Stand-Up Comedy Featuring CJ Bowman

The date is November 19, 2011

Honduras Coffee Shop

Main Street, Stuart Virginia

Starts at 7:00 PM

Fellowship Church
5101 Ararat Hwy
Ararat VA
Annual Bazaar
Sat. Nov 12th
8am-1pm
homemade baked goods; canned goods; chow-chow
Bar BQ plates: to go or eat in:  $8 adults; $5 children or 2 for $15
Located next door to Blue Ridge Elementary School
Contact:  church office:  276-251-5879 for more information

Mayo River Trail Ribbon Cutting

Historic Day-Mayo River Trail Ribbon Cutting-Stuart  

9/30/11 – September 30, 2011 was a historic day in downtown Stuart, VA with the official opening of the new Mayo River Trail and Ribbon Cutting. The 1st phase of the new trail follows the path of the Danville and Western Railroad.

The ceremony was led by Patrick County Administrator, Tom Rose with special guests including Del. Ward Armstrong, VDOT representatives, Anderson and Associates representatives, Sowers Construction representatives, Town Officials, Mayor James McHone and Town Manager, Terry Tilley, Tourism Director, Wilma Pendleton, Karl Weiss and Crystal Harris members of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, local businesses from EMI, Kraeger Woodworking, Clark Gas and Oil, Primland, and Former County Administrator, Regina Handy. Former Peters Creek Board of Supervisors Representative David Young.

Tom Bishop, Executive Director, was there with a red, white and blue ribbon administering the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

Attendance was in the range of 150-200 people. Anderson and Associates provided the hot dogs, potato salad, chips, cookies and drinks.

Media coverage included Richard Rogers of WHEO Radio and  Nancy Lindsey of The Enterprise

reprinted from patrick county chamber website

Located in historic downtown Stuart

Live Bands, Games, Artisans, Pony Ridges, Delicious Food, Family Fun

Crafters Needed

Dog costume Contest – Judging at 3: P.M. at the Amphitheatre – 5$ entry fee

For more information call the town office at 276.694.3811

This year’s event in Ararat — to be held Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine — is occurring on the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, a fact  not lost on those planning this weekend’s battle reenactments and related  activities.

“It’s something that very significantly affected America, almost throughout,” Tom Bishop, who is on the board of directors of the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace  Preservation Trust Inc., said of the war. “It’s a major thing that happened in  America, and it’s not that we celebrate it but we need to understand it.”

The birthplace-preservation organization oversees activities at Laurel Hill,  where Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart was born and which hosts the annual  encampment and living history event. Gates will open Saturday at 9 a.m. and  close Sunday at 4 p.m. at the site located just across the Virginia state line,  accessible from Mount Airy via N.C. 104.

In keeping with the birthplace’s commemoration of the Civil War  sesquicentennial, battle recreations — the most popular attractions of the  yearly encampment — will highlight campaigns occurring early in the  conflict.

Sunday at 1 p.m., for example, the First Manassas campaign at Henry House  Hill will be re-staged. The hill was a heavily contested position by Gen.  Stonewall Jackson and Union forces during the initial battle of the Civil War in  1861.

A re-enactment Saturday at 3 p.m. will feature another event from that same  year, the Battle of Hokes Run, which occurred in what is now West Virginia.

The first of the recreations, Saturday at 1 p.m., will highlight the Battle  of Brandy Station in 1863, the largest predominantly cavalry engagement ever  undertaken on America soil, and one in which Gen. Stuart played a key role.

Though this weekend’s mock battles won’t be as large-scale as the actual  ones, a good number of re-enactors will be on hand, from Tennessee, Kentucky,  Virginia and North Carolina. “I would estimate in the range of 400-plus,” Bishop  said Tuesday, pointing out that the participants will represent both Southern  and Northern units.

“Sometimes the North won and sometimes the South won,” he said of the various  skirmishes recreated at Laurel Hill, “so we try to be balanced in our  approach.”

One realistic element of the re-enactments which has evolved over the years  concerns heavy artillery pieces. “The cannons are very impressive,” Bishop said. “It shakes the ground when the cannons start going off — it makes you feel like  you are really there, more so than just the crack of a rifle.”

However, Bishop added that the intent is not to recreate a bloody scene, but  to educate the public about history. “I think it’s a great educational thing for  our young people to come to these re-enactments and see what happened.”

Other Activities

More than just the warring aspects of the conflict will be explored at this  weekend’s gathering which has the theme, “Understanding our past and embracing  our future.”

A flag-raising is set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, with other activities to  include a council of war by generals, a Saturday night dance, a candlelight  tour, a Sunday morning church service, string music, black rose memorial  services, food vendors, Civil War sutlers and a fashion show.

Shirley Keene, the president of the birthplace-preservation board, heads the  fashion segment and makes dresses for ladies who participate in the re-enactment  to ensure that authentic period dress results. “The fashion show is no small  matter,” Bishop said.

Meanwhile, Ronnie Haynes, the vice president of the group, focuses on  orchestrating the various re-enactors, who Bishop said enjoy participating at  Laurel Hill due to its hills, hollows and forested areas that add texture to the  battle scenes.

Admission will cost $8 for adults, but is free for children 12 and under.  Parking also is free on the grounds of Laurel Hill, located at 1091 Ararat  Highway.

Additional information is available at www.jebstuart.org.

Appreciating History

Although Bishop said weather is usually the biggest factor in determining  attendance for the annual living history and encampment event, interest in Civil  War heritage remains strong and perhaps is spiking this year due to the  150th-anniversary observance.

Contact Tom Joyce at 719-1924 or  tjoyce@mtairynews.com.

Read more:  Mount Airy News – Civil War reenactment set for this weekend

59th Annual Patrick County Agricultural Fair

Rodeo

Friday, September 16, 2011 & Saturday, September 17th – 8 PM Stuart Rotary Field – Amphitheater – 8 PM

Rodeo – Championship Bull Riding & Barrel Racing

Pageants – September 17th.

Fair Week

Tuesday, September 20th – Saturday, September 24th
 

General Admission  – Ages 14 – Adult $5
Ages 6 – 13 $1
Children Under 6 Free

Additional Admission for Special Events

NEW – Hands on Exhibit from NASA
Tuesday & Wednesday ONLY

Wrist Band Ride Specials – Tuesday & Wednesday
$2 Discount with Coupon 1 – per Student
6 PM ’til 10 PM

Wednesday, September 21 – Student Night
FREE Admission for all Students

Thursday  September 22 – Senior Night
Free Admission for Seniors (60 & up)

Friday, September 23 – Demolition Derby 8 PM

Saturday, September 24 – ?

• For more info contact   http://www.stuartvarotary.org
• Photo taken by Gary Plaster

Nearly one in three children in America is overweight or obese.

Our children make up the first generation in history to grow up less healthy than their parents.

Join us at DeHart Park Sunday, September 25, 2011 from 3-5pm

Help us reach our national goal of 1 million miles in one day!

Show your support for combating childhood obesity in our lifetime!

Sponsored locally by the Stuart Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Patrick County Ministerial Association

For more information call 276.694.4775