The Alexandria Commission for the Arts invites Alexandria teachers, in public and private schools, to exhibit their artwork in the Local Color Show at the Alexandria Festival of the Arts, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8 and Sunday, Sept. 9 in Historic Old Town Alexandria. All teachers in Alexandria schools, public and private, are invited to submit one artistic work to be exhibited at the Festival. The first 50 entries received will be exhibited. Entries chosen for Local Color will be notified by Aug. 15. Additional information and entry forms are available at www.alexandriacommissionforthearts.org. The Commission must receive entries no later than July 30.
Northern Virginia Community College wants students with leadership potential to apply for a special scholarship. Six students, one for each of NOVA’s campuses, will be named Commonwealth Legacy Scholars and awarded scholarships of $1,100 for the 2007-08 academic year. The scholarships, based on merit, are open to students who will be attending college for the first time. The deadline for the scholarship is July 13. Recipients will be notified in August. More information is available at www.nvcc.edu/finance/PDF/CommonwealthLegacy0708.pdf.
The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program is looking for volunteers to provide hotline coverage and crisis counseling to survivors of domestic violence. Volunteers are required to participate in 40 hours of training and requested to donate 10-15 hours per month during weekends and holidays. The next volunteer training will begin on Saturday, July 14, 2007 with a retreat from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Interested individuals should contact Lacie Hughes at 703-838-4911 or visit www.alexwomen.com.
The public is invited to attend a community meeting to discuss proposed improvements to playgrounds at Goat Hill Park, 33 Kennedy St; and Landover Park, 3301 Landover St. The meeting will be held at 7 pm on Tuesday, July 10, at the Warwick Pool Community Room, 3315 Landover St.
During the meeting, attendees will review concept plans for new play equipment and playground design. Staff from the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities will provide an overview of the project and outline the public process for community input as the proposal moves forward.
Persons who are unable to attend the community meeting can send written comments to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, Attention: Judy Lo, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314.
The Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) would like parents to add one very important task to the top of their list: talking to their children about love, sex, and relationships. It is never too early to begin the conversation with your children and research shows that youth hold parents’ values in high regard when making decisions on these issues.
ACAP has developed a new web site for parents to gather information and resources on talking to their children about sex. The web site, www.alexgetreal.com, was developed from ACAP’s theme to "Get Real About Sex." This theme encourages parents to regularly discuss love, sex, and relationships with their children and help them make healthy choices that protect their future. The web site provides age-appropriate suggestions to parents on how to initiate a conversation about sex, love and relationships. It also features helpful information about teen relationships, sexual health, teen pregnancy statistics, and referrals to other resources. The web site has interactive features such as ACAP commercials, podcast interviews with parents and teens, and videos of ACAP events. The web site will be translated into Spanish by August 2007 for those whom English is their second language.
This web site is not only for parents, but also for teens. Teens can access these same resources independently or together with their parents. Teens can also use ACAP’s new text message line 703.717.TEEN, which provides answers to their most pressing questions about a variety of topics, ranging from relationships to their bodies to making good choices that protect their future. All text message questions are answered within 24 hours,
The celebration continues. You can still purchase 2007 Jamestown 400th Anniversary festival merchandise. Items are available at:
*Gadsby's Tavern Museum , 134 North Royal St. 703-838-4242. Museum hours are Tues. – Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun. and Mon. 1– 5 p.m.
*Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St. 703-838-4356. Museum hours are Tues. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
*The Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum, 201 S. Washington St. 703-838-4994. Museum hours are Mon. – Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. 1 – 5 p.m.
*Ramsay House Visitors Center, 221 King St. , 703-838-4200
Items available include souvenir coins, set of 4 logo glasses, celebration patches, lapel pins, spoons, and lots more. The commemorative items make great souvenirs and gifts For more information, call Gadsby's Tavern Museum at 703-838-4242.
The City of Alexandria's Office of Aging and Adult Services has published "Cooking with Friends," a collection of the best recipes of the Department of Human Services' staff. The cost of the cookbook is $10. Proceeds from the book will benefit the Eleanor Ager Host Fund. The cookbook can be purchased at the main office for the Department of Human Services, located at 2525 Mt. Vernon Ave; or by mail by sending a check for $12.50 per copy, which includes postage, payable to the City of Alexandria and mailed to: Office of Aging and Adult Services, 2525 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA, 22301. For more information, to request bulk orders, or to pick up a copy of "Cooking with Friends," call the Department of Human Services at 703-838-0920.
The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse is in need of volunteers to serve in the following positions:
* Guardians for adults with mental retardation and mental illness. Guardians make decisions about personal care, health care, living conditions and recreation. Guardians are court-appointed and bonded. The duties require approximately four hours per month.
* Representative Payees to receive Social Security checks and pay bills for persons with mental retardation or mental illness. A separate bank account is opened with automatic deposit and there are few monthly transactions. The duties require two hours per month, per account.
* Friendly Visitors to plan one-on-one outings and activities with a resident of an Alexandria group home for adults with mental retardation. This volunteer activity requires approximately two hours per week.
* Mentors to meet one-on-one with a specific child on a weekly basis to provide friendship, act as a positive role model, plan leisure and recreational activities together, participate in age appropriate activities and assist the child with school work as needed. Meetings with the child take place primarily in neutral locations away from the child's and mentor's homes. Being a mentor requires approximately two hours per week.
Contact Jennifer Cohen Cordero at jennifer.cohen-cordero@alexandriava.gov or 703.838.4455, ext.165.
HEW Federal Credit Union (HEWFCU), a federally insured financial institution can now serve the entire City of Alexandria. All residents are able to join HEWFCU and take advantage of the low-cost products and services the credit union offers. With experienced lending and member services staff and a physical facility already located in the area, HEWFCU has the tools and infrastructure to deploy to the market as an alternative to non-traditional financial services providers. Visit HEWFCU's office located on 400 N. Columbus St.; or visit www.hewfcu.com.