<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.
Amputee Support Group Of Northern Virginia is a support group for amputees, their families and friends. Meetings are scheduled for 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 May 7. There is no cost to participants and parking is provided free in the garage for cars displaying handicapped placards or license plates. For more information, contact Irvin Axelrod at 703-222-7120 or e-mail asgnva@earthlink.net
The Reston Newcomers Club has published a cookbook, "Home Cooking," with 345 recipes. Cost is $15. Call 703-476-6152.
The Reston Museum is looking for volunteers to work in the museum shop and with its art program for children on Saturdays. No special skills are required and scheduling is flexible. Call 703-709-7700 to volunteer.
Persons older than 50 looking for permanent work in Northern Virginia may call Senior Employment Resources at 703-750-1936, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., for an interview.
The YMCA in Reston is offering 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 Junior Chamber Jaycees are forming a new chapter in the area. The organization is for young professionals who want to gain invaluable leadership skills while making a difference in their community. For more information about the Jaycees, contact Chad Davis at chad@chaddaviscpa.com or visit www.novajaycees.org
The Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) needs volunteers for the 11th Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival on May 18 and 19 at Reston Town Center. Volunteer packets available at GRACE, 11911 Freedom Drive, suite 110, in Reston Town Center. For more information or to volunteer, call 703-471-9242.
The 10-and-under Fairfax Firebirds 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 take place every Saturday from May 18 through Nov. 2 at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. The Farmers' Market will offer fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods, cut flowers, potted plants, cider and honey. For more information, call 703-941-7987.
The first Reston House Tour will take place on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Six private, family homes in Reston will be open to the public for self-conducted tours. The tour pass price is $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the tour.
Tour passes are available at Lake Anne Village Center in Reston Museum and Shop and Small Change, located at 1639 Washington Plaza; Reston Town Center in Appalachian Spring, located at 1187 Market St.; Spectrum Center in Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, located at 1763 Fountain Drive. Call 703-709-7700 to volunteer or to receive more information about the tour.
Pastel drawing classes taught by Carol Berman, an award-winning pastel artist, are staring up again at her studio in Reston. Improve your drawing skills while learning this exciting medium. Classes will take place on Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and are $15 per session. To sign up or for further information, call 703-437-9068.
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 will meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 7-9 p.m. No charge to attend. For location or more information, call Traci at 703-433-1448, Paul at 703-981-2259 or Kathy at 540-751-0547.
Families can help with the peace reconciliation effort in Northern Ireland by hosting a pair of teens (choose boys or girls, one Roman Catholic and one Protestant, ages 15-18) in their home for four weeks this summer beginning July 2. The teenage boys and girls are part of the Children's Friendship Project for Northern Ireland (CFPNI). To be eligible, host families need to provide a safe, neutral setting for the teens to get to know one another, a single bedroom for them to share, and day-long adult supervision. Co-hosting with another family for two weeks of the four-week stay is an option.
For more information or to obtain a host family application, contact Melinda and Randy Grochowski at 703-478-6291 or e-mail Melindabmg@aol.com.
Herndon-Reston FISH (Friendly, Instant, Sympathetic Help) Is looking for someone to manage its thrift store, the Bargain Loft. This is a volunteer position, which offers an opportunity to serve area neighbors by generating revenue to support FISH community service.
The manager will lead a group of volunteers in all merchandising and operational aspects of running a small retail store. No specific background is required, although previous retail experience
is helpful. Hours are flexible. Store hours are Tuesday through Friday
10 a.m.-3 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Weekly preparations take place on Monday morning. The manager is supported by "Day Managers" and usually works 20 or more hours per week, depending on the season. The store is closed on holidays, one week at Christmas and for two to three weeks in August. Interested applicants should call (703) 437-0600.
The Reston Community Center is sponsoring a Teen Summer Employment Program to help match up teens ages 15 to 18 with the right employer. RCC's program works like an employment agency. RCC screens teens by reviewing resumes and conducting preliminary interviews and skills assessments. RCC staff 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.
The Reston Youth Association (RYA) is now accepting registration for the upcoming football and cheerleading season. Forms may be picked up at the Reston Library, Reston Community Center and the Reston Association offices. The RYA will also be offering summer skills camps for both programs. Ages 7 through 15.
Here are the dates and locations for walk-in registrations: May 8-Crossfield Elementary; May 15-South Lakes High School; and May 23-McNair Elementary. All registrations take place 5:30-7:30 p.m. Call 703-620-2019 or visit www.restonseahawks.com for information or a registration form.
The MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support), an international, nonprofit support group for at-home mothers, has started a new chapter in Reston. Through a variety of weekly activities the MOMS Club allows at-home mothers and their children to get together in a supportive atmosphere. The monthly meeting and playgroup is scheduled on Tuesday, May 7 from 10:30-12:00 for mothers to bring their children and learn more about the organization. Call or e-mail for details and location 703-860-4289, restonmoms@hotmail.com.
Nomination applications are 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. The deadline for submission is July 12. Applications will be evaluated by the Northern Virginia Family Service. CARE Award winners will be recognized at an awards breakfast to be held Thursday, November 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 website at www.nvfs.org/care.htm.
Orphan Foundation of America, a Reston-based organization, provides scholarships and mentoring to parentless teens leaving foster care. Currently, the foundation has over 500 applications that require personal attention. Passionate individuals are encouraged 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 are offered at Washington Plaza Baptist Church, 1615 Washington Plaza, Reston, on Wednesday afternoons, 1:30-3 p.m., and on Thursday evenings, 7-8:30 p.m. Call 703-471-5225.
Volunteers are needed to help host homes during the Reston House Tour on June 1. Registration forms are available at the Reston Museum, 1639 Washington Plaza, Reston at Lake Anne Village Center. The Reston House Tour Committee is also looking for more homes to add to future tours. Those interested in joining should contact the Reston Historic Trust. Call 703-709-7700 for more information.
Web browsers can visit http://redcross.ebay.com to bid on items ranging from exotic vacations to high tech gadgets and sports memorabilia. Nearly 50 Red Cross Chapters nationwide will participate in this year's auctions. This year there will be two 10-day auctions The first between April 22 and May 2, and the second between April 29 and May 9. All money raised will support vital Red Cross disaster relief services. Last year the action raised $320,000. For more information call 202-728-6694 or visit www.redcrossdc.org.
The Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates have 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 is looking for 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.