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.
The Welcome Club of Northern Virginia invites community residents to attend its monthly luncheon at the Bonefish Grill Thursday, April 5. The speaker is Trevor Howard of the "Shillelaghs" travel group. He will offer travel tips and advice. Registration begins at 11 a.m. Call 703-281-6225 or e-mail dlboguts@cox.net The deadline for reservations is Monday, April 2.
The Loudoun Horse Association will hold the second annual tack and equipment auction Saturday, April 14, at 11 a.m., at Lucia Farm south of Lovettsville on Route 287. Contact Dru Roia at 540-822-4421.
Sterling Arts & Crafts Kids Club (S.A.C.K.) will take place Tuesday, April 17, 4 p.m., at Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St. Have fun making something you can take home in a "sack." Recommended for ages 6-10. Call the Sterling Library at 703-430-9500 V/TTY.
The book discussion group at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, will meet Tuesday, April 17, noon-1:30 p.m., to discuss "Pride and Prejudice," by Jane Austin. Open to all interested members. Call 703-430-2397.
ChatterBook Club, Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road, Leesburg, April 18, 7 p.m., an informal chat about a book that has won an award. This meeting's book will be "My Side of the Mountain." Recommended for ages 12-14. Registration is required; register online @ www.lcpl.lib.va.us or call the Rust Library at 703-771-5624.
Thursdays, April 19 and 26, 21544 Claude Moore Park, Sterling, 3:30-5 p.m., Kid’s Nature and History Book Club. Ages 8-11. Bring a snack and water and we'll take a hike on the park's trails and read and discuss a great history-themed book. "Shades of Gray" by Carolyn Reeder. Cost: $31.50 per child per three-day class. 571-258-3700.
Outrageous Origami Club, Friday, April 20, 3:30 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road. Recommended for ages 8-11. Advance registration is required and begins April 6 for the April program. Register online at www.lcpl.lib.va.us or call the Ashburn Library at 703-737-8105.
Mothers First-Leesburg/Ashburn is a nonprofit organization 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. The group will meet April 25, at 10:15 a.m., at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Guys Read, a book club for guys, will meet at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Thursday, April 26, at 7 p.m. The group will read "Whales on Stilts," by M.T. Anderson. Free books will be available to participants before each program. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Registration is required prior to the program. Register online at www.lcpl.lib.va.us or call the branch library at 703-737-8105.
Loudoun County Democratic Committee will hold its Annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner, Friday, April 27, at the Lansdowne Resort, 6-7:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per person. Contact Ellen Heald, fund-raising chair, at ellenheald@aol.com or 703-777-4406.
The Ashburn-Sterling Masonic Lodge meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:45 p.m. for dinner at the lodge, located at 43881 Waxpool Road, Ashburn. Visit www.AshburnLodge.org or e-mail info@AshburnLodge.org or call 703-470-2188.
The Loudoun County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold its monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m., at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Call 703-777-0368 V/TTY or visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
Ashburn Assembly No. 11, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at Ashburn-Sterling Masonic Lodge. Contact the mother advisor, Clarissa Jones, at 703-724-0675 or e-mail momclarissa@vaiorg.org.
The Loudoun County NAACP meets at 7:30 p.m., on the third Monday of every month, at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 216 Loudoun St., S.W., Leesburg. Contact 540-687-8230 or 703-777-8270.
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 Loudoun Walking and Volkssport Club invites the public to check out its self-guided year-round walks. The club offers eight walks in the county that can be done any day at just about any time. Each has a choice of distance, 5 and 10 kilometers. The club offers these walks as part of its community outreach efforts. Contact Bob Wright at
703-737-2175 or rwright2@jhu.edu.
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.
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.
Crochet Club, at the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg. Meets Fridays, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Walking club, at the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg. Meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Free. Call 703-737-8039.