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Cheers to George Washington!
Mount Vernon "Uncorks" Whiskey Distillery
After ten years of research and reconstruction, Mount
Vernon will fire up the stills at George Washington's Whiskey Distillery 210 years after Washington began distilling corn and rye whiskey. The Distillery and adjacent Gristmill will feature a "spirited" grand opening weekend celebration March 31 - April 1, with costumed distillers and millers operating the fascinating water-powered machinery in both buildings 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The festive family fun continues outdoors with a visit from "George Washington," Colonial games, early-American music, cornhusk doll-making, open-hearth cooking, butter-churning, and spinning demonstrations.
George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill is located on Route 235, three miles south of Mount Vernon. Admission to the site is $4 for adults, $2 for children ages 6-11, and free for children 5 and under. When combined with admission to Mount Vernon, tickets are $2 for adults, $1.50 for children ages 6-11, and free for children 5 and under.
Visitors will be able to see costumed distillers operating five copper stills, stirring mash tubs, and managing the boiler as they demonstrate 18th-century distilling. The two-story building also features a storage cellar with barrels, an office, and two bedrooms where the site manager and assistant would have lived. On the second floor, a History Channel
video called "George Washington's Liquid Gold" and a museum exhibit, "Spirits of Independence: George Washington and the Beginnings of the American Whiskey Industry," tell the story of whiskey at Mount Vernon
and its history in America.
The Distillery is adjacent to George Washington's Gristmill, a
water-powered mill. At the Gristmill, costumed millers operate four floors of machinery to show visitors how Washington's complex farming operation expanded to include a commercial gristmill which produced flour that was exported around the world.
George Washington was the only founding father to commercially operate a whiskey distillery, and its size and volume of production rank the building among the most important structures of its kind in 18th-century America. One of the most successful economic components of Mount Vernon, the distillery at peak production in 1799 utilized five stills and a boiler and produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey valued at $7,500. George Washington's desire to pursue the most innovative and creative farming practices of his time is demonstrated by his commitment to building such a large structure. Mount Vernon archaeologists began their investigation of the site in 1997, a project which accelerated in 2001 with a generous donation from DISCUS. In addition to contributing a total of $2.1 million to the project, DISCUS has named the Distillery the gateway to its newly developed American Whiskey Trail (http://www.discus.org/trail/).
Volunteer Auxiliary Police Officers
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You can help.
Homeland security issues have increased the responsibilities for many local police departments, who are now performing more tasks and responding to more call for service than ever before. The support of volunteers has become a critical part of meeting local homeland security threats. To that end, Fairfax County Police are seeking volunteers who are interested in becoming Auxiliary Police Officers.
Fairfax County has had an established Auxiliary Police Officer (APO) program since 1983, and has a current strength of approximately 108 volunteers. APOs are trained to perform a variety of operational support and administrative duties, which include patrol, traffic control, security of prisoners, desk assignments, communications, fingerprinting, crime prevention and special events. Auxiliary officers undergo almost as much training as regular police officers, but because they offer their services on a volunteer basis, they provide a considerable savings to County taxpayers while allowing patrol officers to handle assignments that only they can perform. The police department provides uniforms, equipment and insurance. Auxiliary officers must perform an average of 24 hours of volunteer service a month to maintain their status in the unit.
Fairfax County is planning to hold its next Auxiliary Police Academy session in spring 2007. To be considered applicants must live in Northern Virginia and be at least 21 years of age. Applicants must be in good health and without a criminal record or history of drug use, and must not presently be an applicant for police officer in any jurisdiction. To apply, obtain a brochure or additional information about the Fairfax County Auxiliary Police Unit, contact Second Lieutenant David Cox at 703-280-0576.
For more information, visit this web link:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ps/police/Volunteers.htm
Or e-mail: auxiliarypolice@fairfaxcounty.gov