VDOT Establishes Customer Service Center
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently established a customer service center to take citizen calls and answer transportation questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Citizens can dial 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) from anywhere in the state to report road hazards, ask transportation questions, or get information related to Virginia’s roads. The number may be used to report potholes, ask questions about road work or request maintenance services, among other items.  Citizens should continue to dial 511 or visit http://www.511virginia.org to receive information about traffic and road conditions.    

HCPS College and Career Night Planned
The Henrico County Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education (CTE) and School Counseling Services departments will host the annual countywide College and Career Night on Nov. 9 at Highland Springs High School, 15 South Oak Avenue in Highland Springs, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.. Middle and high school students and their parents will be able to meet with representatives from more than 110 colleges, as well as representatives from approximately 50 businesses and all branches of the military. The event is designed to expose students to post-secondary opportunities. Representatives from the HCPS administration also will be in attendance.

Salvation Army Sets Online Red Kettle Goal at $25,000
The Salvation Army Central Virginia Command hopes to raise $25,000 through its Online Red Kettle donation program. The campaign runs through the end of December and is available online at give.salvationarmyusa.org/goto/CentralVA. As part of the program, donors also can host their own personal virtual red kettles in support of the Salvation Army and invite their family, friends, and associates to donate to those in need.

Master Naturalist Program Seeks Volunteers
The Riverine chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program is seeking volunteers to begin training for its fifth class, which will begin on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011. Participants provide education, outreach and environmental stewardship in partnership with state natural resource agencies.  Interested citizens should attend an information meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. at Tuckahoe Library. For details, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 741-9126.

Virginians4Haiti Seek Donations
Richmond-based Virginians4haiti is seeking donations of children’s toys through its “toys4haiti” holiday campaign. The organization, founded by former Richmond Renegades owner Allan B. Harvie, Jr., hopes to donate 10,000 toys to the children of Haiti who were affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake there. It donated school supplies to Haitian children several months ago.

The organization is seeking small plush toys or other items that are small, soft and lightweight, such as those available at discount or dollar stores. Children’s flip-flops also are needed, new or gently used.

Virginians4haiti will pick up toys from any location through Dec. 5. For details, call 644-4530, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or visit www.
virginians4haiti.org.

School Board Members Honored
Henrico County School Board members Linda McBride (Brookland District) and Lamont Bagby (Fairfield District) recently earned the 2010 Friend of Virginia Educational Media Association (VEMA) Award and were recognized at an awards celebration Oct. 28 at the annual VEMA state conference.  The award is presented to an individual, group or organization who recognize the roles of library media and educational technology in the instructional program.  Bagby was cited for his frequent visits to school libraries and active participation in library events, while McBride was recognized for her support of libraries, particularly during this year’s budget process when she said, “Too many people simply do not understand all that librarians do and all that they contribute to the school environment.”