Community Notebook: Rescheduled Events, United Way Accepting Proposals

By Amber Lester Kennedy Thursday, September 01, 2011

Now that the Triangle is in recovery mode following Hurricane Irene's visit, several community events have been rescheduled or announced. Click below to find information about fundraisers, community events and more.

Virginia Symphony Orchestra Concert Still On for Today

The City of Williamsburg and The College of William and Mary are co-sponsoring the Virginia Symphony Orchestra concert, which will continue as scheduled at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Lake Matoaka Amphitheatre at 121 Ukrop Way.

The performance is open to the public. The “Symphony Under the Stars” will be conducted by Benjamin Rous, who will lead the symphony through a program featuring composers from Verdi to Copland, film scores, patriotic favorites and more.

Guests are invited to bring family and friends, picnic baskets, beach chairs and blankets. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be held at Phi Beta Kappa Hall.

Author to Speak About Hurricane of 1775

Local historian and author Tony Williams will discuss his book, “The Hurricane of Independence,” at 5:30 p.m. today at the DeWitt Wallace Museum.

Learn about how a deadly hurricane struck North America in 1775, sweeping through the American colonies and ravaging the East Coast. Copies of the book will be available in the Museum Store; a book signing follows the discussion.

A Colonial Williamsburg admissions ticket, museum pass or Good Neighbor pass provides access to the lecture.

United Way Initiates New Two-Year Program Funding Cycle

The United Way of Greater Williamsburg invites qualified nonprofit agencies serving residents of Williamsburg, James City and/or Upper York counties to submit proposals for programs to be conducted during the new fiscal 2012-2014 funding cycle.

Funded proposals will target one of six Community Impact Focus Areas: Children and Youth, Health and Wellness, People in Crisis, Self-Sufficiency, Family Sustainability or Senior Independence and Support. Applicants are encouraged to propose new and innovative program services or current programs designed to serve the local community effectively in at least one of these focus areas. The United Way requests pre-application letters be submitted for every program for which an agency is seeking funding. All completed proposals are reviewed by community volunteer panels, which evaluate and recommend potential funding proposals to the volunteer Community Impact Committee.

Organizations submitting program funding proposals must have an IRS 501(c)3 tax-exempt status and be a health and human service nonprofit agency. The proposals must outline programs that work with target populations to achieve long-term goals and the program must be able to demonstrate the ability to implement and evaluate outcomes.

To request a pre-application packet, please contact Community Impact, United Way of Greater Williamsburg at 757-253-2264 or by email to CommunityImpact@uwgw.org or jim.cooley@uwgw.org. Applicants are required to attend an information session and workshop at 9 a.m. Sept. 20 in the Community Room of the James City County Law Enforcement Center at 4600 Opportunity Way, across from Thomas Nelson Community College. Pre-application letters are due at the United Way office, 312 Waller Mill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185 by noon on Oct. 28.

For more information, please call 253-2264 or click here.

WM Moves Siren Test to Sept. 7

A test of the College of William and Mary’s emergency alert system and siren originally scheduled for Wednesday has been moved to Sept. 7.

The drill, which will be conducted at 12:15 p.m., will include both a test of the campus-wide siren system and the mass notification messaging system. The 120-decibal siren system is stationed above the Integrated Science Center, the William and Mary Law School and the School of Education.

In the event of a real emergency, community members can check for information and instructions here.

Beyond Boobs to Debut Calendar at Gala

Beyond Boobs! is planning to premiere its fifth anniversary “A Calendar to Live By” 2012 calendar at a Pink Carpet Gala from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Sept. 17 at Walsingham Academy in Williamsburg.

The calendar is filled with educational information from well-known cancer resources and from the group members’ own experiences, covering topics from warning signs and prevention to healthy eating tips. Each month includes a “Make a Date With Your Breasts” reminder to complete a monthly self-exam, annual check-ups and annual mammograms for those over 40.

The theme of this year’s calendar is “Blooming Where You are Planted,” and features stories and uplifting images of young survivors set in the Norfolk Botanical Garden. The 2012 calendar girls will arrive to the gala in a pink stretch Hummer limo.

For the cost of a ticket, gala attendees will enjoy dinner, wine and beer, receive a calendar to get autographed, participate in a raffle and enjoy dancing. Tickets are $75 per person and $140 for two tickets before Sept. 12, when the price is $85 per person. Tickets are available here or by calling 757-846-1095.

American Girl Fashion Show Model Auditions Rescheduled

The Institute for Dance, Inc. has rescheduled auditions for its American Girl Fashion Show.

Auditions will now be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at the studio on Ironbound Road in Williamsburg. Models must be a size 6x to model Bitty Baby outfits and a girls’ size 10 to model the contemporary or historical clothing lines. A model application fee of $35 includes an exclusive American Girl Fashion Show T-shirt. Pre-screening for size will take place before the audition.

The fashion show will be at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Nov. 19 and 20. The profits will benefit the Institute for Dance, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. For more information, email idance2011agfs@gmail.com.

PIPE Benefit Concert Scheduled for Sept. 10

The Deloreans will perform a concert benefitting PIPE: Providing Indoor Plumbing for Everyone at 7 p.m. Sept. 10.

The show, to be held at the Lake Matoaka Ampitheatre, will feature covers of hits by artists like Journey, David Bowie and Fleetwood Mac. The concert benefits PIPE, an organization working to ensure all homes in the Triangle have indoor plumbing. The project aims to keep raising money to provide gap funding for the remaining projects.

Ticket and concert information can be found here.

Program to Focus on Care for the Aging

The Center for Excellence in Aging and Geriatric Health will host an educational program called “Caring for You, Caring for Me” on five dates in September and October.

The 10-hour program, conducted in five two-hour modules, will be from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. Sept. 13, 20, 27 and Oct. 4 and 11 in the conference room of building 6 at Riverside Hospice, located on Warwick Blvd. in Newport News.

The program addresses the needs of family and professional caregivers by bringing them together in a relaxed setting to discuss common issues, share ideas and gain a better understanding of each other’s perspective on what it means to be a caregiver.

Participants must each pay a $35 fee and it is recommended to register early, by calling 757-220-4751, faxing 757-220-4756 or sending an email to cjensen@excellenceinaging.org.

HUD Accepting Additional Applications for Emergency Loan Program

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and NeighborWorks America reopened the original application process for the Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program in 27 states, including Virginia.

While the application deadline was July 27, HUD estimates resources will be available to reach more struggling homeowners and will accept applications through Sept. 15.

EHLP will assist Virginia homeowners who have experienced a reduction in income and are at risk of foreclosure due to involuntary unemployment or underemployment, due to economic conditions or a medical condition. Eligible homeowners can qualify for an interest-free loan, which pays a portion of their monthly mortgage for up to two years, or up to $50,000, whichever comes first.

For more information about the assistance, click here.