Hundreds lined Dale Boulevard Friday for the 57th annual Dale City Independence Day parade.

The weather was sunny and slightly cooler than usual — barely 80 degrees — for the annual event. But crowds were a bit lighter than usual, and the parade drew fewer than 100 entrants, down from more than 120 a few years ago.

Parade participants included a mix of churches, youth sports clubs, civic organizations and  community clubs.

The late Diane Raulston, who represented the Neabsco District, which includes Dale City, on the Prince William County School Board from 2016 through 2023, was honored posthumously as the parade’s grand marshal. She died in April at age 77. Her daughter, Monique Raulston, represented her in the parade.

As always, the parade was organized by the Dale City Civic Association with help from 10 community organizations, including: the Montclair Lions Club; the Dale City VFW 1503, Woodbridge Elks Lodge 2355; the Dale City Knights of Columbus; the Disabled American Veterans; the Dale City Volunteer Fire Department; American Legion Post 364; the Dale City Moose Lodge 2185, The Dale City Masonic Lodge 319 and the Hylton Boys and Girls Club. 

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Years before signing a rookie contract with the Dallas Mavericks, netting him $13.8 million in the first year alone, Cooper Flagg had a more menial job.

He was a pea picker on the Thunder Road Farm in Corinna, Maine.

Flagg was 11 years old when he, his fraternal twin brother Ace and his older brother Hunter were hired. The pay was $1 for every pound collected.

Like everything else the boys did, it turned into a competition.

“Cooper the pea picker was very competitive,” Kelly Flagg, the boys’ mother, told The Athletic. “He wanted to make more money than his brothers. They only picked for about three hours in the morning before it got too hot. He was very aggressive.”

The first week, Cooper cleared $100. Charlie and Barb Peavey, who own Thunder Road Farm, weren’t sure if they could afford him.

“A lot of kids come on the farm and think it’s going to be easy. They fool around and talk; Cooper never did that,” said Barb Peavey, whose son, Kellen, played basketball with the Flagg brothers when they were younger. “Cooper was very focused on what he was doing. … He put his nose to the grindstone. He picked and worked.”

Besides peas, the Peaveys grew strawberries, red potatoes, cucumbers, corn and pumpkins. Every summer, they hired between 15 and 20 youngsters from central Maine as crop pickers. Harvesting peas required Flagg to sit on a five-gallon bucket during his morning shift.

“It helps with your work ethic,” Cooper Flagg said. “It helps you teach early about having a job. It was always fun to make a little money and hang out with your friends.”

Cooper Flagg (right) and his twin brother Ace used to work on a farm picking peas in Maine. (Bryan Bedder / Getty Images for Dave & Busters)

Now 18, Flagg is one of the most well-rounded prospects to enter the NBA in recent memory. The Mavericks landed a 6-foot-8 forward who can pass, shoot, dribble and defend. According to one catch-all metric, box plus/minus, Flagg, while at Duke, had the most impactful freshman season of any NCAA men’s basketball player in the past 15 years aside from Zion Williamson and Anthony Davis.

As much as Flagg’s numbers popped, his intangibles excited the Mavericks more than anything. Flagg badly wants to win — even at something as trivial as pea picking.

“When people talk about him, they don’t talk about basketball with him,” Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said. “They talk about all the intangibles. When you have a player who’s that good and they talk about the intangibles, that’s a guy who’s going to add to your culture.”

Flagg did his first year of high school in Maine and then attended Montverde Academy, a prep school and basketball powerhouse in Florida, for two years. In August 2023, he reclassified so he could play college ball a year early. When he made that decision, he was following one of the Flagg family mantras: If you’re the best player in the gym, find a new gym.

Most nights, Flagg looked like the best player in the gym, even when he was the youngest player on the floor. On Jan. 11, three weeks after his 18th birthday, Flagg had 42 points, seven assists and six rebounds in Duke’s 86-78 win against Notre Dame. Throughout the 2024-25 season, the Blue Devils were one of the best teams in college basketball. They went 19-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play and ultimately advanced to the NCAA Final Four.

Cooper Flagg had a monster game in January against Notre Dame. (Rob Kinnan / Imagn Images)

Flagg has become a teenage millionaire; despite that status, he remains grounded. The week before the NBA Draft, he traveled to Dallas for a two-day visit. He made the trip alone. He didn’t need handlers or an entourage accompanying him. Flagg went through an on-court workout and then got two different steak dinners: one with members of the Mavericks’ front office and another with his future teammates.

“We’re very proud of him. We’re proud of the family,” Peavey said. “We’re proud that he’s stayed so humble and he’s just kept those Maine roots alive.”

In a June 27 news conference with Dallas local media, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd talked about deploying Flagg at lead guard and on the wing. Kidd sounded impressed with the way Flagg was handling the hoopla.

“Just sitting here listening to him, isn’t it incredible?” Kidd said. “We are talking about an 18-year-old who has all the right answers.”

Flagg will suit up for the Mavericks this week during NBA Summer League. Their first game is Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

This fall, Flagg will make his NBA debut. Around that same time, the Peaveys plan on opening their Thunder Road Farm corn maze to the public for the 21st consecutive year.

This year’s maze will be Cooper Flagg-themed. An aerial view will show the Newport, Maine, native dunking a basketball. Flagg’s nickname, “The Maine Event,” will be cut into the crops, as well.

Flagg has gone from pea picking to finding a place in the NBA as the No. 1 draft pick. His mother sees the same competitive person now as she did back then.

“I think it’s exactly who he is as a person,” Kelly said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s pea picking or anything else. He can turn it into a competition.”

(Top photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)

Kids at the older 4-H camp participated in one of the evening activities during sunset. (Photo provided by Lindsey Boso)

MINERAL WELLS — The Wood County 4-H summer camp kick-started the younger camp with engaging activities and group collaboration on Monday.

Since 1915, the West Virginia 4-H Camping Program has supported youth from ages 9-21 to gather and learn in an outdoor environment.

The Wood County 4-H Camp celebrated 85 years in 2024 with the goal to continue bringing improvements to the campgrounds for the upcoming years.

After concluding last week’s older camp with kids ages 13-21, the younger kids set up at the camp for the week which is scheduled to go through Thursday.

Every day has a set of scheduled activities which range from educationally focused classes to arts and crafts. Wood County 4-H partnered with Camden Clark Medical Center this year and will include emergency personnel at the camp in case of any emergency situations.

Each night at 4-H camp, the kids gather at council circle to enjoy an activity and sit around the fire. Camp Director Lindsey Boso said they have a different activity for every night. (Photo provided by Lindsey Boso)

Each night there will be different activities and games for the kids to participate in before bedtime.

“I like meeting new people from my county and I enjoy helping out with the kids and seeing them come out of their shells as the week goes on,” said one of the teen leaders, Jenna Lewellyn.

Lewellyn is from Williamstown and has been a teen leader at the Wood County 4-H camp for three years and a camper for eight. Teen leaders are youth in grades 6-12 and have the opportunity to participate in additional peer group activities.

“I like the activities like the counselor hunt and council circle,” said Lewellyn.

Rose Casto is from Parkersburg and is a second-year camper at the Wood County 4-H camp. The Wood County 4-H camp welcomes all kids in the county who come from different backgrounds and experiences. Many of them said they enjoyed camp because of their friends.

The daily schedule for kids at 4-H focuses on various games and activities throughout the day. The afternoon usually consists of classes and peer group activities. (Photo provided by Lindsey Boso)

“I like making new friends and I like council circle,” said Casto. “I’m looking forward to the awards because it’s really fun.”

Casto was one of 50 kids participating at 4-H camp during the week of June 30. In between activities, the kids enjoyed lunch in one of the barns during the afternoon before attending their classes for the remainder of the day.

“I learn how to socialize better and how to be kind to other people and how to be a good person,” said Casto.

This week, the kids will be focusing on recycling as part of a partnership with the Wood County Solid Waste Authority. Each tribe will be participating in different exercises and learning modules about why and how to recycle.

Lilly Kelley is a tribe leader for Delaware which is one of four tribes along with Seneca, Cherokee, and Mingo.

The kids at the older camp worked in groups to cook and create a meal during camp last week. (Photo provided by Lindsey Boso)

“I like meeting people because you’re still friends with them even after camp,” said Kelley. “I like working with my friends and getting closer with them.”

Kelley has been attending Wood County 4-H camp for as long as she can remember since her mom works at the camp.

“I’m looking forward to all of the council circles and leading my tribe during the week,” said Kelley.

The Wood County 4-H campgrounds consist of 67 acres along the Little Kanawha River and offers lodging and food for the kids during their stay. The younger camp is scheduled to conclude on Thursday with an awards ceremony.

To register for next year, go to extension.wvu.edu/wood/4h.

The younger camp of kids gathered at the council circle to discuss the schedule and prepare for the week. (Photo provided by Lindsey Boso)

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com.

All of the kids at the younger camp are separated into four different tribes; Delaware, Seneca, Cherokee, and Mingo. At the end of the week, one tribe is selected as the Spirit Stick winner for 2025. (Photo provided by Lindsey Boso)

MoU inked between Bangladesh & WEU to promote traditional sports

Youth and Sports Adviser of Bangladesh, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain and World Ethnosports Union, Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan signed the agreemen at headquarters of the World Ethnosports Union in Istanbul,Türkiye . Photo : Collected

DHAKA, July 5, 2025 (BSS) – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Bangladesh and the World Ethnosports Union (WEU) to promote traditional sports and cultural cooperation. 

The MoU signing ceremony was held on Friday at the headquarters of the World Ethnosports Union in Istanbul, Turkey, according to a message received here.

The agreement was signed by the Youth and Sports Adviser of Bangladesh, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, and the President of the World Ethnosports Union, Necmeddin Bilal Erdogan.

Prior to the signing, the two leaders held a close bilateral meeting where they discussed the importance of traditional games in enriching civilisations and cultures and affirmed mutual cooperation in promoting indigenous sports.

During the meeting, Bilal Erdogan emphasised the vast potential of Bangladesh’s traditional games such as kabaddi, wrestling, “bolikhela”, and boat racing, expressing his keen interest in promoting these sports globally.

 He also expressed interest in incorporating Bangladeshi traditional sports federations as members of the World Ethnosports Union.

Highlighting his involvement in educational initiatives in T?rkiye, Erdogan proposed scholarships, exchange programmes, and subject-based competitions for Bangladeshi students. 

He also expressed interest in establishing a branch of his organisation’s school in Bangladesh.

 Recalling his visit to Cox’s Bazar with his mother, he voiced his willingness to support the organisation of traditional games in Rohingya refugee camps to help ease their hardship through engagement in sports.

Reaffirming T?rkiye’s enduring support for the people of Bangladesh, Erdogan commended the youth and public participants of Bangladesh’s July 2024 mass uprising, noting the significance of cultural and national identity.

He said that under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership, T?rkiye is working to reclaim its cultural dignity and global presence.

In his remarks, the Bangladesh Youth and Sports Adviser noted that since the 2024 mass uprising, Bangladesh has been prioritising strengthening ties with its true and trusted partners, with T?rkiye being a key ally. 

He recalled how T?rkiye has historically stood beside the people of the Bengal Delta during times of crisis. 

He further stated that the uprising has heightened political consciousness among Bangladeshi youth and triggered a revival of interest in civilisational transformation, akin to T?rkiye’s own resurgence of its glorious heritage.

The adviser praised the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, especially for his moral stance on the ongoing genocide in Gaza and support for oppressed Muslim populations across the world. 

He emphasised the need for a strong and effective international alliance to stand against such atrocities and assured Bangladesh’s support and active engagement in this cause.

Asif Mahmud also sought the support of the World Ethnosports Union in the internationalisation of Bangladesh’s traditional games-including kabaddi, dariabandha, bolikhela, wrestling, and boat racing.

Concluding the meeting, the Adviser formally invited Bilal Erdogan to visit Bangladesh for the upcoming Global Youth Summit 2025. 

He expressed hope that this visit would further strengthen and accelerate the strategic partnership between the two nations in the fields of youth, sports, and broader socio-political cooperation.

Your job, if you decide to accept it, is to figure out the third and final tragedy of this tale. And do it before you finish reading.

My fourth season in Dunkirk Little League baseball as an 11-year-old in 1962 was, I admit it, underwhelming.

I was the best player on the USW-CIO team in the National Division of Dunkirk Little League. That’s not saying much because we were among the worst teams in the city. We won two games that season.

The main reason we were so bad is because we were almost entirely first-year players.

Bill Hammond

Our previous season we started seven 12-year-olds, the absolute most allowed by Little League rules at the time. Five of those players hit over-the-fence home runs that season, a remarkable achievement.

I played an undistinguished second base that summer as a 10-year-old.

Our other returning starter should have been catcher Bobby Polvino, an outstanding generational athlete in the making who tragically died in the city Halloween parade of 1961.

I was picked to the division’s 1962 all-star team and dutifully attended all the practices on the Woodrow Avenue field.

My family pumped me for details after each practice. I had few.

My all-star coaches decided to keep everyone in the dark as to playing status — starting nine or five-player bench. Not knowing where we stood made us all practice harder, in theory.

Our first game was in Westfield where team standout Dan Alessi pitched a masterful 4-0 no-hit victory. It was his fourth no-hitter of a memorable summer. He was that good. Really.

Me? I was doubly surprised to hit cleanup as an 11-year-old behind my up-the-street neighbor Alessi and play right field for the first time ever, even in practice.

Fortunately, no balls were hit my way and I contributed to the offense with a single and double.

We advanced to a Friday night meeting with the host Jamestown Internationals. The county’s largest city had three all-star teams in the district single-elimination tourney.

I was driven to the game in a car with a backseat full of all-stars. My dad got home from work at five and they — my mother, brother and two sisters — would see me at the 6 p.m. start.

It rained HARD all the way to the game. It didn’t look good. But somehow the worst of the rain spared us and the game started on time.

The team and I expected another 4th Street Gang member, Jim McGraw, would be our starting pitcher. He threw hard and was a relentless competitor. He was clearly the second-best pitcher on our roster.

The coaches had other ideas, starting their regular season team’s ace. He was a lefty who found success pitching around the opposition’s best players.

This worked well for him in Dunkirk, but not in all-star competition. He surrendered a single, home run, double and another home run to the first four batters. Depressing.

In all, he gave up eight runs in the first inning. McGraw came on in relief and gave up little the rest of the way, but we were eliminated from further play in the tourney.

I led off the second inning after that eights-run disaster. I hit the first pitch far beyond the left-field fence. I clearly remember some fan in the back of a truck leaping up to try and catch it, but it was beyond his reach. It was my first career home run.

Teammate Bill Wojcinski added his first career home run later in the game. We later celebrated with burgers, fries and shakes on our way home.

The loss was Tragedy No. 1. Why I was still traveling with my fellow all-stars was Tragedy No. 2.

My parents decided there was no way we could play in that rainstorm, so they turned around and went back to Dunkirk and their weekly American Legion Post 62 fish fry I was fond of inhaling.

I hit my first home run and my entire family missed it. Major disappointment.

So, have you figured out Tragedy No. 3 yet? Need a clue?

I was a practicing Catholic those days. Dad graduated from a seminary. I was a freakin’ altar boy.

Eating that burger by mistake on a Friday was a major religious Bozo no-no. Or, in this case Tragedy No. 3.

I don’t know if breaking the meat abstinence law/rule/beatitude/commandment on a Friday was a venial (minor) or mortal (big-time) sin, but trust me, I paid dearly for that darn tasty indiscretion.

It started with lectures that night from both parents and continued early Saturday with confession, and of course, my prayer-heavy penance.

My Grandma Rose Schrantz even offered her two cents on the topic. I think she used the word “heathen.” Or maybe it was “pagan babies,” I’m really not sure. Tragic.

***

LAST WEEK’S mystery Little Leaguer was correctly identified as Charles “Chuck” Dudek, unsurprisingly by his younger brother, Mike Dudek. There were several other good guesses.

— — —

DO YOU have a favorite memory of your time in Little League? Drop me a line or send a photo to mandpp@hotmail.com.

Bill Hammond is a former EVENING OBSERVER Sports Editor.