Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Join the NAACP Loudoun chapter by visiting www.naacploudoun.org or visit the national site at https://www.naacp.org/contribute/join.php. Contact the group by mail at, Loudoun Branch NAACP, P. O. Box 2439, Leesburg, VA 20177 or call 703-779-2990. All are welcome and needed.
The Loudoun County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity (LHFH) is accepting applications from anyone interested in serving on the board of directors. LHFH is a nonprofit organization whose charter is to build affordable homes and make them available to qualified families in need. If interested, send an e-mail to info@loudounhabitat.org with name, e-mail and phone number. All applications are due by March 21.
Loudoun County Master Gardener Volunteers invite the public to attend a free monthly meeting Thursday, April 3, at 7 p.m., at the Loudoun Extension Office, 30-B Catoctin Circle, Leesburg. Becky Phillips will discuss "Ten Common Landscape Design Mistakes." Visit the Loudoun County Master Gardener Web site at www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org or call the Loudoun Extension Office at 703-777-0373.
The Ashburn volunteer knitters meet every second Tuesday of each month at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. LaDonna Snellbaker leads a knitting group that creates small blankets, caps, and hats. Items are donated to area hospitals. All levels of skill welcome. Beginner knitters need to bring bamboo needles and worsted weight yarn (Lyon Brand Woolease). Recommended for ages 12 and up. Advance registration required, go to www.lcpl.liv.va.us or call 703-827-5922.
The Ashburn Ruritan Club is a 501C(3) nonprofit community-service organization focused on community service, fellowship and goodwill. The club aims to improve the Ashburn community by providing merit-based scholarships and support for under-funded educational programs. To join or attend a meeting, contact the club at 866-670-5984 or at ashburnruritan@onebox.com. The meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month in the Ashburn Library.
The South Riding Lions Club, which focuses on helping the vision and hearing impaired in Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon, South Riding, meets the first Thursday of each month at the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, 43987 John Mosby Highway, Chantilly. New members welcome. Call Jim Vertrees, 703-327-3538.
Cascades Communicators Toastmasters club meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, at 7:15 p.m., at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Toastmasters can help you lose the fear of speaking in public by providing a supportive and friendly learning environment. Call 202-262-8204. Walk ins are always welcome.
The Sterling Women's Social Group is a group of women who just love to have fun. They are of all races/nationalities. Their future plans include their favorite foods (dining out), and also going to the movies, dancing, going to the casinos, wine-tastings, day trips, etc. Visit http://women.meetup.com/519/.
Loudoun County Public Libraries will be hosting various book discussions and book clubs for adults. For a complete listing of dates, times and locations, visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
Loudoun County Public Libraries will be holding children's book clubs and discussions at various locations and for various ages. For a complete list, visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace is creating a Vintage Golf Club for people 55 and older. The club will play at various courses in the area. Senior rates apply and discounts will be available as membership grows. Contact Erik, loudounvintagegolf@verizon.net.
Crochet Club, at the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg. Meets Fridays, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Walking club, at the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg. Meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish-Catholic fraternal organization, visit cunninghamaih.com. Its two main goals are to preserve Irish heritage and to nurture Catholic faith. The club meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Sterling Ruritan Club. Contact Bob Anderson at 703-858-7167 or Ned Woisard at 703-724-0524.
The Ashburn-Sterling Masonic Lodge meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:45 p.m. for dinner at the lodge, located at 43881 Waxpool Road, Ashburn. Visit www.AshburnLodge.org or e-mail info@AshburnLodge.org or call 703-470-2188.
The Loudoun County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold its monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m., at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Call 703-777-0368 V/TTY or visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
Ashburn Assembly No. 11, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at Ashburn-Sterling Masonic Lodge. Contact the mother advisor, Clarissa Jones, at 703-724-0675 or e-mail momclarissa@vaiorg.org.
The Dulles Area Kiwanis Club meets at 4 p.m. the first and third Sunday of the month at the Cascades Library in Sterling. All are welcome to attend and dessert is provided. The group holds fund-raisers to help local students and organizations. The club contributes to three high school Key Clubs — Park View, Potomac Falls and Dominion, K-Kids Club at Hillside Elementary, March of Dimes and more. Some group activities include bingo at Monroe House Assisted Living plus much more. Contact 703-448-1917 for the next meeting date.
The Loudoun County NAACP meets at 7:30 p.m., on the third Monday of every month, at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 216 Loudoun St., S.W., Leesburg. Contact 540-687-8230 or 703-777-8270.
Countryside Quilters meet the first and third Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., at the Community Lutheran Church, 21014 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Guild activities include book and fabric exchanges, workshops, speakers, field trips and community service projects. Call Leanne, 703-304-6721.
MADD Loudoun announces the new MADD Loudoun Victim Support Groups for families/significant others who have been impacted by a drunk-driving crash. The group is for families, significant others who lost a loved one, for injured survivors and their families. The MADD Loudoun Victim Support Group will meet on the third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., at 210 Wirt St., Leesburg.
Countryside Quilters meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 p.m., at the Community Lutheran Church at 21014 Whitfield Place in Sterling. The meetings are open to all interested quilters.
La Voz of Loudoun, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, received a $1,000 donation to support the English and Family Integration Program from Dominion Virginia Power. The program provides English language instruction, life skills instruction and information to the parents and family members of at-risk youth. The program helps to provide encouragement and support to recent immigrants as they integrate into the Loudoun Community and is the result of a collaboration between La Voz of Loudoun, the Loudoun Community Services Board (LCCSB) After School Program and the Fields of Leesburg Management Company.
MOMS Club of Ashburn Village Area, an organization offering support to mothers and children holds meetings on the third Monday of each month. The group also covers Ashbrook, Regency, Cameron Chase, Belmont Country Club, University Center, the Courts and Ridges and more. The club offers play groups, activities, field trips, Moms' Night Out and more. Prospective members always welcome. E-mail ashburnmomsclub@yahoo.com or visit http://www.geocities.com/ashburnmomsclub.
Join the Newbery Book Club (NBC). Just pick up an NBC reading list and an NBC: Give Us the Scoop form at the Youth Services desk of Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. Fill out the "scoops" when you’ve read your picks and submit for a prize drawing at the end of each month. March theme: Art & Artists. April theme: Sea Adventures. Recommended for ages up to 18. Visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
The Sterling Silvers at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, meet Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. Call 703-430-2397.
The Loudoun Walking and Volkssport Club invites the public to check out its self-guided year-round walks. The club offers eight walks in the county that can be done any day at just about any time. Each has a choice of distance, 5 and 10 kilometers. The club offers these walks as part of its community outreach efforts. Contact Bob Wright at
703-737-2175 or rwright2@jhu.edu.
The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, has a walking club, which meets Thursday mornings, at 10:30 a.m. Walks take place outside, so wear loose comfortable clothing and sneakers. In case of inclement weather, walkers will be transported to the Dulles Town Center to walk around the "track."
Help Save Loudoun meets at 7 p.m., the last Wednesday of each month at the Cascades Library, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Visit www.helpsaveloudoun.com.
UMFS, a nonprofit family support group, will hold monthly support group meetings for adoptive families the third Tuesday of each month, 12:30-2 p.m., at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, as part of the Adoptive Family Preservation program. Free, but preregistration required. Call Lisa Mathey, UMFS adoptive parent liaison, 703-347-5049 or mathey88@yahoo.com or Jodee Mellerio, UFMS adoptive family specialist, 703-941-9008, Ext. 23 or jmellerio@umfs.org.