BRIEFS: NEWS NEAR YOU

By Staff Reports

Published: November 28, 2008

NEWS NEAR YOU

Henrico St. Joseph's Villa announced this week that it has officially reported to the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation that it had received $1.3 million in new funds to successfully complete the terms of the foundation's challenge grant. In May 2008, the foundation challenged St. Joseph's Villa to raise $1 million in new funds to support improvements on the villa's campus at 8000 Brook Road. The foundation stipulated that the villa raise the money by November 2008, and that if it did so, the foundation would provide $500,000 toward the project. More than 50 donors responded to the challenge, contributing more than $1.3 million, said villa CEO Kathleen Burke Barrett.

Goochland Global Country of World Peace, Maharishi Peace Palace is seeking approval to build a two-story, 10,200-square-foot medical and office building off state Route 621 in Manakin, according to Goochland County records. The county Design Review Committee considered the organization's plans at its Nov. 17 meeting and voted to defer the matter for future consideration.

Chesterfield The Department of Defense has honored Logistics 2020 Inc. of Chesterfield County with its Service-Disabled, Veteran Owned Small Business Achievement Award. The logistics-services company was cited for its business acumen and success in federal procurement, dedication to hiring veterans and service-disabled veterans, and demonstrated support of the veteran and disabled-veteran community. The 125-employee company provides military and civilian agencies with logistics planning and support services. The CEO is Michael Topp, a retired Army colonel.

Hanover ElderFriends, a volunteer visitation program that matches people with isolated senior citizens for friendship and socialization, is seeking volunteers for the program and to deliver baskets. For more information, visit www.hanovervolunteers.org or call Meghan Horan at (804) 569-8182.

Caroline A 20-foot-long cast of an ancient Eobalaenoptera whale now greets visitors to the new Caroline County Visitor Center. The specimen was discovered more than a decade ago by scientists from the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville. The specimen is angled to appear as though it is diving toward visitors. Since 1990, when the museum's scientists discovered three whale vertebrae in the hillside of what is now the Martin Marietta/Carmel Church Quarry in Caroline, thousands of fossils of whales, sharks, fish, reptiles and other animals that lived in the county 14 million years ago have been found. The area is one of the most important fossil sites east of the Mississippi River.

Colonial Heights The Kids' After-School Program will be working with fourth and fifth graders from Lakeview, North and Tussing elementary schools. If you would like to sign up your child, contact Melissa Jones at (804) 520-9286. Tutoring takes place Tuesday through Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m., with an activity day Fridays. Mentors and volunteers also are needed. For more information on The Kids' After-School Program, visit www.colonial-heights.com/Youth.htm.

AROUND THE STATE

Dahlgren The Naval Surface Warfare Center's Dahlgren Division signed an agreement with Virginia Tech this week to develop innovative research activities that will benefit the university's students and faculty as well as the Navy's technology programs. -- From Staff and Wire Reports