Month at a Glance: April

April 1

Director’s Tour, Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont, 224 Washington St., Falmouth. Join Belmont director David Berreth on a personal tour, including a behind-the-scenes look at seldom-seen works by Gari Melchers. 2 p.m. 540/654-1840 or dberreth@umw.edu to register.

April 2

Bingo, Falmouth Fire Department,  250 Butler Road. Doors open 5 p.m., games begin 6:30 p.m. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Benefits the Stafford High School field hockey team. Contact cwrandall24@gmail.com or any member of the field hockey team.

April 3

The Chappell Great Lives Lecture Series: “J.E.B. Stuart,” UMW, Dodd Auditorium. By Emory Thomas, author of “Bold Dragoon.” 7:30 p.m. Free. 540/654-1065.

April 4

Astronomy, Culpeper County Library, 271 Southgate Shopping Center, Culpeper. Observe   the moon and other lunar features  with amateur astronomer  Myron Wasiuta. 7–9 p.m. 540/825-8691.

April 5

Lecture and Book Signing,  Northern Virginia Community College, 15200 Neabsco Mills Road, Woodbridge.  Mark Van Stone will present a lecture titled “It’s Not the End of the World.” After the lecture, he will sign copies of his book, “2012: Science and Prophecy of the Ancient Maya.” 7 p.m. Free admission. 703/878-4607.

April 6

Full Moon Night Hike, Caledon Natural Area, 11617 Caledon Road, King George. Explore the woods on a short hike in the winter forest. 8 p.m. $3 person/$8 family. Reservations required. 540/663-3861.

April 7

First Saturday in Mary’s Garden, Mary  Washington House, 1200 Charles St., Fredericksburg. Enjoy games as they were in the 18th century. 11 a.m. to  4 p.m. 540/373-1569.

April 8

Spring Big Woods Walk, James Madison’s Montpelier, 11407 Constitution Highway, Orange. Guided tour of the 200-acre old-growth forest. 2 p.m. 540/672-2728.

April 9

Project Discovery, a support group for married women questioning their sexuality or for women coming out later in life meets at Central Rappahannock Regional Library. 7–9 p.m. 540/373-2776.

April 10

Free Tax Preparation, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, 1201 Caroline St., Fredericksburg. 5–8 p.m.  540/373-0041, ext. 316.

April 11

Exhibit: “Annual Student Exhibition,” UMW, duPont Gallery. 10 a.m. to  4 p.m. Through April 27. 540/654-1013.

April 12

“Home Landscape Course for the Gardening Novice,” Rowser Building, 1739 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford. Runs Thursdays, April 12 through May 31. $75. Registration deadline is April 6.

April 13

Civil War Relic  Show, Fredericksburg Expo Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway. 2–7 p.m. $8, under age 12 free. fredericksburgexpocenter.com.

April 14

Virginia Gentlemen’s Spring Dance and Beach Party,  Eagles Lodge, 21 Cool Springs Road, Stafford. Music by Band of Oz. 8 p.m. to midnight. $60 per couple includes beer and set-ups. Benefits Rappahannock Big Brothers Big Sisters. Tickets available at Prudential Simpson Realtors, 77 Cambridge St.; Dennis Dodson, 2304 Jefferson Davis Highway; Rappahannock Big Brothers Big Sisters, 325A Wallace St.; or any member of Virginia Gentlemen.

April 15

Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, The Highland School, 597 Broadview Ave., Warrenton. 3 p.m. Tickets available at at the door, piedmontsymphony.org.

April 16

Mary Washington Healthcare’s Advance Directives Day, Mary Washington Hospital, 1001 Sam Perry Blvd. and Stafford Hospital, 101 Hospital Center Blvd. Hear information relative to healthcare decision making. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 540/741-0640.

April 17

Women’s Bible Study and Support Group, Christian Family Counseling, 1320 Central Park Blvd. Explore the Book of Esther. 10 a.m. 540/786-9493.

April 18

“Cabaret,” Riverside Center Dinner Theater, 95 Riverside Parkway, Falmouth. Lunch 11:30 a.m., play 1:30 p.m.  540/370-4300.

April 19

“Social Media for Dummies,” Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy, 3630 Lee Hill Drive, Spotsylvania. How to keep children safe when using social media. 6:30–8 p.m. rrcjaap@rrcja.org.

April 20

Relay for Life of Spotsylvania, Spotsylvania High School, 6975  Courthouse Road. Gates open 4:30 p.m.  for camp setup, event starts at  6 p.m. and ends  April 21 at 6 a.m. Benefits the American Cancer Society.  relayforlife.org/spotsylvania.

April 21

Eve Watters, Culpeper Depot. Celtic harpist. 7 p.m. $8 in advance, $10 at the door, children $5. To purchase tickets in advance contact info@windmorefoundation.org. 540/547-4333.

April 22

Country, Western Dance Lessons, Waltz and Two-Step, American Legion Post 290, 1204 American Legion Road, Stafford. 5–7 p.m. $7. 540/273-1812.

April 23

“Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War,” Chatham Manor, 120 Chatham Lane, Stafford. Exhibit examines how President Abraham Lincoln used the Constitution to confront three intertwined crises of the Civil War—the Secession of Southern states, slavery and wartime civil liberties. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free. 540/371-0802.

April 24

The Chappell Great Lives Lecture Series: “P.T. Barnum,” UMW, George Washington Hall, Dodd Auditorium. By Neil Harris, author of “Humbug: The Art of P.T. Barnum.” 7:30 p.m. Free. 654-1065.

April 25

Survivors of Suicide support group   meets at Fredericksburg  Baptist Church (Princess  Anne entrance) at  7 p.m. 540/371-2704 or mhafred@ mhafred.org.

April 26

Fourth annual Candlelight Vigil and Second annual Art Contest Against Violence, Historical Westmoreland County Courthouse, 111 Polk St., Montross. Light a candle in memory  of a loved one lost through violent crime. 6–8 p.m. 804/493-8539.

April 27

Blue Ridge Chorale, Germanna Community College Daniel Technology Center, 18121 Technology Drive, Culpeper. 7 p.m. Adults $15, ages 5–12 $5. 540/948-4573; brcsings.com.

April 28

Gospel Expo 2012, The Louisa Performing Arts Center, 212 Fredericksburg Ave., Louisa. The Ladies of Praise, Salt, Charles Harris, Chosen,  Sonya Richards, plus guest artists Truth from North Carolina, Fundamental from New Jersey, Charles Harris from Virginia Beach and GM Thompson Memorial Choir. 4–7 p.m. $10 in advance, $15 at the door. 804/240-5409.

April 29

Black History Bowl, Massaponax High School, 8201 Jefferson Davis Highway, Spotsylvania. Local high school students test their knowledge of black history. Sponsored by the Fredericksburg Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. 3 p.m. 540/659-6708.

April 30

Exhibit: “From the Sahara to the Shenandoah,” Fredericksburg Area Museum & Cultural Center, 1001 Princess Anne St., Fredericksburg. Featuring the landscape paintings of Kathleen Walsh. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  540/371-3037; famcc.org.

—Compiled by Debbie Sauder

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