| 21st National Veterans Golden Age Games
Registration has begun for the 21st National Veterans Golden Age Games (NVGAG), taking place August 27-31, 2007 in Houston. More than 600 veterans are expected to participate in this year's Games, making it the nation's largest senior sporting event for veterans. The Games are an outgrowth of VA's historic involvement in geriatric programs. Many of the events began as recreational activities at VA hospitals and nursing home care units across the country. In 1985, the first National Veterans Golden Age Games took place in Albany, Georgia with 115 competitors. The NVGAG brings together veterans age 55 and older who receive health care at VA medical facilities to compete in events such as swimming, bicycling, golf, shot put, discus, 10-meter air rifle, table tennis, dominoes, shuffleboard, horseshoes, nine-ball, bowling, checkers, and croquet.
‘Growing Up Fun’ at Watson Elementary
A group of parents, in association with the school, have initiated the Growing Up Fun project. The goal is to raise enough money to buy handicapped-accessible playground equipment and enough volunteer support to install it.The group estimates the new playground will cost about $100,000. So far, the group has about $28,000, which includes a community-based initiative grant from the state Department of Health and Human Resources.Principal Randall Farley said the group hopes to have the playground constructed and ready for play by June.He said the equipment, which will be placed in a field adjacent to the existing playground, will benefit all students at the school. Farley said parents began raising funds for the existing playground about five years ago. It was constructed three years ago at a cost of about $65,000.
Panel upholds Cottrell ruling
A two-judge appellate panel has upheld the conviction of a Glassboro woman on the disorderly persons charges of trespassing and criminal mischief. Maryann Cottrell, who has created some notoriety by signing motor vehicle summonses against drivers who park in handicapped spaces without special handicapped license plates or placards, allegedly went onto a neighbor's property in June 2005 and cut down some hedges, according to the court records. The neighbor, Robert Egner, called police. According to the appellate document, Cottrell told an officer that she had cut the hedges so she could see the approach of a bus to her property. She insisted, according to the decision released Monday, that she'd cut Egner's hedges for the past five years and never received a complaint.
Knights banking on banquet center to raise money
Too often we hear sad stories about folks who find themselves in terrible situations. We feel for them, but believe our lives are too busy to take on anyone else's problems. Are you guilty of scheduling your days in 15-minute increments, too? Well, meet the Knights of Columbus in southern Mecklenburg. They build dozens of home wheelchair ramps for the disabled. Contribute 150 food baskets to the hungry each Christmas. Raise about $50,000 for charities through an annual Tootsie Roll fundraiser. A few years ago, they even pooled their money to build a banquet center off Bryant Farms Road. The vision was to give profits from event rentals to charity. This 400-member group completed about 50,000 volunteer hours last year. And their contributions to local helping agencies were well over $100,000.
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