Colonial Heights The Colonial Heights Police Department and Colonial Heights Chamber of Commerce will present “Crime Trends and Prevention: A Business Seminar” Nov. 4 for Colonial Heights business owners, operators and managers. Two sessions will be offered: from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is required. For details, visit http://www.colonial-heights.com or contact Sgt. Tom Kifer at (804) 520-9306 or

Caroline The Caroline County Chamber of Commerce will hold a benefit dance Friday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Feedlot Restaurant, 20017 Rogers Clark Blvd. in Ruther Glen. Music will be provided by Casper. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. For details or reservations, call (804) 448-5264. Richmond Richmond firefighters responded to what turned out to be a false fire alarm at VCU Medical Center yesterday. Several fire crews were called shortly before 8:30 a.m. for an alarm at 1213 E. Clay St., the medical center’s new critical-care hospital. Authorities said a fire alarm had been activated on the hospital’s eighth floor. The first crews on scene, however, found that the alarm had been set off by burnt toast in a kitchen area, creating a minor amount of smoke on the eighth floor.

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 Chesterfield The Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation Department will offer a beginner target archery course for adults 50 and older Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds Exhibition Building, 10300 Courthouse Road. Skills will include stance, follow-through, form, safety and proper use of equipment. All equipment will be provided. The fee is $12 per person. Register by calling (804) 748-1623 and mentioning Course 19166.

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 Caroline The Caroline County Chamber of Commerce will hold a benefit dance Friday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Feedlot Restaurant, 20017 Rogers Clark Blvd., Ruther Glen. Music will be provided by Casper. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. For details or reservations, call (804) 448-5264.

Henrico Henrico County police are investigating a robbery yesterday at a SunTrust branch. About 10 a.m., police said, a suspect walked into the bank branch at 1131 Gaskins Road and handed a note to a teller in which he demanded money. Police said the suspect, who later fled on foot, is a white or possibly Hispanic male 30 to 40 years old, between 5-foot-1 and 5-foot-5, with short black hair, a thick mustache and beard. He was wearing a blue and white, plaid long-sleeve flannel shirt, blue jeans, white tennis shoes and a green baseball cap with a tan bill and “This is CAP” written in tan, police said. Anyone with any information about this crime or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Henrico Investigator Young at (804) 501-5000 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.

Chesterfield Children ages 3 and 4 can learn about pumpkins and help make jack-o’-lanterns on Wednesday and Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Rockwood Park Nature Center, 3401 Courthouse Road. Fee is $8 per child and includes a pumpkin. Each child must be accompanied by a participating adult. This program is part of the Exploring Nature with Small Hands series sponsored by the Chesterfield County Department of Parks and Recreation. For information, call Denise Flora at (80) 745-7020. To register, call (804) 748-1623. Course numbers are 18846 for the Wednesday program and 18847 for the Thursday program.

Hopewell The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has partnered with the city to offer some routine services at the city municipal building starting Nov. 2. The DMV Select will be inside the city’s office of Commissioner of the Revenue and Treasurer at 300 N. Main St. The services include vehicle registrations, address changes, voterregistration applications, and orders for special and personalized license plates. The office hours will be Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hanover Hanover County Animal Control will hold a rabies vaccination clinic Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the West Hanover Rescue Squad, 17005 Beaverdam Road in Montpelier. Vaccinations are $7 for dogs and cats that are at least 4 months old. The shots will be given to pets while in their owners’ cars. For details, call Animal Control at (804) 365-6485.

Hanover Hanover County Animal Control will hold a rabies vaccination clinic Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the West Hanover Rescue Squad, 17005 Beaverdam Road in Montpelier. Vaccinations are $7 for dogs and cats that are at least 4 months old. The shots will be given to pets while in their owners’ cars. For details, call Animal Control at (804) 365-6485.

Petersburg The Petersburg Festival Chorus will hold a fundraising pancake breakfast Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 215 S. Sycamore St. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased from any chorus member or at the door. Proceeds will benefit the chorus’ annual Christmas concert to be held Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the church. For details, call (804) 862-3706.

Henrico A gunman who entered a Glen Allen home struck a victim repeatedly over the head with a gun last night, Henrico County police say. Police were notified of the attack shortly before 8 p.m. The gunman and another man apparently were let into the home in the 9500 block of Spring Moss Circle near Springfield and Hungary roads. The victims—two men and a woman—were held against their will during the ordeal, which lasted about 10 minutes. Authorities believe the intruders left without stealing anything. The victim’s injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. He was taken to Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.

Chesterfield The Chesterfield Disability Services Board will hold its annual Disability Awareness Fair tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Epiphany Catholic Church, 11000 Smoketree Drive. Vendors will be available to talk about their services and programs for people with disabilities.  Hanover The Patrick Henry Family YMCA will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Friday at 10 a.m. to mark the start of a $2.4 million construction that will consolidate the two Hanover YMCAs in an expanded facility at 217 Ashcake Road. The first floor will feature two youth centers, an intergenerational room, staff offices and multiple social areas. The second floor will have a 6,000-square-foot wellness center and two group exercise studios. The renovation will nearly double the

Chesterfield A meeting on the future of the Ettrick area will be held tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Ettrick Elementary School. Topics will be the future of Chesterfield Avenue, including possible landscaping and pedestrian safety improvements and Virginia State University’s expansion plans. For additional details, call (804) 748-1065 or e-mail .

Henrico Varina residents will hear how Henrico County is weathering the national economic storm at a town meeting of Varina District Supervisor James B. Donati Jr. tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Henrico Theatre. Finance Director John Vithoulkas will lead the update on Henrico’s fiscal condition and the effect the current economy may have on the county’s 2011 budget. Meetings are open to the public. For details, call

Richmond Police closed East Main Street from 14th through 10th streets yesterday to investigate a suspicious package found in front of the Bank of America building. The package reported by bank security in the 1100 block about 7:15 a.m. was found to be empty boxes, a police spokesman said. The building was evacuated, and access to businesses on the block was restricted. Traffic reopened about 9:30 a.m.