Saturday, March 5
Piedmont Arts presents its annual, fabulous fundraiser Dancing for the Arts beginning at 4 p.m. in the Martinsville High School Auditorium. The contest features 8 teams competing to win the most votes, the highest score from the judges, and a set of hand-crafted trophies. The cost is $10 for general admission and $25 for reserved seating. Purchase tickets at piedmontarts.org.
Monday, March 7
The Martinsville-Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health, is hosting a free vaccine clinic from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Henry County Food Pantry, 3321 Fairystone Parkway, Bassett. To register, call Karen Millner at (276) 759-3131.
Wednesday, March 9
The Virginia Museum of Natural History (21 Starling Avenue, Martinsville) is offering its monthly Doodle Bugs! program, an opportunity for children ages 3-5 to experience science first-hand. The theme for March’s Doodle Bugs! is roll with the wind. The hour-long workshop includes imaginative stories, fun activities, and games and crafts that spark creativity and curiosity. This is the perfect opportunity for parents and grandparents to learn and have fun with their children. Pre-registration is required one week prior to the program and the cost is $7 per child. Masks are required for all indoor activities. For more information or to register, contact VMNH at discover.vmnh.virginia.gov or call (276) 634-4187. You can also register online at www.vmnh.net.
Thursday, March 10
Piedmont Arts, 215 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, is celebrating Art at Happy Hour. Enjoy happy hour with complimentary drinks and light snacks provided by the Piedmont Arts Guild while you go on a casual, self-guided tour of current exhibits. RSVP by March 9 to (276) 632-3221 or online at piedmontarts.org.
Henry County Parks & Recreation will put out a St. Patrick’s Day geocache at one of the local county trails. Download a geocaching app to see if you can find it. Coordinates will be posted to the Henry County Parks & Recreation Facebook page.
Friday, March 11
Music Night at the Spencer Penn Centre, with tunes from the Jus Cauz Bluegrass Band in the centre’s Alumni Hall, 475 Spencer-Penn Road, Spencer. Gate opens at 5 p.m. and the band goes on at 6:15. Admission is a $5 donation. Social distancing will be required, and masks when distancing is not possible. Concessions will be sold.
The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at the Martinsville Elks Lodge (300 Fairy Street Ext., Martinsville) from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org.
Saturday, March 12
The Martinsville-Henry County SPCA is hosting the WOOFSTOCK Fur Ball at Chatmoss Country Club (550 Mt. Olivet Road, Martinsville) beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $95 per person and include food, live music by Seven Til Sunrise, and an open bar. The event also includes a live auction, silent auction, and raffle tickets. For more information or to purchase tickets visit spamhc.org or call (276) 252-9014.
Thursday, March 17
The Henry County School Board will hold a special meeting beginning at 6 p.m. in the Summerlin Meeting Room of the Henry County Administration Building, 3300 Kings Mountain Road, Martinsville.
The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at the Martinsville Elks Lodge, 300 Fairy Street Ext., Martinsville, from 12-6 p.m. To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org.
Friday, March 18
The Spencer Penn Centre is hosting Bingo. Doors open at 5 p.m., games begin at 6 p.m. $20/20 games. $1 game for members only at intermission.
The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at Hillcrest Baptist Church (18075 AL Philpott Hwy, Ridgeway) from 1-6 p.m. To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org.
Friday, March 18-20
P&HCC is offering a motorcycle basic rider course. This 3-day course is for those who want to learn to ride a motorcycle properly and safely. Motorcycles and helmets are provided for use during the course. Sessions meet Friday from 6-9:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The cost of the class is $100. Call (276) 656-5461 or visit ph.augusoft.net.
Saturday, March 19
The Spencer-Penn Centre, 475 Spencer-Penn Road, Spencer, is hosting a grapevine wreath class from 1-3 p.m. The cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Students should wear gloves and bring a flathead screwdriver to class. Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling (276) 957-5757. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members.
Thursday, March 24-26
VMFA on the Road will be at Piedmont Arts, 215 Starling Avenue, Martinsville. The program is a traveling art museum from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond that brings art to remote corners of Virginia by way of the Museum’s Statewide Partners program. Visitors will be able to tour “A View from Home: Landscapes of Virginia.”
Friday, March 25
Join Piedmont Arts, 215 Starling Avenue, Martinsville, for an opening reception in honor of the museum’s newest exhibits beginning at 5:30 p.m. Complimentary wine and light refreshments will be served. The reception is free and open to the public.
Saturday, March 26
The Martinsville-Henry SPCA, the Martinsville City Police Department, and PetSense are partnering to host a microchip clinic from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at PetSense, 240 Commonwealth Blvd. W, Martinsville. The cost of a microchip and registration is $10. Dogs must be on leashes and cats must be in carriers for the safety of the animal.
The Spencer-Penn Centre, 475 Spencer-Penn Road, Spencer, is hosting Painting with Genie beginning at 1 p.m. All supplies are provided. Pre-registration is required by calling (276) 957-5757. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members.
Sunday, March 27
The Spencer-Penn Centre will host a barn quilt class from 12-4 p.m. All supplies are provided and pricing is based on size, ranging from $75 to $85. The registration deadline is Friday, March 18. For more details or to register, call (276) 957-5757.
Tuesday, March 29
The Basset Historical Center, 3964 Fairystone Park Highway, Bassett, will feature music from the local country and gospel group the Southern Gentlemen, from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. Masks will be required.
ONGOING
The Louise R. Lester Spay/Neuter Clinic is hosting wellness clinics every Tuesday. Clinics are by appointment only—no walk-ins will be accepted. February’s clinics will be dedicated to families with public assistance only, but will open to everyone beginning in March. Call (276) 638-7297 to schedule your appointment.
The Warming Center of Martinsville and Henry County, located at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 725 Beechnut Lane, is open to provide a warm place to sleep, a warm meal, and personal supplies at no cost to those in need. Anyone who needs transportation to the center can be picked up at 6:45 p.m. at the Martinsville library and 6:25 p.m. at the Collinsville library. Weekly schedules are posted at the Martinsville library, YMCA, and on the MHC Warming Center Facebook page every Saturday. For more information, call (276) 207-9660. Anyone who wishes to volunteer at the Warming Center or make a donation can find more information on Facebook or at www.foresthillspc.com/mhc-warming-shelter.html.
Patrick & Henry Community College is organizing a virtual Leadership Learning Community! If you have leadership questions, P&HCC can connect you with answers through this virtual community. Participants have the opportunity to collaborate and brainstorm current, real-time challenges and successes with fellow leaders while learning from each other or gaining insights from professionals skilled in areas of concern. Sessions will be held from 4-5 p.m. every other Wednesday through June 22. Prices range from $225 for 12 sessions all the way to $25 for individual sessions. For more information or to register, visit ph.augusoft.net or call (276) 656-0260.
Piedmont Arts hosts three exhibits: “Our Living Past: Platinum Portraits of Southern Music Makers,” “Dear B.J.: Postcards from the Pandemic,” and “Tara Compton.” All exhibits run through March 12. Museum admission is free.
Henry County Parks & Recreation invites you out for a trek along the trail. Explore the trails of Martinsville-Henry County, make new friends, and get some fresh air and exercise. Call the HCPR Senior Services office at (276) 634-4644 to find out where the week’s trek is happening. Trail Trekkers meet Thursday of each week (weather permitting) at 1 p.m. in the fall and winter and 9:15 a.m. in spring and summer.
The Blue Ridge Regional Library offers free one-day passes to the Virginia Museum of Natural History and the Henry County YMCA with your library card. The passes are good for one day and exclude special events. There is a wait period before you can check out the pass again. For more details and exclusions, visit brrl.lib.va.us.
The Fontaine Ruritan Club hosts Bingo every Tuesday at 1903 Joseph Martin Highway, Martinsville. Doors open at 5:30 and games begin at 7. Money from Bingo supports community service awards, scholarships, and other community efforts.
MHC Coalition for Health and Wellness offers no contact Medicaid application assistance for eligible Virginia residents from birth to 64 years of age. No sign-up fees, no premiums, no deductibles. Including Children’s Medicaid/FAMIS, Pregnancy Medicaid, and Adult Health Care -19 to 64 years old. Questions can be answered, and applications completed by phone. In-person application assistance is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Community Storehouse.
Call or text Ann Walker 276 732-0509 to see if you qualify.
The Henry County Adult Learning Center offers free in-house and online classes to help prepare for college, career, or earn your high school equivalency or GED. Classes can help improve your digital literacy, job skills, English language skills, and earning potential. Contact the Center for Community Learning at (276) 647-9585.
(Event information/calendar items must be received by 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before the desired publication date. Email to newsreporter@theenterprise.net)