Let's pack Capital Ale House's Downtown Music Hall  this Sunday at 5:30 to enjoy dinner and drinks while we watch the gorgeous documentary about sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, Rivers and Tides. You won't believe what the guy does with rivers, rocks, sticks and stones. Let's show that Richmond is Goldsworthy! Capital Ale has waived the usual minimum to use the room and will donate 25% of food sales to Friends of James River Park. We'll be accepting donations (and license plate applications!) at the door. www.capitalalehouse.com

FOJRP's James River Park license plate campaign has been in the newspaper, on TV and on radio recently and we've received 50 applications in the last week, so we are making tracks! With excitement brewing, the license plate count is at 280 as of Jan.5th, so we are well on our way to our goal of 350 completed James River Park license plate applications this month. We really appreciate all of you who have helped get us this far, but we need those 70 more in hand for the General Assembly to approve our license plate this session. With your help we can do it. If every member would convince, cajole, or persuade one other person to sign up for our beautiful proposed Virginia license plate within the next few weeks, we could relax. (I really want to relax!!) Please consider posting a link to our web site on your Facebook page at the very least or posting an info sheet at work where all can covet the plate.

Handily, our James River Park License plate is not the first item on the General Assembly's agenda when they convene in mid-January, which gives us a few more weeks to gather 70 more completed applications. Just $25 to show your pride in one of the best places in Richmond. Please send in your application now and help spread the word to park-lovers around town.  I'm guessing you'll have more than $2 worth of James River Park fun a month!

You can get all the information and the application and pay by check or with PayPal at www.jamesriverpark.org. We really appreciate your help in making this plate a reality. 

Thursday, January 20th, from 4-6 we'll be at The Boathouse at Rockett's Landing to hear our own Anne Wright say a few words about water quality and conservation as we take part in a reception that welcomes the new sculpture by the river there. RSVP is required at info@rockettsvillage.com Hope you can come!

	Rocketts Landing and the Friends of James River Park invite you to spend an afternoon celebrating Richmond's greatest natural resource. On Thursday, January 20th the James River will provide the perfect backdrop to welcome the riverfront's newest addition: The Deepwater Sponger. Charles Ponticello, the sculpture's creator, constructed this six-foot masterpiece as a message to the world: No water No life. His sculpture is inscribed with this thoughtful phrase to remind passersby to be considerate when enjoying this natural resource. Ponticello's passion is helping people realize the importance of water so they truly understand its delicate nature. Anne Wright, Coordinator of Life Sciences Outreach Education and Assistant Professor of Biology at VCU, will also be speaking about water quality and conservation. Join us for this reception at Richmond's only riverfront restaurant where you will enjoy breathtaking views of the James River over wine and hors d'oeuvres. Thursday, January 20th from 4 to 6 p.m. at The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing Space is limited so RSVP by January 14th to info@rockettsvillage.com and let us know if you are bringing a guest.