Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 10, 1993 TAG: 9312090099
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
And the cares, that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away."\ - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Blacksburg Master Chorale will present its annual family holiday concert Saturday night, starting at 8, in Blacksburg Baptist Church.
Brass Dominion, the popular quintet from Virginia Tech, will join the singers.
Music director Craig Fields will lead the chorale in portions of Christmas oratorios by Bach and Handel and in Britten's "Ceremony of Carols" for women's chorus and harp. Featured soloists are mezzo-soprano Rita Litchfield-Good, tenor James Frazier and bass Wayne Kompelien.
Fields also will lead the traditional Christmas carol sing-along.
Tickets, $5, will be available at the door or you may reserve them by calling 953-1559. Donations of nonperishable foods will be collected at the door, too, so don't forget to bring goods for a good cause. The food will go to the Blacksburg Inter-Faith Food Pantry.
\ DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR? The voices belong to The Pilgrim Gospel Singers, The Karnes Family, Living Waters, The Nippers and The Martin Family.
The gospel musicians are warming up for the fourth annual benefit sing for the Montgomery County Christmas Store.
It's happening Saturday, starting at 7 p.m., in the Auburn High School auditorium.
Admission for adults is $3 at the door. Kids under 12 will be admitted free. All proceeds go to the Christmas Store.
The ladies auxiliary of the New Hope Church of God will sell refreshments.
For more information, call 381-1137 or 382-1954.
\ STRIKE UP THE EGG BEATERS: The Warm Hearth Kitchen Kettle Band will play today at Virginia Tech's Memorial Chapel.
The noontime concert is part of the continuing holiday "Bach's Lunch" series.
On Monday, the Shawsville Handbell Choir will perform classic Christmas music. Bonnie Sitz directs.
Skeeter and the Skidmarks, featuring Edwin and Sandy Lacy, Scott Freeman and Willard Grayheart, step up the pace Tuesday. The group will play old-time Appalachian tunes and modern bluegrass music.
The Lacys return Wednesday to play with Bob Thomas and Kevin Wilkes in their group, 2 Hot Sodas. Wednesday's concert is the last in the series.
All concerts run from noon to 1 p.m. at the chapel.
As always, music lovers are welcome to bring a lunch.
Admission is free.
\ WISH LIST: The Wilderness Road Regional Museum in Newbern is having its "Deck the Halls" open house through December.
Visitors are invited to tour the historic property, view the doll collection on display and do some holiday shopping.
Refreshments will be served Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
Local crafts for sale include homemade candies, wreaths, beeswax candles, cornhusk dolls and lots of decorative items. You'll also find a large collection of local history books and cookbooks. The prices are reasonable and part of the proceeds benefit the museum.
Speaking of helping the museum . . . .
Museum volunteers are asking that visitors bring an ornament for the Christmas tree (preferably handmade) or something to put under the tree.
The museum needs staples such as salt, sugar, pepper, decaffeinated coffee, tea bags, paper supplies, dish towels - the wish list goes on.
Regular hours at the museum this month are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
It will be closed Dec. 24-27.
The museum, in Pulaski County, is off Interstate 81 at Exit 98. Call 674-4835 for more information.
\ HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD: Hollywood on Ice, a traveling show featuring professional skaters (including some Olympic champions), will slide into Blacksburg Wednesday for two performances in the Blacksburg High School auditorium. The Blacksburg Host Lions Club is sponsoring the event to raise money for its sight conservation programs.
"How will they get the ice in there?" you ask.
The skating rink is composed of 2-foot square pieces that lock together like a jigsaw puzzle to form a skating surface of up to 1,500 square feet. The pieces are made of a synthetic polymer product.
The shows feature comedy and variety acts, as well as solo and adagio skaters. Five big Hollywood production numbers are included in the program.
Show times Wednesday are at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Tickets at the door are $8.75 for adults or $4.75 for kids 12 and under.
Advance discount tickets are available from members of the Lions Club.
\ GONE FISHIN': The Southwest Virginia Bassmasters are inviting kids, ages 7 to 14, to go fishing Saturday at New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg.
The local anglers will have their 1993 Casting Kids competition from noon to 4 p.m.
Boys and girls participating in the competition will be divided into two age groups and will use three different casting techniques in the competition.
Rods and reels will be provided by the Bassmasters, and members of the club will show kids how to use them during the practice time. Get there early to sign up and practice!
The winner from each age group will win a rod and reel, as well as the opportunity to represent the club at the state "Bassarama" in Richmond Jan. 23.
Technique information sheets on the three casting styles are available now at the mall information desk.
Admission to the competition is free and there's no entry fee for participants.
\ YOU DON'T NEED A PARTNER AT THIS DANCE: The Virginia Tech YMCA Folk Dancing Club says you don't even need dancing experience to have fun Saturday.
The club is having an international folk dance in the Performing Arts Building on the Tech campus.
It runs from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Circle dances, line dances and other folk dances will be taught.
Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
Call the YMCA at 231-6860 for details.
by CNB