A dancing charity event waltzed into its fifth year with its highest fundraising total to date. A local church teamed up to fight hunger, while a soccer tournament raised funds to combat breast cancer. Birds were out in full feather for a recent walk, a hospital earned stroke care certification and one man reaped a new car from a raffle to support babies and toddlers. Although young in comparison to the history it examines, a local project celebrated its 20th anniversary Friday.
Know a person or event that should be featured in our Hometown section? Send us an email to [email protected].
Fifth Annual Dancing with the Williamsburg Stars Raises More Than $80,000
On March 1, an audience of almost 700 gathered at Phi Beta Kappa Hall on the campus of the College of William & Mary to watch local celebrities battle for dancing glory.
The fifth installment of Dancing with the Williamsburg Stars featured 12 competitors paired with ballroom dancers in an effort to raise money for charity. This year’s event provided more than $80,000 for Literacy for Life and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The project was brought together by more than 600 volunteer hours from stars, professional dancers, committee members and organizers over the course of a year.
Grace Church Yorktown Work to End Hunger Worldwide
Last Sunday, volunteers ages 9 to 80 from Grace Episcopal Church in Yorktown devoted their time to packaging meals to support Stop Hunger Now, an international hunger relief effort. Almost 100 volunteers put together 10,584 meals in under an hour.
The parish also raised $2,500 to support the effort.
Croaker Resident Wins CDR Car Raffle
Norman Webb won big at the March 23 Bid ‘n Buy Auction by Child Development Resources. The event supports the nonprofit organization’s services for children and toddlers with disabilities, developmental delays or those who are at risk for delay.
This year, CDR raffled off a new Ford Fusion SE. Webb, a Croaker resident, won the vehicle courtesy of Hall Ford Lincoln in Newport News.
Beyond Boobs! Receives Soccer Tournament Proceeds
A recent donation to a Williamsburg-based nonprofit will help them educate women on breast cancer issues.
The Kiwanis Club of Poquoson presented a check for $2,000 to Beyond Boobs!, which was founded eight years ago to call attention to breast health action.
The donation is part of the proceeds from the Christine Garvey “Go for the Goal” memorial soccer tournament, which was held March 18 through the 20. The tournament was founded in memory of Christine Olsen Garvey who died of breast cancer in 1998.
In its 15th year, the tournament raises money to fight breast cancer and for EDMARC Hospice for Children.
Bird Walk Yields Wildlife Finds
Twenty-two bird enthusiasts came out for the Saturday Bird on March 8 at New Quarter Park, co-sponsored by York County Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the Williamsburg Bird Club. Led by club member Tom McCary, the group observed 33 species
All were listed in the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s eBird database, where New Quarter Park has been listed as a birding hot spot since 2005. A Horned Grebe, spotted directly in front of the park’s floating dock on Queen’s Creek, was one of the highlights of the day.
The Williamsburg Bird Club leads bird walks at New Quarter Park every month from 8 to 10 a.m. on the second Saturday and from 7 to 9 a.m. on the fourth Saturday. A special walk April 26 will observe birds living in the area year-round, as well as those migrating.
Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Earns Primary Stroke Program Certification
The Joint Commission, in conjunction with The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, recognized Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg on March 26 with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. That achievement marks the organization’s dedication to fostering more positive outcomes for stroke patients.
Certification is a voluntary process and available only to stroke programs in Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals. The designation is good for two years.
Jamestown Rediscovery Celebrates 20 Years
On April 4, 1994, the first shovel went into the dirt at Jamestown Island, the first permanent English colony in North America. The project was named Jamestown Rediscovery as its main goal was to find the site of the earliest fortified town on the island that was first visited in 1607 by English adventurers of the Virginia Company of London.
Historic Jamestowne is now jointly administered by Preservation Virginia and the National Park Service.
Watch a video below to take a look back at the first 20 years of the project.
