<cal1>Month of April
<cal2>Through the end of April discover the African American presence at Sully Historic Site where tours will focus on the work of the enslaved community. Built in 1794, Sully was the home of Richard Bland Lee, Northern Virginia’s first congressman and uncle of Robert E. Lee. Without the work of 30 slaves, the fashionable lifestyle of the Lee family would not have been possible.
Tours of the house are given daily except Tuesdays from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The cost is $5 for adults, $4 for students and $3 for children and seniors. Call 703-437-1794.
<cal1>Now through April 22
<cal2>Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) is a critical lifeline for Centreville, Chantilly and Clifton families needing emergency assistance. It keeps their utilities on and their rent paid, but the money it uses for these things is in serious need of replenishment. So WFCM is holding an Internet auction, "Catalyst for Spirit," from April 1 at 8 a.m. to April 22 at 8 p.m.
To participate, go to www.wfcmva.cmarket.com/ and bid on items including autographed footballs from Washington Redskin Clinton Portis and Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis, a weekend on Broadway in New York, a golf game with Supervisor Michael R. Frey (R-Sully) and three guests, homemade gourmet dinners, hot-air balloon rides and more.
<cal1>Thursday/April 20
<cal2>Noodles & Noggins presents Thumpin' Thursdays with Mister Don each Thursday from 4-5 p.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Sing, dance, play instruments and have loads fun. For all ages. Suggested contribution per child. Call 703-815-8600.
<cal1>April 20-21
<cal2>The Alliance Theatre and Centreville Boosters present Summer Stars 2006 in "The Wizard of Oz." The Alliance Theatre, a western Fairfax community theater organization, offers a program called Summer Stars. It provides adults, children and entire families the opportunity to learn and experience the techniques, discipline and creativity of acting in a live, stage performance.
All who enroll in Summer Stars will be given a part. Auditions for this year's play are Thursday-Friday, April 20-21, at 6:30 p.m. Children ages 7 and up, and adults, are needed. Call backs are Saturday, April 22, at 10 a.m. Auditions are at Chantilly High. A one-minute vocal selection from a musical or another choice is suggested. Call Lynn Broadbent at 703-830-5647.
<cal1>Friday/April 21
<cal2>Join Mom's Club of Centreville North for their monthly all-member meeting, followed by a presentation by speech-language pathologist and former mom's club member, Urvashi Varma, M.A. CCC-SLP. She will give a presentation on encouraging better speech and language skills for children with a follow up language activity involving arts and crafts. The meeting is from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Sully Government Center. Refreshments will be served. Contact Amy Yoham at gyohamii@earthlink.net.
Swing Dance with Lush Life. Dance held at the solarium at the Dulles Hilton in Herndon (located on the corner of Route 28 an McLearen Road). Dance includes a beginner class from 8:30-9 p.m. The band plays three sets between 9 p.m. - midnight. cost is $13 per person. Visit www.gottaswing.com or call 703-359-9882.
<cal1>Saturday/April 22
<cal2>Basic Pistol Shooting Class. Learn about all types of pistols in a safe, responsible and fun way at the Basic Pistol Shooting class offered at National Rifle Association headquarters, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., in Fairfax. This 10-hour class focuses on safety, operation, maintenance, purchasing, storage and shooting of different types of pistols.
Range safety test, range fees, and a range card are included, plus use of a pistol, eye and ear protection and ammunition. Certificate awarded for completion of the course may be used to apply for a Virginia concealed handgun permit. Cost is $125. E-mail: jamselle@nrahq.org or call 703-267-1567.
Just Right for Prom Night and Spring Fashion Show. A fashion show featuring local teens modeling the hottest looks for prom and the latest spring fashions from stores at Fair Oaks Mall at 2 p.m. "Gently-used" prom dresses will be collected and donated to financially needy high school students.
The Boy Scout Troop 146, www.troop146.us, and Cub Scout Pack 146, of Chantilly, will be having a Great American Cleanup (www.kab.org) event at Mount Gilead in the Centreville Historic District, located in Centreville, from 8:30-11 a.m. Mount Gilead dates back to the Civil War, and is part of the Centreville Historic District, located off of Route 29/Braddock Road, on Mount Gilead Road and Wharton Lane.
Join the Fairfax County Park Authority for a free lecture examining the first federal congress at 4 p.m. at Sully Historic, located on route 28 in Chantilly. Call 703-437-1794.
<cal1>April 22 - May 6
<cal2>Celebrate Fairfax City's Spotlight on the Arts 2006 with a visit to the Fairfax Art League Spotlight Art Show and Reception at Old Town Hall, 3999 University Drive, Fairfax from 2-4 p.m. In keeping with the theme for this year's Spotlight Program, "A Celebration of Youth," the art league will expand its regular exhibition to include works by Fairfax High School art students. The reception, which is free to the public, features refreshments and an opportunity to see award-winning works of art. Call 703-352-ARTS ext. 5, or visit www.fairfaxarts.org.
<cal1>April 23 - June 18
<cal2>The Family Zone is held on Sundays, from April 23 - June 18, from 9:30-10:10 a.m., at Centreville Elementary. It will offer local parents the opportunity to learn hands-on, how to teach their 4- to 9-year-old children about right from wrong. Call 703-502-1732.
<cal1>Sunday/April 23
<cal2>The 9th annual Walk for Shea is Sunday, April 23, rain or shine, at 9 a.m. at the Virginia Run Community Center, at Pleasant Valley Road and Wetherburn Court, off Route 29 in Centreville. Register at www.walkforshea.com. Cost is $6, adults and $4, children under 18; children under 2 are free; strollers and friendly dogs are welcome.
Shea Megale, 10 1/2, a fifth-grader at Virginia Run Elementary, has SMA (spinal muscular atrophy), a rare, incurable form of muscular dystrophy, and money raised from this event helps find a cure. Nearly 650 people participated in last year's 5K walk, raising more than $25,000 for research.
The Spring Fling in the Little Rocky Run community (formerly the Spring Egg Hunt) has attracted 200-250 families from the community. This year’s event is at noon at Recreation Center No. 3, located at 13900 Stonefield Drive. It's a free event for Little Rocky Run families and includes hot dogs, beverages and snacks, a visit from the spring bunny, egg hunts, moonbounce, face-painting and more. See www.littlerockyrunhoa.org.
'The Catalyst for Spirit' fund-raiser dinner with silent and live auctions benefiting Western Fairfax Christian ministries at 7 p.m. The dinner will be held at The Waterford at Fair Oaks, 12025 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., Fairfax. Tickets are $40 before April 15 and $45 after. To RSVP call 703-352-3200.
SCORE! Educational Centers, Inc., a provider of after-school learning programs and a subsidiary of education and test preparation leader Kaplan, Inc., will host several free workshops on to help parents understand Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOL) standardized tests and to provide tips for student success. Parents and kids do not have to be SCORE! members to attend. A free session will be at 4:30 p.m. at Colonnade at Union Mill, 5718 Union Mill Road, Clifton. Parents are encouraged to sign up by calling 301-362-5016 or emailing Lindsay.Whitman@kaplan.com. Space is limited.
<cal1>Thursday/April 27
<cal2>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' nights out, and lectures. The meeting is April 27 from 10:15-11:30 a.m. at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Drive. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Noodles & Noggins presents Thumpin' Thursdays with Mister Don each Thursday from 4-5 p.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Sing, dance, play instruments and have loads fun. For all ages. Suggested contribution per child. Call 703-815-8600.
<cal1>Friday/April 28
<cal2>Swing Dance with Terrence McCardle. Dance held at the solarium at the Dulles Hilton in Herndon (located on the corner of Route 28 an McLearen Road). Dance includes a beginner class from 8:30-9 p.m. The band plays three sets between 9 p.m. - midnight. cost is $13 per person. Visit www.gottaswing.com or call 703-359-9882.
The Backyard Grill and Bar located on 13999 Metrotech Drive in Chantilly, is hosting a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life from 4-8 p.m. There will be a DJ taking requests and announcing raffle prize winners. For every $5 donation, patrons will receive a raffle ticket.
<cal1>April 28-30
<cal2>The Friends of Chantilly Regional Library are holding their Spring Used Book Sale on Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Chantilly Regional Library, 4000 Stringfellow Road in Chantilly. A clearance sale will be held on Sunday, April 30 from 12:30-3 p.m. A wide selection of children and adult fiction and non-fiction as well as audio visuals will be available, all at bargain prices. Call 703-502-3883.
<cal1>Saturday/April 29
<cal2>Clifton Community Yard Sale: The Clifton Coffee Mill and the Clifton Betterment Association (CBA) will host a community yard sale Saturday, April 29, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. It will be held at the Clifton Coffee Mill (to the left of the Clifton Store on Main Street). Spaces are available for $15 and tables for an additional $5. Contact Trisha Robertson at 703-815-0992 or rtrishr@gmail.com.
Celebrate a taste of Greece at "My Big Fat Greek Gala," the Center for the Arts’ annual fund-raising extravaganza. Toast the evening with drinks and Greek cuisine while enjoying the music from the shores of Athens and the Greek Isles. Togas and Greek chitons are a must as you learn the traditional circle and handkerchief dances with a Greek dance master. "My Big Fat Greek Gala" festivities will be held at the Candy Factory, 9419 Battle Street in Manassas from 7 p.m. to midnight. Call the Center for the Arts at 703-330-ARTS for tickets and costume information or visit the Web site at www.center-for-the-arts.com.
<cal1>Sunday/April 30
<cal2>Children's book author Margaret Blair will be at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville at 2 p.m. Free. Call 703-830-2223 to sign up.
The National Philharmonic Singers celebrate "Sounds of Spring" at 4 p.m. at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 5114 Twinbrook Road, Fairfax. The program includes Mozart’s Missa Brevis in B-Flat and "Ave Verum Corpus" performed with a string quartet comprised of National Philharmonic musicians. Other highlights include motets by Durufle, Mendelssohn and Copland, madrigals by Monteverdi. Call 703-323-9500 or go to www.lordoflifelutheran.com.
<cal1>Monday/May 1
<cal2>New Computer Class for Spanish Speaking Seniors at Sully Senior Center. Learn the basics of using computers and the Internet. Spanish-speaking instructor will help set up an e-mail account, find on-line newspapers from a country of origin and show how to find Fairfax County services for seniors. The class is free but space is limited to six students. Pre-register for this class, call 703-322-4475, TTY 711. Sully Senior Center is located at 5690 Sully Road in Centreville near the intersection with Route 28.
Chi, Chakras, Balance and Harmony: Enter the World of Reiki. Reiki is an ancient art of healing that brings your physical, emotional, spiritual and mental being into harmony. Reiki is performed in a comfortable and nurturing environment at the Sully Senior Center. Classes begin at 10:30 a.m. and continue for eight sessions. Total cost is just $5 for all eight classes. Master Instructor Bernadette O’Donnell will be teaching Reiki classes. To register, call 703-322-4475, TTY 711. Sully Senior Center is located at 5690 Sully Road, Centreville. Call 703-324-4386.
<cal1>Thursday/May 4
<cal2>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' nights out, and lectures. May's meetings are from 10:15 a.m. until 11:30 am at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Drive. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
<cal1>Friday/May 5
<cal2>Swing Dance. Dance held at the solarium at the Dulles Hilton in Herndon (located on the corner of Route 28 an McLearen Road). Dance includes a beginner class from 8:30-9 p.m. The band plays three sets between 9 p.m. - midnight. cost is $13 per person. Visit www.gottaswing.com or call 703-359-9882.
Encore presentations of "The Battle of Chantilly (Ox Hill) Movie" will be at 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. on at the Cinema Arts Theatre in the Fair City Mall, Fairfax. Call 703-978-6853. Tickets will be available for sale in person at the theatre box office starting on May 1. Admission is $5. Contact Bert Morgan, bertmorgan@cox.net or call 703 378-9743, or Chuck Mauro, cmauro10@aol.com or call 703 787-9879.
<cal1>Saturday/May 6
<cal2>The brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Zeta Upsilon Lambda Chapter will host their annual Black and Gold Scholarship Ball at 7 p.m. - 1 a.m., at the Reston Hyatt Hotel. Cost is $80 per person is required. All profits support the scholarship fund. Contact Lawrence Davis at 703-830-0813. Call now to reserve your seat.
Virginia native Beth Carpenter, author of the novel "Behind the Eyes of Dorian Gray," will be signing copies of her book from 3-5 p.m. at Barnes and Noble Booksellers at Fair Lakes Promenade. Carpenter’s book continues the story of the title character, first introduced in 1891 by Oscar Wilde in his novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray."
<cal1>May 7 - June 30
<cal2>Clifton artist Phoebe Twichell Peterson will show her art at Willow Antiques and Interiors, 7145 Main Street, Clifton. This show will feature local landscapes and scenes from New England where she grew up. All of the artist's paintings are done in oil on hand-stretched linen canvases.
<cal1>Friday/May 12
<cal2>Swing Dance with Daryl Davis. Dance held at the solarium at the Dulles Hilton in Herndon (located on the corner of Route 28 an McLearen Road). Dance includes a beginner class from 8:30-9 p.m. The band plays three sets between 9 p.m. - midnight. cost is $13 per person. Visit www.gottaswing.com or call 703-359-9882.
<cal1>Sunday/May 14
<cal2>More than 1,000 walkers and volunteers will gather in Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 14 at 9 a.m. for Y-ME's 1st Annual Walk to Empower, a three-mile non-competitive walk. The event is sponsored by Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. To take part, register at www.y-me.org to walk or volunteer at the Walk to Empower. Call 877-YME-7223, x2742 or visit www.y-me.org or call the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Hotline at 1-800-221-2141 or 1-800-986-9505 (Spanish).
<cal1>Wednesday/May 17
<cal2>Internet Safety Class. Learn how to protect your children. This free class, taught by a licensed social worker, is for all concerned parents and any aged student who uses a computer. At 7:30 p.m., Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 5114 Twinbrook Road, Fairfax. Call 703-323-9500 or go to www.lordoflifelutheran.com.
<cal1>Thursday/May 18
<cal2>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' nights out, and lectures. May's meetings are from 10:15-11:30 am at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Drive. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
The Homes Tour, the annual fund-raiser to benefit local charities and scholarships, is sponsored by the Clifton Community Woman's Club. The tour runs from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 the day of the Tour. Call 703-830-3705 or 703-830-3418.
<cal1>Saturday/May 20
<cal2>Community Yard Sale. More than 100 Little Rocky Run residents will participate in this annual community yard sale. Community maps are available on the Web site (after May 15) including a guide to what people are selling and general directions. Go to www.littlerockyrunhoa.org.
Vpstart Crow's 2006 theater season:
April 28 - May 14 — "The Comedy of Errors";
July 14-30 — "Anne of the Thousand Days";
Oct. 6-22 — "The Seagull";
Dec. 1-17 — A Christmas Carol".
All performances take place at The Cramer Center, a restored church-turned-theatre, at 9008 Center St. in Old Town Manassas, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students, seniors, and City of Manassas or Prince William County employees. Tickets are available through www.tickets.com or at the door (subject to availability) 30 minutes prior to performances. Reservations can be made by contacting Vpstart Crow at 703-365-0240 or vpstartcrow@comcast.net. Visit www.vpstartcrow.com.
Noodles & Noggins presents Mighty Mondays with Mr. Knick Knack each Monday from 10-11 a.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Sing, dance, and have loads fun. For all ages. Suggested contribution per child. Call the store at 703-815-8600.
Noodles & Noggins presents Fun Club each Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Enjoy some books, do a craft, sing songs and dance. A new theme each week. For ages 1-6 years. Suggested contribution per child. Call the store to register at 703-815-8600.
While the INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital Auxiliary is in need of volunteers to assist with various functions in the hospital, the current need is especially acute in the Thrift Shop at Fairfax Circle. The Thrift Shop needs volunteers who can sort and price merchandise, stock shelves, process sales, and assist customers in various ways. Call 703-391-3659 for information regarding the next orientation for volunteers.
The Fairfax Meals on Wheels (MOW) group needs a volunteer to serve as Treasurer. This leadership position is responsible for the finances of the MOW group, including a monthly report to the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals (Monday through Friday) to senior adults in the following areas: Annandale, Baileys Crossroads, Falls Church, Manchester Lakes, Centreville/Chantilly, Fairfax, Tysons, Herndon/Reston and Little River Glen. The job involves picking up meals at specified sites between 10:30 a.m. and noon, and delivering them to seniors by 1 p.m. Volunteer drivers can choose to deliver meals on a daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly or substitute basis. Call the Fairfax AAA Volunteer Intake Line at 703-324-5406 or E-mail melanie.mitchell@fairfaxcounty.gov
Volunteers are needed for day and evening hours to work one-to-one with adult learners in public libraries or adult learning centers. Additional opportunities are available working with adolescents in alternative school settings. The Volunteer Learning Program (VLP) trains tutors, assesses learners, and provides materials with follow-up support. VLP is a joint community project of the Fairfax County Public Schools (Adult & Community Education), Fairfax County's Juvenile Court, and the Fairfax County Public Library. Call 703-246-2139 or e-mail VLP@fcps.edu.
Mocha Moms Inc. is a support network for stay-at-home mothers of color. Meetings are every first, third and fifth Wednesday between 10 a.m. and noon at the Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. www.restonmochamoms.org. All are welcome.
The Northern Virginia Artists League (NOVALArt.com) is a local group of artists and photographers who meet every month for an "Art Outing" and general meeting. The group meets monthly to encourage each other, critique each other's work, and share ideas for marketing the art. There are monthly art outings for plain air painting or photography. All medias, watercolor, acrylic, oil, colored pencil, photography, etc., are welcome.
The Centreville chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club is moving. The club will meet Thursday evenings at the Centreville Presbyterian Church 15040 Lee Highway, Centreville. TOPS is a non-profit, non-commercial weight loss support group open to anyone 7 years of age and older. At $20 per year, this is an affordable, supportive program for weight loss and weight maintenance. Weigh-in is from 6:15-7 p.m. with the meeting starting at 7:10 p.m. Call Susan at 703-392-7937 or visit www.tops.org.
Fancy Cats Rescue Team adoption event on the first and third Saturdays and every Sunday of the month from 12-4 p.m. at the PetsMart, Fair Lakes. Cats and kittens need a loving home. Choose from a wide variety of loving cats. Visit the Web site a www.fancycats.org. E-mail to info@fancycats.org.
Starlight Starbright has teamed up with Starbucks across the country to collect books and toys to give to children in need. Centreville Starbucks, 5623 Stone Road, is kicking off the 2005 toy drive with a bang and goal of being the Starbucks with the most toys. They are challenging the community to donate a bicycle per week and the local Starbucks will match it. Call 703-502-4845.
Mothers & More is a support organization for women who have altered their career path to care for their young children at home. General Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month in Braddock Hall at the Kings Park Library, Burke at 7:30 p.m. The group offers children's and family activities, guest speakers, book club, mom's night out, movie night, chat group and much more. Call (toll free) 866-716-7766 or visit the Web site www.novamoms.org.
Mighty Mondays with Mr. Knick Knack. Come sing, dance, and have loads fun each Monday with Mr. Knick Knack from 10-11 a.m. The event will be indoors all this month at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road. Open to all ages.
Wednesdays with Noodles & Noggins Fun Club from 10 to 11 a.m. at Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road. A new theme each week. Listen to a story, make a craft, sing songs, dance, and have fun. Suggest contribution per child. Reservations requested. Call 703-815-8600.
Thumpin' Thursdays with Mister Don from 4 to 5 p.m. Sing, play, and get the wiggles out before dinnertime. For all ages. Suggested contribution per child. Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road.
A Mindfulness Meditation Class will be held every Sunday from 7-8 p.m. at the Fairfax Sun and Moon Yoga Studio, 9998 Main St., 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 books and be part of a unique group with a different angle on book loving. Visit 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 and purple outfits and kick up their heels. Meetings are the last Wednesday of every month at 11 a.m. in 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 visit. Call Mary Doerman at 703-968-7889, Scotti Brennan at 703-378-5206, or Sully Senior Center Director Carma Ryan at 703-322-4475.
<lst>To have community events listed in Centre View, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Photos, especially color, are encouraged. Deadline is one week before publication. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-917-6434 with any questions.