City of Alexandria Hosts 34th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival on Monday, May 30

City of Alexandria Hosts 34th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival on Monday, May 30

The City of Alexandria will host the 34th Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival on Monday, May 30, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Fort Ward Park 4301 W. Braddock Rd. Admission is free. In case of inclement weather, the festival will relocate to the Lee Center Kauffman Auditorium, 1108 Jefferson St.

The performance schedule is as follows:

• 1 p.m. - The Tom Cunningham Orchestra
  Featuring big band swing music and vocals, has consistently performed in the Washington, DC area for more than 30 years winning a "Wammie" Award as the region's outstanding big band/swing group
• 2 p.m. – The Bruce Swaim Quartet
  Featuring mainstream jazz standards and original compositions by Jay Cooley and Bruce Swaim.
• 3 p.m. – The Lovejoy Group
  Features energetic jazz, funky blues and smooth Latin rhythms, fronted by Karen Lovejoy, vocalist and bandleader.
• 4 p.m. – Al Williams
  An Alexandria favorite and "Wammie" Award winner for 2008 Best Jazz Recording of the Year, specializes in contemporary jazz.
• 5 p.m. – The Village Jazz Band
  Featuring traditional Dixieland jazz and upbeat New Orleans style music has been performing in the area since 1982.

Fort Ward Park features amphitheater and grass seating. Attendees of the festival can bring lawn chairs and blankets. Food, such as ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, subs, shaved ice, fresh fruit and vegetable juices are available for purchase, but everyone is welcome to pack a picnic supper and grills are available in the park at the picnic sites. No alcoholic beverages allowed, and pets should be left at home.

Parking will be available on both sides of West Braddock Rd. Additional parking is available at the Minnie Howard School, 3801 West Braddock Rd.

The public is encouraged to take public transit, walk or bike to the event. Fort Ward Park is served by DASH and Metrobus transit lines. For DASH route and schedule information, call 703.370.DASH or visit www.Dashbus.com. For Metrobus schedule information, call 202.637.7000 or visit www.wmata.com.

Bicyclists may visit alexandriava.gov/localmotion for the City's Bikeways Map, which features the City's best on street and off-road bikeways, as well as locations of grouped bicycle parking.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City's Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Cheryl Lawrence of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities at 703.746.5419 (TTY 703.838.4902), or e-mail cheryl.lawrence@alexandriava.gov.

For more information on the City of Alexandria's Annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival, call the Special Events Hotline at 703.746.5592 or the Special Events Office at 703.746.5418.

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City of Alexandria Holds Memorial Day Ceremony to Honor 67 Alexandrians KIA /MIA in the Vietnam War

City of Alexandria Holds Memorial Day Ceremony to Honor 67 Alexandrians KIA/MIA in the Vietnam War

The "Friends of Captain Rocky Versace" invite the public to the 9th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans' Memorial at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 30 at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center at 2701 Commonwealth Ave. The event will honor the 67 Alexandrians who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War.

The Program will include reading the names of the 67 heroes, a Tribute to Capt. Rocky Versace written by his fellow POW, COL James N. "Nick" Rowe (USMA 1960), guest speakers, a wreath laying, playing of "Taps" and the singing of "God Bless America."

The Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans' Memorial at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center is dedicated to Captain Rocky Versace and the 66 other men who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. The Memorial is an ongoing tribute, not just to the 67 listed on the benches, but to all Alexandrians who served in America's longest war. The Versace Memorial was dedicated on July 6, 2002 and the Medal of Honor was posthumously presented to the Versace family at the White House two days later.

For more information about Rocky Versace, visit

For more information on the Memorial Day Ceremony, visit http://www.virginia.org/Listings/EventsAndExhibits/MemorialDayCeremonyAlexandria/.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Elsie Akinbobola at 703.746.5475 (TTY 703.838.4902) or e-mail elsie.akinbobola@alexandriava.gov.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humbert_Roque_Versace.

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Hershey Track and Field Games

Track Events for Tweens and Young Teens

Friday, May 20 – 5:00 p.m. (youth ages 9-10)

Saturday, May 21 – 9:00 a.m. (youth ages 11-14)

Falls Church High School – 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, VA 22042

If you are a kid between 9 and 14 years old who loves to run, jump, and throw, the Hershey Track and Field Games are for you!  Come on out and join in the fun by competing in basic track and field events and earn opportunities to advance to compete in the annual North American championships in Hershey, PA.  Beginners and track enthusiasts are all welcome.  Events include the 50 meter dash, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 400 meter dash, 800 meter run, 1600 meter run, 4 x 100 meter relay, standing long jump, and softball throw. Everyone's a winner because you are making the choice to get fit! 

Participation is FREE but pre-registration is required by Friday, May 6.  For more information, please call 703-324-5533, TTY 711.

Whistle Stop Hobbies Celebrates National Train Day

Location: 130 South Royal Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 549-4912

Date(s): Saturday, May 7, 2011(Official National Train Day), May 6-8 (Weekend Store Activities)

Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Event Description:  Locally-owned trains, toys, and hobby shop Whistle Stop Hobbies is calling all kids, young and old, to join in the weekend festivities at their store as they celebrate National Train Day (http://www.nationaltrainday.com).  Train lovers will enjoy free kids activities, model train displays, special one-time promotions on popular train toys (Thomas the Train, Lionel),  conductor visor giveaways, and drawings to win deluxe prizes such as a Thomas the Train Party or a LEGO Party Package.

Weekend Schedule

May 6-8 (Fri-Sun) - Choo-Choo Sale
-20% off all wooden Thomas the Train characters & accessories

-Select Lionel, Half of O and N Scale starter train sets on sale 

May 7-8 (Sat-Sun) - Kid Activities, Prizes, Drawings, Free
11AM-4PM
-Register to win a Thomas the Train Party ($200 Value) or a LEGO Party ($150 Value)
-Kid friendly snacks/goodies
-Make Your Own Conductor Train Visors
-Bean Bag Toss, Coloring Station, Paint Wooden Thomas Train
-Operation Lifesaver Train Safety Demos
-"Train Doctors" from Lionel Trains & American Flyer (Saturday Only)