News Near You for July 5

NEWS NEAR YOU

Richmond The city is considering a proposal to allow a freestanding sign at a dental office building at 6901 Patterson Avenue. The Planning Commission will consider the request at its 1:30 p.m. meeting tomorrow.

Prince George The Appomattox Regional Library is offering an interactive theatre performance of the swashbuckling tale "Treasure Island" on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Burrowsville Library, 18701 James River Drive in Disputanta. The program is presented as part of the "Be Creative @ the Library" and "Express Yourself @ the Library" summer reading programs for young people from birth through high school. For information about Summer Reading Program events at the Appomattox Regional Library, visit http://www.arls.org or call (804) 458-6329, ext. 1013.

Hopewell ConnectSouthside/Focus Inc. is offering a workshop on "Strategic Planning: Creating an Organizational Roadmap." The class will be on Thursday, July 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Appomattox Regional Library, 209 E. Cawson St. The course will provide a step-by-step strategic planning process that can be used for any type of organization. For information, call Vera Pakizer at the Hopewell Library at 804-458-6329, ext. 2010. To register, visit: http://www.connectsouthside.org.

Chesterfield The Lucy Corr Foundation will hold its annual 5K Run/Walk for the Future on July 18. The race will start at 8 a.m. at Lucy Corr Village, 6800 Lucy Corr Blvd., Chesterfield. Preregistration is $15 before July 13, and $12 for youths 16 and younger. After July 13, registration will be $20, and $15 for youths 16 and younger. Participants may also register the day of the race. T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 250 registrants. There will be a $100 cash award for the top overall male and female winners, as well as medals and door prizes. Go to http://www.lucycorrvillage.com for a registration form, or request a form from Bonnie Meyers at 804-706-5712 or . All proceeds will benefit the Lucy Corr Foundation.

AROUND THE STATE

Lynchburg An August opening is planned for a year-round ski facility at Liberty University. The Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center on Candlers Mountain includes a $4 million ski slope made with the synthetic material Snowflex. The slope includes three jumps and will eventually be expanded to the top of Candlers Mountain. The slope will open to alumni on Aug. 1 and to the general public on Aug. 2. An Aug. 29 open skiing event is planned.

Wintergreen Wintergreen Resort has donated more than 1,400 acres around Crawford Knob for preservation in exchange for $3 million in state tax credits. Officials say Crawford Knob, which sits at 3,000 feet above sea level in Nelson County, will be preserved through a state conservation easement. The tract joins an additional 4,500 acres of undeveloped land already being held by the nonprofit Wintergreen Nature Foundation.

Norfolk All lanes of the busy Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel were open yesterday, with crews set to continue work on a faulty pump early today. Crews worked through the night to empty water from a malfunctioning water main so the tunnel linking Hampton and Norfolk could be fully opened for holiday weekend traffic. The bridge-tunnel is a key link to beach areas such as Virginia Beach and North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Alexandria The city of Alexandria has sworn in new city council members. Republican Frank Fannon IV and independent Alicia Hughes became the first non-Democrats to join the council since 2003. Others who were sworn in include former Mayor Kerry Donley as vice mayor, and Mayor William Euille for another term. Euille says the new board should address the city's high school dropout rate and teen pregnancy. He also says work needs to be done to retain and attract businesses, redevelop Landmark Mall and develop the Alexandria waterfront for the future. -- From Staff and Wire Reports