A ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of Stafford County’s first dog park will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Duff McDuff Green Memorial Park in Falmouth, VA.

Visitors are invited to bring their four-legged friends to enjoy the new facility after the ceremony. There are three separate parks available: one for small dogs less than 30 pounds, another for large dogs more than 31 pounds, and an open area for long distance ball throwing and retrieval.

Laurie Williams of Pup-N-Iron and her staff will be onsite Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and will offer tips on successfully socializing your pet into an off-leash dog park as well as tips on understanding the body language of dogs.

The small dog park is full of shade for the puppies and has agility equipment for them to use. It is approximately 7,500 sq. ft. There are toys, water bowls, benches and leash posts available as well. There is also appropriately sized agility equipment for the small dogs to use.

The large dog park is 15,000 sq. ft. There are benches and leash posts available within this area as well.  

The long distance ball retrieval area is not fully enclosed by a fence. There is a fence on three sides of this area but the Rappahannock River and the stream leading to it act as a natural boundary to the south.

The dog park is open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. until October 31. Duff’s dog park is located at 75 James Ashby Parkway, Falmouth, VA 22405.

Update

The Virginial Railway Express (VRE) has added a stop to their lineup for this year’s Fourth of July Firecracker Special.

More from the VRE:

 VRE will now be making a stop at Manassas Park this year for the “Firecracker Special” trains on Saturday, July 4th along with stops at Broad Run, Burke Centre and Backlick on the Manassas Line.  Tickets are on sale now! Go to our website at www.vre.org under “What New” to review the schedule for both lines, Manassas and Fredericksburg.   The cost of a roundtrip ticket is only $10 for everyone (kids included). 

Get your tickets today because they are limited and going fast.  For questions, please call us at 703-684-1001. 

Original post

This year the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will run a Firecracker Special on both the Fredericksburg and Manassas Lines to downtown Washington, DC for Fourth of July Fireworks 2015. Trains will come northbound in the afternoon and will return southbound approximately an hour after the fireworks end. 

How Much?

Tickets will be sold exclusively online for $10.00 each person roundtrip (from any station) including all children and will go on sale Tuesday June 2, 2015 at 12pm. Starting at noon today, please visit our Firecracker Special webpage to purchase tickets via PayPal. (An additional section will show up at the bottom of the page.) Tickets are non-refundable.

Where and When?

Fireworks begin at 9:10pm. We will get you there in plenty of time to get yourself situated in DC. The trains will drop off all passengers at Washington Union Station between 5:30 and 6:00pm leaving plenty of time for the 20-25 minute walk to the National Mall.

Fredericksburg Line:        

The stops on the Fredericksburg Line will pick up and drop off at Leeland Road, Brooke, Quantico, Woodbridge on into Union Station. Times listed for pick-up are departure times and we will begin loading approximately 10 minutes prior to scheduled time to ensure an on-time departure from each station.

Manassas Line:                  

The stops on the Manassas Line will pick up and drop off at Broad Run, Burke Centre, Backlick Road on into Union Station. Times listed for pick-up are departure times and we will begin loading approximately 10 minutes prior to scheduled time to ensure an on-time departure from each station.

Other Information I Need to Know?

• To get through the security checkpoints on the National Mall, you are allowed to bring backpacks, strollers and coolers but they will be searched. 
• Coolers should be small. 
• You are not allowed to bring any alcohol, firearms, glass products or personal fireworks.
• Trains will not make the regular VRE stops at Alexandria, Crystal City, or L’Enfant stations.
• Please regularly visit the U.S. National Park Service website for the most up-to-date information on other events that day, restrictions, security checkpoints, maps, etc.

Come on out and enjoy a Saturday night on the town in Washington, DC with family and friends on the VRE! Space is limited, so don’t delay. Check out our website, Facebook, Twitter or subscribe to Train Talk for the latest updates.

Patriotic red, white and blue ribbons and wreaths, freshly pressed suits, pearls and military dress decorated the American Legion Manassas Post 114 Charter Members Memorial Breakfast held at the Wyndham Garden Hotel on May 16.

Manassas Mayor Harry J. Parrish, Councilmen Mark Aveni and Ken D. Elston, and Prince William County Sheriff Glen Hill attended the special ceremony to honor the history of the American Legion Manassas Post 114 founded by 16 war veterans in 1946.

The 12 original World War I veteran charter members included French R. Bates, Landon J. Bates, George Buckner, John C. Chapman, Jack Gaines, Sr., Samuel D. Grayson, Charles E. Harris, Benjamin Hill, George C. Lomax, Robert R. Pickett, Thomas H. Phillips and Elton S. Sheppard. The four World War II veterans included Samuel W. Davis, Jr., Robert A. Lansdowne, Spencer Norris and William J. Short.

Dr. Renee Anderson, Head of Collections for the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture and Manassas native was a guest speaker.

Post Commander Julian Rozzell said, “It is a great honor to give homage and remembrance to those courageous World War I and World War II soldiers that served this nation proudly during a tumultuous period in their life as an American citizens of color.”

The event incorporated elements of somber reflection and voices of joyous inspiration with Commander Rozzell, Second Vice Commander Donald Scoggins, Comrade George Bodie, Comrade George Odom, and Dora Brooks, American Legion’s Women’s Auxiliary. The traditional presentation of the colors were performed with discipline and splendor by the Osbourne Park High School Navy ROTC followed by a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by Cadet Naomi Pariona.

Brooks welcomed all the Post members, families and guests to the event and said, “Reflect on the meaning of valor and on how these brave warriors helped to change the course of history.”

Commander Rozzell and Mayor Parrish unveiled and presented a brand new charter members plaque, a beautiful memorial emblazoned with the original charter members of 1946.

A hushed reverence fell over the crowd during Bodie’s moving POW resolution.

“The small table set for one symbolizes the dedication, courage and sacrifice of those who answered the call to battle,” Bodie said

Dr. Anderson gave a presentation on the collections of the new Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture museum opening in the late summer 2016.

Dr. Anderson said, “Highlights of the collection include a plane and a train – a PT-13D Stearman open cockpit bi-plane (c. 1941) used to train the famed Tuskegee Airmen for Army Air Corps service during World War II and a Jim Crow railroad car (c. 1922).

Dr. Anderson articulated the importance of preserving and sharing African American history with tales of retrieving amazing historical items for posterity. She invited all those in attendance to donate and to come to the opening of the museum.

Commander Rozzell shared the charter member’s personal historical background at the event compiled after months of document collection and interviews with family and friends. These 16 American Legion Manassas Post 114 charter members paved the way for all Americans to serve their country with dignity and honor. These men were bound by a shared pride of service to God, country and family.

After a very successful 2014-15 season, Gainesville Ballet Company is thrilled to announce its 2015-16 season, featuring an expanded resident company of ten international professional dancers supplemented by ten junior company dancers, led by Artistic Director Rafik Hegab of Cairo, Egypt, and Managing Director Elysabeth Muscat Hegab, of Virginia. Gainesville Ballet School is the official school of Gainesville Ballet Company.

The 2015-16 season includes “The Nutcracker” (Fri. Nov. 27, 2pm and 7 pm at the Hylton Performing Arts Center) with special guest stars Isabella Boylston and James Whiteside (current Principal Dancers with American Ballet Theatre); “Carmen”, a world premiere with contemporary choreography (Sat., Feb. 20, 7:30 pm at the Hylton); “Giselle”, a romantic ballet in two acts (Sat., Apr. 16 at the Ernst Schlesinger Cultural Center in Annandale), and a Spring Performance in conjunction with Gainesville Ballet School (Sat., June 4, 6:30 pm at the Hylton.)

Following the incredibly enthusiastic response of audiences for “Carmina Burana”, which premiered on March 20, 2015 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, Artistic Director Rafik Hegab will create a new, contemporary choreography to the music of the Carmen Suite, by Russian composer Rodion Shchedrin. This version is based on Bizet’s music for the opera Carmen, with different twists. The first Carmen Suite ballet was choreographed by Cuban choreographer Alberto Alonso. In April, Gainesville Ballet presents Giselle, a romantic ballet in two acts composed by Adolphe Adam and originally choreographed by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. This ethereal ballet is a favorite staple of the classical ballet repertoire.

The Artistic Director, Rafik Hegab, is originally from Egypt. He graduated from the Academy of Arts University with a degree in Ballet Pedagogy and Choreography. He was a Principal Dancer with the Cairo Opera and Ballet and toured to numerous countries with the company in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, as well as India and Mexico. After leaving Egypt, he became the Assistant Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer for Mystic Ballet in Connecticut, and also danced as a Guest Artist for several regional companies including the USA Ballet Company in Illinois, and Baltimore Ballet, where he met Elysabeth Muscat, now his wife and fellow Director. Although he comes from a strong Vaganova background, he also loves contemporary choreography, and created works such as Carmina Burana, Under Control, Moulin Rouge, and Moonlight, which were critically acclaimed.

The 2015-16 roster of dancers includes ten dancers from four different countries: The U.S., Egypt, Japan, and Nicaragua. Principal dancer Shady Mohamed of Egypt will be dancing his third season with Gainesville Ballet. New to the company this season are Ervin Vallecillo of Nicaragua and Otoha Sugiura of Japan, both coming most recently from engagements with Mystic Ballet in Connecticut. Also returning this season are American dancers Stephanie Parkinson, and Mallory Miller, who was promoted from Apprentice to Company Member. Rounding out the company dancers are Elizabeth Wheeler, Kimberly Thompson, Camille Sellers, and two apprentices: Harmony Patton and Emma Button. Elizabeth Wheeler, Ervin Vallecillo, Otoha Sugiura, Kimberly Thompson, and Camille Sellers will also be joining the faculty of the School. The company rehearses at Gainesville Ballet’s studios on weekday mornings and select evenings or weekends.

In addition to the twenty Company and Junior Company dancers, Gainesville Ballet also invites world class guest artists as a special bonus. Most recently, Daniil Simkin (superstar and currently a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theater) and Ashley Bouder (Principal Dancer of New York City Ballet) appeared in the March 2015 performance dancing the Pas de deux from Le Corsaire. New York City Ballet Principal Dancers Teresa Reichlen and Ask la Cour were the guest Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier in The Nutcracker in November 2014. In 2013, Nour Eldesouki (currently dancing in the Aalto Ballet Theater in Essen and former dancer with Munich and Dresden) and Carolina Boscan of Venezuela (also of the Aalto Ballet Theater and international guest artist), were the guest couple in The Nutcracker.

Gainesville Ballet’s Junior Company will be comprised of approximately ten senior dancers from Gainesville Ballet School. These aspiring pre-professionals have the opportunity to dance corps de ballet and solo roles in Gainesville Ballet performances at the Hylton Performing Arts Center and other theaters, which is a key element in a well- rounded dance education, and provides invaluable preparation for a professional career as a dancer. The Junior Company will be supporting the professional company by dancing in the corps de ballet of “The Nutcracker”, “Carmen”, and “Giselle”. Select students will dance solo roles in “The Nutcracker”.

The students must audition to become Junior Company members. The Junior Company students take eight to ten hours of dance classes per week, plus 3 hours of rehearsals. Since Muscat and Hegab became the Directors in March of 2013, the Junior Company members have danced in Carmina Burana, Swan Lake, Act 2, Le Corsaire, Act 3, The Nutcracker, and in contemporary choreography as part of the Arts Alive! Festival, all at the Hylton Performing Arts Center (with the exception of Swan Lake in May of 2013, which was held at Battlefield High School.)

Directors Elysabeth Muscat Hegab and Rafik Hegab have been at the helm of Gainesville Ballet since March 2013. Since that time, the organization has gone through a renaissance of tremendous expansion and growth including moving the school into a new, 4,700 square foot facility, expanding the dance curriculum and faculty, adding a Music Program and Special Needs Dance Program, receiving nonprofit status, moving performances into the prestigious Hylton Performing Arts Center, and founding the professional company. Gainesville Ballet also regularly donates either proceeds of tickets sales or gives free tickets to military organizations.

Managing Director Elysabeth Muscat is a former international opera singer who has also been on the voice faculty of the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University since 2001, and was the co-founder of Baltimore Ballet, where she led the company in twelve years of growth until she decided to move in a new direction with Rafik Hegab in 2013. Complete biographies of the dancers can be found at https://gainesvilleballetcompany.org/dancers , and numerous photos of company dancers are available on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GainesvilleBalletCompany

The Virginia State Bar has named The Prince William County Bar Association as the recipient of its Bar Association of the Year Award.

The award, sponsored by the VSB Conference of Local Bar Associations, recognizes lasting and exemplary contributions to the legal community and the community at large in Virginia. The award also recognizes the dedication of local and statewide bar associations and emphasizes the importance of close cooperation between the Virginia State Bar and bar leaders.

The Prince William County Bar Association has been providing extensive services to its members and the community for decades. It has had a listserv since 2007 and has produced an annual directory since 2003. The association has published its monthly newsletter for sixteen years. In the area of education, the association hosted fifteen CLEs attended by 484 bar members last year alone. It also offers an extensive mentoring program.

The association sponsors numerous law-related community outreach activities including its “So You’re 18” program, which began in 1999. It also sponsors the “Character Counts! Essay Contest” for middle school students; the “Court Tours/Mock Trial” program; and supports the National Young Readers Day each fall. The association sponsors a Senior Citizen Project with the local Area Agency on Aging in celebration of Law Day and has started the Library Learning Series.

Charitable works include “Breakfasts at S.E.R.V.E.,” a non-profit organization that provides a number of services to at-risk families including temporary shelter and meals. It also provides books for residents in emergency shelters. The largest need-based activity it sponsors is the “Beat the Odds” program, which has been held since 2001. The program, based on the National Children’s Defense Fund model, offers youth who have come in contact with the juvenile justice system because of abuse, neglect, or truancy recognition for achieving academic and social progress as they strive to turn their lives around.

The Association of the Year Award will be presented on June 19 during the Virginia State Bar Annual Meeting in Virginia Beach.

The 6th Annual Kevin T. English Memorial Golf Tournament raised over $8,000 for Project Mend-A-House.

Over 75 golfers braved the morning drizzle on May 1st what turned into a beautiful afternoon of golfing at Montclair County club. The day concluded with a BBQ dinner featuring quadriplegic PMAH client, Ms. Parker, who shared her story and how PMAH helped improve her independence by providing home repairs, a new HVAC system (through the generosity of TWIN Air and Lennox Parts Plus) and a ramp so she can leave her home more easily,

Jennifer Schock-Bolles, PMAH Executive Director, summed up the event saying, “It is an honor to be able to celebrate the life of Kevin English while raising funds to support the organization he loved. The funds raised at the tournament are critically needed for our mission of helping Prince William’s most vulnerable residents continue to live safely and independently in their homes.”

Rich Beamer, Tournament Chair, commented, “…this was our biggest year ever in both the number of participants and funds raised. We are so grateful to everyone who played, sponsored and volunteered this year. This was our best year ever for sponsors supporting the event, with special thanks to our friends with Belvoir Federal Credit Union and the Woodbridge Rotary Club, as they made it possible for us to host Wounded Warriors from the Army and Marine Corps as our guests for the day.” Miller Toyota in Manassas also provided a large sponsorship. Major contributions from Gar-Field Grad Events, NOVEC HELPS, Master-Print and Sign-A-Rama Woodbridge helped make the event a success. Hole sponsors included Bean & Mallow, Land Design Consultants, Ferlazzo Real Estate Team, Ed and Mitzi Roman, and PMAH board members Barbara Reese and Linda Leiker.”

The proceeds of the tournament will be used to purchase building materials, ramps, grab bars and other materials used in Project Mend-A-House (PMAH) home repair, safety and accessibility projects.

Ever heard of the George Washington cherry tree story?
Stop by and learn more about George Washington and the American Revolution. There
will be snacks, free make and take crafts, and lots of fun!

Join us on Saturday June 13th from 2:00p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

RSVP: 703-221-2218
Weems-Botts Museum Annex
3944 Cameron St. Dumfries, VA