Neighborhood News: Snakes, swashbuckling and mystical journeys, oh my

Go a-pirating with the Moody Crewe. Learn to swordfight! See blue crabs, oysters, crabs and killfish from the Chesapeake Bay. Pet a horse from the 4th Virginia cavalry re-enactors. Make a toy like one a child in Colonial Virginia might have played with. Do it all at the Harvey Simon Virginia Living History Celebration tomorrow, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the library. This is a free, drop-in program for the entire family and no registration is required.

n Kaleidoscope Theatre presents the classic tale of the journey through a wardrobe to the land of Narnia, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" on Monday, July 20 at 7 p.m. This is a free program appropriate for children entering first grade and up. One-half hour before the program begins, free tokens will be given out for seating on a first-come, first-served basis. No more than five tokens will be given to one adult. Since space is limited, adults will be allowed into the program only if there is room after all the children are seated.

n Meet some slithering creatures on Tuesday, July 21 when Snakes Alive! arrives at the library. See a python, boa constrictor, legless lizard, milk snake and more super snakes up close and personal. There will be two performances of Snakes Alive! at the library, one at 10:30 a.m. and the next at 1 p.m. Free tickets for this event for children entering first grade and up, and adults, are currently being given out. There is a limit of four tickets per adult.

n Tired of that same old look of your bedroom or worried about how to individualize and organize your dorm room? Middle and high school students can discover how to "Redecorate Your Space" at the library on Wednesday, July 22 at 2 p.m.

n Voyage to the land of shadows and the incredible world of shadow puppets as you watch a shadow puppet version of a children's classic tale on Thursday, July 23 at 10:30 a.m. at the library. Free tokens for this Summer Quest event for children ages 3 and up and their caregivers will be given out one-half hour before the program begins. There is a limit of five tokens per adult and each person who enters the community room must have a ticket.

For more information about any of the above programs, please visit the library at 13065 Chinn Park Drive in Woodbridge or call the library at 703-480-4800.

Lions Club names officers

The new officers for the 2009-10 year are as follows: Joe Angsten, president; Roy Sundberg, vice president; Dave Penman, secretary; Rod DeSmet, treasurer; Blaine Stockton, tail twister/lion tamer; Joe Blatter and Dwight Mojay, directors; and Bill Doyle, immediate past president.

The club thanks the community for its support during the past year in which over $11,000 was collected and given back to the community. The club looks forward to another successful year of community service. Anyone interested in learning about Lionism or the Lake Jackson/Mid-County Lions Club, should contact Joe Angsten at 703-368-1096.

Learn about investing

n The Virginia Division of Securities and Retail Franchising will present a 90-minute investor education seminar at the library Saturday at 2 p.m. This seminar will provide an overview of the basic elements of the financial markets in plain English and an explanation of terms that people hear all the time but may not really understand.

n On Thursday, July 23 at 11 a.m., the public is invited to commemorate the 148th anniversary of the First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) with the authors of the new and acclaimed Civil War time-travel book for kids, Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run. This is a great opportunity to capture your child's interest and imagination in the Civil War. Books will be available for purchase. The program lasts about an hour.

For more information or to register for the above programs please call the library at 703-792-4530 or 703-792-4524.

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.