News Near You for Oct. 29

NEWS NEAR YOU

Richmond The customer-service area of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles' central office on West Broad Street was evacuated briefly yesterday morning after a suspicious white power spilled out of an envelope in the agency's basement mailroom. Members of the Richmond Fire Department's hazardous-materials team retrieved the envelope and monitored air quality, said Richmond fire spokesman Lt. Shawn Jones. Authorities were alerted about 11:30 a.m. after a mailroom employee was exposed to the white power after opening an envelope. About 12 employees in that section were evacuated, Jones said. The affected employee was evaluated by emergency medical personnel but exhibited no signs of illness, Jones said.

Henrico Nominations for Henrico Outstanding Youth Volunteer Awards are being accepted through tomorrow by Mental Health Prevention Services and the Too Smart 2 Start Coalition. Past honorees have engaged in a variety of volunteer activities, such as leading fundraising efforts to benefit charitable causes, contributing volunteer service to nonprofit organizations, and serving as mentors and tutors at local schools. Nominees must be Henrico County students ages 12-18. An award ceremony Nov. 19 at Virginia Commonwealth University will be sponsored by the Too Smart 2 Start Coalition, the VCU Honors Department and the VCU Division of Community Engagement. For details, visit http://www.toosmart2start.com or call (804) 222-8194.

Chesterfield The Chesterfield County Department of Parks and Recreation will sponsor Howl-A-Woof on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ruff House Dog Park at Rockwood Park, 3401 Courthouse Road. Dog owners and their dogs can come out for a day of food, treats, prizes and fun. A costume contest for dogs will be at 12:15 p.m., with registration beginning at 11 a.m. Animal professionals also will be on hand to give a pet first-aid demonstration and help pet owners learn how they can improve the safety and health of their pets. Proceeds from food and merchandise sales will go toward improvements at the Ruff House Dog Park. Admission is free. For information, call Mark Pinney at (804) 748-1992.

Amelia A Bluegrass Halloween with Rhonda Vincent & The Rage will be held Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. at the Amelia Family Campground in Amelia County. The event will feature hayrides, a costume contest and prizes. Tickets are $20 per person at the gate; children 15 and younger are free and must be accompanied by an adult. Overnight camping is available for $15. For details, visit http://www.bluegrasshalloween.com.

Chesterfield Chesterfield Triad will present a free program from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday about frauds and scams that target older adults. The program, "Who Has Their Hands in Grandma's Wallet?" will be held at the Eanes-Pittman Public Safety Training Center, 6610 Public Safety Way in Chesterfield County. Registration is required. For details or to register, call (804) 768-7878.

AROUND THE STATE

Williamsburg The Environmental Protection Agency plans to hold public meetings in the six Chesapeake Bay watershed states to discuss planned pollution limits. The EPA hopes to craft a bay-protection plan by late 2010. The Virginia meetings will be held Dec. 15 in Williamsburg, Dec. 16 in the Harrisonburg area and Dec. 17 in Fredericksburg. Each meeting will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For details, go to http://www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl.

Virginia Beach Residents who live near Navy airstrips can expect more noise for about a week. Oceana spokeswoman Kelley Stirling says squadrons from Oceana Naval Air Station and Norfolk Naval Station are conducting field carrier landing practice at Oceana and Fentress Auxiliary Landing Field in Chesapeake. The Navy is increasing air operations in support of training and upcoming deployments. Fentress will see day and night landings; flight operations at Oceana will end at 10 p.m. Stirling said the heavier-than-normal flight schedule will begin today and continue through Tuesday.

-- From Staff and Wire Reports