[New] Community Matters has full January schedule

Contributed Report

Community Matters is excited to announce expanded program offerings in its new home at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway. This community resource for 55 and forward features opportunities to learn, connect and stay active.

The new schedule for the January is packed with plenty of opportunities for local residents. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday classes and sessions begin at 10 a.m.; expect inclement weather cancellations upon Powhatan Public School closings or delays. Topics are subject to change.

Jan. 17 – History of Belgrade Plantation and Bon Air.

Jan. 19 – Game Day.

Jan. 24 – Mahjong Basics. This strategic game is noted for being effective in improving shortterm memory, attention and logical thinking. Come learn the basics — regular players are looking for others to join in!

state Park will be hosted by the richmond astronomical society throughout 2023. events are open to the public and held at the equestrian / Trailhead parking area. Visitors are welcome to bring their telescopes and test them out under a dark sky with assistance from our astronomers. This is a great opportunity to try out a new telescope that might have been a holiday gift. no telescope is required, though. you can always check out the views through ours or just bring a comfortable chair. event times are listed below, but volunteer astronomers will be on site before the event to provide telescope assistance. note that the $5 park fee applies at all times; park fees are waived for volunteer astronomers who are sharing their expertise or equipment for the event and volunteer astronomers are welcome to continue to observe through the night after the public hours. astronomers that can help with any of these events, send a message to president@richastro.org. upcoming dates are: 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 21 and Feb. 18; 7 to 9 p.m. april 22; 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. July 22; 8 to 10 p.m. sept. 16; and 5 to 7 p.m. dec. 9.

Habitat For Humanity — Powhatan depends on volunteers and donors. Habitat is blessed with the community’s helpful and generous participation. The Habitat restore at 1922 urbine road will be open every saturday, come november 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The office is located upstairs at the Habitat restore and the office number is 804-594-7009, ext. 2. Call and volunteer. Help us at the restore, perform critical repairs and/or with our upcoming builds.

Powhatan aa meets at 8 p.m. every saturday at Manakin episcopal Church on Huguenot Trail.

The Christian Motorcyclists association Powhatan chapter Living Wheels will meet at 6 p.m. at Company 4 Fire station at the intersection of route 711 and Judes Ferry road. Find out what they have been doing, and where their next ride or event will be. For more information call Tom Barnes at 804690-4884 or Mark Lewis at 804-432-1831.

SUNDAY, JAN. 22

The Powhatan County democratic Committee meets from 7 to 9 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month in the Powhatan County Library.

MONDAY, JAN. 23 a P owhatan Hope n a rcotics a n onymous (na) meeting will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday at PCC Church, 4480 anderson Highway, Powhatan, room 102. It is an open discussion meeting. Wheelchair accessible.

Powhatan County Public Library has a wonderful line up of adult programs to get you out of your house on those wintery days. every second and fourth Monday throughout the winter at 11 a.m., the library will hold retro Movie Mondays. Come in and enjoy some popcorn, watch a classic movie and reminisce. Check out the library’s flyers, call us, or visit the Facebook page for movie title information. For details, contact Powhatan County Public Library at 804-598-5670 or library@powhatanlibrary.net.

TUESDAY, JAN. 24

Powhatan High school Choral Program’s dinner and a show is on tap at the high school, 1800 Judes Ferry road. This is the opportunity for families, friends and community members to be the first to preview One Voice, radiance and resonance as they debut their 2023 competition shows. dinner service begins at 6 p.m. with show Time at 7 p.m. Tickets for dinner and a show are $25 and must be pre-ordered by Jan. 20. Tickets for the show only are $10 and may be preordered or purchased at the door while they last. all proceeds go directly to support the PHs choral programs during the 2023 season. direct any questions to through the PHs Choral Boosters Facebook page directly or email choralboosters@powhatanchoirs.com. Links to purchase tickets can be found at https://www.powhatanchoirs.com/copy-of-the-diamond-classic.

The new Bridge of reason aa meeting is held at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Powhatan Mennonite Church, 3549 Old Buckingham road, Powhatan. It is an open, decision and literature meeting for Powhatan, Goochland, and Cumberland counties. aa meets at 8 p.m. every Tuesday at st Luke’s episcopal Church on Huguenot Trail.

UPCOMING Powhatan anti-Litter Council (aLC) and yard Works will offer real Christmas tree recycling free of charge to Powhatan County residents in January. “real Christmas trees are a renewable resource that clean our air and water. recycled trees are most often shredded into mulch to use in landscaping, which eventually breaks down into soil. In Powhatan, yard Works has collected more than 200 trees on average to as few as 63 trees during a season. aLC is asking residents to give your real trees a life after the holidays by recycling them free at yard Works. This tree recycling service has been offered to the Powhatan community at no cost for more than 18 years. Trees may be brought to the yard Works in Powhatan, located at 1990 anderson Highway, between Jan. 3 and 31, 2023. Hours for tree dropoffs are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trees will be ground into mulch. according to robbie urbine of yard Works, “Please make sure trees are free of all lights, tinsel and ornaments.” no artificial trees will be accepted. For more information, call yard Works at (804) 639-0311.

Jan. 25 – HumbleBee Project. This ongoing project is featured monthly. No-sew anti-pill fleece blankets are created and tagged which offers opportunity to socialize while doing good for others. Completed blankets are taken to Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and given to pediatric inpatients adjusting to the demands of their medical care and treatments.

Jan. 26 – Game Day.

Jan. 31 – Learn Digital Book options and App use from Powhatan Library staff. Any technology-related class, you’re welcome to bring your own device, although that’s not required for learning.

Community Matters is also sponsoring Movers & Pacers, a 12-week walking initiative held at 9 a.m. in the gymnasium. Participants log in with facilitator, tracking cumulative weekly step counts then enjoy indoor walking with friends during winter months. Collaboration with Virginia Cooperative Extension — Powhatan to see more active-aging opportunities made available.

Girl scout Troop 3029 is helping the Huguenot Volunteer Fire department achieve a long-held goal of building a memorial to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks of sept. 11, 2001 at the station. The Girl scouts are selling 411 bricks inscribed with the name, rank and company of a firefighter, law enforcement officer or paramedic killed during the attacks. a donation of $23 will cover the cost of one inscribed brick in honor of a first responder. To purchase a brick, visit www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/memorial911. Checks payable to Troop 3029 may also be mailed to Laura Baltz at 1510 Holly Hills road, Powhatan, Va 23139. For more information, contact Baltz at 804-467-4313 or Ljbal65@aol.com. aarP Tax-aide volunteers will be offering free tax return preparation again this year at the Powhatan County Public Library. due to COVId-19 restrictions last year, volunteers were only able to provide drop-off services for most of the season. However, this year, the plan is to return to face-to-face appointments. Tax preparation appointments can be made online beginning Jan. 25, 2023, through a link on the Powhatan Library website. To better manage appointments, volunteers will only be opening a few appointment days at a time. additional appointment times will be added as earlier times are filled. Make an appointment only once you have received all your tax documents. When you come to your appointment, bring the following items: prior year tax return; social security cards for everyone on the tax return and drivers photo Id to confirm your identity; all your tax documents; and copy of a voided check for direct deposit of any tax refund. Free tax return preparation appointments will be in the large conference room of the Powhatan Library between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1 through Friday, april 14, 2023.

High school juniors across southside electric Cooperative’s service area are encouraged to apply for the electric Cooperative youth Tour as the trip heads back to the nation’s capital for a week next June. seC will take several high school juniors on the June 19-23 trip that will include visits to many of Washington, d C.’s iconic sites and museums, a nationals baseball game, a dinner cruise on the Potomac, a night at the theater and a day on Capitol Hill to meet legislators. seC pays all the expenses for its students. The deadline to apply for youth Tour is Jan. 31, 2023. This summer’s youth Tour will be the first trip to d C. since 2019 due to the pandemic. seC’s delegation will join students representing electric cooperatives from other parts of Virginia, Maryland and delaware along with participants from across the nation to experience the sights and sounds of Washington, d C. any high school junior who lives and attends school (or homeschool) in one of seC’s 18 counties is eligible to apply. students’ parents do not have to get electricity from seC students must fill out an application and submit a written essay of no more than 500 words explaining an issue they are interested in that could be discussed with a legislator. The application, complete rules and more information is available at sec.coop/youthTour. students and parents with questions about the trip should contact stump at 434-645-3219 or joy.stump@sec.coop or seC’s other community relations coordinator and chaperone, Mark Thomas, at 434-645- 3276 or mark.thomas@sec.coop.

Community Matters is partnering with the Virginia Cooperative extension again to launch a healthy lifestyle walking initiative for 55+ every Friday called Movers & Pacers at 9 a.m. in the gymnasium at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 anderson Highway. Participants will track cumulative steps weekly, log in with a facilitator first, then walk in the gym on Fridays throughout winter months. To register for this program, attend Friday, Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. and then login and walk weekly thereafter. Meet others in the community finding more ways to stay active this winter! Contact Jayne Lloyd, program coordinator, at 804-698-0438 or raservices.PVa@gmail.com with any questions. Lonesome dove equestrian Center, which is located at 6137 Old Buckingham road, provides year-round therapeutic horseback riding exclusively for veterans with special needs and disabilities. Focusing on veterans in Central Virginia, the goal of this program is to improve the quality of life for the participants through activities that are positive to their cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being. as of Jan. 1, 2021, the program is also welcoming first responders to come ride with the program. From January through March, volunteers are asked to arrive at 10 a.m. and the riding sessions begin at 11 a.m. upcoming dates are: Jan. 25; Feb. 7, 14 and 22; March 7, 14 and 22. From april through september, volunteers are asked to arrive at 9 a.m. and the riding sessions begin at 10 a.m. upcoming dates are: april 4, 18 and 26; May 2, 16 and 24; June 6, 20 and 28; July 11, 18 and 26; aug. 1, 15 and 23; sept. 12, 19 and 27. From October through november, volunteers are asked to arrive at 10 a.m. and the riding sessions begin at 11 a.m. upcoming dates are: Oct. 3, 17 and 25; nov. 7, 14 and 29. There are no sessions in december. LdeC is able to provide a variety of services to the veterans because of dedicated volunteers. Those who would like to help and have fun at the same time are asked to consider becoming a member of one of these teams. For more information about Lonesome dove, visit http://ldequestrian. com/ or contact 804-356-6327. a Pokemon Card Painting event will be held at noon on Jan. 28. Participants will each paint over a Pokemon card. Wear clothes that are OK to get paint on them as the paint needed for the cards is nOT washable. For ages 7 to 12. registration required.

Powhatan County Public Library is starting a Book Club. For the first meeting at 10 a.m. on Jan. 27, participants will discuss “Before We Were yours” by Lisa Wingate. If you cannot get your hands on a copy of the book, library staff ay have uncatalogued copies available.

Beekeeping for Beginners school is designed for those who intend to start a honeybee colony. registration consists of four Tuesday night classes: Jan. 31, Feb. 14, 21 and 28 from 7-9 p.m. at the Prince edward County extension Office (100 dominion dr., Farmville, Va 23901) near Lowe’s. a Field day is planned for a date and location to be announced since it is weather-dependent. Cost of $50 per person or Family unit (Family unit category subject to approval) includes all four classes, the Field day and one book and pre-registration is required. Presented by Heart of Virginia Beekeepers. For more information or to register, text Tommy nelson at 434-5474225 or email tommyanelson@gmail.com.

Powhatan County Public Library has a wonderful line up of adult programs to get you out of your house on those wintery days. On saturday, Feb. 18, join other participants for Gentle Beginner’s yoga with Joanna Bartles. Learn breathing techniques, postures and movements to relieve tension and tightness in muscles and joints. Bring a yoga mat or beach towel, and if able a firm pillow, block or towel for support. For details, contact Powhatan County Public Library at 804598-5670 or library@powhatanlibrary.net. saturday under the stars at Powhatan state Park will be hosted by the richmond astronomical society throughout 2023. events are open to the public and held at the equestrian / Trailhead parking area. Visitors are welcome to bring their telescopes and test them out under a dark sky with assistance from our astronomers. This is a great opportunity to try out a new telescope that might have been a holiday gift. no telescope is required, though. you can always check out the views through ours or just bring a comfortable chair. event times are listed below, but volunteer astronomers will be on site before the event to provide telescope assistance. note that the $5 park fee applies at all times; park fees are waived for volunteer astronomers who are sharing their expertise or equipment for the event and volunteer astronomers are welcome to continue to observe through the night after the public hours. astronomers that can help with any of these events, send a message to president@ richastro.org. upcoming dates are: 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 18; 7 to 9 p.m. april 22; 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. July 22; 8 to 10 p.m. sept. 16; and 5 to 7 p.m. dec. 9.