The AAU/USATF Track & Field team “PWC Panthers” will represent the Prince William/Stafford/Frederick & Manassas area at the USATF Junior Olympic in Greensboro NC on July 21 – July 28 and the AAU Junior Olympics at Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti Michigan on July 29 – Aug. 3.

Over the past few weeks, the Panther athletes have competed in the AAU National Qualifier meet held in Suffolk and closing out a four day USATF Regional Qualifier at PG Sportsplex in Maryland. They have competing against an array of elite competitors, from the state of Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and in Washington, D.C.

The Panther athletes have trained hard and put in a lot of hard work over the past five months. While most kids are home or away for the summer enjoying a blissful cool pool, the Panthers have battled the humidity and temperatures well above 90 degrees to have the opportunity to compete with athletes across the United States.

PWC Panthers will send 38 individuals ranging from ages six to 18 to the 2013 USATF Junior Olympics in Greensboro, North Carolina and the following week to compete in the 2013 AAU Junior Olympics at Eastern Michigan State University in Ypsilanti Michigan. Congratulations to the following athletes:

BOYS:
Andre Clark (110 hurdles, 400 hurdles), Bashir Idris (110 hurdles, 400h urdles, long jump, triple jump),
Darius Lowery (shot put, disc), Vashon Davis (800), D’Andre Chandler-Byrd (110 Hurdles, 400 Hurdles), Christian Mcfarland (400, 800, long jump, triple jump), James Turner (shot put),
Merrill Murphy (800, 1500), Jacob Butler (100, long jump, 4×100), Elijah Newsom (4 x 100),
Joshua Washington (4x100m, 100,200), Teague Peck (800,4×400),
Ricky Morgan (200, 400, 4×100, 4×400), Mustaq’eem Williams (100, 200, long jump, 4 x 100),

GIRLS:
Kaena Riley (Shot put), Mikayla Mcfarland (Triathlon, long jump), Kiah Riley (Shot put),
Ashley Wallace (Pentathlon, 800, long jump, high jump), Jada Pierre (100, 200), Jaiyah Richardson (400),
Tiana Lewis (400, 800, 4×100, 4×400), Tymia Atkinson (High jump), Kennedy Hall (1500),
Jorden Davis (Pentathlon, 200Hurdles, 100 Hurdles, 800, shot put), Britney Nguetta (high jump),
Victoria Pope (100hurdles, 400hurdles, 4×100), Alexys Taylor (4×100, 4×400), Elease McNeil (4×100),
Thailiah Travers (100, 200, 100, 4X100), Emily Devilliers (Heptathlon, Disc, Shot Put, Javelin),
Onon Kadima (400Hurdles, Long Jump), Brenea Thomas (Long jump, Triple Jump),
Yaa Agyepong-Wiafe (100Hurdles), Corynn Hosey (Triple Jump), Harissa Korkoya (100, 4×100),
Morgan Knight (Heptathlon, 100Hurdles, 200, 4×100, 4×400), Kristen Stephens (triple jump),
(Kiana Hairston (100, 200, 4×100)

Of course performing back to back weekend, will take a financial toll on the club. The club is requesting assistance for these athletes lodging, meals, entry fees and transportation. If you would like to donate to the kids, visit pwcpanthers.com (click on HELP OUR PANTHERS) or send donations to:

https://www.gofundme.com/3hpkhc

We are soliciting applications from energetic professionals from diverse life experiences who would like to join the Board of Directors nonprofit organization that operates on competitive youth sports for Prince William County, Virginia.

Organizational leadership and advisement of youth sports
Formulation and oversight of policies and procedures
Financial management, Including adoption and oversight of the annual budget
Oversight of program planning and evaluation
Personnel evaluation and staff development
Review of organizational and programmatic reports
Promotion of the organization
Fundraising and outreach
Attend and participate in meetings on a regular basis, and special events.
Participate on a standing committee of the board, and serve on ad-hoc committees as necessary.
Be alert to community concerns that can be addressed by PWC Sports Athletic Organization mission, objectives, and programs.
Strong problem-solving skills.
Commitment to fundraising for the organization
For more information please contact us by email [email protected] or [email protected]

At Woodbridge Pediatrics, getting books from the doctor is a routine part of regular pediatric checkups. Doctors and nurses have been implementing the Reach Out and Read program in Woodbridge since 2009. We are pleased to announce that Balint Charities, a local Springfield based non-profit organization, has decided to “adopt” Woodbridge Pediatrics and will be providing the clinic with new and gently used books. We are very excited for this new partnership and how it will continue to promote early childhood literacy in the region.

Reach Out and Read Virginia is an evidence-based, statewide nonprofit organization that prepares Virginia’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. The end goal of Reach Out and Read is to prepare all children to enter kindergarten ready to read, learn, and succeed. The Reach Out and Read model is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the program has one of the strongest records of research support of any primary care intervention. This year, Reach Out and Read Virginia’s volunteer medical providers will distribute over 205,000 new books to more than 118,000 children at 155 healthcare locations across the state.

Doctors, nurse practitioners, and other medical professionals incorporate Reach Out and Read’s evidence-based model into regular pediatric checkups, by advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally-appropriate books to children.

The program begins at the 6-month checkup and continues through age 5, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities. Families served by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills, better prepared to achieve their potential.

For more information, please call (804) 521-0425 or visit the Reach Out and Read Virginia website at www.rorva.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rorvirginia and follow us on Twitter @rorvirginia.

Virginia American Water today announced that three Virginia nonprofit environmental organizations have each received grants to advance protection of water resources.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (College of William & Mary) received a $3,000 grant to conduct tidal, spectral and seasonal analyses of water quality parameters of the Appomattox River.

Petersburg-based Friends of the Lower Appomattox River, which works to protect the Appomattox River and promote its natural beauty and history, will use its $3,000 grant to build organizational capacity, which includes refining its master plan, organizing a membership drive, writing grants, updating its website, coordinating water quality monitoring and managing volunteers.

The Friends of the Occoquan, which is based in Woodbridge and works to preserve and maintain the Occoquan Watershed, will use its $1,000 grant to plant trees at the Occoquan regional park in Fairfax County.

“We are proud to support the efforts of local organizations that share our commitment to watershed and environmental protection,” said Virginia American Water President William R. Walsh. “This assistance to our community partners leverages local resources and capabilities to make a positive impact on the environment.”

 Established in 2005, American Water’s Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies in the local communities the company serves.

Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to more than 320,000 people in the Cities of Alexandria and Hopewell, parts of Prince William County and several small communities in the Northern Neck. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people in more than 30 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. -- The Stafford County Democratic Committee invites the public to a “Smokin’ Blue BBQ” fundraising picnic at the historic Aquia Landing Park, 2846 Brooke Road, Stafford, 22554, on Sat., July 27. The event starts at 11 AM and runs until 3 PM.

Michael Futrell, Candidate for House of Delegates District 2, will be among the special guests. Representatives from the statewide campaigns for Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General are also expected and citizens will have an opportunity to meet local supervisor candidates David Beiler (Falmouth), Laura Sellers (Garrisonville), and Mara Sealock (Aquia).

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It’s the season for the mighty migration of the Monarch Butterflies and Great Country Farms wants to make a difference. Together with local Girl Scouts, they plan to design and build a Monarch butterfly garden & educate others on how they can help. Join us Saturday, July 20 to be a part of it.

The Monarch Butterfly population is waning and they need your help. But why are Monarch butterflies important to the environment? Monarch butterflies are pollinators. During the Monarchs huge migration, they pass over areas where pollination is a problem. So Monarchs can help pollinate plant life in suffering areas.

How can you help? GCF will plant milkweed which provides Monarchs with a safe environment to harvest their eggs.

“We are investing in Monarch Butterflies. Our vision is to establish an extensive monarch breeding population at GCF with the help of the scouts and others,” says Jaclyn Jenkins GCF’s Director of Operations. Girl Scouts can participate in helping us design Great Country Farms Scout Butterfly Patch and are welcomed back in the fall to release their butterflies.

While at Great Country Farms, join in family friendly fun on the farm. Kids will love the 5 acre playground and visiting with the friendly farm animals. The “Roosteraunt” is open for lunch the Farm Market features fresh produce and other local products. The Farm’s U-Pick season is in full swing so be sure to visit the website to see what is ripe & ready to take home for a fresh summer time meal.

Saturday, July 20th, 2013
Open 9am-6pm
Girl Scouts- $8/scout & chaperones. Leaders FREE! Please make group reservations by calling 540-554-2073.
General Public $8/Child $10/Adult at the gate + 2 FREE Passes to come back in Sept. for those who have butterflies to release!
Children 2 and under and guests with a Military ID are no charge.
Contact Jaclyn Jenkins [email protected] 540-554-2073
Website www.GreatCountryFarms.com

Reports of the death of "hyperlocal" news are premature. While Patch and other corporate-backed online local news efforts are struggling, a trio of independent local news websites in the Washington, D.C. area are thriving.

ARLnow.com and BethesdaNow.com, published by Arlington, Va.-based Local News Now LLC, and PotomacLocal.com, published by Woodbridge, Va.-based Potomac Local Media LLC, have enjoyed significant traffic and revenue growth over the past year.

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Week 1 of the Boys & Girls Clubs Summer Sports Camp has just wrapped up. Youth athletes received a Personal Fitness Journal and defined their baseline “personal best” sport numbers.  

Throughout the summer athletes will work towards a goal of setting new personal bests by the end of camp.  Every sports camper was measured in broad jump, sit ups, push ups, jumping jacks and flexibility.  

Once the initial measurements were made, it was on to the competition.  Other things that were recorded in their fitness journals include: their resting heart rate, favorite games that were played, and the scores to each game.

During week 1 of Sports Camp, campers were divided into two separate teams. The teams then came up with a team name and cheer.   All games and challenges were played against one another in an effort to earn points toward a team total.  With an emphasis on “teamwork” sports camp is designed so that there are no captains of the teams. 

The children were encouraged to work together and utilize every team members strengths.  Campers also exercised their brains with the help of the Teen Camp and the Teen Camp Director Ms. Marguerite.  After a week of competition including sports games, “Minute-to-Win” it, and mental challenges…Team Sports Agency edged out the Silver Titans to take the trophy until next weeks champion is crowned.

As a nice break from the fierce competition, Sports Campers visited “Vertical Rock” where they were introduced to a whole different type of exercise, Rock Climbing.  After receiving some professional instruction, the campers attained new heights as they over came their fears and reached the top of the wall.  The week wrapped up with a few awards that were voted on by the campers themselves.  Here are a few notable winners:

Future LeBron: Rock Loving

Future Athletic Director: Christian Sandaval

Future President: Abby Morris

Camper of the Week: Adam Corbett

Coolest Camper: Mr. Mike

GAINESVILLE, Va. -- Nicole Alvarez, physician assistant, joined, locally renowned pediatric allergist, Srinagesh Paluvoi, M.D. in his Gainesville, Va. office.

“We are fortunate to have Nicole on our team; her patient care and clinical diagnose technique have been a great asset to our staff,” said Srinagesh Paluvoi, M.D., allergist and owner of Allergy and Asthma Affiliates of Leesburg and Gainesville, Va.

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Richard L. Anderson, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Woodbridge, addressed select high school students attending the 71st session of American Legion Boys State of Virginia held at Radford University.

Delegate Rich Anderson (R-51), participating for his fourth consecutive time as an instructor in the Boys State program, spoke on "Virginia Government - Origins to Today." He described the history and legislative process of the Virginia General Assembly including how a bill becomes law. Anderson also discussed his duties and challenges as a state Delegate along with various current policy and political issues facing state government in Virginia. He answered several questions from the Boys State citizens. Anderson also taught an afternoon session entitled “Running for Public Office.”

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