Art Bailie of Salem is organizing a picnic for former residents of the U.S.S.R. and countries in Eastern Europe. It will be Sept. 20 in Garst Mill Park in Southwest Roanoke County. He says last year's picnic was in Longwood Park.

He says: "To folks from the former USSR and Eastern Europe living in the Roanoke Valley (and beyond), you are invited to join your friends -- and make new ones -- at a picnic in the park."

The event starts at 4 p.m. in the picnic shelter.

"We request that you bring enough food and non-alcoholic drinks for your family and a little extra for visitors," he says. "Plates, cups, ice and some serving utensils will be provided."

Teen events at Glenvar library

The Glenvar branch of the Roanoke County library has two teen-oriented events coming up later this month:

Teen Gaming -- Tuesday, September 22, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Teen Creative Writing Group -- Tuesday, September 29, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Four graduate from Jefferson College of Health Sciences

Catharine Nolan, Madeline D. Jewell, Emily Thomas Styers, and Laura Dianne Hood, all from Salem, graduated from the physician assistant program at Jefferson College of Health Sciences in August at the end of the school's summer session. Nolan graduated summa cum laude.

JCHS is a private higher education institution that focuses on providing healthcare education and is fully integrated with Carilion Clinic.

More information is available at www.jchs.edu.

Governor names two from Salem to state boards

Gover Tim Kaine has re-appointed Bob Archer of Salem to the Small Business Commission and appointed Michael Liew of Salem to the Virginia-Asian Advisory Board.

Archer is president of Blue Ridge Beverage and Liew is director of the House of Abraham.