The 8th annual Sugarloaf Crafts Festival will be May 2-4 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. More than 300 fine artists and craft designers will be offering works of art. Hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7/advance online; $8/door. Go to www.SugarloafCrafts.com. Children under 12 free.
<b>ONGOING</b>
Guiding Eyes for the needs puppy raisers who are willing to open their homes to Labrador Retriever puppies until they are old enough to be professionally trained as guide dogs, usually 16-18 months. Training and guidance provided by local experienced counselors. Volunteer puppy raisers provide love and affection, behavior training and socialization experiences. Call 703-242-2232 or visit www.gebdominion.org. To complete an application, visit www.volunteer.guidingeyes.org.
Oldies band: One of the hottest, oldies show bands in the nation, The Fabulous Hubcaps will perform Friday, April 25, from 7-10 p.m., in the Centreville High cafeteria. Proceeds benefit children with neuroblastoma and go toward finding a cure for this childhood cancer. The Hubcaps have an extensive repertoire of do-wop group harmony, classic rock and roll, Motown and R & B tunes.
Tickets, $35, are on sale now; buy them via credit card at www.bandofparents.org or mail checks payable to Band of Parents, Box 29, Clifton, VA 20124. Children under 6 are free. Include the number of tickets needed (even the free ones) and return address. NO tickets at the door.
Women’s History Reflected at Sully Historic Site. From now through May 30, a new exhibit will focus on the feminine view of everyday life and women's roles from the 18th century through the 1920s. Sully Historic Site is located in Chantilly off of Route 28 (Sully Road). Tours are given every day except Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at a cost of $6 for Adults, $5 for students and $4 for seniors and children. Call 703-437-1794.
AARP Virginia needs volunteers to help with election activities and events in Northern Virginia. Election activities include assisting with AARP-sponsored candidate forums, exhibiting campaign materials at local colleges and places of worship, meeting with candidates for federal office on behalf of AARP, putting up campaign yard signs, handing out literature at community gatherings, and talking to friends and neighbors about the Divided We Fail campaign. Contact Brian Jacks at bjacks@aarp.org or 804-344-3047.
Coffee Club Skating is a roller-skating club that meets every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon at Skate 'N Fun Zone, 7878 Sudley Road, Manassas. For adults ages 20 and over. Admission is $5, includes skates and free coffee. Call 703-361-7465 or 800-203-4605.
Free tax help is available at the Centreville Regional Library three days a week now through April 15. The hours are Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesdays from 1-8 p.m. Volunteers come from the AARP TaxAide program. The Centreville Regional Library is at 14200 St. Germaine Dr., Centreville. Call 1-888-AARPNOW.
Northern Virginia Family Service needs volunteers in the Clock Tower Thrift Shop in Centreville to sort, tag and organize donated items. All proceeds from thrift shop sales benefit programs that help individuals and families throughout Northern Virginia. Daytime, evening, and weekend hours are available. The minimum age is 16. Contact Ann Granger at 703-219-2193 or volunteer@nvfs.org.
<b>Thursday/April 17</b>
Cate McGinnis-Wyatt will be speaking at the Western Fairfax Republican Women’s Club meeting on Thursday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. She is the president of The Journey through Hallowed Ground, which is the project under way to protect and designate the significant historic locations along U.S. Route 15 from Gettysburg to Charlottesville. This project comes under the Heritage Act and is being considered for congressional action in June. The meeting is at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly.
Mothers First — Chantilly/Centreville is a nonprofit support organization dedicated to helping women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. The group will meet on Thursday, April 17 at 10:15 a.m. at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Dr., Centreville. Contact 703-827-5922 or www.mothersfirst.org.
La Leche League of Centreville/Chantilly will hold its March daytime meeting on Thursday, April 17 at 10 a.m. The topic is "Nutrition and Weaning." Pregnant and nursing women as well as their children are welcome to attend. Meeting location is the Centreville Library, 14200 St. Germaine Drive. Free. Call a La Leche League Leader at 703-471-7762 or 571-522-6181.
<b>Friday/April 18</b>
Swing Dances are held every Friday night at the Dulles Hilton in the solarium with Sue and Gary Caley. Drop-in beginner lesson included in price of admission from 8:30-9 p.m. Live music from 9 p.m. to midnight. Cost is $15. All ages welcome, large dance floors, air conditioned. Hilton Washington Dulles Hotel, Solarium, 13869 Park Center Road, Herndon.
* April 18 — TBA;
* April 25 — King Teddy;
* May 2 — Jokers Wild;
* May 9 — Daryl Davis;
∑ May 16 — Rockin Bones;
∑ * May 23 — King Cadillac.
<b>Saturday, April 19</b>
Local Cub Scout Pack 1862 will provide a car wash fund-raiser from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 19. The wash will be located at the Sunoco Gas Station at the corner of 14010 Saint Germain Drive and Centrewood Drive – right off of Rt. 29 Lee Highway in Centreville. One of several Sully District Cub Scout packs, 1862 is chartered by Saint Andrew Lutheran Church and meets once a month at Cub Run Elementary School.
Western Fairfax Community Day 2008, "Building a Strong Community," will be held Saturday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stone Middle School. The free event will offer food, entertainment and fun for the local community. Stone Middle School is at 5500 Sully Park Drive, Centreville.
St. Andrew Lutheran Church will hold its annual Charity Yard Sale on Saturday, April 19 from 8 a.m.-noon (rain or shine). All proceeds will benefit the Bethany House and NOVACO programs to help victims of domestic abuse. Tax deductible donations of books, videos, DVDs, CDs, furniture, house wares, garden equipment, bikes, children’s clothes, and toys are appreciated and can be dropped off at the church on Friday, April 18 from 3-7p.m. Alternative arrangements for donations, including pick up of large items, can be made by contacting Laura Mears at 703-322-0110. The church is located at the corner of Braddock Road and Cranoke Street in Centreville.
Community Connections/Fairfax County Park Authority will be hosting its first annual Western Fairfax Community Day at Stone Middle School on Saturday, April 19. (Outdoor event). Located at 5500 Sully Park Dr., Centreville. No rain date has been reserved. Community Connections is devoted to connecting families to resources within their own communities as well as building lasting relationships between neighbors. Western Fairfax Community Day will be a celebratory event where families may enjoy free food, entertainment and a wealth of information from local school and county agencies.
<b>Sunday/April 20</b>
The Mid-Atlantic Antique Radio Club (MAARC) is holding their spring mini-meet on Sunday, April 20 at the Sully Station Community Center. Tailgate/swapping activities start at 11:30 a.m. with a program scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome to participate and there is no cost. Bring your old radios and transistor sets — appraisals are free! Visit www.maarc.org or contact Geoff Shearer at 703-818-2686.
<b> Monday, April 21</b>
Join the Republican Women of Clifton at a Round Table Discussion on Monday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. regarding transportation issues that plague Northern Virginia. You will get a real insider’s perspective on what goes on in Richmond and what you can do to help.
The guest speaker is Kala Quintana. She is the Director of Public Outreach for Northern Virginia Transportation. As always, those concerned with local and higher level Republican issues are invited to be a guest or join the club. The social time is at 7 p.m. at Clifton Elementary School, 7010 Clifton Road. Go to www.CliftonGOP.com.
<b>Tuesday/April 22</b>
La Leche League of Centreville/Chantilly will hold its March evening meeting on Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. The topic is "Nutrition and Weaning." Pregnant and nursing women as well as their children are welcome to attend. Meeting location is the Centreville Library, 14200 St. Germaine Drive. Free. Call a La Leche League Leader at 703-471-7762 or 571-522-6181.
<b>Wednesday, April 23</b>
Chick-fil-A at Fair Oaks Mall hosts free Family Nights every Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. There's something different every week to entertain children of all ages. Make a seasonal art project to display in the store, get a glitter tattoo or an animal balloon, plan an instrument and march along in a parade with the Chick-fil-A cow. Located inside the main entrance between Sears and Macy's. Call 703-279-1883 or email CFAEVENTS@aol.com.
* April 23 — Balloon Animals;
* April 30 — Free Icedream.
∑
<b>Friday/April 25</b>
The Fabulous Hubcaps will be performing a benefit show and dance on Friday, April 25 at Centreville High School. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show is from 7-10 p.m. Sponsored by Band of Parents, a nonprofit charity for childhood cancer. There are 1,700 tickets available. Tickets are $35 and available through www.bandofparents.org. Email: carynfranca@aol.com.
<b>Saturday, April 26</b>
Chick-fil-A in Chantilly is hosting a community-wide Family Day Festival, Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be live music by Mr. Skip, the children's singer; and Beth Frook of Little Hands (Kindermusik and other forms of music); balloon artist Ms. Daisy; a moonbounce; games; giveaways; free food; visits by/photos with the Cow.
Children's book author Susan Crites will hold a book-signing for her book, "I Love You More Than Rainbows," on Saturday, April 26 from 1-4 p.m. at the Borders Express at Fair Oaks Mall. Call 703-591-8985. Go to www.susancrites.com.
<b>April 26-27</b>
Boy Scouts and parents from Troop 893 are preparing for their 35th Annual TAG (Totally Awesome Garage) Sale. To make this huge rummage sale a success, they are looking for donations of a wide array of items, including clothing, toys, books and media, electronics, non-upholstered furniture, household goods, bikes, tools, lawn and garden items and even cars and boats. They cannot accept appliances, heavy exercise equipment, mattresses or car seats. Please donate only items that are clean and in good condition.
Donations can be dropped off at the Dulles Expo Center-North Hall on April 26-27 and May 3-4. Drop-off hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Go to www.troop893.org/tag for more information, or call the pickup hotline at 703-222-2333 to make arrangements for large items to be picked up at your home.
Virginia Ballet will perform "Snow White" on April 26-27. This fully staged and costumed ballet features the characters familiar from the original story by the brothers Grimm. The three performances of "Snow White" are Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., at the Ernst Cultural Center Theater, Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale. Tickets for adults are $25; students (age 13-22) are $20, and seniors (60 and over) and children (12 and under) are $15. Group rates are also available for 10 or more tickets for the same performance.
An additional opportunity is the working stage rehearsal at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 25, with open seating at $10. Seating is limited and must be purchased in advance. Call 703-249-8227; Visa and Mastercard are accepted.
<b>Sunday, April 27</b>
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington is sponsoring its Walk for Life 5K Walk to raise funds for adoption and other services. It will be held Sunday, April 27 at 11:30 a.m. at Paul VI High School, 10675 Lee Highway in Fairfax. Register on-line (www.ccda.net), by mail (call 703-425-0100 for information), or on-site the day of the walk. Check-in will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the walk will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Paul VI High School. Basic registration is $20 and includes a T-shirt and picnic lunch. Seniors (over age 62) may register for $15, and a family may register for $50, which includes four T-shirts. Children under age 5 pay no fee, and extra T-shirts are available for $5 each. Walkers are encouraged to collect donations (not pledges), which are tax deductible and may be turned in on the day of the walk. More information is available at Children’s Services at 703-425-0100 or www.ccda.net.
<b>Monday/April 28</b>
The Greenbriar Garden Club will meet on Monday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Greenbriar Community Center on Stringfellow Road. Denise Chauvette, director of the Gulf Branch Nature Center in Arlington County, will discuss the ABCs of invasive plants: What they are, why they are of concern, and native alternatives that gardeners can choose to avoid their use. All are invited. The club is open to all and there is no admission fee. Contact Stan at 703-802-9376.
<b>Thursday, May1</b>
Mothers First — Chantilly/Centreville is a nonprofit support organization dedicated to helping women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Meetings are first and third Thursdays at 10:15 am at the Centreville Regional Library,14200 St Germain Dr., Centreville. Contact 703-827-5922 or www.mothersfirst.org.
<b>Saturday/May 3</b>
The Montessori School of Herndon's PTA will host an Art Auction Gala on Saturday, May 3 at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church , 432 Van Buren St, Herndon. AJRoss Auction of Holbrook, N.Y. will display more than 150 custom framed and matted works of art; lithographs, etchings, serigraphs, animation cells, watercolors, original oils signed by the artists and documented sports memorabilia. Most bids are between $50-300 and investment works will be available for the serious collector, as well. All the art is guaranteed to be priced below retail prices and includes an exclusive lifetime exchange privilege. Preview begins at 7 p.m. and the live auction will begin at 8 p.m. A silent auction of various items and services will also take place. Tickets for the Gala are $15 per person or $25 for two. Ticket price includes hors d'oeuvres, wine, soda, coffee, and deserts throughout the evening and door prizes. For tickets or more information, contact Laura Inra at 703-346-3344 or email at herndonmontessori @verizon.net. Checks should be made payable to MSH-PTA.
<b>Tuesday, May 6</b>
The Northern Virginia Holistic Moms Network will meet on Tuesday, May 6 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the City of Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North Street, Fairfax. This month’s topic is: "Homeopathy at Home" Learning the basics of creating a homeopathic medicine chest with guest speaker Dr. John C. Reed MD, MD(H). Call 703-988-0285 or go to http://home.homewebs.com/hmnnova
<b>Friday, May 9</b>
The Clifton Lions Club will conduct its annual ‘White Cane’ fundraiser from Friday, May 9 through Sunday May 11 at the Fair Lakes WalMart, University Mall and Union Mill Colonnade Giant food stores. Lions Clubs have supported blind charities world-wide since Helen Keller asked them to lead a "crusade against darkness" at their international convention in 1925. In addition to cash donations, the Lions will collect used eyeglasses. Donations will be used to support several blind charities including the renowned International Lion Sightfirst and eyeglass recycling programs, Leader Dog training, and local programs that provide eye exams and glasses to low-income families.
<b>Saturday, May 10</b>
The huge Boy Scout Tag Sale is Saturday, May 10, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dulles Expo Center-North Hall. Admission is a Canned Good (or $1.00) per person, to be donated to Western Fairfax Christian Ministries Food Pantry.
<b>MAY 10-11</b>
The Western Fairfax Alumnae Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha will be manning a One-Stop Registration table for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11. Pre-registration for the race will be held from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Whole Foods in Fair Lakes. The actual race will be held in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, June 7. Individuals and teams are welcome to register. For other National Race for the Cure One-Stop registration locations or to register on-line visit www.nationalraceforthecure.org.
<b>Thursday, May 15</b>
Mothers First — Chantilly/Centreville is a nonprofit support organization dedicated to helping women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Meetings are first and third Thursdays at 10:15 am at the Centreville Regional Library,14200 St Germain Dr., Centreville. Contact 703-827-5922 or www.mothersfirst.org.
<b>Sunday, May 18</b>
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter will change the time for each of its remaining 2008 low-cost rabies clinics. The clinics will now be held from 2–4 p.m. at the animal shelter at 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax. Dates for the 2008 clinics are: Sunday, May 18; Sunday, July 13; Sunday, Sept. 14; Sunday, Nov. 16. The cost for rabies shots at the clinic is $10. The clinic is held for dogs, cats and ferrets. All dogs should be on leashes and all cats and ferrets in carriers.
Fairfax County 2008 dog licenses will be sold separately at the clinic and cost $5 for altered dogs and $10 for unaltered dogs (bring proof of your pet's spay or neuter).
The clinic is sponsored by the Fairfax County Police Department Animal Services Division and Deepwood Veterinary Hospital. Call 703-830-1000.
For more information about the rabies clinic, visit the Fairfax County Animal Services Division Web site at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/animalservices
<b>Thursday/May 22</b>
La Leche League of Centreville/Chantilly will hold its May daytime meeting on Thursday, May 22 at 10 a.m. The topic is "The Advantages of Breastfeeding to Mother and Baby". Pregnant and nursing women as well as their children are welcome to attend. Meeting location is the Centreville Library, 14200 St. Germaine Drive. Free. Call a La Leche League Leader at 703-471-7762 or 571-522-6181.
<b>Tuesday/May 27</b>
La Leche League of Centreville/Chantilly will hold its May evening meeting on Tuesday, May 27 at 7 p.m. The topic is "The Advantages of Breastfeeding to Mother and Baby". Pregnant and nursing women as well as their children are welcome to attend. Meeting location is the Centreville Library, 14200 St. Germaine Drive. Free. Call a La Leche League Leader at 703-471-7762 or 571-522-6181."
<b>Tuesday, June 3</b>
The Northern Virginia Holistic Moms Network will meet on Tuesday, June 3 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the City of Fairfax Regional Library, 10360 North Street, Fairfax. This month’s topic is: "Yoga is Fun for the Whole Family!" A hands-on demonstration of yoga for all ages with certified Itsy Bitsy Yoga instructor Mary Marchetti, OTR/L, CYT. Bring your children, dress comfortably, and bring a yoga mat or blanket to use. Call 703-988-0285 or go to http://home.homewebs.com/hmnnova
<b>Saturday, Nov. 8</b>
Craft Vendors are needed for Centreville United Methodist Women's Bazaar scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, 6400 Old Centreville Road. Contact psbyers@verizon.net.