If you recall a while back we wrote about Life Out Loud Films and the movie they plan to shoot at the lake this year called “Lake Effects”. You can be part of that exciting venture by joining us for the Academy Awards Party to benefit Life Out Loud Films.

 Watch the Oscar awards show on the big screen in a red carpet atmosphere. Games and giveaways and much more. The Party will be held at Mariners Landing, Smith Mountain Lake. That is the Mariners Landing Resort Community and Conference Center on March 7th from 6-9pm. For more info. call 540-297-4900 or 800- 851-4988 or email them at  info@marinerslanding.com.

The Grand Winter Gala, at Water’s Edge, March 6, 2010, 6:30 till 11pm. Charity event to benefit Lake Christian Ministries and SML Christian Academy, 60 a person / $100 couple dinner included.  Entertainment byThe Kings.  Black tie optional. 12 local artists paint chairs to be auctioned off. For more info. visit www.grandwintergala.com.

Pottery Class at the Southern Virginia Artisan Center located at 54 West Church Street in Martinsvillel, Va.  The class will be held on March 6th from 9:00am. to 1:00pm.
For pricing and other information call 276-656-5461 or visit the website at http://www.southernvirginiaartisancenter.org.

Or if pottery is not your thing, explore simple decorative painting techniques to enhance your home décor. Bring color and fabric samples for one room of your home, develop designs for several accent pieces, and paint one design. Also at the Virginian Artisan Center, but on March 13th from 9am. to 5pm. For pricing and other information call 276-656-5461 or visit the website at http://www.southernvirginiaartisancenter.org.

The Little Dinner Theater Players present Virginia Jones: The Inca Revenge. Advance reservations are required for dinner and show, with discounted overnight packages available, so please call (540) 297-4900 for pricing and details. March 13th from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

Casa D Amici’s Wine Pairing Dinner. March 15th from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Serving 7 gourmet courses perfectly paired with 9 delicious wines. Reservations are required. Call 540-296-1329.

Benjamin’s At the Point, 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party on March 17th from 5-9pm. Authentic cuisine from the McGehee family, including Corned Beef & Cabbage, Sheppard’s Pie, Irish Cream Chocolate Mousse Cake and more. Featured drink specials throughout the night, so wear your green and join the fun!

There will also be a number of new exhibits this year including barbecue grill promoters, dock building companies, outdoor clothing retailers, sellers of various living furnishings, landscaping companies, not to mention boat vendors and many more items of interest.

You will notice an increase in displays of popular water related hobbies such as wake surfing, boats designed for towing wake boarders, wake skaters and many other water sport related dealers and accessories.

Come on out and join the fun on Friday, February 26th from 1 to 8 pm., On Saturday the 27th from 10 to 8pm. and on Sunday the 28th from 10 to 5pm.

On Feb. 26th at the Elks National Home there will be a Black Tie and Blue Jeans Ball. A few of the more entertaining activities will include a Community Dance run by the McKenzies, country style hors d’oeuvres, and a tasting of fine wines.

Then of course there will be wonderful food and an opportunity to congratulate the winners of the Bedford Community Health Foundation’s annual Philanthropy Awards. Admission for this event is $25.  You may want to make reservations in order to be sure you get a seat/plate at this fun event. For more info. you can call 540-586-5292 or email at info@healthybedford.org.

If you live at Smith Mountain Lake or one of it’s surrounding counties, and are looking to hire new employees or need a job yourself, you will want to attend the Career Fair in Franklin County this month.

The Franklin Center for Advanced Learning and Enterprise will be co-sponsoring a Career Fair on Thursday, February 25th from 11am-4pm at The Franklin Center in Rocky Mount, Va. Registration for the fair is FREE and open to all employers. For more information contact Deb Squire at Debra.Squire@vec.virginia.govor call 540-986-5659. Be sure to reserve a table for your business by Feb. 12th. 

Or if you prefer to do your job searching online you can visit the Virtual Job Fair running from February 14 – 26 at http://jobs.roanoke.com.  This exclusive online job fair offers you the convenience of doing your search when and where it’s convenient for you. Simply go to the link above and click on Virtual Job Fair to research employment opportunities and submit your resume.

For the younger crowd there is the Winter Jam Concert each year also at the Roanoke Civic Center. This is a combination of contemporary Christian music bands and singers that the younger generation (and all ages) loves. You can join the crowd of Christian music lovers for Winter Jam featuring “Firelight” on Thursday, Feb. 18th at 6:20pm.

Whether you have a sweetheart or not, everyone has someone they could choose to honor with a loving note or gift. Share the flowers and other colorful and bright icons of the holiday with your Mom, sister, brother, friend, etc. and take advantage of one of the opportunities offered below.

Casa DiAmici – Wine Pairing Dinner
Will be serving 7 gourmet courses perfectly paired with 9 delicious wines.
Reservations are required. For info. Call 540-296-1329 or sparrish@celebrationsquareproperties.com
February 8, 2010 at 6:30 PM - 09:30 PM
http://www.casadamicisml.com

The Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce will be at the Southwest Virginia Boat Show February 26, 27, & 28 this year, with a specific purpose in mind. They want to help the growth of your business and our Smith Mountain Lake community.

At their table in the boat show, SML Chamber can aid your business by distributing your literature/advertising along with other SML businesses. All you need to do is simply bring your coupons, flyers or small advertising specialties (i.e. key chains, pens, etc.) to the SML Visitor Center. They will then bag and distribute them at the Boat Show, FREE of charge. 

All they ask is that you bring a minimum of 500 pieces to distribute and no large specialty items. Only bring small items easy to pass along to visitors. The deadline to bring your items is Feb. 19th. Volunteers will be needed to help bag literature, etc. For more information contact Jim Shauberger at 540-721-1203.

Oh, and don’t forget to have a good time at the boat show!

Certain illnesses where the body cannot produce sufficient blood, internal bleeding, accident victims, and several other health conditions can make the need for blood a matter of life and death. Please consider donating blood, especially if you have a rare type.

 Give blood from Noon to 6 p.m. at the Trinity Ecumenical Parish, 40 Lakemount Drive, Moneta. Positive ID. will be required. Call for more info. 1-800-448-3543 or visit www.redcrossblood.org.

Grand Home Furnishings will be furnishing 12 small bare wood chairs for 12 different artists to paint in their own unique style. The artistically painted chairs will then be auctioned off on March 6, 2010 at The Grand Winter Gala and all profits will be donated to the above listed charities.

The Grand Winter Gala will be held at the Waters Edge Ball Room on March 6th from 7pm. to 11pm. You can purchase tickets in person from Grand Home Furnishings Westlake, Lynchburg, Valley View and Tanglewood, or fill out an online order form to receive your tickets in the mail. Individuals are $60 and couples are $100.