September 2, 2022

A publication by Gloucester's Department of Community Engagement and Public Information

Help Us Celebrate Gloucester Day Sept. 3

Gloucester County Virginia will be celebrating its Inaugural Gloucester Day this Saturday in collaboration with other Gloucesters around the nation and the globe. On this day, Gloucester County Administrator, Carol Steele, will be participating at the site of the original Gloucester Day in Gloucester, England. Ms. Steele elected to travel to Europe on a personal vacation and timed the trip so she could attend the events, highlighting the Gloucester Collaboration project. Earlier this year, Gloucester, Virginia and Gloucester, England formed the Gloucester Collaboration, and reached out to other communities with the same name, encouraging communication and collaboration.

Gloria Williams, the Manager for the Community Engagement and Public Information Department, has taken the lead on promoting Gloucester Day locally and is excited with the progress. She mentioned that several businesses, churches, organizations, residents, and the Gloucester Main Library will be participating in the 12 Bells at 12. In addition, many local museums will be opening their doors to welcome guests, such as the Gloucester Museum of History, Woodville School, Buck Rowe’s Store Museum, and the Fairfield Foundation’s Timberneck House out at Machicomoco State Park.

In addition, the County’s Park, Recreation and Tourism Department will be promoting local walking and driving tours of our community’s rich cultural and historical sites as part of the event. Williams said local community members are asked to reflect on their love for our own “Land of the Life Worth Living,” and share their celebrations by tagging images from the day on the County’s Facebook Page “Gloucester County Virginia.” Please use the hashtags #YayGloucesterDay or #GloucesterDay2022 when tagging the event on social media. Williams asks that residents and visitors send images of a joyful time in Gloucester, whether they are shopping, dining, bell ringing, or enjoying outdoor recreation.

Those who share their celebrations will be entered to win a special prize pack full of Gloucester goodies thanks to the Gloucester Tourism Department. 

For more information, click here. 

LOVEwork Mural Completed at Gloucester Point

Gloucester County Clean Community held a contest promotion that was released in June for a new LOVEwork Mural to be painted on the exterior of the Gloucester Point Beach Building. As a result, 10 talented contestants submitted their artwork mockups for the mural.

In the end, Allison Farley, a senior at Gloucester High School and member of National Art Honor Society, was chosen as the lucky winner. Her mural honors the rich heritage of our local watermen.

To learn more, click here. 

Coastal Church Donates Large Amount of School Supplies for Local Students

A special thank you to Coastal Church Gloucester for its ongoing partnership with Gloucester's Community Engagement & Public Information Department to help ensure students in the County receive all the supplies they need for their return to school!

Shown here, from left, with the boxes of donations are Gloria Williams, Gloucester's Community Engagement & Public Information Manager; Ray Collins, Church Volunteer; Nate Weis, Lead Pastor and Debra Falkenberg, Community Engagement Coordinator for Page Middle School.

LIBRARY NEWS

StoryWalk® Project Begins at Main Library

Enjoy this story with your friends and family. Follow the numbered signs to learn about Marley and his first day of school! The Story Walk begins at the Main Library entrance and continues down the sidewalk to businesses in the shopping center. There are 18 panels. Panels 1, 2, & 3 are at the Library. 

The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

PARKS & RECREATION NEWS

RCC’s RILL Program Announces September Classes

The Rappahannock Institute for Lifelong Learning (RILL) September courses offer something for everyone. The fall session starts off with “Basics of Finance, Retirement, and Estate Planning,” a three-part course beginning September 6. Personal finance, liabilities vs. assets, cash flow, preparing for retirement, portfolio construction, and estate planning are just a few of the topics that will be covered. Class meets on September 6, 13, and 20 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on RCC’s Warsaw campus as well as through Zoom.

Want to learn more about the effects of climate change on our shorelines? Woody Hobbs, retired coastal geology specialist at Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), discusses how wind, tides, rising sea levels, storms, and more, affect beaches, barrier islands, tidal inlets and more. “Shoreline Studies” will meet on September 7, 14, and 21, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Glenns campus and via Zoom.

Improve your strength, balance, flexibility, and dexterity in “Brains and Balance.” Engaging instructor, Meg Miller, gets you stretching and moving with low-impact exercises. Using balls, bands, and small free weights, Miller emphasizes movements done while seated and standing to increase spatial awareness, improve and restore function, and assist in activities of daily living, including how to safely sit, stand, and move. Class is held at RCC’s Kilmarnock site on September 7, 14, 21, 28, October 5, and 12, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

For information about RILL courses, visit www.rappahannock.edu/rill, call Brittany Abdul-Malik at (804) 333-6707, or email [email protected].

Historical Literacy Opportunities with Literacy Volunteers of Gloucester

Join Literacy Volunteers of Gloucester's to learn more about local history through guided tours, and learn about LVG's Mission to Equip Adults for Tomorrow!

Gloucester Museum of History

6539 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061

Saturday, September 10th at 11:00 a.m.

To sign up, email LVG at: [email protected]

*Space may be limited!

Replayed Post on Money, Health, and Other Things!

Over the next few weeks, the Virginia Cooperative Extension will revisit its past posts on credit, credit reports, and credit scores. This week, they'll discuss the final two of four common credit score myths. To learn more, click here.