<lst>Send announcements to The Reston Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to reston@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged. Questions? Call Michael O'Connell at 703-917-6449.
Volunteers are needed to help plan and plant a Backyard Wildlife Habitat Demonstration Garden at the National Wildlife Federation. A planning meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 10 at 10 a.m. at the Federation's new building located on Wildlife Drive. This is close to the end of Lake Fairfax Business Park Drive which intersects Sunset Hills Road east of the Reston Post Office.
Persons wishing to help with the planning this summer or with the planting in September can call 703-759-7699.
Children ages 6-12 are invited to attend free swimming classes this summer at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. The classes are for Beginner levels I & II. Children are taught how to be comfortable in the water, how to develop basic front and backstrokes and have a basic understanding of water safety. For information on class days and times, contact the RCC Aquatics Department at 703-476-4500. No charges assessed for these classes but registration is required. Register in person or by faxing a completed RCC Aquatics Registration form to 703-476-0563.
RCC offers Adult Basic Sailing classes taught aboard the 19-foot "Flying Scott." The course material will cover rigging, the points of sail, navigational markers, right-of-way rules, man-overboard procedures, and plenty of mooring and docking drills. The student-to-instructor ratio is three to one. Call George Stevens at 703-768-0018 for more information about scheduling the sailing lessons. This course is limited to persons 18 years of age or older.
Reston Festival Volunteer Coordinator needed for this year's Festival on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14. Call Festival Hotline 703-435-7989 to donate time for recruiting the many volunteers who help make the festival possible.
Entertainers from a wide variety of cultural traditions invited to perform at Reston's Multicultural Festival, which takes place 10 am to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Lake Anne Village Center. Musicians, dancers, storytellers, clowns and entertainers of all sorts from all of Northern Virginia's diverse cultures and races are invited to submit demo tapes, videos and press kits to the Multicultural Festival's entertainment committee. For further information, contact Haywood R. Hopson, Sr. at the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500.
Restonians invited to participate in this year’s annual Make-A-Wish Colony Triathlon set for Sept. 21, located in Bethany Beach, Del. The 2001 Make-A-Wish Colony Triathlon featured 12 competitors from Reston. This event, featuring a 1.5k ocean swim, 36k bike and 10k run benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, which is a non-profit organization fulfilling wishes of area children fighting life-threatening illnesses. For more information on this event or on the foundation visit, www.wish.org/midatlantic or call 301-962-6500.
The RCA invites all Reston residents to submit candidates for the RCA Community Service Award honoring those individuals who have selflessly given their time and effort in the pursuit of RCA's goals. RCA members believe that those living in Reston who have worked for the sake of the community without the prospect of financial gain, deserve special mention. The RCA Board of Directors will select the year's award recipient and will present the award at the July 13 Reston Festival. Send a completed nomination form to: The Reston Citizen's Association, P. O.. Box 2631, Reston, VA 20195. For more information, contact the RCA at 703-437-9465, or AWARD@restoncitizensassociation.org.
Amputee Support Group Of Northern Virginia, a support group for amputees, their families and friends, meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7:30-9 p.m. at INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Department of Rehabilitation Gym Area, Women & Children's Center, First Floor, 3300 Gallows Road in Falls Church. The next meeting is scheduled for July 2. The cost is free and parking is provided in the garage for all cars displaying handicapped placards or license plates. For more information, contact Irvin Axelrod at 703-222-7120.
Reston Newcomers Club published a cookbook, "Home Cooking," with 345 recipes. Cost is $15. Call 703-476-6152.
The Reston Museum needs volunteers to work in the museum shop on Saturdays. No special skills required and scheduling is flexible. Call 703-709-7700 to volunteer.
Call Senior Employment Resources if you are at least 50 years old and looking for permanent work in Northern Virginia. 703-750-1936, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., for an interview.
The YMCA in Reston offers Lamaze childbirth classes by a certified Lamaze instructor. A series of five classes are offered on Tuesday nights, 7-9 p.m. Call 703-631-4629 for a schedule and to register.
The 10-and-under Fairfax Fire birds girls softball team seeks players for the upcoming spring and summer tournament seasons. For information regarding location and times contact either Mark Morrison at 703-448-1985 or Mjmorri57@aol.com, or Paul Sbardella at 703-690-8925 or Rico4094@aol.com.
A Farmers' Market will be held every Saturday through Nov. 2 at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston from 8 a.m. to Noon The Farmers' Market offers fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods, cut flowers, potted plants, cider and honey. For more information, call 703-941-7987.
A new mutual-help support group for persons with depression or bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) and/or family members is forming in Reston. The group meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 7-9 p.m. Free attendance. For location or more information, call Traci at 703-433-1448, Paul at 703-981-2259 or Kathy at 540-751-0547.
The Reston Community Center sponsors a Teen Summer Employment Program to help match up teens ages 15 to 18 with the right employer, similar to an employment agency. RCC screens teens by reviewing resumes and conducting preliminary interviews and skills assessments and then matches teen candidates with summer jobs offered by local employers. To enter the program, teens must submit a resume and a completed program application to the RCC. For more information or to obtain a program application, contact Shauna Cole, Teen Program Director, Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500 or e-mail scole1@co.fairfax.va.us.
Nomination applications now available for the Northern Virginia Family Service CARE (Companies As Responsive Employers) Award, which recognizes Northern Virginia business that promote a positive work-life balance for employees. Submission deadline July 12. Applications evaluated by the Northern Virginia Family Service. CARE Award winners will be recognized at an awards breakfast to be held Thursday, Nov. 14 at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. Call 703- 533-2595 or e-mail aendres@nvfs.org for more information or to receive an application. The application can also be downloaded from the Northern Virginia Family Service web site at www.nvfs.org/care.htm.
Orphan Foundation of America, a Reston-based organization, provides scholarships and offers mentors to parentless teens leaving foster care. Currently, the foundation has over 500 applications that require personal attention. Passionate individuals needed to work on these and other crucial projects. Tasks include reviewing student and mentor applications, contacting applicants by mail, phone or e-mail, making files, etc. Volunteers are also critically needed, to help with development by researching foundations and organizations, preparing solicitation packets and other tasks. Call 571-203-0270 or e-mail help@orphan.org for more information.
Greater Reston Arts Center has started taking registrations for its
Summer Art Camp for Kids for children in first through sixth grade. The first session, which runs from July 8-12, will be "All About Me!" for rising first through third graders. The second session, which runs from July 15-19, will be "Learning to Look!" for rising first through third graders. The third session, which runs July 22-26, will be "Living Landscapes" for fourth through sixth graders. The fourth session, which runs July 29-Aug. 3, will be "Modern Art and Me!" for fourth through sixth graders. Class size is limited to 30 students per session. Cost: $130 per session for GRACE Members, $150 per session for non-members. For more information or to register call 703-471-9242.
Free conversational English classes for all levels offered at Washington Plaza Baptist Church, 1615 Washington Plaza, Reston. Classes have been suspended for the summer. Registration for the next cycle of classes will begin in late September or early October. Call 703-471-5225.
The Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates adopted a Senate Joint Resolution commending the Reston Children's Center for its 35 years of service to the children and families of Reston. The Reston Children's Center was the first child care program in Reston to earn national accreditation. In 2001, the Reston Children's Center became the first school-age program in Reston, and the fourth in Virginia, to be accredited by the National School Age Child Care Alliance. Linda D. Selb, Executive Director of the Center, has been on staff 24 years and has seen a generation of children grow up.
The Northern Virginia Family Service needs foster families for abused and neglected children. African-American families are particularly needed. Help is needed in both full-time and short-term programs. Training, support and financial compensation will be provided. For more information about the Northern Virginia Family Service call 703-533-9727 or smcallister@nvfs.org.
Coaching classes for brides-to-be offered in the Merrifield/Gallows Road area to help manage pre-marital stress. The two-session group course is offered on the first of each summer month. Day and evening classes available. For more information, contact Carolyn R. Krol, LCSW at 202-669-3249.
Children ages 6-12 are invited to attend free beginner swimming classes this summer at the Vantage Hill Pool. The eight class sessions, which are taught by the aquatics staff of the Reston Community Center, are for Beginner I and II students. Each RCC instructor has been trained and certified by the American Red Cross and has received ratings in Water Safety Instruction.
For information on class days and times, contact the RCC Aquatics Department at 703-476-4500. Free Beginner level classes but registration required. Classes also available for Advanced level swimmers. Advanced level classes are not free, so contact the RCC Aquatics Department for class fee information. Registration starts May 18 and can be done in person or by faxing a completed RCC Registration form to 703-476-8617.
The NOVA Career Development Network invites those seeking jobs or career transitions to participate in a weekly networking and job support group. The group meets Tuesday mornings from 10:45 a.m. to Noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston at 1625 Wiehle Ave. Call Roy Seabolt at 571-263-1430 or rseabolt@cox.net for more information or visit the web site at http://communitylink.allnva.com/groups/novacdn.
Children ages 6-12 are invited to attend free swimming classes this summer at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. The classes are for Beginner levels I & II. Children who complete these classes will be comfortable in water, develop basic front and backstrokes and have a basic understanding of water safety. For information on class days and times, contact the RCC Aquatics Department at 703-476-4500. Free classes but registration required. Register in person or by faxing a completed RCC Aquatics Registration form to 703-476-0563.
Reston Festival Volunteer Coordinator needed for this year's Festival on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14. Call Festival Hot line 703-435-7989 to donate time for recruiting the many volunteers who help make the festival possible.
Entertainers from a wide variety of cultural traditions invited to perform at Reston's Multicultural Festival, which takes place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Lake Anne Village Center. Musicians, dancers, storytellers, clowns and entertainers of all sorts from all of Northern Virginia's diverse cultures and races are invited to submit demo tapes, videos and press kits to the Multicultural Festival's entertainment committee. For further information, contact Haywood R. Hopson, Sr. at the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500.
Restonians invited to participate in this year’s annual Make-A-Wish Colony Triathlon set for Sept. 21 and located in Bethany Beach, Del. The 2001 Make-A-Wish Colony Triathlon featured 12 competitors from Reston. This event, featuring a 1.5k ocean swim, 36k bike and 10k run benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, which is a non-profit organization fulfilling wishes of area children fighting life-threatening illnesses. For more information on this event or on the foundation visit, www.wish.org/midatlantic or call 301-962-6500.
Host families for the 2002-03 school year needed for a 17-year-old girl from Finland, a 16-year-old girl from Germany, and a 16-year-old boy from China. Students are fully covered with health and accident insurance and have spending money. For more information, call 703-644-5429 or 888-587-0075.
A new Weight Watchers group meets in the RCC Café on Fridays at noon starting in September. $120 for 12 sessions. Twenty people needed to start the group. Please call Anna Dowdell, the RCC Café Manager, at 703-476-4500, to add your name to the list of interested people. Participants attend weekly meetings where they share information and coping strategies and give each other moral support. They receive a variety of tools to help them track their eating habits. Participants also are provided with low-fat recipes and meal plans to help them stay on track. For further information regarding Weight Watchers, visit their web site at http://www.weightwatchers.com. For directions to the RCC Cafe, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500.
Fourth Annual Share-A-Haircut Campaign. For every child’s haircut purchased at any Hair Cuttery salon between Aug. 1-15, Hair Cuttery will in turn donate a free haircut to children from partner social service agencies around the country, just in time for the start of the new school year.
RA Pool and Tennis Passes are now available on-line via the Reston Association web site, www.reston.org. Passes can be mailed directly to a resident's home or picked up at the Reston Association. Passes cost $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 17 and under. Passes are also available at the Reston Association, 1930 Isaac Newton Square. Sale hours are: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursdays (until Aug. 29), 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturdays (until Sept. 28), 9 a.m.-12 p.m.