Neighborhood news: Remember Prince William Forest Park's history

The Prince William Forest Park Heritage Festival will celebrate the park's history Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Musicians, artists, cultural demonstrators, antique car owners, exhibitors and park staff will gather in historic Cabin Camp 3 for a day of inexpensive family fun. Children will enjoy plenty of hands-on activities, crafts and games in the Kids Kabin and throughout the event. A "Company Store" will be on hand to sell books and other items.

Musical acts will include the Quantico Party Band, Hokum Jazz Band and The Fall Line Bluegrass Band. These musicians will play music from the 19th and 20th centuries. Colonial-life demonstra-tions such as blacksmithing, spinning, hearth or outdoor cooking, dancing and farming life dem-onstrations will echo the once-rural farmscape that was Prince William Forest Park in the 18th century. The George Washington Birthplace National Monument's 4-H Club and Historic Dumfries Inc. will provide the demonstrations.

Visitors can learn about the park's history as a Civilian Conservation Corps work camp during the 1930s by watching hand-hewn log making, masonry demonstrations and the operation of a portable sawmill by the National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center. Park staff will be on hand to demonstrate aspects of maintaining the park's historic cabins. Mary Kerr, an AQS Certified Quilt Appraiser, will be on hand to exhibit many of her historic quilts.

Not many people know that Prince William Forest Park was a training camp for the Office of Stra-tegic Services during World War II. Members of the OSS Society and OSS veterans Art Reinhardt and Walter Mess will be on hand along with OSS veteran and author of "Sisterhood of Spies," Elizabeth McIntosh. The park will also put on living history demonstrations of WWII camp life and soldiering.

Rounding out the event, the Historic Fredericksburg Region Antique Automobile Club of America will showcase antique autos from the early 20th century. Leeslyvania State Park, Prince William County Historic Preservation Division and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club will set up exhib-its.

Entrance to the park is $5 per vehicle for a seven-day pass or free for those with a park annual pass or Interagency Annual Pass.

Visit the Heritage Festival Web page at www.nps.gov/prwi/hf2009.htm for more details or call the visitor center at 703-221-7181. Volunteers are also needed to help staff the event. Please contact the visitor center if you are interested.

Sept. 13 the park will host the Chopwamsic Cycle Challenge at Pine Grove Picnic Area Ballfield at 9 a.m. This annual ride coordinated by the Friends of Prince William Forest Park will begin at the newly constructed Orenda Connector Trail.

The ride is approximately 12 miles long and is not recommended for skinny-tire bikes. The bike rodeo will be for all ages and is free. For more information, see the Friends Web site at www.fpwfp.org.

Become a Master Food Volunteer

If you love cooking, learning about nutrition and wellness, and are interested in helping others, sign up to become a Master Food Volunteer with the Virginia Cooperative Extension.

You will receive 30 hours of training in basic nutrition, healthy cooking techniques and food safety, with an opportunity to sample delicious recipes. In exchange, participants are asked to complete 30 hours of volunteering within one year.

Training will take place Oct. 1, 8, 15, and 22 at Fairview at River Club Church, 10835 Tidewater Trail, Fredericksburg, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers are required to attend all training dates. The cost is $45 and includes lunch on all days, along with training materials and supplies. Applications are available and must be completed and returned by Aug. 28. For more information, contact the Prince William Extension Office at 703-792-4764

Square dance class

A new square dance class is forming with classes to begin on Fridays starting Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Woodbridge Senior Center across from Fred Lynn Middle School and behind the little league ball fields. The first night is free. Children ages 9 and older accompanied by adults are welcome, as square dancing is truly a family activity.

Cathy Cowger reports your neighborhood news from the Dumfries area every Thursday in the News & Messenger. If you have news about birthdays, your family, your club or your HOA activi-ties, please send it to Cathy at pn@CathyCowger.com.