Community Notes
Dahlgren
Relay For Life Team Presents Movie Screening on April 28
The King George Relay For Life team "An Ounce of Prevention" presents a screening of the movie "Forks Over Knives" on Sat., April 28 at 3 p.m. at King George Elementary School. The film traces the personal journeys of two researchers and their findings on consumption of fresh foods vs. processed foods. A $5 donation is requested by attendees. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. For more info about the movie, visit www.forksoverknives.com.
Call For Artists - Potomac River Regional Art Show
The Ninth Annual Potomac River Regional Art Show, to be held July 13 to August 5 at the Town Center in Colonial Beach, Va., is now open for artists to enter their works. The show is sponsored by the Colonial Beach Artists Guild and the Colonial Beach Chamber of Commerce. Each artist may enter two pieces of art work, and the first 85 pieces registered will be accepted. All accepted art pieces will be judged after hanging for cash awards totaling at least $1,000. The guild is honored to have Jennifer Glave and B.J. Kocen of Richmond, Va. as judges for this year's show. The registration process consists of filling out an official entry form and sending it by U.S. Postal Service to the address below. The show brochure which includes the entry form can be obtained as follows: (1) download from www.colonialbeachartistsguild.org, (2) in person at several art-related venues in Colonial Beach or (3) by mail through a phoned request to 804-224-7200 or a mailed request to 100 Taylor St. #101, Colonial Beach, VA 22443.
Northern Neck Down on the Farm Tour 2012 to feature farms in King George and Westmoreland Counties
Northern Neck Down on the Farm Tour 2012 will take place Saturday, May 12, at seven farms in King George and Westmoreland Counties. The farms to be featured are: Stratford Hall, George Washington Birthplace National Monument, Ingleside Winery, Westmoreland Berry Farm, Waterloo Farm, Friendly Cottage Farm, and Evening Skies Alpacas. The farms will be open to the public from 9AM to 2PM. The tour is free of charge, and food will be available for purchase at various locations on the tour.
The day-long event is designed to showcase several aspects of our agricultural heritage in the Northern Neck: winemaking, crop farming, livestock care and breeding, and fruit and vegetable gardening and flower cultivation. Northern Neck Down on the Farm 2012 is organized by Northern Neck Tourism Commission, Northern Neck & Tri-Cities Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Virginia Department of Forestry, and Virginia Cooperative Extension. Exhibitors will include the Northern Neck Farm Museum, Northern Neck Land Conservancy, Friends of the Rappahannock, Northern Neck Master Gardeners, Northern Neck Beekeepers, and Spinners & Weavers. The Northern Neck Master Gardeners will hold a plant clinic where they will discuss gardening problems, give gardening advice, and identify plants. Exhibits by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts will promote best practices for water conservation, such as rain barrel usage. Rain barrels will be available for sale at two sites on the tour.
For more information on the Northern Neck Down on the Farm 2012, or if your business wishes to participate in sponsoring this event, call 804.333.1919 or email nntcnorthernneck.org.
Indian Head
Clothing Swap
Come join a free clothing swap on Fri., Apr. 27 from 12:30 - 5 p.m. and Sat., Apr. 28 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church off Ripley Road in Indian Head. For more info, call 301-743-2363.
10th Anniversary Summerseat Plant Sale
The 10th Anniversary of the Summerseat Annual Plant Sale at Summerseat Farm is scheduled for May 12, 26655 Three Notch Rd., Mechanicsville, Md. (rain or shine) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature a huge assortment of plants, shrubs, trees, grasses, hanging baskets, crafts and Mother’s Day gifts.
Other activities include educational and fun displays and exhibits and kids’ activities. The Courtyard Café has an exciting new breakfast and lunch menu, including “Buffalo Burgers.” All this in the peaceful setting of a farm dating from 1678 with a manor house built in 1884.
Tours will be available. See the farm animals, including American buffalo and barbados sheep. Free admission, plenty of parking with help carrying your purchases to your vehicle. For information, call 301-373-6607 or 301-373-5858; website www.summerseat.org.
Commissioners Encourage Citizens to Visit La Plata "Memory Lane" Exhibit
The Charles County Commissioners are pleased to invite the public to visit a Town of La Plata exhibit called Memory Lane that documents the recovery and renewal that has taken place throughout La Plata since a tornado devastated the community on April 28. The exhibit provides an opportunity to remember the devastation through a pictorial display and brief story of recovery at each location. This community-wide exhibit is not only for residents who were present during the tornado, but is also to give new residents an understanding of the devastating impact of the tornado, and La Plata's strength to move forward.
Visitors to the exhibit are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes to walk along the many downtown sidewalks. Memory Lane signs will be on display in front of properties that suffered damage from the tornado throughout the month of April as part of the 10-year anniversary of the tornado. A map of the exhibits will be available at the La Plata Town Hall, and at various local businesses, and at www.townoflaplata.org.
Additionally the Memory Lane signs will also be on display at the La Plata Town Hall during the Celebrate La Plata event on Saturday, April 28, from 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Celebrate La Plata is a family friendly event with food, fun, art, entertainment and much more. For a complete listing of Celebrate La Plata events, visit www.townoflaplata.org.
For more information about, or participation in, the ongoing Memory Lane exhibit and events planned for Saturday, April 28, contact Colleen Wilson at CWilsontownoflaplata.org or 301-934-8421.
Gardening Workshop # 2 at Sotterley Plantation
Sotterley Plantation presents Green Gardening - Saving the World One Yard at a Time on Saturday, May 12 from 9 - 11 a.m. Learn some tips and strategies for ways to have a beautiful yard without having a negative impact on the world around you. Everyone will leave knowing how to garden smarter, no matter what size of yard they have, while at the same time helping our local environment and promoting better water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
Advance reservations required. Please call 301-373-2280 or 800-681-0850 to make your reservation, as space is limited. Pricing for this event: Non-members: $15 per person; Members: $12 per person.
Potomac River Waterfowl Show Features Live Auction
The Cattails and Cocktails Reception and Dinner on May 11 at 6-9 p.m. kicks off the two-day Potomac River Waterfowl Show, hosted by Grace Lutheran Family Life Center, 1200 Charles St., La Plata.
The dinner is $50 per person and includes dinner by Outback Steakhouse, open bar, introduction to J. Sutton Wooddy, original art and prints and decoys for sale, and bid on silent auction items. Tickets for Friday must be purchased in advance.
The waterfowl show continues on Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Family Life Center. Saturday's admission price is $5; kids 12 and under are free.
New to this year's show is a live auction of old decoys and related items. The live auction is on Saturday, May 12, 2 p.m. and folks can either donate items or consign them. If you are a consignor, items to be auctioned off need to be dropped off prior to the event. Consignors will complete an application for submission to include information about the item and your contact information; please email the Community Foundation a photo of the items to post on their website and Facebook page at gretchen.heinzecharlescommunityfoundation.org or call 301-885-0108. There is a fee. Buyers will need to have their driver's license and phone number to complete the transaction.
To purchase tickets for more information or to volunteer, please call 301-885-0108 or visit www.somdgiving.org. The Community Foundation of Charles County's mission is to enhance the quality of life for the community of Charles County by aligning philanthropic interests with community needs through stewardship, collaboration and charitable giving.
Annual Bike to Work to be Held May 18
Leave your car behind and cycle to work on Friday, May 18, for Bike to Work Day 2012. The continually growing event has launched a new website and has opened online registration. The first 11,000 bicyclists who register and attend will receive a free Bike to Work Day t-shirt and become eligible to win great prizes.
Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) announced cyclists can join "commuter convoys" with experienced cyclists leading the way. And they can pedal to any of the 59 pit stops across the National Capital Region where refreshments, entertainment and giveaways will be part of the celebration. Cyclists can register, find pit stop locations and learn how to join a commuter convoy at www.biketoworkmetrodc.org.