Around Town
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Around Town

<lst>Eagle Scout candidate Jonathan Nylen of Boy Scout Troop 688 is collecting non-serviceable American flags to retire them during a ceremony the Sunday before Veterans Day. Anyone with a flag that needs to be retired can place it in a box located at the following locations: Hearts in Motion Dance Center (Music And Dance), 8600 Rolling Road in Springfield; Lorton Community Action Center, 9518 Richmond Highway in Lorton; American Legion Post 162, Legion Road in Lorton; and Christ United Methodist Church, 8285 Glen Eagles Lane in Fairfax Station. The retirement ceremony hosted by Boy Scout Troop 688 in conjunction with American Legion Post 162 is open to the public on Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Burke Lake Amphitheater at 4 p.m. Any questions, contact jnylen@cox.net .

The Springfield Chapter 893 of NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees) meets the second Wednesday each month (except July and August) at 1 p.m., St. John's United Methodist Church, 5312 Backlick Road in Springfield. At the Nov. 13 meeting, a Sierra Club representative will make a brief presentation about air pollution and sprawl in the metro area, using a new award-winning video entitled "Red Alert." For more information, contact Chapter 893 President, Ann M. Collins at 703-569-5224 or e-mail: NARFE893@aol.com.

Fairfax Area Christian Emergency Transitional Services (FACETS) will hold its third annual Best of America Auction on Nov. 7at Williams Memorial Hall. Items auctioned will be beach vacations, airline tickets, jewelry and Redskins memorabilia. All proceeds of the auction will benefit FACETS.

Project SUCCESS and the Department of Community Recreation and Teen Centers will join together on Oct. 26 for the national "Let's Make a Difference" Day and repair the Northern Virginia Training Center at 9901 Braddock Road, Fairfax, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Adult professionals, laborers, and those willing to donate their time are being sought to provide instruction and teen supervision. Volunteers must be at least 13 years old. Donations of painting supplies, tools, plants, cleaning supplies, fish, aquarium supplies, hammers, nails, etc. are also welcome. Call Mary Wolf at 703-425-6240 or e-mail her at mpwolf421@aol.com for more information or to offer help.

Ecumenical Community Helping Others (ECHO) is selling the 2003 coupon book. Entertainment books cost $35, and $7 of that amount goes directly to ECHO. The books include 50 percent off and two-for-one offers on hundreds of dining, hotel, recreation, shopping and other expenses. There are savings on airline tickets, rental cars and much more.

Entertainment book sales will raise money to fund a needed building expansion program. A larger building is needed to accommodate ever increasing donations and an expanding client population.

Books are available now and may be used immediately and through Nov. 1, 2003. Books can be picked up at ECHO at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, whenever ECHO is open for business. Call 703 569-9160 or 703 451-7955 for hours.

The MD Twisters, based in Glen Burnie, Md., will be merging with the three teams comprising the cheer portion of Rhythm & Cheer of Springfield. The Springfield cheerleading squads will now be known as the VA Twisters. Staff from the MD United Cheer and Tumble Gym, where the MD Twisters train, will commute to Virginia to assist with the tumbling and choreography at the Alban Road facility. Try-outs for the cheerleading programs are ongoing. Call Sheryl at 703-627-9569 for more information or to set up an appointment for tryouts. Ages 4 and up. All skill levels are welcome.

Martha Lloyd Community Services Family Association Regional meeting will take place Saturday, Nov. 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be hosted by John and Laura Mattingly at 6320 Karmich St. in Fairfax Station. Phone 703-250-8693 for information and directions. Since 1928, MLCS has been dedicated to the service of persons with developmental disabilities. MLCS, located in Troy, Penn., offers year round residential programs, adult day programs, vocational training, work experience, a Senior Center, and respite care, and many social and recreational activities for its residents.

United Community Ministries is looking for donations for the needy. Items can be given through church or community organizations or dropped off at 7511 Fordson Road between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. UCM can schedule pickups for donations of food by churches or other organizations. Items that are most needed are spaghetti sauce, pasta, macaroni and cheese, dry cereal, beans, single-serving cereal for homeless care packages, diapers and paper and plastic grocery bags. Also needed are tuna or canned meats, canned fruit, rice, canned soup, sugar, jelly or jam, canned vegetables, peanut butter, individual juice boxes, canned fruit, individual fruit cups, individual applesauce, individual raisin boxes, individual pudding cups, saltine crackers, baby food, formula (Good Start), bath soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine care products, laundry soap, deodorant, toothbrushes and shampoo. Call Tracy Davis at 703-768-7106 ext. 328.

The Kings Park Concert Band is seeking new members for the 2002-2003 concert season, especially looking for percussionists and French horn players. Anyone over the age of 18 who has played a musical instrument is welcome to join the band without audition. Practices are held every Tuesday night from 7:30-9:45 p.m. at the Fairfax Villa Elementary School, 10900 Santa Clara Drive, Fairfax. The Kings Park Concert Band is an adult, volunteer, community band that has been performing in the Washington D.C.-metropolitan area since 1965. Call Dick Robinson at 703-440-8479 or 703-805-2621.

Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) is getting on the "bondwagon" to help raise awareness about an important issue that will be on this year's election day ballot. When voters go to the polls on Nov. 5, they will be asked to approve the issuance of $900 million in general obligation bonds that will go toward capital projects for educational facilities throughout the state. If approved, NVCC would receive $35 million to fund new classroom and renovation projects at all campuses without an increase in taxes. In order to raise public awareness about this referendum, Northern Virginia Community College, in collaboration with George Mason University, will be hosting a series of awareness activities throughout the next months to educate voters about this vital issue. For more information about NVCC's programs and services, call 703-323-3000 or visit the College's web page at www.nvcc.edu.

George Mason University has received a $550,701 grant from the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation to implement a research project entitled "Behavioral Genomic Effects of Adolescent Nicotine." This project aims to discover interventions that work well with youth in order to reduce youth tobacco use.