‘Taste of the Town’ to honor NOVEC founder

The 15th-annual Taste of the Town will honor the man who is half responsible for the name of one of the area's largest high schools.

J. Manley Garber is the founder longest serving board member at the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative. His last name also makes up half of the name for Gar-Field Senior High School in Woodbridge.

Garber, and another area family the Manderfields donated the land on which the currently sits at 14000 Smoketown Road, just across from Potomac Mills mall. The school building opened in 1972.

Garner will receive the Lily Blackwell Lifetime Achievement Award for his service to not only Project Mend-A-House, but to the community at-large. The award is named after Blackwell, who founded Project Mend-A-House in Prince William County 31 years ago.

"Mr. Garber played an instrumental role in making Prince William County what it is today," said Project Mend-A-House Director Jennifer Shock Bolles.

The non-profit organization based in Manassas provides free home repairs to low-income families, as well as makes safety modifications to homes belonging to seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans for low or no cost.

The annual "Taste of the Town" is the organization's annual fundraiser. More than 39 restaurants -- from PF Changs to Bonefish Grill -- will set up a table inside VFW Hall 1503 at 14631 Minnieville Road in Dale City, and will offer tastes of appetizers and entrees.

"You can have whatever you want. There's tons of food," said Bolles.

The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. October 28. Tickets for the event are $30 in advance, or $35 at the door. This year's theme for the event is "love begins at home."
Last year's "Taste of the Town" raised $10,000 for Project Mend-A-House. The organization aims to surpass that mark with this year's event.

Those who attend will also hear from volunteers, and from those who have benefited from Project Mend-A-House services during a brief program that will also be held inside the VFW hall.