veterans salute
try something new
toys for tots
King george residents are honored for their service by ruritans. Page 4
altering your hunting routine may allow you to be more successful.
Find out where you can take part in this annual holiday drive for children in need. Page 10
T he
Page 7
POSTAL CUSTOMER
King George
Volume 38, Number 47
helping you relate to your community
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 50 Cents
King George shows off its holiday spirit Local organizations step up to fill Thanksgiving meal void left by Social Services Phyllis cook and leonard Banks There were two large-scale efforts in King George in the last week to help those in need receive a traditional Thanksgiving meal. After the King George Social Services Department said it would be unable to provide its traditional Thanksgiving basket program, county residents stepped up to help some of the 500-plus families who would not receive a basket. Dave Coman, the department’s
director, expressed regret at having to cancel this year’s Thanksgiving program, saying plans for the Christmas program are in full swing. He also praised the King George community for stepping up. Resident Valerie Reed created a Facebook page to bring together people on social media to map out a plan to organize a turkey and trimmings give-away. The Hopyard subdivision clubhouse was a dropoff point, with Pastor Dr. Sherman Davis of Tabernacle Baptist Church offering his location for the
sorting and distribution last week. Reed said the idea of giving away turkeys started with Ruby Brabo passing along the news from Brooks. “After talking to several people out in the community who said ‘we need to make this happen,’ I got them together on a Facebook group,” Reed said. “Everybody took it and did the rest.” That included giving away about 125 turkeys and hams, as well as other items for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. “It’s truly amazing,” Reed said. “I
am truly in awe of the county that I live in.” Brabo agreed: “I think it’s a great outpouring from the community to help those in need. I think you can see the generosity in our community is just amazing.” More generosity was evident at a Nov. 16 Thanksgiving celebration by Love Thy Neighbor at the King George Citizen’s Center. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey and all the trimmings was served to more
Members of the Tabernacle Baptist Church helped distribute holiday meals to area residents.
Leonard Banks
See THANKSGIVING, page 4
Have a holly jolly German Christmas Schools, YMCA
team up to teach children to swim Phyllis Cook
Richard Leggitt
Julia Boucher, a school teacher from King George, admires a Christmas tree from vendor Kat’s Eclectibles at the Nov. 15 German Christmas Market at the Dahlgren Heritage Museum.
The King George school division and King George Family YMCA are in the second year of an ambitious program to teach all second-grade students how to swim. And it’s working. King George YMCA Executive Director Elizabeth Taylor recently provided a report to the school board on the program’s inaugural year. “It’s a great partnership, and I’m so excited to share with you all the things we’ve been able to do,” Taylor said at a recent meeting. “One of the reasons we chose this program is because we live between two rivers. And it’s very important because drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death in children.” Taylor said last year’s effort included all three elementary schools and about 320 students, including those with special needs, being taught by 10 certified swim instructors, volunteers and school staff. Money for the program came from a grant from the Duff McDuff Green Jr. Fund of the Community Foundation. “We had a YMCA commitment,” Taylor said. “But we also had your commitment as a school board and a supportive division superintendent.” Taylor said every student can float and tread in water over their head. “It is so important that each child
knows at least a little bit of water safety in case they get in trouble,” she said. Ashley Koch has a son in the program. “He’s doing great,” she said. “We have a pool at home, so he’s doing well, but this is teaching him a ton of stuff he wouldn’t know.” Ken Novell, a longtime swim enthusiast, coach and international competitor, as well as a current member of the school board, is one of the organizers and lead volunteer instructors for the program. “Teaching swimming is an important part of an education,” Novell said. “The program is character-building, and it builds self esteem. It’s quite an accomplishment for the kids. And they feel that.” Denise Hargray has a nephew in the program and also knows some of the other children participating. “They love it,” she said during a recent lesson for Potomac Elementary students. “I think it’s a good program. It’s really a good idea. And it’s a free program. I think that’s great.” School Board chairman Mike Rose praised Taylor for initiating the program. “I think it’s a great thing to be able to teach all of our children to be able to swim,” he said. “This is a really wonderful program that you started.”
Dahlgren museum hosts market as a fundraising event Richard Leggitt Despite the chilly weather Nov. 15, the grounds of the Dahlgren Heritage Museum in King George were packed with a large and boisterous crowd attending the one-day King George German Christmas Market. Vendors selling Christmas arts and crafts, along with decorations, candy and jams and jellies were busy. Oak Crest Winery offered its Rhine wines, and there was a booth selling German pilsner beers. “People were excited,” said Betty Grigg of Riverview Farm in King George, who along with
her husband, Randy, was one of the event’s busy vendors. “The organizers did a magnificent job. It was a fun event and very well run. It was exciting to see how many of the visitors were from Stafford and Spotsylvania and areas outside of King George.” The sounds and sights of the season included Nutcracker dancers, music from Anthony Campbell, Christmas trees decorated by local school children and a silent auction, featuring items like an overnight stay at Belle Grove or an opportunity to witness a live naval exercise at the nearby Naval Support Facility. The Bavarian Chef from Fredericksburg
operated its mobile German kitchen, providing visitors with a menu of authentic German foods. A fire pit in front of the museum entrance provided warmth as patrons gathered around it drinking hot chocolate, wine or German beer. All proceeds from the market went to the Dahlgren Heritage Foundation. The foundation operates the museum at 3540 James Madison Parkway, just before the Route 301 bridge across the Potomac River. The museum provides long-term preservation and educational efforts relating to the Navy’s mission at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren.
Phyllis Cook
YMCA members and volunteers teach area second-graders how to swim during a weekly program at the King George Family YMCA.
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