Six innovative ways to indulge in ice cream FACTS.

Ice cream is a popular dessert that’s enjoyed across the globe. Blending the cold and the creamy, ice cream is an ideal treat on a hot day. According to IceCream.com, 87 percent of Americans have ice cream in their freezer at any given time. While Americans may enjoy their ice cream, New Zealand consumes more ice cream than any country in the world.

Historians and foodies believe Ancient Greeks enjoyed a dessert similar to ice cream as early as the 5th century B.C. Considering ice cream has been around so long, and that many cultures have created their own take on frozen treats, from gelato to sorbet to frozen yogurts, one may think there aren’t many new ways to indulge in this beloved dessert. But with a little creativity, anyone can come up with innovative ways to serve ice cream or any of its frozen cousins. The following are just a few different recipe inspirations.

1. Lightly butter flour tortillas and sprinkle them with cinnamon and sugar. Drape the tortillas over the rungs of the shelves in an oven, placing a cookie sheet underneath to catch any drips. Bake at 300 F until just crisp. Fill with your favorite ice cream for some frozen dessert tacos.

2. Create your own ice cream sandwiches from any firm cookies or dessert bars you have on hand. For example, cut two thin slices of fudge brownies. Spread softened ice cream in a complementary flavor, such as peanut butter or black cherry vanilla, in between the brownie sandwich pieces. Freeze to firm everything up and make it easier to eat.

3. Fried ice cream pairs the seemingly incompatible frozen dessert with heat. Freeze scoops of ice cream until they are solid, dip them in an egg wash and coat with crushed cookie crumbs. You can then refreeze the finished ice cream balls and have them set to fry in time for dessert.

4. Ice cream and frozen waffles make a quick dessert in a pinch. Raid the freezer for the ingredients, toast the waffles and then sandwich with ice cream. Top with fresh fruit and whipped cream, if desired.

5. Spoon your favorite cookie dough into a muffin tin and mold the dough so it lines the individual cups of the tin. Bake until firm and let cool. Use the cookie cups to make little ice cream sundae holders for parties. Their diminutive size makes them ideal for kids.

6. Whip up your own ice cream cake. Place a thin layer of any flavor cake on the bottom of a dish or pan that can be placed into the freezer. Scoop softened ice cream on top, then continue to layer as desired, finishing with ice cream as the final layer. Let freeze several hours until firmed up, then enjoy.

—MetroCreative

Powhatan County Public Library will hold a weekly s tory Time on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Participants will read stories, sing songs, learn finger plays and more! story Time generally meets in front of the fireplace, and occasionally in our outdoor space.

Business network International (BnI)Powhatan chapter meets virtually from 8 to 9:30 a.m. every Wednesday. Visit Www.B n IVa com for information. To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/BnIOnFire or contact executive director dawne Gulla at dawne@bniva. com or 804-690-9220 for more information.

The Powhatan Lion’s Club will meet at 6 p.m. at the County s eat Restaurant. Contact Mike Jones at 804-794-1440 for more information.

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

The Powhatan Village Farmers Market opens is open from 4 to 6:30 p.m. every Thursday on the grounds of Bienvenue in the Village a Caregiver support Group will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. at May Memorial Baptist Church, 3922 Old Buckingham Road, Powhatan. Build a support system with people who understand. For more information, contact Jayne Lloyd at 804-698-0438. Visit alz.org/ grva to learn more about caregiver programs and resources.

Just Kids, an affordable clothing shop selling gently used children’s clothes, sizes newborn to 8 plus, and warm coats, is open. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and s aturdays. The shop is located in the Memorial Baptist Church youth House, 3926 Old Buckingham Road. Just Kids is a ministry of May Memorial Baptist Church. Clothes cost $2 per bag.

The Powhatan Food Pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays, saturdays and Tuesdays at 2500 Batterson Road. Contact the pantry at 804-3729526 or powhatanvafoodpantry@gmail.com.

Powhatan stars Cancer s upport Group, formerly known as Powhatan s upporting the a lliance and Respecting s urvivors (sTaRs), meets at 6 p.m. at The County s eat Restaurant in the back room. The group is for survivors, caregivers and family members to listen and support each other. For more information, contact sue Bird at 804-212-8651 or Patty Hicks at 804-375-3499. e xtension specialists and industry experts share timely topics for farmers in the Virginia Cooperative e xtension a g Today, held virtually at 9 a.m. every Thursday. These updates are relevant and brief and are recorded for folks who can’t join on that day and time. Podcasts (audio only) are posted on Westmoreland VCe webpage and youTube video recordings can be found at https://www.youtube. com/ playlist?list=PL7_2Q u VzrPXdpysV2Hy11CH8KBrluifyO.

Contact s tephanie Romelczyk (sromelcz@vt.edu) for information on joining the meeting live.

The original Powhatan aameets from 7 to 8 p.m. every Thursday in the Powhatan Village Building.

The Powhatan Rotary Club meets at 7:30 a.m. every Thursday at the County s eat Restaurant.

The Powhatan Republican Committee’s monthly meeting will be held on the second Thursday of every month at Rosa’s Italian Restaurant. s ocial time is at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

Habitat For Humanity — Powhatan depends on volunteers and donors. Habitat is blessed with the community’s helpful and generous participation.

Juneteenth Powhatan, a day of celebration, culture and history, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. both inside and outside at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 a nderson Highway. a ctivities will include an exhibit and program, food and vendors, music and a kids zone. The event is rain or shine. It is free and open to the public. donations are welcome a Powhatan Hope n arcotics a nonymous ( na ) meeting will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday at PCC Church, 4480 a nderson Highway, Powhatan, Room 102. It is an open discussion meeting. Wheelchair accessible.

MONDAY, JUNE 19 a Grief support Group meets from 10 to 11 a.m. at Powhatan united Methodist Church. all are welcome to attend. This group is facilitated by Judy Cain-Oliver, licensed clinical psychologist.

Powhatan Pastor’s Fellowship provides pastors in the county with fellowship, joint worship experiences and ways to serve the needy in the community. The group meets at 11:30 a.m. at angela’s Restaurant. The group is open to any pastor; newcomers welcome. For more information, call Michael edwards, pastor of May Memorial Baptist Church, 804-598-3098. Relay for Life s outh of the James meets at 7 p.m. online. For more information, contact Pat Johnson at 804-241-1161 or pjj804@icloud.com.

The Free Clinic of Powhatan serves residents from Powhatan, amelia and Cumberland Counties as well as select Chesterfield areas. s ervices include medical, dental, counseling and women’s healthcare by appointment. eligibility requirements on website www.freeclinicofpowhatan.org/ patients. Registration for new patients by appointment Mondays 5 to 8 p.m. or walk-in Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, call 804-598-5637.

TUESDAY, JUNE 20

The new Bridge of Reason aa meeting is held at 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Powhatan Mennonite Church, 3549 Old Buckingham Road, Powhatan. It is an open, decision and literature meeting for Powhatan, Goochland, and Cumberland counties.

The Powhatan american Legion Post 201 meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. Legion members invite all veterans of our armed forces to attend the meetings of Post 201 which are held at the War Memorial Cultural arts and Community Center, 2375 skaggs Road. For more information, contact david Bradley at 804-306-3740. aa meets at 8 p.m. every Tuesday at st. Luke’s episcopal Church on Huguenot Trail.

UPCOMING scout Troop 3029 is helping the Huguenot Volunteer Fire department achieve a long-held goal of building a memorial to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks of sept. 11, 2001 at the station. The Girl scouts are selling 411 bricks inscribed with the name, rank and company of a firefighter, law enforcement officer or paramedic killed during the attacks. a donation of $23 will cover the cost of one inscribed brick in honor of a first responder. To purchase a brick, visit www.bricksrus.com/ donorsite/memorial911. Checks payable to Troop 3029 may also be mailed to Laura Baltz at 1510 Holly Hills Road, Powhatan, Va 23139. For more information, contact Baltz at 804-467-4313 or Ljbal65@aol.com. Lonesome d ove e questrian Center, which is located at 6137 Old Buckingham Road, provides year-round therapeutic horseback riding exclusively for veterans with special needs and disabilities. Focusing on veterans in Central Virginia, the goal of this program is to improve the quality of life for the participants through activities that are positive to their cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being.

Powhatan s tate Park has planned a series of monthly Ranger Led Hikes to explore the park throughout 2023. each month, park visitors can join in a hike on a different trail in the park and learn about local history and wildlife. a ll hikes begin at 10 a.m. Registration is required and limited to nine hikers per trip. e mail Powhatan@dcr. virginia.gov with the subject line “hiking series” including the desired date/hike to reserve your spot. upcoming events are: June 24: River, Gold dust and Turkey Trail, meet at e questrian Lot; July 29: Cabin Trail/Big Woods Trail, meet at the playground area; aug. 26: Pine Trail, meet at yates Parking area; sept. 30: Coyote Run Trail, meet at equestrian Lot; Oct. 28: River, Gold dust and Turkey Trail, meet at equestrian Lot; nov. 25: Cabin Trail/Big Woods Trail, meet at the playground area; and dec. 30: Pine Trail, meet at yates Parking area. Wear comfortable, closed-toed shoes and bring plenty of water. Children are welcome but be aware that some hikes may exceed 4 miles and require navigating uneven terrain in all weather conditions.

The Westchester Concert series is back with a full summer 2023 lineup planned. a ll concerts are from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Westchester Concert Field. e ach concert will benefit a different nonprofit. upcoming performances are: June 1, en’novation ( autism s ociety of Central Virginia); June 15, The e nglish Channel (Chesterfield Historical society of Virginia); June 29, The Jangling Reinharts (Free Clinic of Powhatan); July 13, 64 Crayons Band (RVaG); and July 27, Good shot Judy (Fatherhood Foundation of Virginia). For more information, visit www.shopwestchestercommons.com.

Juneteenth Powhatan, a day of celebration, culture and history, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. June 17 both inside and outside at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 a nderson Highway. a ctivities will include an exhibit and program, food and vendors, music and a kids zone. The event is rain or shine. It is free and open to the public. donations are welcome. s aturday u nder the s tars at Powhatan s tate Park will be hosted by the Richmond astronomical society throughout 2023. events are open to the public and held at the equestrian / Trailhead parking area. Visitors are welcome to bring their telescopes and test them out under a dark sky with assistance from our astronomers. This is a great opportunity to try out a new telescope that might have been a holiday gift. n o telescope is required, though. you can always check out the views through ours or just bring a comfortable chair. event times are listed below, but volunteer astronomers will be on site before the event to provide telescope assistance. note that the $5 park fee applies at all times; park fees are waived for volunteer astronomers who are sharing their expertise or equipment for the event and volunteer astronomers are welcome to continue to observe through the night after the public hours. astronomers that can help with any of these events, send a message to president@richastro.org. upcoming dates are: 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. July 22; 8 to 10 p.m. sept. 16; and 5 to 7 p.m. dec. 9.

ONGOING young people in the 4-H community learn leadership, citizenship, and a vast array of life skills that benefit them for the rest of their lives. Through school-based, after-school, and community clubs as well as camp settings, 4-H members pledge to build a better community, country, and world. The new 4-H year starts Oct. 1 and runs through s ept. 30, 2022, so this is a great time to join a 4-H club! In Powhatan County, 4-H s PI n and project clubs include the following designed for youth ages 9-18: Livestock, a rchery, e quine, d airy Judging, and shooting education (waiting list). For our younger youth, ages 5-8 years old, we’re seeking new club leaders interested in starting a second Cloverbud 4-H Club in Powhatan. 4-H school enrichment programs are also available for homeschool groups. Reach out to Cathy Howland, Powhatan 4-H e xtension agent, at 804-598-5640 or chowland@vt.edu for details about the 4-H opportunities listed, and/or information on starting new 4-H clubs or programs.

The Powhatan Village Farmers Market season will be open from 4 to 6:30 p.m. every Thursday through Oct. 26. The market is on the grounds of Bienvenue in the Village. you’ll love reconnecting with your favorite vendors and meeting over 15 new ones! The market offers a huge variety of local goods like seasonal produce, unique breads and baked goods, coffee, honey, pastured meats, kombucha, eggs, mushrooms, artisan creations, self-care products, flowers and even dog treats.

While you shop enjoy live music and a tasty food truck dinner! This season Powhatan’s local Parks and Recreation will provide kids’ activities every week and they have all sorts of fun stuff planned for opening day! Prizes for the kiddos and friendly dogs are always welcome. This season your family will also love visits to the booths of the Powhatan state Park, Powhatan library, Master Gardeners and so many more critical community organizations. The Powhatan Coalition of Churches is looking for one or more volunteers to manage the Food Pantry which serves over 100 households each month. Primary responsibilities include training and coordinating volunteers, overseeing purchasing and inventory, record keeping and reporting, and publicity and communications. If you feel called to this vital ministry to neighbors in need please contact Theresa Fields at powfields@comcast.net or 804-372-9526. agricultural lands in Goochland and Powhatan counties continue to be eligible for conservation assistance funds from Monacan soil and Water Conservation district (sWCd) for stream exclusion fencing, establishing rotational grazing fields, developing water resources, wells, springs and stream access points, reforestation of critical areas and establishing or enlarging buffer areas along waterways. Funds are also available for nutrient management plan development and implementation, cover crops and numerous other conservation practices. Monacan encourages producers to explore options now since program options have recently been revised and significantly improved for the producer. The d istrict has highly skilled employees who are well trained in both the technical aspects of conservation management and program delivery. s taff members assist producers in developing conservation plans that work for their operation and navigating program opportunities. not all programs are created equal and staff members assist applicants in understanding the options and choosing the program that suits their farm’s needs. a nyone interested in exploring the many benefits of conservation planning can contact district conservation specialists Betty McCracken at (804)556-0935 or Colton sullivan at (804)556-0143.

The Coalition of Powhatan Churches has available resources to help people who would like assistance in learning to manage their finances. If you know of anyone who needs or would like to have this service, or to get more information, call Robin Cupka at 804-801-9851.

Backpacks of Love, a nonprofit committed to eliminating hunger in school-age children by providing nourishing food for their weekend, is looking for volunteers to help every week to pack food bags for the children, deliver the bags to schools, help with fundraisers and special events, and help provide food and monetary donations. The food donations we are looking for is single serve raviolis or spaghetti and meatballs, 16-ounce jars of peanut butter, apple sauce, small boxes of cereal, cookies, crackers and more. Contact Matt Henke at director@backpacksoflove.org for more information.

Juneteenth Powhatan, a day of celebration, culture and history, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. June 17 both inside and outside at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 a nderson Highway. a ctivities will include an exhibit and program, food and vendors, music and a kids zone. The event is rain or shine. It is free and open to the public. donations are welcome.

Gail Hairston at 598-3435

Gail Hairston, President of the Powhatan naaCP gail.hairston@comcast.net

Walking with a purpose

For those who took part in last Saturday’s Relay For Life at Powhatan High School, every mile logged was one more step in the fight against cancer.

The grants are funded through the White-Reinhardt Fund for Education—a project of the AFBFA in cooperation with the AFBF Women’s Leadership Committee.

“These grants give communities opportunities to seek new and innovative activities to educate everyone about agriculture,” said Tammy Maxey, Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom’s executive director. “Farm Bureaus partner with schools and community groups to provide a variety of tools for children to learn about the many aspects of agriculture and how it’s vital to our daily lives.”

Last year, Franklin County Farm Bureau received a White-Reinhardt Grant. The county Farm Bureau’s Women’s Committee used the funds to purchase a 3D EnviroScape model that illustrates the role conservation efforts play in protecting watersheds and wetlands. Members of the committee visit county schools and use the model to demonstrate the role farmers play in protecting the environment while growing food.

“Our first year, we were able to teach 115 people— three school-aged groups and an adult Master Gardener training class,” said Cynthia Martel, a Franklin County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee member. This year the unit has gone into seven classrooms.

“It’s the visual, hands-on learning the EnviroScape brings to the classroom that sets it apart. Kids are learning what it takes to grow the food they eat and the materials that make their clothing.”

The grants are intended to support items or projects that can be used repeatedly. Funding isn’t available for mileage, field trips, wages and benefits, safety programs or one-time consumable products such as copying, paper, seeds or meals. For more information on grant applications, visit bit. ly/42tKKiZ. To find a local county Farm Bureau, visit vafb.com/locations.