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Tuesday: Knit for charity (or for yourself) at the Hopewell Library
Join local non-profit Southside from the Heart at the Hopewell Library (209 East Cawson Street) this Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The group will be knitting for charity, and you can join them to work on your own knitted donations or a personal project for yourself. (The group will be meeting weekly at the same time at the Hopewell Library for the foreseeable future.)
Tuesday: Helicopters, Airplanes & Rockets! Free Youth STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, art or math) event at the Hopewell Library
Join the Hopewell Library (209 East Cawson Street) this Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m. for a free youth workshop on helicopters, airplanes and rockets. Participants will learn about these different types of powered flight and get a chance to use arts and crafts to create their own helicopters, airplanes and rockets.
Thursday: Jan. 16 Petersburg ward 7 meeting will discuss data centers, all city residents welcome
Petersburg’s Seventh Ward Councilman Arnold Westbrook, Jr. will hold a 7th Ward meeting on Thursday, Jan. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Petersburg Public Library (201 W. Washington Street) to discuss data centers.
The meeting comes after Petersburg’s city council voted on Tuesday, Jan 7. to give the city manager the authority to sell a city-owned property at 2233 Halifax Rd. for the potential future development of a data center.
Representatives of the City Manager’s Office, the Economic Development Department and the Planning Department have been invited to attend the meeting to address issues and answer questions. The meeting is open to all citizens and property owners in Petersburg, regardless of ward.
Questions? Councilman Westbrook’s office can be reached at 804-733-2323 or by email at awestbrook@petersburg-va.org.
Macy’s will close its Southpark Mall store this year. The final day remains unclear
Petersburg Area Art League Members Art Show: Attend opening during Friday for the Arts!
Thursday: Free “Pathways to Effective Parenting” classes kick off in Petersburg
Petersburg’s Virginia Cooperative Extension office is offering free “Pathways to Effective Parenting” (PEP) classes for parents, grandparents, childcare providers and anyone who would like to develop their parenting and communication skills. Register today to secure your spot. (Pre-registration is required.)
The classes will be made up of eight total weekly sessions between Jan. 16 through March 13 that will focus on child brain development, pre-school children, elementary school-aged children and teens.
Attending these classes is a “great way to increase your confidence, acquire new skills and strategies, learn more about your child’s development, improve your relationship with your child, learn the difference between discipline and punishment, learn how stress affects us all and ways to alleviate it, and much more,” according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
The eight sessions will take place weekly on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 3811 Corporate Road. Certificates will be awarded to participants that complete the entire eight weeks. Childcare will not be available.
Colonial Heights: Free community breakfast with pancakes, sausages, orange juice, coffee
Can’t make these sessions? No problem. The next ones will be from March 27 through May 15.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Katrina Kirby at kirby2@vt.edu or (804-733-1880/DD*) during business hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event. *DD number is (800) 828-1120. Questions? Contact 804-733-1880 or email kirby2@vt.edu.
Thursday: Interested in starting a business? Attend this free Petersburg workshop to learn how
Do you want to start a business, but don’t know where to begin? Petersburg-based organization People’s Advantage Helping Hands (PAHH) is partnering with the Petersburg Department of Social Services (PDSS) to conduct a series of free workshops every third Thursday of the month to help locals start their own businesses.
The series, titled “Let’s Start a Business,” is made-up of six workshops in total, the first of which took place on Sep. 19. Every workshop will address a different component to starting your own business. Community members are welcome to attend as many as they’d like.
The next workshop will take place on Thursday, Jan. 16. The workshop is titled “Market & Pitch,” and will help attendees develop effective marketing strategies and a compelling business pitch.
The free workshops will be an hour long, held from 6-7 p.m. at the Virginia Community Resource Center, located at 22 W. Washington Street in downtown Petersburg. Attendees of all ages and experience levels are welcome (and can also bring along their children.)
Councilman Marlow Jones announces exploratory committee for potential lieutenant governor run
The February and March workshops will be as follows:
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“Licensing,” February 20: Understand the legal requirements and licenses needed to operate your business.
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“Future Finances,” March 20: Explore funding options and financial planning for long-term success.
Saturday: $30 Candle making workshop at Petersburg’s Resist Booksellers
Join Resist Booksellers on Saturday at 2 p.m. for a fun and creative afternoon. Learn how to make your own candles in a cozy setting with instructor Bianca Turner, owner of the Black-woman-owned Beez Wax Candle Brand. This hands-on workshop is perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike. There are only a few tickets left, so get yours today!
Saturday: Hopewell Red Cross blood drive
There will be a community blood drive this Saturday, Jan 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Hopewell’s Friendship Baptist Church, located at 1305 Arlington Rd. All blood types are needed. Please call 1-800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.Org and enter: friendshipbaptist to schedule an appointment.
If you give blood, you will automatically be entered for a chance to win an exciting trip for you and a guest to Super Bowl LIC in Near Orleans (including travel, a hotel, an $1,000 gift card, pre-game activities and more.)
Sunday: Free City of Petersburg MLK Day celebration
Save the Date! Petersburg’s annual event celebrating and honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. will take place on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. at the Petersburg Public Library, located at 201 W Washington St. Rev. Dr. John Kinney will be the event’s keynote speaker. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. All are welcome.
Next Monday: Petersburg Inaugural MLK Day Parade
Sheriff Crawford is hosting Petersburg’s first Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade on Monday, Jan. 20. The parade will kick off at 9 a.m. from Pocahontas Street on Pocahontas Island and continue to the MLK, Jr. Bridge, turn left, cross the bridge and go up Franklin St. It will end at the intersection of Franklin and Adams St. Questions? Contact the Petersburg Sheriff’s Office at (804) 733-2369.
Recurring Tri-City programming and more
Did you know that Petersburg was once again ranked dead last for life expectancy in Virginia?
Check out The Progress-Index’s list of free or affordable local healthcare and healthy living resources, including free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, free breast cancer screenings and more.
Mondays: Free story times, baby & me and “stay and play” programs at the Hopewell Library
The Hopewell Library hosts regular children’s story time programs every Monday at 10:30 a.m. No registration is required. There are also free recurring baby & me programs at the Hopewell library on Mondays at 9:30 a.m. and “stay and play” programs, a drop-in playdate program for children aged 0-2, every Monday at 10 a.m.
The Petersburg Library market, River Street Market
The Petersburg Public Library has its very own market, where you can buy fresh food and produce. It’s open every Monday-Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. on the main floor of the library. Not only are SNAP and EBT accepted at the market (in addition to cash and credit), but all fruits and vegetables are half off with SNAP.
The library market is run by Petersburg non-profit organization River Street Market, also known as River Street Education. The non-profit aims to enhance the overall wellbeing of Petersburg’s residents by providing affordable healthy food options through a year-round farmers market in Petersburg that supports local farmers, as well as hosting free educational events and initiatives for community members of all ages.
The farmers market occurs weekly from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays at 30 River Street. All SNAP dollars are doubled at River Street Market with Virginia Fresh Match. Visit the market (or their website) for more information and to get your SNAP tokens for all eligible foods plus tokens for free fruits and vegetables.
One of River Street Market’s community initiatives includes the Pop Club, a weekly Saturday program where every child at the farmers market is able to participate in an educational program through which they can learn more about the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables and are given $10 each to buy fresh produce.
Free blood pressure screenings Tuesdays at the Petersburg Public Library
The American Heart Association and the Petersburg Public Library are collaborating with Central Virginia Health Services to bring Petersburg’s residents free blood pressure screenings.
A community health worker with Central Virginia Health Services will be at the Petersburg library every Tuesday from 1 to 6 p.m. offering completely free blood pressure screenings. No library card or proof of residence is required to get your free screening. There is no limit to how many screenings you can get. There is also a new loan program in place that allows any library member to “check out” blood pressure monitors for free just like you would a regular book.
Free fitness classes in Colonial Heights
The city of Colonial Heights has partnered with Sports Backers to bring residents free, recurring fitness classes on Monday and Thursday evenings at the Colonial Heights Community Center, located at 157 Roanoke Ave.
Mondays: Overflow with Ebo
Overflow with Ebo, 6-7 p.m. Meant for ages 13 and older, this class is a beginner-friendly mix of cardio, Pilates and Yoga. “We move to the beat all while improving muscle strength, balance and flexibility.” Register through the Colonial Heights Recreation & Parks website by Sunday at midnight to attend. Located in the Community Room.
Thursdays:
Juju’s Fit Fix, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Meant for ages 13 and older, this class is a 60 minute “light and fun” cardio class “to get the heart rate going and the body moving to some great music.” Register through the Colonial Heights Recreation & Parks website by Wednesday night to attend. Located in the Multipurpose Room.
Free health and fitness classes at the Petersburg Public Library
The Petersburg Public Library has recurring health and wellness classes for community members! Why not drop by to check some of them out? Read more about some of the offerings below:
Tuesdays and Thursdays: Free Yoga Series at the Petersburg Library
Did you know that the Petersburg Public Library offers free yoga classes? The classes, led by instructor Belinda Washington-Todd, are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 4:45 p.m. in the Wellness Activity Center on the second floor of the library. All are welcome. Questions? Please contact 804-733-2387, ext. 0.
Wednesday: Free Fitness Classes at the Petersburg Library
Looking for something to do with your Wednesday evenings? Why not drop by the Petersburg Public Library and take a free fitness class? Toning With Toya takes place every Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Wellness Activity Center on the second floor of the library. The class is open to all ages and fitness levels. Questions? Please contact 804-733-2387, ext. 0.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell blood drive, Petersburg candle-making class & more: THE DIGEST