These are the events being presented by the Youth Services Department at Samuels Public Library during the month of July 2024.  More information about Samuels Library and the programs and services available can be found at www.samuelslibrary.net or by calling (540) 635-3153.

Monday, July 1

• 11:00 AM – Music & Movement for Babies & Toddlers. Join our relaxed and joyful time with your little ones as we listen to music while learning some basic movements and multisensory activities designed to delight your baby. Registration is required.

Tuesday, July 2

• 3:30 PM – Science Scouts. For ages 6-11.  Children will investigate a different STEM-related topic bi-weekly. This week’s theme is Underwater Fireworks. Registration is required.

Wednesday, July 3

• 10:15AM – Toddler Story Time.  Bring your toddler to a potpourri of simple stories, fun songs, and a cute craft on Patriotism. Siblings welcome. Registration is required.
• 11:00AM – Preschool Story Time.  Come in for an enjoyable hour filled with Patriotic stories, exciting sing-alongs, finger plays, and a nifty craft. Registration required.

Thursday, July 4

The library will be closed for the holiday.

Saturday, July 6

• 11:00 AM – Aspiring Artists.  For ages 6-11.  Come “wreck a painting” by adding your own touches to it or painting over one!  Registration is required.

Monday, July 8

• 11:00 AM – Music & Movement for Babies & Toddlers. Join our relaxed and joyful time with your little ones as we listen to music while learning some basic movements and multisensory activities designed to delight your baby. Registration is required.

Tuesday, July 9

• 10:30 AM – Homeschool Hub. For ages 6-11. Children will work together as they go through the scientific method, gathering data, and drawing conclusions.   The topic this week is Centrifugal Force. Registration is required.

Wednesday, July 10

• 10:15AM – Toddler Story Time.  Bring your toddler to a potpourri of simple stories, fun songs, and a cute craft about Fishing! Siblings welcome. Registration is required.
• 11:00AM – Preschool Story Time. Come in for an enjoyable hour filled with Fish stories, exciting sing-alongs, finger plays, and a nifty craft! Registration is required.

Friday, July 12

• 10:00 AM – Toddler Trails with Warren County Parks & Rec.  For ages 2-5. Join us at Chimney Fields/Peter LeHew Park to learn about dandelions, taste some dandelion cream cheese on crackers, and make a dandelion craft!  Registration is required.

Saturday, July 13

• 3:00 PM – Summer Slime.  For ages 6-11.  Come make slippery, shiny, sparkling, slime!  Registration is required.

Monday, July 15

• 11:00 AM – Music & Movement for Babies & Toddlers. Join our relaxed and joyful time with your little ones as we listen to music while learning some basic movements and multisensory activities designed to delight your baby. Registration is required.

Tuesday, July 16

• 3:30 PM – Science Scouts. For ages 6-11.  Children will investigate a different STEM-related topic bi-weekly. This week’s theme is Centrifugal Force. Registration is required.

Wednesday, July 17

• 10:15AM – Toddler Story Time.  Bring your toddler to a potpourri of simple stories, fun songs, and a cute craft about Thunder Storms. Siblings welcome. Registration is required.
• 11:00AM – Preschool Story Time. Come in for an enjoyable hour filled with Thunder Storm stories, exciting sing-alongs, finger plays, and a nifty craft! Registration is required.

Saturday, July 20

• 2:30 PM – Teens Connect.  For ages 12-18.  Join us for International Chess Day as we play Chess (inside and out) or check out our other board games!  Registration is required.

Monday, July 22

• 11:00 AM – Music & Movement for Babies & Toddlers. Join our relaxed and joyful time with your little ones as we listen to music while learning some basic movements and multisensory activities designed to delight your baby. Registration is required.

Tuesday, July 23

• 10:30 AM – Rainbow Puppets: Beautiful Tales of Adventure. Fun for the whole family!  Come watch the stories of Sleeping Beauty, The Ugly Duckling, and Beauty and the Beast.

Wednesday, July 24

• 10:15AM – Toddler Story Time.  Bring your toddler to a potpourri of simple stories, fun songs, and a cute craft about Picnics. Siblings welcome. Registration is required.
• 11:00 AM – Preschool Story Time.  Read With the Sheriff! This week we will have a special guest from the Sheriff’s office!  Come in for an enjoyable hour filled with Picnic stories, exciting sing-alongs, finger plays, and a nifty craft! Registration is required.

Saturday, July 27

• 11:00 AM – Garden Wildlife.  For ages 8+.  Gather cool facts about animals and write creatively about them.  Registration is required.
• 2:00 PM – Misunderstood Duck.  Presented by Hard Act to Follow Special Needs Theater Troupe. It is an adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s Ugly Duckling.  Fun for the family!

Monday, July 29

• 11:00 AM – Music & Movement for Babies & Toddlers. Join our relaxed and joyful time with your little ones as we listen to music while learning some basic movements and multisensory activities designed to delight your baby. Registration is required.

Tuesday, July 30

• 2:00 PM – Larsen’s Amazing Reptile Show. Fun for the whole family!  Come learn about bearded dragons, chameleons, snakes, and other various reptiles!  There will be a chance to touch them!

Wednesday, July 31

• 10:15AM – Toddler Story Time.  Bring your toddler to a potpourri of simple stories, fun songs, and a cute craft about Beaches! Siblings welcome. Registration is required.
• 11:00AM – Preschool Story Time. Come in for an enjoyable hour filled with Beach stories, exciting sing-alongs, finger plays, and a nifty craft! Registration is required.

Are you looking for the full movie-going experience without having to wait in the long lines that often accompany that experience? Then look no further because Royal Cinemas movie theatre is the answer. Get the whole gang together and enjoy a movie! Reserved seating in all auditoriums.

Here is a list of this week’s showtimes at Royal Cinemas as of Thursday, July 3:

In this Town Talk, two special guests from the Northern Virginia 4-H Center, Kathy Traux, and Katie Tennant, joined us. Katie became the director in June 2022 and is excited to share details about the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.

This year’s fireworks are scheduled for Friday, July 5, 2024. The event, held at the 4-H Center, promises an evening filled with fun and festivities. “We always do the fireworks on a Friday because our summer camp kids leave on Thursday,” Katie explained. Parking begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by a performance from the American Legion Community Band at 7:30 p.m., and the fireworks display at dusk, around 9:15 p.m.

Katie mentioned some changes this year, including paid parking to help offset rising costs. Close to the action, the upper level offers VIP parking for $10 per car. The lower level, near the stables and recreation fields, costs $5, and free shuttle services are available to transport guests to the event area until 8:50 p.m.

Attendees can expect food trucks, vendors, exciting raffles featuring local business gift cards, and two family weekend passes for Appaloosa.

Hosting this event is part of the 4-H Center’s broader mission. “Since my time here, the 4-H Center has lost money yearly on this event due to expenses and inflation,” Katie said. They aim to break even with increased sponsorships and parking fees this year. “We’re a nonprofit, and it’s not good business to lose money,” she added.

Beyond the fireworks, the 4-H Center focuses on youth education and community service. It serves 19 counties and offers a range of camps and educational programs. These include eight weeks of 4-H-specific residential camps, specialty camps, and partnerships with local schools for summer programs.

The 4-H Center is more than just a campsite. It offers facilities for field trips, environmental education, team-building activities, and conferences. The full conference center includes an auditorium, meeting spaces with Zoom capabilities, fiber internet, lodging, and dining services.

Katie highlighted ongoing improvements, such as work on the amphitheater, which will be renamed the Bernice Pearson Performing Arts Complex. “By next summer, we hope to have a new look down at the amphitheater,” she said.

Despite its many offerings, some community members are unaware of all the 4-H Center has to offer. “We have tons of good organizations that use our space, but we’re not fully booked,” Kathy noted. Upcoming projects include a new patio and pickleball courts, available for community use by the fall.

To recap, the fireworks are on July 5th, with parking starting at 5:30 p.m., the American Legion Band performing at 7:30 p.m., and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring cash for parking ($5 or $10) and to enjoy the various food trucks and vendors.

Kathy and Katie thank the community and sponsors for their support. “We have some wonderful sponsors this year, like E.E. Reid Construction Company, Ellen Aders State Farm, and Warren Lee Construction, to name a few,” Katie said.

Mark your calendars for this exciting event. Come support the 4-H Center and enjoy a fantastic night of fireworks and festivities.

Town Talk is a series on the Royal Examiner where we will introduce you to local entrepreneurs, businesses, non-profit leaders, and political figures who influence Warren County. Topics will be varied but hopefully interesting. Let us know if you have an idea topic or want to hear from someone in our community. Send your request to news@RoyalExaminer.com

American Legion Community Band to Host Annual Independence Day Concert

The American Legion Community Band will present its annual Independence Day Concert on Friday, July 5, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. This festive event will be held at the Northern Virginia 4-H Center in Front Royal, Virginia, and promises an evening of music and celebration.

Following the concert, attendees can enjoy a spectacular fireworks display at dusk, around 9:15 p.m. While the concert itself is free, parking is charged. Visitors can park for $5.00 off Harmony Hollow Road or for $10.00 along 4-H Center Drive. This small fee helps support the venue’s maintenance and operations, ensuring a smooth experience for all guests.

A Tradition of Music and Community

The American Legion Community Band, based in Front Royal, Virginia, has been a cherished part of the community since its formation in 1986. Sponsored by the Giles B. Cook Post #53 of the American Legion, the band is composed of volunteer musicians from the local area. Their dedication to bringing music to the community is evident in their numerous yearly performances.

The band offers a diverse repertoire under the baton of conductors Ed Richards, Ronald Dye, and Mark Malechek. Their performances range from classical compositions to popular tunes, marches, and even operatic overtures. The band’s versatility ensures there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Join the Band

The American Legion Community Band is always welcoming new members. They hold rehearsals every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Fulton Fine Arts Complex band room at Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal. Anyone who plays an instrument and is interested in joining is encouraged to attend a rehearsal.

A Year-Round Commitment to Music

The band’s performance season runs from September through July, featuring various indoor and outdoor performances. These events, all free and open to the public, are a testament to the band’s commitment to enhancing the community’s cultural fabric. Whether performing at concerts, community festivals, or special events like the Independence Day Concert, the American Legion Community Band consistently delivers high-quality musical experiences.

About the Venue

The Northern Virginia 4-H Center, located in the scenic town of Front Royal, provides a perfect backdrop for the Independence Day Concert. The center, known for its community-focused activities and beautiful surroundings, is an ideal location for an evening of music and celebration. For more information about the venue, visit the Northern Virginia 4-H Center.

For more details about the band and its activities, visit the American Legion Community Band website. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a night of wonderful music and dazzling fireworks with family and friends. Mark your calendars for July 5, 2024, and celebrate Independence Day with the American Legion Community Band.

Concurrently to the Town of Front Royal Open House from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 22, up Chester Street northbound several blocks, was the Quality Title-sponsored fundraiser for the Humane Society of Warren County (HSWC). This free entry event with games for the kids sought pet food, supplies, or cash donations in exchange for a meal hinted at in the slogan “Hot Dogs & Dogs.” All donations supported the animals housed at the HSWC’s Julia Wagner Animal Shelter, this community’s contracted public shelter for stray, abandoned, or abused animals.

Donations, be they cash or pet food and supplies, were swapped by attendees for not only a hot dog but chips, a drink, and ice cream. We’re sure the ice cream was appreciated in the heat and may have led to additional donations for that second helping of beat-the-heat ice cream. — I believe we heard some Ruff-Ruffs and Purrrrrs of appreciation echoing across town from the Wagner Shelter animals.

You help the Wagner Shelter animals eat, and you get to eat in the shade while the kids play in the sun. And that ice cream for dessert sounds good on a brutal summer’s day. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

Thanks, Quality Title, for supporting the Humane Society of Warren County and its Wagner Shelter animals searching for quality Forever Homes. And remember, not only to protect you and your family in the extreme heat, but your pets as well.

The HSWC tent keeps these animal lovers in the shade. But for the adventuresome kids, the games were still in the sunlight.

Here are some event photos below provided by Quality Title taken by Leah Howard of Leah Faith Photography.

June 22-23 marks the 2024 ARRL Field Day! This amateur radio event is both an open house for ham radio and a chance for the amateur community to unite and practice operating under unique conditions. Our publisher, Mike McCool, sat down with Greg Butler, the leader of Warren County EmComm, to learn more about this annual event. Greg shared insights into the importance and operations of their amateur radio activities.

“Today is Amateur Radio Field Day,” Greg explained. “It’s an event that encompasses all of North America, including Canada and the U.S. It’s always held on the fourth full weekend in June. The idea behind Field Day is to set up your station in a more austere environment than the comfort of your home and demonstrate to the public how you can serve the community by being able to set up a station quickly and operate.”

As Greg and Mike chatted, the air was filled with excitement as radio enthusiasts aimed to contact other stations across the U.S. “The goal today is to see where we can reach with our humble setup,” Greg said. “We’ve already contacted California and Colorado. Earlier, we heard a station in Croatia, though we couldn’t connect with them. Our primary focus is to serve Warren County and Front Royal. If emergency communications are degraded or destroyed, we can use our radios to communicate across the county and even down to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in Richmond.”

Greg Butler, who many consider the leader of this group, describes himself more as a choreographer. “I coordinate our efforts for the county,” he said. “I am the primary liaison to the fire department, to whom we report.”

The group is an official county communicator team. “Every member has to be licensed by the FCC with an amateur radio license and express an interest in public service. They complete a formal application with the county fire department and undergo a fingerprint-based background check. We also take a class in criminal justice to ensure we can operate within the emergency operations center and dispatch areas where sensitive information is displayed.”

To ensure readiness, the team conducts weekly tests. “Every Wednesday morning, we test the emergency operations center radios to ensure they’re working properly. In the afternoon, we test the radio station at the hospital. Our portable station can be deployed anywhere the county needs us. We have a permanent antenna at Warren County Middle School, which can be used as a shelter during severe weather, and another at the Front Royal Police Station. We can be operational in about ten minutes.”

As they walked through the event, Greg introduced some team members. “This is Tom Blicharz, whose call sign is KR4DO, and Sam Cheshire, KQ4RIV. Today is a contest, so they’re trying to contact other stations nationwide. Sam logs each contact as proof.”

The organization has about 15 or 16 active members and is always looking for new recruits. “Not everyone is retired like me,” Greg noted. “If something happens at 2 PM on a Tuesday, we can activate two or three people immediately. We can figure out shift coverage if an emergency extends overnight.”

Mike inquired about the relevance of amateur radio in today’s world of cell phones. Greg explained, “Everyone has a cell phone until the system goes down. The cellular system relies on many towers. Weather, extended power outages, or major events can take them down. Amateur radio operates on specific frequencies that don’t rely on that infrastructure, allowing us to communicate when other systems fail.”

Greg highlighted the versatility of amateur radio equipment. “The FCC gives us segments of the radio spectrum, allowing us to communicate locally, regionally, or even globally, depending on atmospheric conditions and our goals.”

For those interested in joining, Greg advised, “We have a Facebook page called Warren County EmComm. People can message us there or contact the fire department, who can connect them with me. We’re always looking for new members, though we want to ensure they’re genuinely interested. There are plenty of amateur radio activities outside of emergency communications.”

Mike thanked Greg for his dedication and the team’s hard work. “Your crew looks intense, concentrating on making good contacts. It’s great to see such commitment.”

As the day progressed, the sun matched the warmth of the community spirit, with amateur radio enthusiasts demonstrating their vital role in emergency preparedness and communication.

Warren County EmComm Prepares for Emergencies with Annual Field Day