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.
The Reston Photographic Society's Annual Judged Photography Exhibition will run Oct. 1-27 at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery in the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne. The public is invited to an awards reception at The Jo Ann Rose Gallery on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 2-4 p.m. An unusual feature of this annual photography show is the People's Choice Award, based on ballots filled out by visitors to the gallery between the opening on Oct. 1 and Saturday, Oct. 5.
Volunteers play a key role in the Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program's provision of advocacy services to recipients of long-term care in the region. The volunteer is assigned to a specific nursing home or assisted living facility, and makes weekly visits. Using the skills of listening, observing and mediating, the ombudsman works with the residents, their families and the staff of the facility to ensure that the residents' rights are being protected. The training for prospective volunteer ombudsmen is scheduled for Sept. 19, 20 and 26 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day. Applicants must successfully complete the training session and must be available to volunteer four hours per week, primarily during business hours. Call 703-324-5435 for further information and an application. Web site is www.co.fairfax.va.us/service/aaa/html/ombud_main.htm.
The Fannie Mae Foundation will host its second annual community "Help the Homeless" walkathon on Saturday, Oct. 19, in Reston. The walkathon will allow area residents to directly support the Embry Rucker Community Shelter by participating in the walk and designating the shelter as their beneficiary agency (code RIERS). The community walk will start from Reston Town Center at 10 a.m., with registration beginning at 9 a.m. The walk will proceed from the Town Center to Lake Anne and back, a distance of about three miles. Registration costs. $15 for youth age 25 and under, and $25 for adults over 25. Registration fees for each walker go directly to the designated beneficiary agency. Individuals who would like to support an agency but are unable to walk can register and volunteer at the event. Reston Interfaith is looking for walkathon participants. For information on the community walkathon, contact Ashley Garecht, Volunteer Coordinator for the Embry Rucker shelter, at 703-437-1975 or e-mail embryruckershelter@erols.com. Walkers can register on-line at www.helpthehomelessdc.org.
Tickets for the National Symphony Orchestra Decorator's Show House 2002 are on sale through October at Appalachian Spring. This year's show house, the Houghton Mansion, will be open Sept. 3-Oct. 31. Tickets are $15 off site and $20 at the door. Appalachian Spring is located at 11877 Market St., Reston Town Center and its hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday, 12-6 p.m.
Michael's Arts and Crafts is sponsoring "Warming Up America." Starting Sept. 1 through Oct. 21, people are asked to knit or crochet seven inch by nine inch squares to be dropped off at the Michaels' Reston Store. On 0ct. 26 from 1:30-2:30 p.m., the store will be hosting a joining party to piece together afghans to be donated to local shelters, the Salvation Army and Project Linus. For more information, call 703-736-0530.
Appalachian Spring is collecting school supplies for needy children as they prepare to return to school. On behalf of local elementary school students, they will be collecting the following donations: pencils, washable markers, crayons, notebooks, glue, filler paper, yellow highlighters, rulers and medium point pens. New and gently used backpacks are also accepted. Drop off these items through August at Appalachian Spring, 11877 Market St., Reston Town Center. The store is open 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Saturday, and 12-6 p.m. on Sunday.
The Virginia Alliance of Family Child Care Associations will host its 11th Annual Child Care Training Conference on Sept. 21 at the Sheraton Reston Hotel, Reston. This conference is open to all child care providers. For more information, visit www. vafcca. org, e-mail vafccaconference@yahoo.com or call 703-437-1451.
The choral ensemble Voce will conduct auditions for alto, tenor, and low bass performers for the 2002-2003 season. They will have various performances throughout the upcoming year. Auditions are by appointment and can be scheduled by calling 703-227-7772.
A Smoke-Free Dining Guide for Reston and Herndon was recently published by the Northern Virginia Alliance on Smoking or Health (NOVASH). The guide tells residents which restaurants have a smoke-free environment. The guide is free and available at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, 1086 Elden St. (Dulles Park Shopping Center) or the Fairfax County Health Department at 1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Suite 100. Or by mail, call 703-591-4131.
Three Wishes Program makes power wheelchairs available to senior citizens (65 years and up) and the permanently disabled with no cost to the recipient if they qualify. The power wheelchairs are provided to those who cannot walk and cannot self-propel a manual wheelchair in their home, and who meet the additional guidelines of the program. No deposit is required. Call 800-451-0971 for more information.
The Virginia Commission for the Arts recently approved more than $4.1 million in grants to 420 arts organizations, schools, school divisions and units of local government across the state. The following local groups were among those receiving grant money: the Reston Chorale received $1,700, VOCE received $800 and the Greater Reston Arts Center received $30,800. The grants were classified as general operating support for arts organizations.
Entertainers from a wide variety of cultural traditions are invited to perform at Reston's Multicultural Festival, which takes place 10 a.m.-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 are invited to participate in this year’s annual Make-A-Wish Colony Triathlon, set for Sept. 21 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 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.
Fifty-years old and looking for permanent work in Northern Virginia? Call Senior Employment Resources at 703-750-1936, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., for an interview.
A Farmers' Market will take place every Saturday through Nov. 2 at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. The Farmers' Market offers fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods, cut flowers, potted plants, cider and honey. For more information, call 703-941-7987.
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 e-mail smcallister@nvfs.org.
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.-12 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston, 1625 Wiehle Ave. Call Roy Seabolt at 571-263-1430 or e-mail rseabolt@cox.net for more information, or visit the Web site at http://communitylink.allnva.com/groups/novacdn.
Host families for the 2002-03 school year are 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.
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 can be picked up at the Reston Association. The cost is $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.
Learn all about RCC's latest events and course offerings at the new RCC site on RestonWeb at http://rcc.restonweb.com/. In addition to the CenterStage performance schedule, the site provides a printable registration form, press releases about upcoming events at RCC, links to the Reston Multicultural Festival Web site and to RestonWeb, and directions to both RCC facilities. Visit RestonWeb at www.restonweb.com.
The Reston Historic Trust recently published a unique coloring book entitled "A Child Looks At Reston" with line drawings by famed Reston artist Pat Mcintyre and text by RHT president Bill Nicoson. The book depicts the birth of Reston as Robert E. Simon, Jr., surveys the valley that will become Lake Anne and the adjacent site that will become Heron House and Lake Anne Village Center. The first edition of the book are on sale for $5 at RHT's Storefront Museum and Shop in Lake Anne Village Center. Orders to be picked up can also be placed by calling 703-709-7700.