SATURDAY, 6/8: Friends of the W&OD Trail Annual Picnic

Please come and join the annual Friends of the W&OD Trail picnic on Saturday June 8th from 12 noon until 4 PM. The location of the picnic will be at the American Legion Post 130 at 400 N. Oak Street in Falls Church, VA 22046. The American Legion building is located adjacent to mile marker 6 ½ on the W&OD Trail. Items on the menu will include hot dogs, crab legs, coconut shrimp / shrimp cocktail, pulled pork BBQ, BBQ chicken, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, cookies, and assorted drinks including sodas, iced tea, lemonade, and bottled water. The picnic is also part of the annual meeting about the state of the W&OD Trail. It is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the trail and the Friends of the W&OD volunteer group.

The picnic will also serve as a celebration of the life of Walter L. Mess. Walter established the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) and was a member of its Board for more than 45 years, passed away on Sunday, May 26th, 2013. During his more than 40+ years on the NVRPA Board, the agency preserved over 10,000 acres of land. While Walter loved the many water parks, golf courses, historic sites, campgrounds, marinas, and other facilities of NVRPA, he was most proud of the W&OD Trail. Through his efforts he helped to create the trail and is known as the “Father of the W&OD Trail.” The first section of the Trail was established in 1974 in his home town of Falls Church. Over the next 10 years the Trail expanded to its current 45-mile length.

There will be free “Walter L. Mess, Father of the W&OD” Tee-Shirts to the first 100 visitors to help celebrate Walter’s life.

FRIDAY 5/31: Military History Forum

Warren Wiedhahn, Col. USMC (Rtd.) will speak on Korea – The Forgotten Victory.

The Forum meets every other Friday from 10am to noon at the Falls Church Community Center, 221 Little Falls Street. 703-248-5020.  The Forum is free and open to the public.

The 2013-2014 Forum series will begin after Labor Day.  Here is the tentative fall schedule.

Sep   6    Jim Zumwalt:  A Son’s Reflections – Life & Leadership of Adm. Elmo Zumwalt

Sep 20   Jason Abady:  Guadalcanal – Battle at the Overland Trail

Oct  4     Norman Hatch:  World War II Marine Photographer

Oct 18   Jim Taylor:  Origins of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – World War I to 1948

Nov  1   William Connery:  The Gray Ghost’s Raids in Northern Virginia

Nov 15  To be Announced

Nov 29  Holiday Break

Dec 13  Ed Murphy:  Harper’s Ferry 1859 – John Brown’s Raid

MONDAY, 5/27: Boy Scout Flag Raising Ceremony

At 7.00 am on Monday May 27th, representatives of Boy Scout Troop 895 will hold a flag raising ceremony at Veterans Commons to honor of our veterans and would welcome all who wish to join them.

In keeping with the wishes of the late Lenard S. Michalowski, Troop 895 has adopted Veterans Commons which is located on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail at junction of Little Falls Street, and has been working to maintain the grounds preserving “Veterans Commons” as a place of beauty that all may enjoy.  Continuing the tradition started by Mr. Michalowski , the Troop has cleaned and mulched the site earlier in the year and will be raising the flag on a newly placed flag pole.

Later in the morning of Memorial Day, Scouts from Troop 895 will join those from other Troops in the George Mason District of the National Capital Area Council to replace the flags at the headstones of our fallen heroes in the National Memorial Cemetery on Lee Highway.

SATURDAY, 4/6: VPIS Tree Planting

The Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society will host a Tree Planting day Saturday, April 6, beginning at 8:30am at Ellison Road, behind Taco Bell.

Individuals and groups are invited to participate. (Children must be chaperoned.) Volunteers should wear boots or heavy shoes, gloves and clothes that can get dirty. Please bring your own tools if you have them. Extra tools will be available. Additional information is available at www.vpis.org.

SATURDAY, 3/30: Easter Egg Hunt

Easter’s on its way to the City of Falls Church – and just in time for the annual Easter Egg Hunt! Hosted by the City’s Recreation and Parks Department, the event will take place on Saturday, March 30 at 10 a.m. at Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave.). In addition to hunting for some festive eggs, children ages 0 to 11 years old are invited to meet the Easter Bunny. This event is free to the public, but donations are encouraged. Please bring a basket to collect eggs.

In the event of rain, the Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Monday, April 1 at 4 p.m. in Cherry Hill Park. More information is available online at www.fallschurchva.gov/Easter or by phone at 703-248-5027 (TTY 711).

Through FRIDAY 3/15: Relay for Life Contest for Nats Tickets

The American Cancer Society announces a new challenge for everyone registered for the 2013 Relay for Life!

The registered donor who raises the most money online from Monday, March 11^th at 12:00 am through Friday, March 15^th at 11:59 pm will Win 2 Nationals Tickets Gold Glove Mini Plan for 10 Nationals Games starting with the Yankee Exhibition Game on Friday, March 29^th! This applies only to online donations made by registered donors on a Relay for Life website. The website for the Falls Church Relay is www.fallschurchrelay.com

Remember, the only donations that count are the ones that are donated online within the time frame described above. So even if you haven’t raised any funds at all you can still be the winner by donating the most money during the described time frame next week.

Winners will also be awarded for second prize, a Washington National’s Official Replica Jersey, and third prize, a Washington National’s Official Replica Cap.

If you have any questions about how to register to participate in the contest contact Melissa Morse at [email protected] or 703.992.9435.

FRIDAY, 3/8: Military History Forum

Jim Michaels will speak on “Afghan Update.”

The Forum meets every other Friday, same time, same place — 10am-noon, Falls Church Community Center, 221 Little Falls Street. 703-248-5020.  The Forum is free and open to the public. Read more

Through FRIDAY, 3/22: Boy Scout Mulch Sale

The Boy Scouts of Falls Church Troop 895 are pleased to announce their 14th Annual Fundraising Mulch sale. Bags containing 3 cubic feet of exclusively double processed hardwood mulch are offered for sale at a price of $5.00 delivered! All mulch ordered by March 22nd will be delivered to your homeby Boy Scouts the weekend of April 5th-6th 2013. Delivery area includes Falls Church City and adjacent areas of Fairfax County and Arlington. Order forms are available at www.troop895.us or from your local Troop 895 Boy Scout.

About Troop 895

Troop 895 has been active in Falls Church since 1957 and continues its tradition of guiding boys through the scouting program. Sponsored by the Falls Church Presbyterian Church, and part of the National Capital Area Council of Boy Scouts of America, the Troop has over 80 active members aged 11-18.  All funds raised by the mulch sale ensure the quality of its continuing program.

In the past year, members from the Troop have had the opportunity to experience a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking, rifle shooting, pioneering, skiing, winter camping and canoeing. The Troop is also committed to service in the local community and participates in the semi-annual clean up of Falls Church City and placing flags on the graves of veterans at the National Memorial Park. Troop 895 recently adopted the care and maintenance of The Veterans Common on the W & OD Trail at Little Falls Street where on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, they conduct and participate in Flag ceremonies to remember and honor our veterans.

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