Send announcements to The Reston Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to
reston@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Jean Card at 703-917-6437, with questions.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.
The 5th annual University of Maryland, Northern Virginia Alumni Chapter’s “They are Still Hungry” food drive scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 23 at the Giant Food Store in North Point, Reston is postponed until early March. Reston Interfaith requested the delay until they have moved to a new location and have storage space for the proceeds. Information on a new date and time will be made available when they are confirmed.
Visitors are welcome at the next bi-weekly Reston-Herndon Toastmaster Club which meets Wednesday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Herndon, 681 Elden St., Herndon. Contact Steve Montgonery at montgomerys@msn.com.
Beginning Feb. 11 two Fairfax County Park Authority lakefront facilities will stock rainbow trout. Weekly stocking will begin at Lake Accotink Park and alternate weekly with Lake Fairfax throughout the season. The season runs until April 24, from 7 a.m. until dusk. Season passes are available for $35. Season passes are $30 for children ages 11-15 and residents 60 years of age and older. Purchase a daily pass for $10, $9 for children and for those over 60. Fishing regulations include a six fish daily limit, requirement to purchase a park fishing pass prior to fishing. For those over 16 years of age a Virginia issued fishing license is required. A Virginia trout stamp is not required. Call Lake Accotink at 703-569-0285, TTY 703-569-5200. Call Lake Fairfax at 703-471-5414.
The Reston Historic Trust presents a walking tour along a stretch of the W&OD trail in Vienna where the Dominion Virginia Power Company, owner of the power lines overhead, has been removing hundreds of trees. The maintenance is scheduled to begin along Reston portions of the trail this month.
Participants will meet at the Reston Museum in Lake Anne Village Center at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 13, then carpool to Vienna to begin the walk. A $5 donation is requested. Call the Reston Museum at 703-709-7700.
The Reston Historic Trust (RHT), a community-based nonprofit organization, was founded in 1996 to sustain the history of the award-winning, innovative, planned community of Reston. The RHT serves the dual role of preserving a sense of community and addressing change. Through displays and programs at the Reston Museum, the RHT is using the past to understand the present and plan for the future. The Reston Museum and Shop, located at Reston’s Lake Anne Village Center, is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon until 6 p.m. and offers children’s art workshops, walking tours, community exhibits and archives, commemorative bricks, pottery and hand crafts. Public membership in the Reston Historic Trust helps to support the Museum’s programs. Call 703-709-7700 or visit www.restonmuseum.org.
Last chance to purchase commemorative bricks for the next Lake Anne installation, scheduled for Founders Day 2005. Orders must be placed by Feb. 14 for the April 16 Installation Ceremony. Contact the Reston Museum at 703-709-7700 or www.restonmuseum.org.
Reston Environmental Action Hosts Recycling Meeting
Wethersfield Cluster has completed a pilot project to increase recycling in their neighborhood.
The project, Reston Recycles!, was developed by Reston Environmental Action (REACT). REACT is a new nonprofit organization formed by residents working to promote lifestyle changes which benefit the environment.
REACT is hosting a meeting Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m., at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods to provide specifics of implementing Reston Recycles! in other neighborhoods. REACT welcomes all residents to participate, including those who do not live in clusters or single-family homes. The project is simple, requiring just a couple hours of time over two to three months from neighborhood volunteers.
Reston Recycles! incorporates community-based social marketing research that show that simply providing information does little to change behaviors. However, utilizing seemingly minor, additional tools such as reminders, commitments, block leaders and reinforcements has proven to greatly increase participation in community programs to promote sustainability.
This event is not sponsored by the Reston Community Center, its Board of Governors, or staff. Contact Mary Brown at 703-620-0151 or at contact.react@earthlink.net.
Adoptions Together is holding an information meeting Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m., at Tyson Pimmit Hill Library, 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. Learn more about domestic, including infants and older children and international adoption programs. Call Mary Chamberlain 703-689-0404.
Reston Community Center's Senior Classic Movie Showcase at CenterStage, from 10 a.m.- noon. A free continental breakfast is served to movie-goers at 9:15 a.m.
This season's movie schedule is as follows:
Feb. 28: "An American in Paris" (1951). Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron discover Art and Love in Gay Paree. Directed by Vincente Minnelli; written by Alan Jay Lerner.
March 21: "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1935). Clark Gable and Charles Laughton in a classic tale of adventure and mayhem on the high seas.
April 18: "His Girl Friday" (1940). A newspaper editor uses every trick in the book to keep his ace reporter ex-wife from remarrying in this romantic comedy starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.
May 16: "The Searchers" (1956). One of the greatest Westerns ever made. John Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a Civil War veteran who searches the West for his niece who was captured by the Indians. In the course of the film, it becomes difficult to determine whether he intends to rescue her or kill her. Directed by John Ford, co-starring Jeffery Hunter and featuring an 18-year old Natalie Wood.
This film series is intended for people age 55 and older. For further information, directions, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Reston Community Center at (703) 476-4500 (V/TTY) or visit the Web site at http://www.restoncommunitycenter.com. The Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, is located in the lower level of the Hunters Woods Shopping Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.
The Fairfax Genealogical Society meeting on Thursday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m., will feature Craig Scott, president and CEO, Heritage Books, discussing World War I records. Oakton High School, 2900 Sutton Road, Vienna. Free. Visit www.fxgs.org.
The 45 Safeway stores throughout Northern Virginia will be accepting donations for the tsunami relief effort. Customers can tell the cashier to add the donation amount to their grocery bill. The funds will be forwarded to the Red Cross and UNICEF. In addition to the in store find-raising, the Safeway Foundation will make a cash contribution to relief agencies and will match the contributions of Safeway employees.
The AARP's Northern Virginia Tax-Aide Program, a free, volunteer-run tax preparation service available to taxpayers with middle- and low-income, with special attention to those age 60 and older, will be available at nine locations including Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., no appointment necessary. Service begins Tuesday, Feb. 8. Call 1-888-AARP NOW or visit the Web site at www.aarp.org/taxaide.
The Hispanic Heritage Awards Foundation is seeking top Hispanic high-school seniors in 12 regions, including the Washington, D.C., region, in an effort to identify and promote the next generation of role models. Students can apply online at www.HispanicHeritageAwards.org. In addition, applications are available at participating Subway restaurants. Applications are due Feb. 11.
Students can win gold or silver medallions, along with educational grants and possible other prizes, in the categories of academic excellence, community service, engineering and mathematics, health care, journalism and sports.
To qualify for the awards, each applicant must demonstrate an interest in the category to which they apply, in addition to excellence in academics and a commitment to community service. The candidates must also write an essay about the influence of their Hispanic heritage in their lives. Local selection committees are established in the 12 regions to choose the award recipients and, subsequently, special events are coordinated in every city in celebration of the Regional Youth Recipients‚ achievements. Visit www.HispanicHeritageAwards.org.
Volunteer Fairfax is seeking nominations for its annual Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards. This communitywide event honors individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout Fairfax County who give time and service to our community.
This year's breakfast ceremony will celebrate Volunteer Fairfax's 30th anniversary with the theme "30 Years of Strengthening our Community through Volunteerism." The awards breakfast will take place Thursday, April 21, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, from 8-9:30 a.m.
Nominations are now being accepted for several categories. To download a nomination form, visit the "Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards" page under the "Individual" page on the Web site at www.volunteerfairfax.org. To receive one by mail, contact Erin Whyte at 703-246-3460 or serviceawards@volunteerfairfax.org.
The deadline for submission of nominations is 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 18.
The Giving Circle of HOPE, a Reston-based philanthropic-service organization, is accepting applications for its first grant awards. Grant awards, in the range of $1,000 to $5,000, will be made to nonprofit organizations to directly benefit Northern Virginians in need.
Local nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations can find information about the grant application process at www.GivingCircleofHOPE.org. The next grant cycle's application deadline is Feb. 15, with awards occurring in June 2005.
The Giving Circle of HOPE (Helping Other People Everyday) represents a new trend in philanthropy. Like an investment club, giving circle members combine money and collectively decide how to use these resources to influence specific causes within their communities with monetary grants.
Started in January 2004, The Giving Circle of HOPE presently consists of more than 50 women of diverse ages, backgrounds, and professional experience. Unlike other giving circles, the Giving Circle of HOPE has a service arm, so members have the opportunity to not only make financial contributions, but also to contribute time and talent with other like-minded women to benefit Northern Virginians in need. The Giving Circle of HOPE is openly recruiting new members.
Italian Olympic Sanctioned Soccer program of AC Cugini in Reston is accepting registrations through April 15 for its house league. Players ages 5-9 receive professional instruction three hours every week, April-June. Practices Mondays and Fridays, 4:30-6 p.m., at Baron Cameron Park, Reston; games Saturday mornings. Downloadable registration form at www.cuginisoccer.com/generic18.html. Older recreational teams that wish to stay together and play in the Suburban Friendship League are also welcome to join the Club and receive professional training. Scholarships available. E-mail info@cuginisoccer.com or call 866-792-9433.
The 2005 Miss Virginia American Coed Scholarship State Pageant is looking for contestants for the pageant taking place Aug. 11-14, in Richmond. This is an "All Natural" scholarship pageant for girls ages 3-22, which emphasizes academic and volunteerism and natural look. The pageant does not allow makeup on contestants under the age of 13. For an application e-mail contact@msvaamericancoed.com or call 804-305-4239. Visit our Web site www.msvaamericancoed.com.