WTJU

Arts Council of the Valley announces the third annual artVISION: Rockingham County Youth Art Month Show, March 1-29 at Smith House Galleries, 311 South Main St, Harrisonburg. Opening reception for this all-student show is scheduled during First Fridays Downtown, March 1 from 5-8 pm. For more information call 540-801-8779 or visit valleyarts.org.

The opening reception for the exhibits in all the galleries will take place on Friday, March 1st from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the McGuffey Art Center in downtown Charlottesville. Featured artists include Lotta Helleberg, Margaret Embree, Lindsay Heider Diamond, Bob Samworth, and Bob Anderson. McGuffey Art Center is located at 201 Second St. NW. For more info call 434-295-7973 or visit mcguffeyartcenter.com.

This radio station practices acceptance and respect for all people. As part of the University of Virginia, WTJU promotes an inclusive and welcoming environment that embraces the full spectrum of human attributes. WTJU envisions a community of understanding, tolerance, and respect. Thank you for being one of our listeners and thank you for being a part of this community.

Fluvanna SPCA would like to remind you of a special adopt-a-pet event on Saturday, February 23rd, from noon to 3 p.m., part of the PetSmart Charities National Adoption Weekend. Adoptions can be made at PetSmart at Fifth Street Station in Charlottesville. For more information, go to PetSmartCharities.org.

The Charlottesville Chapter of USA Dance is holding its February Ballroom Dance on Saturday, February 23rd, at Unity of Charlottesville Ballroom on Hydraulic Road. Beginner lessons start at 7 p.m., with intermediate classes at 7:30 and social dancing beginning at 8. It’s open to the public, beginners are welcome, and no partner is needed. For ticket and other information, go to usadancecville.org.

Veteran National Geographic photographer Jodi Cobb will present a retrospective of her four decade career on Thursday, February 28 at 7:30pm at The Paramount in downtown Charlottesville. This is a free community event. Pre-registration is encouraged by calling The Paramount's box office at 434-979-1333 or online at theparamount.net.

As part of a nation-wide Day of Mourning, disability rights advocates in the Charlottesville area will be holding a vigil on Friday, March 1st, to honor the lives of disabled people murdered by their families and caretakers. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network, which tracks these cases, has compiled a list of over 1200 reported murders of people with disabilities by relatives or caregivers over the last 38 years. The Charlottesville vigil will be held in front of City Hall, and begins at 11 a.m. For more information, go to AutisticAdvocacy.org.

Virginia Humanities will hold Family Photo Day with the University of Virginia's R.W. Holsinger Photo Collection, on Saturday, March 9th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. View more than 500 portraits of African Americans and learn more about Charlottesville's past through the photographs of R.W. Holsinger. Bring old family photos, from the 1880s to the 1950s, for a free appraisal and learn how to preserve your photos with free archival materials. Contribute your family stories to local history and have a Holsinger-style family portrait taken. The center is located at 233 4th Street NW in Charlottesville. For more information, visit rwholsingerphotos.org or email jfm6n@virginia.edu.

Albemarle County is celebrating the opening of the Yancey School Community Center on Saturday, March 9th from 12pm to 2pm. This family friendly celebration will feature tours of the new facility, children's activities, and participation from several community partners including the Virginia Discovery Museum, The Paramount Theater, SARA, The JMRL Bookmobile, and the Mobile DMV. Contact Siri Russell at srussell@albemarle.org for more information.

Craig Bartholomew, director of the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics in Cambridge, England, will present, “What Time Is It in Our Culture? Scouting the Future,” on Tuesday, March 19th at 7 p.m. The talk will take place at Café Veritas in Court Square Theater, located at 41 Court Square in Harrisonburg. This event is open to the public free of charge. For more information, call 434-661-7020.

The Sum, a non-profit association in Charlottesville, is offering free 1- to 2-hour diversity and equity training for local organizations. No organization is too big or too small.  Visit www.thesum.org for more details or to schedule your training session. The Sum: Unite and Unleash the Power of our Differences.

Do you know a High School senior who needs money for college? Scholarships totaling $2500 await students living in southern Albemarle County thanks to the Martin Luther King Day Commemoration Committee. Interested students from any school, who live in the Monticello High School district and who will enter their first year of college in the Fall of 2019, are invited to enter the 29th annual Martin Luther King Day essay contest. The deadline is April 1st. You can get an application and further details from Mr. Graham Paige by phone at 434-286-3639 or e-mail gtpaige@aol.com.

Refuge Recovery is a community of people using the practices of mindfulness, compassion, forgiveness, and generosity to heal the pain and suffering that addiction has caused. A weekly meeting, every Wednesday night at 7:30pm is held at the Quaker Meeting House at 1104 Forest Street in Charlottesville. For more information visit refugerecovery.org. All are welcome.

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from across the U.S. and Canada. They seek to honor 25 young leaders ages 8-18 who have made a significant positive difference to people and the environment. Fifteen top winners receive $10,000 to support their service work or higher education. Applications are accepted online only and are due by Monday, April 15th. For more information visit barronprize.org/apply.

The Albemarle County Service Authority is launching a customer survey to gain customer feedback about its current services and gather input about its future plans for improvement. The survey can be found at serviceauthority.org. Surveys may be completed online or returned with utility bills, and customers who take part will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a gift card. The ACSA will publish survey results on its website in late April. For more information, or to speak with the ACSA about the customer survey, call 434-977-4511.

Last winter, there were at least 50 cold weather–related animal deaths.  Keep your pets safe during winter weather by keeping them indoors.   If you see animals left outside without shelter from the elements and are unable to help, note their location and alert authorities immediately.  Help birds and other wildlife with access to clean water by filling a heavy nonmetal water bowl and break the surface ice twice a day.  When weather improves, remove any food offerings to encourage animals to move on to warmer areas.  For more information, visit PETA.org.

The Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP will celebrate Black History Month with the music of African-American jazz greats from 7 to 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 23rd at the Center, located at 491 Hillsdale Drive in Charlottesville, Music will be provided by the Mike Elswick Gathering, featuring vocalist Nadine Michel. for more information, call  434-974-7756 or visit thecentercville.org.

 

Blue Ridge Irish Music School, in partnership with WTJU and the Prism Coffeehouse, welcomes Teada (Tay-Duh) to Charlottesville for a concert at C'Ville Coffee on Sunday, February 24. A traditional Irish band with a worldwide reach, Téada has appeared as a frequent headliner at major music festivals throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Russia, Israel and Australia.  Joining them will be Samantha Harvey and Seamus Begley.  C'Ville Coffee is located at 1301 Harris Street in Charlottesville. For additional details about this February 24 concert, including how to get tickets, visit BrimsTunes DOT org, or call (434) 409-9631.

The Prism Coffeehouse, in partnership with WTJU, announces the return of Spencer & Rains to Charlottesville for a concert at C'Ville Coffee on Friday, March 1. This  award winning Old-time Texas duo plays pre-contest style twin fiddles. C'Ville Coffee is located at 1301 Harris Street in Charlottesville. For additional details about this March 1 concert, including how to get tickets, visit PrismCoffeehouse DOT org, or call 434-978-4335.

The Richmond Symphony's The Story of Babar: The Little Elephant - With Really Inventive Stuff, will take place on Sunday, March 3rd at 4 p.m. at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville. A pre-concert Instrument "petting zoo" will take place at 3 p.m. Concertgoers are invited to arrive before the performance for a musical "petting zoo" of flutes, violins, cellos, and more in the Paramount's lobby. Tickets are on sale now and may be reserved by calling the box office at 434-979-1333, visiting theparamount.net, or in person at the box office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The Prism Coffeehouse, in partnership with WTJU, announces the return of The Honey Dewdrops to Charlottesville for a CD release concert at C'Ville Coffee on Sunday, March 3.  Having played stages and festivals far and wide in North America and Europe, Kagey (Keg-ee) and Laura got their start right here in Charlottesville.  C'Ville Coffee is located at 1301 Harris Street in Charlottesville. For additional details about this March 3 concert, including how to get tickets, visit PrismCoffeehouse DOT org, or call 434-978-4335.

 Amherst County Habitat for Humanity will host its sixteenth annual Bluegrass Fundraising Event on Saturday, March 9^th, from 4 – 10 pm at the Historic Academy of Music Theatre in Lynchburg. Performers will include the Deer Creek Boys, New Standard, James River Cutups, and Deep Blue Express. Tickets are available at academycenter.org or by calling 434-846-8499.  All proceeds benefit the Amherst County Habitat for Humanity’s New Construction Program.  For more information, call 434-946-9596.

Tandem Friends School presents 26 Pebbles, a play by Eric Ulloa that showcases residents of Connecticut affected by the tragic events of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Performances will be held in the Tandem Friends Community Hall in Charlottesville at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 28th, March 1st and 2nd, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, March 3rd. The Friday and Saturday shows will be followed by a Q&A/Talkback session with cast members and director Perry Medlin. Tickets can be reserved by calling 434-296-1030 x0 and are available at the door thirty minutes before the show.