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.
Adventures with the Story Lady at Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market St., Leesburg. For ages 3.5-5. Storytelling brought to life through improvisation and student participation. Fridays, Jan. 26, 3:15-4:15 p.m., $24; and Fridays, Feb. 9 and 16, 3:15-4:15 p.m., $24. To register, contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or at dcc@loudoun.gov.
Baby Ballerina open house, Friday, Jan. 26 and Friday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 22360 South Sterling Blvd., Suite D-101, Sterling. Includes free trial classes, princess dress-up, tea parties and more. Call 703-430-3033 or visit www.babyballerina.net.
The Loudoun Academy of the Arts will hold a series of weekend art and photo workshops during the winter months:
* One-day Printmaking with Kathi Fertig, Saturday, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost $80.
* One-day Mural Painting with Kathi Fertig, Saturday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost $80.
* Understanding Your Digital Camera with Jeanette Burkle, Saturday, Feb. 10, from 1-5 p.m. Cost $60.
* Sumi-e Painting with Nellie Chao, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24 and 25, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost $140, includes all supplies.
* Painting Big! with Rick Steinberger. Four three-hour classes that can be arranged within your schedule. Cost $250, includes all materials.
The Loudoun Academy of the Arts, a nonprofit 501c3 organization, is located at 222 South King St. in Leesburg. Visit www.loudounacademy.org or call 703-777-8043.
Sterling Annex Community Center is offering Sign Language I and II with instructor Jill Moebus. Sign Language I will run Monday, Feb. 5-March 26, from 7-8:30 p.m. Sign Language II will run Tuesday, Feb. 6-March 26, from 7-8:30 p.m. Participants in both classes must bring the book "The Joy of Signing." The cost is $84 per person and preregistration is required. Call 703-430-6673.
What a paint job. Explore painting by using premolded cars and crazy painting theme. After painting a car, add wheels and away you go. Class will be held Thursday, Feb. 8, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., at the Sterling Annex Community Center. The cost is $9 and preregistration required for 4- to 10-year-olds. Call 703-430-6673.
Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, is offering Whizkids computer classes for ages 8-12, Mondays, through April 2, from 11 a.m.-noon. Cost $149, plus $20 materials fee. Includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint and Microsoft Excel. Preregistration required, call 703-430-6673.
Gentle yoga at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, 21060 Whitfield Place, 6:30-7:45 p.m., Tuesdays, through March 27. $103.50 for members; $115.50 for nonmembers. Call 703-430-2397.
Self Expression Painting. Children ages 6-10 will be introduced to acrylics, watercolors, pastels and crayon. Participants must bring one art pad for painting 9 inches x 12 inches or larger with a minimum of 30 pages and one pad of newsprint 9 inches x 12 inches or larger. All other materials will be provided. The cost of this class is $80 with preregistration required. Class will run Saturday, Jan. 27-March 17, from 10-11 a.m., at the Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road. call 703-430-6673.
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th) will hold a workshop on applying for federal grants Jan. 29, 10 a.m., at the Loudoun County Public School Administration Building, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn. Free and open to any nonprofit organization or local government in the 10th District. Representatives from the departments of Education and Health and Human Services have been invited to speak about grant writing and strategies for successful applications. The Grants.gov Web site also will be discussed. Attendance is limited to the first 400 people to register, at www.house.gov/wolf or by phone, call the Washington office 202-225-5136 or Herndon office 703- 709-5800 or 1-800-945-9653.
Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, is offering Sign Language I and II with instructor Jill Moebus. Sign Language I will run Mondays, Feb. 5-March 26, from 7-8:30 p.m. Sign Language II will run Tuesdays, Feb. 6-March 26, from 7-8:30 p.m. Participants in both classes must bring the book "The Joy of Signing," available in all area libraries and book stores. The cost is $84 per person and pre registration is required. Call 703-430-6673.
Children Explore the World with Yoga, Ashburn Library, Monday, Feb. 12, 10:15 a.m. Children will learn basic yoga poses and songs that will enhance flexibility, balance, coordination, self esteem and enlightenment to the world around them. Recommended for ages 4-6. Advance registration required, call 703-737-8105.
Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, will offer two valentine classes for children. Valentine's Day Fun, for ages 5-10, Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 4-5 p.m. The cost is $7, plus $3 supply fee. Enjoy Valentines games and make cards. Valentine Princess Cakes is offered for children 4-10 , Wednesday, Feb. 14, from 4-5 p.m. The cost is $7, plus $4 supply fee. Ice and decorate own doll cake to take home. Preregistration is required, call 703-430-6673.
Baby Signs Play Classes. Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, is offering a new class for ages 6-24 months. Includes singing songs, learning signs and playing games. Class are Mondays, through Feb. 26, from 9:30-10:15 a.m. The cost is $55 with preregistration required. Parents also pay $77 for the Sign Say & Play Kit. This fee is paid to the instructor at class. Call 703-430-6673.
Learn the basics of cha-cha, a basic Latin dance born out of the Cuban mambo. Classes will be held at Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, with instructor Jason Conrad. This class will be held Mondays, through March 12, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The cost is $80 and preregistration is required. Call 703-430-6673.
Wat Yarnna Rangsee in Sterling will be offering free meditation classes every Sunday. Inquire and register at the temple at 21950 Shaw Road, Sterling, 703-406-8290/2509.
Dance 'N Play is a total body fitness class for mom with toddler, with body toning, cardio bursts and dancing to popular children's music. Classes are on-going and meet every Thursday, from 9:30-10:15 a.m., at the Douglass Community Center gymnasium, 407 East Market St., Leesburg. Cost of the class is $40 for four sessions. Contact the Douglass Community Center, 703-771-5913.
Mommy and Me classes for ages 3 months to 2 years are now forming at Congregation Sha’are Shalom. Trial classes are available. Class information is available at www.jccnv.org. Contact Laurie Albert, JCCNV community engagement director at 703-537-3064 or LaurieA@jccnv.org.
The Douglass Community Center Child Care Program is accepting registration for new children. The program operates daily, from 7 a.m.-6:15 p.m., and serves children age 3 through prekindergarten, must be potty trained. Fees are $155 per week. Contact 703-771-5610 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
Dance 'N Play is a fitness class for mom with toddler, with body toning, cardio bursts and dancing to popular children's music. Classes are ongoing and meet every Thursday, from 9:30-10:15 a.m., at the Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market St., Leesburg. Cost of the class is $40 for four sessions. Contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or at dcc@loudoun.gov.
On every first and third Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., offers ESL basic computer skills needed for Internet, e-mail and word processing. Recommended for adult speakers of English as a second language. Limit 10 students per session. Register by calling 703-430-9500 V/TYY.