Haiti Yard Sale, film project applications open and more

Cat Action Team is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization serving Charlottesville and 12 surrounding counties to help homeless cats with trap/neuter/return programs, fostering, adoption, feral colony maintenance, food and support. Volunteers are welcome. catactionteam.org.

Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA has started new hours in response to visitor and customer service data. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The shelter will remain closed on Mondays for deep cleaning and staff member training. Evening adoption appointments may be scheduled throughout the week by emailing adoptions@caspca.org, submitting an adoption application on the website or calling (434) 973-5959. caspca.org.

Charlottesville Retreads is recruiting senior softball players at 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Darden Towe Park. The program is for men 55 and older and women 40 and older and runs from April through November. http://charlottesville retreads.org. (434) 825- 5304.

The Compassionate Friends will meet on Zoom on the second Tuesday of every month, including Tuesday, and in person on the fourth Tuesday of every month, including Oct. 24, in the downstairs library of Church of Our Saviour on East Rio Road. The support group is for families who have lost a child of any age, for any reason. Free; no fees. mashRN@aol.com or (434) 974-9314.

DMV is offering permanent farm-use placards for unregistered farm vehicles at all of its customer service centers. DMV-issued placards will be required starting July 1, 2024. Placards are $15 and remain valid for the lifetime of the vehicle, but they are not transferable. Applications are available online at dmv.virginia.gov.

Greene County has ended its recent mandatory water restrictions, but voluntary water conservation practices are encouraged until further notice. Fix leaks promptly; take shorter showers; cut back on watering lawns; use dishwashers and washing machines efficiently; use brooms instead of hoses to clear porches and driveways; and stop or cut back on washing vehicles. www.greenecountyva.gov. (434) 985-5201.

Greene County Public Schools will participate in the Community Eligible Provision as implemented under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students. Households will not be required to submit meal application forms to receive meals at no charge. Each household will receive a letter with information about the program. Details: sfrench@greenecuntyschools.com. (434) 939-9096.

Haiti Yard Sale, an annual fundraiser for Robert N. Ford Haitian Orphanage & School, will continue from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Crossroads in North Garden at U.S. 29 and Plank Road and Mount Olivet Church at Old Lynchburg Road and Red Hill Road. fordhaitianorphanage.org.

Holistic Healers Expo will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Rockfish Valley Community Center in Afton. Learn about different holistic disciplines available in Nelson County and the surrounding area, including Reiki, massage, yoga, t’ai chi, acupuncture and other. Katrina Starfish will present musical performances. Rain or shine. (434) 361-0100.

Hospice of the Piedmont offers general grief support drop-in groups at 3 p.m. Wednesdays on Zoom; call (434) 817-6915 to register. Remembering Our Children, a support group for parents who have lost children, takes place at 5:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month on Zoom; call (434) 817-6915 to register. hopva.org. (434) 817-6949.

Lake Monticello Fire Department will present its annual Fire Prevention Day Oct. 14 at the firehouse at 10 Slice Road. There will be demonstrations, games, a bounce house, food, education and fire trucks.

Light House Studio is accepting applications for the19th annual Adrenaline Film Project through Sunday. Mentors will include founder Jeff Wadlow, Steve Robillard, Han West and Rachel Lane. Teams will have 72 hours to pitch, write, film and edit a short film and show it to a live theater audience. This year’s screening event will be at 8 p.m. Nov. 11 at Vinegar Hill Theatre. Application and details: lighthousestudio.org.

Living Free Together will conduct a practice ruck hike (a hike with extra weight) for its Ruck the Ridge fundraiser for military families at 2 p.m. Oct. 15 at Preddy Creek Trail Park at 3690 Burnley Station. Ruck the Ridge and its Ruck Fest festival will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 11 at Blue Ridge School. Spaces for Ruck the Ridge are limited to 180 participants; registration is required at livingfree2gether.org. No registration is required for Ruck Fest, which is free; activities will include food trucks, face painting, a 40-foot climbing tower, a petting zoo, music and an inflatable obstacle course. livingfree2gether.org.

Living Free Together will offer a Fearless Family Workshop for veterans and military families from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays from Oct. 16 to Nov. 6 at 550 Buck Mountain Road in Earlysville. There will be dinner and classes for all ages, including finding your mission, cooking with teens, and yoga. Free; register at livingfree2gether.org.

Parkinson’s Care Partners Support Group meets at 10:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at The Center at Belvedere. The meeting is part of the Virginia Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association Information and Referral Center of Virginia at UVa Health System. (434) 974-7756.

Piedmont Master Gardeners will present three free informational meetings on how to become an Extension Master Gardener at 1 p.m. Oct. 12 at Crozet Library, 1 p.m. Oct. 18 at Gordon Avenue Library and 1 p.m. Oct. 27 at Northside Library. Learn how to participate in the 2024 training class for Extension Master Gardeners to serve Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The class will meet for weekly sessions from early February through April. Applications are due Dec. 1; get them from master gardener program coordinator Nick Saylor at nickjs23@vt.edu or (434) 872-4581. https://piedmontmastergardeners.org.

Rivanna Solid Waste Authority is offering free mulch at Ivy Material Utilization Center at 4576 Dick Woods Road. The mulch, made of local trees and vegetation, has no dyes. https://www.rivanna.org/ivy-material-utilization-center-muc/.

Rivanna Solid Waste Authority will accept household appliances from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Ivy Material Utilization Center at 4576 Dick Woods Road. Tires will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 14; do not bring oversized tires.

Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority, Albemarle County Service Authority and City of Charlottesville Utilities Department are encouraging local residents to help conserve water by limiting outdoor watering, washing cars and filling pools during a time of below-average rainfall. www.rivanna.org.

Rockfish Valley Foundation will present its fourth annual Old Wintergreen Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15 at Spruce Creek Park and the Natural History Center. There will be music, exhibits, speakers and a food truck. Volunteers are welcome. rockfishvalleyfdn@gmail.com. (434) 361-0171.

Senior Statesmen of Virginia will meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Center at Belvedere. Candidates Ann Mallek, Bea LaPisto Kirtley, T.J. Fadeley and Mike O.D. Pruitt will attend. Candidates will take questions from the audience after the presentations. Bob Beard will be the moderator.

Survivors of Suicide Loss meets in person on the first Thursday of every month at Church of the Incarnation and by Zoom at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month, including Oct. 19. Send email address to mashRN@aol.com for Zoom link. The group is for anyone who has lost a fapresentations. mily member or friend to suicide. (434) 974-9314.

Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative is offering financial incentives for protecting nesting grassland birds during the 2024 haying season. VGBI will provide up to $35 per acre for delaying the first cut of hay to July 1 or later. Apply at vagrasslandbirds.org/incentives/ before Nov. 15. www.pecva.org.