The 32nd Annual Jamestown Classic has been divided into two programs this year. Held on Jamestown, Rhode Island. The classic is organized by the local Rotary Club. One event ‘Round the Island Bike Race’ will be held on Monday, October 8th (Columbus Day).

The new event is ‘Rides and Strides for Humanity’ which will be held on Saturday, October 7th. The event will begin at Ft. Getty. Participants can be active in a variety of ways — they can walk, run, cycle, skateboard or even ride a kick-scooter. They can do so to benefit a number of charitable causes — from the Jamestown Community projects, the Nicaragua Wheelchair Project, a Ghana Literacy Project, Pure Water project and a National Charities fund.

Participants can register online at the website. Adult participants must raise $100 and children must raise $20. T-shirts will be given to each participant who raises $50.

The Jamestown Classic is considered the largest bicycle road race in Rhode Island. More than 800 participants are expected for both Oct 7th & 8th programs. In the beginning the event raised approximately $800 and now the event raises approximately $18,000 for charity.

Source: The Jamestown Press

Local library volunteers at the Newport Public Library (PA) have created a bicycle event that remembers a very special volunteer, Ray Wertz. The H.Ray Wertz Memorial “Ride to Read” Bike Tour has been running for eight years. The event has grown from 31 riders in the first year to now approximately 150 in the past three years. Some cyclists come as far away as New York, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware to participate in the event. The event both starts and begins at Little Buffalo State Park right outside of Newport, PA.

The event has raised more than $45,000. The funds help pay basic library expenses and to pay library salaries. The event will be held on Saturday, September 29th.

Ray Wertz was quite involved with the library, and many other community concerns in Newport, PA. He was on the building committee for the Newport Public Library when they constructed and planned the new building. He also volunteered for the library — doing just about anything that was needed, from mowing the grass, fixing things that needed to repaired and picking up the mail. Wertz died in 1998 and the event was created the following year in his honor.

The library hopes to raise approximately ten thousand dollars with this year’s event.
Source: The Sentinel, Newport Public Library

The University of the District of Columbia State Education Agency is sponsoring its 7th Annual Walk for Literacy. The event will be held on Saturday, September 22, at the Tech World Plaza on 9th and K Street, NW. Check in time is at 8:00 am, and the walk begins at 9:00 am.

There are early registration discounts and group rates. All proceeds support literacy programs in the District. For more information, visit www.literacydc.org.