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.
Ashburn Assembly No. 11, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, will be hosting a bowling party Saturday, Feb. 17, 3:30-5:30 p.m., at Bowl America, Dranesville Road for any interested young ladies ages 8-20 and their parents. Rainbow is sponsored by Ashburn-Sterling Masonic lodge. Contact Clarissa Jones, at 703-724-0675 or e-mail momclarissa@vaiorg.org.
The Ashburn Classics will hold a Valentine Afternoon Tea at Embassy Suites on Waxpool Road, Ashburn, Feb. 17, starting at 1 p.m. Reservations are required. The March 10 meeting will be held at the Ashburn Library, at 10:30 a.m. Guest speaker is Dr. Grace Keenan, director of the Nova Medical Group and Urgent Care Center in Ashburn. Call 703-723-3056. All Ashburn residents 50 and over are invited.
Sterling Arts & Crafts Kids Club (S.A.C.K.) Make something you can take home in a "sack" at Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Feb. 20, 4 p.m., Bring your ideas and let the fun begin. Recommended for ages 6-10. Call the Sterling Library at 703-430-9500 V/TTY.
The Rust Library's ChatterBook Club, meets Wednesday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m., for an informal chat about a book that has won an award. Discuss "Rifles for Watie," the story of a boy who goes off to fight in the Civil War and asks himself some serious questions about the differences between right and wrong. Recommended for ages 12-14. Registration is limited and required two weeks prior to the program. 380 Old Waterford Road, Leesburg. Call 703-771-5624.
Guys Read is a book club where guys can gather around books that guys like at Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. In February the book will be "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson," by Bette Bao Lord and Marc Simont. Free books will be available to participants before each program. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Register prior to the program date at 703-737-8105.
The History Mystery Book Club, meets Monday, Feb. 23, at Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road, Leesburg, 4 p.m. In February read "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt. Recommended for ages 9-11. Sign up begins two weeks prior to each program at 703-771-5624.
Cuddle Bugs Playgroup at Douglass Community Center, 407 East Market St., Leesburg, Friday, Feb. 23, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Meet other parents and encourage children to explore the world around them. Cost is $4. Registration required. Contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
The Virginia Reader's Choice Book Club will read "Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book" by Cynthia Rylant and "The Turn-Around Upside-Down Alphabet" by Lisa Ernst. Learn about the author and illustrator of each book and do a fun activity, Monday, Feb. 26, at the Ashburn Library, 7 p.m. Recommended for children in grades kindergarten-second. Advance registration is required, call 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. Due to the upcoming Rust Library renovations, the Leesburg chapter will be temporarily joining the Ashburn chapter until further notice. The Leesburg/Ashburn group will meet Feb. 27, at 10:15 a.m., at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Learn about American history through the eyes of the American Girls. Join the American Girl Club and enjoy a monthly book discussion including hands-on history activities and refreshments at Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Feb. 27, 4 p.m. Recommended for ages 6-11. The program is limited to 30 participants and advance registration is required. Call 703-737-8105.
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 MOMS Club of Ashburn Village Area, which covers Ashbrook, Regency, Cameron Chase, Belmont Country Club, University Center, the Courts and Ridges, is seeking members.
The club is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization with chapters all over the world that offers age-appropriate play groups, field trips to fun and exciting places, Moms’ Night Out, volunteer opportunities and more! If interested please attend one of its business meetings on the third Monday of each month, at 10:30 a.m., at the Mills Recreation Center located at 43895 Grottoes Drive, 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 Hidden Hills 4-H Club in Loudoun County is taking new members. Learn new things, develop new skills, travel to new places, make new friends and most importantly have fun. A horse is not required to be a member of this club. Ages 5-19 are welcome to join. Call Kim Rupp at 703- 443-1839 or the Loudoun County Extension Office at 703-771-5837.
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.
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.