The Vienna Arts Society Gallery is having a free drawing for an original painting by Vienna artist and instructor Joe Phillips. Free tickets for the drawing will be given to all visitors to the gallery until Feb. 28. The drawing will be held on Sunday, Feb. 29. The gallery is located in the Village Green Shopping Center on 513 West Maple Ave., at Nutley Street. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
Joe Phillips is the featured artist for "Flower Power," the current show at the gallery. The show also features original works from 25 other local artists.
The AARP and IRS joined together to sponsor a free confidential program, "Tax-Aide," in which trained counselors prepare income tax returns and answer income tax questions for low and middle income and senior citizens. The program in Vienna takes place each Tuesday and Wednesday, from Feb. 10 through April 14, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at The SunTrust Bank, 515 Maple Ave., East. Taxpayers should use the bank's Berry Street entrance and go to the third floor. No appointment is needed and the service is free of charge. Items taxpayers should bring include:
* Copies of 2002 Federal and Virginia returns;
* Federal and Virginia 2003 taxforms and booklets received;
* Social Security card or other evidence of numbers for taxpayers and dependents;
* Documents received showing 2003 wages, interest, dividends, pensions;
* Social Security benefits, capital gains and any other income; and
* Documents received showing deductible expenses such as mortgage interest, personal property taxes, medical and health and long term care insurance expenses, charitable contributions and any other deductible expenses.
For more information, contact Ken Quincy at 703-573-7919.
The Bland Memorial Music Scholarship students compete Saturday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m., at the Vienna Assembly of God Church, 100 Ayr Hill Ave., N.E., Vienna. Students through grade 12 have a chance to win scholarships at the state level. The contest is sponsored by the Vienna Host Lions Club and the entry deadline is Feb. 14. For application forms and more information, call Rhoda Stevens at 703-281-9679.
Vienna Parks and Recreation is taking applications for the annual Amateur Photography Contest and Exhibit at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. The exhibit dates are Saturday-Sunday, March 20-21. Photos will be judged by local professional photographers and ribbons awarded in eight categories in black and white and color. A separate contest for students in grades 7-12 is offered. The entry fee is $7 per person. Entries are limited to five photos per person and two per category. For more information, call 703-255-6360.
A weekend ski trip to the Poconos in Pennsylvania sponsored by Vienna Parks and Recreation takes place Feb. 6-8. A charter bus leaves the Vienna Community Center on Friday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m., and returns Sunday at 9 p.m. The trip includes two nights at the Days Inn and Conference Center in Danville, Pa., buffet meals, entertainment, skiing at Jack Frost and Eagle Rock resorts and other activities. For pricing and more information, call 703-255-6360.
Vienna Parks and Recreation is planning an overnight trip to Atlantic City, Thursday-Friday, March 4-5. A charter bus leaves at 10 a.m., from the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., S.E. Return on Friday is at 7:30 p.m. The deadline for reservations is Thursday, Feb. 12. Cost for residents is $154 for single occupancy, $115 for double occupancy and $108 for triple occupancy. Non-residents pay between $124-$177. Cost includes transportation, casino package, dinner and breakfast buffets and overnight accommodations. Call 703-255-6360.
"Life Notes with Vera Turner" is in production for broadcast in 2004 on Cox Cable channel 10 in Fairfax and on Comcast Cable channel 10 in Reston. Later in the year, expanded coverage is planned for other public access cable stations in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The show tapes before a live audience at Fairfax Public Access Studios on March 15, April 19, May 3 and June 7. To reserve a seat, e-mail info@lifenotestv.com. Visit www.lifenotestv.com. Call 703-837-0227.
The Children's Friendship Project for Northern Ireland (CFPNI) is seeking local families to help further the peace and reconciliation effort. Families are needed to host a pair of Protestant and Roman Catholic teens (boys or girls ages 15-18) for four weeks this summer. To be eligible, families must provide a safe, neutral setting for the teens to get to know one another, a single bedroom for them to share and day-long supervision.
During their stay the teens attend a leadership conference on Capitol Hill and other team-building and social activities, although the majority of their time is spent getting to know each other and joining in the host family's normal routine.
Applications to host must be submitted by March 2004.
For more information or to obtain a host family application, contact Jenny Mullen at 703-450-4479 or nvacoordinator@cfpni.org. Visit www.cfpni.org.
CFPNI is a 17-year-old national, all-volunteer peace program aimed at building trust, understanding and friendship among the next generation of leaders in Northern Ireland.
World Heritage is seeking families, couples (with or without children) or single parents interested in hosting a high-school-age foreign exchange student. Call Judith Henderson at 703-998-0606.