To have a notice listed, e-mail gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-917-6407 with questions.
<cal1>Ongoing
<cal2>Late-Night Hang-Out. Every Thursday and Friday nights from 9 p.m. to midnight. At Charles Houston Community Center, 901 Wythe Street, Alexandria. Basketball league games, card tournaments, table game tournaments, DJ music. For young adults, 19 years and up. Call 703-838-4814.
NAACP, Fairfax County Branch. 7 p.m. Meets on second Tuesday of the month at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 7836 Fordson Road, Alexandria. Call 703-591-4488 or send email to info@naacp.org.
The Wright to Read program will celebrate 30 years in Alexandria this September. Wright to Read volunteers or students from 1979-2001 may contact Leigh Hoyer at lhoyer@campagnacenter.org or 703-549-0111 ext. 101.
<cal1>Thursday/July 30
<cal2>Community Empowerment. 5:30-9 p.m. Teens and young adults are invited to 2009 Community Empowerment Session. This conference features guest speakers, workshops, mini-job fair, food, guest DJ, fun, late night basketball and more. At the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street, Alexandria. Call 703-838-0990.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome the new Snap Fitness to the area is scheduled for Thursday, July 30, at 5:30 p.m. The fitness facility is located at 1315 King Street, in Old Town Alexandria and is open 24/7. Call 703-299-9499.
<cal1>Friday, July 31
<cal2>The Alexandria Giant Food at 6800 Richmond Highway, Beacon Mall, will celebrate its grand re-opening with tastings, live music and prizes. The celebration will continue throughout the weekend. The first 250 customers to enter the store at 6 a.m. receive a $10 Giant gift card.
<cal1>Friday, July 31, Aug. 7, 14
<cal2>Archaeologists Needed. Volunteers are currently excavating a plowzone in late 18th century, GW Library site. More helpers are needed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Email Esther C. White Ph.D., RPA, ewhite@mountvernon.org.
<cal1>Saturday/Aug. 1
<cal2>Friendship Firehouse Festival. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hosted by the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association. View a collection of antique and modern fire equipment and apparatus. In the 100 block of South Alfred Street between Prince and King streets, which will be closed off to traffic for the festival. Admission is free.
Free Practice SAT. 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. At the Alexandria Sylvan Learning Center, 4694 King Street, Summit Center. To register, call Janet Armstrong at 888-598-5437, ext. 127 or email jarmstrong@cwknetwork.com.
<cal1>Monday/Aug. 3
<cal2>Alexandria Democratic Committee Meeting. 8 p.m. At Patrick Henry School, 4643 Taney Ave., Alexandria. Call 703-549-3367.
<cal1>Tuesday/Aug. 4
<cal2>National Night Out. 6-9 p.m. At Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, 2001 Sherwood Hall Lane. Special events include ice cream sundaes, watermelon, a concert by the Mount Vernon Community Band from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., face painting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., outdoor games for children, pampering and makeovers.
Alexandria National Night Out. 5:30-8:30 p.m. At the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center fields, intersection of Mount Vernon and Commonwealth avenues. Participating organizations include the Alexandria Police Department, Alexandria Sheriff’s Department, Alexandria Fire Department and Emergency Management Team, Virginia Health Department, Medical Reserve Corps, The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Community Partners for Children, Del Ray Artisans, Volunteer Alexandria, Mount Vernon Recreation Center, and city officials. The Del Ray Citizens Association (DRCA) and Warwick Village Citizens Association (WVCA) are inviting everyone to celebrate.
Huntington National Night Out. 5:30-10 p.m. In the Huntington Community, where a Flashlight Parade will take place at the corner of Fenwick Drive and Huntington Avenue at 8 p.m.
Engleside National Night Out. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Weenie Roast at the Simpson Home, 8444 Woodlawn Street, corner of Highland Lane and Woodlawn Street, across from Woodlawn Elementary.
<cal1>Thursday, Aug. 6
<cal2>Business Networking Happy Hour. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Hilton at Mark Center Hotel, 5000 Seminary Rd. Free parking. Cash bar. "Mini Menu" for $5. Sponsored by the West End Business Association, 703-845-2645. Open to all.
Business Networking Happy Hour. 5:30-7:30 p.m., At Finn & Porter's Atrium, Hilton at Mark Center Hotel, 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Open to all. Free parking. Cash bar. Mini Menu for $5. Event is sponsored by the West End Business Association. Contact 703-845-2645.
First Thursday in Del Ray, Health & Wellness. 6-9 p.m. This family-friendly monthly celebration returns to Del Ray with music, exhibitions from local organizations, and businesses open late with special activities. Free! Contact 703-683-2949 or www.visitdelray.com.
Informational Meeting. 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend meeting on Open Space Properties at 4109-4125 Mount Vernon Ave. The site was acquired in January of 2007 as part of the City's Open Space Program. At 4109 Mount Vernon Ave. Call Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator, at 703-838-5095, ext. 350 (TTY 703-838-4902), or by e-mail laura.durham@alexandriava.gov.
<cal1>Saturday/Aug. 8
<cal2>Kitty-pa-looza! Noon to 4 p.m. Mindful Hands, a specialty shop dedicated to helping people live gentler lives, will host kitten adopt-a-thon on behalf of King Street Cats. At 211 King Street in Old Town Alexandria. Go to www.mindfulhands.com or www.kingstreetcats.org
<cal1>Monday, Aug. 10
<cal2>Fund-raiser for Creigh Deeds. 5:30-7 p.m. Fund-raiser for the Democratic candidate for Governor of Virginia. At Food Matters, 191 Somervelle Street, Alexandria.
<cal1>Monday/Aug. 10, 17, 24 and 31
<cal2>Free "Intro to Pilates" Classes. 8:15-9:05 p.m. At Studio Body Logic, Del Ray. Reserve a mat in advance: 703-739-7601 or studiobodylogic@earthlink.net. At Studio Body Logic, 2417 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Go to www.studiobodylogic.com
<cal1>Aug. 12
<cal2>Stroke and Osteoporosis Screening. Packages start at $139. All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. At Franconia Alliance Church, 6315 Beulah Street, Alexandria. Appointments begin at 9 a.m. Call 1-877-237-1287 or go to www.lifelinescreening.com.
Springfield/Alexandria Women's Connection Luncheon. 11:30-1:30 p.m. "The New Workhouse Art Center & You" will be the topic at the Springfield Golf & Country Club. Julie Curtis, from the Workhouse Arts Center, will discuss the exhibitions, concerts and events held there. Cost is $17, with free childcare. Call 703-569-4670 or 703-876-4780 for reservations, or email: SpringWmConn@yahoo.com.
<cal1>Aug. 20
<cal2>ESL for Employment. 7-9 p.m. For workers who want to improve their English language skills and advance their career. At NOVA's Alexandria Campus - Bisdorf Building, Room 293, 3001 North Beauregard Street. Free. Call 703-764-7779 or email ESLemployment@nvcc.edu, or just show up.
<cal1>Saturday/Aug. 22
<cal2>Kitty-pa-looza! Noon to 4 p.m. Mindful Hands, a specialty shop dedicated to helping people live gentler lives, will host kitten adopt-a-thon on behalf of King Street Cats. At 211 King Street in Old Town Alexandria. Go to www.mindfulhands.com or www.kingstreetcats.org.
<cal1>Saturday/Aug. 29
<cal2>Free Practice SAT. 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. At the Alexandria Sylvan Learning Center, 4694 King Street, Summit Center. To register, call Janet Armstrong at 888-598-5437, ext. 127 or email jarmstrong@cwknetwork.com.
<cal1>Wednesday/Sept. 16
<cal2>Advances in Radiation Oncology. 6:30 p.m. Featuring Dr. Matthew Poggi and Dr. Stella Hetelekidis, board-certified radiation oncologists. At Inova Alexandria Hospital Auditorium, 4320 Seminary Road, Alexandria. Free. Call 703-750-8812 or visit www.inova.org
<cal1>Thursday/Sept. 17
<cal2>Beating Brain Tumors: Advances in Treatment. 6:30 p.m. Presented by Dr. Ben Nguyen, board-certified neurosurgeon, and Dr. Samir Kanani, board-certified radiation oncologist. At Inova Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church. Free. Call 703-750-8812 or visit www.inova.org
<cal1>Ongoing
<cal2>Summer is Here: Alexandria 2009 Summer Camps, Playgrounds & Teen Activities: The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities offers a variety of summer program opportunities for children and teens ages 3 to 17. Camp opportunities include Recreation Camps (Ages 3-12); Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center Camps (K-6th grade); Summer Programs for Children with Disabilities (Ages 3-17); Summer Playground Camps (Ages 6-12); and Summertime Fun Just - 4 – Teens. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.
Alexandria’s Domestic Violence Program invites female City residents to attend confidential weekly support group sessions for survivors of domestic violence or are currently in an abusive relationship. The meetings are meant to understand the impact violence has on relationships, can be employed to empower victims, to share experiences with other women and to support victims as they move on with their lives.
The sessions are held every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Childcare is provided. For location information, contact 703-838-4911. The DVP 24-hour hotline is 703-838-4911.
The Alexandria Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month, at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe St. Contact 703-684-6190 or visit www.naacpalexandria.org.
The operating hours for the Chinquapin Park Recreation Center have changed. The center’s new operating hours will be Monday –Thursday 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.; and Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. For information, visit alexandriava.gov/recreation or call 703-519-2160.
The fatherhood program "Fathers in Touch" is looking for volunteers. It is composed of a 12-week parenting course using the 24/7 Dad curriculum and three supervised visitation activities to promote strong relationships between fathers and their children. The program is free to all participants and will be held at Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave., from Feb. 3 through April 28. For additional information on the Fathers in Touch Program, contact Erick King at eking@cyep.org or visit www.cyep.org.
Hopkins House (www.hopkinshouse.org) is a local charity that provides preschool services for children and offers family education workshops for parents. This time of year donations of facial tissue, diapers/pull-ups, wipes, batteries, construction paper, and crayons are needed. 703-539-4232 ext. 4086.
The City of Alexandria and Volunteer Alexandria have teamed up on a program called "Snow Buddies," to provide snow removal assistance for low-income homeowners or occupants who are elderly or disabled. The City and Volunteer Alexandria will match eligible residents with volunteers who can shovel their snow. Residents are encouraged to apply for this program in advance to ensure that their sidewalks can be cleared in enough time to avoid City fines and/or snow removal charges. To apply 703-838-4800. To become a volunteer contact Kelly Sazama of Volunteer Alexandria at 703-836-2176.
The Alexandria Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Contact 703-684-6190 or visit www.naacpalexandria.org.
Greenlight Toastmasters International meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mount Vernon Rec Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Visit greenlight.freetoasthost.info or 703-569-4810.
<cal1>Announcements
<cal2> The SARA program is looking for compassionate listeners, both English speaking and bilingual, who would be comfortable talking to sexual assault survivors and their families. To register for the SARA training and/or receive more detailed volunteer information, visit www.alexwomen.com.
Computer CORE is looking for volunteers. To request an application, e-mail Victoria@computercore.org.
The Alexandria Aces Collegiate Summer Baseball Club, the eighth and newest franchise of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, is looking for host families for the upcoming 2009 season. To volunteer as a host family, contact Aces general manager, Brian Midkiff, at 703-232-8869, or e-mail Brian at brian@alexandriaaces.org.
The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum, is now registering for a three-day camp for children ages 5 through 7. The Clio’s Kids Mini-Camp introduces children to American history and life in historic Alexandria through artifacts, storytelling, singing, crafts, "old-fashioned" games, and visits to nearby historic places. Clio’s Kids runs from Tuesday, July 28, through Thursday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to noon. Camp will be held at The Lyceum, 201 South Washington Street. The cost is $105, which includes snacks and souvenirs, and advance registration is required. To register or to learn more, call 703-838-4994 or visit www.alexandriahistory.org.
Then older children will have an opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes of a museum at a new one-day Curator Camp. During Curator Camp, kids ages 11 through 14 will learn about museums from the inside out. Campers will meet the people who make The Lyceum work, take an exclusive tour, learn about and touch real historic artifacts, and work as a team to create a small exhibit. Campers, their family and friends return to The Lyceum on a later date for their exhibit opening reception. Curator Camp is one day only, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and costs $75 including snacks and souvenirs. To sign up or to learn more, call 703-838-4994 or visit www.alexandriahistory.org.
ALIVE! is holding a raffle fundraiser with the prize being premium tickets to a Nationals game in July. Tickets are $100 each and only 300 will be sold. Visit www.alive-inc.org for more.