Girl Scouts help you stay safe July 4

Girl Scout Troop 628 is holding a Safety Fair at the annual Rappahannock County 4th of July Celebration. The fair is being held as a community service for the county where the small but hard-working troop is based, as part of its Silver Award Project.

From 2 to 6 p.m. in the shade of the Girl Scouts’ Safety Fair tent, the troop will present guest speakers from around the county who’ll share their expertise in a series of eight half-hour presentations, including: “Food Safety” with speaker Mary Arthur, chef and culinary arts teacher; “Outdoor Recreation Safety” with Shenandoah National Park safety engineer Charles Newton; “Auto Safety” with Virginia State Police Trooper Don Corbin; “Technology and Online Safety” with licensed counselor Michelle Kelley; “Wildlife Interaction Dos and Don’ts” with three rehabilitators from Native Wildlife Rescue Inc., including Amo Merritt, Judie Graham and Nikki Stamps; “First Aid Safety” with EMT Sharon Komer; “Heart Attacks and Strokes” with EMT Kelly Bennett, and “Fire and Electrical Safety” with Amissville Volunteer Fire and Rescue vice president Art Candenquist and Rappahannock Electric Cooperative employee Arthur Baum.

Enjoy taking advantage of this worthwhile project addressing many public safety concerns, have some fun and learn some valuable tips for staying safe in the county. Chairs will be provided. Displays, giveaways, crafts and face- painting will be provided by Troop 628. The 4th of July Celebration is at Thornton Hill Racecourse, just south of Sperryville on U. S. 522; gates open at 1, and fireworks start at dusk.

Courtesy of Amo Merritt Dealing safely with wildlife, including raccoons (these cubs were being looked after by local Native Wildlife Rescue Inc. rehabilitators), is among the eight safety topics on tap at Girl Scout Troop 628's July 4 program.