Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Freedom Hill Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, welcomes author and historian, Carole Herrick, to discuss her book "24 August, 1814: Washington in Flames," Saturday, Dec. 2, at the American Legion Post 270, 1355 Balls Hill Road, McLean. The meeting is open to the public and begins at noon. For membership information, call 703-317-0403 or visit www.freedomhillDAR.org.
The CountrySide Women's Club is looking forward to the holiday season with several planned events. Each year the club collects new toys and nonperishable food for a local charity. There will not be a club meeting held in December. The CountrySide Women's Club is open to all women in the area and would like to invite them to the Jan. 12 meeting. Call Teresa at 703-444-3035.
The Loudoun County Democratic Committee announces that its annual fund-raising event and volunteer recognition program, The Harvest Dinner, was a success. The event was held Nov. 19 and was attended by more than 150 people. The main purpose of the dinner was to reward the many volunteers who took part in the recent election successes. More than 50 volunteers were recognized and the Volunteer of the Year award went to Joy-Ann Maloney. In addition, a special raffle was held this year to help Del. David Poisson (D-32) raise money for a home that is being built by the Virginia Legislature for Habitat for Humanity in Richmond.
The Welcome Club of Northern Virginia invites community residents to attend its monthly luncheon at the River Bend Country Club, Thursday, Dec. 7. Martha Blakeslee, a professional floral designer, will demonstrate holiday arrangements. Registration begins at 11 a.m. Call 703-281-6225 or e-mail dlboguts@cox.net. The deadline for reservations is Monday, Dec. 4.
Mothers First Leesburg is dedicated to helping women make the transition from careers to at-home motherhood. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms' nights out, and lectures. Meeting is Dec. 19, 10 a.m., at the Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Mothers First Ashburn is dedicated to helping women make the transition from careers to at-home motherhood. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms' nights out and lectures. A meeting will be held Dec. 12, at 10:15 a.m., at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Teens' book club at Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road. Discuss a book from the Virginia Young Reader's Choice list for middle school. Ashburn Library will provide refreshments. Recommended for ages 12-18. Thursdays, Dec. 14, 7 p.m. Advance registration required. Call 703-737-8100 Ext. 4. Visit http://www.lcpl.lib.va.us/.
Virginia Reader's Choice primary book club at Ashburn Library will read "Mouse Went Out to Get a Snack," by Lyn McFarland and "Guji Guji," by Chih-Yuan Chen, for its Monday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. Advance registration required, call 703-737-8105. Sponsored by the Ashburn Library Advisory Board.
The Be Cool After School book club will meet Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 4 p.m., at the Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St. Includes books, crafts and fun. A different theme will be featured each month. Recommended for ages 6-10. Call 703-430-9500.
Guys Read is a book club for guys Thursday, Dec. 21, at Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, 7 p.m. Upcoming books: December, "Knights of the Kitchen Table." Free books will be available to participants before each program. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Registration is required prior to the program, 703-737-8105.
The Ashburn Ruritan Club is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit community-service organization focused on community service, fellowship and goodwill. The club aims to improve the Ashburn community by providing merit-based scholarships and support for under-funded educational programs. To join or attend a meeting, contact the club at 866-670-5984 or at ashburnruritan@onebox.com. The meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month in the Ashburn Library.
The South Riding Lions Club, which focuses on helping the vision and hearing impaired in Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon, South Riding, meets the first Thursday of each month at the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, 43987 John Mosby Highway, Chantilly. New members welcome. Call Jim Vertrees, 703-327-3538.
Countryside Quilters meet the first and third Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., at the Community Lutheran Church, 21014 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Guild activities include book and fabric exchanges, workshops, speakers, field trips and community service projects. Call Leanne, 703-304-6721.
MADD Loudoun announces the new MADD Loudoun Victim Support Groups for families/significant others who have been impacted by a drunk-driving crash. The group is for families, significant others who lost a loved one, for injured survivors and their families. The MADD Loudoun Victim Support Group will meet on the third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., at 210 Wirt St., Leesburg.
The Ashburn Ruritan Club is collecting used TI-83 calculators to donate to Ashburn high schools. To donate, contact the club at 866-670-5984 or at ashburnruritan@onebox.com.
The MOMS Club of Ashburn Village Area, covers Ashbrook, Regency, Cameron Chase, Belmont Country Club, University Center, the Courts and Ridges, and more. It is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization with chapters all over the world. It offers age-appropriate play groups, field trips to fun and exciting places, "Momsâ Night Out" volunteer opportunities and more. Business meetings on the third Monday of each month at 10:30 a.m., at the Ashburn Library or visit the Web site at http://www.geocities.com/ashburnmomsclub or e-mail ashburnmomsclub@yahoo.com.
The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, has a walking club, which meets Thursday mornings, at 10:30 a.m. Walks take place outside, so wear loose comfortable clothing and sneakers. In case of inclement weather, walkers will be transported to the Dulles Town Center to walk around the "track."
Help Save Loudoun meets at 7 p.m., the last Wednesday of each month at the Cascades Library, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Visit www.helpsaveloudoun.com.
Are you a Virginia 4-H All Star? The Loudoun County 4-H program is trying to contact past All Star recipients who now live in Loudoun County. Contact the Loudoun County Extension Office at 703-777-0373 or by e-mail at kred@vt.edu.
S.T.O.P.S (Survivors Together Offering Personal Support) will meet Mondays, at Broadlands Nature Center, 21907 Claiborne Parkway, Ashburn, at 6:30-8 p.m.
ST.O.P.S is a fellowship of young girls and women who may share their experience, strength and hope with each other, so that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from the trauma of being sexually abused. Primary purpose is to heal and help other victims of sexual assault become survivors.
Weekly Master Gardener Volunteer's Lunch and Learn at the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, Ida Lee Park, Leesburg. Every Tuesday, at noon, beginning in May, Loudoun County Master Gardener Volunteers will make a 20- to 30-minute educational presentation followed by a question-and-answer session and a tour of the Ida Lee Demonstration Garden. The public is invited to attend these programs free, no registration is required. In case of rain, the program will be held, Thursday evening, at 7 p.m.
Call the Loudoun Extension Office at 703-777-0373.
The book discussion group at the Senior center at Cascades marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, meets the third Tuesday of each month at noon. Open to interested members. 703-430-2397.
The Ashburn-Sterling Masonic Lodge meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:45 p.m. for dinner at the lodge. Call Russ Baneck at 703-470-2188 or Charles Maranto at 703-868-7896. The lodge is located at 43881 Waxpool Road in Ashburn.
Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) at Capital Community Church is now taking registration for the 2006-07 year. MOPS provides mothers with the support they need through resources and relationships. It meets the second and fourth Friday of each month, from 9:30-11:30 a.m., at Capital Community Church in Ashburn Village. Child care is provided. Call 703-404-3977 or 703-430-9398.