The New Castle Garden Club invites everyone interested in the tiny and amazing Hummingbird to join them when retired Virginia Tech professor Dr. Jerry Via will be the guest speaker. This special event will be held on Thursday, March 8, at the Homeplace Restaurant in Catawba.
Dr. Via retired in 2016 as assistant dean of undergraduate instruction in the College of Science after 37 years. Known for his Hokie spirit and sense of humor, it is estimated he taught over 20,000 first-year students in his Introduction to Biology class. His research focused on ecology and natural history of birds. He is president of the New River Valley Bird Club and does extensive work with hummingbirds and other wildlife at Mountain Lake Resort.
Dr. Via also has a large collection of local birding photography which he uses to illustrate his presentation. This is the third in a series of talks given by Dr. Via, and the garden club is honored to have a speaker of such high caliber and expertise.
The public is invited to join Dr. Via and garden club members for a meal beginning at 6 p.m. The cost of $22.00 will include three types of meat, beverage, dessert and gratuity. Please notify Darlene Charlton, club vice president, at 864-8265 on or before March 5 so that sufficient seating will be available.
Those who prefer only to attend the program are welcome and should arrive downstairs at the Homeplace by 6:45 p.m.
Membership in New Castle Garden Club is open to anyone interested in horticulture, flower arranging and wildlife. Yearly dues are $10. Current service projects include landscaping around the New Castle Post Office and the Monarch Waystation beside the Old Brick Hotel.
For more information, please call Darlene at the number above or President Lee Greiser at 864-6261.
-Submitted by Diane Givens
