Dive-in movies at Dixon Pool

BY COLLETTE CAPRARA

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

This Friday, "Iron Man II" will be looming larger than ever on a giant 50-foot inflatable screen--and the folks at Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation are inviting area families to come on down to Dixon Pool to join the fun.

The showing will be the first of two Dive-In Movies sponsored this summer by Cox Communications, free of charge. The second, "How to Train Your Dragon," will be featured on Saturday.

The films will begin at sundown. Families are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for their place on the lawn surrounding the pool, and guests can splash and swim as they watch the movie.

"Even though families may have seen these films before, there is something so special about viewing them outdoors," said superintendent of leisure services Jo Anne Jones.

"The screen is huge, the moon is behind you and the stars are out."

The concession stand will be open throughout the evening, and families are welcome to bring a picnic if they choose.

Also among the special features offered during the summer months at Dixon Pool are Family Swim Nights. These events offer families an opportunity to use the pool after what would typically be closing time.

Light music will add to the festive atmosphere, and families can purchase refreshments onsite or bring their own snacks.

The event on July 27 will be dubbed the "Hot Summer Night Swim," and the last Family Swim of the season on Aug. 27 will feature a Hawaiian luau.

"We wanted to provide these opportunities for families to experience the pool at night, because there are times when parents get home from work and want to do something other than just watching TV," said Jones.

"This gives families an outdoor activity that extends into the evening."

In addition to the special evening activities, swimming lessons are offered at the pool throughout the summer. Sessions offered from July 18-July 29 include three levels for children and youth age 6-17.

Level 1 instruction focuses on general water skills, including adjusting to the water, entering and exiting the pool safely, floating, breath control, kicking with the support of a kickboard, using alternate arms and basic water safety rules.

Level 2 lessons will build on those skills and include retrieving objects in the water, using a combined stroke, and basic rescue skills.

Level 3 lessons further develop and refine a variety of strokes and include treading water and diving instruction.

Anti-Gun Rules Removed from Virginia Park Books | Firearms Today

Anti-Gun Rules Removed from Virginia Park Books

By Michael Theis, Fredericksburg.patch.com

City policies and signs recently received an official once-over to make sure they don’t give the impression that firearms are prohibited in Fredericksburg’s parks. Virginia law excludes localities from banning the legal possession of firearms in public places.

The administrative housecleaning effort was in response to a complaint from Spotsylvania County resident Mike Plaugher. On May 2, Plaugher sent a letter to Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities Director Bob Antozzi, as well as the City Attorney’s office and the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Department informing them that language prohibiting firearms appeared in at least two locations on the city park’s website outlining general use policies for Motts Run Resevoir.

Plaugher wrote that the regulations were in violation of Virginia law 15.2-915, which almost completely prohibits localities from regulating the possession of guns. As a result, Plaugher argued, the advertised policies on the city website were null and void.

The City Attorney’s office looked into the matter and found that Plaugher’s legal opinion was accurate: the policies and signs must change. On May 9, Antozzi sent a reply to Plaugher thanking him for brining the matter to his attention and promising to delete or correct the offending language.

As of May 22, language prohibiting firearms had been removed from the sections of the website which Plaugher had cited.

Though Plaugher’s letter did not cite any specific signs, city staff discovered a few signs up at Motts Run Park which bore language restricting firearm activities and were removed, Antozzi told members of the city Parks and Recreation Commission last week.

To read more, visit:   http://fredericksburg.patch.

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