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>Thursday/Sept. 20
</b>Business Program Information Meeting. Marymount University will host a graduate business program session at 7 p.m. at MU's Ballston Center, 1000 N. Glebe Road, Arlington. To learn more about the program or to RSVP, call 703-284-5902 or register at www.marymount.edu/infosession.
<b>Tuesday/Sept. 25
</b>Weekly Meeting. Jack Turner, of AMEN (Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs), will speak about his organization's program at the weekly meeting of the Rosslyn/Ft.Myers Rotary Club from noon-2 p.m. in the Panorama Room of the Holiday Inn in Rosslyn. Call Mert Bland at 703-533-9478.
<b>Saturday/Sept. 29
</b>Public Lands Day. Begins at 8 a.m. with registration and a free breakfast. Clear invasive plants and plant trees from 9 a.m.-noon at Potomac Overlook Regional Park, 2845 Marcey Road. Reservations encouraged, 703-528-5406.
<b>Monday/Oct. 1
</b>Candidates’ Meeting. 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. Candidates running for office in the November election for the Virginia General Assembly Senate and House of Delegates, the Arlington County Board and the Arlington County School Board as well as candidates for County Treasurer, Commissioner of Revenue, Clerk of the Court, Sheriff and Commonwealth Attorney have been invited to participate. The public is encouraged to attend. Free. Call 703-528-2882.
<b>Saturday/Oct. 6
</b>E-CARE Event. The Department of Environmental Services will hold an Environmental Collection and Recycling Event from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Household hazardous materials, computers and electronics, shoes and eyeglasses are available for recycling. There is a fee for monitors, televisions and bikes. Located at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, 125 S. Old Glebe Road. 703-228-5900.
<b>Saturday-Sunday/Oct. 17-18
</b>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.
<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>F.Y.I.
</b>Are you interested in curriculum issues in the Arlington Public Schools? If so, the Advisory Council on Instruction (ACI) may be the place for you to explore. ACI has 14 Advisory Committees representing all of the academic subjects taught in Arlington County Schools. If you're interested in learning more about them, visit www.apsva.us/advisory_groups/aci/. To apply to be on a committee, fill out the Advisory Council application form at www.apsva.us/schoolboard/adv_committee_app.shtml.
This request is for volunteers to assist with groups that will be held for the victims and survivors of Domestic Abuse. The groups will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesdays starting Sept. 25. The requirements for this project are limited to those volunteers who have some experience with mental health services. Due to the nature of the group we are asking that at least one volunteer have bi-lingual abilities. Located at 3033 Wilson Blvd. Contact Maurice Hendrix, Program Coordinator, 703-228-1513.
The Arlington Early Head Start Program is seeking volunteers to assist teachers in the pre-school classroom. May involve setting up play and learning activities, reading to students, decorating the classroom, or helping with breakfast and lunch. Volunteers must be comfortable with groups of children ages 0-3 years and have experience with children this age or a desire to gain such experience. Contact Ann Granger, Volunteer Coordinator, 703-219-2193. Located at 601 Vermont St.
The Arlington County Medical Reserve Corps recruits and trains active and retired physicians, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists, nurses, and other citizens to volunteer during public health emergencies. MRC volunteers may assist in mass dispensing clinics, help with epidemiologic investigations, respond to telephone inquiries, or participate in public outreach and education. Volunteers also distribute public health education materials and recruit for the MRC during community fairs and other local events. Other trained and licensed volunteers support ongoing activities in public health bureaus and clinics. Call 703-228-4986 or e-mail bpritchard@arlingtonva.us.
After 24 years in downtown Washington, D.C., McGruff the Crime Dog is moving to Crystal City. The National Crime Prevention Council and McGruff’s new doghouse will be located at 2345 Crystal Drive, Fifth Floor, Arlington.
Doorways for Women and Families is seeking volunteers for Safehouse, its domestic violence shelter program. Volunteers are needed for weekend and evening shifts and to answer our 24/7 hotline. Some weekday opportunities are also available. Training begins in September. Call 703-522-8858 x13 or e-mail volunteer@doorwaysVA.org. Visit www.doorwaysva.org/volunteer.
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.
The Parkinson’s Disease Support Groups (Patient Discussion, Carepartners and Wilber McBay Exercise Program) meet weekday mornings at the Cherrydale Baptist Church, 3910 Lorcom Lane, Arlington. The Parkinson Foundation (PFNCA) invites persons with PD and their carepartners. Interested participants must call ahead. For schedules and more information, contact Leon Paparella at 202-966-4450.
Connections Café for retirees and soon-to-be retirees looking for opportunities for volunteer service, employment, learning, recreation and social interaction, open Tuesdays, 10 a.m.- noon, Thursdays, 1 p.m. 3 p.m., Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 S. 16th St. and Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 2:30 p.m., Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington. For more information, call 703-228-4745.
The Naomi Project needs volunteers who will be trained to serve as mentors to disadvantaged pregnant women and new mothers in the Northern Virginia area. Mentors are matched with a client in a one-on-one relationship. The next training session for volunteers is Saturday, Sept. 29, from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at Falls Church Presbyterian Church, 225 E. Broad St., Falls Church. A $20 registration fee covers a background check, study materials and lunch. Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially needed. Contact Pilar Jones at 703-860-2633 or naomiproject@hotmail.com, or visit www.naomiproject.org.
Applications are being accepted for Dance Sampler with the Jane Franklin Dance Company, a festival with performances on Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 11 at 3 p.m. Works will be selected by an adjudication panel: Maida Withers and Dan Joyce. Information about how to apply is at www.janefranklin.com/DanceSampler2.html. Call 703-298-3235 or visit www.janefranklin.com for more on the dance company.
As summer reaches its height, Arlington gardeners wanting to donate fresh produce from their gardens to the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) have two new locations that serve as drop-off points. In addition to dropping food off directly at AFAC, food can also be left at:
* Arlington Farmers’ Market, Courthouse, N. 14th Street & N. Courthouse Road at the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia Help Desk. Saturday mornings, 8 am – noon. .
* St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 2609 N. Glebe Road. Sunday mornings: 8 am – noon.
Beyond the Hoop, an Arlington-based non profit youth educational group has launched a drive to collect shoes to donate to Hoops4Hope, a not-for-profit organization that provides the athletic footwear to youth in South Africa and Zimbabwe who often have no shoes and must do their recreation in bare feet. Donate any athletic shoes in reasonably good condition, men’s, boys, women and girls, will be accepted. Even shoes with cleats will be accepted for the Soccer4Hope program. For more contact Kenny Robinson, Beyond the Hoop at 703-533-9158. Collection points through Oct. 14 are:
* Arlington YMCA, 3422 N. 13th St., Monday to Friday – 6 a.m.-10 pm; Saturday: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
* Trinity Church, 5533 N. 16th St., Sundays only, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Doorways for Women and Families is seeking volunteers for its Safehouse domestic violence shelter program. Volunteers are needed for weekend and evening shifts and to answer our 24/7 hotline. Some weekday opportunities are also available. Training begins August-September. Call 703-522-8858 x13 or e-mail volunteer@doorwaysVA.org. Visit www.doorwaysva.org/volunteer.