James River Region Area 6

NEWS RELEASE
Date: April 30, 2013        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For More Information Contact: Michael J. Marretti
(804)370-5926
mjmarr@aol.com

Special Olympics Track and Field Event To Take Place May 3, 2013

This Friday May 3, 2013 LC Bird High School in Chesterfield County will host the Special Olympics Virginia Area 6 Track and Field annual event. The event will begin at 10 AM with an Opening Ceremony and the sporting events will begin shortly thereafter. Events will include track, field, and tennis. More than 200 Special Olympics participants are registered to compete during the event and over 150 volunteers will be present to organize and run the sporting activities. The event is the predecessor, and qualifier, for the upcoming Special Olympics Virginia State level competition set for June 7-8, 2013 at the University of Richmond. The public is welcome to come out and enjoy the facilities at LC Bird High School, meet and cheer on the athletes, and enjoy the event.

Special Olympics Virginia (www.specialolympicsva.org), created by The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, is a year-round program of sports training and competition for children and adults with mental retardation. Area 6 Special Olympics serves approximately 1,000 athletes in the Richmond metropolitan area and the surrounding counties. For further event information, contact Michael J. Marretti at (804) 370-5926 or mjmarr@aol.com. For more information on how to support, volunteer or get involved with Special Olympics, contact Kris Stewart (804) 346.9633, (800) 932.4653, or kstewart@specialolympicsva.org.

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Special Olympics Virginia Inc. w 3212 Skipwith Rd., Suite 100 w Richmond, Virginia 23294 w (804) 346-5544

Created by The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation for the Benefit of Persons with Mental Retardation

Come join us for the Park Fest Blues Festival at Pocahontas State Park on Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 2pm to 10pm. One of our very own SOVA Area 6 volunteers ‘coach extraordinaire’ John Howe of the band “Blues Flash” has worked hard behind the scenes to create this event that will generate donations to our program. Without his commitment to our Area 6 program it would not be possible. Performers playing the Park Fest will include “Andrew Ali and Last Night’s Blues Band,” the “Mike Lucci Band,” “Mikey Junior,” “Albert Castiglia” and “The Night Hawks.”

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Area 6 which serves Athletes in Chesterfield, Powhatan, Goochland, and New Kent Counties. For more information on the Park Fest, go to the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ParkfestBluesFestival or on the Internet at http://parkfestblues.com/. This is a fun and entertaining way to help support SOVA Area 6. We hope to see you there!

SOVA Area 6 is busy planning and preparing for our Area 6 Summer Games to give our Athletes the opportunity to compete in Track and Field events and Tennis before the State Summer Games in June. L.C. Bird High School has graciously offered their track area and assistance for our event on Friday, May 3, 2013. Events will begin around 9:00 am and will be arranged to accommodate Athletes arriving from their home schools as they arrive.

The Opening Ceremony will be held at 10:00 am as we hope all Athletes will be able to arrive before then. Monacan High School’s Air Force Jr. ROTC will present the colors and the LC Bird High School Band will be playing in the opening ceremonies. An Athlete from Powhatan will lead in prayer, one from New Kent will lead in the Athletes’ Oath and Walter Couser from Goochland will carry the flame.

Events to be held are walking races, short and long distance runs, wheelchair events, and field events, as well as tennis skills and match play. All Athletes who participate will be awarded place ribbons. We hope to complete these Games by 1:00 pm so that Athletes may be returned to their home schools before the end of day.

Lunch will not be provided at this event. Athletes and Coaches are encouraged to bring their own lunches. LC Bird students will be running the concession stand during our event so please bring cash if you would like to purchase snacks or drinks during the event.

Area 6 has been blessed with many volunteers for this event including students from LC Bird, Monacan and Cosby High Schools, along with employees of Capital One and Murphy and Monigal. Chesterfield County is providing the Paramedic Rescue Squad to ensure everyone’s safety. Anyone and everyone is welcome to come out and cheer on our Area 6 Athletes as they compete in these events.

Ice Skaters during a break from the competition

3/22/13 – This past month our Area 6 Ice Skating Athletes attended both the the SOVA Speedskating Championships held by Special Olympics Virginia and the Richmond Area Games held in Chesterfield County and coordinated by Stephanie Floyd.  The Richmond Area Games had a higher turnout than the State Games. A great time was had at both venues, but the Richmond Area Games offered a more personal experience.

Our Area 6 athletes were well trained and performed well at both events. At the SOVA State Games held March 2nd and 3rd at Richmond Ice Zone in Midlothian, speed skaters participated in 25, 55, 111, 222 333, 500 and 777 meter races. Each Area 6 Athlete participated in two or three events and Chesterfield was represented with the largest delegation. The State Games were followed by dinner and a dance.

Skating Skills Competition

The Richmond Area Games were held on March 13 at Richmond Ice Zone in Midlothian. Travis Hunter, one of our World Games speed skaters, led the Pledge of Allegiance and JaVon Chalkley led the Athletes Oath; followed by Jannai Kennedy, another of our World Games speed skaters, skating around the rink with the Special Olympics Torch. Each Athlete participated in one event and received an award. After the races the Athletes enjoyed a time of fun skating on the rink to music.

We would like to thank the Powhatan Moose Lodge, the Chesterfield Fire Department, and our loyal ice skating volunteers for their generous support of our Special Olympics Richmond Area Games. The Powhatan Moose Lodge donated lunches for the competition and some of Chesterfield’s finest from the Chesterfield Fire Department gave out the awards. Our valued volunteers who help weekly with our training sessions also came out to the competition to volunteer for the Richmond Area Games and to offer our team support for the weekend of the SOVA Speedskating Championships.

2/21/13 – Our Area 6 Athletes returned from the Special Olympics World Games in South Korea triumphant. Travis Hunter won two gold medals and one silver medal competing in Short Track Speed Skating. He won gold medals in the 333 meters and the 222 meters and a silver medal in the 500 meters. His results can be seen on the Special Olympics website at http://specialolympics.org/games-search.aspx?gamesID=4662&searchterm=Hunter%2c+Travis+S. Jannai Kennedy competed in Short Track speed skating also winning a silver medal in the 500 meter race, a bronze in the 333 meter race and 5th place in the 222 meter race. Her results can be seen here: http://specialolympics.org/games-search.aspx?GamesID=4662&searchterm=jannai. Area 6 proudly congratulates both of our Athletes for their wonderful accomplishments.

For more information, see the post games articles in the Richmond Times Dispatch: http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local/chesterfield/special-olympians-return-to-chesterfield-with-meals/article_7574401a-63ab-5748-83e1-bdffc153fe83.html and the Chesterfield Observer: http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2013-02-20/Front_Page/Local_athletes_take_top_medals_at_Special_Olympics.html.

Travis and Jannai are also profiled on our Area 6 website before the games: http://www.area6sova.org/sports-calendar/skating/area-6-speed-skaters-heading-to-world-games-in-korea/

Today, Sunday, March 17 Softball Practice is cancelled due to the weather. We will practice next Sunday, March 24 at Bensley Park..

Beginning tomorrow, Monday, March 18 we start practice for Track and Field at Swift Creek Middle School. Practice will be held from 6pm to 7pm. Practices will continue on Mondays through May 20, 2013.

Beginning Thursday, March 28 we start practice for Tennis at Huguenot Park on Courts 3 and 4. Practice will be held from 6pm to 8pm. Practices will continue on Thursdays through May 30, 2013.

Dancing to the Band in the Big Tent pre-Plunge

On February 2, 2013 a few brave souls represented SOVA Area 6 in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge Winter Festival 2013. Plunging into the frigid ocean when air temperatures were only about 39 degrees were Paul Marretti, Tony Shores, Chelsea Gaughran, Gerry Gaughran, Tiffany Ferguson, Rick Horvath, Mark Kitts, Michelle Shores and Tim Taylor. Family and friends came along to support our plungers including Richard and Jonathan Koch and Michelle and Jason Myers.

Chelsea and Gerry Gaughran Head for the Water

Mark Kitts Thanks his Donors and Takes them with him to Plunge

Our delegation, ‘Seal Team 6′ raised $4,315 for Area 6 Special Olympics. Arriving together on ‘the’ bus, they first enjoyed the costume parade, opening ceremonies complete with band, and some dancing and ball play in the big tent. Then they moved onto the beach to change into their plunging clothes.

All plungers jumped in, RAN OUT and survived the plunge! Thank you all for helping us to raise money to provide our Athletes with all the sports we can! Next year we’d like to see double the number of plungers so everyone get ready to seize the freeze next February 8, 2014!

After the Plunge…

At this time, we will go on the side of safety. We can get up to 3 inches in Goochland. Goochland Schools are closing early. The tournament for tomorrow is cancelled due to weather. No make up is scheduled at this time. Please spread the word!

SOVA Area 6 is starting our Aquatics and Swim Skills programs this Saturday, January 26, 2013.  The venue is…

Collegiate School Aquatics Center
5050 Ridgedale Parkway
North Chesterfield, VA  23234

Aquatics – 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Swim Skills – 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Practice and Meet Schedule:

January 26, 2013
February 2
February 9
February 16 – No Practice
February 23
March 2 – No Practice
March 9
March 16 – No Practice
March 23
March 30
April 6
April 15
April 20 – No Practice
April 27
May 4 – James River Meet – Collegiate School Aquatics Center
May 11 – No Practice
May 18
May 25

Contact Karin Koch at Chesterfield@Area6SOVA.org with any questions.

Come join us as we take the Polar Plunge into the Ocean on February 2, 2013 in Virginia Beach VA. The biggest fund raiser for many areas of Special Olympics, Area 6 is making a concerted effort to join the fun and fund raising. Register to plunge and set up a First Giving page which you can then share with family, friends and business associates. We have a bus reserved for the trip out to Virginia Beach and back and you are welcome to join us for the ride. Following are the instructions to register to join Seal Team 6 to Plunge. Please join us!

To register and create a FirstGiving page go to www.polarplunge.com and click on Register Tab. This link will take you to the Online Registration page. Click on ‘Plunge’ and you will be taken to the fundraising page for 2013 Polar Plunge® Winter Festival – Virginia Beach. Click on the big green ‘Register’ button and a ‘Register Now’ window will pop up. Each plunger is required to raise $100. Next to this ‘fundraising minimum’ enter 1 under quantity and select the Register button.

You begin the registration process to plunge by entering your email address. If you have previously signed up with firstgiving you will be asked for your password. If not, you then enter your billing address and a password for your firstgiving account. Remember your password. The page will automatically assign your name as part of your firstgiving URL (ie: firstgiving.com/fundraiser/Tom-Jones). Click on Next to continue.

Make sure ‘My Self‘ is selected at the top of the second page. Check that Type: is Plunger, then enter your phone number. Select ‘No‘ for No- I am not a team captain. Enter the name of the Special Olympics AREA program as SOVA Area 6.  Scroll to the bottom of the page and read the “RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEMNITY AND PARENTAL CONSENT AGREEMENT (“AGREEMENT”)”. If you agree and still want to register, click in the box next to “I have read and agree to the above event waiver.”

When you agree, the ‘Join A Team‘ page will come up so you can join the Seal Team 6 team with SOVA Area 6. Enter Seal Team 6 where it says ‘Begin typing to search’ and press the Search button. The listing for Area 6 – Seal Team 6 will appear on the screen. Click on it and a check mark will appear to show you are joining this team. Click next.

The page to create your firstgiving fundraising page will appear under the tab ‘Create a Page.’ Select the icon you prefer as your photo or upload a photo to the page following the instructions given. Modify the text for ‘Your Story’ if you would like. Then enter the amount you hope to raise next to ‘How much do you plan to raise?’ If you want to ‘Make First Donation to Your Page,’ click on the box next to this text. Select Next.

If you selected ‘Make First Donation to Your Page‘ you will stay on this page but donation information will popup below ‘Make First Donation to Your Page.’ Enter the Amount you want to donate, decide if you want the firstgiving fees covered by your donation so SOVA receives the full amount you originally wanted to donate. (A percentage of each donation is kept by firstgiving to pay for this service. By selecting this box your charge will be increased by the amount of the firstgiving fee and SOVA will receive the original amount you wanted to donate.) Select the Display name for your donation or click on ‘Hide my name on your fundraising page.’ You can add a comment with your donation if you desire. Select Next. You will remain on the same page but billing information fields will popup for you to input your credit card information. Fill in this information and press Submit and your registration confirmation will appear.

If you did NOT select ‘Make First Donation to Your Page‘ and you press Next, the Donation page will come up with $0 due. Press Submit and your registration confirmation will appear.

If you are Plunging for Area 6 and you would like to ride the bus with us, please email Michelle Shores at FundRaising@area6sova.org to let her know.

Select here to see a listing of our Area 6 Plungers with their First Giving pages. You are welcome to donate to the plunger of your choice if you’d like to help us with fund raising for our Athletes.