<cal1>AUG. 8-10
<cal2>Koi America’s 2003 Pond and Water Garden Expo will be held Aug. 8-10 at the Dulles Expo in Chantilly. Hours are Friday from 3-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. The Pond and Water Garden Expo will include giant garden displays and more than 120 exhibits displaying everything for the well-equipped water garden, plus crafts, art work, jewelry and free "How-To" seminars. Visit www.makc.com or contact David Hester at 703-791-5939, or davehester@earthlink.net.
<cal1>SATURDAY/AUG. 9
<cal2>The Gentle Giants and their Long Eared Friends will perform at the Old Dominion Draft Horse and Mule Show on Saturday, Aug. 9 starting at 9 a.m. at the Rosemount Show Grounds in Spotsylvania, Va. There are classes for Registered Draft Horses, Half-Breeds, Donkeys, Mules and Draft ponies. Conformation classes, driving classes including cart, teams, wagon and carriage classes, riding and trail classes as well as "fun" classes. For driving directions and more information, call Steven Smith at 540-672-2484 or visit the Web site at www.vdhma.org.
<cal2>Come learn about your stream valley and watershed during a naturalist led walk through Big Rocky Run on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn more about the unique behavior of this suburban stream and the many creatures that call it home. In case of inclement weather day of hike, call 703-324-1425 for status. Co-sponsored by Audubon Naturalist Society, Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, and Fairfax County Stream Protection Strategy. Meet at Greenbriar East Elementary School, 13006 Point Pleasant Dr.
RSVP 703-803-8400 or Cliff@AudubonNaturalist.Org
<cal1>MONDAY/AUG. 11
<cal2>Every Monday in August from noon to 5 p.m., ShadowLand Laser Adventures is holding an open house. It gives visitors the chance to tour the facility in Chantilly, speak with managers and try a short experience with the high-tech suits in the 6,500 square foot arena. Perfect for youth groups, camp groups, sports teams or team building. Limit one adult and one other per day. Call 703-263-1004 or visit www.ShadowlandAdventures.com.
<cal2>The Centreville Toastmasters Club meets twice a month at the Centreville Regional Library, on Mondays, Aug. 11 and Aug. 25, from 7-8:15 p.m. Toastmasters will help members speak confidently, listen effectively and think on their feet. Guests are always welcome. Contact Lynn Griesemer at 703-263-2468, or e-mail greeze@juno.com.
<cal1>AUG. 11-15
<cal2>The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority will waive admission fees for senior citizens aged 60 and older at all five NVRPA pool complexes for Senior Swim Week, Monday, Aug. 11, through Friday, Aug. 15. Seniors should present an identification card or other proof of age eligibility and call the pool to confirm hours of operation at: Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Dr., Centreville, 703-631-0552.
<cal1>TUESDAY, AUG. 12
<cal2>Northern Virginia Family Services Oakton Office will offer local information sessions on becoming a foster care parent to special needs children and youth on Tuesday, Aug. 12 and Monday Sept. 8, from 6:30-8 p.m. at Centreville Regional Library. Call Sara Brandland at 703-219-2184.
<cal2>The New Mothers Luncheon Group in Northern Virginia offers an opportunity for mothers and their infants up to 8 months old to get together for lunch, a speaker and fun. The group meets every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Restaurant 7, located at 8521 Leesburg Pike, Tysons Corner. Reservations are required for all luncheons. Contact Rochelle Goldberg at 703-961-9179 or at eventbuilders@hotmail.com.
The schedule is as follows:.
* Tuesday, Aug. 12— "Infant Massage," Kara Stamper, certified infant massage instructor.
* Tuesday, Aug. 19 — No lunch.
* Tuesday, Aug. 26 — "Kindermusik" — Pam Phillips, Kindermusik of Fairfax.
<cal1>TUESDAYS/AUG. 12 & 26
<cal2>General Cancer Support Group meets Tuesdays, Aug. 12 and Aug. 26 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Fair Oaks Medical Plaza Building. Drop in on this discussion and support group for cancer survivors and family members. Anyone is welcome regardless of where treatment is received. The location is the conference center, 3700 Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax, second building to the left of Inova Fair Oaks Hospital.
<cal1>WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13
<cal2>The Centreville Multiplex Cinemas is launching its fifth annual "Bookworm Wednesdays," a summer reading program developed to encourage children to read during summer vacation. The program runs for eight weeks and entitles kids ages 6-12 to free admission to a children's film every Wednesday at 10 a.m. when they present a book report at a Multiplex Cinemas box office. Official book report forms will be available at participating theaters and online at www.MultiplexCinemas.com.
* Aug. 13 — "The Wild Thornberrys Movie"
<cal2>As part of the Fairfax Station Forum series of talks on topics of local historical interest, Ross Netherton of Arlington, husband of the late Nan Netherton, noted historian, will be the featured speaker on the subject, "The History of Preservation in Fairfax County, Virginia." Netherton co-authored this book with his late wife and will talk on the importance of historic preservation in Fairfax County. His presentation will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039. Free, although donations are encouraged. Call 703-425-9225 or check the Web site at www.fairfax-station.org.
<cal2>Evening Explorations: Wonderful Worms at E.C. Lawrence Park, Walney from 7-8 p.m. Search under logs and leaf litter for worms. Play a game and find out why they are important for plants and other animals. Then eat a worm — a GummiWorm, that is. Reservations required. Free. Call 703-631-0013.
<cal1>August 13-14
<cal2>Games and Pastimes at Sully Historic Site. Roll hoops, spin tops, throw graces or just observe the fun in the pleasant setting of Sully with its costumed interpreters. Cost is $5/adult, $4/student, $/3 senior and child. Preschools and summer camps may schedule as early as 10 a.m. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; call 703-437-1794.
<cal1>THURSDAY/AUG. 14
<cal2>The law firm of Steffan & Macdonald will present free seminars discussing effective estate planning centered around the revocable Living Trust. The seminars will discuss how and why people want to avoid probate in the event of disability or death, and how Living Trusts can reduce or eliminate estate taxes. The seminars will further discuss the recent changes in tax laws. Seminars will be held at the following locations:
* Thursday, Aug. 14 from 7-9 p.m. at the Fair Oaks Holiday Inn, 11787 Lee Jackson Highway.
* Wednesday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Fair Oaks Holiday Inn, 11787 Lee Jackson Highway.
* Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 7-9 p.m. at the Fair Oaks Holiday Inn, 11787 Lee Jackson Highway.
* Wednesday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Fair Lakes Hyatt, 12777 Fair Lakes Circle.
<cal1>AUG. 16-17
<cal2>Greenberg's Train, Toy, and Hobby Show is coming to the Dulles Expo Center Aug. 16-17. Model and toy train experts will be on hand with exhibits and informative demonstrations. Spend the day visiting operating train layouts provided by local toy train enthusiasts who represents a variety of scales and gauges. Admission is $7 for adults and admission is good for both days. Hours are 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Children 11 and under are admitted free. Call 703-378-0910 or visit www.greenbergshows.com
<cal1>THROUGH AUG. 18
<cal2>The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Sully Stitchers present and exhibit of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories from 1785-1820 at Sully Historic Site in Chantilly. The exhibit, "Elegance and Simplicity — Federal Fashions at Sully" is on loan from a private collector, and will be open through Aug. 18. The cost is $5 for adults, $4 for students, $3 for seniors and children. Call 703-437-1794.
<cal1>August 20-21
<cal2>Sully Summer Stories at Sully Historic Site. Children travel back in time listening to stories of America's past, then continue their discovery of history with a parent-assisted take-home craft. Reservations required. Stories read at 11 a.m. for children ages 3-5, and at noon for children ages 6-10. House tour available at separate cost. $1/craft. Preschools and summer camps may schedule as early as 10 a.m. Call 703-437-1794.
<cal1>Sunday, Aug. 24
<cal2>Meadow Wildflower Walk at E.C. Lawrence Park, Walney from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Late summer is a wonderful time for viewing field wildflowers. Come walk with a naturalist at the Park Authority's Hunter-Hacor tract in western Fairfax. Dry and wet meadows harbor milkweeds, bush clovers, goldenrods, hawkweeds and many more spectacular plants as well as insects. Wear long pants and hiking shoes; bring field guides, binoculars and bring lunch. Reservations required. Cost is $5. Call 703-631-0013.
<cal2>A Dove Shoot 100 (NSCA) will take place on Sunday, Aug. 24, from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Registration at the Bull Run Regional Park Shooting Center, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville. Take aim at this contest sponsored by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's Bull Run Shooting Center and Short Flight Shooting Instruction. This will be a National Sporting Clays Association event. Call 703-830-2344.
<cal1>TUESDAY, AUG. 26
<cal2>Volunteer Fairfax offers training to help nonprofits and government agencies build volunteer programs and capacity. Half-day training sessions are designed for volunteer coordinators, whether they are veterans or new to the job to organizing and implement a volunteer program. Sign up for the following training:
"Understanding Volunteering" will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Fairfax County Government Center, 12055 Govt. Ctr. Parkway, Fairfax. For more information on programs and services, visit the Web site at www.volutneerfairfax.org or call 703-246-3460.
<cal1>August 27-28
<cal2>The Work of Their Hands at Sully Historic Site. Spinning, butter churning, cooking or gardening performed by tenant farmers, indentured servants and those enslaved, demonstrated around the outbuildings. Guided tour included. Cost is $5/adult, $4/student, $3/senior and child. *Preschools and summer camps may schedule as early as 10 a.m. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; call 703-437-1794.
<cal1>SATURDAY/SEPT. 6
<cal2>The Lane's Mill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution meeting on Saturday, Sept. 6, will be held at 1 p.m. at the Centreville Library. The program will be on DAR's Project Patriot and the Constitution. Lane's Mill is a small but active chapter that offers a broad range of programs on historic preservation, natural conservation, education of our nation's youth, and promotion of patriotism, and love of country. Prospective members and guests are encouraged to attend meetings. Inquires should be directed to Jennifer Smith, Chapter Regent, at 703 961-1030 or via email at jsmithtot@aol.com. The chapter Web site is www.dar.org under "chapters".
<cal1>SUNDAY/SEPT. 7
<cal2>An Iron Man 250 will take place Sunday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Registration at the Bull Run Regional Park Shooting Center, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville. Take aim at this contest sponsored by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's Bull Run Shooting Center and Short Flight Shooting Instruction. Call 703-830-2344.
<cal1>WEDNESDAY/SEPT. 10
<cal2>Fairfax County Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is offering an orientation meeting for prospective volunteers on Wednesday, Sept. 10 from 7-8:30 p.m. The orientation session will take place at the Fairfax CASA office located at 4103 Chain Bridge Rd., Suite 200, in Faifax. Fairfax CASA is a non-profit organization that recruits, screens, trains, and supports adult community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the Fairfax County court system. CASAs are appointed by a judge to speak up on behalf of abused and neglected children and work to ensure that the child obtains a safe, permanent home, where they can thrive. Call 703-273-3526, or visit the Web site at www.casafairfax.org.
<cal1>FRIDAY/SEPT. 12
<cal2>MOMS Club of Centreville North: Learn about playgroups, social events, speakers, etc. for mothers and their children. Monthly meeting on Friday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. at the Sully Government Center on Stonecroft Blvd. Call 703-830-7580 or visit the Web site at www.momsclubccva.org.
<cal1>SATURDAY/SEPT. 13
<cal2>The Fairfax City Parks and Recreation Department and the O’Neill-Malcom Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) is sponsoring an Irish Traditional Music Festival at Van Dyck Park (between the John Wood Center and St. Leo’s Church) 3730 Old Lee Hwy. Fairfax on Saturday, Sept. 13 from noon to 6 p.m. Three stages of traditional Irish music and dance. This festival is free to the public (donations will be accepted in order to pay the performers). Bring a folding chair. Call 703-7858 or CCE 703-978-8265.
A "Hope is on the Horizon" Luncheon to benefit the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Research Fund will be held Saturday, Sept. 13, at noon at The Hermitage Inn Restaurant in Clifton. Independent Longaberger Sales Consultants from the American Heirloom Branch have planned the luncheon. This event will feature basket weaving demonstrations from a Longaberger Basket-maker and guest speaker Darlene Parker will then relate her story of being a breast cancer survivor. Money for the charity will be raised through the following means:
* Raffle Ticket Sales — local businesses will donate prizes for the drawing;
* $2 for each "Horizon of Hope" basket sold will be donated by The Longaberger Company to the American Cancer Society;
* The Hermitage Inn has donated the $1,375 site rental fee for this event.
Contact Robin Garbe at 703-830-0855.
<cal1>SEPT. 18, 19, 25
<cal2>The Northern Virginia Long-term Care Ombudsman Program is preparing for its annual training for new Volunteer Ombudsmen. Volunteers play a key role in the program's provision of advocacy services to residents of long-term care facilities in the region. The volunteer is assigned to a specific nursing home or assisted living facility in their community and makes weekly visits. Using listening, observing and mediating skills, the ombudsman works with the residents, their families and the staff to ensure that the residents' rights are being protected. Training for prospective Volunteer Ombudsmen is scheduled for Sept. 18, 19 and 25 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Applicants must complete the training session and must be available to volunteer four hours per week, during regular business hours. Interviews will run from August to early September. Call 703-324-5435 or e-mail nvltcop@fairfaxcounty.gov for further information and an application, or visit the Web site at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ombudsman.
<cal1>SUNDAY, SEPT. 21
<cal2>The Clifton Horse Society will host and judge a pleasure ride on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. at Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville. The fee for pre-registered entries is $35; $25 for those 13 and under. Entries must be postmarked by Sept. 13. For more information, contact Mary Flowers at 703-250-6188 or forhorses@erols.com, or contact Wilma Kime at 703-222-8253 or wkime@cox.net.
<cal1>SEPT. 26-28
<cal2>Fall for the Arts, a juried, contemporary art festival, will be held Sept. 26-28, on the grounds of the Ellipse at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. The event will feature 180 award-winning artists from across the country, as well as a wine tasting with eight of Virginia’s finest wineries. Tasty cuisine from some of the area’s best restaurants and an entertainment stage with light jazz and a cappella round out the festival.
The festival will be open Friday, Sept. 26, 4-7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27 , 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission for the fine arts festival is $5, with an additional charge for food and wine. Because of the shorter hours on Friday evening, wine will be available by the glass from individual wineries; admission for the wine tasting on Saturday and Sunday is $10.
Contact Celebrate Fairfax at 703-324-3247 or 1-800-880-6629. Visit www.FallForTheArts.com.
<cal1>OCT. 4-5
<cal2>Ducks Unlimited's Battle of Bull Run (NSCA) will take place Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday, Oct. 5 at Bull Run Regional Park Public Shooting Center, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's Bull Run Shooting Center and Short Flight Shooting Instruction will sponsor this National Sporting Clays Association event. Call 703-830-2344.
<cal1>SUNDAY/OCT. 19
<cal2>An Octoberfest Skeet Tournament (NSSA) will take place on Sunday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Bull Run Regional Park Public Shooting Center, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville.
Take aim at this contest sponsored by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's Bull Run Shooting Center and Short Flight Shooting Instruction. This will be a National Skeet Shooting Association event. Call 703-830-2344.
<cal1>SUNDAY/NOV. 2
<cal2>A Partner's shoot will take place Sunday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Registration at Bull Run Regional Park Public Shooting Center, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville. Take aim at this contest sponsored by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's Bull Run Shooting Center and Short Flight Shooting Instruction. Call 703-830-2344.
<cal1>NOV. 8-9
<cal2>A Ski Swap by Ski Chalet of Chantilly will be held for both skiers and snowboarders on Nov. 8-9. The swaps are hosted by Ski Chalet and the National Ski Patrol divisions from five mid-Atlantic mountain resorts. A Ski Swap is a charitable event where hundreds of enthusiasts buy and sell used sporting goods for skiing and snowboarders. All equipment, clothing, and accessories in good condition will be accepted. Admission is free. A percentage of all consignment sales benefits local nonprofit volunteer Ski Patrols. The event will take place at 14130 Sullyfield Circle in Chantilly. Call 703-631-7880.