It’s my town: Hundreds volunteer on National Young Readers Day

Local "celebrities" turn the pages …

Manassas Mayor Harry "Hal"  Parrish II read to students at Mayfield Intermediate School and Potomac Nationals mascot "Uncle Slam" entertained children at Marshall Elementary School.

They were only two of more that 400 volunteers who read to students this past Tuesday as part of National Young Readers Day.

The day is an annual event designed to promote reading among elementary school-aged children. By pro-viding positive adult role models, students learn that reading is both a skill that is vital for future success and an enjoyable pastime.

The Education Committee of the Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce suc-cessfully recruited and organized volunteer readers from around the county and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park to visit 29 area elementary schools, five more than last year.

The volunteers donated an equivalent of more than 50 business days and read stories to 17,304 school children this year.

Other "celebrity" readers participated as well. Prince William Supervisor Wally Covington, R-Brentsville, read at Yorkshire Elementary School, and Larry Hughes, Manassas city manager, read to chil-dren at George C. Round School in Manassas. Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Stephen Walts participated at Marsteller Middle School in Bristow, and both Manassas School Superinten-dent Gail Pope and Christina Frank, wife of Hughes, read at Jennie Dean Elementary School in Manas-sas.

Many local businesses and organizations—such as Bookworm Central, Lockheed Martin MS2 Undersea Systems, Micron Technology Virginia, the Prince William Chapter of the American Red Cross and Syn-ergy One Federal Credit Union—recruited teams of employees to read at various schools.

Many more local business people, such as Rod Anderson, Herbalife supervisor and education committee member, volunteered hours to recruit and organize readers before the event and more time the day of the event to read to children.

"I hope [the day] was as rewarding for [everyone] as it was for me. The faces of the children said it all," said Anderson.

Osbourn Park High School's Future Business Leaders of America Club made bookmarks to hand out to the students at Signal Hill Elementary School in Manassas where they read. A parent of two students at the school exclaimed: "Thanks to the readers! Students from OP read to my two boys today. They were pretty excited about it when they got home today."

Not only did the FBLA students from Stonewall Jackson High School read to children, but they also solic-ited books from faculty and staff at the school to be donated to the school libraries at West Gate, Ellis and Victory Elementary schools.

"I am so humbled by the outpouring of support from our community for the day. I want to thank each and every volunteer for their dedication in promoting the importance of literacy to our young students in Manassas Park, Manassas and Prince William County," said Denyse Carroll of Micron and co-chairman of the education committee.

The Park-West Lions Charities, Inc. will put on an all-you-care-to-eat spaghetti dinner on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Park West Club Community Center, 8620 Sunnygate Drive, Manassas.

The menu will include spaghetti with tomato sauce and meatballs, garden salad, garlic bread, cake and drinks. Cost is $8 in advance and $10 at the door for adults and $4 for children (under 12) in advance and $5 at the door. Spaghetti sauce to carry out is available for $4 a quart.

Prince William Little Theatre continues Tom Stoppard's acclaimed British work "Acadia"  today and next Sunday at 2 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at Round Elementary, 10100 Hasting Drive, Manassas . The show is considered "PG-13" with some strong language and mature situations.

Tickets are available by calling 703-330-7796.

A Fall Community Yard Sale will be conducted at Osbourn High School on Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon in the school's cafeteria. Vending space is $15 and reservation forms may be picked up at the school's front office or submitted at http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/Osbourn/. Call Holly Seon-Wilson at 571-377-7106 for more information.

The Center for the Arts' Pied Piper Theatre is bringing "Disney's Aladdin Jr." to the stage today and next Sunday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Osbourn Park High School, 8909 Euclid Ave., Manassas.

More than 40 young actors bring this magical story alive with songs, dances, colorful costumes and an astounding set. With three wishes at his command, a dashing young Aladdin, played by newcomer Terrell Washington, becomes entwined in a series of magical adventures as he pursues the attentions of the capti-vating Princess Jasmine, portrayed by veteran actress Maria Davis. The audience should beware of the evil Vizieer Jafar as he fiendishly works to steal the kingdom and the princess.

… the Genie is waiting inside his magic lamp for a visit from you.