Understanding mothers. Author of award-winning Journey Across the Four Seas: A Chinese Womans Search for Home Chinese/American Veronica Li spoke at a well-attended event hosted by Duncan Library to celebrate Mothers Day. The diverse crowd heard the life-story of Lis heroic mother who overcame tremendous hardship to bring her children to America for a better life. Lis presentation addressed the importance of understanding how heritage impacts immigrant and adopted children sometimes creating identity confusion, a point which resonated deeply with one attendee, a local mother of a teen originally adopted from China. Another guest, Viranand Kyger, validated the struggle. I am of Asian descent but was raised [in America] and dealt with some cultural shifts when living here such as differences in expectations from parents versus American cultural expectations. www.VeronicaLi.com
Samuel Tucker girls running. May 19 is race-day for the hard-working 3rd-5th grade girls of Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School who have been training for the 3.1 mile run under the Girls on the Run after-school fitness program which encourages overall health. (Gail Lovette, 703-933-6314)
Quilting memories. In memory of fallen Virginia military in Operation Endearing Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the nonprofit Virginia Memorial Quilt Project has sent over 40 quilts to families left behind. Said Chairman Debbie Elam, The families have sent some of the most wonderful heartwarming thank you notes to us for remembering their soldier. www.richmondquiltguild.com
Norman Rockwell opens up. Last week, luxury homebuilder WCI Communities hosted a fundraiser gala at the 10,000 square-foot Norman Rockwell mansion, a WCI property on Russell Road, for the nonprofit Virginia Hospital Medical Brigade which in part provides medical support to Honduras. Brigade Executive Director Dr. Barry Byer can be reached at bbyer@virginiahospitalcenter.com.
Barking sad. Dogs have lost their happy-hour watering holes with St. Elmos Coffee Pub and the Old Town Hotel both closing their doors to dogs. Stay tuned, Old Town Hotel does plan on re-instituting the Doggy Happy Hour at a future time.
Send your items to about_town@yahoo.com
