Art of Living Foundation, a non-profit organization, sponsors meditations sessions at Fairfax City Regional Library, 3915 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. Sessions take place April 16, May 7 and May 21 at 3 p.m. For more information, call 703-443-6638.
Seminar for Caregivers of Older Adults, Spring 2005 Series, begins April 7, offering 10 different seminars through June 7. Program is free, registration not required, but recommended. To register, call 703-324-5205, TTY 703-449-1186. For a list of seminars, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/service/aaa.
HAVEN of Northern Virginia sponsors the following bereavement support groups. HAVEN of Northern Virginia is located at 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org:
* Widow/Widower Bereavement Support Groups, for anyone grieving the death of a spouse. Meetings take place on the first and third Thursday of the month or on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The next Tuesday meetings take place April 12 and April 26. The next Thursday meeting takes place April 7 and April 21.
* Suicide Survivors Bereavement Support Group, for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide, meets the first Tuesday of the month. The next meeting takes place May 3 at 7:30 p.m.
* A General Bereavement Support Group, for anyone grieving the death of a loved one. Meetings take place the first and third Wednesday of the month. The next meetings take place on April 20 and May 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Messiah United Methodist Church sponsors a Divorce Recovery Workshop beginning April 6 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the church, 6215 Rolling Road, Springfield. The classes will meet Wednesdays through May 25. Child care available upon request. Call Shari at 703-569-9862, ext. 213.
Mothers & More is a support group for women who have altered their career path to care for their young children at home. The group offers playgroups, children's and family activities, guest speakers, book club, mom's night out, movie night, chat group and more. For more information, call 1-866-716-7766 or visit www.novamoms.org. The group meets at the following:
* The first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Next meeting is April 7.
* The third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m., in the Braddock Hall at the Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. The next meeting is April 21.
Mothers First – Fairfax is dedicated to supporting women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms' nights out and lectures. April meetings take place April 8 and April 20 from 10:15 a.m. to noon at the Fairfax City Regional Library, 3915 Chain Bridge Road. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
MOPS (Mothers of Pre Schoolers). Join other moms with children newborn through kindergarten who desire to be the best moms they can be. Activities include MOPS 411 night with speakers on sibling rivalry, infant issues and school choices. The next meetings take place Monday, April 11 and May 9 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Immanuel Bible Church, 6911 Braddock Road, Springfield. 703-941-4124 or www.immanuelbible.net.
Mothers First – Burke is dedicated to supporting women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms night out, and lectures. Meetings take place on April 11 and April 25 from 10:30 a.m. until noon at Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Road, Burke. For more information, call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Sunrise Assisted Living of Fairfax, located at 9207 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax, sponsors the following classes/workshops. For more information, or to register, call 703-460-6933.
* Diabetes Prevention session presented by Abbott Pharmaceuticals. Tuesday, April 12 at 7 p.m.
* Alzheimer's Association presents, "Train Your Brain," how to keep your brain healthy and prevent Alzheimer's, on Tuesday, April 19, at 7 p.m.
* Mother's Day Red Hat Tea, with the Tea Lady, Friday, May 6, at 2 p.m.
Northern Virginia Epilepsy Group (Support Group for Adults diagnosed with Seizure Disorders and Caregivers) meetings take place on April 13, April 20 and April 27, at 7 p.m., at Falls Church High School, Room 100, 7521 Jaguar Trail. Free. For more call 703-425-6660.
Sunrise of Fairfax, located at 9207 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax, presents the following seminars. Registration not required, but is preferred. For more, call 703-691-0046.
* Diabetes Education, a free seminar by Abbott Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. Blood tests available by request; dessert and coffee served.
* Train Your Brain, a free seminar by the Alzheimer's Association on Tuesday, April 19, at 7 p.m. Dessert and coffee served.
La Leche League of Fairfax City hosts its next meeting on Wednesday, April 13, at 10 a.m., at the Fairfax Christian Church, 10185 Main St., Fairfax. The topic is “Nutrition and Weaning.” Pregnant and nursing women as well as their children are welcome to attend. Free. For more, call a La Leche League leader at 703-385-0527 or 703-323-6683.
Fibromyalgia/Arthritis Support Group meets the second Thursday of each month at 1 p.m., at Sherwood Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria. The next meeting takes place on April 14. For more, call 703-913-0890.
The National Developmental Delay Resources organization sponsors an ongoing lecture series from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church, 10125 Lakehaven Court, Burke. Cost is $20 per lecture for DDR members, $80 for the whole series; and $25 per lecture for non-members, $100 for the whole series. To register, call 800-497-0944.
* Taking the Mystery Out of Vision Therapy, on April 14. Join local optometrists and their therapists for activities.
* Using Energy to Heal Our Children, on May 12. Learn about allergy elimination and psycho-emotional healing. Speaker is Heidi Sankofa, PA.
The Alzheimer's Family Day Center, located at 2812 Old Lee Highway, Suite 210, Fairfax, sponsors the following programs/events. www.AlzheimersFDC.org or 703-204-4664.
* "Hand in Hand: Sharing the Lessons of Dementia Care," a six-week series running through April 26. www.alzheimersfdc.org/handinhand.htm.
* The luncheon, "A Tribute to Caregivers: The Many Faces of Alzheimer's," takes place on May 13, at the Westwood Country Club in Vienna.
The Lymphoma support group, a group for patients and their families, meets on the third Monday of the month from 6:30-8 p.m., at Sunrise Assisted Living at Fair Oaks, 3750 Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax. The next meeting takes place April 18. For more call 703-776-8786.
Blood Drive. American Legion hosts a blood drive on Tuesday, April 19, from 3-7:30 p.m., at the American Legion, 6520 Amhearst Ave., Springfield. Call Joe Finch at 703-569-1552.
Recreational Equipment, Inc., hosts the HERA Climb For Life REI Road Tour starting Wednesday, April 20 at 7 p.m., at 11950 Grand Commons Ave. For more call 571-522-6568 or visit www.rei.com.
The Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group meets the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Sunrise of Springfield, 6541 Franconia Road. The next meeting takes place April 20. Free. Prior to attending, call Support Group Leader Eileen Thompson at 703-359-4440.
The Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area offers the following support group opportunities:
* Fairfax Little River Glen Group. The Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets on the third Thursday of the month at 1 p.m., at Little River Glen Senior Center, 4001 Barker Court, Fairfax. The next meeting is on April 21. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) welcomes PD patients, family members, and carepartners. No charge. For more information, call Leon Paparella at 202-966-4450.
* The Springfield Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 2 p.m., at Greenspring Village, 7400 Spring Village Drive, Town Center Building, Music Room, Springfield. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) welcomes PD patients, family members and carepartners. The next meetings take place on April 28. For more information, call Michel Margosis at 703-569-2630 or Mitch Mills at 703-913-0270.
* The Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets on the fourth Saturday of the month from 10-11 a.m., with an exercise class normally reserved at 11 a.m., at the Fair Oaks Sunrise Assisted Living Facility, 3750 Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) welcomes PD patients and family members. For more information, contact Bill Robbins at 703-830-3823 or e-mail wbr_yanks@cox.net) and Darryl Edwards at 703-378-9213. Visit www.parkinsonstories.com.
* Fairfax Little River Glen Exercise Class. The Parkinson's Disease Exercise Class meets weekday mornings at Little River Glen Senior Center, 4001 Barker Court, Fairfax. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) welcomes PD patients, family members and carepartners. For class schedule and more information, call the LRG Senior Center at 703-503-8703.
Blood Drive. Kingstowne Library hosts a blood drive on Monday, April 25, 2-7:30 p.m. Photo ID required. Appointments preferred, but walk-ins accepted. For more, call 703-698-3885. Open to adults. Kingstowne Library is located at 6500 Landsdowne Centre.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society hosts the Spring 2005 Fairfax Education Night, Understanding Your Medicare Benefits on Wednesday, April 27, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., at the Inova Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road. Parking cost is $2. For more information or transportation call 202-96-9891.
The Women’s Center of Vienna offers a number of classes and workshops designed to help navigate the different aspects of separation and divorce, starting in April and continuing through August at various locations in Vienna, Fairfax and McLean. Some of the program topics include Divorce Through Mediation, Divorce Without Litigation, Dollars and Sense of Divorce, Financial Planning for Separation and Divorce, Helping Your Child Cope With Separation and Divorce, Legal Aspects of Child Support and Understanding Your Right To Marital Assets and others. For more information about these and other programs, visit www.thewomenscenter.org or call 703-281-2657.
Birth Mother’s Support Group. Meets weekly in Northern Virginia. It is for any woman who has ever placed a child in adoption and would like to meet with others who have done the same. The group will be led by a licensed clinical social worker and a national certified counselor. Call Pat Cunningham or Stephanie Hayden at Catholic Charities at 703-425-0100. A modest fee is charged based on income.
Recovery Inc. A nonprofit support group for depression, bipolar disorder and other nervous disease meets every Friday at Boulevard Baptist Church, 7000 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. Contact Lee at 703-777-1708.