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.
Arlington County has unveiled its new, state-of-the-art Emergency Communications Center (ECC). The County officially began receiving incoming 9-1-1 calls in the new ECC on Tuesday, May 20.
The Third Annual Faith Community Forum on Housing, co-sponsored by the Arlington Interfaith Council and the Alliance for Housing Solutions, will be held at 7:30 p.m., May 27, at Mt. Olivet Methodist Church, 1500 North Glebe Road. Entitled “Faith in Action,” the forum will present examples of how faith communities can help address Arlington’s affordable housing crisis. Contact: Sara Bailey, AHS Executive Director at 703-536-7694.
The Arlington Disability Advisory Commission is seeking applicants to interview for several vacant positions. The Arlington Disability Advisory Commission is a 13 member, County Board appointed advisory group comprised of individuals who live and/or work in Arlington, and who are interested in and knowledgeable about issues involving people with physical and sensory disabilities. People with disabilities, community leaders, and business people are urged to apply. Individuals interested in serving on the Commission or any of its committees should contact the Disability Advisory Commission staff at 703-228-7096 or via e-mail at amaynard@arlingtonva.us for more information or to request a copy of the Commission's Application Form. The form may also be found on the Arlington County Web site under “Advisory Groups.”
The larger Church of the Brethren celebrates 300 years this summer. The church community has collected over 300 cereal boxes for the South Arlington Food Bank. The 300 2x4 boards and nails will be presented to a rep. from Habitat for Humanity on Sunday June 1. Presentation will be made following 11 a.m. worship in front of the Church, 300 Montague St. 703-524-4100.
Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus shows users of Macintosh computers and other Apple devices how to get typical tasks done faster at Washington Apple Pi's first annual Mac Masters Seminar on May 30-31, at Rosslyn Spectrum, 1611 N. Kent St. Friday's session May 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., presents "Taming Leopard". Saturday's 9:00 am to 2:00 p.m. presentations focus on "Living the iLife." Register for one or both of the seminars at http://www.wapstore.biz; the Friday event costs $139, Saturday $89, or both days are $189. Advance registration is preferred; on site registration will also be available.
The Arlington Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) has established a new award this year for Excellence in the Arts in Arlington Public Schools. The recepient is Jeffrey S. Benson, Choral Director and Fine Arts Chair at the H-B Woodlawn Program. In the eight years Mr. Benson has been at H-B Woodlawn, he has greatly increased the number of students participating in music programs. In addition to the new award AAUW will honor the following: Educator of the Year (Madeline La Salle), Elizabeth Campbell Award for the Advancement of the Arts in Arlington (Firebelly Theater Company), The Campbell Award for Outstanding Community Arts Group (Washington Balalaika Society Orchestra), and The Arlington Branch Award for Notable Achievement in the Arts and Notable Support for the Arts (Ray Griewek).
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/.
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
The Wheat’s Landscape Student Volunteer Scholarship awards one student a grand total of $2,500 for their service involvement. The scholarship is offered once every year. Wheat’s Landscape 2008 Student Volunteer Scholarship is to encourage and reward high school students who actively volunteer in community service. Applicants must be senior high school students attending a high school in McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Oakton, North Arlington or City of Falls Church. Application forms can be obtained online at http://www.wheats.com or from Wheat’s main office, located at: 8620 Park Street, Vienna, VA 22180. If you would like an application form faxed to you, please call 703-641-4790. Wheat’s has extended their application deadline to June 1.
Volunteer with the Arlington Red Cross, and help families in Arlington, the Greater Washington Area, or even nationally. Choose your level of participation. Red Cross training also helps you to prepare for emergencies in your own life. Since the Red Cross needs many special skills, almost everyone can find a place to make a meaningful contribution to their community. Contact Heather Pritchett, Volunteer Services Coordinator, 703-527-3010 x735, or visit http://www.arlingtonredcross.org.
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.
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.
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