STAUNTON - A Staunton florist started its own formal wear shop, a new bus route is en routeto go over Afton and volunteers are needed for the wildlife center — here's the buzz.
Rask Florist
A downtown Staunton florist has become a one-stop shop for flowers and formal wear.
Rask Florist added a new section to its shop called Rask Formals. Currently, it carries dresses for prom, homecoming or other formal occasions, allranging from $45 to $75. Dresses are either gently used or come from suppliers, according toco-owner Luanne Goodloe.
Discussions for the new addition began last summer with the shop's head manager Lynn Hughes, Goodloe said. They didn't have a big send-off during last year's homecoming for area schools.Instead, they've collected nearly 100 dresses for this season's prom — with more on the way.
"They kind of go hand-in-hand," Hughes said of the new dress addition.
They wanted to be able to provide affordable dresses for those in the area that may have a harder time purchasing them. They also said they are willing to work with anyone's budget.
Rask has been a constant supporter of the area's Cinderella Project, which is a nonprofit thataccepts donations of gently usedformal wear for both girls and guys. Rask provides the flowers for those who are part of the project, free of charge.
"We see kids that come in and don't have dresses," Hughes said."For children who are under privileged and can't afford the dresses, we wanted to do something."
"We wanted tohelp out our community," Goodloe added.
They hope people from all over — Rockingham, Augusta, Nelson and Rockbridge counties and Waynesboro and Staunton — will utilize the new portion of the shop.
"Every little girl deserves to go to the prom looking like Cinderella," Hughes said.
They hope to expand into more formal wear, like gently used wedding dresses.
Rask Florist and now Rask Formals are located 5 E. Frederick St. in Staunton.
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Bus route
Those looking for a way to get over Afton Mountain couldsoon have another mode of transportation.A new proposed commuter bus system called the Afton Express would connect the Shenandoah Valley with Charlottesville.
A recently completed study and service plan proposes a Monday through Friday schedule with two buses running four trips in the morning and four trips in the evening, according to theCentral Shenandoah Planning District Commission.
TheCentral Shenandoah Planning District Commission has applied for funds under the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Demonstration grant program to fund new bus system.
Stops will originate at park and ride lots in Staunton, Fishersville and Waynesboro and will have multiple stops in Charlottesville and Albemarle County including the University of Virginia, theUniversity of Virginia Medical Center, downtown Charlottesville and the 5th Street Station, according to Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission.
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The proposed fare will be $3 one-way.
If funded, the proposed system would be launched in early 2021.Partners include Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta County, Albemarle County, Charlottesville and UVA.Initial ridership is projected to be 90 passenger trips per day.
Wildlife volunteers
Ever want to hang out with baby animals? Now's your chance.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesborois looking for volunteers to help care for the hundreds of spring babies that will soon flood the center’s clinic.
During 2019, the center helped a record-setting 3,345 patients, including 490 Virginia opossums, 460 Eastern cottontailsand 220 East gray squirrels, according to a release.
Many of these mammals were admitted in the spring andwere orphaned or separated when they were young and needed to be cared for until they were old enough to be released back into the wild.
The center is looking to recruit, trainand equip volunteer apprentices who can
help with care and feeding of these young animals as home-based wildlife
rehabilitators, operating under a permit issued by the Virginia Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries, the release said.
Individuals interested in learning more about this opportunity are asked to join
center veterinary and rehabilitation staff for a one-hour orientation sessionto become a Center Care Apprentice and a permitted rehabilitator, the release said.
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These sessions will be offered:
- March 6 at 10 a.m. and repeated again at 3 p.m.
- March 7 at 9:30 a.m.
- March 20 at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The Center’s Apprentice Care Program is open to individuals 18-years-oldand older who are residents of Albemarle, Augustaor Nelson counties, or the cities of Charlottesville, Stauntonor Waynesboro.
“Feeding these spring babies —the little opossums, rabbitsand squirrels —is a
somewhat time-consuming but very rewarding part of our work at the Wildlife Center,”
said Kelsey Pleasants, Wildlife Rehabilitator and head caregiver, in a release.
Orphan care is a large part of the center’s daily operation, according to Pleasants. In the spring and summer, the center often cares for nearly 100 baby mammals at one time, in addition to a couple hundred patients also on property.
“We will teach apprentices the skills they need to care for these young animals in their homes,” Pleasants said in the release.
Additional information about the Wildlife Center is available atWildlifecenter.org. Questions and RSVPs to the apprentice orientation should be sent to vetvolunteer@wildlifecenter.org.
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