Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 31, 1994 TAG: 9403310281
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV13 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Joanne Anderson
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
- Edgar Allen Poe
(1809-1849)
Warm Hearth resident Marie Breen knows dreams can come true. The 68-year old Breen, who shies away from cameras and publicity, started collecting spare change for a new van four years ago when she found 11 cents in the old van.
Eleven cents grew to more than $7,000 with Breen collecting spare change from everyone who checked their pockets when they saw her coming. Sometimes people would call and tell her they had change for the van fund.
Montgomery Regional Hospital medical staff contributed $5,000, and the hospital gave a matching $5,000. The National Bank of Blacksburg donated $5,000, and an anonymous donation of $15,000 pushed the dream to reality.
On Monday, the new, $50,000 mini-bus went into service. The first trip was reserved as an honorary ride for Marie Breen, but true to her humble character, she declined center stage.
The van is equipped with a hydraulic lift and can carry 14 ambulatory passengers and two wheelchair passengers. The white vehicle is a 1994 Ford and sports brown and orange stripes.
Just goes to show how far a little spare change can go.
Donna Yaffe of the Center for Research in Health Behavior is looking for A FEW GOOD SENIORS. She needs people 55 and over who do NOT exercise regularly to participate in a study. It doesn't mean you have to start exercising, either.
She will assemble groups of people to watch videos and learn about health and exercise. Some people will be given more information than others. Participants will keep a detailed log of exercise, planned activities as well as everyday stuff like housework, for about nine weeks.
Yaffe will analyze the results, and then she'll be able to complete her dissertation and go to Connecticut for her internship.
Please call 231-8746 for a complete packet of information.
Applications for the NEEDLEWORK EXHIBIT, sponsored by the Christiansburg Senior Center and the Senior Athletes of Montgomery County, are available at the senior center. The show will be May 14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Needlework items will be placed in different categories, and a "People's Choice Award" will be presented in each category. All needlework is for display only, not for sale.
Registration forms must be completed by May 2. For more information, call the senior center at 382-8173 or Betty Gordon at 382-8328.
The Riner Ruritan Club is sponsoring a TAX WORKSHOP for senior citizens on April 4 at the Riner Fire Station. Two two-hour sessions will be held, 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Sherman Perry, an experienced tax preparer, will conduct the discussion and answer questions.
There is no charge for the workshop. Participants are asked to arrive a little early and park on the side of building, allowing room for firemen in the case of an emergency.
The Retired Senior and Volunteer Program still needs a QUILTING FRAME to complete a quilt that's been in the making for more than a year. Several volunteers have contributed squares of handiwork for the piece. Eventually, donations will be accepted, and the quilt will find a permanent home. If you can donate a quilt frame, please call the RSVP office at 382-5775.
The SENIOR ATHLETES OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY are holding their rummage sale Friday and Saturday at the National Guard Armory in Christiansburg. Donations of furniture, household items, crafts and baked goods are still being accepted.
Proceeds will go toward expenses for senior winners to compete in the Virginia State Golden Olympics in Williamsburg in June.
Call Betty Gordon at 382-8328, Janice Hixon at 382-4334 or Catherine McKenzie at 382-3744 to arrange for donated items to be picked up.
\ The Christiansburg AARP HIGHLAND CHAPTER 53 will hold its next meeting Tuesday at the VFW Hall, 490 High St. The noon potluck lunch will be followed by guest speaker Debbie Sullivan, who will talk on home health care. National members are invited.
For more information, call Nancy Walker, 382-7139.
DAYLIGHT-SAVING TIME begins Sunday. You'll lose an hour by moving the clocks forward one hour. If you spend an hour figuring out how to re-set the digital clocks, you'll lose another hour, so plan your day wisely.
The federally funded GREEN THUMB program can help people 55 and over, who meet certain income guidelines, to find training and work in the New River Valley. The program pays during on-the-job training and for certain college classes. For more details, call Shirley Markuson at 382-1555.
The RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, 1 Franklin St., Courthouse Annex, Christiansburg, 382-5775:
RSVP volunteers are helping Brownie Troop 866 of Christiansburg collect food and clothing for the Emergency Assistance Shelter. Anyone in the New River Valley with goods to donate to the shelter can leave them at the RSVP office in the courthouse annex in Christiansburg.
The Pilot group will meet at 10 a.m. today at the RSVP office.
The Shawsville group will have its monthly luncheon at White Memorial Church at noon on Monday.
On Tuesday, the Warm Hearth group will visit Heritage Hall at 2 p.m.
The PULASKI SENIOR CENTER, 106 N. Washington Ave., 980-3969:
Volunteers are needed at the Wilderness Road Museum, the visitor's HOST center, Pulaski County Hospital and the Fine Arts Center to greet visitors and help with telephones.
If you're interested in going to the Radford University Spring Dance Concert on April 14, you may sign up starting Tuesday. The group will leave at 5 p.m. for dinner on your own at the Alleghany Cafe. Cost is $5 for concert tickets and transportation.
On April 20, seniors will leave at 10 a.m. for Tanglewood Mall and a stop at the Leggett outlet store. Transportation is $3.
The CHRISTIANSBURG SENIOR CENTER, 655 Montgomery St., 382-8173:
Senior aerobics meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Christiansburg National Guard Armory from 8 to 9 a.m. Sonia Badillo is the instructor, and it's free.
Easy motions, a less strenuous exercise class, meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Armory. It's also free. Sherry Kostric is the instructor.
A bus trip to Valley View Mall on Friday will leave from the National Guard Armory at 8:30 a.m. Transportation fee is $3.
The GILES COUNTY SENIOR CENTER, 1320 Wenonah Ave., Pearisburg, 921-3924:
The Giles County senior folks play bridge on Mondays and Wednesdays at 1 p.m.
Swim times are Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:15 a.m. Transportation is provided to the aquatic center in Blacksburg.
The RADFORD SENIOR CENTER, 27 First St., 731-3634:
A free blood pressure clinic will be held on April 6 at 10 a.m.
Friday van trips in April include the Mercer Mall in West Virginia on April 8; Mount Airy, N.C., on April 15; and Valley View Mall on April 29. Lunch is on your own, and transportation fee is $2 for each trip.
Joanne Anderson is an editorial assistant in the New River Valley bureau.
by CNB