Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Get Me Started, Saturdays in October from 12:30-3 p.m. Cost is $25 each day. For true beginners only who want to be introduced to painting in a variety of mediums. All materials supplied. At the Loudoun Academy of the Arts Foundation, 222 South King St., Leesburg. Visit www.loudounacademy.org or call 703-777-8043.
Anyone who has wanted to learn to ring handbells or rang at one time and want to brush up on technique is invited to join the beginning handbell group at Galilee United Methodist Church. Practices will be held Thursdays, from 7-8:30 p.m., at the church and begin Oct. 11. Galilee UMC is located at 45425 Winding Road, Sterling. Contact the church office at 703-430-2203 or by e-mail at GalileeUMC@GalileeUMC.net.
Let's Talk Babies. The Birthing Inn at Inova Loudoun Hospital is offering a free workshop providing expectant parents with information related to the birthing process. Experts and professionals from the labor and delivery field will be on hand to present educational programs covering everything from anesthesia during labor, newborn information, management of labor, newborn care to car-seat safety. This interactive, educational workshop takes place Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Birthing Inn will be open for tours for the workshop attendees at the conclusion of the workshop. Call 703-779-2694.
The Loudoun Youth Initiative Youth Advisory Council is sponsoring the Search Institute’s "Leading with Assets" training to 100 Loudoun teens Oct. 13. The workshop will be hosted by Heritage High School, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and will help teens to identify and develop their individual leadership assets. The workshop is free and registrations are being accepted. Contact Jennifer Jackson at Jennifer.jackson@loudoun.gov or 571-258-3135.
Personal Transformation Made Simple, Monday, Oct. 15. Learn simple strategies, tips and techniques to make changes in your life and enjoy the results. Recommended for adults. Advance registration required. Register online at www.lcpl.lib.va.us or phone 703-444-3228, Ext. 5.
Free adoption seminar, Monday, Oct. 15, 7-9 p.m., at the Broadlands Community Center, 43004 Waxpool Road, Ashburn. Includes an overview of international and domestic adoption. Contact Karen Law, 703-723-4385 or klawadoption@aol.com.
Licensed child-care training, Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Sterling Annex Community Center, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. This workshop for child-care providers covers the benefits of science and social studies, as well as how they can be incorporated into daily and weekly lesson plans. Call 703-430-6673. Fee: $20.
Every Child Ready To Read, Tuesday, Oct. 16, at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Cascades. Discuss the research supporting the importance of early involvement in a child’s early literacy development; learn six important skills that will help ensure that your child is ready to learn to read when school starts. Recommended for adults. Advance registration required, register online at www.lcpl.lib.va.us or phone the library, 703-444-3228.
Ceramics at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Cost: $21 for members, $22 for nonmembers. Registration required, call 703-430-2397.
Young at Art at Sterling Annex. Join the fun this fall with lots of hands-on fun. Classes are designed for children ages 4 and up. All classes are on Thursdays from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. Each class is $9 with all supplies included. Pre-registration is required. Enjoy It’s Halloween on Oct. 18, Ornaments and Gifts on Nov. 29 and Christmas is Coming on Dec. 6. Call 703-430-6673.
Adult computer classes, geared toward the novice, are being offered at Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, Sterling. Microsoft Word will run Oct. 22-Nov. 5. This cost is $89. Microsoft Excel will run Nov. 12 and Nov. 19. The cost is $59. Microsoft PowerPoint is Nov. 26 and Dec. 3 and the cost is $59. All classes are held on Mondays. Class times are 7-8:30 p.m. Preregistration required. A $10 materials fee will be collected from each student at the first class. Call 703-430-6673.
The Loudoun County Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension will offer a Virginia Gardener Shortcourse. The Shortcourse is a condensed version of the training that Trainees who are new members of the Master Gardener Volunteer program receive. The Shortcourse is held in the Loudoun Cooperative Extension conference room at 30-B Catoctin Circle, SE (Wachovia Bank Building), Leesburg. The sessions are from 6-8:30 p.m. and are spread throughout the year. Dates for this year are: Oct. 25, and Nov. 8. Participants may sign up for individual sessions or for all eight. Contact Debbie D. Dillion at 703-771-5838 or ddillion@vt.edu.
Sign, Say and Play, ages birth-3 years. Designed for parents and children. Interactive play class highlights signs that are most important in the lives of babies. Class meets every Friday, from Oct. 26-Dec. 7, from 9:15-10 a.m., at the Douglass Community Center, 407 East Market St., Leesburg. Price is $55 per child and a $77 materials fee is due at the first class. Contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail at dcc@loudoun.gov.
The Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, is offering lunch bunch afternoons for children 3-5 Mondays and Thursdays, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Includes crafts, outdoor and indoor playtime and sports. Pack lunch from home, no microwavable food or refrigeration available. Cost: $7 an hour. Register required, call 703-430-6673.
Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, is offering a National Council on Aging exercise tape class, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, is offering stretch and tone classes where participants use bands and hand weights, every Thursday, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, is offering tai chi, which involves three primary subjects: health, meditation and martial arts, Mondays, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, is offering a Sewing and Stitch-In class, Mondays, 9-11:30 a.m. Beginner level. Sewing machines provided; bring in your sewing project. Come and sew, knit, needlepoint or crochet. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Line Dancing, at the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, Wednesdays, 1-2 p.m. Learn some new line dances. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Beginner tap dancing, at the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m. Learn some new line dances. Free. Call 703-737-8039.