News Near You for June 23

This daily column features short news items from some of the 20 localities that make up the greater Richmond area. If you have a news item, call 649-6990 or e-mail us at .

NEWS NEAR YOU

Henrico The Keep Henrico Beautiful Committee will honor winners of the 2009 Land Lover and Clean Business awards at tonight's Henrico County Board of Supervisors meeting at 7 in the Government Center Board Room, 4301 E. Parham Road. The awards recognize one homeowner and one business in each magisterial district for maintaining an outstanding property through landscaping, lawn care, litter removal and recycling."

Richmond The Friends Association for Children will hold "Lunch with Friends" from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow at its center in Gilpin Court, 1004 St. John St. in Richmond Friends staff will discuss their summer programs. For details or to register, call (804) 644-2357 or check online at http://www.friendsassn.org.

Powhatan A Powhatan County Board of Supervisors special meeting to plan long-term water and sewer facilities scheduled for Thursday has been canceled.

Chesterfield Prevention Services, a division of Chesterfield County Mental Health Support Services, will offer a course on "Coping with Your Child's Behavior: The Preschool Years," starting today and running Tuesdays through Aug. 11 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Augustine's Catholic Church, 4400 Beulah Road. The class will teach parents practical ways to deal with the challenging behaviors of young children. The fee is $50, and fee assistance is available. To register, call instructor Whitney Kern at (804) 717-6547.

Fort Lee A ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly renovated Army Substance Abuse Program facility will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Building 8130, 700 24th St. in Fort Lee. The program will be on the second floor of Kenner Army Health Clinic.

Caroline Caroline County is one of 10 winners of the 2009 All-America City award given by the National Civic League. The league announced the winners of the prestigious All-America City award during a celebration at the Tampa, Fla., Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina. Others include Phoenix; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Kinston, N.C. The awards program recognizes neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, counties and metro regions for outstanding civic accomplishments.

AROUND THE STATE

Williamsburg More than 400 nominations have been submitted for a new mascot for the College of William and Mary, ranging from a feathered horse to an asparagus stalk, the school said yesterday. W&M changed its decades-old nickname from the Indians to the Tribe in the 1980s. The NCAA ruled in 2006 that the college could keep the Tribe nickname but its feathered logo was demeaning to Native Americans and had to go. The school's athletic teams will still be called the Tribe, but the college wants a mascot that may -- or may not -- match the nickname. The asparagus stalk supporter notes that if served with cheese, the vegetable represents the school colors. The school's president will make the decision.

Forest Investigators are looking into a fire that destroyed a shopping center in Bedford County. Forest Fire Department Chief Todd Styles said the fire started Saturday evening on a back porch at the Jefferson Business Center in Forest. No injuries were reported. The building housed five businesses and a Virginia Farm Bureau office.

Harrisonburg Interior Secretary Ken Salazar joined volunteers in removing invasive plants from Big Meadows Swamp in the Shenandoah National Park yesterday to help kick off President Barack Obama's "United We Serve" initiative. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said he hopes all Virginians will participate. He said making communities better places to live is "too important to leave to somebody else."