Submissions to the community calendar need to be in writing and arrive or be brought into The Mount Airy News office before 5 p.m. at least five days before the event should appear in the newspaper. Be sure to include the full name and address of the event; the time, day and date of the event; and a contact phone number in case our staff has any questions. Information may be mailed to: The Mount Airy News, P.O. Box 808, Mount Airy, NC 27030; faxed to 789-2816; or emailed to aeldridge@mtairynews.com.

Ongoing

n Every Saturday night, Dobson Rescue Squad Inc. hosts bingo with cash prizes. The bingo is at the Dobson Rescue Squad at U.S. 601 and Rockford Road. Early birds start at 5 p.m. Regular pack begins at 7 p.m. The late bingo depends on the number of players. The regular pack is nine games for $20. The players game is $5. A child pack, for children 13 and under, is $5. Concessions are sold on site by Dobson Rescue. For more information, call 374-4100.

n Jamming in Jamsburg in Lambsburg, Va., is held every Friday from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Community Center. Bluegrass, old-time, gospel and other types of music will be playing. Situated at the foot of the Sugar Loaf Mountain and surrounded by the mountains makes a beautiful backdrop for the jam. There’s plenty of space indoors and outdoors. There are concessions with the clean entertainment for the whole family. All musicians and music lovers are invited to come play, dance or just listen and enjoy. Admission is free, and concessions are available.

n The Peoples Church Soup Kitchen is open every second Tuesday of the month from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dine in and delivery is available for those who live within the immediate area. For delivery, call before 3 p.m. that day. Contact Gene Brinkley at 789-1555 or Debbie Wall at 755-6746 for more information.

n The Surry Arts Council presents free fiddle, guitar and banjo lessons downstairs at the Andy Griffith Playhouse every Thursday evening. Master musician Jim Vipperman teaches fiddle at 5:30 p.m., and guitar and banjo at 6:15 p.m. No sign-up required, instruments are available for use during the lessons. For more information, call 786-7998.

n A Jam Session will be held every Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m., free at the Andy Griffith Playhouse.

n A Jam Session will be held every Saturday from 9 to 11 am, free at the Downtown Cinema Theater.

n WPAQ 740 AM presents a live radio broadcast every Saturday from 11 am to 1:30 p.m. at the Downtown Cinema Theater.

n Every Thursday evening, the American Legion Post 123 hosts Bingo at the American Legion Hall at Veterans Park, 691 W. Lebanon St. in Mount Airy. Cash prizes total up to $2,400 being paid. Early Birds start at 6:30 p.m. and regular games start at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. Free coffee is offered and drinks and snacks are sold. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 710-7322.

n The Foothills Blues Society has a Blues Jam every second and fourth Tuesday at B52’s, 972 U.S. 52 in Mount Airy, from 8 p.m. until. The society is seeking new members. Musicians and blues fans are welcome.

n If you or a family member is struggling with substance abuse, help is a phone call away. Twin City Area Narcotics Anonymous Helpline is available 24 hours a day at (800) 365-1035 or at www.teana.org. Call or visit the Web site for meeting schedules and additional information. This is a 12-step recovery program.

n Catch a tribute to “The King” on the second Saturday of each month at the Andy Griffith Playhouse. Professional tribute artist Jimmy W. Johnson brings a unique Elvis performance. Showtime is 3 p.m. Prices for the shows are as follows: first 10 rows are $25, last 10 rows are $20, balcony seats are $15. Contact the Surry Arts Council to reserve tickets at 786-7998.

n The Ararat Ruritan Club, Va., has dances every Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission is $5. Children under 12 are free. Performing are Charles Bowman and 2 Young 2 Old, May 23; Charles Bowman and Down Town Boys, May 30; Zephyr Lightning Bolt, June 6; and Jerry George and Snow Creek Olde Tyme Band, June 13. For more information, call (276) 251-5436.

n The Disabled American Veterans meets the fourth Thursday of each month at the National Guard Armory in Mount Airy at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to all members and their families.

n Join the Foothills Arts Council for The Artists Forum on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. This is an informal artists group for anyone interested in exploring their creative side. These discussions are presented free at the FAC building, 129 Church St., Elkin. For more information, call 835-2025.

n The Woman’s Club of Mount Airy meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. The club is seeking new members. The Woman’s Club of Mount Airy is a member of the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs of North Carolina. It is a service organization which gives back to the community in many ways including scholarships for local students and projects around Surry County. Anyone interested in attending a meeting should contact Wendy at 786-5747.

n Clayworks is having open studio for ceramics in Elkin on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon on Front Street. This is for adults who would like studio time to work on their own projects with or without instruction. The cost is $145 for 12 sessions. Start any date, work on the project of your choosing. To register, call the Yadkin Valley Craft Guild at 835-2717. For more information, visit www.yadkinvalleycraftguild.org.

n Every Thursday, the Mount Airy Public Library will have Game Night at 6 p.m. The library will have games like Scrabble, Boggle, Uno, Life, Sorry, Yahtzee, Trivial Pursuit and other games available to play.

n The Beulah Ruritan Club will have a dance every Friday from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Admission is $5. Children under the age of 12 are free. For more information, call 352-3383.

n The Foothills Arts Council announces the next session of After School Arts. This program for kids offers four different art classes, each meeting once a week for six weeks. Each class is $40 per six-week session. Need-based scholarships are available. This program is made possible by a grant from the Richard T. Chatham fund of the Winston-Salem Foundation. After School Arts! will be ongoing throughout the entire 2008-2009 school year, with different art classes offered every six weeks. Call 835-2025 to sign up.

n The town of Historic Hillsville, Va., has announced the expanded summer concert and classic car cruise-in series. These events are all free of charge. Events will be from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Jailhouse Square. Music, food, beverages, children’s activities and dancing will all take place. Schedule is June 27, The Entertainers; July 18, Showtime, Jim Quick and Coastline; Aug. 29, Mixed Emotion and Craig Woolard Band; and Sept. 12, The Embers. For more information, call Larry South at (276) 728-2128, ext. 16, or email hillsville@embarqmail.com.

n The Carroll County Academy of Virtual Learning with K-12 Online Schools will hold open enrollment for children interested in virtual learning. Parents of interested students may apply online for the 2009-2010 school year. Open enrollment will be from now until June 15. Applicants must apply online at www.k12.com. For more information, call the Carroll County School Board at (276) 728-3191.

n The Granite City monthly cruise-in will be held behind Quality Inn and Arby’s on U.S. 601 the fourth Saturday of each month, June 27, July 25, Aug. 22 and Sept. 26. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be sold by White Plains Ruritan Club. Drink proceeds will go to the Childrens Christmas Fund. Christmas in July will be held at the July 25 date and will include a special auction for Christmas gifts for children in need. A drop box for unwrapped toys for children in need will be available at all cruise-ins. Cruise-ins will be held from 5 p.m. until. Door prizes and a 50/50 drawing will take place at 8 p.m. New members are welcome. See a club member for more information.

n Downtown Elkin will have the 4th Friday Celebration every fourth Friday of the month through October from 6 to 9 p.m. Live bluegrass music by The Mitchell River Band will be performing, shops, restaurants, winery and galleries will be open late. For more information call 835-9857.

n Meetings will be held each Thursday at Bojangles from 6 to 8 p.m. for those healing from a broken marriage.

n The Mount Airy Public Library will be showing movies on Mondays on the back lawn of the library, beginning June 15. Movies will begin at dusk. These events are free and open to the public. Bring blankets and lawn chairs for seating. The movie schedule is, June 15, Twilight; June 22, The Spiderwich Chronicles; June 29, The Golden Compass; July 6, Transfomers; July 13, Marley & Me; July 20, Journey to the Center of the Earth; and July 27, City of Ember.

Today

n The Surry Arts Council’s Summer Concert Series presents The Entertainers. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Blackmon Amphitheatre. Tickets are $10 or free with a Surry Arts Council Season Pass. For more information, visit www.surryarts.org or contact the Surry Arts Council at (800) 286-6193.

n A basket bingo benefit will be held in the North Surry High School cafeteria to help with medical expenses for Larry Bryant. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the games will start at 7 p.m. Hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches, chips, desserts and drinks will be sold starting at 6 p.m. The cost is $20 for 20 games, 60 cards. Door prizes will be given out. Extra door prize tickets will be sold at the door. Cakes will also be auctioned at the game. Game 21 is an optional coverall game for $5. The prize is a large botanical weave boardwalk basket with protector, valued over $200. Raffle tickets will be sold for a chance on a large blanket basket with protector, valued over $275.

n A beach blast at Jones School will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., rain or shine. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. There will be lots of activities for the entire family. A silent auction will start at 6 p.m. Pizza, chips, candy, cotton candy, soda and water will be sold. The JJJ Show Choir and Dance Team will perform. All children and students must be supervised by an adult. All proceeds go to the Jones P.T.O.

June 6

n The 16th annual National Cancer Survivors Day will be celebrated at Bolton Park in Winston-Salem from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cancer survivors and their families are invited to gather to celebrate cancer survivorship. Survivors will enjoy a worry free day of relaxation, laughter, hope and celebration. Kids will enjoy special activities while parents sit back and enjoy the entertainment. For more information, call 760-9983.

n The descendants of James Calvin and Susan Easter McCraw will have a reunion from noon to 4 p.m. at Ruben’s Red Lantern, half a mile off I-77, exit 8, on Kelly Road in Fancy Gap, Va. Everyone is welcome. Bring a covered dish to share. For more information, call Donnie McCraw at (276) 236-6600.

n The Hickman Family Reunion is sponsoring a fish/chicken plate sale at 528 Parker Road at the home of the late Josephine Davis. It will begin at 11 a.m. and go until. Plates will be sold for $6. There will also be side dishes.

n A benefit for Gary King will be held at Northside Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 886 Fowler Road, Mount Airy. Food will be served from 3 to 6 p.m. Two hot dogs, chips and a drink is $5. Desserts are $.50. An auction will be held at 6:30 p.m. There will be door prizes and a bake sale. Donations will be accepted. Pickups are available. For more information call 786-8772, 786-8750 or 786-6695.

n The 1984 class of East Surry High School will be holding its reunion at the Nunn Brother’s Music Park, 354 Woodville Road in Mount Airy, from 3 to 8 p.m. A class photo will be taken at 5 p.m. Food will be available for a nominal fee by Albion Baptist Church. Visit the class website at East Surry1984.com and register. RSVP to Arnold Nunn at 351-6556.

n A basket benefit bingo will be held at the White Plains Ruritan Building. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the games will start at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $20 for 20 games or you can purchase a 20-game packet with 1 raffle ticket and 6 door prize tickets for $25. The last game will be fo a large picnic basket. The raffle drawing will be for a 12 piece Longaberger Dinnerware Set in Butternut. All proceeds go towards medical expenses for Ashley Bray Tanner, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and in need of a double lung transplant.

June 7

n The Mount Airy Elks Auxiliary is hosting its annual bike and road rally. Sign in will start at 9 a.m. and pull out will be at 11:30 a.m. This event is open to the public. Cars, trucks and bikes are welcome. The cost is $10 per playing hand. First, second and third place winners will receive cash prizes. Come early for free coffee and doughnuts. Hot dogs and drinks will be available after the ride. There will be door prizes and a raffle for a keg-o-rator. Proceeds go to Surry Medical Ministries and Elks Lodge projects. For more information, call 786-2061.

n The Surry Arts Council will present Shelby Foote’s “Shiloh” at 7:30 p.m. at the Blackmon Amphitheatre. In the event of rain, the performance will be held at the Andy Griffith Playhouse. Admission is $10 or free with a SAC season pass. For more information, visit www.surryarts.org or contact the Surry Arts Council at (800) 286-6193.

n The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History and New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music presents a program by Milk Lowe, “The Key to Roots Music” at 3 p.m. in the museum annex. Refreshments will be served following the program. This event is free but donations will be accepted.

June 8

n The Surry County Genealogical Association will have a meeting at 7 p.m. in the teaching auditorium at Surry Community College. The speaker will be Frances Casstevens who will present a program on the Harding family. This meeting is free and everyone is invited. For more information, call 755-9462 or email epdj1@embarqmail.com.

June 10

n Reeves Community Center and the Diabetes Education Program of Surry County Health and Nutrition Center present “Traveling with Diabetes-Don’t let it trip you up” from noon to 1 p.m. at the NC Cooperative Extension in Dobson. For information, call 401-8025.

June 11

n The King Public Library will be hosting “Squeezed by Rising Food Prices” workshop. This workshop is free. To register, call the library at (336) 989-3868 or email janelle_kent@ncsu.edu.

June 13

n The Pilot Knob Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting a tractor pull and tractor show. Gates will open at 11 a.m. and the tractor pull will start at 2 p.m. Special guests from professional pulling associations and local equipment and talent will be there. All classes must comply with O.T.T.P.A. Admission is $5 and kids 12 and younger accompanied by a paying adult are free. Bring a lawn chair. Concessions will be available, and there will be plenty of handicap parking. Alcohol and drug use will not be tolerated at this event, and coolers will not be allowed in the grandstand area. The rain date for this event is June 14. For more information, call the Pilot Knob VFD at 368-4646 or email pilotknobfire76@embarqmail.com.

n A community outreach benefit for TPIN, The People In Need, will be held at Central Methodist Church, 1909 N. Main St., Mount Airy, from 4 to 9 p.m. There will be a gospel singing, food and fun, door prizes and an auction for cakes and artwork. For more information, call Thomas Inman or Kerry Shore at 648-6173.

n Mayberry Ballroom Dance will have its monthly dance at Pro Health Fitness Center. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Lessons will be from 7 to 7:45 p.m. and the dance will be from 7:45 to 10:30 p.m. Visitors are $8, USA Dance Members are $5 and youth, full-time students, are $3. Dress casual and bring a snack. Drinks will be provided.

June 14

n The annual Simpson-Marion reunion will be held at Piney Grove Baptist Church. All relatives and friends are invited to come and bring a well filled picnic basket at 1 p.m.

June 18

n The Mount Airy Public Library will kick on the Summer Reading Program with local storyteller Brack Llewellyn at 1:30 p.m. Brack has refined his craft of keeping children enthralled with his imaginative tales.

June 19

n The Surry County Senior Center has a trip planned to Harrah’s Casino in Cherokee. The cost is $40 and participants will receive $20 in coins upon arrival. Must be age 21 or better and have a photo ID when entering the casino. A charter bus will be used for transportation. Pick-up in Mount Airy will be at 8 a.m. and Jonesville at 8:30 a.m. Contact Annalisa Davis at 786-6155 ext. 225 for more information. All proceeds will benefit the Surry Senior Center.

June 20

n The descendants of James Elbert Alderman and Florence Myrtie Cox Alderman will have a reunion at the Riverhill Christian Church fellowship building, Riverhill Road, Galax, Va. Lunch will be served from noon to 2 p.m. Bring a favorite dish to share and any photographs, genealogy information and family memorabilia. Food setup will start at 11 a.m. For more information call (276) 236-4351.

n The Brush Arbor Gospel Singing, off N.C. 89 in Lowgap, will present the Primitive Quartet at 7 p.m. Admission is free at the gate. Bring a lawn chair. Food and refreshments will be available. A love offering will be taken. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Special Olympics of Surry County. For more information call 352-4346

June 24-26

n Experience the life of the cavalry with hands on activites, games and crafts at Foster Falls, Va., on the New River Trail State Park from 9 a.m. to noon. Children can attend just one day or all three with a graduation cermony at the end. Ages 6 to 12 are $3 per day or $10 for all three days. To make a reservation or for more information, contact the park office at (276) 699-6778.

June 25

n The Mount Airy Public Library’s Summer Reading Program will have “My Great Aunt Arizona” performed by the Mount Airy Dance Theatre from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. This play is based on the book by Gloria Houston and is the life story of an Appalachian school teacher who dreamed of faraway places. The actors tell her story through drama and dance.

June 27

n The Virginia Highlands Festival Youth Committee will be hosting the first ever Miss Virginia Beauty Pageant at the Virginia Ball Room in Abingdon, Va. The pageant will have age appropriate divisions for girls birth to 18 years. Pageants are open to contestants from Southwest Virginia and the Greater Tri-Cities areas. For more information or entry forms, visit www.vahighlandsfestival.org or call the office at (276) 623-5266.

July 2

n The Mount Airy Public Library’s Summer Reading Program will have an ice cream party at 1:30 p.m. Create a sundae masterpiece on the lawn of the library. Ms. Jackie will teach children’s songs that everyone should know

July 5

n The Surry County Parks and Recreation Department, Surry County Recreation Advisory Committee and Surry County Veterans Services will host an appreciation picnic for military families at Fisher River Park from 4 to 6 p.m. The picnic will include live music, a cook-out for military families and games for children.

July 9

n The Mount Airy Public Library’s Summer Reading Program will have a painting workshop. Each child will learn painting techniques and be given the chance to create their own artwork to display in the library’s multipurpose room for the rest of the summer.

July 16

n The Mount Airy Public Library’s Summer Reading Program will present at dance workshop at 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Learn different types of dance and dancers will teach the children a few moves of their own.

July 23

n The Mount Airy Public Library’s Summer Reading Program will present puppets with Justin Nichols, based on the story of Stone Soup. Then Justin will teach different about different types of puppets and demonstrate how they are used. Take-home puppets will be made.

July 30

n The Mount Airy Public Library’s Summer Reading Program presents “Express Yourself” starring the library’s own Dewey Decimal Players. This play is written by Brack Llewellyn and directed by Angela Llewellyn.

Aug. 22

n The Mount Airy High School class of 1964 will hold its 45th reunion. Anyone who is a member of this class and has had a change of address since the last reunion or knows of anyone who has, contact Tom Fawcett at 789-2002.

Sept. 18 and 19

n Patrick County High School, class of 1984 will have its 25 year class reunion. If you are a graduate of that class, contact Jeff Bowman at (276) 694-5209 or Gary Gunter at 325-7172 and give them your address.

Sept. 26

n The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Andy Griffith Museum will be held during the 20th annual Mayberry Days Festival. The museum is open seven days a week. Admission is $3 per person. Children 12 and younger are admitted free. For more information, contact the Surry Arts Council at 786-7998.

Oct. 3

n The Mount Airy High School class of 1982 will hold its 27th class reunion. Anyone who is a member of this class, or know someone who is, contact Annette Rigney Timmons at 371-0424, Carol Vaughn Surratt at 374-8186 or David Nance at (704) 562-7241. All of these people have texting. For more information, call or visit Facebook.