Neighborhood news: Start the school year with child safety in mind

The Prince William County Sherriff's Department will be at Potomac Library on Sept. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. for the Ident-a-Child Program.

Start the school year with safety in mind. The department will create free ID cards, a photo ID and a thumbprint of your child for you to keep. The card has a picture of your child and a detailed description, including height, weight, and hair and eye color.

This is a free drop-in program. Potomac Community Library is located at 2201 Opitz Blvd., Woodbridge. For more information call the library at 703-494-8126.

Walk Like MADD

Join the Walk Like MADD at Potomac Nationals Pfitzner Stadium on Sept. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This family- and pet-friendly event includes a 5K walk, health and safety fair, victim tributes, kids' zone activities and games, pooch parlor and more. Funds raised support programs and services throughout the Northern Virginia region. Cynne Simpson of WJLA-TV/ABC-7 will be master of ceremonies. For more information, please call 703-379-1135, email karen.horowitz@madd.org, or visit www.walklike madd.org.

Dog obedience

Veterans Park is offering dog obedience classes to teach you to better control your dog. Both basic and novice classes are available. Dogs must be 6 months or older. Handlers must be at least 16 years old. Training is provided by the Marumsco Dog Training Club. Call Veterans Park at 703-491-2183 to receive the necessary paperwork re-quired for registration. Inquire early, as class size is limited. Fee is $80 for 10 60-minute classes on Tuesdays, be-ginning Sept. 29 from 8 to 9 p.m.

Learn to square dance

The Grand Squares of Prince William is starting a new square dancing class. It's open to dancers of all ages. Join the fun as children, young adults, middle-aged adults and seniors learn how to dance. Free classes begin at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 25 at the Woodbridge Senior Center, 13850 Church Hill Drive in Woodbridge. For more, call instruc-tor Ron Dean at 703-497-7201 or caller/ instructor Walt Peterman at 703-494-2556.

Concert

The Prince William Community Band will provide a free concert on Sept. 27 at 5:30 p.m. (after the Redskins game). The concert will be at Potomac High School and will include classical music as well as more recent selections, such as "The Raiders of the Lost Ark." Potomac High School is located at 3401 Panther Pride Drive, Dum-fries.

Eric Henning, conjurer

Imagine a time when the world moved more slowly, when people said "How are you?" and meant it. A time when men wore hats and women wore gloves, a time of optimism, when anything was possible. This is the world of Eric Henning's Old-Fashioned Magic. With unfailing courtesy and elegant style, Eric makes the impossible happen -- right before your very eyes, often in your own hands. On Sept. 26 at 2 p.m., a very special all-ages magic show to kick off the fall program season will be presented by the Potomac Library. Free tickets for this program are available. You must have a ticket and attendance is limited to 150 persons. For more, call 703-494-8126.

OLA Craft Fair/Mini Bazaar

Tables are available for rent at the Fourth Annual Craft Fair and Mini Bazaar at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church, 13752 Mary's Way in Woodbridge. Crafters and home business owners may rent one 6-foot table for $20 or two tables for $35. The date of the event is Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For imore, or to reserve your tables, call 703-494-2444.

Woodbridge Woman's Club has new members

The Woodbridge Woman's Club will welcome new members at the annual membership tea Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. at the Potomac Library Community Room, 2201 Opitz Blvd. in Woodbridge. The club is a non-profit organization and a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, the world's oldest non-partisan, non-denominational women's volunteer service organization. Anyone interested in joining the club should contact Annette Riley, membership chairperson, at 703-497-6826.

Bingo fundraiser

Potomac Place will sponsor a Bingo Arthritis Fundraiser on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. It is $5 to play and if you take a friend you both play for $5. This is a great local cause. There will be prizes, refreshments and lots of fun. Potomac Place is located at 2133 Montgomery Ave. Please RSVP to 703-494-3817.

Effective Parenting

PW 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 and is offered for three separate age groups. The cost is $40 per individual or couple. To register, please call 703-792-6288. Childcare is not available.

Classes in the Woodbridge area are: Young Child: Mondays, Sept. 21 to Oct. 26 at Potomac Hospital; School-Age: Wednesdays, Oct. 14 to Nov. 18 at the Ferlazzo Building; Teen: Mondays, Nov. 9 to Dec. 14 at Potomac Hospital; Spanish STEP: Mondays, Nov. 2 to Dec. 7 at the Ferlazzo Building. All classes are from 7 to 9 p.m.

AAUW to meet

The Woodbridge Branch of the American Association of University Women will hold a potluck luncheon on Sept. 26 at 12:30 p.m. at the home of member Jeanne Elmore. For information or directions, call Tania at 703-670-3683.

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 wood-pot news@aol.com.