HISTORIC TRIANGLE — Catch up on news and notes in brief from in and around the Historic Triangle.
Empty Bowls Virginia Peninsula to Host fundraiser
Empty Bowls Virginia Peninsula (EBVP) will host its 18th Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser on Friday, March 8, 2024, from 5:30-9 p.m. The event will be held at the Historic Post Office in Hampton and features delicious, bowl-friendly fare prepared by talented chefs and restaurants from across the Peninsula, while providing critical funds that support our mission of reducing hunger and food insecurity in our local communities.
In addition to enjoying great food and entertainment, each guest will be able to select a handcrafted bowl made by a local artisan to take home. The event will feature an interactive shopping experience, a pop-up shop to purchase unique hand-crafted items and an end of event “bowl blowout.”
The event has helped the EBVP provide access to more than 750,000 meals since 2012!
Tickets to the 21-and-older Empty Bowls event can be purchased for $40. Each ticket sold helps EBVP provide almost 120 meals for neighbors facing hunger and food insecurities. To purchase tickets, go to emptybowlsvapeninsula.org or visit the Hampton Museum Giftshop.
James City County Rotary Club news
On Jan. 17, the James City County Rotary Club presented the 2023 Ideal of Service Award to Rev. Jan Brown, Executive Director and Founder of SpiritWorks Foundation Center for the Soul in Williamsburg.
According to JCC Rotary Club, it established the award in 1990 to recognize worthy citizens for their occupational contributions to the local area. The award recognizes an individual in the community who exemplifies vocational excellence and practice of high ethical standards in the workplace. The award is presented to a nominee who is outstanding in his or her working career. The award appropriately commends the often less-celebrated, less-recognized, but equally important contributions that an individual’s work may make to the quality of the area’s daily business and professional life.
Rotarians also heard Rev. Brown describe the work of SpiritWorks Foundation Center for the Soul as a Recovery Community Organization based in Williamsburg. Founded in 2005, they are pioneers in a growing field of peer-led addiction recovery and wellness organizations. According to JCC Rotary Club, SpiritWorks Foundation is composed of, and led primarily by, people who live in recovery from addiction. They deliver peer-to-peer programs and services for children, youth, and adults living in recovery from the disease of addiction. Their programs and services build resilience in children, inspire youth to live drug free, and support, educate and empower adults who live in recovery.
For more information, go to spiritworksfoundation.org.
Speedfriending and Speeddating Event in Williamsburg
Breezy Events, Column 15 Coffee, and Catalilies Play Cafe have joined forces to present “Palentines,” an upcoming networking event in the Edge District on Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m., an evening of socializing, games, and making connections.
Whether new to town or looking to expand your network, organizers invite attendees to take part in the low-stress social event. Attendees can also bring children along to enjoy the play area at Williamsburg’s newest indoor playspace — Catalilies Play Cafe — while mingling and meeting new people.
Each ticket comes with two complimentary drinks and a swag bag filled with goodies and exclusive offers from local Edge District businesses. Enjoy Valentine’s-themed treats throughout the night. Light refreshments will be provided, and attendees can pre-order from Column 15 Coffee’s happy hour menu, as well.
Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg
The speaker at the Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg’s Jan. 10 luncheon meeting was Kimberly Laska, Executive Director of The Heritage Humane Society. She spoke of the dedicated staff and volunteers at Heritage Humane Society, as well as renovations and improvements over the last few years. The Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg meets every Wednesday at noon at the Williamsburg Lodge.
VSP Highlights Texting Tipline to Report Human Trafficking
As part of its ongoing efforts to prevent and investigate human trafficking occurring within the commonwealth, the Virginia State Police is highlighting a texting tipline and web form for the public to send anonymous tips to the department’s Human Trafficking Investigative Unit.
Any witnesses or victims of human trafficking are encouraged to text 847411 on their phone and then type “VSP” followed by the tip. Anonymous web tips can also be submitted through the tip411 web portal featured on the Virginia State Police website.
Additional reporting resources available to the public include the Virginia Child Protective Services (CPS) Hotline at 1-800-552-7096, the Virginia Victims Assistance Network (VANN) at 1-833-INFO-4-HT and the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
If the information you possess concerns a person (or yourself) in imminent danger, call 911 or #77 on a cell phone to reach police.
More information on human trafficking, is available on the DCJS website.
Aberdeen Pier Reopens for Use
Gloucester County announced it recently finished a complete rebuild of Aberdeen Pier, a structure traditionally used by commercial watermen to dock their boats and bring in their catches.
The pier is located on Aberdeen Creek, just to the north of Rosewell Plantation and Machicomoco State Park. County Engineer Kim Beatley, who has spent close to 50 years as an engineer in the development and maritime industry, oversaw the project. The original pier was built 50 years ago and was rebuilt about 25 years ago.
A grant from the Virginia Port Authority covered 75% of the cost of the project. The pier was rebuilt close to its original design but utilized heavier timber, the county said.
High school seniors impacted by Alzheimer’s invited to apply for scholarship contest
High school seniors impacted by Alzheimer’s disease can earn up to $5,000 for college through the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s (AFA) Teen Alzheimer’s Awareness Scholarship Contest.
College-bound high school seniors are invited to apply for the scholarship by submitting an essay or a video describing how Alzheimer’s disease has impacted their lives and what they have learned about themselves, their family and/or their community through their experience with Alzheimer’s.
Students can learn more and enter the contest by visiting alzfdn.org/scholarship. The deadline for submissions is April 1 at 5 p.m. Students already attending college are not eligible to participate.
Individuals wishing to support this and other programs and services for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease can do so by visiting alzfdn.org/donate or calling AFA at 866-232-8484.
AKA-LLO volunteers at the Grove Christian Outreach Center.
Lambda Lambda Omega Chapter Of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. volunteered with the Grove Christian Outreach Center on Monday, Jan. 15, helping to reorganize inventory, stock food pantry shelves, serve neighbors coming for food and household goods, and sort the free children’s library.
The LLO chapter is no stranger to the Outreach Center having served throughout the years through food bag distributions through the local schools, mentoring programs that meet at the Outreach Center, and hosting a booth at the summer carnivals at the center, the center said.
Katie Patrick, Executive Director at the Outreach Center, said that the local sorority “truly honors and represents the legacy of Rev. Dr. King and his dream of beautiful community.”
January 15th also marked the 116th Founders Day Celebration of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Bruton Parish Episcopal Church to celebrate 350th Anniversary Commemoration
Throughout 2024, Bruton Parish Episcopal Church will commemorate its 350th anniversary of its founding as a parish.
In the coming weeks and months, Bruton Parish is inviting its members and all members of the Williamsburg community and beyond to join in fellowship as it “reflects on its history, considers where and who it is now and what the church hopes to become.”
Bruton will stage a series of events throughout the year designed to be inspiring and engaging for all ages, it said..
The commemoration will begin on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 10 a.m. in the Parish Hall, when William & Mary Adjunct Associate Professor Carl Lounsbury will recount the fascinating history of Bruton’s architecture, followed by a reception. The following day, Sunday, Jan. 21, at the 11:15 a.m. service, the church will celebrate the eucharist with the 1662 prayer book and the Jamestown communion silver, also from that era.
Those in attendance are encouraged to wear colonial-era clothing.
