Arts Council of the Valley

By: Ann Leatherwood, Programs Manager, Arts Council of the Valley

Arts Council of the Valley was created in 2000 to operate Court Square Theater (opened in 1998 as a downtown revitalization catalyst), and create community partnerships. That dual focus remains active today through these program areas:

Court Square Theater draws some 15,000 patrons each year to films and live music, comedy, and theatrical events. The new ACT ONE educational program offers people of all ages a chance to participate in theatrical productions. This fall’s play, Steel Magnolias, will showcase the dramatic talents of age 60+ residents - check courtsquaretheater.org soon for audition dates!

Thirty-two venues - including VMRC’s Park Gables Gallery - are involved in First Fridays of the Valley, offering art exhibitions and musical performances. Visit valleyarts.org/first-fridays-venues the week of each First Friday to see what’s planned.

Smith House Galleries (311 South Main St, Harrisonburg) opens new exhibitions monthly. The galleries are free, and open Monday-Friday, 11 living with dementia to attend together. There will be social time with other care partners, optional games, activities and refreshments, and Tai Chi for Memory exercise. Register at vpas.info/caregiversupport or call VPAS at 540-615-5341.

Casks for a Cause to Benefit VPAS and Meals on Wheels

March 17 |1-10 pm with music from 6-8

| Brothers Craft Brewing

The best St. Patrick’s Day party in the area with a special cask to benefit VPAS, music by Dwight Martin, wood fired pizza, raffles, silent auction, and more!

Details at brotherscraftbrewing.com

Noble Native Gardens

March 20 | 2-3 pm | Price Rotary Senior Center

Spring is coming! Join us for this workshop with Karl Shank and Kirsten Sharp from Natural Gardens as we discuss how to work out the best location for a native garden, which Habitat Pack works best for each location, how to install plants and make a successful native garden. Register at vpas.info/recreation or call VPAS at 540-615-5341.

Discover & Dine: Finding the Right Fit in Retirement

March 21 | 2:00 pm | Bridgewater am to 4 pm; as well as the Second Saturday each month, 10 am to 2 pm. Exhibitions begin with a reception during First Fridays of the Valley. Mark your calendar for the June 2-30 exhibition! Never Stop Creating will showcase painting, quilting, woodworking and other mediums by artists living at Sunnyside Retirement Community.

Advancing the Arts grants ($445,606 over 22 years) fund art projects reaching thousands of area residents annually. A new Public Art Forward grant allocates $15,000 to create a downtown public artwork each year for three years.

Arts Council of the Valley also provides support for other public art initiatives, most recently partnering with the City of Harrisonburg on the North End Gateway Public Art Project. Opening Doors: The Art of Inclusion, a collaboration with The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham, will see 20 Art Doors on display later this year.

We invite you to visit Court Square Theater and Smith House Galleries. More information on Arts Council of the Valley is available at valleyarts.org.

Retirement Community

Should you stay in your long-time home and seek additional support as you age, or join a community with on-site amenities? Learn about the different types of retirement communities, and take a tour BRC’s model home. On your way out, pick up a delicious take-home dinner for two! RSVP Required — Register online at brcliving.org.

Good Heart Art: Seeds of Hope

April 18 | 2-3:30 pm | VPAS Harrisonburg Office

Artistic expression is a wonderful resource to keep our minds sharp, our spirits up, and new friendships growing! Supply lists for this guided art project will be offered in advance. Open to anyone 60 years old and older who believes creating arts and crafts is uplifting and fun! This is a no-pressure, come-as-you-are, art venture! All skill levels welcomed! Register at vpas.info/recreation or call 540-615-5341.

Explore & Engage: Retirement Done Right—BRC Residents Discuss Choices and Discoveries

May 16 | 2:00 pm | Bridgewater Retirement Community

Get the straight story from residents of a Bridgewater Retirement Community about why they made the retirement choices they did and what they would have done differently. Then take a tour of BRC’s community center and model home.

RSVP Required — Register online at brcliving.org.

Confident Caregiver Dementia Conference

May 17 | 9 am-3 pm | Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Center

This is a “Must Go” for anyone caring with a person living with dementia. Featuring Melanie Bunn, Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and speaker for Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care, conference topics will include:

•Using a Positive Approach to Dementia Care

• Coping with Challenging Situations in Dementia Care

• How Lifelong Personality Traits Impact Dementia Care Register at vpas.info/education or call VPAS at 540-615-5341.

The Science of Happiness by Bill Weech

May 23 | 10-11 am | Bridgewater Retirement Community

In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, join us for this fascinating seminar about how you can build happiness later in life. Bill Weech is an award-winning leadership trainer, executive coach, and management consultant with more than two decades of experience in leadership development. Treat yourself to this pickme-up and primer for what could be your very best years. Register at vpas.info/education or call VPAS at 540-615-5341.

Lego Serious Play for Caregivers

May 24 | 1-3 pm | Bridgewater Church of the Brethren

Caregivers, this is a perfect way to spend 120 minutes and it’s fun for all ages! This session is designed to help you relax and enjoy yourself. National caregiver expert Loretta Veney will lead you through LEGO building fun to help you build lots of JOY, HOPE or Superpowers to conquer caregiving challenges! She’ll help you discover what steals your joy, what brings you joy, and how to maintain joy on tough days. Register at vpas.info/caregiver-support or call VPAS at 540-615-5341.

Discover & Dine: Living Well with Assistance: Resident Stories and Insights

June 6 | 2:00 pm | Bridgewater Retirement Community

What’s it like to live in an Assisted Living community that cultivates connections and independence? Hear directly from BRC residents about their experiences, then tour the community center and an Assisted Living neighborhood. On your way out, pick up a delicious take-home dinner for two! RSVP Required — Register online at brcliving.org.

VPAS Cafes – ongoing

New friends, a delicious meal, light exercise and recreational programming for adults 60 years and older. Find a café near you by visiting vpas.info/vpas-cafes or calling 540-615-5341.

Estate Planning & Elder Law Attorneys

Is it time to review your estate plan? Every July 1st, the statutory law of Virginia changes. Moreover, courts review and interpret law every day. You should review your estate plan to take advantage of changes in the law. Whether you are planning for the distribution of assets at your death, naming someone to act for you during periods of incapacity, needing guidance through the murky waters of applying for Medicaid, or handling the estate of a lost loved one, we are here to help. Set your mind at ease by planning ahead for you and your loved ones at our convenient wheelchair-accessible downtown Harrisonburg location .

KAREN L. ROWELL, ESQUIRE

Email: krowell@clark-bradshaw.com

MATTHEW C. SUNDERLIN, CELA

Email: sunderlin@clark-bradshaw.com

CLARK & BRADSHAW, P.C.

92 North Liberty Street, Harrisonburg

Telephone: (540) 433-2601

Web: clark-bradshaw.com

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