Get the scoop on bees and honey

In the Spotlight

Introduction to Beekeeping, Monday, Sept. 13, 7-9 p.m., weekly through Oct. 18, Rockwood Nature Center, 3401 Courthouse Road. Learn everything there is to know about beekeeping and honey production in this six-week course. $75. Kristi Orcutt, 310-7964.

Thursday, Sept. 9

Rotary Club of Brandermill weekly meeting, 7:30 a.m., Brandermill Country Club, 3700 Brandermill Parkway. Eric Rohnacher, 346-5466, www.brandermillrotary.org.

My Grass Won’t Grow: Solutions for Problem Lawn Areas, 6:30-8 p.m., Central Library, 9501 Lori Road. Sponsored by the Chesterfield County Office of Cooperative Extension. Free. 751-4401.

Brandermill-Midlothian-Woodlake Lions Club meeting, 7 p.m., Brandermill Country Club, 3700 Brandermill Parkway. www.bmw-lions.org.

Woodland Pond Garden Club monthly meeting, 7 p.m., Woodland Pond Swim and Racquet Club, 9131 Waterfowl Flyway. Cynthia Rustin will present a program on floral design. 748-3578.

Friday, Sept. 10

LaPrade BookThink, 10:30-11:30 a.m., LaPrade Library, 9000 Hull Street Road. “Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War” by Nathaniel Philbrick will be discussed. 276-7755.

Home School Ecology Club, 2-3:30 p.m., every other Friday through Dec. 17, Rockwood Nature Center, 3401 Courthouse Road. Work on a variety of projects to assist local wildlife. For ages 9 and older. $8/program, $55/series. Kristi Orcutt, 310-7964.

Saturday, Sept. 11

Beginner Whitewater Kayaking, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and same time Sunday, Sept. 12, Dutch Gap Conservation Area, 513 Coxendale Road. Learn kayak safety, technique and control on day one and take a trip on day two. $140. Greg Velzy, 748-1124.

Celebrate Chesterfield lecture series, 11 a.m.-noon, Magnolia Grange, 10020 Iron Bridge Road. The archives of Chesterfield County will be discussed. $5. Bryan Truzzie, 751-4946.

Scavenger Hunt, noon-1 p.m., Rockwood Nature Center, 3401 Courthouse Road. Scavenge for treasures in nature. $4. 674-1629/ information, 748-1623/registration.

Backyard Bling, 2-3 p.m., Rockwood Nature Center, 3401 Courthouse Road. Make jewelry out of items found in nature. $5. 674- 1629/information, 748-1623/registration.

Mill Power on the Appomattox, 2-4 p.m., Radcliffe Conservation Area, 21300 Chesdin Road. Learn about this unique historic site. Part of the Home School History Adventures series. $8. Bryan Truzzie, 751-4946.

Cruise-in, 5-9 p.m., weekly through September, Hardee’s, 1901 West Hundred Road. Show off or view cars and trucks, both vintage and new. www.southernknightscruisers.com.

Sunday, Sept. 12

Dane Day, 10 a.m., RuffHouse Dog Park in Rockwood Park, 3401 Courthouse Road. Learn about Great Danes. Bring a dog to play. Free. www.ruffhousedogpark.com.

Nature Storytime, 2-2:40 p.m., Rockwood Nature Center, 3401 Courthouse Road. Enjoy nature stories about bears. All ages. Free. Kristi Orcutt, 310-7964.

Pocahontas Premiers: Fort Lee Army Band, 2-4 p.m., Pocahontas State Park Ampitheater, 10301 State Park Road. The band’s concert and dixie ensembles will perform. Free, $5/parking. Concessions available. 796- 4255.

Monday, Sept. 13

MOMS Club of Midlothian monthly meeting, 10 a.m., Winfree Memorial Baptist Church, 13617 Midlothian Turnpike. New members welcome. Amy Schiltz, 245-9476, www.north.midlomomsclub.com.

Watercolor for Older Adults, 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., weekly through Oct. 18, LaPrade Library, 9000 Hull Street Road. $63. Judy Jones, 751-4135.

Volleyball, 6:30-9 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, Hopkins Elementary School, 6000 Hopkins Road. Seniors meet weekly to play. Free. Judy Jones, 751-4135.

Book discussion group, 7-8 p.m., Meadowdale Library, 4301 Meadowdale Blvd. “House of Sand and Fog” by Andre Dubus III will be discussed. 318-8778.

Chester Kiwanis weekly meeting, 6:30-8 p.m., RiteAid Drug Store, 4408 West Hundred Road, community conference room. Dixon Handwerk, 748-3690.

Southside Area Mothers of Multiples monthly meeting, 6:30 p.m. support groups, 7 p.m. general meeting, St. Francis Medical Center, 13710 St. Francis Blvd. Brenda, 986- 5790, www.samom.com.

Tuesday, Sept. 14

Midlothian Garden Club monthly meeting, 10:30 a.m., Bethel Baptist Church, 1100 Huguenot Springs Road. Sheila Weisnesale will discuss the art of pressing flowers, herbs and foliage. Alice Steele, 744-5392.

Virginia Getaways off the Beaten Path, 11 a.m.-noon, Chester Library, 11800 Centre St. Martha Steger, former director of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, will showcase often-overlooked places and activities from Northern and Southwestern Virginia to the Eastern Shore. Free. 748-6314, www.library.chesterfield.gov.

Lawn care seminar, 6:30-8 p.m., Clover Hill Library, 6701 Deer Run Drive. Learn how to tend to your lawn in the fall to ensure lovely grass in the spring. Sponsored by the Chesterfield County Office of Cooperative Extension. Free. 751-4401.

School board meeting, 7 p.m., County Administration Building, 10001 Iron Bridge Road, public meeting room. 748-1050.

Hispanic dancing, 7:30-9 p.m., weekly through Oct. 26, Bensley Community Building, 2900 Drewry’s Bluff Road. $30. 275- 5321.

Wednesday, Sept. 15

Pinochle card group, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., weekly through Sept. 29, Bensley Community Building, 2900 Drewry’s Bluff Road. Bring a lunch. Beginners welcome. 275-5321.

Rotary Club of Huguenot Trail weekly meeting, 12:30 p.m., Belle Vie, 1244 Alverser Plaza. Mary Kay Gates, 598-0250, www.huguenottrailrotary.org.

Game On!, 3-5 p.m., LaPrade Library, 9000 Hull Street Road. Teens are invited to visit the library to relax after school, play Wii games and hang out with friends. Free. 276- 7755.

Book discussion group, 7-8 p.m., Enon Library, 1801 Enon Church Road. “Gods in Alabama” by Joshilyn Jackson will be discussed. 530-3403.

“Guerilla” Marketing: Get Noticed and Draw Customers without Surrendering your Bank Account, 7-8 p.m., Meadowdale Library, 4301 Meadowdale Blvd. Get practical tips and tools to market your business. Part of the Established Small Business Renewal Workshop series, sponsored by Chesterfield County Public Library and presented by SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business. Free. Registration required. 768- 7941, www.library.chesterfield.gov.

LOOKING AHEAD…

Thursday, Sept. 16

Lead your Kingdom to Success, 7:30 a.m. registration, continental breakfast and networking, 8-10 a.m. program, John Tyler Community College, Nicholas Student Center, 13101 Jefferson Davis Highway. Discover the tools needed to thrive and survive in today’s business jungle with tips and advice from guest speaker Ziad Khoury. Part of the 2010 Breakfast with the Pros series sponsored by the Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce and the Community College Workforce Alliance. Registration required. $20/chamber members, $25/non-members. After Sept. 9, $25/chamber members, $35/ non-members. Sandy, 748-6364 ext. 2, www.chesterfieldchamber.com.

Bridge card group, 9:30-a.m.-noon, weekly through Sept. 29, Bensley Community Building, 2900 Drewry’s Bluff Road. For players who have intermediate skills. Register one week in advance to play. 275-5321.

Little Explorers, 10-11 a.m., Pocahontas State Park, 10301 State Park Road. This series is designed to foster an appreciation and understanding of nature. Ages 3-5. $3. 796-4255.

Annual Bluegrass Festival and Virginia State Bluegrass Championship Contest, 1-11 p.m., daily through Sept. 19, Chesterfield County Fairgrounds, 10300 Courthouse Road. The four-day event features the McPeak Brothers, Big Country, Big Boss Combo, Melvin Goins and more. The McPeak Brothers will be inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame on Saturday, and the Bluegrass Championship contest will be held on Sunday. $5/per day. Parking is $5/per day. www.vafolkmusic.org.

Game On!, 3-5 p.m., Central Library, 9501 Lori Road. See Sept. 15 listing. 748-1603.

Free prostate screening, 4-8 p.m., Thomas Johns Cancer Hospital, Johnston-Willis Hospital, 1401 Johnston-Willis Drive. Urologists will conduct free PSA and DRE exams for men ages 40 and older. An appointment is required. 320-DOCS (3627), www.cjwmedical.com.

Belly dancing, 6:30-7:30 p.m. intermediate, 7:40-8:40 p.m. beginner, weekly through Oct. 21, Watkins Elementary School, 501 Coalfield Road. $41. Mark Pinney, 748-1992.

Friday, Sept. 17

Clover Hill Critics, 11 a.m.-noon, Clover Hill Library, 6701 Deer Run Drive. “Mudbound” by Hillary Jordan will be discussed. 318-8668.

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.

What’s happening Elsewhere

Friday, Sept. 10  

Inauguration of Virginia Union University’s 12th President, 9 a.m., Richmond Center Stage, 600 East Grace Street, Richmond. The public is invited to the inauguration of Claude Grandford Perkins, Ph.D. Free. www.vuu.edu.

Virginia Rocks! The History of Rockabilly in the Commonwealth, during museum hours through Dec. 12, Virginia Historical Society, 428 North Blvd., Richmond. This Rockabilly exhibit includes photographs, rare recordings, stage costumes, a jukebox and musical instruments. Free. 358-4901, www.vahistorical.org.

Red, White and Brew, 5-9 p.m., weekly through Oct. 8, 17th Street Farmers’ Market, 100 North 17th St., Richmond. Enjoy an evening of live music, food and drinks. www.richmondgov.com/FarmersMarket.

Petersburg, Then and Now, 6-8 p.m., Centre Hill Museum, 1 Centre Hill Ave., Petersburg. Then and Now features pairings of historic and contemporary photographs documenting places and events throughout Petersburg’s history. Featured guest is Laura Willoughby, curator of collections and author of “Petersburg Postcards.” Free. 733-2401.

NASCAR Nationwide Series Race, 7:30 p.m., Richmond International Raceway, 600 East Laburnum Avenue, Richmond. The Virginia 529 College Savings 250 will be held. $30 and up. (866) 455-RACE, www.rir.com.

Live jazz, 9 p.m., Emilio’s in the Fan, 1847 West Broad Street, Richmond. Doc Branch and The Keynotes will perform. 359-1224, www.emiliosrichmond.com.

Saturday, Sept. 11

Goochland Farmers’ Market, 9 a.m.-noon, weekly through Oct. 30, 2955 River Road West, Goochland. Shop for locally grown foods, arts and crafts. 332-3144, www.goochlandmarket.org.

Growers’ market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., weekly through Oct. 30, 17th Street Farmers’ Market, 100 North 17th St., Richmond. Shop for fresh local produce and more. www.17thstreetfarmersmarket.com.

USA Patriot’s Day Music Classic, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Vista del Lago, 1960 Old Tavern Road, Powhatan. Music legend Charlie Daniels and 2009 America’s Got Talent winner Kevin Skinner will perform. $25. www.usapatriotsday.com.

Virginia State University football, 1:30 p.m., Virginia State University, 1 Hayden Drive, Petersburg. The Trojans will host the West Virginia State University Yellow Jackets. www.vsu.edu, 524-5000.

An Afternoon with Eliza Poe, 2-3 p.m., St. John’s Church, 2401 East Broad Street, Richmond. A re-enactor of Eliza Poe, Edgar Allan Poe’s birth mother and an accomplished stage actress in her day, will tell about her tragically short life story and perform selections from her vast repertoire. $6/adults, $5/seniors, $4/ages 7-18, free/under 7. 648-5015.

Harvest Tea and Tour, 2-4 p.m., Virginia House, 4301 Sulgrave Road, Richmond. Tour Virginia House, enjoy tea, sandwiches and sweets on the terrace and learn how to harvest herbs. Sponsored by the Virginia Historical Society. $15/members, $17/non-members. 353-4251, www.vahistorical.org.

Open jam with Dave Shifflit, 2-5 p.m., weekly, Cary Street Café, 2631 West Cary St., Richmond. Anyone is welcome to join the acoustic rock/folk jam. Free. www.carystreetcafe.com, 353-7445.

The Capitol Steps, 5 p.m., The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen. Enjoy political satire and comedy from former Capitol Hill staffers. $40. 261- 2787, www.artsglenallen.com.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race, 7:30 p.m., Richmond International Raceway, 600 East Laburnum Avenue, Richmond. The Air Guard 400 will be held. $30 and up. (866) 455- RACE, www.rir.com.