May

Sunday, May 1: 3 to 5 p.m. Toscano Re-election Launch & Fish Fry at Tonsler Park. You can make a reservation here.

Tuesday, May 3: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Left of Center May Forum: Is local food the new hunting? At C'ville Coffee, 1301 Harris Street, Charlottesville. How is the local food movement faring across class and racial lines? In urban versus rural areas? Discussion led by

• Eleis Lester, kitchen manager at The Haven at First & Market
• Jackson Landers, author of the Locavore Hunter blog, a book on deer hunting and a forthcoming book, "Eating Aliens" about eating invasive species like kudzu
• Ben Cohen a U.Va. professor of science, technology and society and leader of the U.Va. Food Collaborative
• Brett Wilson, head of Horse and Buggy Produce
• Neal Halvorson Taylor, a manager at Retail Relay, a grocery delivery service.

RSVP acceptances are greatly appreciated in order to help us plan to accommodate everyone but they aren't required. You can RSVP via Facebook here: http://on.fb.me/jhoe8F

Wednesday, May 11: 11:00 a.m. Miller Center Forum: David E Sanger WikiLeaks and the Toppling of Middle Eastern Dictators: A Winter of Global Surprises DAVID SANGER is chief Washington correspondent and a senior writer for The New York Times. In a 28-year career at the paper, he has reported from New York, Tokyo, and Washington, specializing in foreign policy, national security, and the politics of globalization. Sanger is also the author of "The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts and the Challenges to American Power," based on his seven years as the Times' White House correspondent. During that time, he covered two wars; confrontations with Iran, North Korea and other rogue states; and America's efforts to deal with the rise of China.

Saturday, May 14: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Festival of Cultures in Lee Park, downtown Charlottesville (between Market and Jefferson Streets and next to the Downtown Library). Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Virginia Chapter of the UNA-USA and the Charlottesville City Schools Adult Learning Center. The festival features crafts and exhibits from dozens of foreign cultures represented locally, with music, dance and food.

Saturday, May 14: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. African-American Teaching Fellows Third Biennial Silent Art Auction. Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church, 717 Rugby Road, Charlottesville.

Music by the Piedmont Chamber Players. Refreshments & Raffle. $30 per person, $55 per couple; raffle tickets, $15. Tickets available at the door or call 434-220-4264 for reservations. Learn more about AATF at http://www.aateachingfellows.org/.

Saturday, May 14: 8:00 p.m. Concert by the Oratorio Society of Virginia The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace at First Presbyterian Church, 500 Park Street, Charlottesville. Pre-concert Lecture by Michael Slon at 7:15. Tickets $20 Adults / $10 Students, Further info www.oratoriosociety.org/

Saturday, May 21: 11:00 a.m - 12:30 p.m. Democratic Party of Virginia Fundraising Brunch with Chairman Brian Moran at Siips Wine Bar on the Historic Downtown Mall, 212 East Main Street, Charlottesville.

To RSVP for this event click here or contact Allison Lawrence Jones at (804) 644.1966 or allison@vademocrats.org

Tuesday, May 24: 6:00-7:30 p.m. Next training for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge, get matched up just in time for summer! It's just a matter of being a consistent friend to share conversations, activities and opportunities! For more information or to complete an application, visit our website at www.bbbsocbr.org. To RSVP or get more information, contact us at bigs@bbbsocbr.org or 434-244-0882. at the Charlottesville Downtown Library in the Jefferson Room (3rd floor) Parking at the Market Street and Water Street Parking garages will be validated at the front desk.

Sunday, May 29: 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Presentation by Prof. Abdulaziz Sachedina The Challenge of Human Rights. At the Islamic Library and Cultural Center, 108 10th St. NW, Charlottesville. Parking can be found in the public lot on Main St. near the corner of 10th St.

Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina is the Frances Myers Ball (Chair) Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. He has studied in India, Iraq, Iran, and Canada; and has been conducting research and writing in the field of Islamic Law, Ethics, and Theology (Sunni and Shiite) for more than two decades. In the last ten years he has concentrated on social and political ethics, including Interfaith Relations, Islamic Biomedical Ethics and Human Rights. His recent book on "Islam and the Challenge of Human Rights" was published by Oxford University Press, USA in 2009. For further information write: ISC786@AOL.com or visit www.greenmountainschool.org