Neighborhood news: Start making list for state tax holiday

It's hard to believe that it is already time to think about getting kids ready for school, but don't start shopping yet. Virginia's tax free weekend is coming up from August 7 to 9. Pur-chases of qualifying school supplies selling for $20 or less per item, and purchases of qualifying clothing and footwear selling for $100 or less per item, will be exempt from sales tax on those days. Make a list so you won't miss any of the bargains on this tax-free holiday!

'Shakespeare in Hollywood'

The NoVa Woodbridge Theatre Group will present "Shakespeare in Hollywood" by Ken Ludwig on July 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. at the Woodbridge Campus Theatre. Matinees will be on July 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. General admission is $10 at the door. Children, seniors and students will be admitted for $5. For more information, please contact Eric Trumbull at 703-878-5750 or etrumbull@ nvcc.edu.

The NoVa Woodbridge Theatre Group is the producing arm of the Drama Club at the Woodbridge Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

Effective parenting cla

Prince William Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension is offering Systematic Training for Effective Parenting groups. STEP is a six-week discussion group for parents and others who want to learn more effective ways to communicate and discipline It is available in English and in Spanish. It is offered for three separate age groups, Parents of Young Children (birth to age 5), Parents of School-Age Children (ages 6 to 12), and Parents of Teenagers (ages 13 and up). The Spanish class combines the age groups. The cost to cover class materials is $40 per individual or couple. To register, please call 703-792-6288. Child-care is not available.

Upcoming classes in the Woodbridge area are: Young Child class, Thursdays, July 16 to Aug. 20 at Bethel United Methodist Church; School-age class is Mondays, July 6 to Aug. 10 at Potomac Hospital; Teen class to be announced. Spanish STEP class will be on Fridays, July 24 to Aug 28 at the McCoart Building. All classes are from 7 to 9 p.m. on dates listed.

Take your bike for a ride

Bicycles are a convenient and earth-friendly way for many local residents to travel, and PRTC has made it even easier to get around with a bike. Last year, bicycle racks were installed on OmniLink, Cross County Connector and Metro Direct buses. The racks are located on the front of the buses, and each one holds two bicycles.

Passengers are responsible for loading and unloading their bikes after informing the bus operator that they will be using the bike rack. Users are also responsible for ensuring that the rack is in the vertical position when the last bike is removed. There is no additional charge or advance notification required to use the bike rack. Bikes are not permitted in the buses. For more information, call 703-730-6664

VBS at St. Paul UMC

St. Paul UMC will hold Vacation Bible School from July 14 to 17, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Surfin' Through the Scriptures is the theme. All children in the community are welcome! To register your child, please call 703-494-2445, contact Ron Crigger at 703-791-8404 or visit the church at 1400 G St., Wood-bridge (off Occoquan Road). Donations will be accepted to help with the cost of the program.

Hablamos Spanish chat

Potomac Community Library hosts a SpanishChat group for individuals interested in having informal chat sessions to broaden their abilities speaking Spanish. This is not a class but an opportunity to practice speak-ing Spanish while having fun with other new and native Spanish speakers. Fluent Spanish speakers are welcome. Join on Tuesday, July 7 and 21, 7 p.m. Drop-ins are welcome; no registration required.

English discussion grou

Potomac Community Library has an English Discussion Group which meets in the Community Room. This is not a class but an opportunity to practice English in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Join others from all over the world as you sharpen your English skills July 10, 17, 24 and 31 at 12:30 p.m.

Drop-ins welcome; no registration required.

Veterans Park

The pool and waterslide at Veterans Park are cool and refreshing and ready for your summer dip. You are urged to check the Web site at http://www.pwcparks.org for specific days and hours of operation. Daily admis-sion fees for community pools during peak hours remain affordable at no more than $4 for children ages 2 to 17 and adults at $3.75 to $4.25. Discounts are available for patrons 60 and older during peak hours. Evening discounted rates of $1.50 to $2.75 are available after 4 p.m.

Leesylvania State Park

Leesylvania State Park is offering a Day on the Half Shell on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Join the living classrooms at Leesylvania for the opportunity to spend a day aboard a historic Chesapeake Bay Buy Boat, Half Shell. Throughout the day children and families will have the chance to participate in hands-on science activities, explore aquatic life, and learn the history of buy boats in the Chesapeake Bay. While onboard, children will have the opportunity to fish with a 16-foot otter trawl net, try their hand at crabbing and assist the captain in steering the Half Shell. Other activities will include catching plankton, navigation, boat building, clam dissection, and fish identification. This three-hour program varies the time day to day, depending on high tide. Please call the Visitor Center for times and availability and to register. The $30 covers the program fee. For more, call 703-583-6904.

You can enjoy Music at the Marina, another outdoor concert at Leesylvania's Breakwater Marina Store. Now in its fourth year, the series features high quality, diverse musical acts. The free concert will be July 11 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Potomac River is the perfect setting for this summertime family-friendly event. If you have questions, please call 703-583-6904.

Bunny Mahar reports your neighborhood news from the Woodbridge area every Saturday in the News & Messenger. If you have news about birthdays, your family, your club or your HOA activities, please send it to Bunny at .