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 Loudoun Fairfax Mothers of Multiples Club will hold a children’s and infant’s toys, clothing and equipment sale, Saturday, March 17, 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m., at Belmont Station Elementary, 20235 Nightwatch St., Ashburn. Includes one room dedicated to everything baby. The second room will focus from toddlers on up. No strollers please. Contact 703-415-MOMY or visit www.lfmomc.com.
The Brad Kaminsky Foundation for Brain Tumor Research, an Ashburn based not-for-profit organization that is committed to raising awareness and funds for brain tumor research, is selling tickets to the Lord and Taylor Spring Benefit Bash, which is to be held Tuesday, March 20, at the Lord and Taylor in Tysons Corner. Includes fashion, authors and book signings, children’s events, special savings and more. Tickets, which have coupons exclusively for that day, are $5 each, all of which goes to funding brain tumor research to find a cure. Contact Lisa Kaminsky-Millar at DNL1231@aol.com or 703-729-9897.
Kid's Nature & History Book Club, 3:30-5 p.m., Thursday, March 22, at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestals' Gap Road, Sterling. Bring a snack and water and take a hike on the trails and read and discuss a history or nature-themed book. Ages 8-11. Cost: $31.50 per child. Call 571-258-3700.
CFC MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) spring children's consignment sale will be Saturday, March 24, at Potomac Falls High School, 46400 Algonkian Parkway, Sterling, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Features gently used children's items including clothing up to size 10, equipment, furniture, toys, layette, and maternity. A half-price sale runs from 1-2 p.m. on designated items. Complete sale information and directions to the sale are available at www.cfcmops.com. Proceeds from this sale fund CFC MOPS and its designated charities.
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 March 27, at 10:15 a.m., at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
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.
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.
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.
Ashburn-Sterling Masonic Lodge meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:45 p.m. for dinner at the lodge, 43881 Waxpool Road, Ashburn. Visit www.AshburnLodge.org or e-mail info@AshburnLodge.org or call 703-470-2188.
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 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 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.
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.
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.