Submissions to the community calendar need to be in writing and arrive or be brought into The Mount Airy News office before 5 p.m. at least five days before the event should appear in the newspaper. Be sure to include the full name and address of the event; the time, day and date of the event; and a contact phone number in case our staff has any questions. Information may be mailed to: The Mount Airy News, P.O. Box 808, Mount Airy, NC 27030; faxed to 789-2816; or emailed to aeldridge@mtairynews.com.

July 4

n “Celebrate Our Freedom” at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History at 9:30 a.m. in the museum courtyard. Patriotic music will be played, the Declaration of Independence will be read and there will be free lemonade for everyone. Everyone is invited to stay and watch the 4th of July parade at 10 a.m.

n Children are invited to enter the 4th of July Parade for RidgeCrest Assisted Living Retirement Community. Decorate your bike or trike, stroller or wagon in true 4th of July style. Be at Ridgecrest at 12:45 p.m. to wave flags and cheer. The Ridgecrest Residents will enjoy the festivities from the porch. Refreshments will be served. Prizes will be awarded for creativity, originality and costume design.

July 5

n The Surry County Parks and Recreation Department, Surry County Recreation Advisory Committee and Surry County Veterans Services will host an appreciation picnic for military families at Fisher River Park from 4 to 6 p.m. The picnic will include live music, a cook-out for military families and games for children.

n The annual Anderson reunion will be held in Claudville, Va., at the Red Bank Primitive Baptist Church. All relatives and friends are invited to come and bring a well filled basket. Lunch will start at 12:30 p.m.

n Carpenter-Goings-Snow reunion will be held at Flat Top Primitive Baptist Church on Haystack Road in Mount Airy. Bring a covered dish and plan to eat at 12:30 p.m. For more information, call Dewey Carpenter at 320-2582 or Nancy Edmonds at 356-8064.

n The Gallery Group will be hosting a reception for Artist of the Month with award winning photographer Gin Denton. The Gallery Group Art Studio is at 162 W. Pine St. in Mount Airy, around the corner from Snappy Lunch and Fabric Menagerie. This event is free to the public and attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artist and view her work. Light refreshments will be served. The reception will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Donna Jackson, Gallery Group director, at 786-0057.

July 7

n All Vietnam Veterans are welcome to attend the monthly meeting of the VVA, Chapter #1021, held on the first Tuesday of each month at the blue metal building next to Goobers in Mount Airy at 6 p.m. For further information, call Tom Parman at 789-7277.

July 8

n Crooked Road Board members, Keith Holland and Sammy Shelor, will present the banner to the Wayside Bluegrass Festival at 5 p.m. at Wayside Park in Patrick County, Va.

July 9

n The Mount Airy Public Library’s Summer Reading Program will have a painting workshop. Each child will learn painting techniques and be given the chance to create his or her own artwork to display in the library’s multipurpose room for the rest of the summer.

July 10

n The Surry Cancer Awareness Team will be sponsoring a basket and pottery bingo at Central Methodist Church, 1909 N. Main St., Mount Airy. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and games will begin at 6:30 p.m. Longaberger basket prizes and various door prizes will be given away. Cover-all tickets will be $3 or two for $5. Ink daubers will be required to play the games and will be sold at the door for $1. Raffle tickets will be sold for $1. Food will be available for sale. For more information, call Kim Humphries at 786-5335.

July 11

n Mayberry Ballroom and Beach Dance will have a ballroom and shag dance to the oldies at Pro Health in Mount Airy. Lessons will be from 7 to 7:45 p.m. and the dance will be from 7:45 to 10:30 p.m. Visitors are $8, USA Dance Members are $5 and youth is $3. The dress for this event is casual. Beverages will be provided but bring a snack.

n The Surry County Master Gardeners will be holding a disease and insect clinic at the Elkin Farmers Market from 8:30 to 10 a.m. If there are any disease or insect problems in your home garden, bring a plant sample for control recommendations.

July 12

n The Genealogical Society of Rockingham and Stokes Counties will be holding a meeting from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Danbury Public Library, 1104 Main St., Danbury. The public is invited to attend. There is no charge. Members of the society will be available to answer any questions on researching a family tree. Light refreshments will be provided.

July 13

n The Surry County Genealogical Association will meet in the teaching auditorium at Surry Community College at 7 p.m. The speaker will be Janelle Johnson with the Rockingham/Stokes Counties, N.C. Genealogical Society. She will speak on the Poindexter family. This meeting is free and everyone is invited. For more information, call 755-9462 or email Esther Draughn Johnson, president of the Surry County, N.C. Genealogical Association, email epdj1@embarqmail.com or visit www.juliemorrison.com/surry.

July 14

n The Sandy Level Community Watch will have a meeting at the Franklin Ruritan Club at 7 p.m. This is a great opportunity to meet neighbors and obtain good information on community watch. For more information, call Tom or Lynne at 789-7277.

July 15-17

n Children will earn an official Junior Ranger Patch as they become an observer of the natural world at New River Trail State Park, Foster Falls, Va. Activities will focus on the New River and it’s inhabitants. The children will even have time to try their hand at fishing. Junior Rangers will meet from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The cost is $10 for children ages 6 to 11. For more information, call the park office at (276) 699-6778.

July 16

n The Mount Airy Public Library’s Summer Reading Program will present at dance workshop at 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Learn different types of dance and dancers will teach the children a few moves of their own.

July 17

n The Ararat, Va., Volunteer Fire Department is having basket bingo at the Ararat Ruritan Building. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the games will start at 7 p.m. Food will be available. The cost is $20 for 20 games. For more information, call (276) 251-5750.