Aikido hosting peace day event

Aikido in Fredericksburg is participating in International Aiki Peace Day with activities 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Events will include demonstrations, mini-classes, yoga and Japanese archery. No experience is necessary.

Call 540/582-9600 or visit aikidoinfredericksburg.org.

Spay-neuter clinic opening Sept. 30

St. Seton's Orphaned Animals will open the Thomas Beath Clinic in Stafford County on Sept. 30. An open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony are planned from noon to 5 p.m. at the spay-and-neuter clinic at 628 Cambridge St., off U.S. 1.

Visitors will be able to tour the facility and have refreshments.

A gift of $94,500 from Pet Smart Charities will allow the new clinic to perform 8,500 low-cost spay and neuter surgeries its first year and purchase necessary equipment, said Lisa Bales, director of development. Grants also were provided by the Jessica Beath Foundation, Petco Foundation and DJ&T Foundation, which will cover the cost of dog surgeries for those who can't afford them.

The new clinic will be open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and two Saturdays a month. It will start taking appointments on Sept. 17 at its temporary number, 540/809-2625. When the clinic opens formally on Oct. 8, the phone number will be 540/371-SPAY.

The clinic is looking for donations of old towels and blankets for the animals, as well as empty medication bottles, newspaper, bleach, cleaning supplies and printer paper.

Wittman honored for outdoor work

Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., was honored as one of America's Great Outdoors Congressional Champions during Great Outdoors America Week in Washington.

The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club and other partners recognized Wittman for working to protect America's wild places and green spaces.

Wittman has served in Virginia's 1st District since 2007.

He is a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force and the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission through which he has led efforts to preserve and protect permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

powell to visit l.o.w. democrats

Wayne Powell, the Democratic candidate for Congress from Virginia's 7th District, will visit Lake of the Woods on Wednesday to meet with citizens and answer questions.