Calendar
Easter egg hunts signal the unofficial start of spring
In The Spotlight

Easter egg hunt, Sat., Mar. 15, 10:30 a.m., Harry Daniels Park at Iron Bridge, 6600 White Pine Rd. Come visit with the Easter Bunny and bring your own basket for the egg hunt. Ages 11 and under. Sponsored by the Chesterfield Jaycees. For more information, visit www.chesterfieldjaycees.com.

Bensley Community Building Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Sat., Mar. 15, 11 a.m., Bensley Park, 2900 Drewry's Bluff Rd. This year's event will feature a clown, barrel train rides, a disc jockey and the Easter Bunny. There will be four age groups: 0-2, 3-5, 6-9 and 10 and older. Each group will have specially marked eggs that may be redeemed for prizes. There will also be door prizes. This event is free and is sponsored by the county's Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information, call 275-5321.

Easter egg hunt, Sun., Mar. 16, 2 p.m., Chesterfield Children's Theatre, 3600 North St. Bring your little ones to meet Chesterfield Children's Theatre's Disney princesses and pose for pictures. Play on the moon bounce and enjoy free cotton candy. Raffles, silent auctions and concessions. For more information, call 894-1437 or e-mail ChesterfieldChildrensTheatre@hotmail.com

Thurs., Mar. 13

Outreach Conference for Small Farmers, 9 a.m., L. Douglas Wilder Building, Virginia State University, 1 Hayden Dr. The Cooperative Extension at Virginia State University, in cooperation with USDA, has scheduled this conference for small and part-time farmers, community-based organizations and others interested in agriculture. Presentations and workshops will cover grant writing; services available through USDA agencies; loan and grant applications; farm and forestland management programs; 2007 Farm Bill updates; and farm management tips and tools. Free and open to the public. For more information or to register, contact Mike Wooden, Farm Service Agency district director at large, at 287-1537 or e-mail mike. wooden@va.usda.gov.

Books & Bites Book Discussion Group, 10:30-11:30 a.m., LaPrade Library, 9000 Hull Street Rd. "A Spot of Bother" by Mark Haddon will be discussed. For more information, call 276-7755.

John Tyler Community College board meeting, 3 p.m., Administration Building, room B207, John Tyler Community College, Midlothian campus, 800 Charter Colony Pkwy. The public is invited to attend. A signup sheet will be made available 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the board meeting. Persons interested in addressing the board may sign up at that time. For more information, call 594-1530.

Motivators Toastmasters, 7:15-8:30 p.m., Chester Library, 11800 Centre St. Develop and improve your communication and leadership skills in a friendly, comfortable environment. Toastmasters is a nonprofit organization that provides a practical learning program that benefits both experienced professionals and beginning speakers. For more information, call Paul at 605-1317 or visit www.motivators.freetoasthost.com.

Fri., Mar. 14

Craft Closet, 10-11 a.m., Chester Library, 11800 Centre St. Individuals ages 18 and older with disabilities are invited to make a seasonal craft. Cost is $2. Sponsored by the Chesterfield County Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information or to register, call 751-4134.

Pageant, 7 p.m., Providence Middle School, 900 Starlight Ln. The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America group at Providence Middle will hold a Miss Providence Middle pageant. For more information, contact Venida Adams at 674-1365.

2nd Fridays at The Art Annex, 7-9 p.m., The Art Annex, 825 Grove Rd., Midlothian Come for an evening of art, live music, complimentary drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Featured watercolor artists are Wilma Bradner, Paulette Nesbitt, and Susan Maley Rash, and pastel artists Lori Spain, Marsha Newton, Polly Taylor and Sylvia Wawner. For more information, contact Amy Barr at 379- 2600.

Sat., Mar. 15

Everything for Kids Semi-Annual Sale, 8-11 a.m., Manchester Middle School, 7401 Hull Street Rd. Sale will feature gently-used infant/children's clothing as well as maternity, equipment, bedding, toys and more! Rain or shine. Cash only. No strollers allowed. Sponsored by Southside Area Mothers of Multiples (SAMOM). For more information, call Joy Prickett, 748-6747.

Spring Gardening with the Pros, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Boulevard Flower Garden, 2100 Ruffin Mill Rd. Enjoy a day of gardening fun featuring a plant clinic booth, "kid's corner" and seminars by master gardeners. Sponsored by the Chesterfield Cooperative Extension. For more information, call 751-4401.

O.B. Gates Elementary School Spring Carnival, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 10001 Courthouse Rd. All indoors. Food, games, prizes, inflatable moon bounces, mazes and more. Vendor booths and silent auction with many items, including NASCAR tickets. Wristbands ($7) and individual tickets for games and inflatables will be sold at the door. For more information, e-mail gates.carnival@verizon.net.

Berry Conference, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., L. Douglas Wilder Building, Virginia State University, 1 Hayden Dr. Virginia Cooperative Extension will teach new and experienced growers about the production and marketing of raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and strawberries. Registration fee of $7 per participant covers lunch, refreshments and educational materials. To register, call VSU's Agriculture Extension Office at 524-5960 or e-mail agsuite@vsu.edu.

Pet adoptions, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., PetSmart, 12264 Chattanooga Plaza (in the Wal-Mart shopping center on Hull Street Road). Adopt a new, furry family member during this adoption event featuring animals from the Chesterfield Animal Shelter. Volunteers from the Chesterfield Humane Society will be on hand to answer questions and assist with adoptions.

Pre-Prom Extravaganza, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Bryant & Stratton College, 8141 Hull Street Rd. Showcasing tips and resources for area high school students for the upcoming prom season and featuring displays and experts on tuxedos, dresses, limos, photographers, flowers, spas and more. For more information, call 745-2444.

Relay For Life - Courthouse event, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Crossflite's, 11931 Centre St., Chester. Celebrate March Madness at the 12th Annual Spring Classic Charlie Mingus Memorial Dart Tournament. All events are 501/Cricket/DC. Finals are best of 5. Proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society. Sponsored by the Chunky Monkeys Relay For Life team. For more information, call 796-3259 or visit http://mysite.verizon.net/chunkymonkeys.

Chesterfield Writer's Group monthly meeting, noon, Central Library, 9501 Lori Rd. For information, call 986-2985 or visit www.writersclub.us.

Sun., Mar. 16

Open house, 1-3 p.m., Chesterfield Technical Center, 10101 Courthouse Rd. Parents, students and community members are invited to explore the 28 career paths at the tech center. For more information, call 768-6160.

Cinderella auditions, 6 p.m., Chesterfield Children's Theatre, 3600 North St. Prepare a song with karaoke or a capella. Participants will be asked to read from a script and learn a short dance. Rehearsals start in April; show will run May 24- June 1. For more information, call 894-1437 or e-mail Chesterfield ChildrensTheatre@hotmail.com.

Mon., Mar. 17

Country/Contemporary Line Dancing, beginners, 6-7 p.m., intermediate, 7:30-8:30 p.m., weekly through Apr. 21, Bensley Community Building, 2900 Drewry's Bluff Rd. Cost is $30. For more information, call David Potter, 275-5321.

Chesterfield Toastmasters meeting, 6:30- 8 p.m., LaPrade Library, 9000 Hull Street Rd. Toastmasters International teaches public speaking and leadership skills. For more information, contact Julio Del Corso, 370-6465, or visit www.district66.org.

Have a special event coming up? Please e-mail your calendar items to calendar@chesterfieldobserver.com, mail them to P.O. Box 1616, Midlothian VA 23113, or fax them to 744-3269. Please include a contact name and number with your announcements.