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.
The W&OD Trail runs through the communities of Arlington, Falls Church, Vienna, Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, Leesburg, Hamilton, and Purcellville. The Trail Patrol is seeking new members to be on-scene ambassadors of safety, courtesy, information, and goodwill. All adult trail users—cyclists, walker, runners, skaters, carriage pushers, dog walkers, horse riders or wheel chair users-—are eligible to apply. There will be an orientation session on Thursday, April 17 in Alexandria. For further information and signup, contact John Boone at 703-726-6993 or jmboone1@verizon.net.
On Saturday, April 19, there will be a preview for the Financial Freedom Club at 2 p.m. at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. Free. Visit www.spiritworksunlimited.com or 240-210-0616.
Parenting Workshop. The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s Growing Jewish Families Program will host a free parenting workshop on Setting Limits With Your Preschooler, 9:45-10:45 a.m. Thursday, April 17 at Congregation Etz Hayim, 2920 Arlington Blvd. Free. For more information and to RSVP, contact Beth Felsen at 703-286-1024 or e-mail beth.felsen@shalomdc.org.
Now Arlington community members have a new, convenient way to get trained in lifesaving skills such as CPR and first aid – online. The Arlington County Chapter has partnered with the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis to offer Red Cross online training. Some online training courses, like CPR, require students to attend a skill session before a certificate can be issued. Skill sessions normally take about two hours and are regularly scheduled, during the week and the weekends for convenience. Visit www.arlingtonredcross.org or, call 703-527-3010 ext. 736.
Richmond Wrap-Up. 9-11:30 a.m., Saturday, April 19, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 3304 N. Washington Blvd., Arlington. Hear from legislators and have them answer questions. Free. Visit www.s-a-l-t.org for more.
Home Owning Seminar. 9:30-11:30 a.m.Saturday, April 19 at AVFCU Main Branch, 2130 N. Glebe Road. Free. To register, 703-526-0200 ext. 310
The Toastmasters are holding a Division B speech contest on Saturday, April 24 at national Rural Electric Cooperative Association, 4301 Wilson Blvd. The public is welcome, and specific information is available from Division governor James Murphy at 703-874-2231.
Paper Shredding. 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, April 26 at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, S. Glebe Road and S. 2nd Street. Sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary. Call Helen Kelly at 703-599-9576 or e-mail: hmkelly@cbmove.com.
Volunteer ombudsmen are needed. Volunteer advocates are
assigned to a specific local nursing home or assisted-living facility and make weekly visits, meeting one-on-one with residents. Using the skills of listening, observing and mediating, the ombudsman works with the residents, their families and the staff of the facility, to ensure that the residents’ rights are being protected. The ombudsman empowers residents and their families to speak up on their own behalf, and helps them to address problems within the facility that they cannot resolve alone. Volunteers dedicate four (4) hours per week to this work, for one year. Interviews of applicants will be held this summer in preparation for the next annual training, scheduled for September 15, 15, and 25, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Following assignment, ongoing training and support are provided. The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is funded in part by the Arlington County Area Agency on Aging.
For further information and an application, please call (703) 324-5422, TTY: 703-449-1186 or visit our web site: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman. To request reasonable accommodations or this information in an alternate format, call the number listed above.
Become a trained Volunteer Nutrition Educator with Virginia Cooperative Extension, Arlington County. Training is held at the newly renovated Fairlington Community Center on Thursdays from May 1 – 15 with both morning and evening training sessions available. For additional information and to register, contact Heather Greenwood at 703-228-6418. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, contact Heather Greenwood, 703-228-6418/TDD 800-828-1120.
Credit Control. 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, May 6 at Northern Virginia Community College, 4600 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington. Learn the basics of credit cards. Free. To register, 70-526-0200 ext. 265.
Mystery of Credit Reports. 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 at Northern Virginia Community College, 4600 N. Fairfax Drive. Learn everything about credit reports. To register, 703-526-0200 ext. 265.
The American Society of Appraisers machinery and technical specialties section will conduct an Introduction to Machinery and Equipment Valuation class at the Westin Arlington Gateway, Arlington, Va., May 29–June 1. For more information or to register, call the American Society of Appraisers at 800-ASA-VALU or register online by selecting a course at www.appraisers.org/education/.
The Center Dance Company, Inc and its school Arlington Center for Dance announce that it will soon be moving to 3443 Carlin Springs Road, Falls Church. The new facility is scheduled to open in May 2008 and will include at least five, large studios that will feature top of the line Harlequin flooring, high ceilings, and large uninterrupted space. Information on the school's programs can be found at www.ArlDance.org.
The Arlington County Bar Foundation, a non-profit grant making organization is seeking grant applicants for its 2008 grant year. Grant applications will be accepted from civic minded organizations in need of funds for projects of legal interest within the greater Arlington area. Grant applications may be found at www.arlingtonbar.org and are due no later than May 2.
The Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) is asking local gardeners to grow fruits and vegetables to help feed families in need in Arlington. AFAC – Arlington’s food pantry – will again provide free seeds to those gardeners willing to donate all or a portion of what they grow. To obtain free seeds for an individual or community Plant A Row plot or help in other ways, call Puwen Lee at 703-845-8486 or send an e-mail to afacpuwen@aol.com.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Plan and organize fundraisers for Northern Virginia’s Most Vulnerable Children. The Development Committee assists with donor cultivation (corporate and individual) as well as special event organization and planning. Looking for some fresh ideas for upcoming events and people willing to roll up their sleeves to raise additional funding to provide programs to children in Alexandria and Arlington who otherwise would not be able to attend a high quality preschool program. Contact Kate Lyng, CFNC’s Manager of Development, (klyng@cfnc-online.org or 703-836-0214 x235) for more information on CFNC’s Development Committee.
Girls’ Outreach Program is an after school program dedicated to working with adolescent females who have been adjudicated delinquent or in need of supervision. No training requirements, however, all volunteers must have a Child Protective Services and criminal background check. Contact Tara Magee, Program Coordinator, 703-228-0425.
Work with elderly and disabled people, providing recreational activities such as crafts, music, games, visiting one to one, and assisting in setting up the recreational programs. All volunteers who will be working with residents for an unlimited duration must have a TB test or chest X-ray. The TB test will be provided by the center. Contact Leea Lynch, Program Director, 703-920-5700 ext. 384.
Volunteer movers are needed to assist families in the HomeStart (transitional housing) program. The families that Doorways serves often in need of assistance moving into their new homes or picking up and delivering donated furniture items. Looking for volunteers who have access to trucks and/or could lend a hand in assisting families transitioning out of homelessness. Movers would help families moving in or out of Doorways HomeStart Program (formerly the transitional housing program) on an as-needed basis. All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and able to lift small and/or large pieces of furniture. Contact Candice Lopez, Community Resources Manager, 703-522-8858 x13 or visit http://www.doorwaysva.org