My Community: Tri-Cities
Tell us what's happening in the Tri-Cities area! Maybe there's a community event planned at your child's school, or youth recreation signups are under way. Is your club recruiting new members? Have you - or someone close to you - received an honor lately? Maybe your church is looking for volunteers for a service project. Let us know by posting your news. Send us your photos too. Click here to submit your post. Please keep your post related to the county.

SunTrust recently announced a program called MyCause. When the customer or business opens a new checking account, SunTrust will either donate $100 to the new customer’s favorite IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) charity or the they get a $50 gift card.

A new study commissioned by SunTrust showed nine in 10 Americans regularly donate to charitable causes; that women are more likely to give than men; and that older Americans are more generous with their cash than their younger counterparts—who prefer to volunteer time rather than write a check.

The survey, commissioned in July by SunTrust Bank, polled 2,058 adults over the age of 18 to gauge public opinions and beliefs about charitable giving in the U.S.

According to the survey, respondents were also most likely to support causes relating to their church or other religious organization (53%); to organizations that combat hunger and poverty (50%); or to provide disaster relief from hurricanes and other natural catastrophes (48%). The non-profit organizations least likely to receive donations from survey respondents were those supporting animal causes (32%); environmental issues (25%); or the arts and culture (21%). 

Petersburg City Council will give special recognition to Ross West, the 2007 recipient of the Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority Academic Scholarship to Virginia State University. The presentation is Tuesday evening, July 17th at 7:30p.m. at the Council meeting held at Union Train Station, 103 River Street. Each year, the Housing Authority, in partnership with Virginia State University offers a four-year scholarship to a Petersburg High School senior. The scholarship fully covers all tuition, books, room and board.

Ross West, this year’s recipient was chosen for his academic excellence, as well as his service to the community. Although Mr. West has faced many hardships, he, with the help of his mother, teachers and community mentors turned his life around as an early teen. Ross’ mother, Aleatha West says, “Ross was the type of child who was not suppose to make it.” Early on, Ms. West says Ross had problems with comprehending, but through prayer and her determination to seek help, “Ross became focused, he got a vision of what he wanted his life to be, and we all helped him work towards his dream. I asked Ross one day, what made you change, and he said ‘Somebody gave me a chance’.”

This fall Ross’ dream will become reality as he enters Virginia State University as a freshman in the ROTC program. “It’s helped me financially because I come from a family that cannot provide money for me to go to college, so by me obtaining the scholarship, I now have the means to pursue my destiny and dream.” Ross plans to major in Criminal Justice and after graduation, join the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant and pursue a degree in law. 
 
Ross commends Petersburg High School for giving him the tools to succeed. “Anybody in this school can accomplish the academic standards and achieve anything they want to as long as they put their mind to it and as long as they are dedicated and focused.”

The Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority and Virginia State University are long time partners and advocates of young men and women in the community who are dedicated achievers and committed to the pursuit of higher education and community service.

Brandon Woody of Colonial Heights, Virginia, won the SkillsUSA state competition in Job Skills Demonstration “B"- Restorative Art. The competition was recently held in Richmond on May 10, 2007. Brandon is a graduating senior at Colonial Heights High School.

As gold medalist, he also won the right of heading to Kansas City, Missouri to compete in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference which was held June 28­29, 2007.  During the national competition, he continued to display his leadership skills and was the national Bronze medalist for Job Skill Demonstration “B” Restorative Art.

We are very proud of Brandon’s accomplishments,” said Francene Green, Brandon’s advisor at Colonial Heights High School. “He is a true champion in his dedication to excellence and in his leadership skills.

“Competing in Kansas City was a week I will never forget,” said Brandon. “Being part of SkillsUSA has given me the skills and knowledge to chart my career path,” Brandon said.

The SkillsUSA National Championships were held on Thursday, June 28 in H.Roe Bartle Hall, American Royal and Municipal Auditorium. More than 5,000 outstanding career and technical education students—all state contest winners—competed hands­on in 87 different trade, technical and leadership fields. Students worked against the clock and each other, proving their expertise in occupations such as electronics, computer­aided drafting, precision machining, medical assisting, culinary arts and job skills demonstrations. Leadership contestants demonstrated skills including extemporaneous speaking and conducting meetings by parliamentary procedure.

SkillsUSA is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry, working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA chapters help students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations excel. Formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) SkillsUSA has more than 280,000 students and instructors as members annually.

Milton Wells, a rising senior at Petersburg High School, has been accepted into the Bank of America: Student Leaders program. Wells attended a program orientation on June 21, after which he will be paid for working at Bank of America this summer.

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Colonial Heights is working with Habitat for Humanity to build a house this week in Petersburg.

Friday July 5 and Saturday July 6, volunteer workers from the church will gather at the site on Virginia Avenue in Petersburg to construct a house.  There is currently only a foundation at the site.  The Mount pleasant Baptist church volunteers plan to frame the house, put on the roof and siding and finish the electrical wiring during the 2 day local work project.

The church will also have volunteers on site to feed the workers and provide cold water.  There will also be people prayer walking around the neighborhood.  We currently expect about 40 workers on Friday and about 70 workers on Saturday.  Even children and youth are helping with the project.  Channellos pizza in Colonial Heights have offered to donate pizza for all the volunteer workers on Friday. 

the construction project manager is pastor Gary Beaty and he can be reached at 804-337-4255.

In observance of statewide Public Service Week, Virginia State University (VSU) recently recognized employees who have excelled in their service to the University.

Sandra Williams, a recreation supervisor in the department of Student Affairs, was named VSU Employee of the Year. Also acknowledged for contributions were: Employee of the First Quarter, Patricia Briddell; Employee of the Second Quarter, Robert Banks; Employee of the Fourth Quarter, Sheila Carrington; Team Work Award: Shobha Sriharan, G. Jagannadham, Nasser Ghariban, Oliver Hill, Jr. and Dilip Sen; Workplace Safety, Sgt. Charles Baskerville; and Outstanding Customer Service, Pierre Lee.

The keynote speaker for the ceremony was VSU President, Eddie N. Moore, Jr. who commended the administration, faculty and staff on their dedication to higher education and leadership and helping to continue the 125 year-old legacy of excellence.

SUMMER BLAST MUSIC LESSONS

1ST LESSON FREE!
PIANO/ KEYBOARD/ GUITAR/ VIOLIN
FLUTE & CLARINET LESSONS AVAILABLE !

WE HAVE 2 LOCATIONS TO CHOOSE FROM:

CHORDS & KEYS MUSIC
1009 BOULEVARD
COLONIAL HEIGHTS, VA
(804) 526-8336

MUSICIAN’S CORNER
12740 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY.
BRECKENRIDGE SHOPPING CENTER
CHESTER, VA.  23831
(804) 748-7255

Improving employment opportunities, strengthening skills of available workers, and increasing regional prosperity is the focus of a free, one-day program on Monday, February 19th to be held at the Rowanty Technical Center. Regional Chambers of Commerce, School Boards, and Boards of Supervisors, as well as teachers, administrators and guidance counselors from area high schools and middle schools are invited and will receive the latest information on workforce issues in the area as well as contribute to a discussion of how to move the region forward.

Participants will learn about current and future employment trends from workforce experts from the University of Virginia, and about the use of the Work Keys assessment tool from a leading specialist from John Tyler Community College. Leaders from the region’s business community will discuss their employment needs and experience with hiring students from area schools.  Teachers from Rowanty Technical Center will demonstrate model programs and explore employment opportunities in each of the areas taught at Rowanty.

Scheduled events run from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., including a closing luncheon. Members of the media are welcome.  Please contact Meredith Strohm Gunter at the University of Virginia, 434-466-1216, for press packets, to schedule interviews, or to register. The program is offered through a grant from the Virginia Department of Education and the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.

About a month ago, I took a work day to experience Petersburg. I’ve already written about some of the other Petersburg highlights, especially Blandford Church.

The Siege Museum is not huge. It has three main exhibit rooms for it’s permanent displays, a theater, and an area on the first floor for temporary exhibits (I liked the one there at the time on the area’s geological history, and Petersburg’s Lee Park. They were scheduled to end in January, however). There is plenty of Petersburg history from a very significant period in the city’s time, focusing on the 10-month siege on Petersburg during the Civil War.  A film “The Echoes Still Remain” about the siege is worth seeing, because it sets the tone for life during the war and the hardships the town endured, including the “Starvation Balls” people held (dances and parties without refreshments) because there were no ways to get food and drink to the city.  Eating dogs, cats and pigeons?

The best parts of the exhibits in the museum are the period furniture, the examples of innovative machinery from early Petersburg industry and the large box of Confederate money that was found stashed in the walls of the building, known as the Exchange Building (built between 1839 and 1841). Take your time and see for yourself. Also, see our video of the museum, filmed and narrated by our man Andrew Cothern.

Phil Riggan
DiscoverRichmond.com

On a recent visit to Petersburg, I got a chance to tour Blandford Church and Cemetery for the first time. The famous feature of the Church is the Tiffany stained glass windows. I was in the church for about 30 minutes and just watching the sunlight behind the windows and how they change the colors and textures of the windows is worthwhile. You can’t touch them, but the ridges and a ripples in the glass and the blended colors of the glass is amazing. See our video on Blandford, just posted today.

I did the block ticket for Blandford, the Siege Museum and Centre Hill Mansion. It saved a little. If you only have time for one, choose Blandford and don’t skip the cemetery. The ornate headstones and markers are every bit as interesting as Richmond’s famous Hollywood Cemetery (though there are less “famous people” in Petersburg?).

Other tours coming soon for Tri-Cities are the Siege Museum and Petersburg National Battlefield Park. We also have walking tours of Petersburg churches and the Old Towne area. Are there other great features of Petersburg that we need to see and explore?

-Phil Riggan
DiscoverRichmond.com

The Petersburg Symphony Orchestra is a sixty member ensemble providing quality symphonic music for the communities of Southside Virginia, including Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Chesterfield County and historic Petersburg Virginia.

Sunday, February 25, 2007, 4:00 p.m., Petersburg High School
Strings and Winds, Old and New
Two world premiers by area composers will be complimented by symphonic versions of three American spirituals. Also the Orchestra features its string section in Britten’s lively Simple Symphony, and the winds play Richard Strauss’ lovely Serenade, Opus 1.

Sunday, April 29, 2007, 4:00 p.m., Petersburg High School
Music in America
The first half of the concert highlights 20th-century American music: Copland’s Outdoor Overture from the concert stage, Herrmann’s Psycho from films, and selections from recent Broadway musicals. The Orchestra closes the season with Dvorak’s exuberant Sixth Symphony.