Last Saturday, a timeless tradition continued in Maryland City as the West Arundel Swim Club once again hosted what many consider one of the best 4th of July events in the country.

Members and guests were reminded of how great this holiday is and how it brings out the "family" in all of us when the swim club president read a letter sent to the WASC family by one of its former members, a kid who grew up at the pool. Along with his six brothers and sisters, he swam on the swim team, and he was a lifeguard.

He now guards all of our lives and freedom as a member of the Air Force. 1st Lt. Hans Winkler sent WASC a special flag for use in this year's 4th of July festivities. The flag was flown by a B-1 bomber in a combat mission over Afghanistan.

In his letter, he wrote about the preparations at the WASC for 4th of July and how it was always like preparing for a big family reunion. He wrote about how the swim club was a place that always made people a "family" out of a "group of just neighbors."

It has been 10 years since Hans left us to travel the world and protect us. The 4th of July flag-raising ceremony gained everyone's attention this year, as many who never knew Hans got a glimpse of how much our pool "family" means to our kids, even years later, and what our kids can grow up to be thanks to our "family" at the pool.

Hans, thank you for letting everyone know how much our "family" still means to you. We will always keep you and your family in our hearts and minds as a great part of this nation and our "family."

Other events throughout the day included a volleyball tournament won by the team "As long as we don't have Bobby" (Rachel, Ben, Tim Maher and John Cookman); adult horseshoe tournament won by "The Destined Winners" (Max Mouzannar and Eric Perez); kids (12 and under) horseshoe tournament won by "The Triangles" (Andrea Sturgis and Jay Venit); 3x3 basketball tournament won by "The Team" (Casey Lewis, Edward Latney and Erinayo Soniregun); Duck Splash won by Alexis Borczuch and Spencer Cohen; "Dive Bomber" won by Andrea Sturgis and Jay Venit; "Miss and Mr. West Arundel" won by Sage Yeardley and David McDonald; and "Hooked Together" won by Bobby Maher and Jackie Rodgers.

In the diving contests, Julia Wood and Jake Harkcom won for 12 and under and Billy Rodgers and Kellianne Venit won for 13 and over. The belly flop contest winners were Nicholas Ross and Ally Webb for 12 and under, and Emma Weiss and Dean Webb for 13 and over.

The Venit family (John, Cherlynn, Jay and Kellianne) won the family T-shirt and sock relay. Members also enjoyed a treasure hunt, a duck catch, watermelon football and snow cones throughout the day.

The next big "family" event at the WASC is the annual crab feast on Saturday, July 25 from 6-10 p.m. Everyone is invited, members and non-members. Enjoy a night of all-you-can-eat crabs, chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, sides and desserts with the added enjoyment of taking a dip in the pool or a dive off the boards For more information or to buy tickets. contact Suzanne at the pool, 301-725-9831. Pricing information will be available this weekend.

Congratulations to the West Arundel Swim Team as they defeated the New Carrollton swim team last Saturday, bringing their record to 3-0. Coach John sends out a great big "thank you" to all of the swimmers and their families for being such great Ducks and sticking around for the Fourth of July meet. The team takes on Adelphi swim team on July 11 in their last at-home meet. So come out to cheer on our Ducks!

The final weeks of registration for Maryland City Recreation Council football and cheerleading are upon us as practice begins the week of July 20. Register at the Corridor Marketplace Sports Authority on Saturdays between noon-2 p.m. or by contacting the new football commissioner, Mark Royal, at coachmark3@yahoo.com or 202-286-9247.

Soccer registrations for ages 3-17 will be held on Wednesdays, July 22 and 29, 6:30-8 p.m. at Brock Bridge Elementary School. Please register or send your registration form in prior to July 29 to ensure a team will be available. Contact John Venit at 301-725-7711 or dpws@aol.com, or Steve Reyda at 301-725-6989 or sjreyda@verizon.net. Download registration forms from www.mcrcsoccer.venitsports.com.

Maryland City welcomes a new addition to the neighborhood as proud grandparents Rick and Tammie Marshall and James and Lindy Mansfield, and great-grandparents Lester and Joy Young and Ron and Jacki Marshall, announce the arrival of Jacob Daniel Schlosser. A short vacation to Ocean City was interrupted on June 19 as Jacob surprised his parents, Robert and Jennifer, with an early appearance. Jacob weighed 5 pounds 4.7 ounces, measured 19.5 inches long and is doing very well. Congratulations to everyone on your new bundle of joy.

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