Richmond Animal League to open new spay/neuter clinic

Frank Brown with Pathways, a nonprofit group in Petersburg, will ride the full 40-mile course of CCHASM’s (Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Alliance for Social Ministry) TER-FOOD-DIN cycling event this weekend on a unicycle. Brown has been riding a unicycle for eight years. Proceeds from the TER-FOOD-DIN event will help CCHASM meet emergency needs of area residents. For more information on the event, visit www.regonline.com/cchasmride. Photo courtesy of CCHASM The Richmond Animal League (RAL) announced last week it will open a low cost, high volume spay/neuter clinic on its property in Chesterfield County. The clinic will be the first and only such facility located south of the James River, and will provide low cost surgeries and vaccinations for owned pets as well as dogs and cats from other humane groups. When funding permits, these services will be offered free to pet owners who cannot afford them.

Parker The clinic will be open to pet owners and humane groups from all over the Richmond metropolitan area and outlying regions such as Powhatan, Amelia, Dinwiddie, Prince George and other rural counties. In addition to providing services for others, the clinic will afford RAL an opportunity to sterilize its dogs and cats in a more timely fashion. Since all of its pets are spayed/neutered prior to adoption, faster surgery turnaround times will allow RAL to adopt animals much quicker and that in turn, will enable the organization to rescue even more animals destined to be killed at local shelters.

The spay/neuter clinic will be housed in a 1,400-square-foot modular building located next to RAL’s existing facility at 11401 International Drive, behind the Ukrop’s on Midlothian Turnpike. Ground preparations are already under way, and the building is expected to be delivered this month. RAL expects the clinic to be operational in November.

The clinic will be named the Loving Spay/ Neuter Clinic in memory of Edith Loving, a long-time RAL volunteer who dedicated her life to helping homeless animals and recently passed away.

To date, RAL has raised more than $110,000 for start-up costs for the clinic. The largest donation – $70,000 – came from PetSmart Charities, the charitable arm of PetSmart. The funds raised thus far will go to cover start-up costs for the building and medical supplies. RAL is currently seeking funding to help cover the ongoing costs for medical supplies and free surgeries for pet owners who cannot afford the service.

For more information, visit www.ral.org.

Organizations

The board of directors of the Regional Drug Free Alliance, located on Johnston Willis Drive, has elected Denise Dawson Miller as president, Tara Garland as vice president, Mary Lib Morgan as secretary and Brian Bonham as treasurer.

New construction progresses at the Midlothian Family YMCA. The new gym is in use for childcare, youth sports, group exercise, basketball and volleyball. The expanded wellness center is open, and a second exercise studio will be up and running soon. Stop by the facility, located at 737 Coalfield Road, to receive three free family visits. Activities include swimming, group exercise and use of the gymnasium and wellness center. For more information, visit www.midlothianymca.org.

Education

The U.S. Department of Education recently named Grange Hall Elementary a National Blue Ribbon School. Only 314 schools were honored nationwide, and Grange Hall is the only school in Central Virginia to achieve Blue Ribbon status in 2009. The Blue Ribbon program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that have made dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. Grange Hall Elementary is the fourth Chesterfield school to achieve Blue Ribbon status. Previous recipients include Robious Elementary in 2005, Clover Hill Elementary in 2003 and James River High in 2000. The 2009 Blue Ribbon schools will be honored Nov. 2-3 in Washington, D.C.

Government

Midlothian resident Martina Shipman is the new child and youth services coordinator at Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR). In other DSCR news, employees there donated a van full of school supplies to Bensley and Bellwood elementary schools, Meadowbrook High School and the beforeand after school care program at Winchester Green Community Center.

Individual achievements

Midlothian artist Robert L. Caldwell will have two sketches, “Lookout” and “Your Majesty (Black Vulture),” included in an upcoming book, “Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing Light and Shadow,” published by North Light Books and edited by Rachel Rubin Wolf.

Athletics

SportsQuest skaters Kimberly Derrick and Jordan Malone have been selected for the 2010 U.S. Olympic short-track speed skating team. They both ended a four-day trial event with a third place overall ranking. Derrick was also a competitor with the 2006 U.S. Olympic team.

Business

Bon Secours Medical Group will host “Take Back Your Body: Managing Your Weight and Metabolism” on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6-9 p.m., in the St. Francis Medical Center lobby. Topics will include understanding metabolic syndrome, midlife hormonal changes and how to jumpstart metabolism. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is recommended by calling 359-WELL.

Dance `N Wear, located at 6915 Chital Drive, is sponsoring a school-supply drive through the end of September. Customers can bring in two or more school supplies and receive a coupon for a percentage off their next store purchase. The supplies will be given to local schools in need. For more information, call 739-7686.

Kelly Rainey has joined Goodman & Company, a certified public accounting and business advisory firm, as an associate in the Chester office. Citizens Bancorp of Virginia and its subsidiary, Citizens Bank and Trust Company, with a Chesterfield location at 10001 Courtview Lane, has elected Charles “Charlie” F. Parker Jr. as its new director.

First Citizens Bank has opened a new full-service branch at the intersection of Midlothian Turnpike and Woolridge Road, 13101 Midlothian Turnpike. It’s the company’s second branch in the metro.

Dog groomer Debbie Sirois is now grooming at Winterfield Veterinary Hospital, 3746 Winterfield Road. She has experience grooming cats and all dog breeds, and is accepting new clients. Call Sirois at 897-8522.

Tots on the Go, located at 13541 East Boundary Road in Midlothian, is holding a Family Fun Day on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A silent auction that includes donations from several local businesses will take place, with all proceeds going to ASK, an organization that helps children with cancer. There will be free car-seat inspections performed by a certified inspector. For more information, call 647-6802 or visit www.totsonthego.com.

All About Presentation, an event-planning company in Midlothian, is holding a Holiday Super Star event to share the secrets of celebrity party and event planners and how to throw fancy holiday parties on a budget. The free event will be held on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 2- 3:30 p.m. at Brandermill Country Club, 3700 Brandermill Parkway. Registration is required by Saturday, Sept. 26. For more information, visit www.holidaysuperstar-evite.eventbrite.com.

Learn about purchasing a home, obtaining a mortgage and receiving an $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers at a free seminar on Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 6:30-8 p.m. The seminar is being offered by Virginia Credit Union, 7500 Boulder View Drive in the Boulders Office Park. For more information or to register, visit www.vacu.org/education/seminars.asp or call 323-6800.

Financial Peace University (FPU), the 13- week program taught by personal financialmanagement expert Dave Ramsey, will be held at the Village Church at Midlothian, 13141 Rittenhouse Drive, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m. Contact Bill McCloud at 763-0429 or acerwdm@yahoo.com for more information or to register.

Announcements can be e-mailed to news@chesterfieldobserver.com, faxed to 744-3269 or mailed to Chesterfield Observer, Attn: Announcements, P.O. Box 1616,Midlothian, VA 23113.