Neighborhood news: Dale City K of C selects Citizen of 2009

The Dale City Knights of Columbus John Paul I Council 7165 has selected Ernestine Stewart Jenkins as their Outstanding Citizen of the Year for 2009. Give her a big wave and cheer as she rides in the Dale City Fourth of July Parade tomorrow.

Jenkins is well-known for her tireless efforts on behalf of the community for the past 35 years. She is actively involved in numerous organizations -- the Volunteer Fire Department, Dale City Civic Association, VFW Post Ladies Auxiliary, American Legion Post 364 Ladies Auxiliary and Project Mend-A-House, to name a few. She is the wife of Supervisor John Jenkins, Neabsco District.

Vietnam Veterans

of America

The community is invited to join members of Vietnam Veterans of America, local Chapter 617, in this year's Dale City Fourth of July Independence Day Parade.

The group will meet in the Mapledale Shopping Center parking lot off Dale Boulevard, at 8:30 a.m. from where they will head to their place in the parade line-up, which starts at 9 a.m. The parade commences at 10 a.m. and participants may walk or ride the parade route and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow veterans.

You are also invited to stop by the chapter's information booth in the community parking lot at the end of the parade route, where you can obtain information about the chapter and the projects they undertake this year.

Vietnam Veterans of America has as its tenet, "That no generation of veterans will ever forget another generation of veterans" and is available to assist all veterans and their families, regardless of whether they served in Vietnam. The chapter meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Prince William County Animal Shelter training room unless otherwise announced. The shelter is located at the corner of Bristow Road and Va. 234 (Dumfries-Manassas Road). For more information about Vietnam Veterans of America, local Chapter 617, please visit their Web site, www.vva617.org or contact the chapter secretary Bob Pace at 703-680-1329.

TEA party, anyone?

The Prince William County American Freedom Day Tea Party takes place tomorrow at the McCoart Administration Center, 1 County Complex in Woodbridge from 1 to 4 p.m.

According to the organizers, the Prince William July Fourth TEA Party is "a peaceful demonstration of the people's just anger over irresponsible use of our tax money, wasteful spending, over-taxation, and big government." For more information, please visit www.pwcva teaparty.com.

'Shakespeare in Hollywood'

The NoVA Woodbridge Theatre Group will present "Shakespeare in Hollywood" by Ken Ludwig at Northern Virginia Community College, Woodbridge Campus Theatre, 15200 Neabsco Mills Road, on two weekends in July.

Shows on July 9, 10, 16 and 17 will take place at 8 p.m. Shows on July 11 and 18 will be at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 (general admission) and $5 (children, seniors and students). 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. Community members are welcome to join productions as cast or crew.

Needles and Hooks Club

If you like to make crafts with a needle or hook, visit the Chinn Park Regional Library on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and have fun sharing your craft and meeting others who also enjoy needle work. For more information about this free adult program, please visit the Chinn Park Regional Library at 13065 Chinn Park Drive in Woodbridge or call 703-792-4800 (voice) or 703-792-4876 (TTY).

Hope everyone has a great Fourth of July. Until next week.

Fay Wallace reports your neighborhood news from the mid-county area every Friday in the News & Messenger. If you have news about birthdays, your family, your club or your HOA activities, please send it to Fay at faymary@aol.com.