Saturday’s ‘to-do’ list

Published 10:17 pm Wednesday, September 8, 2010

As a six-day a week newspaper, there’s always at least one of us that has to work on Saturday.

They’re often hit or miss.

Last week, the only event I had on my calendar was the Suffolk Friends of the Library book sale, and I stopped by to take some photos.

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But during the last few weeks, Sept. 11 on my coffee-stained desk calendar has become increasingly packed.

I have eight events lined up in the little box — as if Sunday’s paper wasn’t fat enough.

There is the Taste of Suffolk, Suffolk 60 Care’s “Crab ‘Pickin’ for a Purpose,” Suffolk Fire and Rescue’s bike rodeo at King’s Fork High School, the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society’s yard sale, the suicide prevention walk in Virginia Beach, a swing dance at St. Paul’s to benefit the International Justice Mission, a Whaleyville Ruritan Club barbecue and a Ruritan club food drive.

Don’t bother checking the weather. It’s supposed to be a gorgeous day of 83 degrees; no rain, no excuses.

Whatever you support and whatever age you or your children are, there is something going on in Suffolk for you this weekend.

If you’re an early bird or have a passion for Suffolk’s history, you can stop by the historical society’s yard sale downtown.

You can also head into Virginia Beach to Mount Trashmore, where they’re holding the annual “Walk out of Darkness” suicide prevention walk. There are a few local youth groups heading out. If you or someone who you know has struggled with depression or died by suicide, it’s a powerful event to help spread awareness.

If you’re staying in Suffolk, the Ruritans are out in full force. Drop off your canned goods for their statewide collection. Collections will take place at both Farm Fresh locations, Cypress Ruritan Club and Holland Baptist Church.

After you’re done showing your children the importance of giving, take them to the bike rodeo where children can participate in obstacle courses and tests of skill. Make sure to bring a helmet, though. Free helmets also will be given by the Lynn Chiaverotti Memorial Fund. Other activities such as the fire safety house and face painting will be on site, too.

When you get done there, there will be plenty of more children’s activities at the Taste of Suffolk, including a video game bus.

The Taste of Suffolk will help stimulate the local economy and many family-owned businesses. I happened to run into the committee downtown Wednesday afternoon as members were going over their plans with a fine-toothed comb.

It will be my first time to experience a Taste of Suffolk, but I already told my husband to mark his calendar, if for no other reason, to see the jalapeño eating contest and the “Baronator” challenge.

If you’re not too full from the Taste of Suffolk, Suffolk 60 Care, a local nonprofit organization that raises funds for charity, is hosting its first crab pickin’ at Constant’s Wharf. You can head from one family friendly event to another. Make sure to purchase tickets in advance, though. They’re not selling at the door.

To end the night, a couple is hosting a swing dance to benefit the International Justice Mission. If you’ve never swing danced before, they’re doing a half-hour lesson first thing so no one is left behind. Everyone from teens to their grandparents can enjoy the night kicking up their heels.

Fortunately for everyone wearing themselves thin on Saturday, there are no events on our calendar for Sunday.

Stay in and relax on Sunday, but on Saturday — amidst your busy day —remember our loved ones, heroes and countrymen who died nine years ago.