Society meeting
Jeff Evans, nationally known expert in 18th & 19th century furniture and domestic arts, will describe the role of early Shenandoah Valley craftsmen in building the area’s rich art and crafts culture in a presentation at the Augusta County Historical Society’s annual fall meeting 3 p.m. Sunday, November 6.
The program, which will follow a brief ACHS business meeting, is free and open to the public. The event will be held at the Augusta County Government Center. Refreshments will be offered after the program.
Evans is President, Principal Auctioneer and Specialist at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. He has served on the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society board for 15 years and has published numerous articles, and co-authored a book on Rockingham County pottery.
In his presentation, Evans will include new scholarship and research focusing on 19th century cabinetmakers and potters.
Evans is a nationally recognized expert in early American glass and 18th and 19th century Shenandoah Valley furniture and decorative arts. He has lectured at Colonial Williamsburg, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winterthur Museum and Corning Museum of Glass. He has also provided curatorial guidance at many major institutions.
The ACHS was founded in 1964 to study, collect, preserve, publish, educate about, and promote the history of Augusta County and its communities. More information is available online at www.augustacountyhs.org.
Roanoke set to host first ever Virginia Craft Spirits Showcase
Sip and savor Virginia spirits at the first-ever 100% made-in-Virginia distilled spirits festival, which will be the largest consumer event for in-state distillers on the East Coast, all under one roof.
Patrons of the Virginia Craft Spirits Showcase will meet Master Distillers from more than 20 Virginia distilleries, sample unique cocktails, and get new recipes. All in a fun atmosphere with live music, a food truck from Martins Downtown Bar & Grill, additional food vendors, and a sampling of some of the best Virginia craft beers. Live music provided by My Radio Band. Plus, at the end of the Showcase there will be an interactive Battle of the Bartenders Competition to determine the best Virginia cocktail crafted by regional mixologists!
“We are thrilled to partner with the Virginia Distillers Association (VDA) to bring this exciting new event to Roanoke,” says LeisureMedia360 President Steve Beyer. So far 22 of Virginia’s 42 distilleries have already signed up to participate in this year’s Showcase, and it is expected that even more will come on board as the Showcase grows for years to come. Gareth Moore, VDA President and CEO of Virginia Distillery Company adds in, “With more than half of all Virginia distilleries gathered together in one location, the Virginia Craft Spirits Showcase will be the largest event of its kind on the East Coast!”
Ticket Options
The VIP Experience (Opens at 3PM) A VIP pass gets you 10 tasting tickets plus admission to a hands-on Whiskey OR Moonshine class and tasting taught by Virginia distillers from 3-4pm. Sit, sip, relax and learn from Virginia’s distilled spirit experts about the history of the drink. The VIP pass also includes VIP Lounge Access, which will be catered by Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill for the entire event. In addition, the VIP pass will grant you early access to the grand tasting floor, before general admission! Be the first in line for drinks and tastes from 22 Virginia distilleries! Souvenir glass for drinks and tastings also included. PLUS – your VIP ticket enters you into a drawing for a chance to win a pair of Free Tickets to see Bob Dylan perform live next door immediately following the Virginia Craft Spirits Showcase!
VIP Experience Tickets: $59.75 / VIP Experience Designated Driver: $25
General Admission (Opens at 4PM) General Admission passes get you 10 tasting tickets for the grand tasting floor, allowing you to come and enjoy great drinks, great tastes, fantastic music and a Battle of the Bartenders Competition you won’t forget! See why Virginia’s distilleries have some of the best spirits in the country! Souvenir glass for drinks and tastings also included.
General Admission Tickets: $29.75 / General Admission Designated Driver: $15
Veterans Day at Fox Hill
Veteran’s Day Fox Hill B&B Suites is appreciative of our veterans for their service to our country and we are proud to be a participant in this year’s B&Bs for Vets program.
Several hundred innkeepers in the United States and Canada will open their doors over Veteran’s Day with complimentary stays to say “thank you” to those who are presently serving or served in the past to protect our nations through the B&Bs for Vets program.
Ruby’s Arcade hosts Bar Games for the ‘Burg
Ruby’s Arcade is rallying downtown businesses and the community for a night of friendly competition to support Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance.
On November 1st, downtown businesses will compete against each other in four different tournaments at Ruby’s Arcade – duckpin bowling, ping pong, 9-Ball, and foosball – all in one night. Some of the teams participating include Capital Ale House, Matchbox Realty, Shenandoah Bicycle Company, Ruby’s Arcade, Clementine, and James Mchone Jewelry. Spectators will have the opportunity to watch as business owners and downtown entrepreneurs, along with their staff, play for a worthy cause.
The games will begin at 7pm. The team with the most points wins the title of “Master of the Bar Games” and a trophy that will be displayed in their business.
Bar Games for the ‘Burg is the brainchild of Chris Howdyshell, Arcade Manager at Ruby’s Arcade. “I wanted to think outside of the box and design an event that would allow downtown businesses to come together and have some fun while giving back,” says Howdyshell. “It’s an opportunity for us to say thanks to Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance for all they do.”
Howdyshell created the event to support Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance’s Back the Burg campaign, a three-month campaign dedicated to raising friends and funds for the ongoing revitalization of downtown Harrisonburg. HDR hopes to raise $15,000 by December 31st. Proceeds from the event will go towards meeting this goal.
There is still space for a few more teams to participate. The entry fee is $20 per team. Register a team of two by emailing Chris Howdyshell at chrishowdyshell@gmail.com.
For more information, please visit www.downtownharrisonburg.org or call 540-432-8922.
Veterans Day Recognition Concert at Valley Pike Farm Market
Valley Pike Farm Market will host a Veterans Day Recognition Concert featuring Little Walter and the Convictions on Friday, November 11th in the Granary, the Market’s exclusive event venue below the store. Music will take place from 6:30pm – 8:30pm and will highlight many of the band’s favorites along with patriot classics to pay tribute to our Nation’s Heroes.
Admission to the concert will be a $10 cover for the general public and includes one beer or wine of the patron’s choice. A Veteran’s discount will apply for all past and current service members and children ages 12 and under will be free.
The National Veterans Day theme for 2016 is “Courage – Honoring All Who Served” a slogan that as an organization Valley Pike fully supports. “Taking the time to thank and pay tribute to those who have served and currently serve to protect our freedoms is not day that should pass by unnoticed” states Yount.
For information about the Valley Pike Farm Market or the event, visit ValleyPikeFarmMarket.com.
About Valley Pike Farm Market
Located in Weyers Cave, Virginia Valley Pike Farm Market features different products from local producers throughout the Commonwealth. The Market is home to a deli, bulk foods store, sweets shop, the Rumor Mill Coffee Company, and an exclusive event venue.
VMI Founders Day parade, 17-gun salute to stream live
The VMI Corps of Cadets will commemorate Founders Day this Friday with a parade featuring a 17-gun salute executed by the Cadet Battery to honor VMI’s founders and the nation’s veterans.
The anniversary, which marks 177 years since 23 VMI cadets relieved the state militia and converted the state arsenal into the Institute, will also see the dedication of the recently renovated Cormack and Cocke halls at 10 and 11 a.m., respectively.
The parade can be viewed live at www.vmi.edu/livestream and on this page beginning at 3:30 p.m., and the video will remain available following the completion of the parade.
Parade Live Stream
Shenandoah Conservatory celebrates world-renowned composer John Corigliano
Shenandoah Conservatory celebrates Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Corigliano with two concerts in this year’s Pulitzer Prize Composer Festival on Nov. 11 and 12. The first concert begins at 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 11, at Bright Box Theater (15 North Loudoun Street, Winchester, Virginia) and features Shenandoah Conservatory’s in-house new music group EDGE Ensemble. The second concert begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, in Armstrong Concert Hall on the campus of Shenandoah University and features Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and Shenandoah Chorus.
A world-renowned American composer, John Corigliano has created one of the richest, most unusual, and most widely celebrated bodies of work of any composer over the last forty years, winning him the Pulitzer Prize, Grawemeyer Award, five Grammy Awards, and an Academy Award. During his time at Shenandoah Conservatory, the celebrated composer will conduct masterclasses for composition students, coach instrumental students and ensembles in advance of their performances, and participate in Q&A’s and meet-the-artist receptions.
“I’m simply thrilled that Shenandoah Conservatory students will have this opportunity to dig into John Corigliano’s music and do some work alongside him,” said Shenandoah Conservatory Dean Michael Stepniak, Ed.D. “He is virtually without equal among composers alive today. I’m always struck how he has been able to shape music which was simultaneously graceful and grounded in extraordinary form. John Corigliano’s music speaks with extraordinary power.”
Friday’s concert features three works by Corigliano: “Mr. Tambourine Man,” for amplified soprano and chamber group, “Stomp” for solo violin, and “Soliloquy” for clarinet and string quartet. The recipient of the fourth annual William Averitt Prize for Excellence in Composition is also to be announced Friday evening. Saturday’s concert features four works for large ensembles: “Fern Hill” for chorus and chamber orchestra, “Gazebo Dances” for orchestra, “Chiaroscuro” for two pianos tuned a quarter tone apart, and “Tarantella” from Symphony No. 1 for wind ensemble.
“John Corigliano is no less than a living legend, and the body of work he has created in the last fifty years delineates the limits of what is possible in both live concert music, and music for film,” said Director of Composition and Coordinator of New Music Jonathan Newman, M.M. “Our students, now exposed to his music, and soon to himself as a person, will be rewarded for their hard work with a unique and enriching experience.”
Tickets for each performance are $15 general admission, $13 senior citizens and $5 for military, students, and youth. Tickets and information are available at the Shenandoah Conservatory Box Office, (540) 665-4569, located in the lobby of Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre and online at conservatoryperforms.org.
For a full calendar of events at Shenandoah Conservatory, visit conservatoryperforms.org or on Facebook under Shenandoah Conservatory.
Mary Baldwin Theatre Presents: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
F-U-N, fun. Definition: seeing the Mary Baldwin Theatre production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This 2005 Tony Award winning musical was conceived by Rebecca Feldman, written by Rachel Sheinkin with music and lyrics by William Finn as well as additional material by Jay Reiss. Directed by alumna Michelle Laurence, performances run Nov. 11-12, 16-19 at 7:30pm and Nov. 13, 20 at 2:00pm. Some viewer discretion is advised due to adult language.
Set at the titular 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee this musical comedy follows six elementary children as they compete for the chance to become a champion. The speller who wins this competition will go on to the long-dreamed-of next level in Washington, D.C. Over the course of the Bee each young speller grapples with their own skill, their families’ expectations, and what it really means to be a winner. Watch as anything can happen in this delightfully funny production when audience volunteers and improvisation make every performance truly unique.
Jesi Dunnivan and Christia Moore return to the Mary Baldwin stage as the organizers of this year’s Spelling Bee, Vice Principal Douglas Panch and Ms. Rona Peretti, respectively. The youngest competitor, Logainne SchwartzandGrubenniere is played by Myra Diehl. Alex Carther plays the timid, yet talented Olive Ostrovsky. The practically perfect Marcy Park is portrayed by newcomer, Mikayla Mattocks. Also new to the Mary Baldwin stage are Logan Davenport, Emil Ljubovic, Clay Renner and Bryan Pugh. Davenport portrays the imaginative Leaf Coneybear while Ljubovic takes on the role of last year’s Spelling Bee winner, Chip Tolentino. Renner plays the part of the slightest bit bizarre William Barfée and Pugh joins the adult characters as comfort counselor Mitch Mahoney. Completing the cast are Rachel Jensen, understudy for Logainne and Olive, and Vivian Ruiz, understudy for Marcy.
All shows will run in Fletcher Collins Theatre in Murphy Deming Fine Arts Center at Mary Baldwin University. Tickets are available by calling 540-887-7189 Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm, or online at www.marybaldwin.edu/arts/theatre. Single show tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for students, MBU faculty, and seniors.
Book, documentary video on history of Woodrow Wilson Hospital
For the past many months, Nancy Sorrells and Connie Doebele have poured through historical documents and pictures, and interviewed numerous individuals for a new book and documentary video.
On November 11 at 2:00 pm, in the Harold E. Watson Auditorium at the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, they will officially release the fruits of their labor, entitled “Hope Reborn of War,” the story of a World War II military hospital, a world famous rehabilitation center, and a unique educational community in Fishersville, VA.
At the November 11 event, which is open to the public, community members will see Doebele’s documentary video for the first time and hear highlights from the new book by Sorrells. The WWRC Foundation will host a reception immediately following the presentation.
This project was supported by a generous grant from the Carroll and Grace “Patsy” Guynn Memorial Fund, one of several donor-advised funds at the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, to the Augusta County Historical Society. The collaboration of Sorrells and Doebele brought together their respective strengths as story tellers. Sorrells is well known and respected as a local historian and author. Doebele, a former C-SPAN Executive Producer and Staunton resident, presently documents personal stories nationwide for families through video.
The catalyst for this effort was the personal ties of the Guynn family to the Woodrow Wilson medical and training-educational complex, known affectionately then as “The Post” because of its WWII military origins, and their desire to capture the stories of veterans, doctors, nurses, patients, educators and others before that remarkable history is lost. Carroll and Patsy Guynn, career educators, lived on The Post with their three sons, Jack, Jimmy and Doug.
The Guynn brothers, who penned the Foreword to Sorrells’ book, noted that “The Post was and is so much more than a name or a place. It represents a rich and uniquely interwoven story about local, state, and national history and a singular community with a shared connection of struggles and blessings—and about hope reborn of the horrors of war and sacrifice that few of us can begin to fathom.”
After the Army closed the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Hospital at the end of World War II, representatives from Virginia’s Department of Education and Augusta County School Board submitted a plan for the use of the surplus hospital buildings to the War Assets Administration. This led to the creation of a unique campus that includes what is now known as the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, Wilson Memorial High School, and Valley Career and Technical Center.
The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge is one of the largest philanthropic organizations in our region. As it prepares to enter its 25th year of service to the community, the Foundation has grown to hold over $20 million in assets, from which it distributes over $1 million annually to the community through grants, scholarships, and awards.
Shenandoah Valley Art Center schedule for November 2016
The Shenandoah Valley Art Center, during the month of November, is exhibiting in the Cabell/Arehart Gallery the artwork of the Beverley Street Studio School. The exhibit demonstrates the diverse activities of the School, founded in January 1992.
It began with an educational mission when a group of artists recognized the potential of an art school offering a program for the study of still-life, figure, landscape, and art appreciation classes and workshops. Initially begun upstairs in the historic Crowle Building, the BSSS started an invitational gallery and biweekly model sessions for a small fee. Travel programs began for students to study in the Southwestern USA, Italy, and France.
In 1998, when street-level space became available, the BSSS members formed a cooperative and opened Beverly Street Galleries, composed of CoART Gallery and the School Gallery. In this exhibition, the School presents works by national and international faculty and students, as well as participants in other programs including travel study programs and model sessions. The school is currently operating out of the Stonewall Jackson School on Beverly Street in Staunton.
In the SVAC Members’ Gallery, member artists will interpret the theme of “Figures” with works selected by the artists from their preferred medium.
An opening will be held Saturday, November 5, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. and the public is encouraged to come and meet the artists.
Want to study art? Come learn the art of making Ceramic Christmas Ornaments for package or tree decorations. This adult workshop will teach you simple hand-building and glazing techniques to make holiday relevant shapes. Taught by Lynn Hilton Conyers on Tuesdays, November 8 and 15, 6 – 8 p.m. in the SVAC Pottery Studio with all supplies included.
This two day class is a great introduction to the ancient art of ceramics! ($100) Don’t miss the Easy “One Brush” Watercolor Class taught by Joe Philips on Thursday, November 10, 1-4 p.m. at SVAC. Joe will work with everyone at all skill levels. Experience the “no secrets”, “easy to master” approach to watercolor painting. You will need only your palette, paints and brushes. Mats and paper are provided. ($55) Metalsmith, Karen Friedlander, presents Torch Fired Enamels on Thursday, November 17, 1-4 p.m. at SVAC. You will be painting with fire! Fusing enamels onto metal with a torch is an affordable and fun technique for students of entry level. All supplies included. Class size limited to 6 students!($55)
Are you a collector of Santa Clauses? The Felted Woodland Santa Workshop, taught by Karen Shapcott on Wednesday, November 30, 1-3p.m. at SVAC with supplies included, will teach you the art of wool felted sculptures. ($30) For the young artist, Shenandoah Valley Art Center offers, the ever popular Saturday Art for Kids, presenting a creative art experience for young artists. Designed as a program that expands upon art offered in school or as an art experience for the home schooled, the classes are taught by artists who are amazing with kids. All supplies and snacks included for children ages 6 – 10. Preregistration required. (November 5, 12, & 19, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.,$15 per class).
Looking for the unique and creative holiday gift? SVAC opens its new building at 416 W. Main Street for the 416 Holiday Market. Formatted like a farmer’s market, each artist will fill a space with their handcrafted artwork. This will be a fun and festive event to kick off holiday shopping. The first market will be November 3, 6-8 p.m., November 4 and 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to be followed by a second market on December 8, 6-8 p.m., December 9 and 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Open studio opportunities in the Virginia Ross Education Studio are available to printmakers and ceramic artists. Access to top of the line clay and printmaking equipment and space to work will be furnished for $60 per quarter. Apply on line at www.SVACart.com.
The art center is a retail alliance partner with the Artisan Center of Virginia. In the SVAC Gift Shop you can find the perfect creative gift in fiber, jewelry, wood, glass, pottery, and more by juried artisans from Virginia and SVAC member artists.
The Shenandoah Valley Art Center is located in downtown Waynesboro at 122 S. Wayne Avenue. Galleries are open to the public 10:00a.m. – 4:00p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call (540) 949-7662 or visit www.svacart.com.
Shenandoah Valley artisan expert to speak at Augusta County Historical Society meeting
Jeff Evans, nationally known expert in 18th & 19th century furniture and domestic arts, will describe the role of early Shenandoah Valley craftsmen in building the area’s rich art and crafts culture in a presentation at the Augusta County Historical Society’s annual fall meeting 3 p.m. Sunday, November 6.
The program, which will follow a brief ACHS business meeting, is free and open to the public. The event will be held at the Augusta County Government Center. Refreshments will be offered after the program.
Evans is President, Principal Auctioneer and Specialist at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. He has served on the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society board for 15 years and has published numerous articles, and co-authored a book on Rockingham County pottery.
In his presentation, Evans will include new scholarship and research focusing on 19th century cabinetmakers and potters.
Evans is a nationally recognized expert in early American glass and 18th and 19th century Shenandoah Valley furniture and decorative arts. He has lectured at Colonial Williamsburg, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winterthur Museum and Corning Museum of Glass. He has also provided curatorial guidance at many major institutions.
The ACHS was founded in 1964 to study, collect, preserve, publish, educate about, and promote the history of Augusta County and its communities. More information is available online at www.augustacountyhs.org.
Roanoke set to host first ever Virginia Craft Spirits Showcase
Sip and savor Virginia spirits at the first-ever 100% made-in-Virginia distilled spirits festival, which will be the largest consumer event for in-state distillers on the East Coast, all under one roof.
Patrons of the Virginia Craft Spirits Showcase will meet Master Distillers from more than 20 Virginia distilleries, sample unique cocktails, and get new recipes. All in a fun atmosphere with live music, a food truck from Martins Downtown Bar & Grill, additional food vendors, and a sampling of some of the best Virginia craft beers. Live music provided by My Radio Band. Plus, at the end of the Showcase there will be an interactive Battle of the Bartenders Competition to determine the best Virginia cocktail crafted by regional mixologists!
“We are thrilled to partner with the Virginia Distillers Association (VDA) to bring this exciting new event to Roanoke,” says LeisureMedia360 President Steve Beyer. So far 22 of Virginia’s 42 distilleries have already signed up to participate in this year’s Showcase, and it is expected that even more will come on board as the Showcase grows for years to come. Gareth Moore, VDA President and CEO of Virginia Distillery Company adds in, “With more than half of all Virginia distilleries gathered together in one location, the Virginia Craft Spirits Showcase will be the largest event of its kind on the East Coast!”
Ticket Options
The VIP Experience (Opens at 3PM) A VIP pass gets you 10 tasting tickets plus admission to a hands-on Whiskey OR Moonshine class and tasting taught by Virginia distillers from 3-4pm. Sit, sip, relax and learn from Virginia’s distilled spirit experts about the history of the drink. The VIP pass also includes VIP Lounge Access, which will be catered by Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill for the entire event. In addition, the VIP pass will grant you early access to the grand tasting floor, before general admission! Be the first in line for drinks and tastes from 22 Virginia distilleries! Souvenir glass for drinks and tastings also included. PLUS – your VIP ticket enters you into a drawing for a chance to win a pair of Free Tickets to see Bob Dylan perform live next door immediately following the Virginia Craft Spirits Showcase!
VIP Experience Tickets: $59.75 / VIP Experience Designated Driver: $25
General Admission (Opens at 4PM) General Admission passes get you 10 tasting tickets for the grand tasting floor, allowing you to come and enjoy great drinks, great tastes, fantastic music and a Battle of the Bartenders Competition you won’t forget! See why Virginia’s distilleries have some of the best spirits in the country! Souvenir glass for drinks and tastings also included.
General Admission Tickets: $29.75 / General Admission Designated Driver: $15
Veterans Day at Fox Hill
Veteran’s Day Fox Hill B&B Suites is appreciative of our veterans for their service to our country and we are proud to be a participant in this year’s B&Bs for Vets program.
Several hundred innkeepers in the United States and Canada will open their doors over Veteran’s Day with complimentary stays to say “thank you” to those who are presently serving or served in the past to protect our nations through the B&Bs for Vets program.
Ruby’s Arcade hosts Bar Games for the ‘Burg
Ruby’s Arcade is rallying downtown businesses and the community for a night of friendly competition to support Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance.
On November 1st, downtown businesses will compete against each other in four different tournaments at Ruby’s Arcade – duckpin bowling, ping pong, 9-Ball, and foosball – all in one night. Some of the teams participating include Capital Ale House, Matchbox Realty, Shenandoah Bicycle Company, Ruby’s Arcade, Clementine, and James Mchone Jewelry. Spectators will have the opportunity to watch as business owners and downtown entrepreneurs, along with their staff, play for a worthy cause.
The games will begin at 7pm. The team with the most points wins the title of “Master of the Bar Games” and a trophy that will be displayed in their business.
Bar Games for the ‘Burg is the brainchild of Chris Howdyshell, Arcade Manager at Ruby’s Arcade. “I wanted to think outside of the box and design an event that would allow downtown businesses to come together and have some fun while giving back,” says Howdyshell. “It’s an opportunity for us to say thanks to Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance for all they do.”
Howdyshell created the event to support Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance’s Back the Burg campaign, a three-month campaign dedicated to raising friends and funds for the ongoing revitalization of downtown Harrisonburg. HDR hopes to raise $15,000 by December 31st. Proceeds from the event will go towards meeting this goal.
There is still space for a few more teams to participate. The entry fee is $20 per team. Register a team of two by emailing Chris Howdyshell at chrishowdyshell@gmail.com.
For more information, please visit www.downtownharrisonburg.org or call 540-432-8922.