4th of July Weekend Events 2011 (With 100% more Newspaper Voice)

I'm being lazy y'all, I'm sorry.  As many of you know I write for PotomacLocal.com as well as for PWC Moms and right now I'm multi-tasking.  Here's my newspaper voice.  AKA, the big girl voice.  You can catch it every Thursday on PotomacLocal's "Weekend Calendar Highlights".
Friday, July 1

*Fabulous Fridays at Waterworks Waterpark in Dale City will be feature a “Happy Birthday USA” theme and includes food specials, giveaways and games from 5:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m. when the park closes.

*Not ready to be decked out in red, white, and blue quite yet? The Potomac Nationals 7:05 p.m. game will have a “Star Trek Night” promotion.

Saturday, July 2

*Leesylvania State Park hosts their monthly Kid’s Fishing Tournament on Saturday morning beginning at 9:00 a.m. by the marina. Children do not need game licenses, but adults who plan to “help hold the rod” should be sure to have one. Participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies.

*Kick back and celebrate early with the Arts and Stripes Picnic at the Lorton Workhouse. The picnic is a free event, but a $5 donation is suggested. Parking will be available onsight to picnic-goers who are asked to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Entertainment will include interactive art demonstrations, the Navy Commodores, New Dominion Choraliers, and a keynote from Congressman Gerry Connolley.

*Join the Potomac Nationals for their “History of Baseball” night featuring vintage jersey auction, bobbleheads for the first 1,000 fans, and fireworks after the game, which begins at 6:35 p.m. Special tickets are available that include an all-you-care-to-eat picnic style dinner before the game.

**Closed: Prince William County Neighborhood Libraries

Sunday, July 3

*It’s everyone’s favorite mascot’s birthday, and Uncle Slam plans to celebrate in style. Special tickets are available that include an all-you-care-to-eat picnic dinner before a 6:35 p.m. Potomac Nationals game, which will feature mascots from around the area. After the game, be sure to stick around for fireworks!

**Closed: Prince William County Neighborhood Libraries and Regional Libraries

Monday, July 4

*The Dale City Independence Day Parade begins at 10am, but Dale Boulevard will become 1 lane each direction at 8:00 a.m. and should be avoided if possible. The parade will feature between 150-200 entries and is being Grand Marshaled by hometown hero Marine Corporal Joshua Himan. Parking lots at Beville Middle and the Dale City Boys and Girls Club, and Center Plaza will be closed for event use, but any other plaza on Dale Boulevard may be used by parade watchers for parking. Center Plaza commuter lot will be the site of the annual Family Fun Day that follows the parade and ends at 2:00 p.m.

*Celebrate America with Old Town Manassas. Starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Train Depot in Old Town there will rides for kids, food concessions and a red, white, and blue hayride. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets at 4pm to get seats at the Manassas Museum Lawn for the 9:15 p.m. fireworks display, which is one of the largest in Northern Virginia. Festivities also include Jay Henley and the Stone Brook Band at 4:30 p.m. at the Harris Pavilion.

*Join the Potomac Nationals at 6:35 p.m. for the largest game of the season! Special tickets are available that include a picnic meal before the game, and be sure to stick around after the final pitch for a large fireworks show in honor of the 4th of July.

PWC Amateur Radio Field Day

The public is invited to come out and talk on a radio to a person located 

in the United States or overseas. 

The Prince William County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed the week of June 21, 

2011 as Amateur Radio Week.  The Proclamation recognizes the public assistance 

provided by amateur radio operators throughout Prince William County. 

Each year the Woodbridge Amateur Radio Club (WWI) participates in a field day which 

is an exercise in preparedness.  Field day tests the ability of amateur radio operators 

nationwide to establish radio communications to augment emergency communications 

networks should a disaster strike reducing normal communication. This exercise is 

particularly important since Amateur Radio is part of the Home Land Defense plans to 

provide nationwide communications should disaster strike.  WWI was instrumental in 

maintaining communications within the County during 9/11.   WWI will establish nine 

radio nets using generators and/or batteries on June 25th and 26th in the field opposite 

BJ’s gas station (Golansky Blvd).  

Amateur radio operators are licensed by the FCC and are called "hams."   One of the 

main tasks for “hams” is to be able to set up and operate under any circumstance, such as 

a natural disaster, that would disrupt normal communications.  This also includes police 

and fire radio communications that may have been disrupted for one reason or another. 

The measure used to see how well an amateur radio club can perform is to count each 

message sent and received, to and from other amateur radio stations.  Points are awarded 

for contacts with other radio stations.  WWI has participated in this event for over 30 

years and has placed in the top ten of the nation for several years.  Last year WWI was 

first in their class and second overall.  This field day WWI will erect eight towers that 

will support antennas to make contact with other radio clubs throughout the world.  

Although this is a US event sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League, many 

foreign radio operators will be on the air to make contact with the US operators. 

 Come out and see what amateur radio is all about.  The Club members will begin setting 

up at 2:00 PM, Friday, June 24 and the contest will take place from 2:00 PM Saturday, 

June 25th to 2:00 PM Sunday, June 26th.  The Club welcome center is one of the first 

items to be erected so come out and talk on a radio to other states or other countries.  

Experience what it means to be a Ham.  

Good Information to Know

This information from PWCS may not apply to you or your family, but it might be useful for children in your neighborhood.

Prince William County Public Schools is participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided at eligible schools during their summer school session. Breakfast and lunch will be available to those students enrolled in summer school, as well as any children ages 18 and  under from the surrounding community who care to eat. Meals will be provided to all children without charge. Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Meals will be provided at the sites and times as follows:

School	Dates	Times
Bel Air Elementary	7/11–7/29/2011	9–9:30 a.m.
		noon–12:30 p.m.
Belmont Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	8:40–9:30 a.m.
		11:40 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Dale City Elementary	6/27–7/29/2011	8:45–9 a.m.
	(Tues. Wed. Thurs. only)	11:55a.m.–12:25 p.m.
Enterprise Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	8:30–9:05 a.m.
		10:45–11:45 a.m.
Featherstone Elementary	8/15–8/19/2011	8:30–9 a.m.
		11:15–11:45 a.m.
Fitzgerald Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	9–9:30 a.m.
		11 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Fred M. Lynn Middle	7/5–7/22/2011	7:45–8:15 a.m.
		11:15–11:45 a.m.
Godwin Middle	7/5–7/22/2011	7:45–8:40 a.m.
		11 a.m.–noon
Kerrydale Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	8:30–9 a.m.
		11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Loch Lomond Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	8:40–9:10 a.m.
		11 a.m.–12:10 p.m.
Minnieville Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	8:30–9:15 a.m.
		11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Neabsco Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	8:30–9:40 a.m.
		11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Occoquan Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	8:40–9:20 a.m.
		12:30–1:10 p.m.
Potomac View Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	8:30–9:15 a.m.
		11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Rippon Middle	7/5–7/22/2011	7:30–8:00 a.m.
		9:45–1 a.m.
Stonewall Middle	7/5–7/22/2011	8–8:30 a.m.
		11a.m.–11:45 a.m.
Sudley Elementary	7/5/–7/22/2011	7:45–8:10 a.m.
		11–11:45 a.m.
Triangle Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	8:45–9:30 a.m.
		10–11:30 a.m.
Westgate Elementary	7/11–7/29/2011	8:00–8:30 a.m.
		11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Yorkshire Elementary	7/5–7/22/2011	8:30–9:15 a.m.
		11 a.m.–12:30 p.m

More Super Cuteness!!

Oh mommas, how I love it when I get a new box in the mail for a giveaway!! I have not once been disappointed by the cuteness inside!! (I'm waiting, as I've mentioned before, but hasn't happened yet!)

When PWC Mom Amy Harmon emailed me about doing Thirty One Gifts, I was psyched! Anything with "gifts" in the title has got to be good.  Plus, she was mailing me her giveaway item and I LOVE getting real mail.  I just never outgrow it :)  As far as I can tell if you love personalized items from a certain retailer that rhymes with "Hottery Tarn" or "Hottery Tarn Dids" you'll probably love Thirty One Gifts.  Here's a few of my favorites (all pictures used have been taken from the official Thirty One Gifts Facebook Page)

 If you can put ruffles on it, I can rock it.  I think this purse is ADORABLE and I would wear it with everything.  All the time.  Ever.

 Take that Hottery Tarn Dids! ;)  There are various patterns, but I love the customized backpacks!!

 Polka Dots.  Smart. 

 Oh hello June, why yes, you did sneak up on me.  Cute gift for the teacher? Done!

I also completely love the Thirty-One Gifts is named after the Proverbs 31 Woman.  Nobody likes her, she's way too perfect, but I definitely want to be her.  Wise, admired, and together.  Yep.

Our fantastic local Thirty-One Gifts consultant is Amy Homan, who's so excited to share the adorable wares she sells with you that she's giving away a Fold and Go Organizer in Boho Patchwork Paisley.  I've got mine here right now- it's fully wipeable (yay!) and has a pocket, a pad of paper, and a pouch, all of which fold up perfectly to go from purse to purse.  I've been using mine for coupons, you guys know how I love those, and a calculator and a shopping list- but you could also take out the paper and easily do wipes, diapers, and toys.  It looks just like the one below but in a different color (my camera is not cooperating right now)

This photo is from Amy's Facebook page and she's using hers to cart a Nook! Love it!!

These gifts are adorable and there's tons of great storage and organization products, which I love-especially in cute prints!! Check it out!!  To win, visit Amy's website HERE and then leave a message on her facebook page HERE letting her know your favorite item in the catalog. 
This contest is closed, but you can still visit Amy's pages to order!!