Saturday, November 2, 2024

News Briefs for July 9

Bastille Day at Le Yaca

Master accordionist David Gussman. (Le Yaca)

Le Yaca is inviting the public to celebrate Bastille Day on Sunday July 14, with authentic musette music, the music heard in a traditional French cafe, performed by master accordionist David Gussman. Gussman will perform a mix of valses, polkas, tangos, javas, and paso dobles, along with contemporary French standards, and attendees can join in the singing of a rousing rendition of La Marseillaise.

Le Yaca is located at 1430 High St. in Williamsburg, and Gussman will be performing from 5-8 p.m.

$20K Available for Outdoor Programs on the Virginia Capital Trail

(The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation)

The Virginia Capital Trail Foundation (VCTF) announced the availability of $20,000 in grant funding for programs that increase access to outdoor recreation involving the Virginia Capital Trail. 

Now in its fourth year, funding from the Capital Trail Outdoor Equity Fund will support inclusive programs that provide access to outdoor recreation and engage underserved communities. Priority will be given to programs or projects that enhance or establish equitable access for BIPOC communities, tribes, low-income neighborhoods, and individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities. 

Online grant applications must be submitted by Aug. 14. Any certified nonprofit organization or state, local, regional, tribal, educational, or government entity can apply. Approved funding ranges between $1,000 to $5,000 for program and operating expenditures. Applications and eligibility requirements can be found at virginiacapitaltrail.org/outdoorequityfund

SAR Commemorates the 250th Anniversary of the James City County Resolves

The Williamsburg Chapter of the Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and the James City County Recreation Department recently held a Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the James City County Resolves at Freedom Park.

On July 1, 1774, James City County free-holders met at Allen’s Ordinary. They resolved to support Boston by sending the city supplies and to cease all trade both by importation and exportation of goods with the United Kingdom. This was as a result of the British Parliament’s Coercive Acts of 1774. These Acts were in reaction to the Boston Tea Party of 1773.

Community Assistance Network Expands Hours

United Way of the Virginia Peninsula (UWVP) recently announced yesterday that effective Monday, July 8, the Community Assistance Network (CAN) will expand its hours to include evening hours through 6:30 p.m.

The expansion was made possible by a $100,000 gift from the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Foundation (BFSF).

The new hours of the Community Assistance Network will be 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. In 2021, United Way of the Virginia Peninsula launched the Community Assistance Network (CAN), an advocacy and referral service. CAN was the strategic consolidation of several resource and referral services on the Peninsula providing a more accessible way to access and navigate available community assistance and programs.

The additional support from the foundation will allow UWVP to hire additional staff, provide digital access to advocacy services, as well as recruit volunteers to help meet the high demand for support. The operation of CAN is funded in part by a grant through the Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot (VERP), as well as support from James City County and the City of Newport News.

Glass-only Recycling Pop-Up Events Scheduled in James City County

(James City County)

James City County’s glass-only recycling program, a partnership with O-I glass plant in Toano, allows residents to drop off their glass containers at any Convenience Center.

Learn more about the program and pick up a bag or bucket to store glass at one of the county’s pop-up events:

•    July 11: James City County Library, 9-11 a.m., 7770 Croaker Road.
•    July 17: James City County Recreation Center, 1-3 p.m., 5301 Longhill Road.

For more information or questions, please contact the Sustainability Division at 757-259-5375 or sustainabilitycoordinator@jamescitycountyva.gov.

York County to Begin Utilizing FlashVote to Gather Public Input

York County is working with FlashVote to engage the community and gather input from residents to help county officials inform their decisions.

Residents are encouraged to sign up now at flashvote.com/yorkcountyva or call 775-235-2240 to participate by phone or text only.

Here’s how it works:

  • Sign-up takes less than one minute and input is always kept anonymous.
  • Personal or demographic information collected by FlashVote is never shared with the county or anyone else.
  • When residents sign up, they can determine how surveys are received — whether by email, text or phone call.
  • They will receive a notification whenever there is a new survey, and they will have 48 hours to participate before voting closes.
  • Once a survey is closed, everyone who participated will automatically receive a summary of the overall results and be able to see how their responses compare to the group.

USDA Now Accepting Applications for $25M in Funds to Expand Rural High-Speed Internet Access

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is now accepting applications for $25 million in funding offered through the Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) Program to help local organizations, cooperatives and Tribes expand affordable, high-speed internet projects in rural communities.

The investments are made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This marks the second round of funding for the program, which received 96 applications requesting a total of $44.5 million in its first round. The BTA program covers technical assistance and training as well as feasibility studies, network designs, hiring efforts, and application development assistance. Applicants must apply through one of two funding categories:

Applications will be evaluated according to USDA’s new scoring criteria, which includes points for projects seeking to serve distressed communities and advance racial justice, place-based equity and opportunity.

Applications must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug. 20. Additional information is available on page 52012 of the June 21, Federal Register. Contact Virginia’s General Field Representative Richard Jenkins at richard.jenkins@usda.gov or 304-445-5369 to learn more about this funding opportunity. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov

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