It's My Town: Northern Virginia Senior Olympics celebrating 30th year with new events

The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and, according to Chairman Jack Hobbs of Lake Ridge, adding six new events to the 2012 competition.

Organized in 1982 by local parks and recreation departments and other agencies plus a volunteer committee, the NVSO has grown continually in the number of partici­pants, events, venues and patrons.

The 2012 competition will be Sept. 15 to 26 with more than 40 events at 20 different venues through­out Northern Virginia, including Prince William County.

Hobbs said the new events include a 400 meter walk, which will join eight other exist­ing track events and a high jump to be added to five other field events.

Also new in 2012 will be Mexican train domi­noes, basketball field goal shooting, a football throw and a 20K cycling time trial. “Living healthy longer is one of our goals,” Hobbs said, “along with the camaraderie and friend­ships that develop among the participants, their families and friends.”

Nearly 650 adults, ages 50 to older than 100, com­peted last year, which also saw the first year for online registration.

This year’s opening cer­emonies, followed by track events, will begin at 9:45 a.m. Sept. 15 in the Thomas Jefferson Community Cen­ter, 3501 2nd St., Arlington.

NVSO offers both indoor and outdoor events, including swimming, div­ing, tennis, table tennis, racquetball, pickleball, men’s basketball, volley­ball, cycling, badminton, bowling, Wii bowling, team line dancing, golf, minia­ture golf, bocce, eight ball pool, horseshoes, and track and field. Board games and cards games also are offered, such as cribbage, duplicate bridge, bunco and scrabble. Prince William residents usually win a number of gold medals.

Budesky welcomed

Prince William Chamber of Commerce has wel­comed John Budesky to the community as the city manager of Manassas and a key partner for the businesses.

“We are eager to begin working with Budesky to move the city forward in its community development efforts,” chairman Lucy Beauchamp said.

Budesky joins the city where the chamber is headquartered, following a nationwide search to replace retired city man­ager Larry Hughes. He brings with him more than 16 years of experience as a local government admin­­istrator in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.

Chamber President and CEO Rob Clapper also of­fered his welcome and ex­citement about the future.

“Manassas has been a key supporter of our chamber and has a solid record of strengthening our busi­ness community.We are excited about collaborating with John Budesky and the city as we work together to build a stronger economy and community. Our busi­ness community and its leaders stand ready to sup­port John Budesky as he assumes his new position.”

Lions Club raffle

The Manassas Host Lions Club is sponsoring its an­nual $10,000 raffle with all proceeds given to Lion’s sight programs and local charities.

The winner will be selected March 10 at a drawing at the Manassas Rescue Squad Building.

Some $12,900 in prizes will be awarded, with the top prize being $10,000.

A total of 249 tickets will be sold and each ticket has a one-in-16 odds of winning something. The winner does not have to be present. The cocktail party begins at 6 p.m. and the drawing at 7. For more information, call Rob Wil­liams at 703-393-1239.

‘The Blarney Ball’

The Center for the Arts has announced that its an­nual gala fundraiser will be “The Blarney Ball,” which will take place at 7 p.m.

March 17 at the center.

The public can “Celebrate Everything Irish at the Blarney Ball.” For more information, go to www.

center-for-the-arts.org.

Invitations will soon be mailed out to the gala be­ing held on St. Patrick’s Day.

--Compiled from releases

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