I just got this from Henrico County Schools.

Due to the number of school days missed during the last couple of weeks, Monday, February 15, 2010 will be a make-up day for Henrico County Public Schools students and staff. The day will not be a student holiday as previously scheduled. Also, HCPS will be open tomorrow, Tuesday, February 9, 2010, and will start at regular time. We will not be using closing systems to make this announcement.

I haven’t heard anything from Richmond about the holiday, but I’ll keep you posted.

To celebrate 7 years in Richmond, Qdoba restaurant will be giving away free chicken or vegetarian burritos from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10th, 17th & 24th at Willow Lawn and all other Richmond-area locations. You can also find Richmond Qdoba on Twitter, or RSVP to their Free Burrito Day on Facebook.

Limitations may apply, see store for details.

Local Near West End elementary school, Mary Munford, is hosting their annual auction. If you’d like to attend or donate an item, please read on for details.

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday March 27, 7-10:30pm

Jewish Community Center

Mary Munford’s Annual Auction fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 27th, from 7-10:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center on Monument Avenue.  As usual, this is an adult only event, so please mark your calendars now for a night out with fellow Munford parents and staff. Food will be provided by one of Munford’s very own, Linda Marcuse, owner of A Movable Feast. The funds raised at this event will help us obtain the additional programs and materials we need to provide many excellent services to our students.

With all schools facing tighter budgets, financial support from the PTA is essential to keeping the quality of education we are used to at Mary Munford. This year we are raising funds for our World Language Program, which supplements our Spanish language classes. We have also recently completed a much needed renovation to our school playground. These efforts, and many others, are funded almost exclusively by the PTA, so please consider how you can help support our children! For questions, donations and sponsorships, please contact our Auction Chair, Lori Sanzone Martin, Lori.Martin(at)Capitalone[dot]com .

DONATE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Graciously, we are accepting donations and would love additional bid items. We already have some exciting products and services and are thankful for each one. With your generosity, we are looking forward to adding more bid items to round out our inventory. All items should be submitted by March 5 and may be dropped off in the school office. All donations are tax deductible. Tap your network. Think about your friends and family members… Does anyone have a seasonal home or timeshare who is willing to donate a long weekend or possibly a week? Year after year, these get-a-ways are very popular! •Is there a season ticket holder in your network? Maybe someone is not able to make it to every event, will you consider donating tickets to one game? Maybe you have season tickets for the theatre or symphony? We would appreciate any event tickets you are willing to give! Who owns a business? Please ask your network to donate products or services for the auction. BE A SPONSOR This year, we are offering a sponsor program for our auction. If you are not able to donate items or volunteer your time, show your support by being a sponsor. Also, this is a great opportunity to promote your business!

Here are the package details.

$50 Level Recognition in Auction Program

$100 Level 2 Admission Tickets Recognition in Auction Program

$250 Level 2 Admission Tickets/4 Drink Tickets Recognition in Auction Program Recognition on Sponsor Board at Auction

$500 Level 4 Admission Tickets/8 Drink Tickets Recognition in Auction Program Recognition on Sponsor Board at Auction Recognition in Monarch Message Newsletter – April

$1000 Level 6 Admission Tickets/12 Drink Tickets Recognition in Auction Program Recognition on Sponsor Board at Auction Recognition in Monarch Message Newsletter – April Company Logo on Mary Munford Website – March and April

Both Richmond Public Schools and Henrico County Schools are closed today, Friday, Feb. 5th.

p.s.  Really? Wow, it’s not even raining.

Both Richmond Public Schools and Henrico County Schools will have a 2-hour delay tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 4th.

Joe’s Market on Libbie Avenue, near the Shops at  Libbie and Grove, will stay under local ownership after two Ukrop’s employees bought it. The market will sell beer & wine and will eventually stay open on Sundays as well. Thanks to John Sarvay, over at Buttermilk & Molassess for keeping me in the loop. The Times-Dispatch reports:

Joe’s Market should soon have a new name, be open on Sundays and sell beer and wine.

The specialty food market in Richmond’s West End has been saved from closing now that two longtime employee of Ukrop’s Super Markets Inc. have reached an agreement to buy the store on Libbie Avenue.

Partners David Taylor, the grocery chain’s director of merchandising, and Buster Wright, its senior director of packaged goods, saw buying Joe’s Market as a good opportunity.

The new owners hope to take control of the Market on Feb 8th.  Neighbors, especially the 2,200 plus members of the Save Joe’s Market group on Facebook, say they are relieved.

My friend Kate Hall, over at RichmondMom.com, clued me into this great FREE event –Lights Up– next weekend, downtown at Richmond’s new CenterStage.

Check it out, what a great day to spend a cold winter’s day with the kids!

Come celebrate a weekend of youth and the arts at the Genworth BrightLights Education Center at Richmond CenterStage. All programs and performances are free, but registration and tickets are required. (registration is on site, starting at 10:30 am)

“Lights Up” presents over 30 workshops, master classes, lecture-demonstrations and live performances featuring the Resident Companies of Richmond CenterStage:

• Richmond Symphony Orchestra
• Richmond Ballet
• African-American Repertory Theater
• Richmond Shakespeare
• Theater IV/Barksdale Theatre
• Virginia Opera
• SPARC (School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community)
• Elegba Folklore Society

The weekend also features the Latin Ballet of Virginia, Richmond Boys Choir and Friends of City Dance.

Genworth BrightLights Education Center at Richmond CenterStage is located at 600 E. Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219.

FREE Family Festival and Open House

Saturday, January 23, 2010

12 to 5 p.m. – Education Workshops, Classes and Lecture–Demonstrations (Registration opens at 10:30 a.m. and continues throughout the day in the Carpenter Theatre Lobby. Registration is on a first come, first served basis.) Workshop Descriptions & Schedule

7 p.m. – “Lights Up” Performance in the Carpenter Theatre featuring young performers of Resident Companies.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

3 p.m. – “Lights Up” Performance in The Carpenter Theatre featuring young performers of Resident Companies.

Tickets for these last 2 shows can be reserved in advance.

On my way home today, I saw a sign at Libbie & Patterson announcing a class on Islam, hosted by St. Stephen’s Church.  Called, Encounter Islam, it is a Friday night, Saturday day session to learn more about the Islam.

Details: