UM BLACKSTONE CENTER AUCTION SCHEDULED
The contents of the former Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center at Blackstone are scheduled to be auctioned Saturday, March 25, beginning at 7 a.m. and continuing through the day. The center east of Lynchburg in Nottoway County has been closed since being damaged in a fire a year ago. According to Virginia Conference information from Richmond, the buildings are under contract, but all interior furnishings and grounds supplies are for sale with proceeds going to disaster relief funds.
The assembly center began as a female academy in 1892. It continued as a girls’ prep school until closed in 1950 because of declining enrollments. At a time when such retreat-camp facilities were popular, it was bought by the conference and was re-opened five years later for youth and adult gatherings, but support had declined in recent years. No announcement was made as to its future use.
EASTER BAKERSÂ AGAIN NEEDED
Because of the success in previous Lenten seasons, the Bake It Forward, Salem, is again being carried on under sponsorship of Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries and the Salem-Roanoke County Food Pantry. Supporter Karen Adams, (540)-389-4963, said those who enjoy making “from Scratch” Pies, Cakes, breads, cookies and muffins may bring them to College Lutheran Church, 210 S. College Ave., Salem, the week before Easter.  The desserts will then be taken to the city’s food pantry for distribution in baskets given annually to those who are registered for free meals. Pastries may be taken to the church evenings from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, April 4-6, and mornings Wednesday through Friday, from 7 to 9-30 a.m..
-Submitted by Frances Stebbins