WTJU

Second Street Gallery in Charlottesville is offering several workshops in September that you and your family members can take part in to create your own artwork. The next one is a Wiggle Painting workshop with Sophie Gibson on Wednesday, September 28th, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Go to Second Street Gallery dot Com for details.

Second Street Gallery in Charlottesville is presenting Teeny Tiny Trifecta 5, their fifth annual juried group exhibition and fundraiser to kick off the Gallery’s 49th season of exhibitions and programming. The exhibit will be on view in the Main Gallery from Friday, September 2nd, through the 30th. This year’s exhibition showcases the work of 146 participating artists and 438 artworks, all available for purchase.   For more information, go online to Second Street Gallery dot Org.

Charlottesville's Second Street Gallery presents an Artist-in-Residence exhibition featuring Charlottesville-based artist Somé Louis, to be held in the Dové Gallery from Friday, September 2nd through the 30th. The space will continue to evolve throughout the course of the month as Louis creates new work. The artist will be present during the First Friday opening evening to chat with visitors. Go to Second Street Gallery dot Org for more information.

Charlottesville’s McGuffey Art Center is featuring all new exhibitions for the month of September. You are invited to come and enjoy its three floors of exhibits, open art studios and gift shop. Opening Friday, September 2nd, at 5:30 p.m., a show entitled Vessels – reduction linocuts by Maryanna Williams is in the Smith Gallery. Williams uses a single piece of linoleum to create multi-colored images by sequentially carving and layering colors. Another exhibition features recent mixed media works by artists Anuja Jaitley and Jennifer Billingsly. Works by McGuffey member artists are shown in the Second Floor Hallway, and a Mini-Show of Happy Art by Mary Jane Check is in the Associate Gallery. For more detail, go to McGuffey Art Center dot Com.

The Haven and New City Arts will host their annual art auction at IX Art Park in Charlottesville on Saturday, October 1st. Tickets include a bid number, drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and live music by Dr. Levine and the Dreaded BluesLady. Proceeds from the event benefit Housing2Home, a creative placemaking program that helps furnish and decorate the new homes of formerly homeless community members. Learn more at New City Arts dot Org.

The Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library will hold its Fall Book Sale at Albemarle Square Shopping Center beginning on Saturday, October 15th and running through Sunday, October 23rd, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. The member’s preview sale begins on Friday, October 14th from 5 to 7 p.m. Browse thousands of books, DVDs, CDs, games, and puzzles. Restocking continues throughout the sale. For more information, visit JMRL Friends dot Org.

Charlottesville Tomorrow is a local journalism nonprofit that delivers in-depth reporting and analysis that improves local decision-making. Charlottesville Tomorrow expands civic engagement and fosters a vibrant, inclusive community. Check out the latest stories and sign up for the weekly email newsletter at Cville Tomorrow dot org.

Join Virginia House of Delegates member and UVA assistant professor Sally Hudson for a discussion of Virginia election law reforms, her perspective on election laws in other states, and current threats to American democracy. The program will be held virtually on Tuesday, September 27th at 7 p.m. A short video will be shown with David Pepper, author of Laboratories of Autocracy, A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines. He will give his views on the impacts of gerrymandering on the stability of our democracy. The program is free. Contact Kirk Bowers at engineer1950@yahoo.com for the Zoom meeting link or with any questions.

Come out to Cherry Avenue in Charlottesville on Saturday, October 1st, for a free, family-friendly, community event. The Cherry Avenue Block Party will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Shops at Cherry Ave, located next to the Prospect Market in Fifeville. The event will benefit the Music Resource Center. Arrive early at 11 a.m. to join community leaders in celebrating the opening of the Fifeville Trail with a ribbon-cutting and guided walk. The Fifeville Trail will connect Tonsler Park with surrounding neighborhoods. For more information, call 434-971-8860.

Have you heard about e-Bikes? A power-assisted bicycle that can be a climate-friendly alternative to short car trips. The Charlottesville non-profit called Livable Cville is hosting an e-Bike get-acquainted event in Meade Park Sunday, October 16th, from 2 to 4 p.m. where you can talk to e-Bikes owners, and you can take short e-Bikes test rides. To learn more, go to Livable Cville dot Org.

The 19th Annual Tony Fogliani (foe-lee-AH-knee) Memorial Golf Tournament benefiting the Orange County Free Clinic is scheduled for Sunday, October 16th, at Meadows Farms Golf Course, Locust Grove, Virginia. 12 noon shotgun start, registration beginning at 11 a.m. For more details, go online to Orange County Free Clinic dot Org.

Charlottesville’s Big Blue Door is again offering a beginners’ class in longform improv comedy starting Sunday, October 16th. It’s an eight-session course on Sunday afternoons that introduces students to creating original life-filled characters and hilarious spontaneous scenes. “Longform” improv means students learn to improvise entire shows by working with one another to draw comedy from their own experiences. For information about cost and to sign up, go to Big Blue Door dot Org.

The Orange County American Legion Post 156 and Veterans of Foreign Wars James Madison Post 2217 will host an event, "Thanks to Our Veterans: Let's Talk," on Saturday, October 1st, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is designed as a way for the VFW, American Legion, and other veteran service agencies and organizations to reach out to all veterans to help provide support and advice on issues such as VA benefits and counselling. It will be held at the Unionville Brewery Company, located at 24333 Narrow Gauge Rd, in Unionville. For more information, email Pete Ewing at peter.ewing05@gmail.com.

The Cville Tool Library is holding a Basic Tools and Skills for Renovation workshop Saturday, October 1st, from 1 to 3 p.m. It's a beginner-friendly, hands-on workshop to learn the fundamental skills from planning your project to basic tool safety and proper use. It's open to all on a pay-what-you-can basis. Advance registration required. For more information and to register, go to Cville Tool Library dot Com.

Whether you're remodeling your bathroom, trimming hedges, or working on a craft project, the Cville Tool Library probably has the tools you need. And once you're a member, you can borrow them just like borrowing books from a regular library. It's called Charlottesvill's greatest new idea, and you can learn all about it at Cville Tool Library dot Com.

The International Bluegrass Music Association Foundation has launched the Fletcher Bright Memorial Grant for Young Musicians. This grant, to be awarded in various amounts, will cover expenses of lessons, educational materials, instrument rental or purchase, workshops, and camps. Young bluegrass musicians, age 21 and younger, at any level, may apply for assistance throughout the year. Apply for a Bright Grant at Bluegrass Foundation dot Org slash Grants dash Awards.

Creciendo Juntos (cres-ee-EN-do HOON-tos) provides a platform for the voices and needs of the Latinx (LA-teen-EX) community in Charlottesville and surrounding counties. The Creciendo Juntos volunteer network strengthens the local community by ensuring that all Latinx individuals have access to the opportunities they need to become resilient leaders. Sign up to be part of the Creciendo Juntos network at C J dash Network dot org.

A message from Alcoholics Anonymous: Do you ever worry you might be drinking too much? Is your drinking getting out of control? A.A. has a solution. If you need help or just want to know more about recovery from alcoholism, call 434-293-6565 or go online to AA Heart Of VA dot org.

Help Happens Here is a network of organizations in Charlottesville and surrounding counties working together to improve mental health and substance use outcomes for our community. Help Happens Here provides resources for mental health, substance use disorders, and much more. Go online to Help Happens Here dot org for valuable information about access to care. For immediate assistance, call their hotline at 434-972-1800.

Sin Barreras / Without Barriers serves the immigrant community, focusing on the Hispanic population of Charlottesville and the surrounding areas. Through Sin Barreras, you can help create a welcoming community where immigrants thrive. Volunteer opportunities are available for both advanced Spanish speakers and English-only or beginner Spanish speakers. Learn more at Sin Barreras Cville dot com.

Need help paying for an abortion? The Blue Ridge Abortion Fund may be able to help. Call their confidential voicemail at 434-963-0669. Leave a message and a trained staff member will get back to you within 48 hours. That's 434-963-0669. More information is online at Blue Ridge Abortion Fund dot org.

For tens of thousands of people in our area, a daily meal isn’t a choice between different recipes. It’s a much more difficult choice between food and other crucial needs, like medicine, electricity, or childcare. Food shouldn’t be an impossible choice. Please join the effort to solve hunger during Hunger Action Month in September by visiting the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank website at B R A F B dot Org.

The 9th Annual SPARC of Hope 5K Walk and Run will be held at 8 a.m., Saturday, October 8th, at East End Farm in Louisa. This event is held to raise awareness of suicide prevention efforts and to honor those who have died by suicide and those who have felt its impact. The event is free, and will include refreshments, activities, speakers, and a raffle. More information, including directions to the event, can be found at S P A R C Hope dot Org.

As part of its "Go Slow: Cville Kids Walk to School" initiative, Charlottesville City Schools reminds drivers to operate their vehicles with caution. Many more students and families are walking to school in Charlottesville this year. Cville Schools thanks drivers for keeping students safe by slowing down and yielding to pedestrians, cyclists, and scooters. For more information, visit Charlottesville Schools dot Org slash Transportation.

If you live in Charlottesville, you've likely heard about the school bus driver shortage. International Neighbors is putting out an urgent call for volunteer drivers to transport children to or from school over the next several weeks. Please email contactus@internationalneighbors.org and we'll provide next steps and needed checks.

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is facing an increased demand for food and needs more helping hands in warehouses and at mobile food pantries. They need healthy, low-risk individuals who are available and eager to help in this challenging time.\ \ Warehouses in Charlottesville have volunteer openings waiting for helpers. To start the volunteer process, go online to B R A F B dot org slash volunteer. Or call 540-280-6588.

In normal times, Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build and rebuild homes and communities while catalyzing new pathways to safe, decent, affordable housing. In this season of unprecedented challenges, Cville Habitat is attending to community needs as they emerge while limiting the spread of the coronavirus. Join them by swinging a hammer, helping at the Store, walking alongside Habitat Homebuyers, or a host of other ways. Go online to Cville Habitat dot org.

Abortion is still legal in Virginia, and Blue Ridge Abortion Fund continues to fund abortions for Virginians and people traveling to Virginia for abortion care. You can volunteer your time and skills to help keep the organization running. Or raise funds by hosting a house party or benefit event. Learn more online at Blue Ridge Abortion Fund dot org.

Jefferson School Heritage Center in Charlottesville is starting a Saturday art school for children ages 4 and up. Register your child for 10-week classes beginning October 1st, in rhythm, drumming, hip hop. Then sit in the audience when they show off what they've learned at a special performance. Slots are limited and scholarships are available. For more information visit Jeff School Heritage Center dot Org slash Events.

The Heifetz Institute will present Hear & Now, a six-concert chamber music series at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton beginning Sunday, October 2nd, at 2 p.m. Each concert features world-renowned Heifetz faculty artists joined by outstanding alumni performing in the university's Francis Auditorium. The debut season will be bookended by the Borromeo String Quartet, led by the Heifetz Institute’s artistic director, Nicholas Kitchen. Tickets, series passes, and more information are available at Heifetz dot Institute slash Hear Now. The "Hear" is spelled H E A R.

The Charlottesville Jazz Society will hold a jazz festival and fundraiser at The Front Porch on Sunday, October 9th from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Performers include many of the finest area jazz musicians, including Will Evans and Angelica X, John D’earth with Tina Hashemi, the Michael Elswick Gathering, and The Ivan Orr Ensemble. For more information, visit Cville Jazz dot Org slash Events.