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Photo (color) courtesy of The Abingdon Ruritan Club; Laurel Shelter representative Mitchell Dunston, center, receives the check from club president Pete Shepherd, left, and Ruritan...

Aug. 23: Windsor at West Point, Washington & Lee at Middlesex, [William, Mathews] at Lafayette (6:30), Christchurch at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot (5:00) Sept. 11: Washington & Lee at King William, West Point at Colonial Beach, Middlesex at Essex, Mathews at Lancaster, Tidewater Academy at Christchurch (6:00) Sept. 20: West Point at Windsor, Rappahannock at Middlesex, Lancaster at Mathews, Denbigh Baptist at Christchurch (6:00)

Blackwater executive vice president William Mathews said the Moyock training center's expansion was needed because of demand for military skills since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. \"After 9/11 the U.S. military became taxed. There were a lot of jobs that needed to be done,\" Mathews told commissioners. \"The government turned to Blackwater to get a lot of those jobs completed.\" \"It's not the U.S. military that's winning the war on terror,\" Mathews said. \"It is foreign military units that are trained by the United States that are winning the war on terror. A lot of the high profile terrorists have been grabbed by the Pakistanis, the Yemenis - - the folks that we go and we train.\"

Business training course. 6:30-9 p.m. twice a week (call for days) starting Aug. 15, Middle Peninsula Business Development Partnership, 125 Bowden St., Saluda. For entrepreneurs from Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Mathews, Middlesex, Tappahannock, Urbanna and West Point. Fee $40. Information: Candie Newman, 758-4917 or cnewman@mppdc.com or visit www.mpbdp.org. Urbanna. 9 a.m.-1 Aug. 12 and each second Saturday through October, parking lot next to Southside Sentinel, downtown Urbanna. Produce, baked goods, jellies, cheese, crafts, art, clothing, jewelry and more. Sponsored by Town of Urbanna and Urbanna Business Association. Information: 758-8150. Gospel Tones Picnic at the Marina. Noon-6 p.m. Aug. 12 (rain date Aug. 13), Burrell's Marina, 792 Burrell's Marina Road, Urbanna, Middlesex County. All groups, choirs and soloists welcome to sing. Boat rides around the harbor. Food available. Bring lawn chairs or blanekts. Fee: $5; ages 10 and under free. Information: Ralph \"Red\" Payne, 694-0084; James Armistead, 757-565-2895; David Scott, 832- 0789; or any member of the Gospel Tones.

Colonial encampment. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. May 27, Gloucester's Colonial court circle, Main Street. Seventh Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line returns. Reenactors, troop formations, drilling of the volunteers, firing demonstrations, bagpipe and fife and drum performances, keynote marks. 2:45 p.m.: musical prelude by Yorktown Fife and Drums. 3 p.m.: unveiling of plaque honoring 60 men from Gloucester and Mathews who formed 6th Co. of the regiment. Bring a lawn chair. Information: Gloucester Parks, Recreation and Tourism, 693-0014 or visit www.gloucesterva.info/pr/events/encamp.htm. Three Rivers Health District Medical Reserve Corps volunteer orientation. 1:30-3 p.m. May 17, former Gloucester library, 6382 Main St. Free. Group's mission is to augment and assist existing community operations plans during large-scale emergencies, aid in response to pressing health care needs and improve community emergency preparedness. Group serves cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg and counties of York, James City, Essex, King and Queen, Lancaster, Middlesex, Richmond, Gloucester, King William, Mathews, Northumberland and Westmoreland. Information/ registration: Jennifer Freeland, (757) 594-8045 or jennifer.freeland@vdh.virginia.gov. 12th annual 5K Run for Mental Health. 8 a.m. May 20, grounds of Eastern State Hospital, 4601 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg. Hosted by Williamsburg Area Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the Colonial Services Board: Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse services. Proceeds provide monetary support for local mental health care issues. 1-mile fun walk at 8 a.m.; 5K main event at 8:30 a.m. To volunteer, make donations or register: Lynn Coursen, 220- 3200. Entry forms can be mailed to WAAMI, P.O. Box 89, Williamsburg, VA 23187.

Backyard Birds and Birding. 7-8 p.m. May 18, Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland St., Williamsburg. As part of the Third Thursdays at Your Library program, Bill Williams, education director for the Center of Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary and co-founder of the Williamsburg Bird Club, will speak. He will tell you how to identify and attract birds to your backyard, how to find the best places to bird watch in the Williamsburg area and how to choose bird watching equipment. Refreshments will be served. Cost: free. 12th annual 5K Run for Mental Health. 8 a.m. May 20, on the grounds of Eastern State Hospital, 4601 Ironbound Road, Williamsburg. The Williamsburg Area Alliance for the Mentally Ill and the Colonial Services Board: Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse services will host the annual event. Proceeds provide monetary support for local mental health care issues. A 1- mile fun walk at 8 a.m. will precede the 5K main event at 8:30 a.m. To volunteer, make donations or register: Lynn Coursen at 220-3200. Entry forms can be mailed to WAAMI, P.O. Box 89, Williamsburg, VA 23187. Historic Triangle Senior Center. James City/Williamsburg Community Center, 5301 Longhill Road, Williamsburg. Programs for all York County, James City County and Williamsburg residents age 60 and older. Center open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Information: 259-4209.

Colonial encampment. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. May 27, Gloucester's Colonial court circle, Main Street. Seventh Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line returns. Re-enactors, troop formations, drilling of the volunteers, firing demonstrations, bagpipe and fife and drum performances, keynote marks. 2:45 p.m.: musical prelude by Yorktown Fife and Drums. 3 p.m.: unveiling of plaque honoring 60 men from Gloucester and Mathews who formed 6th Company of the regiment. Bring a lawn chair. Information: Gloucester Parks, Recreation and Tourism, 693-0014 or visit www.gloucesterva.info/ pr/events/encamp. htm. Three Rivers Health District Medical Reserve Corps volunteer orientation. 1:30-3 p.m. May 17, former Gloucester library, 6382 Main St. Free. Group's mission is to augment and assist existing community operations plans during large-scale emergencies, aid in response to pressing health care needs and improve community emergency preparedness. Group serves cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson and Williamsburg and counties of York, James City, Essex, King and Queen, Lancaster, Middlesex, Richmond, Gloucester, King William, Mathews, Northumberland and Westmoreland. Information/registration: Jennifer Freeland, (757) 594-8045 or jennifer.freeland@vdh.virginia.gov. \"Oz\" based on the story by L. Frank Baum. 8 p.m. May 4-6, 3 p.m. May 7, Mathews High School. Tickets in advance, $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 60 and older and youths ages 3-18. Available at Office Supply, Gloucester; Twice Told Tales, White Marsh; Medicine Shoppe and Mathews County Visitor & Information Center, Mathews; Coffman's Store, Hartfield; and Thousand Trails campground. At the door: $12 for all. Information: 725-3414 or 824-4853 or visit www.courthouseplayers.org.

Fashion show and luncheon. 11:30 a.m. March 25, Abingdon Ruritan Club, 8487 Guinea Road, Bena. Sponsored by Abingdon Woman's Club. Fashions by Peebles modeled by club members and grandchildren. Music by Greg Martin. Lunch includes chicken breast salad, muffin, balsamic pasta salad, fruit salad, chocolate raspberry torte. Proceeds to Gloucester-Mathews Free Clinic and Boys & Girls Club of Gloucester. Tickets $20 from any club member or call Peggy Cooney, 642-9570. * Karate. For ages 5 and older. Shorinjiryu style taught by Jim Ellis. Beginners: 6-7 p.m. Mondays, March 20-June 12, Page. Cost: $27. Deadline: March 13. 5-6 p.m. Wednesdays, March 22-June 14, Petsworth. Cost: $27. Deadline: March 15. Intermediates: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mondays March 20-June 12, Page. Cost: $33. Deadline: March 13. Tour de Chesapeake bicycle tour. May 19-21, Mathews County. May 19: check-in and orientation. May 20: Registration and mapped tours of 15-62 miles throughout scenic, flat Mathews. May 21, bike on your own. Fee: $50 adults 18 and over; $25 ages 13-17; $15 ages 7-12; free for 6 and under. Some discounts available. May 20 lunch and post-ride celebration included; other meals optional at additional cost. Volunteers also needed. Sponsored by Mathews and BikeWalk Virginia. Information/registration: call (757) 229-0507, e-mail info@bikechesapeake.org or visit www.bikechesapeake.org.

Small business training. 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays for four weeks starting March 7, Saluda Professional Center, 125 Bowden St., Saluda. Sponsored by Middle Peninsula Business Development Partnership. For residents of Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex. Cost: $40, includes refreshments and materials. Information: contact Candie Newman, 758- 4917 or cnewman@mppdc.com or visit www.mpbdp.org. 56th Annual Daffodil Show. 2-5 p.m. April 1, noon-4 p.m. April 2, Page Middle School, 5628 George Washington Memorial Highway. 2 p.m. April 2: lecture by Becky Heath of Brent and Becky's Bulbs. Sponsored by Garden Club of Gloucester; accredited by Daffodil Society. Free admission; donations accepted. Information: Ann Rex, chairwoman, 695-9848 or DancgDiva@aol.com, or [Kathy Klein], co- chairwoman, 693-5629 or kleinrkr@aol.com. Tour de Chesapeake bicycle tour. May 19-21, Mathews County. May 19: check-in and orientation. May 20: Registration and mapped tours of 15-62 miles throughout scenic, flat Mathews. May 21, bike on your own. Fee: $50 adults 18 and over; $25 ages 13-17; $15 ages 7-12; free for 6 and under. Some discounts available. May 20 lunch and post-ride celebration included; other meals optional at additional cost. Volunteers also needed. Sponsored by Mathews and BikeWalk Virginia. Information/registration: call (757) 229-0507, e-mail info@bikechesapeake.org or visit www.bikechesapeake.org.