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Have an event or announcement you would like featured in THE DIGEST? It’s welcome! Please send an email to apitchon@gannett.com. Time sensitive announcements should be sent a week ahead of time.

Did you know that you can use your Petersburg Public Library card to “check out” a blood pressure monitor?

The American Heart Association and the Petersburg Public Library are collaborating with Central Virginia Health Services to bring Petersburg’s residents free blood pressure screenings.

A community health worker with Central Virginia Health Services will be at the Petersburg library every Tuesday from 1 to 6 p.m. offering completely free blood pressure screenings. There is also a new loan program in place that allows any library member to “check out” blood pressure monitors for free just like you would a regular book. Interested? Learn more.

Thursday: Free Fun Fitness Class in Colonial Heights

The Colonial Heights Recreation & Parks Department has partnered with Sports Backers to bring locals a free and fun fitness class on Thursday evenings. According to the event description, the free course will be a “60-minute light and fun cardio class to get the heart rate going and the body moving to some great music.”

The class, which is for ages 13+, will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Colonial Heights Community Center’s Community Room, located at 157 Roanoke Ave. Register here by Wednesday at midnight to attend. Questions? Please contact the Colonial Heights Recreation & Parks department at 804-520-9390.

Saturday: Hopewell National Park Service “Shove Off”

Did you know that Hopewell had a part to play in the history of Juneteenth? The now officially recognized federal holiday, celebrated annually on June 19, commemorates the day that federal troops arrived in Galveston Texas on June 19, 1865 and enforced the abolition of slavery in the state and the US at large.

Among the troops that arrived at Galveston were a regiment that belonged to the United States Colored Troops (USCT) and had set sail from Hopewell on May 25, 1965. They were originally meant to continue on to South Padre Island but were forced to dock in Galveston on June 19th due to bad weather. These regiments spread the word of emancipation to those who were still enslaved, leading to the very first Juneteenth.

This Saturday, you can commemorate the USCT regiment who shipped off from Hopewell and helped create Juneteenth. The National Park Service “Shove Off” will take place at the waterfront area adjacent to the Old City Point Waterfront Park from noon to 3 p.m. The program for the event will include a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony performed by United States Colored Troops (USCT) re-enactors, guest speakers highlighting the USCT story and tours of City Point and the Appomattox plantation buildings.

Event attendees can park at the Old City Point Waterfront Park, located at 1199 Pecan Avenue. The event will open at 11:30 a.m. (but will not begin until noon).

Application open: Petersburg and Colonial Heights childcare scholarships for single moms pursuing a degree

The application for WomenRise, a childcare scholarship program sponsored by local non-profit United Way, is now open!

WomenRise provides childcare scholarships for local single moms while they pursue a college degree or credential. The program was created in response to the rising cost of childcare in the Petersburg and Richmond areas, which can often be more than $1,000 per child per month— a cost that is not only unaffordable for many, but for single parents in particular. The WomenRise program aims to help single moms maintain financial stability by helping to cover the cost of childcare while they further their education in pursuit of a reliable living-wage career. In 2023, United Way raised $150,000 for WomenRise scholarships.

The application, which can be found here, will stay open through May 31.

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must:

  • Be a single female head of household with custody of at least one child  
  • Be enrolled or have plans to enroll in an education or career training program that is at least 4 weeks and that results in a degree or credential  
  • Have an annual income of $60,000 or less  
  • Reside in the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg region (Charles City, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Petersburg, Powhatan, Richmond) 
  • Use a licensed or voluntary registered child care provider 

To review answers to frequently asked questions, click here. If you have any questions about the process, email Steph Doan at doans@yourunitedway.org.

Free Petersburg Summer Camp Registration Still Open, Summer Camp Dates Pushed Month Earlier

Registration is still open for Petersburg’s free summer camp! The summer camp, for children between the ages of 6 to 12, will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from June 24 through July 25. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Register your child by 6/14/24 by calling the Special Events & Volunteerism department at (804) 324-4015 or emailing recreation@petersburg-va.org.

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