Area farmers markets Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, (804) 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, (804) 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October. Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, (804) 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October. Goochland Farmers’ Market, 2955 River Road West, Goochland, (804) 332-3144. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. Huguenot-Robious Farmers’ Market, Great Big Greenhouse, 2051 Huguenot Road, (804) 320-1317. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays through Nov. 19. Lakeside Market, 6110 Lakeside Ave., (804) 262-6593. 8 a.m.-noon and 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Market Emporium at Bryan Park, Hermitage Road between Bryan Park and Bellevue avenues, (804) 513-3100. 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays through November. St. Stephen’s Farmers’ Market, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6000 Grove Ave. (804) 288-2867. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. 17th Street Farmers’ Market, 17th and East Main streets, http://www.17thstreet farmersmarket.com or (804) 646-0477. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through mid-December (except as noted). South of the James Market, Forest Hill Park, Forest Hill Avenue and 42nd Street, (804) 513-3100. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through December. West End Farmers’ Market, Gayton Road and Ridgefield Parkway, http://www.westendfarmersmarket.com or (804) 564-9989. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays and Wednesdays through mid-December. Whole Foods Market Farmers’ Market, in front of the store, 11173 W. Broad St., (804) 364-4050. 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays through October.

Area farmers markets Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, (804) 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, (804) 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October. Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, (804) 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October. Goochland Farmers’ Market, 2955 River Road West, Goochland, (804) 332-3144. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. Huguenot-Robious Farmers’ Market, Great Big Greenhouse, 2051 Huguenot Road, (804) 320-1317. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays through October. Lakeside Market, 6110 Lakeside Ave., (804) 262-6593. 8 a.m.-noon and 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Market Emporium at Bryan Park, Hermitage Road between Bryan Park and Bellevue avenues, (804) 513-3100. 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays through November. St. Stephen’s Farmers’ Market, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6000 Grove Ave. (804) 288-2867. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. 17th Street Farmers’ Market, 17th and East Main streets, http://www.17thstreet farmersmarket.com or (804) 646-0477. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays, 4-8 p.m. Fridays (through Sept. 4) and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through mid-December (except as noted). South of the James Market, Forest Hill Park, Forest Hill Avenue and 42nd Street, (804) 513-3100. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through December. West End Farmers’ Market, Gayton Road and Ridgefield Parkway, http://www.westendfarmersmarket.com or (804) 564-9989. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays and Wednesdays through mid-December. Whole Foods Market Farmers’ Market, in front of the store, 11173 W. Broad St., (804) 364-4050. 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays through October.

Area farmers markets Ashland Farmers’ Market, 101 Thompson St., Ashland, (804) 798-9219. 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Byrd House Market, behind William Byrd Community House, South Linden Street and Idlewood Avenue, (804) 643-2717. 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays through October. Chester Farmers’ Market, Chester Village Green, Village Green Drive and Centre Street, (804) 748-9650. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through October. Goochland Farmers’ Market, 2955 River Road West, Goochland, (804) 332-3144. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. Huguenot-Robious Farmers’ Market, Great Big Greenhouse, 2051 Huguenot Road, (804) 320-1317. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays through October. Lakeside Market, 6110 Lakeside Ave., (804) 262-6593. 8 a.m.-noon and 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through November. Market Emporium at Bryan Park, Hermitage Road between Bryan Park and Bellevue avenues, (804) 513-3100. 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays through November. St. Stephen’s Farmers’ Market, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 6000 Grove Ave. (804) 288-2867. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays through October. 17th Street Farmers’ Market, 17th and East Main streets, http://www.17thstreet farmersmarket.com or (804) 646-0477. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursdays, 4-8 p.m. Fridays (through Sept. 4) and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through mid-December (except as noted). South of the James Market, Forest Hill Park, Forest Hill Avenue and 42nd Street, (804) 513-3100. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through December. West End Farmers’ Market, Gayton Road and Ridgefield Parkway, http://www.westendfarmersmarket.com or (804) 564-9989. 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays and Wednesdays through mid-December. Whole Foods Market Farmers’ Market, in front of the store, 11173 W. Broad St., (804) 364-4050. 4-7 p.m. Wednesdays through October.

A bear seen wandering around Ashland was herded by town police officers toward an unpopulated area on the northern edge of town yesterday afternoon, Lt. James Shelhorse said. It was last seen headed north crossing Archie Cannon Drive near John M. Gandy Elementary School, Shelhorse said. Earlier yesterday, Maurice J. Kiely, assistant director of campus safety at Randolph-Macon College, e-mailed the campus community about a “medium-sized black bear” that was seen in the vicinity of the campus.

The first step to make the 2010 census as accurate as possible is being taken. Actually, it’s quite a few steps. In the Richmond area, temporary workers for the U.S. Census Bureau will walk street to street beginning April 13 to verify addresses in preparation for next year’s population count. The canvassing has started in other areas and is set to conclude by mid-July.

Guy Harvey is a miracle child. His mother, Amanda Harvey, had him 24 weeks into her pregnancy. He weighted 1 pound, 10 ounces and had a 10 percent chance of survival. Yesterday, the 3-year-old was smiling and chasing a ball in Randolph-Macon College’s Brock Center.

Hanover may get first ‘new urbanism’ community A local developer hopes to create a community in Hanover County similar to Henrico County’s West Broad Village—but on a smaller scale.

Nov. 14 is the application deadline for the Fuel Assistance Program offered through the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Energy Assistance Program. Hanover residents should apply at the Hanover County Department of Social Services office. Fuel assistance is a temporary program that helps eligible households with the costs of heating their homes. The amount that is received will not necessarily cover all of the winter heating costs but will be a supplement.

A team from Atlee High School recently participated in the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Forestry competition in Indianapolis, Indiana the week of October 21-25, 2008. There were over 55,000 attendees. Atlee High School competed in the National Forestry Career Development Event (CDE) and received honors as the Virginia State Champions. The Atlee team finished third in the nation in the forestry out of 38 teams.

The Amelia County Historical Society is hosting a Reception to honor Amelia’s veterans on Sunday, November 2nd at the Amelia County Veterans Center on Route 38 at 2:00 p.m. The program will begin at 3:00 p.m. The theme this year will be “Those Left Behind”. The program will include stories as told by families of loved ones serving in the military.

Loan a Nativity set to Church of the Redeemer in Mechanicsville for a “No Room at the Inn” display Dec. 5-7. About 200 sets are being sought: small and large, ordinary and extraordinary, handmade and collectibles, diverse, international, wall hangings. Miniatures and whimscal sets will have special display areas. For more information e-mail , or go to “No Room at the Inn” at www.churchredeemer.org for forms and information. Deadline is Oct. 31.

Bring the family out for a Sidewalk Sale and Fun Day at the Atlee Corner Shopping Center on Oct. 18, 2008. The center is off Leadbetter Road in Ashland, Va. E-mail for more information.

The Montpelier Center for Arts and Education’s First Fridays concert will feature the West Hanover Boys and the Back Road Band at 7 p.m. Oct. 3, 2008. Admission is free; snacks will be available. The center is at 17205 Mountain Road in Montpelier, Va. For more information, call (804) 883-7378 or visit www.montpeliercenter.org.

Artist Mike Coleman’s “Holy Smokes—A World of Cajun Beauties, Brassy Blues n’ Smokin’ Joes” will be featured at the Gallery at the Montpelier Center for Arts and Education in October. An artist, sculptor and teacher, Coleman, holds a master of fine arts degree in sculpture from Southern Illinois University. Most recently, he designed the set for the PBS special “The Neon Man and Me.“

Deborah Norville, host of television’s “Inside Edition,“ will be master of ceremonies for the second annual Trio 2 Triumph black-tie gala, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008. The Caring Voice Coalition fundraiser will be from 4:30 to 10 p.m. at The Jefferson Hotel, 101 W. Franklin St., Richmond, Va. Founded in 2003, the nonprofit group helps people affected by serious, chronic disorders.