April 8, 2022 A publication by Gloucester's Department of Community Engagement and Public Information

Daffodil Festival Crowds Exceed 25,000  Organizers are estimating over 25,000 people visited the 36th annual Gloucester Daffodil Festival this past weekend. Vendors that participated reported having more sales on Saturday alone than what they had during the last full-scale event, which took place in 2019. The weather on Saturday and Sunday boasted plentiful sunshine and comfortable temperatures, causing many visitors wanting to continue enjoying the event even after the 5 p.m. closing. Click here to see Award Winners

New Post on Money, Health and Other Things Over the next few weeks, the Virginia Cooperative Extension will revisit its multi-part series on risk management and the basics of different insurance plans! Over the next two weeks, they will discuss auto insurance. To tune in, visit: https://moneyhealthandotherthings.wordpress.com/2022/04/05/replay-risk-management-and-insurance-basics-part-iv/

Conduct a Spring Lawn and Garden Audit in 10 Easy Steps   With April 15 coming around, it is time for an audit. Not a tax audit, but a lawn and garden assessment of your property that will save you time and money when tending to outdoor spaces in the warm months ahead. “Here in Hampton Roads, we are in the ‘plant hardy’ garden zones 7b and 8a; the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a specific location,” said Rebekah Eastep, an askHRgreen.org team leader. “For us, the last frost date arrives around mid-April, making the 15th a suitable time to assess our lawn and gardens and prepare for proper planting.” Eastep recommends a 10-step cleanup approach, taking 2-4 hours to a couple of afternoons, depending on the size of your yard. 1.   Start by conducting a walk-through of your yard to see what needs sprucing up. 2.   Pick up fallen branches and rake leaves/debris to the perimeter of your yard. 3.   Pull weeds and clear out old mulch. Clean, sharpen and oil mower blades and garden tools. Prune and shape any shrubs and trees that need trimming back. Test your soil to see if amendments are needed. Add what you need and nothing more! Rejuvenate garden beds with fresh mulch. It will help your shrubs and plants retain moisture during the sizzling summer months. When selecting new bedding plants or new trees, go native! Native plants are easy to maintain because they are acclimated to Hampton Roads’ garden zones. Divide perennials such as daylilies, daffodils and hostas. Check outdoor faucets, hoses and irrigation systems for leaks or drips. For more information about preparing and maintaining your outdoor areas, visit the “best practices” space (and take the “lawn and garden” quiz) at this link. For answers to more questions, simply askHRgreen.org!

PARKS & REC NEWS

Parks, Recreation and Tourism Happenings for the week of April 7, 2022 KARATE Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring Karate at TC Walker on Mondays or Thursdays for ages 4 thru adults. Beginners ages 4-6 meet from 6-6:30 pm for $43, beginners ages 7-10 meet from 6:40-7:10 pm for $43, beginners ages 10-12 meet from 7:20-8:00 pm for $43. Intermediates ages 9-12 meet from 7:20-8:00 pm for $45. Advanced ages 9-12 and advanced all ages meet from meet from 8:10-9:00 pm for $47. Pre-registration is required. Next Monday session begins May 9 and Thursday session begins May 12. BEAVERDAM THE FULL HIKE Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring The Full Hike on April 16 at 9:00 am at Beaverdam Park. Meet at the Main entrance (8687 Roaring Springs Road) at 9:00 am, we will shuttle you to the Fary’s Mill Road entrance where you will pick up the multi-use trail for a 9.5 mile hike back to the Main Entrance. THIS IS A SELF GUIDED HIKE. Bring food and water. Dress for the weather and wear rugged shoes. The fee is $5 and the deadline to register is April 9. BEAVERDAM WATERCRAFT WORKSHOP Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring a Watercraft Workshop for ages 16 and older at Beaverdam Park on Saturday, April 16 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at Beaverdam park. Park rangers will discuss VA Boating Laws and will have Conservation Police Officer Roy Morris in attendance to answer questions. Set up, use and safety of Jon boats, kayaks and canoes will be covered. The fee is $5 and the deadline to register is April 9. SUMMER CO-REC SOFTBALL Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring a Summer Co-rec Softball league for ages 15 and older. Play a 10-game schedule on Sundays from early June thru early August. Each team fields 5 men and 5 women and may bat 6 men and 6 women. The fee is $650 per team and the deadline to register is May 1. BINGO Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring Bingo for ages 50 and older on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Whitcomb Lodge from 10:30-Noon. The fee is $10 and the deadline to register is April 13 for the April 20th gathering. FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION Parks, Recreation & Tourism is sponsoring Food Safety Certification on Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 17-26 from 2:00-5:00 pm at the Stewart Building. This class satisfies the Gloucester County Ordinance for food service. The fee is $175.00 for the full class, test, book and answer sheet. For the test only, the fee is $65, this includes answer sheet and test only. The registration deadline is May 2. Remember, pre-registration is required for all activities.  For more information on these and other activities, call PRT at 804-693-2355, email [email protected] or stop by our office at 6382 Main Street. For online registration visit https://gloucesterva.info/civicrec

LIBRARY NEWS

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