<cal1>MARCH 11-12
<cal2>A new comedy club called Lafter Hours has opened in Centreville at the lower level of Fast Eddie's Sports and Billiards in the Newgate Shopping Center. Lafter Hours, in association with the DC Improv, will feature national acts in two shows: 8 and 10 p.m., each Friday and Saturday night. Tickets are $12 and reservations can be made at 703-266-8888 or on the Web site at www.LafterHours.com The address is 14114 Lee Highway. Upcoming comedy acts:
* March 11 and 12 — Andy Hendrickson, a regular on the comedy club circuit and XM Radio's Comedy Channel.
* March 17 — On St. Patrick's Day, LafterHours will host a St. Baldrick's Charity Event at 7:30 p.m. This charity organization helps raise money for children diagnosed with cancer.
<cal1>Friday/March 11
<cal2>Swing dances are held Friday nights in the solarium at the Dulles Hilton in Herndon (corner of Route 28 and McLearen Road). All dances include a beginner class from 8:30-9 p.m., and then the bands play three sets between 9 p.m. and midnight. It's all for $13 per person. Visit www.gottaswing.com. Hosted by Sue and Gary Caley at sueandgary@gottaswing.com. Call 703-359-9882.
Upcoming schedule:
* March 11 — The Grandsons
* March 18 — (also Birthday Dance for March) featuring "The Seville's" — a '50s style band. Sock Hop with poodle skirts, leather jackets, etc.
* March 25 — Rockin' Bones.
<cal1>Saturday/March 12
<cal2>Rita Hursh will teach a course on obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD) offered by Fairfax County Public Schools Office of Adult and Community Education. Class will be held in Centreville Center from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and requires pre-registration with payment of $29. The course reviews the symptoms of OCD, ways to manage symptoms, and how to determine when professional attention is needed. Centreville Center is located on 5775 Spindle Court, Centreville. For course information and registration, call Carolyn Root at 703-227-2267. Call Jennifer Rhodes at 703-227-2229.
Historic tea. Sully Historic Site is hosting a tea for young ladies ages 8 and over. Youngsters will listen to costumed characters tell their stories from the past, make a Valentine craft and tour the 1794 house. Refreshments will be served at teatime in the historic Sully setting. Seatings are at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. and space is limited. Prepaid reservations are required and the program will be canceled in inclement weather. The cost is $20 per child. Call 703-437-1794.
The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders Inc. will be holding an open House from 1-5 p.m. Come and see the action on Northern Virginia's largest fixed operating "HO" scale model railroad. Featuring digital control, sound, and smoke. Also, visit the W&OD railroad's real caboose. The club is located in the historic Washington & Old Dominion Railroad station, 231 Dominion Road (on the NoVa Regional Parks W&OD Trail) in downtown Vienna. Free admission; donations welcome. Obtain additional information and directions at www.nvmr.org, by e-mail at nvmrinc@hotmail.com, or by calling 703-938-5157 on the day of the open house.
<cal1>Sunday/March 13
<cal2>The Clifton General Store is celebrating its 75th anniversary. A group photo of anyone who has ever worked at the store will be taken on Sunday, March 13 at 2 p.m. Bring your memories of the store to share with the Centre View. Everyone is invited for coffee and cake.
<cal1>Monday/March 14
<cal2>Assistance League of Northern Virginia will hold a multi-town membership meeting on Monday, March 14 from 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Chantilly branch of the Fairfax County Public Library, 4000 Stringfellow Road in Chantilly. Members will review plans for the annual benefit, "Great Escapes," to be held on Sunday, April 10 at Dante's Ristorante in Great Falls. For more information on membership, contact Debbie Kiessling, Membership Chairman, at 703-758-1085. For information on membership or Great Escapes, contact Cindy Burgess, President, at 703-758-8454. The National Assistance League Web site is http://www.assistanceleague.org/.
<cal1>TUESDAY/MARCH 15
<cal2>The Northern Virginia Bookcrossing Meetup will be held Tuesday,, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. Meet other local Bookcrossers to discuss good books and the best places to leave and find books "in the wild" or through great Bookcrossing activities. For updates on this month’s location, visit http://bookcrossing.meetup.com/72.
<cal1>March 18-20
<cal2>Equine Event East will be held at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for children ages 6-17, and free for children under 6. Topics of discussion will include loading and trailering horses, horse nutrition, dealing with aging horses, fitness, farm and field management. A "Horse Ownership 101" will help those trying to decide how to select a horse and what to look for. In addition, a wide variety of vendors will sell items ranging from riding clothing, tack and feed to trailers, stables, and fencing, and everything in between. The hours are noon to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 18; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 19; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 20. Call 410-321-9559 or visit the Web site at www.BlueRibbonShows.com.
The Second-Annual Fairfax Pinball Open is a competitive pinball event for players of various skill levels, scheduled for March 18-20, with the main tournament taking place on Saturday, March 19. Between 12 and 15 top-quality pinball machines will be on hand at John's Place at 11104 Lee Highway in Fairfax, near Kamp Washington. No charge for admission, and folks can play the pinball machines for quarters even without entering the tournament events. Visit www.virginiapinball.org
<cal1>Saturday/March 19
<cal2>The Cub Run and Bull Run Community Watershed Forum will take place Saturday, March 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Westfield High School. Learn how you can improve the health, safety and quality of your community by participating in plans to revitalize local streams. The forum is free and open to the public. A light lunch will be provided. Register in advance by March 16. Call Bill Barrack at 703-642-5500 or email: cubrun-admin@virginia.edu.
<cal1>Monday/March 21
<cal2>The Friends of the Fairfax Station Inc. will hold their Annual Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum. After a brief meeting the attendees will be treated to a talk on "Camps & Fortifications of Centreville During the Civil War" by Mike O'Donnell, an accomplished author. He has researched the Centreville area for over 18 years and documents what he says with photos and artifacts discovered from that area. 11200 Fairfax Station Road. Call 703-425-9225.
<cal1>Wednesday/ March 23
<cal2>Easter Bunny Visit. The Bunny will visit with children ages 2-7 at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville for an Easter Egg Hunt. The rabbit will encourage a morning of fun, with 10 a.m. check-in, spring crafts, photographs with the Easter Bunny and a moon bounce. At 11 a.m., the hunt will begin. Each egg seeker should bring a basket and register early; call 703-631-0550. Space is limited. Photographs with the Easter Bunny will be $2 each. The rain date is Thursday, March 24.
<cal1>THURSDAY/MARCH 24
<cal2>The Dominion Valley Garden Club Fashion Show and Luncheon will be held at 10 a.m. at the Country Club of Fairfax on Ox Road, Fairfax. Fashions will be provided by Coldwater Creek. Proceeds go to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which promotes the health of the Bay, scholarships toward gardening, which helps set up gardens in urban areas. Cost is $30. Call 703-425-2431 for reservations.
Mothers First – Chantilly/Centreville 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. March's meetings are March 3 and 24, 10:15-11:30 a.m. at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Drive. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
<cal1>APRIL 1-3
<cal2>The Super Pet Expo will be held April 1-3 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. The show provides the opportunity to enjoy live animal entertainment, learn best pet practices and how to adopt a pet, shop for pet products and services. Highlights will include Stupid Pet Trick Auditions, Elephant Rides and a Pet Psychic Medium, K-9 Dog Shows, Exotic Bird Show and more. The show is open Friday, April 1 from 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, April 2 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, April 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children. Visit www.SuperPetExpo.com or call 866-SUPER-PET.
<cal1>Saturday/April 2
<cal2>Craft Day. Learn to knit or crochet with the staff of Noodles & Noggins, 7145 Main St., Clifton. 2-4 p.m. For ages 6 and up. Cost: $20/person (includes all supplies). Reservation required. Call the store at 703-815-8600.
The 17th Annual Potomac Watershed Cleanup will be held from 9 a.m. until noon. Volunteers are needed this year to help with a designated cleanup site or to organize a cleanup site in their neighborhoods. People or groups willing to organize a site in their neighborhood are urged to contact the cleanup coordinator, Wende Pearson, with the Alice Ferguson Foundation at 301-292-6665, TTY 711 or visit the Web site at www.PotomacCleanup.org.
<cal1>SUNDAY/APRIL 3
<cal2>The Clifton Horse Society will sponsor a 5-, 10- or 15-Mile Spring Ride at Fountainhead Regional Park, Fairfax Station. Call 703-222-8253 or wkime@cox.net.
<cal1>Monday/April 4
<cal2>Mothers and babies newborn to 8 months old, unite for lunch, speakers, discussions and fun every Monday from 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m. at Il Lupo Italian Restaurant, 4069 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. Individual luncheon $20; 4-lunch series $75. Reservations required.
Here are the upcoming events:
* Monday, April 4: “Stress — What is it and how to manage it," by Chris Carlock, Fairfax County;
* Monday, April 11: “Baby proofing your house," by Mary Baker, BabyGuard;
* Monday, April 18: “Safety in and around your home,” by Officer Liz Barrington, Fair Oaks Office of Public Safety.
To make a reservation, call Rochelle Goldberg at 703-273-5593 or email: eventbuilders@hotmail.com.
<cal1>APRIL 8-9
<cal2>The Accessibility Summit 2005, presented by Access Ministry, McLean Bible Church will be held Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9. This sixth-annual conference for the Washington, D.C., area disability community brings together families and caregivers of those affected by disabilities, as well as faith-based organizations, professionals, community resource organizations and government agencies. Visit access.mcleanbible.org, or contact Jan Sanders today at 703-770-2938.
<cal1>Friday/April 8
<cal2>The 25th Annual Fairfax Salvation Army Women's Fashion Show/Luncheon will be held at Waterford at Fair Oaks, 12025 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax. A silent auction will also be held. Noelle Szkody, associate manager of Talbots at Fair Oaks, will coordinate the fashions for the show. Reservations must be made by March 22. Call Sylvia Laiti at 703-830-8849, Megan McLane at 703-750-3568 or Pauline Mitchell at 703-533-8739.
<cal1>Wednesday/April 13
<cal2>Help Plan Centreville Day, Sept. 17, 2005! Join Centreville Day chairperson Sue Davis, and other volunteers on Wednesday, March 9, to plan Centreville Day. Centreville Day is an annual community event that includes entertainment, children's activities, a business and craft expo and food. Some 4,000 people of all ages enjoy the day. Held each September, it is organized by the Centreville Community Foundation and planned by volunteers who represent all aspects of the community. The planning committee will meet monthly in Chantilly at the Sully District Building (Police Station) on Stonecroft Boulevard, from 7-9 p.m. The planning committee meeting schedule is as follows: April 13, May 11, June 8, July 13, Aug. 10, and Sept. 14. Contact Sue Davis, 703-327-4392 (work) or 571-213-7298 (cell).
<cal1>Saturday/April 16
<cal2>Craft Day. Make something fun with the staff of Noodles & Noggins, 7145 Main St., Clifton. 2-4 p.m. For ages 6 and up. Cost: $20/person (includes all supplies). Reservation required. Call the store at 703-815-8600.
<cal1>FRIDAY/APRIL 22
<cal2>The Town of Clifton has been selected for the site of the 72nd Annual Historic Garden Week in Virginia: Home & Garden Tour, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Five homes and gardens will be featured. Cost is $17 pre-tour; $20 day of tour. Send a self-addressed stamped, legal size envelope with check payable to The Garden Club of Fairfax, by April 13, to Mrs. George Whipple, 11508 Yates Ford Road, Fairfax Station, VA 22039. Call 703-978-4130. Or visit www.VAGardenweek.org.
<cal1>Saturday/April 23
<cal2>A neighborhood yard sale to benefit Fire Station 17 will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot, 5856 Old Centreville Road, Centreville. Cost is $35 to rent a table and sell your goods. To rent space or for details, call 703-222-6049 after 5 p.m.
<cal1>ONGOING
<cal2> Noodles and Noggins offers themed storytimes featuring crafts and music for children ages 1-6 every Wednesday from 10-11 am. The story times are held at Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Reservation requested. $5 donation to cover supplies requested. Call the store at 703-815-8600.
The Glory Days Grill of Centreville will host a fund-raiser for Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia, donating 10 percent of SCAN guests’ bills to the organization. Guests must ask a server for a copy of their bill and then drop off or send to SCAN. It will be held now through April 30 on Monday–Thursday from 4 p.m. to close; and Sundays, 11:30 a.m. to close. Visit SCAN’s Web site: www.scanva.org.
Tax preparation and filing assistance will be offered at the Centreville Regional Library. Volunteers from the American Association of Retired Persons' Tax-Aide program will help low and middle-income taxpayers, and people age 60 and older, file their taxes electronically. AARP will have tax counselors available at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Drive, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays. Call 703-830-2223.
The Meals on Wheels program is in immediate need of volunteers to deliver meals to clients in the areas of Chantilly/Centreville. The job involves picking up meals at specified sites between 10:30 a.m. and noon and ensuring that the meals are delivered to the clients, usually by 1 p.m. Drivers can choose to deliver meals weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or to substitute as needed. Call the Volunteer Intake Hotline at 703-324-5406, TTY 703-449-1186.
Ballroom Dance Classes. The Center for the Arts, 9415 Battle St., Manassas, offers Ballroom Dance lessons, which began on Feb. 3. Classes meet each Thursday from 7:30-8:30, until March 24. Couples, singles, beginners, and those needing a refresher course are all welcome. The cost is $90 for singles and $126 for couples. Call the Center for the Arts at 703-330-ARTS.
A Mindfulness Meditation Class will be held every Sunday from 7-8 p.m. at the Fairfax Sun and Moon Yoga Studio, 9998 Main Street, Fairfax. Free. Contact ErikaKL@aol.com or call 703-864-2807.
Northern Virginia Bookcrossing Meetup. These book lovers like to keep their books busy by reading, releasing and tracking their books' adventures with others locally, nationally and internationally. Fun book challenges, hunt for books "in the wild" and more. Share your books and be a unique group with a different angle to book loving. Visit http://bookcrossing.meetup.com/72/.
Fairfax Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is recruiting community-minded citizens from diverse backgrounds to volunteer as advocates for children whose families have been cited for abuse and neglect by the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. The role of a CASA is to investigate a child's situation and to advocate for what is in the best interest of the child in court. All CASA Volunteers undergo training to prepare them for this role and no prior experience in child welfare is required. To learn more about this volunteer opportunity and upcoming orientation and training dates, visit www.casafairfax.org or contact CASA's development and recruitment associate at 703-273-3526 or staff@casafairfax.org.
Red Hat Society — A chapter of the Red Hat Society is now in Centreville. Women age 50 and up wear red hats, purple outfits and kick up their heels. Meetings are the last Wednesday of the month, at 11 a.m., at the Sully Senior Center, 5690 Sully Road (inside Centreville Presbyterian Church, off Route 28 south, near the I-66 west exit). All area seniors are welcome to join or come for a visit. Call Mary Doerman, 703-968-7889; Scotti Brennan, 703-378-5206; or Sully Senior Center Director Carma Ryan, 703-322-4475.