ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Healing Field of Honor…..May 22nd to 26th. We’ll need lots of volunteers to help assemble & arrange flags and MANY more at the event

itself in the days leading up to Memorial Day Weekend and on the Tuesday after. We have a memorial motorcycle ride, parachutists, entertainment by Jimmy Lee after the program, and much more. Bring the family!

ESSAY CONTEST

Please encourage middle school and high school students you may know to enter the Healing Field of Honor essay contest.

Submit: By mail to:                           Or email to:

John Lamanna                                  lamannaj@outlook.com

215 Union View Lane

Winchester, VA 22603

PEACE POLE MULCHING

On Sunday, April 27, 2025, Ms. Nadine Johnson-Hamm and a Team of John Handley High School Interactors, joined by Rotarians Neale Martin and Mari & Pat Kofalt, cleaned, weeded, and mulched the Peace Pole Garden at

Handley High School. Special care was taken to ensure the native plant species in the Peace Pole Garden were preserved and Ms. Johnson-Hamm provided on-site advice and coaching on how best to care for these plants.

Thanks to all who participated.

DO MORE BETTER

For most of us, Rotary is the best business and personal network we’ll ever have. Through it, we’re making our community — and the world — a better place. But imagine what we could accomplish with a few more hands to share the load and fresh ideas to shake things up. That’s what we mean by “do more better.”

OUR PROGRAM LAST WEEK

Beneficiaries selected for our Field of Honor event told us how the funds will be used to enhance their services.

Lisa Lowery, who is a board member representing the Winchester Fire and Rescue Departments, spoke to us about how they plan to use the money raised at the Healing Fields of Honor. They plan to fund fire prevention week, including passing out smoke alarms, new firefighter uniforms, and needed gear. They also give out bike helmets and essential care packages for shut-ins and the

homeless. They teach children how to use 911 for emergencies, and on June 15th, they will display their fire and rescue equipment targeting children.

Michael Diaz, who represents CVEB (CommunityVeterans Engagement Board) spoke on how they plan to use money raised from Healing Fields. Their operating practice is to survey the community for their greatest veteran needs. Some examples include funding for supporting digital access for Vets, teaching navigation tools to find help, services for Vets and/or jobs.   They help vets establish a personal budget and since CVEB is a service of last resort, they help these vets survive and hopefully thrive. With this in mind, they plan to host in-person community events for stakeholders and donors. This will help promote community awareness and build resources for a new part-time hire.

OUR APPLE BLOSSOM FLOAT

Wilson Gilbert, who organizes and builds the Rotary Apple Blossom Float, earned a second-place finish in the parade

There was a lot of interest and a great turnout of children and adults alike. Wilson reports that it would have been a good new member recruitment event, as he heard many compliments on our community projects.

PROUD PARENTS! Cyril and Jean Barch were proud to attend the recent premiere of a PBS documentary highlighting the nonprofit their daughter Amy launched 13 years ago. The movie showcases her nonprofit Turn90, a ground-breaking prison reentry program inSC. It follows the powerful stories of the men as they navigate the challenges of rebuilding their lives after incarceration.  There were over 600 in attendance, including state and local officials, as well as graduates of the program. The hope is that this documentary will help propel Turn90 onto the national scene. It has already received recognition from Melinda Gates, who awarded the program a $2,000,000 grant this past year. To view this amazing and powerful documentary, go to:

https://www.scetv.org/watch/turning-point? utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8jUSkPQ- jpssdjEFOArVgh6YrmI1wGIYSpZi4gY-S9_ok6VsFP1g2mP5gUh2ZuuiI_FfZcxSjXp– izqKjMIqAh8vIo-ZA&_hsmi=359526305&utm_content=359526305&utm_ source=hs_email

Another nonprofit doing good in the world!

TREX BENCH COLLECTION

Please continue to bring used stretchable plastic to our weekly meetings. Our Club is working with Trex to convert the plastic into benches for placement throughout our community. Trex recycles this non-biodegradable plastic into valuable products and since we deliver plastic to the NW Works collection shed, Trex gives NW Works a stipend for the collected plastic. This project helps us all contribute toward the Rotary Peace Building Goals of enhancing our environment and providing opportunities for disadvantaged adults. Trex donates a bench for every 1,000 pounds of plastic collected. We have already collected enough for benches at the Rotary Playground in Jim Barnett Park, Sacred Heart Academy, and Winchester Day School. We are now collecting plastic for a bench at the soon-to-be-opened Winchester Rescue Mission at 2655 Valley Avenue in Winchester. So far, we’ve collected 457 pounds – over 45% of our goal! Our Club is doing great – please keep up the good work. Bags are collected at each Thursday Rotary meeting, or call Pat Kofalt (571-334-3089).

Health Report

Linda Coffman had knee surgery but is out of the hospital, recovering at home.

We remember several Rotarians who passed recently:

John Capehart’s funeral was earlier in the month – he was a very active member and also helped Our Health and the Evans Home.

Jay Russell’s funeral will be on May 17th at the Episcopal Church. Jay was a Commissioner of the Revenue.

Rich Reedy also passed – his funeral was on April 22nd.

Steve Slaughter passed away peacefully at his Winchester home surrounded by family after a courageous battle with cancer.

We recently lost Dave Miles, who was a tremendous asset to our club. There’s a collection jar at the check-in table to benefit his wife, Jaymie.

Dr. Dave’s memorial service is this Saturday at 2:00 at the Church of the Nazarene. We’ve heard from the Pastor and there will not be a social hour following the memorial. So, assistance from members regarding covered dishes and desserts is no longer needed.

HEALTH TIP

Improve your health with this simple tip: Drink a large glass of water first thing in the morning and before your coffee. This will help your organs jumpstart and rehydrate after a long night’s sleep.