Friday Calendar

HOLIDAY

VALENTINE SERENADE: Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call the Bristol Virginia Parks and Recreation Department to schedule a serenade. $17 cost includes a song, rose and card. Reservations, (276) 645-PARK.

COMMUNITY

FRIENDS OF THE CHILHOWIE PUBLIC LIBRARY: Chilhowie Town Hall, Community Room, Jan. 28, 2 p.m. guest speaker, Ms. Evelyn Lawrence, Sally of the Crying Tree. (276) 646-5862 or (276) 646-5792.

PAGEANT

MISS BRISTOL PAGEANT: Bristol, Tenn., 518 State St., Paramount Center for the Arts, Jan, 28. 7 p.m. Preliminary to the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Program in June. Award certificates go to the top talent, interview, swimsuit and evening gown winners. $12 at the door.

MISS LONESOME PINE RED HOT BEAUTY PAGEANT: Coeburn, Va., Tacoma School Community Center, Feb. 4, 2 p.m. For girls birth to 17 years and over. Side events include Most Beautiful, Prettiest Dress, Prettiest Hair and Best Smile. Write or call the directors for more information, Sue Morris, 403 Charleston St. Weber City, Va., 24290 or call (276) 386-9555; Sandy Chapman, 911 Nottingham Road, Gate City, Va., 24251 or call (276) 386-9524.

HEALTH

FOOD PROGRAM: Bristol, Tenn., 106 State St., YWCA Children’s Center announces participation in the Child and Adult Care Food program. Meals will be provided at no separate charge to eligible children. All meals will be provided in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture non-discrimination policy which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age and disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

DENTAL SERVICES: Abingdon Elementary School, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Free dental services to Washington County School students who have Medicaid or qualify for reduced-fee lunches. Services include examinations, cleanings, x-rays, flouride, restorations, extractions and root canals, among others. For appointment, (276) 356-1964. 

COMMUNITY COUNSELING CLINIC: Johnson City Tenn., East Tennessee State University offers free services, covering wide range of issues, to individuals, couples and families. Anyone living in the area is eligible for services. Evening hours can be arranged in addition to daytime appointments. The clinic has several private counseling rooms in Warf-Pickel Hall on the campus of ETSU. For information or appointments, (423) 439-7679.

FREE MEDICAL CLINIC: Abingdon, Va., Wesley Free Medical Clinic, 18370 Lee Hwy. (across from airport), Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; an outreach ministry of Pleasant View United Methodist Church for uninsured in our area; Barbara Farmer, (276) 628-6323.

CHILDREN

K-12 ENROLLMENTS: Family Christian Academy of East Tennessee, Blountville, 3061 Hwy. 126 in the Topper Center is now accepting applications for the 2011-2012 academic year. For information call (423) 354-0203, Monday-Thursday, 1 to 5 p.m. www.fcaeast.com.

PEOPLE INCORPORATED OF VIRGINIA: Accepting applications in Bristol city, Washington and Russell County for children 3 and 4 years of age. Options include the home and center-based Head Start Program. The program offers educational, medical, and dental services and daily meals without cost, as well as parent involvement and family services for the entire family. Services to children with disabilities are a vital part of the program. Call (276) 623-9000 or (276) 889-0999 for information. People Incorporated serves participants regardless of race, color, sex, ability or national origin.

ABINGDON UNITED CHILDREN’S CENTER: Abingdon, Va., Hwy. 58 off Exit 19 of I-81. Daycare still has openings for children. Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Proceeds go to Abingdon United Pentecostal Church. (276) 628-6379.

SEEKING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN: Sullivan County Schools are attempting to locate and identify county children with significant delays and special needs. The children must live in the Sullivan County Schools district and be 3 to 21 years old, home schooled or attending a private school. Screenings will be conducted for Autism, deafness, developmentally delayed, emotionally disturbed, functionally delayed, health impaired, hearing impaired, intellectual disability, intellectually gifted, multiple disabilities, physically/orthopedic impaired, learning disability, speech/language impairment, traumatic brain injury and visually impaired. For more information, call Sullivan County Schools Child Find Coordinator Debbie Hamilton, (423) 354-1593.

HEAD START PROGRAM: Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency looking for children ages 3-4 including those with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements of federal income guidelines, local Policy Council standards; free to the family, some transportation provided; slots limited, apply now, (423) 764-7366.

ONGOING

BINGO: Belfast-Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department, every Thursday, 7 p.m. Doors open 5 p.m. $1,000 jackpot every week.

BINGO: Damascus, Va., Volunteer Fire Dept., 919 S. Shady Ave., Saturdays, (276) 475-3811; Saltville Rescue Squad, 126 Battleground Ave., Mondays, (276) 496-4531; Saltville, Va., Ruritan Club, beside fire department, Wednesdays, Fridays, 4:30 p.m., (276) 496-3716 or 496-3900; Wytheville, Va., Old Recreation Center, Fourth Street, Wednesdays, sponsored by American Legion Post 9.

WE CARE DINNERS: Abingdon, Va., St. Thomas Episcopal Parish Hall, 124 E. Main St., usually last Thursday of each month, 5:30-6:30 p.m.; transportation via public transit from Food City parking lot, Senior Citizens Center, Highland Center and Abingdon Cinemall or (276) 676-0700 to schedule a ride; free for with no, low or on fixed income; (276) 628-3606.

PARKS

NATURAL TUNNEL STATE PARK: Duffield Va., Wilderness Trail Blockhouse Interpretive Center, Feb. 7-April 24, Tuesday nights 6:30-8 p.m. Wilderness Trail Institute: Rediscovering the Wilderness Trail (EDU 295, Sec. 31) open to area teachers seeking recertification credit as well as to the community. Limited enrollment. $366. Register online or in person at Mountain Empire Community College.

SYCAMORE SHOALS STATE HISTORIC AREA: Elizabethton, Tenn., 1651 W. Elk Ave., Main Gallery, Sunday jam at Carter Mansion, tours, exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops and more; Shape Note Singing meets third Sunday, 3-5 p.m.; autoharp and dulcimer, fourth Sunday, 1-4 p.m., any level, learn basics, 2-4 p.m., open jam; 18th Century Cafe open 7-9 p.m. free to all visitors. (423) 543-5808.

BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK: Breaks, Va., Various events such as motorcycle run, music, farmer’s market, movies, trails day events, Civil War reenactments, molasses stir off, festivals, etc. (276) 865-4413.