The future of Charlottesville's First Night celebration is in serious question.

Donations to the annual event are down 50 percent from two years ago, and if the trend continues the party could soon be over.

Charlottesville's First Night team plans a year in advance for the new year's party on the downtown mall. It's an event with a price tag in the tens of thousands that in a tough economy is getting harder and harder to pull off.

First Night Executive Director Barbara Lundgren knows what makes the Charlottesville party special. "We can go from one end of the mall to the other and just find something for everyone."

That may not be the case for long. Donations for the annual New Year's celebration on the downtown mall have plummeted from $24,000 to $12,000 in the last two years. While the show will go on to ring in 2010, the trend does not look good for 2011.

Lundgren says, "It means that we may not be returning in the coming years, we are very much dependent on these donations, these sponsorships and these button sales."

Charlottesville's First Night festivities have been around for 28 years. If the party goes dark, Charlottesville's tourism dollars could take a hit.

Kurt Burkhart is with the Charlottesville Albemarle Visitors Bureau. "You've got a number of businesses that will take full advantage of that one visitor, and multiply that out ten-fold, 100-fold, and you can start to realize the economic impact."

In a good year the event draws 6,000 guests. That number would have to jump to 10,000 this year to keep first night finances on track for success.

Lundgren fears if the money doesn't come in, and fast, it could be the last.

"People are out there for us, but we still do need the cash to run this operation."

Tickets for this year's first night go on sale December 5th.

The Food for Fines program is back for the holidays.

Starting Monday, Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro public libraries will be accepting canned food donations.

One can pays for one library item fine.

All donations go to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, and library officials say it always brings in a lot of food.

Marta Grove from the Waynesboro Public Library says, "People want easy ways to pay off their fines. They also want to help out the community. It's a win-win situation for everybody."

Last year, the libraries donated 1,500 pounds of food to the food bank.

They are hoping to top that number this year.

A motorcycle rider was badly injured tonight in a wreck on Riverside Drive.

Officer Mike Caver, Fatal Accident and Crash Team investigator, said witnesses reported the Yukon, driven by Edgar McClennan of Kingsport, was traveling south on Riverside and pulled into the left turning lane.

McClennan waited until the traffic light at the intersection turned red and was pulling into the Rhino Mart parking lot when a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was traveling north on Riverside struck the passenger side of the Yukon, Caver said.

The motorcyclist, whose name has not been released and condition is unknown, was taken by Lifeflight helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

"Some witnesses are saying the motorcyclist ran the light," Caver said. The investigation is ongoing.

It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were involved in the wreck. McClennan was given a toxicology test at the scene and Caver said there was no alcohol or drugs involved on his part. Caver will go to Vanderbilt to get a report on the motorcyclist.

The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, Caver said.

The girlfriend of the motorcyclist was a passerby and saw the Harley Davidson motorcycle lying crushed in the road. She got out of her vehicle in shock and approached Caver.

The Staunton Police Department is allurement for the public's advice to acquisition a missing teenager.

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Wayne Davis has aphotic albino hair that may be absolute atramentous and generally wears all atramentous clothing. He's five-feet-ten-inches tall.

Davis has several facial piercings, including the lower lip, the high lip and his nose.

Police say he has been missing back the alpha of the month.

Anyone with advice about his abode is asked to alarm the Staunton Police Department at 540-332-3842 or Crime Stoppers at 800-322-2017.

Due to a significant decrease in influenza activity in the area, the Rockingham Memorial Hospital Flu Care Clinic will be closed after Friday.

The clinic will reopen when and if flu activity increases, according to Terri Huffman, director, Primary Care Services.

“Flu activity typically hits in several waves,” explains Huffman. “We are especially concerned about the prevalence of H1N1, which has had two significant peaks in our area this year: one in April and the other in October. At this point we are experiencing less flu activity and seeing fewer patients in both the RMH Emergency Department and in the clinic. But we would expect another peak to hit a bit later in the season and we will reopen the clinic if and when the situation warrants.”

RMH constantly monitors the flu situation both locally and statewide, she said. The Flu Care Clinic phone line will be updated weekly, if not more often, and anyone needing information about whether the clinic is open may call 540-437-0440.

Patient with flu symptoms who are pregnant, under the age of four or have underlying health problems should seek care from their primary care provider or, if that is not possible, at the RMH Emergency Department.

Huffman said the community’s response to public health appeals to use good cough etiquette, practice good hand hygiene and keep healthy and sick people apart has no doubt been instrumental in helping to prevent further spread of the flu.

“The community should be commended for significantly impacting the incidence of influenza by practicing good hygiene and social distancing, staying home from work or school when sick,” says Huffman. “We also appreciate community members complying with our requests to limit hospital visitors for the safety of our staff, patients and other guests. All of these efforts make a huge difference in containing a communicable illness such as influenza.”

Huffman cautioned that people need to continue these practices to prevent the spread of flu. She also emphasized the importance of getting both regular flu and H1N1 immunizations when they are available.

“Complacency is our worst enemy,” says Huffman. “We need to keep our guard up as we head into the holiday season to ensure people stay healthy and avoid the flu.”