To post local events in the Connection, mail 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail Lea Mae Rice at burke@connectionnewspapers.com or fax 703-917-0991. Deadline is the Thursday before the week of the event. Call 703-917-6459.
January
Personalized Internet and MS Office Tutoring. One-on-one sessions with a technology volunteer at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Adults. 703-339-4610.
Practice Your English. Conversation group for people learning English 10:15 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. 703-339-4610.
Personalized Internet Training. Basics for beginners, at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Adults. Call 703-339-7385 for appointment.
Thursday/Jan. 25
Snowy Days. Warm up with fun stories and songs 1 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Ages 2-5 with adult. Call 703-339-4610.
Thursday Theater. Movie and refreshments 2 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Adults. Call 703-339-7385.
Friday/Jan. 26
Ponderings. Learn about life below freezing 4-5 p.m. at Hidden Pond Nature Center, 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield. Ages 6-10. $4. For reservations call 703-451-9588.
Saturday/Jan. 27
Movies and More. Watch a film and create a craft 10:30 a.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. All ages. Call 703-451-8055.
Monday/Jan. 29
Vision Lecture Series. George Donohue of the Air Transport Research Systems Research Center discusses “Air Transportation: A Tale of Prisoners, Sheep and Autocrats,” 8 p.m. at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts Concert Hall, Route 123 and Braddock Road, Fairfax. Free. Tickets required. Visit www.gmu.edu/cfa/vision.
Practice English. Conversation group for people learning English 7 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Adults. Call 703-339-7385.
Ring in the New Year. Share stories, activities and a craft about the New Year 7 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Ages 6-12. Call 703-339-7385.
Practice English. Conversation group for people learning English 3 p.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Adults. Call 703-451-8055.
Tuesday/Jan. 30
Kids Appreciation Night. Have a balloon animal made at “Up, Up and Away” 6-8 p.m. at the Silver Diner, 6592 Springfield Mall, Springfield. Call 703-924-1701.
Thursday/Feb. 1
Daytime Book Discussion Group. "Look at Me" by Anita Brookner. 12:15 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Adults. Call 703-339-4610.
Tell It Again. Hear stories read in Spanish and English 7 p.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Ages 6-9 with adult. Call 703-451-8055.
Saturday/Feb. 3
Town Hall. Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R-37) offers two town hall meetings, from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in the community room of the Springfield Government Center, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield; and from 1:30–2:30 p.m. at the Pohick Library, 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke. For more, contact Eve Marie Barner at 703-766-0635 or visit www.cuccinelli.org.
Tuesday/Feb. 6
Kids Appreciation Night. Wear school colors to “Spirit Night” with Mr. Don, 6-8 p.m. at the Silver Diner, 6592 Springfield Mall, Springfield. Call 703-924-1701.
Won't You be My Valentine? Stories, activities and a craft 10:30 a.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Ages 2-5 with adult. Call 703-339-7385.
Wednesday/Feb. 7
Lunch Bunnies. Bring lunch or a snack 12 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Ages 1-5 with adult. Call 703-339-4610.
Heart to Heart. Stories and activities about Valentine's Day 10:30 a.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Ages 2-5 with adult. Call 703-451-8055.
Thursday/Feb. 8
What's New in Picture Books. See new picture books to use with preschoolers 7 p.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Daycare provider certification available. Adults. Call 703-451-8055.
Friday/Feb. 9
Food Demonstration. Mom Made Foods, an organically-certified producer of frozen children's foods, offers cooking and tasting demonstrations 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Whole Foods Market, 8402 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. For more see www.mommadefoods.com.
Saturday/ Feb. 10
Financial Aid Clinic. The Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators offers a clinic to help students and parents understand college financial aid procedures from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Ernst Cultural Center, NOVA's Annandale Campus, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Free. Call 703-323-3199 for more.
Monday/Feb. 12
Valentine Time. Stories, songs and fun. 10:30 a.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Ages 2-3 with adult. Call 703-339-4610.
Practice English. Conversation group for people learning English 7 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Adults. Call 703-339-7385.
Lots of Valentines. Stories, activities and a craft 7 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Ages 6-12. Call 703-339-7385.
Book Discussion Group. "Team of Rivals" by Doris Goodwin 7 p.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Adults. Call 703-451-8055.
Tuesday/Feb. 13
Kids Appreciation Night. Wear red and celebrate Valentine’s Day with Ms. Deejay 6-8 p.m. at the Silver Diner, 6592 Springfield Mall, Springfield. Call 703-924-1701.
Saturday/Feb. 17
Below Freezing. Hidden Pond Nature Center shows how life adapts to frigid temperatures 10:30 a.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. All ages. Call 704-451-8055.
Tuesday/Feb. 20
Kids Appreciation Night. “Pirates, Puzzles and Presidents” with magician Mr. Greenwald 6-8 p.m. at the Silver Diner, 6592 Springfield Mall, Springfield. Call 703-924-1701.
Little Valentines. Stories and activities 10:30 a.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Ages 13-23 months with adult. Call 703-339-4610.
Dog Days. Celebrate "K9" Friends with stories, activities and a craft 10:30 a.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Ages 2-5 with adult. Call 703-339-7385.
Wednesday/Feb. 21
Colonial Crafts. Make interesting items from America's past 4 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Ages 6-12. Call 703-339-4610.
Book Club. "The Wild Girl" by Jim Fergus. 7:30 p.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. Adults. Call 703-339-7385.
Thursday/Feb. 22
Ride with Me. Stories about trains, boats and cars 1 p.m at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Ages 2-5 with adult. Call 703-339-4610.
Saturday/Feb. 24
Exploring Genealogy Resources. Find ancestors by learning to explore the library's extensive genealogy databases 10:30 a.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Adults. Call 703-339-4610.
Masks in African Culture. Children can create their own African masks 11 a.m. at Lorton Library, 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton. All ages. Call 703-339-7385.
Masks of Africa. Daisy Goodwin explores the role of masks in African culture 3 p.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Richard Byrd Library. All ages. Call 703-451-8055.
Monday/Feb. 26
First Page. A group for all aspiring writers, novices and experts of all genres 7 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Adults. Call 703-339-4610.
Ones at a Time. Stories and activities 10:30 a.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Ages 13-23 months with adult. Call 703-451-8055.
Tuesday/Feb. 27
Kids Appreciation Night. Wear crazy socks to “Kick Up Your Heels Night” with Ms. Deejay 6-8 p.m. at the Silver Diner, 6592 Springfield Mall, Springfield. Call 703-924-1701.
Evening Book Discussion Group. "Charlotte Gray" by Sebastian Faulks 7:30 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Adults. Call 703-339-4610.
Wednesday/Feb. 28
Travel Club. Bring a bag lunch for the first meeting of this new group 1 p.m. at Richard Byrd Library, 7250 Commerce St., Springfield. Adults. Call 703-451-8055.
Library Writer's Peer Review Group. For those seriously pursuing the path to publication with short fiction, novels or writing scripts 7 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Centre, Alexandria. Adults. Call 703-339-4610.