The Newport News Board of Managers will sponsor our 5th Annual Breakfast with Y Champions on Friday, November 4th, 2011. The fundraising event will be held at the James River Country Club. YMCA members and community members are invited to attend. The morning will start at 7:30 a.m. with a key note speaker addressing wellness and our obesity epidemic and what we can do to commit to change. Three times Emmy winning WVEC news anchor Janet Roach will be our Master of Ceremonies.

All fund raised benefit the youth and families through our Strong Communities assistance program. The YMCA offers financial assistance to members of our community who may not otherwise be afforded the opportunity to get healthy, spend quality time with their family or be a part of our YMCA through our many programs and services.  

We are still looking for table sponsors and hosts for the event.   If you are interested in sponsoring or attending our event, contact, Branch Director, Deb Staszewski at (757) 245-0047 or e-mail deb.staszewski@peninsulaymca.org

Autumn is a great time of year, with its changing leaves, cooler weather and college football. It is also an opportunity to head outside to enjoy some beautiful weather with your family! Need some ideas on what to do?

1. Rake up big piles of leaves and JUMP in them. Adults, too!
2. Go to a real pumpkin patch to pick out the family pumpkins. Then go home and carve/decorate them together.
3. Stuff your own scarecrow! Get daddy's old pants and shirts and cram them full of hay. Paint a fun face on a burlap-covered ball or a pumpkin. Take everyone's picture with the scarecrow to remember the fun!
4. Fill a barrel with water and apples (careful with younger kids around the water) and have your own bobbing for apples contest.
5. Make birdfeeder ornaments by layering peanut butter and sunflower seeds on pinecones. Hang them on low branches to watch the birds enjoy them.
6. Have a tailgate party in your driveway, and head to your local high school football game together. Talk about the game and sportsmanship afterwards over a treat!

Fall weekends can be spent in the kitchen together making treats and creating new family memories!

Try making Ooey gooey caramel apples! These will make everyone at home happy that it's fall again. Just make sure the caramel candies make it into the bowl!

• 6 apples
• 1 (14 ounce) package individually wrapped caramels, unwrapped
• 2 tablespoons milk

1. Remove the stem from each apple and press a craft stick into the top. Butter a baking sheet.
2. Place caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave 2 minutes, stirring once. Allow to cool briefly.
3. Roll each apple quickly in caramel sauce until well coated. Place on prepared sheet to set.

SILENT AUCTION 

The Newport News Family YMCA will hold a Silent Auction from October 3rd - October 17th.  Look for the items in the front lobby and if you like it put a bid on it.  Auction winners will be announced October 17th.  You do not have to be present to win, just the highest bidder.  All donations go to the Strong Communities Campaign.

Help us help our community.

FALL FESTIVAL 

Join us for a morning of fun at the Newport News Family YMCA's Annual Fall Festival, October 22 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Admission is $2.00 per child accompanied by an adult and (2) canned goods.  Children under 2 years of age are free.

There will be arts & crafts, games, a moonwalk, pumpkin decorating, bowling, tug-of-war, face painting, soda toss, gourd toss/cornhole, cup cakes, popcorn and much, much more!  Volunteers are needed for the Trunk-or-Treat Activity.

Pizza - $2.00/slice, $10.00/whole pizza.  Benefit our Strong Communities Campaign.

Costumes are optional. Come out and enjoy the festivities.

For further information, please feel free to contact Sharon Nichols at 245-0047, ext. 215 or e-mail her at sharon.nichols@peninsulaymca.org.

FACILITY HOURS 

Monday - Thursday................5:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Friday..................................5:30 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.

Saturday..............................7:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Sunday................................1:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.