Looking for some joyous music coupled with inspiration to usher you into the new year?
Look no further than the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts at 110 W. Finney Ave. in downtown Suffolk.
The arts, performance and music venue will present million-record selling contemporary Christian artist Mark Schultz in concert at 7 p.m. Jan. 11.
The Kansas City, Kansas, native is a nationally known and popular Christian singer, pianist, acoustic guitarist and songwriter who has sold more than 13 million records.
He’s been nominated for 20 Dove Awards, winning his first in 2006 for his CD and DVD release of “Mark Schultz Live: A Night of Stories & Songs,” according to the Suffolk Center’s website. Christian Music Today deemed Schultz as one of its top male vocalists.
His popular albums include “Hymns,” “Renaissance” and “All Things Possible,” including his latest releases, “Mark Schultz Christmas” and “Follow.”
The 49-year-old grew up in Colby, Kansas, and later began his music career composing songs for the youth of the First Presbyterian Church in Nashville. After an inaugural concert before a packed house of friends, family and supporters at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium, Schultz’s career took off, gaining national support for his music and vocal prowess.
He also gained national acclaim for a cross-country bicycle trip in 2007 from California to New Hampshire to raise funds and awareness for widows and orphans. Schultz performed benefit concerts along the 3,500-mile journey, helping raise more than $250,000 for the cause.
Schultz’s concert will open with the folk-pop songs of Virginia-based singer/songwriter Daniel Heffington. The Round Hill resident will perform selections from his latest extended play, “Only the Broken,” including the hit song “Shipwrecked Souls.”
Tickets to the concert are $25, $30 and $35. The prices increase by $5 each on the day of the show.
For more information or tickets, call 923-2900 or visit suffolkcenter.org.
YOGA AND THE GOOSE
The Portsmouth Public Library will offer something to goose the wee little ones into early literacy and something to help adults achieve inner peace and fitness.
Children from infants to age three are invited to experience Mother Goose On the Loose from 11 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Jan. 11 and Jan. 18 at the Main Library, 601 Court St.
The little ones will be exposed to words and speech through the rhymes and fun of Mother Goose. The programs are free. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver.
Adults, ages 18 and older, who need some peace, serenity and good health in their lives, may want to turn to hatha yoga. It’s an ancient practice of body, mind and soul formed in the 15th century and noted in the treatise “Hatha Yoga Pradipika.”
The Main Library will offer Yoga at the Main sessions from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Jan. 11, from noon to 1:15 p.m. Jan. 14 and from 11 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Jan. 16. Each session will feature breathing exercises and various structured yoga poses to help achieve a healthy mind-body connection.
The workouts are free, just bring a mat and enthusiasm for health and serenity.
For either programs, call the Main Library at 393-8501.
SPARC-ING INTEREST IN SUFFOLK
Bring the family and friends to downtown Suffolk on Jan. 11 for free art demonstrations, shopping for unique gifts, and objets d’art and creative make-and-take activities.
Suffolk’s Premier Art, Retail and Cultural initiative will present its free 2nd Saturdays event from 1 until 5 p.m. at the SPARC Shoppe inside the OnePast7 collective art studios at 100 N. Main St.
The free event will serve light refreshments while young and old have fun with creativity and art, and examine many of Suffolk’s unique retailers.
The nonprofit organization “assists with the revitalization and development of downtown Suffolk,” according to SparcVA.com. Founded in 2017, its aim is “to energize and promote locally owned and operated businesses, organizations, and creative professionals.” It currently counts around 100 supporters. The organization routinely sponsors and organizes various public arts projects as well as community events and programs.
For more details about 2nd Saturdays or SPARC, call 809-3229 or visit sparcva.com.
SIGNING, SPANISH, ROMANCE
Western Branch’s Russell Memorial Library at 2808 Taylor Road will help children talk with their hands and learn Spanish. It also invites would-be writers to get romantic.
Beginning Jan. 7 from 4 until 5 p.m., youngsters in kindergarten through fifth grade can learn how to communicate using a nonverbal language during the six-week There’s a Sign for That! program. The sessions will have children learning to use their hands to speak using the American Sign Language fundamentals system.
The classes are open to beginners and experienced signers who want to improve their skills.
Weekend Scoop
Little itty-bitty ones have minds like sponges and can learn languages, so why not bring your young child — infants to age five — to the library’s Bilingual Spanish Storytime?
Sessions are from 10:15 to 11 a.m. Jan. 9, Jan. 16 and 23.
Little children, accompanied by caregivers, will learn Spanish and English words and phrases through fun stories, songs and rhymes.
Budding authors interested in a career in the romance and women’s fiction genres are invited to attend the next meeting of the Chesapeake Romance Writers, a local affiliate of the nonprofit Romance Writers of America.
The next meeting is from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Jan. 11. It kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with a chapter meeting, then breaks into various workshops at 12:30 p.m. Attendees will talk shop, trade techniques and tips, find out about publishing opportunities and hone their literary skills.
Call 410-7020 for more information on any of the above events.
Eric W. Feber, ewjfeber@gmail.com