The "Knitters of Cedarfield" made their annual donation of knitted caps to the Henrico Christmas Mother Dec. 5 at The Hermitage at Cedarfield, presenting 110 caps to be used by needy families.

The gift presentation was followed by a program of holiday music, performed by members of the Greater Richmond Chorus, who chose Cedarfield resident Russell Johnston as the impromptu subject of their affections during a "Santa Baby" number. }

Henrico Division of Recreation and Parks will host the Mountain Road Corridor Holiday Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. beginning at the Courtney Road Service Station, 3401 Mountain Rd., and ending at Meadow Farm Museum, 3400 Mountain Rd. All events are free.}

At 9 a.m. this morning, Salvation Army musician Matt Sims kicked off the annual Red Kettle Campaign at Short Pump Town Center with bells and music. He will play for 36 hours, ending at 9 p.m. Nov. 12. The feat of playing 36 consecutive hours has never before been attempted by any Salvation Army musician. The idea came to him in late summer as he was thinking of ways to increase awareness for the Red Kettle Campaign at a time when donations to The Salvation Army are more important than ever. }

University of Richmond executive chef Glenn Pruden helped create a spooky graveyard of pumpkin skeletons, headstones, bony hands and vultures on the White House lawn Saturday.

Pruden worked on a team of carvers that included the winners of Food Network’s Pumpkin Challenge and $50,000 carving competition. James Parker of Veggy Art in Chantilly organized the White House team and invited Pruden to participate.

Parker recently trained university dining services employees in the art of carving fruits and vegetables and is the current Food Network Fruit Sculpture Challenge champion. Pruden said he was the “new guy” on the team, although he has been carving for many years.}

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The third-annual "Snagadate," a fundraiser for the American Heart Association, will be held this Thursday, Oct. 13, at Aloft Richmond West's xyz bar in Glen Allen, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Former NBC12 news anchor Gene Cox will host the event, and heart-disease survivor Andy Hrabovsky, a professional auctioneer, will preside over live bidding for themed date packages donated by local and regional businesses.}

Among the surprise celebrity appearances at the Sept. 24 Cure by Design Fashion Show was one by top male model Brad Kroenig (pictured with Sydney Page and First Lady of Virginia Maureen McDonnell, the honorary chair for the event).

Governor Bob McDonnell also dropped in to join his wife at the gala, which was held at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa in Short Pump, while national designer Alex Garfield drummed up bids for the live auction.

The event centered around a fashion show featuring nearly 50 local cancer survivors as models. Following the fashion show, the traditional champagne toast and birthday reception was held to honor survivors, who posed with family and friends and celebrated “A World with Less Cancer and More Birthdays.”}

Hundreds of youngsters and teens sprinted through Short Pump Oct. 1 during the C&F Bank and Lite98 Short Pump Mile and Express Fun Run, the region’s largest timed youth road race. The event took place behind Short Pump Town Center.}