<sh>Army 10-Miler
<bt>The 21st annual Army Ten-Miler, America's largest 10-mile race, is expected to attract over 20,000 runners from all over the world to participate in weekend activities.
Starting on Sept. 30, a two-day race Expo will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway. The free Expo is open to the public and features over 50 exhibitors with the latest in fitness apparel, running shoes, health and specialty items and more. Saturday, Oct. 1, in addition to the Expo, the hotel will feature clinics from Olympic and champion runners as well as the GEICO Pasta Dinner.
The race starts at 8 a.m., Oct. 2 at the Pentagon. Other race day activities include Youth Runs; a 94.7 Post Race Party featuring bands, entertainment and a live broadcast; the HOOAH Tent Zone; and a Youth Activity Zone complete with displays, inflatables, McGruff the Crime Dog and more. For more information visit www.armytenmiler.com.
<sh>Absentee Balloting
<bt>In-person absentee balloting is now available for the Nov. 8 General Election in the Arlington Office of Voter Registration, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 320. The hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with additional hours Thursdays, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3 until 7 p.m. and Saturdays, Oct. 29, and Nov. 5 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The last day to vote absentee in person is Saturday, Nov. 5, when voting ends at 5 p.m. The office will be closed Oct. 10 in observance of Columbus Day. The last day to register to vote or update a voter registration address to be eligible to vote on Nov. 8 is Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Registered voters eligible for absentee voting are those who will be away from Arlington on business or vacation on Election Day, anyone in the military, citizens overseas, students and spouses of students who are away from Arlington, anyone unable to go to the polls because of illness or disability, those confined awaiting trial, persons working for the registrar’s office or for the electoral board on Election Day, anyone who is the primary caregiver of an ill or disabled person confined at home, persons with religious obligations that day, and anyone who will be working and commuting to and from home for 11 or more hours between 6 a.m.-7 p.m. on Nov. 8.
All in-person voters must show identification. Absentee voters who registered to vote by mail and will be voting for the first time in Virginia must vote an absentee ballot in person unless they are military, overseas citizens, students away from Arlington or unable to get to the polls because of disability or illness. The above eligible voters can also request an absentee ballot be mailed to them. Voters who need to vote absentee by mail must complete an application form to receive a ballot. Absentee ballot applications are accepted by fax or regular mail, but not by e-mail. The deadline to submit absentee ballot applications for ballots to be mailed is 5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 3.
Qualified registered voters can download the application form at www.arlingtonva.us or contact the Office of Voter Registration at 703-228-3456 or by e-mail at voters@arlingtonva.us to request the application be mailed or faxed to them. In Virginia, absentee ballots must be received by the voter’s local electoral board by no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted. All eligible ballots received by the deadline are counted.
<sh>Grants Available from Two Funds
<bt>The Arlington Community Foundation is accepting proposals for funding from the Arlington Education Fund and the Rabil-Armstrong Instructional Staff Development Fund. Organizations and individuals with projects designed to meet educational needs of Arlington residents are encouraged to apply. The Education Fund will award grants of up to $1,500 of total project cost, and the Rabil-Armstrong Fund will award grants of up to $1,000.
As the Education Fund celebrates its 10th anniversary, it wants to emphasize the philosophy that sets it apart. Sometimes a little money can make a big difference. Applicants are encouraged to apply for funding for inventive projects that no one has ever done — the more ingenious the better. Arlington schools, organizations of parents and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.
The goal of the Rabil-Armstrong Instructional Staff Development Fund is to support professional development for teachers and administrators of Arlington Public Schools. This could be accomplished through attendance at workshops, university and institute courses, conferences, consultant services, special training or materials. Grants from this fund are intended to benefit the instructional program rather than to promote an individual's personal career goals.
Applications must be received at the Arlington Community Foundation office by Friday, Oct. 14 for school year 2005-06 projects or programs. Mail to: Arlington Community Foundation, 2525 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201. For information call 703-243-4785 or visit www.arlcf.org.
<sh>Arc March 2005
<bt>The Arc of Northern Virginia is inviting the public to join a send-off for Mark Brobston on his 100-mile walk to Richmond, where he will join the rest of The Arc, its affiliates and friends for "A Life Like Yours," the Arc March 2005. The send-off will be from 7-8 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 25, in the Arc of Northern Virginia parking lot at 100 N. Washington St., Falls Church. Call 703-532-3214, ext. 204, to RSVP.
The Arc of Virginia will conduct a march through Richmond to the State Capitol on Saturday, Oct. 1, beginning at Mayo Island at 10 a.m. The Arc is a statewide organization celebrating its 50th anniversary as Virginia’s major family advocacy network for persons with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities. The Arc is sponsoring its march to raise public awareness about the critical needs of persons with disabilities and about the role state government plays in financing mental retardation services in communities across the Commonwealth.