Know of something missing from our community calendar? E-mail it to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with any questions. Photos are welcome. For more volunteer opportunities, classes, announcements visit www.arlingtonconnection.com and click on Community.
<b>Saturday/Oct. 13
</b>Free Paper Shredding. Civitans will provide free paper shredding from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church on Glebe Road at 16th Street in Arlington. Bring personal documents; no limit and no need to remove staples or clips. Baked goods will be available and proceeds will be donated to local services. Contact Helen Kelly at 703-599-9576 or e-mail tysonscivitan@aol.com.
<b>Saturday /Oct. 17
</b>"New to Medicare" Seminar. 6 p.m. at 3033 Wilson Blvd., on the 7th floor. Free session on Medicare. Contact the Agency on Aging at 703-228-1700, TTY 703-228-1788, or e-mail: arlaaa@arlingtonva.us.
Collaboration Workshop. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at George Mason University, Arlington Campus. Workshops on talk-to-action methods for cross-community quality of life improvements and the management of programs, agencies, and service systems. To register or for more visit www.resultsleadership.org. Also Sunday, Oct. 18.
<b>Thursday/Oct. 20
</b>Fall Gala Fundraiser. 7 p.m., take part in the Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s "Catsino Nigth" at Historic Lobby A at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. There will be games, auctions, music, food and drink. $10/person or $180/couple. Call 703-931-9241 or visit www.awla.org to download a RSVP card.
<b>Sunday/Oct. 21
</b>Candidate Forums. 11 a.m. at Congregation Etz Hayim, 2920 Arlington Blvd. Free. Features the Arlington County Board Forum.
<b>Wednesday/Oct. 24
</b>Documentary Showing. Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd., will show "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" at 7 p.m. at the Church. Free. E-mail acbridgman@hotmail.com.
<b>Thursday/Oct. 25
</b>Inside a Homeless Shelter. Learn about the Residential Program Center and its job in helping Arlington residents who want to overcome effects of homelessness and/or substance abuse. 1554 Columbia Pike, 4-7 p.m. Free. 703-228-0022.
<b>Monday/Nov. 5
</b>Public Meeting. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources will hold a Public Information Meeting to discuss the proposed Arlington Heights, Virginia Heights, and Monroe Courts Historic Districts, Arlington County at 7 p.m. in the Arlington County Office Building, Arlington County Board room on the third floor at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. For a copy of the district nomination and/or boundary map, contact Jean McRae, Virginia Department of Historic Resources at 804-367-2323 x-102 or E-mail: jean.mcrae@dhr.virginia.gov.
<b>F.Y.I.
</b>Sign up now to be a Classroom Assistant in one of the Child & Family Network Centers (CFNC) preschool classrooms. The students are 4-year-olds. You will assist a teacher in guiding the children through new adventures in reading, science, art, music and computer basics, among other skills. And of course, there’s play, games, field trips and much more. Call Patricia Chapman, 703-836-0214 or send an e-mail to pchapman@cfnc-online.org to set up a time.
VFW Post 3150 has authorized the formation of a Men’s Auxiliary to assist the Post in carrying out its mission among its fellow veterans and their families and the community of Arlington. Membership in the Men’s Auxiliary requires that the applicant be the husband, father, grandfather, son, grandson, brother or half-brother (who attained that status prior to age 16) of a veteran who was or is eligible for membership in the VFW. Those interested should contact the Post at 703-525-0108, e-mail cdrpost3150@va.vfwwebmail.com or Ernie Deal at 540-522-1158 or 703-979-5268.
In-person absentee balloting is now available for the Nov. 6, 2007 General Election in the Arlington Office of Voter Registration, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 320. The hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with additional hours on Thursdays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 until 7 p.m. and Saturdays, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last day to vote absentee in person is Saturday, Nov. 3, when voting ends at 5 p.m.
The office will be closed on Oct. 8 in observance of Columbus Day. The last day to register to vote or update your voter registration address to be eligible to vote on Nov. 6 is Tuesday, Oct. 9.
Qualified registered voters can download the application form at www.arlingtonva.us or contact the Office of Voter Registration at 703-228-3456 or by e-mail at voters@arlingtonva.us to request the application be mailed or faxed to them.
Project Acorn is a fall giveaway of approximately 750-1000 JamestownCherrybark Oak trees for the purpose of enhancing Arlington's environment and providing a living legacy of how our country was founded in 1607 at Jamestown. These trees are intended for planting primarily on private residential properties or in school yards.
To sign up as a coordinator for your Civic Association, send an e-mail to Alison Davis-Holland from the Maywood Community Association at thriftonhillpark@gmail.com with your name, phone number, street address, and the name of your Civic Association. For more information, visit the Friends of Thrifton Hill Park Web site at: http://thriftonhillpark.googlepages.com/projectacorn.
For breast cancer support or information including publications and newsletters, visit www.y-me.org or call the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Hotline at 1-800-221-2141 (English, with interpreters available in 150 languages) or 1-800-986-9505 (Spanish).v
Hoffman-Boston Elementary. 1415 S. Queen St., Arlington, needs volunteers for Book Buddies, a one-to-one reading support program for at-risk first and second grade students. Volunteers tutor two mornings a week, before school, from 8:15-9:15 a.m., Monday-Wednesday or Tuesday -Thursday. The commitment is for the entire school year. All lesson plans and materials are designed individually and prepared in advance by the coordinator. An initial training session takes about an hour. On-going support is provided by the program coordinator. Contact Kim Durand, Volunteer & Partnership Program Specialist, 703-228-6003.
The Arlington Community Foundation awarded more than $195,000 to fund 43 grants to 41 local nonprofit organizations. Grants range from $500 to $10,000 and assist with the improvement of the Arlington community through programs in the arts; the environment; senior enrichment; for children, women and families; immigrants and minority groups; the homeless and malnourished; the mentally ill; those who are in need of legal services; and more. Recipient organizations will be recognized at the Foundation’s annual Spirit of Community Luncheon scheduled for Nov. 14.
For more information about how to apply for Community Enhancement Grant or how to help support the Foundation’s grantmaking, call 703-243-4785.
Hoffman-Boston Elementary School, at 1415 S. Queen St., needs adult volunteers to tutor a first or second grade struggling reader for two mornings a week from 8:15-9:15 a.m. during the school year. On-going support with training, lesson plans and all materials provided. Call Marty Maher, Book Buddies Co-ordinator, at 703-228-5845 or e-mail martha_maher@apsva.edu.
NAMI-Arlington support group for individuals who have a parent or sibling diagnosed with a serious mental illness will meet Thursday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Arlington. For more information and meeting location, contact Christina Kozyn at 703-892-2197 or ckozyn@gmail.com.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Capital Chapter seeks volunteers for the 5th Anniversary MS Challenge Walk pwresented by Security Storage, an endurance walk covering three days and 50 miles on Sept. 28 through 30. Volunteer opportunities include in-office assistance before the event, setting up sites, assisting with participant registration, serving food, and cheering on walkers. Interested individuals can help for a few hours or all three days. To learn more or register as a volunteer, contact the National Capital Chapter at 202-296-5363 or visit www.MSandYOU.org.
Northern Virginia Epilepsy Group meets every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. at Falls Church High School, Entrance 1, Room 100, 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church. Free. For adults diagnosed with seizure disorders and caregivers. Call Dana at 703-425-6669.
Do you know a young girl who loves the water, but wants to try something besides racing back and forth? Synchronized swimming may be just the activity for her! NoVa Synchro, an Arlington-based synchronized swimming team, invites all interested girls ages 6-19 to come to two open practices to try the sport for themselves. Stop by either Friday, Sept. 7 from 7-9 p.m. at Providence RECenter (7525 Marc Dr. in Falls Church) or Sunday, Sept. 9 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at Wakefield High School (4901 Chesterfield Rd. in Arlington). Visit www.NoVaSynchro.net for more details, or e-mail NoVaSynchro99@yahoo.com with any questions.
Soroptimist International of Arlington started a community-wide campaign to collect used, unwanted cell phones. Proceeds from the collection efforts will be applied to the Women’s Opportunity Award and the Violet Richardson Award, as well as to fund various advocacy and educational programs throughout the community. Contact Sharon Williams, 703-203-3691 or e-mail swilliams@siarlington.org on where to find the drop offs.
The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition offers students interested in Fashion Design or Fashion Marketing, Merchandising or Retail Management an opportunity to compete for a full tuition scholarship to study at one of The Art Institutes schools. Deadline for entries into the competition is Nov. 19. To be eligible, students must be a senior in high school, set to graduate in 2008, complete an entry form, have a minimum G.P.A of 2.0, write a short essay describing their interest in fashion and submit a finished, originally designed eveningwear garment and process book, for the Fashion Design category or a create a product or plan for the Fashion Marketing, Merchandising and Retail Management category. For more information on how to enter The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/passionforfashion.
Some children in the after school program have difficulty completing their homework assignments and would benefit from a one-on-one tutor. It would also be helpful to read books and assignments with them and help them improve their reading skills. The children are in the after school program from 4-6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 2-6 p.m. on Wednesdays. The staff would like to pair an adult (or teen) with one child throughout the school year. Spend one hour with "your" tutee one or more afternoons a week. Minimum age is 14 or completed middle school. Program staff will orient volunteers to their operations. Contact Janice Covert, Volunteer Coordinator, 703-228-4730.
AHC Inc, a nonprofit in Arlington, is currently seeking volunteers to work with teens and/or children in tutoring or after-school programs. AHC, which provides affordable housing in the Arlington area, has been helping families who live in AHC communities since 1993. Here’s how to get involved and make a difference:
* Looking for dedicated volunteers to help middle and high school students with homework, and more importantly, to be a role model and mentor. The tutoring program, which runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. once a week, provides a friendly environment to foster both academic and life skills. Tutors are paired with one student throughout the school year to help youngsters and volunteers build an ongoing personal relationship.
There are several locations you can choose from. The teen tutoring program is offered at six different sites in Arlington and is on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays (depending on the site) and all of them run from 6:30–8 p.m. Two of the sites are Metro accessible. See list below for site locations and specific days and times.
* Seeking volunteers to help tutor and mentor elementary students in one of five After-School Programs in Arlington. After-School Programs, which are generally offered in the afternoon through early evening, are designed to provide a safe, fun, learning environment where children can do their homework, develop social skills and participate in activities like arts and crafts. A key aspect of the program is to build children’s academic skills, with a strong emphasis on literacy.
The After School Program times and days differ by site. See list below for each site and their respective times and days: Volunteers for this program can come as little as one hour a week, or as much as they are able. For more information on AHC, visit www.ahcinc.org or contact Chris Papavasiliou, Volunteer Coordinator at 703-807-1941.
If you enjoy talking about books, become a book discussion leader at The Carlin, a senior independent living facility. Work with an interested group of people to select the books to be read, and lead the monthly discussion. The books will be supplied by Arlington Public Library. Need someone who is dependable, enjoys discussion books and is able to lead a discussion making sure everyone gets a chance to share their views. The group meets for two hours on the second Thursday of each month at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. A six-month commitment is required. Contact Barbara Dean, Volunteer Coordinator, at 703-228-7688.