FOOTBALLERS TURN OUT TO HELP HEALTH-EQUITY FUND: Former Washington Redskins (now Commanders) players Fred Smoot and Santana Moss were among those on hand during the VHC Health (Virginia Hospital Center) “Bowling for a Cause” event, held March 24 at Bowl America in Falls Church.
“The event was a huge success with over 100 attendees and raised over $18,000 for the Health Equity Fund, which supports a wide range of community-centered programs,” hospital officials said.
ARLINGTON CHAMBER ANNOUNCES ‘BEST BUSINESS’ NOMINEES: The Arlington Chamber of Commerce has announced the finalists in its 38th annual Arlington Best Business Awards, with the honors to be bestowed next month.
“The Chamber received many noteworthy submissions this year, ensuring a highly competitive selection process,” Chamber officials said. “The nominees are scored by a committee of past winners based on the merit of their submission criteria.”
Nominees include:
• Large Business: Hyatt Centric Arlington; Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport; Northwest Federal Credit Union.
• Retail: Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant; MGI Corporate Gifts; Palette 22.
• Service: Arlington Law Group; Handy Manny’s Painting; YHB CPAs & Consultants.
• Technology: Invario Network Engineers; NextUp Solutions.
• Service: Arlington Law Group; Handy Manny’s Painting; YHB CPAs & Consultants.
• Nonprofit: Arlington Neighborhood Village; Doorways for Women and Families; ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia.
• Sustainability: George Mason University, Mason Square Campus.
Awards will be presented during a dinner to be held Tuesday, May 14 at Army Navy Country Club. Tickets are $150 for members, $200 for others.
For information and registration, see the Website at www.arlingtonchamber.org.
KIWANIANS OPEN 11th SEASON OF BLUEBERRY SALES: The Kiwanis Club of Arlington is taking orders for 10-pound boxes of blueberries, the 11th year of bringing the community nutritious and delicious offerings to raise funds for youth.
“They’re so good you’ll think you picked them yourself!” the service club said of the offerings, which originate in the blueberry fields of a New Jersey family farm and arrive in Arlington just days after picking.
Berries are expected to arrive in Arlington June 20 and be available for pick up June 21 and 22 at Cherrydale Methodist Church.
The cost is $45 per 10-pound box, and local residents also can purchase boxes for distribution to families in need by the Arlington Food Assistance Center. (Last year, more than a ton of blueberries were donated to AFAC through the initiative.)
Proceeds from blueberry sales benefit the Kiwanis scholarship program for Arlington high-school graduates and grants to non-profit organizations such as Arlington Thrive, Bridges to Independence, Doorways, the Salvation Army, National Capital Treatment & Recovery, VHC Pediatrics, Arlington YMCA, ASPIRE! After-School Learning and many others.
For more information and to order, see the Website at https://arlingtonvakiwanis.com/blueberries/.
THEATER TROUPE TO REPRISE LOCAL-HISTORY PERFORMANCES: Encore Stage & Studio will present two of its previous original local-history works during performances running the weekend of April 26-28.
The youth troupe developed “From Nauck to Green Valley” and “The Day Nothing Happened” through its Flip the Script initiative, looking at look history.
“From Nauck to Green Valley” details the history of an historically African-American community and the entrepreneurial spirit of its residents, while “The Day Nothing Happened” looks at the integration of Stratford Junior High School in 1959.
Performances are Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 27 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and Sunday, April 28 at 3 p.m. The 11 a.m. performance on Saturday will include a post-show discussion with Green Valley native, educator and historian Dr. Alfred Taylor Sr.
All performances will be at Theatre on the Run, 3700 South Four Mile Run Drive in Arlington. Tickets are $12-$15.
For information, see the Website at encorestage.org.
NATIVE TREES ARE TOPIC OF PRESENTATION BY MASTER GARDENERS: Elaine Mills of Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia will detail the characteristics and attributes of 20 native trees with suggestions on their uses in the home landscape during an online program to be held on Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m.
General information on planting and care of trees, and other resources, will be provided as part of the program.
There is no charge. For information and registration, see the Website at http://mgnv.org/rsvp-for-public-education-classes/ to receive a link to participate.
MASTER GARDENERS TO FOCUS ON DEER: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia will host an online program – “Strategies for Dealing with Deer” – on Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m.
Master Gardener Kathie Clements will discuss strategies with a focus on deer behavior and how knowing their habits can lead to developing effective ways to protect gardens.
The program is free, but registration is required. For information, see the Website at https://mgnv.org/rsvp-for-public-education-classes/.
