The Giving Circle of HOPE, in conjunction with the Kirvan Group of Merrill Lynch, sponsored a spring reception to assist a Reston family. The event, held April 16, raised almost $1,500 to help a single disabled mother with the family's bills. More than 90 Giving Circle members and their guests participated in the event. Several Reston businesses — including Sutton Place Gourmet, Whole Foods, Safeway and Giant — donated wine and hors d'oeuvres for the affair. The Giving Circle of HOPE, a philanthropic organization providing funds and assistance to Northern Virginians in need, can be reached at givingcircle@hotmail.com
Reston Community Center (RCC) is holding its annual a Prom Dress Drive collecting lightly-used party dresses, shoes, handbags and jewelry. Dresses of all sizes, styles and colors are welcome. Clothes should be dry-cleaned before donated. If not possible, inform RCC of this when dropping dresses off. Donations are tax-deductible. There is a self-serve drop-off. Bring donations to the Hunters Woods RCC between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The drop-off area is near the pool overlook. On Saturday, May 16, from 5-7 p.m. at the Reston Community Center, Hunter Woods, teens who are unable to purchase dresses on their own will be invited to select a dress from donations. For further information, contact Shauna Cole, teen program director, Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500 (V/TTY), or e-mail scole1@fairfaxcounty.gov.
The League of Reston Artists (LRA) announces its 2004 Call for Entry for the 11th Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibition. This exhibition will feature $1,500 in prize monies, including the $500 Jo Ann Rose Award in honor of the LRA’s past president, Jo Ann Rose. Trudi Van Dyke, director of the Torpedo Factory, will serve as juror for this exhibition. This exhibition will run from June 7–July 6. An opening reception will take place on June 13, from 4-7 p.m., at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery of the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston. During the first week of the exhibition, visitors will be encouraged to vote for their favorite work. The artist of the work that receives the most votes will be awarded the People’s Choice Award at the opening reception. This call for entry is limited to a maximum of three works of art in any 2-D media from each artist. The entry fee for LRA members is $20 ($25 at the door) and $25 for non-members ($30 at the door). All entries must be post marked by May 28. The entry form can be downloaded from the LRA’s web site at http://www.leagueofrestonartist.org. Send completed entry form to the LRA, POB 2513, Reston, VA 20195. Artists who are interested in competing in this exhibition are advised that they must deliver or have their work delivered in person to the Jo Ann Rose Gallery of the Reston Community Center at Lake Ann Plaza in Reston, on June 6, from 6-8 p.m. or on June 7, from 10 a.m.-noon. Unaccepted work must be picked-up in person by the artist or their designated representative on June 7, from 4-7 p.m. For directions to the Jo Ann Rose Gallery, see the LRA’s web site at http://www.leagueofrestonartists.org.
"Life Notes with Vera Turner," a new cable TV show, tapes before a live audience at Fairfax Public Access Studios on June 7. Reserve a seat in the audience today by sending an e-mail to info@lifenotestv.com or by calling 703-837-0227. Find out about the show at www.lifenotestv.com.
Reston Runners will be offering a Women's Training Program to area women. Coached by women for women, this series of eight sessions meets on Monday evenings, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the South Lakes High School track area. In addition to exercise, the sessions include a brief presentation on a topic of particular interest to women in fitness. Participants choose between four different groups: walkers, walk/runners, beginning runners and advance beginning runners. Registration is required, either online prior to the start of the program or at the track. There is a $20 fee, which includes the 2004 Reston Runners Women's Training Program fee. For more information, visit www.restonrunners.org or e-mail wtp@restonrunners.org.
WIC, a supplemental nutrition program that serves pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children under 5, has just opened an office at the Neighborhood Resource Center in Herndon. WIC provides nutrition education, private and group sessions with a nutrition expert, free nutrition checkups, support and help with breastfeeding, referrals to other services that can help families, healthy recipes and access to healthy foods. The supplemental foods provided are milk, eggs, cheese, peanut butter, beans, juice and cereals. WIC is located at 1086 Elden St., in Herndon. For more information, call 703-435-7814.
The Reston Chorale is holding open auditions for choral singers in all parts. To schedule an audition, visit www.restonchorale.org and click on "Join Us," or call 703-834-0079.
The ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program provides full-time, undergraduate-level college students with an eight-week, paid internship to experience operations in a nonprofit community environment. ExxonMobil Foundation funds the intern salaries and Volunteer Fairfax expenses for the program. Volunteer Fairfax administers the program and trains participating organizations in how to recruit and select interns, and how to organize their summer internships. Participating interns also have the opportunity to attend two developmental seminars on resume writing, interview tips, workplace ethics and etiquette, as well as to complete a group community service project. College students interested in the ExxonMobil-funded internship may visit the Volunteer Fairfax website, www.volunteerfairfax.org to obtain a list of participating local agencies, internship descriptions and agency contacts. Candidates should apply directly to the selected agencies.
The public is welcome to use the Reston Community Center photo lab during open hours. These are as follows:
* Black And White Developing: first, third and fifth weekend of each month, Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m., Tuesdays from 6-10 p.m. and Thursdays from 1-5 p.m.
* Color Photo Lab: second and fourth weekend of each month, Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m., Monday following a color weekend, 5:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Reservations are required. Call 703-476-4500 to make a
reservation. The photo lab fee for black and white developing is $7 per visit for people who live and work in Reston and $9 per visit for all others. The fee for color developing is $7 per two-hour session for people who live and work in Reston and $9 per two-hour session for all others. The Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, is located in the lower level of the Hunters Woods Shopping Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.
WAHMfest (the Work at Home Moms Expo) has teamed up with home-based businesses and local merchants to create Help a Spouse Care Baskets. Each basket includes a variety of items, including body wash and body sponge, a scented candle, hand cream, chocolates and other "relaxation" items. The public is encouraged to nominate a military spouse for a care basket by visiting www.wahmfest.org/helpaspouse or by calling 703-926-8576. As funds are raised for each basket, a new name will be randomly drawn and the basket will be sent to the winner.
The Fairfax County Public Library's new virtual reference service allows users at home or work to contact county librarians via the Internet and receive guided research assistance. This new service is available at the Library's website, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library, during regular hours. Users do not need a library card to participate; they activate the service by going to "Ask a Librarian" and following simple instructions. A librarian responds to the request, and together the user and librarian discuss the question and the progress of the search in an area on the right side of the screen, while looking at resources offered by the librarian on the left side of the screen.
ReSource Therapy Associates, Inc. sponsors 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.
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 Inova Blood Donor Services at 703-208-7000.
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. Visit www.communitylink.allnva.com/groups/novacdn.
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.