Saturday, March 1 - Sunday, March 7: Join Prof. Julian Bond on a bus journey through the American Civil Rights Movement as it happened. The registration deadline is January 30, 2008. More information can be found at www.virginia.edu/travelandlearn. Or, you can call the University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies directly at 800-346-3882.

Monday, March 3: 11:00 a.m. Miller Center Forum: The Conservative Ascendancy: How the GOP Right Made Political History
DONALD T. CRITCHLOW, Professor of History at St. Louis University, is the author and editor of fifteen books, including Phyllis Schlafy and Grassroots Conservatism (Princeton, 2005); Intended Consequences: Birth Control, Abortion, and the Federal Government (Oxford, 1999); and Studebaker: The Life and Death ofan American Corporation (Indiana, 1997) The founding editor of the Journal of Public Policy, Critchlow has taught at Hong Kong University and Warsaw University, among others. A book signing will follow his Forum.

2201 Old Ivy Road, Charlotttesville; for info: 434-924-0921 or www.millercenter.org

Sunday, March 9: 3:30 p.m. The Oratorio Society and a full orchestra present Ralph Vaughan Williams "A Sea Symphony" at the Dickinson Center, PVCC. $30/$15. www.oratoriosociety.org PVCC Box Office 961 5376.

Monday, March 3: 11:00 a.m. Miller Center Forum: The Health Care Crisis: Contours of the Debate
ARTHUR GARSON, JR. is Executive Vice President and Provost of the University ofVirginia, and the Robert C. Taylor Professor of Health Science and Public Policy. He became Vice President and Dean of U.Va.'s School of Medicine in 2002. Carson has served as President of the American College of Cardiology (1999-2000), and as chair of the National Advisory Council for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. He treats children with heart disease in his medical practice.
CAROLYN L. ENGELHARD is Assistant Professor of Medical Education and a health policy analyst in the Department of Public Health Sciences at U.Va.'s School of Medicine. Director of the Master of Science program in clinical research, she is a consultant for state health and Medicaid agencies.
This Forum is a prelude to the Miller Center's National Discussion and Debate Series' debate on the health care crisis on April 9 in Boston. Carson and Engelhard's accompanying white paper will be posted at www.millercenter.org/debates/healthcare. A book signing of Health Care Half Truths: Too Many Myths, Not Enough Reality (Rowman & Littlefield, 2007) will follow their Forum.

2201 Old Ivy Road, Charlotttesville; for info: 434-924-0921 or www.millercenter.org

Tuesday, March 11: 5:30pm. at Maya, 633 West Main Street, Charlottesville Left of Center offers a review of the current legislative session featuring Bob Gibson, Political Reporter at The Daily Progress, and Waldo Jaquith. Proceeds from this event benefit the International Rescue Committee.

"A whopping 3,046 bills flooded the General Assembly this session, including everything from the absurd (HB 1452 – no genitals on motor vehicles) to the more substantive, including the environment, mental health, education, land use, immigration, transportation, taxes, reproductive health and payday lending. The General Assembly ends its 60 day session on March 8. Come find out which bills will result in new laws that will affect you!"

Saturday, March 15: 9:30 a.m. Monthly Albemarle / Charlottesville Democratic Breakfast. A panel discusses Primaries, Caucuses, Delegates and the process of selecting a nominee. Audience questions and comments will be encouraged.

At JABA, 674 Hillsdale Drive, behind Fashion Square and adjacent to the Marriott Courtyard. The event is free, a light breakfast is offered and the public is warmly invited.

Saturday, March 15: 6:00 p.m. The Charlottesville Democratic Party's signature social and fund raising event, the 8th annual Political Pasta Supper at the Senior Center.

Sunday, March 16: 11:15 a.m. "Greening of America: A Unitarian-Universalist Perspective" at Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church (TJMC), 717 Rugby Rd. The lecture/dialogue, free and open to the public, is part of the church's Faith In Action series designed to discuss issues of community interest. The speaker, Sharon Baiocco, is a leader in the church's Environmental Concerns Committee, which seeks to guide TJMC toward achieving Green Sanctuary certification from UU headquarters in Boston. She is a Nature Guide at Ivy Creek and serve as a volunteer writer and educator for Public Policy Virginia, a non-profit organization with a mission of preparing the Commonwealth for Global Warming. As church parking lot space is limited, car pooling is recommended.

Sunday, March 16: 3:00 p.m. Monthly meeting of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA). The Rev. Tony Perrino will speak on “A World United Against the Waste of War”. He will highlight the importance of the United Nations in the quest for world peace. Rev. Perrino is a retired Unitarian Universalist minister now living in Charlottesville.

At the Unitarian Universalist Church, 717 Rugby Rd., Charlottesville. The meeting is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Monday, March 17: 11:00 a.m. Miller Center Forum: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, From White House Princess to Washington Power Broker. Historian STACY A. CORDERY is the author of three books on the Roosevelts. She taught at East Carolina University after earning her Ph.D. in U.S. history in 1992. Now a full professor at Monmouth College, she teaches modern U.S. history, women's history, and interdisciplinary studies. Cordery has volunteered in several capacities for H-Net (www.hnet.org) and is the web bibliographer for the National First Ladies Library. A book signing will follow her Forum.

2201 Old Ivy Road, Charlotttesville; for info: 434-924-0921 or www.millercenter.org

Monday, March 17: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm The Office of Equal Opportunity Programs at UVa presents "Free African Americans in the Area of Farmville, Virginia, from the 1790s through the Civil War: Their Achievements and Their Relations with Whites and Enslaved Blacks." Melvin Patrick Ely, Author, William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Humanities, College of William & Mary and Chair, Board of Directors, University of Virginia Press.

In 1985, Mr. Ely served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Virginia's Carter G. Woodson Institute for African-American and African Studies. His project titled "Amos 'n' Andy: Their Lineage, Life and Legacy, 1890-1966," later became the book The Adventures of Amos 'n' Andy: A Social History of an American Phenomenon.

Newcomb Hall - South Meeting Room. Refreshments will be served. The program is free and open to the public. Reservations are appreciated, but not required. For questions or additional information, please contact Jacque Daniel at (434)924-3200 or jcd9b@virginia.edu.

Tuesday, March 18: 6:00 pm "Cooler By Design: The Economics of Building a Successful Environmental Policy" with Dr. William M. Shobe Director of Business and Economic Research at U.Va.'s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service The program will be followed by a reception. This is a free event. RSVP appreciated, but not required.

The Lorna Sundberg International Center is at 21 University Circle, two blocks from the intersection of Rugby Rd and Grady Ave. Limited parking is available behind the IC and at the nearby Hillel Jewish Center on University Circle. For directions or more information: 434-924-7983, intlctr@virginia.edu, www.virginia.edu/iso/ic

Tuesday, March 18: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Charlottesville Democratic Committee Meeting. Buford Middle School Cafeteria. Questions? chair@cvilledems.org Phone 978 7040 (NEW NUMBER) Or for info, cvilledems.org

Thursday, March 20: 5:30 p.m. Miller Center Forum: The Secret History of the War on Cancer. DEVRA DAVIS is Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of s Public Health. A National Book Award Finalist for When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution (Basic Books, 2004), she has written more than 170 scientific publications and edited eleven books. Davis has held advisory roles in national and international agencies including the World Health Organization, and has received numerous awards for her work in environmental health. A book signing will follow her Forum.

2201 Old Ivy Road, Charlotttesville; for info: 434-924-0921 or www.millercenter.org

Friday, March 21: 11:00 a.m. Miller Center Forum: Sprinting to a Marathon: The U.S.-Led Invasion of Iraq
MAJ. GEN. (RET.) JAMES A. "SPIDER" MARKS is the program manager for the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command Language contract supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is President and CEO of Global Linguist Solutions, LLC, which employs more than 7,000 native Arab speakers fluent in English to support military operations and humanitarian missions in Iraq. Marks held command and staff positions in the 101st Airborne Division and 82d Airborne Division, and has served in posts including the Balkans, Korea, and Iraq. Marks is an Honor
Graduate of the U.S. Army's Ranger School, a master parachutist, and has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and multiple expeditionary and service ribbons.

2201 Old Ivy Road, Charlotttesville; for info: 434-924-0921 or www.millercenter.org

Friday, March 21: From 4:00 pm on. The IranMobile will be in the parking lot between Water Street and South Street

More information about the IranMobile is available at http://notanotherwar.org

Saturday, March 22: 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Fundraiser for Tom Perriello, Democratic candidate for Congress in the Fifth District. At the Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville. Live entertainment from Mariana Bell and the band Trees on Fire. Minimum donation of $50 is requested and RSVPs are required, to Catherine Hobbs catherinehobbs@earthlink.net

Tuesday, March 25: Noon. Community Dialogue: Restoration of the Civil Rights of Felons. New County Office Building, Room B. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters. Respond to lwv@avenue.org or 970 1707 by 3:30 pm on March 20 to reserve bag lunch ($8) or make check to LWV, send to 1936 Arlington Blvd #116, Charlottesville 22903

Wednesday, March 26 - Sunday, March 30: 2008 Virginia Festival of the Book Of note: Kevin Merida (Washington Post) hosting a panel on Being a Black Man, a benefit for the Virginia Festival of the Book. Appearances (at the Paramount) of Mike Farrell and Walter Mosley.

Friday, March 28: 10:00 a.m. Miller Center Forum: The Presidential Recordings, Lyndon B. Johnson: Toward the Great Society, Feb. 1, 1964-May 31, 1964. Thrust into the presidency by John F. Kennedy's assassination, Lyndon Johnson immediately confronted the twin challenges of leading a nation in mourning while ensuring the continuity of government. One of Johnson's first acts was to install a secret taping system in the White House to record his telephone conversations. DAVID COLEMAN, KENT GERMANY, GUIAN MCKEE, and DAVID SHREVE of the Miller Center's Presidential Recordings Program will discuss how LBJ launched his War on Poverty, questioned the viability of U.S. policy in Vietnam, and managed the progress of a historic civil rights bill through Congress. A book signing will follow this Virginia Festival of the Book event. Further info, tickets at http://www.vabook.org/

Friday, March 28: 6:30 p.m. Good News Jail & Prison Ministry’s annual spring banquet.featuring former 58th District Delegate Paul Harris. A former inmate of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail also will speak, and Harbor Lights will perform. At First Baptist Church, 535 Park St.Tickets are $20 and may be purchased in advance or on the night of the banquet. For more information, call Rob Schilling at 293-1186.

Friday, March 28: 7:00 p.m. Benefit Dinner for The People United’s Border Crossing Action at Sojourners United Church of Christ, 1017 Elliott Avenue, Charlottesville (Corner of Elliott and Monticello)

Special Guest Appearance by Ricardo Juarez, founder of Mexicanos sin Fronteras, recipient of numerous human rights awards in 2007 for his work in the struggle to overturn the infamous anti-immigrant resolution in Prince William County. Traditional Latin American Food Songs of Struggle by Grupo sin Fronteras. Original Art work for Sale. Admission by Donation. For more information: (434) 906-0421 info@thepeopleunited.org

Saturday, March 29: Festival of the Book events: at the UVa Bookstore: 2:00 p.m. Four emerging poets read from their work. 4:00 p.m. Pulitzer Prize winners Natasha Tretheway and Claudia Emerson read. More at http://www.bestnewpoets.org.

Saturday, March 29 & Sunday March 30: Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library BOOK SALE Spring 2008 Children & Young adult books, Music books, Recordings, plus Academic and Professional subjects. Gordon Ave. Library, Charlottesville. Information at (434) 977-8467 www.jmrlfriends.org/booksale

Monday, March 31: 5:30 p.m. Miller Center Forum: Blue Blood and Mutiny: The Fight for the Soul of Morgan Stanley. PATRICIA BEARD is the author of seven non-fiction books, two of which focus on fights for the control of elite financial services firms. Her workstems from her interest in social history and the rituals and values of distinctive societies, and her books include Blue Blood and Mutiny: The Fight for the Soul of Morgan Stanley (William Morrow, 2007) and After the Ball: Gilded Age Secrets, Boardroom Betrayals, and the Party That Ignited the Great Wall Street Scandal of 1905 (HarperCollins, 003). Beard has been an editor at Town & Country, ELLE, and Mirabella magazines, and has written hundreds of nationally published articles. A book signing will follow her Forum.

2201 Old Ivy Road, Charlotttesville; for info: 434-924-0921 or www.millercenter.org