<hdr30>Community
<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. Call Bonnie Eaton at 703-917-6449.
During the month of August Appalachian Spring is collecting school supplies for needy children as they prepare for school. They are in need of pencils, washable markers, crayons, notebooks, glue, filler paper, yellow highlighters, rulers, medium point pens and new or gently used backpacks. Call 703-478-2218.
Greater Reston Art Center holds their C-Note sale Sept. 5-28 with a reception on Thursday, Sept. 11. Donated artwork is exhibited. During the reception, holders of $125 tickets will each get to take home the work of their choice in the order of a draw. Proceeds support GRACE and its outreach programs, including Art in the Schools and the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. Visit www.restonarts.com.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is preparing for its annual new volunteer training. Volunteers are assigned to a specific nursing home or assisted living facility in their community which they visit weekly. Listening, observing and mediating, the ombudsman works with the residents, their families and the facility staff to ensure that residents' rights are protected. The training is scheduled for Sept. 18, 19 and 25, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., each day. Applicants must successfully complete training and must be available to volunteer four hours per week during regular business hours. Anyone interested who is not employed by a long-term care facility and can commit one year to working as an Ombudsman should call 703-324-5435. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ombudsman.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training is recruiting volunteers to train for marathons and races in support of local cancer patients. For more information, call 703-960-1100 or visit www.teamintraining.org.
The Reston Community Center (RCC) Hunter Woods has chartered a bus for a daytrip to Busch Gardens amusement park in Williamsburg, Va. on Saturday, Aug. 16. The bus will leave from the RCC, Hunter Woods at 7 a.m. and return at 9:30 p.m. Those interested may register in person at the RCC or fax a completed registration form to 703-476-8617. The trip costs $45 for those 7 and older who live or work in Reston and $37 for those 6 and under. For all others, the trip is $55-$66.
For further information, directions, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500. The Reston Community Center Hunters Woods is located in the lower level of the Hunters Woods Shopping Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.
The registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 22 for the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics held Sept. 13-25. Opening Ceremonies will be held Saturday, Sept. 13 at 9:30 a.m. at Falls Church High School. The games offer over 25 events including track and field, golf, tennis, swimming, bowling and horseshoes for seniors 50 and older. Medals will be awarded. $7.50 for first event, $1 each for additional events. Call 703-228-3600 or local senior centers to register. Call Cheryl Wheeler at 703-771-5156 for transportation questions. Visit www.novaseniorolympics.com.
The English as a Second Language (ESL) and Immigrant Ministries program has an immediate need for teaching volunteers. The time commitment is two hours, one day/night per week or Saturday mornings, September through December. Teacher training is being offered on either Saturday, Aug. 9 (8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) or Sunday, Aug. 24 (1-5:30 p.m.) and on Sunday, Sept. 7 (1-5:30 p.m.). Persons interested in helping immigrants improve their quality of life are urged to contact Campbell immediately at 703-271-8341.
Last year, the ESL program had more the 1,700 students registered with an annual teaching and volunteer staff of more than 300.
Classes will be offered at 19 different locations and at various times. Visit wwww.eslim.org.
The Greater Reston Art Center (GRACE) is accepting applications for the 13th Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. Applications are now available at the Greater Reston Art Center (GRACE) Web site, www.restonarts.org. Hardcopies of the application will be available after Aug. 15 upon request. Relevant deadlines for the 2004 festival, scheduled for May 22-23, are:
Early Apply Fee: $40, if received by Aug. 15.
Standard Apply Fee: $50, if received by Oct. 3, 2003.
Notification of Participants: by Nov. 26, 2003.
Slides returned to applicants: by Dec. 15, 2003.
The festival showcases finest artists from 45 states, Washington D.C. and Canada.
Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) offers an orientation meeting for prospective volunteers from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The non-profit organization recruits and trains community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the Fairfax County court system. Special advocates are appointed by a judge to speak up on behalf of children and ensure that they obtain safe, permanent homes. The session will take place at the Fairfax CASA office at 4103 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 200 in Fairfax. Call 703-273-3526 or visit www.casafairfax.org.
The Reston Triathlon is seeking volunteers to help with the event scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 7. Volunteers are need for Saturday set-up on Sept. 6 including the swim course, transition areas at Lake Audubon boat ramp and South Lakes High School and also for packet pickup. On Sunday, race day, volunteers are needed for the two transition areas (Lake Audubon boat ramp and the HS stadium), post race food, run sentry, water stops, score keeper with LM sports, bike marshal and finish line. A free Triathlon T-shirt and free food are provided. E-mail restontri@aol.com or visit www.restontriathlon.org and follow the links to the application form. Individuals may also write to Reston Triathlon Association, 11654 Plaza America Drive, Reston, VA 20190.
The Fifth Annual Light the Night event will be held at Reston Town Center on Saturday, Oct. 4. The event consists of a 2-mile walk to raise awareness about leukemia and lymphoma. Participants raising $100 or more will carry red illuminated balloons and cancer survivors and patients will carry white balloons to symbolize "lights of hope." The event will also include a musical performance by the Swiftkick Band, face painting, kids games and refreshments. Call 703-960-111. Visit www.lightthenight.org\nca.
Inova Blood Donor Services conducts community blood drives on a regular basis. Donating takes about one hour. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health for three days prior to donating. Call Invoa Blood Donor Services at 703-208-7000.
ReSource Therapy Associates, Inc. is sponsoring a Pet Loss Support Group for people experiencing grief after the loss of an animal. Sessions will be held every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. at ReSource Therapy Associates, Inc., 11864 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 101, Reston.
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.-noon 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
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.
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.
Individuals age 50 and above looking for permanent employment are encouraged to call Senior Employment Resources at 703-750-1936, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., for an interview.
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.