Relay for Life Gets School Help (Ysports‪)‬

Sterling Point resident Mary Wilborn invites her Your Corner neighbors to Simonsdale Elementary School on Byers Avenue for a mini Relay for Life. As the American Cancer Society's volunteer activities chairwoman, she worked with the school's physical education teacher, Stephanie Ingraham, to plan the event. This is the first time a school in the area has been willing to participate, and school participation has long been a dream of Mary's. Scheduled events include a nutrition table, where staff, students and parents can contribute a healthy recipe (to be sold at a later PTA meeting). There will also be a tobacco tag game designed to teach kids the dangers of smoking and a sun safety ring toss, where winners get a sample of sunscreen. In the Competition to Cure Cancer, the classroom that raises the most money gets a pizza party. More information may be found at the local Relay for Life Web site, www.elizabethriverrelay.org where information can also be found regarding the area's main event June 5 at Portsmouth City Park. The mini Relay for Life will be Tuesday from 6-9 p.m. Portsmouth School Board member James Hewitt recently defended the city's decision to close Portsmouth schools Jan. 20 in anticipation of snow. He said the decision was made to prevent harm to buses, parents and students. Superintendent David Stuckwisch agreed, saying it was the right call given the circumstances and a decision he took seriously. The superintendent also said that though the division has used one of its two inclement weather days, he'd make the same decision if faced with the same circumstances.