COMMUNITY EVENTS

CONCERT SCHEDULES

EVENTS COMING UP

[R'n'R 1/2 Marathon]	[Thurs by the Lake]	[Help Out]
[Fri @ the Fountain]

EVENTS BY DATE

• June 27th-28th, 2008 - Lake Taylor High Class of '83 Reunion - Please contact Samantha Morris-Hegspeth for details by calling the LTH 83 Reunion Hotline at (888)557-7774. Or email your contact info to LTH83Reunion@aol.com and she will contact you promptly. Don't miss the 2 day extravaganza! There is and Early Bird special if you purchase your tickets now....see you there!!!!
• September 2008 - National Preparedness Month
• October 2008 - Fire Prevention Month
• November 30th-December 6th, 2008 - Winter Preparedness Week

COMMUNITY INTEREST

• The pride of Hampton Roads go on exhibit. As a special New Year's gift to the community, lion cubs born at the Virginia Zoo in August have been officially released onto exhibit. At the ceremonial opening of the exhibit, the names of the cubs also were announced. The male cub has been named Granby, and the female is Neka. Born on August 18, the cubs were the first large carnivore birth at the Virginia Zoo in 35 years. Since their birth, they have been kept off exhibit to give them time to grow and to bond with their mother, Zola, and father, Mramba. "The weather today was chilly and rainy, but the cubs seemed delighted with the attention," reports Greg Bockheim, executive director. "They were very playful and seemed just as interested in looking at the visitors and reporters as all of us were in seeing them. Mom, Zola, and Dad, Mramba, kept a close eye on the cubs during the event. "We are delighted to make Granby and Neka available to the community," he adds. "They are a wonderful addition to the Zoo and we feel sure that visitors will enjoy watching them grow up. In addition to this gift, we also were able to make a rare opportunity available to Hampton Roads residents the chance to name the cubs." Selecting the names was a community effort. After the birth, over 600 suggestions were sent in to the zoo, and zookeepers and other Zoo staff narrowed the field to six possibilities: Granby, Taavi or Tonga for the male and Aza, Lulu or Neka for the female. The final selection was made by the community through a naming contest held in December. A $1.00 donation was requested for each vote, and over $1,200.00 was raised to support animal enrichment and conservation projects. The final decision, based on a majority vote, was "Granby" for the male and "Neka" for the female.
• Sign up for programs, such as nature hikes, Sunday cinema, and Easter Eggstravaganza at the Sandy Bottom Nature Center or call 825-4657 for reservations. For program descriptions or info on monthly meetings at Sandy Bottom Nature Park of the Gem & Mineral Society of the Virginia Peninsula, The Sierra Club, The Hampton Roads Bird Club, The Hampton Land Conservancy, or the Friends of Sandy Bottom, call 825-4657, visit our Nature Center reception desk, or our website.
• Exhibits, semininars, speakers and classes all available at the Chrysler Museum of Art. For more info call (757)333-6268 or click here.
• The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia needs your help. The Foodbank relies heavily upon the generosity of multiple donors and volunteers to keep its warehouse shelves full. Manufacturer's product mislabeling, surplus commodities from restaurateurs, fundraising events, contributions from private citizens and United Way funds are critical elements in an elaborate supply pipeline which keeps the agency in operation. The help received is essential to providing not only food, but clothes and other basic necessities to the area's poor.
• Meals on Wheels and other senior meal locations are available by clicking here. If you cannot find a location, let them know and they will find one for you. If you have additional time available that you can donate a couple of hours, consider donating it to your local senior meal program.
• EyeCare America wants you and your loved ones to see. The Eyecare America’s Seniors Program helps to ensure that all eligible seniors have access to medical eye care at no out-of-pocket cost. If you or someone you know is a US citizen or legal resident, age 65 and older, and have not seen any eye doctor in three or more years, call 1-800-222-EYES (3937). Visit the eye care america website for more information.
• The Portsmouth Winter Emergency Homeless Shelter needs monetary donations to assist with the large numbers of homeless coming into the shelters. We always need personal care items – soap, razors, shampoo, toilet paper etc., backpacks, and laundry detergent. For more information on how you can help, call 399-0200. You can mail donations to Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless, P.O. Box 364, Portsmouth, VA 23705.
• Oasis Social Ministry soup kitchen serving breakfast and lunch daily, financial help, and clothing closet. You can always donate food (even if it is prepared) and clothing, by calling 757-397-6060.
• The board of governors of the Company of Military Historians recently announced the formation of a local chapter to be based out of the Virginia War Museum in Newport News. Named the Greater Tidewater Chapter of The Company of Military Historians, it hopes to draw members from the Southside, Peninsula, Northern Neck and Richmond areas. The Company of Military Historians and the Greater Tidewater Chapter are open to anyone 18 years of age or older with a serious interest in military history and its material culture. For more information contact chapter chairman Larry Munnikhuysen at (757) 564-1753 or click here
• Virginia volunteers contribute more than $4 billion worth of service! Deadline for Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards is Jan. 31. Every region of the Commonwealth has them – special individuals and organizations who tirelessly volunteer to make their communities better. Nearly two million Virginians volunteered their time and talents last year. To recognize their significant contributions, nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards. Awards will be presented in several categories, including youth, senior, faith-based organization, non-profit organization, emergency preparedness and disaster recovery, business, individual volunteer, national service and more. Virginians average nearly 239 million volunteer hours annually, equaling more than $4 billion of service to the state. “The awards program highlights the efforts of outstanding citizens of the Commonwealth who seek to enhance the lives of others in their communities. Nominations are open to businesses, groups, individuals and families whose volunteer and community service efforts exemplify extraordinary service,” said Nikki Nicholau, director of the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Office on Volunteerism and Community Service. This year’s winners will be honored during an awards ceremony in April at the Virginia Conference on Volunteerism and Community Service in Virginia Beach. For more information or to nominate a person or group, visit www.vaservice.org, call (804) 726-7065, 1-800-638-3839 or e-mail info@vaservice.org. The nomination period ends at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31. Nomination forms can be submitted online or downloaded and mailed to the Virginia Department of Social Services, Office on Volunteerism and Community Service, 7 North 8th Street, Richmond, VA 23219. The Virginia Department of Social Services administers social services programs, consistent with federal and state law and policy of the State Board of Social Services, through 120 local departments of social services throughout the state and its home office in Richmond. The VDSS mission is “People helping people triumph over poverty, abuse, and neglect to shape strong futures for themselves, their families and communities.”