<cal1>THURSDAY, JULY 17
<cal2>Amnesty International, Fairfax branch, will meet on Thursday, July 17, at 7 p.m., at Barnes & Noble on Fair Lakes Drive, Fairfax. Visitors are welcome to join in discussion of current human rights issues around the world. The group’s special focus for the past few months has been Father Ly, a prisoner of conscience in Vietnam. Call 703-830-4194, or write amnestyusafairfax@lycos.com.
<cal1>SATURDAY, JULY 19
<cal2>Fair Oaks Shopping Center is cooling down this summer by serving up some hot jazz with a free, two-hour concert featuring the nationally-known band "Double Digit" on Saturday, July 19, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Grand Court. The event is in partnership with Smooth Jazz 105.9 FM WJZW and will be hosted by radio personality Al Santos. Call 703-359-8302 or visit www.ShopFairOaksMall.com.
E.C. Lawrence Park will present the story of "Three Billy Goats Gruff" at the Silly Socks Puppet Theater in the park on Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m. The production is part of the 2003 Arts in the Parks Children's Entertainment Series made possible through generous contributions from McDonald's. Performances are featured every Saturday during summer and are sponsored by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Park Authority. Call the park at 703-631-0013.
<cal2>The Meadows of Chantilly Mobil Home Park is having a multi-family yard sale on Saturday, July 19, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The community is located off Route 50 and Airline Parkway in Chantilly. Call Carol Good, 703-449-1502, after 5 p.m.
<cal2>The USS Athena, a Northern Virginia science-fiction fan and community service organization, will hold a talk and demonstration on non-traditional instruments used in science fiction movies and television music on Saturday, July 19, at 2 p.m. at Chantilly Library. Learn about the theramin, heard in "The Thing," the television series "Lost in Space," and "My favorite Martian." Another featured instrument is the waterharp, whose unique sound is heard in "Mystery Men" and other movies. Remember the Cantina Band in "Star Wars"? That was full of the sounds of hand-made and non-traditional instruments. Visitors will have a chance to try out some of these instruments.
<cal1>JULY 19-20
<cal2>Sully Historic Site will host its annual weekend encampment on Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Costumed interpreters will recreate the daily experiences of Northern Virginia residents during the Civil War. Re-enactors will demonstrate the duties of different components of the military, including drill practice and rifle firing. Visitors fall in as recruits and will learn marching maneuvers.
Civilian re-enactors will also show how life went on when husbands, sons and brothers went off to war. The Fairfax Symphony’s Brass Ensemble will perform Saturday at 1 p.m. while author and photographer Chuck Mauro will be on hand to discuss his book "The Battle of Chantilly (Ox Hill), A Monumental Storm," the story of the largest Civil War battle fought in Fairfax County.
The cost of the activities is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors and children. Call 703-437-1794.
<cal1>SUNDAY, JULY 20
<cal2>The Second Annual Equality Fairfax GLBT Summer Picnic will take place Sunday, July 20, from noon to 4 p.m. at Nottoway Park, 9601 Courthouse Road in Vienna. Play volleyball, Frisbee and soccer, or just lounge and visit. More than 100 people attended last year. Children and dogs welcome. Park rules prohibit alcohol. Bring something to grill,and Equality Fairfax will provide the rest. E-mail picnic@EqualityFairfax.org or call 703-255-1552. Equality Fairfax is a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and advocacy organization. www.EqualityFairfax.org.
<cal2>The Centreville Regional Art Guild holds its monthly meeting on Sunday, July 20 from 4-6 p.m. at the Centreville Regional Library. The guest speaker will be local artist Mary Sturcken who will demonstrate the technique of painting with egg tempera. Call Beth Latture at 703-802-1640 or email at beth.latture@verizon.net.
<cal1>MONDAY, JULY 21
<cal2>ShadowLand and Laser Adventures will host open houses every Monday in July. Located in the Chantilly Place Shopping Center in Chantilly, visitors may speak with managers and try a short laser tag experience with the high-tech suits in the 6,500 square foot area. The venue is great for birthday parties, sports team-building and staff meetings. Limit one adult and one other per day. Call 703-263-1004. Open 12-5 p.m. Visit the Web site at www.ShadowlandAdventures.com.
<cal1>TUESDAY/JULY 22
<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, July 22 — "Getting Fit After Baby," Nancy Karabaic, fitness coach.
* Tuesday, July 29 — "Sign Language for Infants," Stephanie Steffer, Time To Sign.
* Tuesday, Aug. 5 — No lunch.
* 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>WEDNESDAY, JULY 23
<cal2>Game Day is being revived by the New Neighbors League Club on Wednesday, July 23, at the International Country Club, 13200 Lee Jackson Highway, Fairfax. The fee, which includes lunch, is $23. The club is opened to anyone interested in meeting new people. Bring your friends to enjoy the day and play the game of your choice such as bridge, canasta, buncho, mah jong, etc. Cards, tallies and score sheets will be provided. Call 703-476-8554.
<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.
* July 23 — "Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie"
* July 30 — "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimaron"
* Aug. 6 — "Space Jam"
* Aug. 13 — "The Wild Thornberrys Movie"
<cal1>July 24-26
<cal2>Westfield Summer Stage will present the musical, "Peter Pan" on July 24-26 at Westfield High School in Chantilly. Lori Knickerbocker will direct this much-loved story by J.M. Barrie that is set in the magical world of Neverland and features numerous well-known characters including Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Wendy, Michael, John, Nana, the Crocodile, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and large groups of Indians, Lost Children, and Pirates. Familiar tunes include "I Won't Grow Up," "Neverland," and "I've Gotta Crow." Performances are Thursday, July 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, July 25, at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, July 26, at 7:30 p.m. All tickets are $5 and are available at the door or by calling 703-488-6430. Westfield Summer Stage is sponsored by Westfield Theatre Boosters.
The musical "Peter Pan" had two highly successful Broadway runs, one starring Mary Martin in the 1950's and the other starring Cathy Rigby in the late '90s. The show is appropriate for children ages 3 and up.
Westfield Summer Stage is in its third year of providing a musical theater performance experience for actors and technicians in middle and high school. "Peter Pan" follows last year's production of "Snoopy." This year, more than 90 thespians from Fairfax County are involved in the production, both on stage, in the orchestra, and behind the scenes, with many Summer Stage graduates serving in leadership positions.
The show features Courtney Knickerbocker, as Peter Pan, with special guest James Mitchell and Westfield senior Derek Rommel sharing the role of Captain Hook, Courtney Reed as Tiger Lily, Lacey Armbruster as Tinkerbell, Kelsey Carroll as Wendy, Jesse Leahy as John, Jeremy Rommel as Michael, Barry Armbruster as Mr. Darling, Karen Woolley as Mrs. Darling, Christie Steiffer as Liza, Kevin Knickerbocker as Smee, and Branson Reese as the Crocodile.
Also featured are Meghan Bartnick, Ryan Dunne, Suzanna Ramsey, Heather McElwain, Shannon Holland, Brittany Martin, Natasha Scearse, Megan Meadows, Joe Machak, Sarah Cowdery, Tara Mitchell, Michelle Polera, plus more than 30 new and returning Summer Stage actors, singers, and dancers.
A talented mix of adults and former Westfield Summer Stage students make up the staff. Leann Woolley and Nancy Reese are the producers. Yvonne Henry is the choreographer and Courtney Reed, who also plays Tiger Lily, is the dance captain. Abbie Isaac, who previously acted in "Annie" and "Snoopy," is the assistant director. Micah White, a Shenandoah University junior, is the accompanist, with Clare Morris serving as musical director of a young people's orchestra. Blake Goss is the assistant musical director. Recent Westfield graduates Jackie Hansen and Natalie Chicas are sharing stage manager duties. Robyn Feuerberg is adding her artistic talents and Maria Vetsch, Valerie Armbruster, and Nancy Rolfe are costuming the cast, which includes dozens of pirates, Indians, and lost children.
Jimmy Lawlor, a Westfield graduate and current JMU theatre student, is the technical director. Student technicians include Emily Brown, Carl Calabrese, Dan Calabrese, Stephanie Crossland, Danielle Feuerberg, Laura McElhaney, James McEwan, Nick Solberg, and Brad Williams.
Westfield High School is located at 4700 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Call 703-488-6430 to reserve tickets for "Peter Pan" or for directions to the school.
<cal1>FRIDAY/JULY 25
<cal2>In an effort to make children in the area safer, The Black Belt Academy of Centreville will be conducting a free, one-hour personal safety and anti-abduction seminar for children ages 6 and older on Friday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Centrewood Square Shopping Center at 5944 Centreville Crest Lane Centreville (behind Legacy Furniture).
The training aims to give children a fighting chance against physically abusive adults, and sexual predators by increasing their awareness about potentially dangerous situations. The interactive session will feature role-playing scenarios in which children learn appropriate responses to danger, including setting verbal boundaries, running away, telling a trusted adult, and calling 911. The seminar will also introduce children to some of the physical resistance techniques they can use in the event they are confronted with unavoidable danger.
Master Instructor, David Nyce has more than 20 years experience in the martial arts industry. The Black Belt Academy teaches life skills and attitudes that support them. Call Mr. Nyce at 703-803-4477 or visit the Web site at TheBlackBeltAcademy.com.
The Military Order of the Purple Heart will host a special salute to all Korean War veterans on Friday, July 25 at 3 p.m. at Fairfax High School. All Korean War veterans will receive an appreciation medallion when they provide proof of service in Korea. The ceremony will also feature traditional Korean dances and music by the Korean American Cultural Foundation from Seoul, Korea and a reception. For further information, call 703-938-3475.
<cal1>MONDAY, JULY 28
<cal2>The Centreville Toastmasters Club meets twice a month at the Centreville Regional Library, on Mondays, July 28, 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.