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.
Yorktown HS Crew Boosters annual Wreath Sale is going on now! Place your order for a beautiful, 24" fully decorated, fragrant, fresh balsam fir wreath to arrive the first weekend of December. Wreaths will be delivered locally by rowers and Booster parents ($22.00) and can also be sent as gifts to friends, family and business associates via UPS or FedEx anywhere in the US ($32.00). All proceeds from this fundraiser go towards the purchase and maintenance of boats and rowing equipment necessary to sustain the rowing teams of Yorktown Crew. To order, visit www.yorktowncrew.org or call Karen Monborne at 703-534-5599.
There will be a Women & Money Seminar on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., from 2-4 p.m. Free but registration required, www.spiritworksunlimited.com or 240-210-0616.
This November the Animal Welfare League of Arlington celebrates “Adopt a Senior Pet Month” with reduced adoption fees for “senior” cats and dogs. The reduced fee is $50 for senior cats (at least five years old); the usual fee is $100. The adoption fee is $75 for senior dogs (at least five years old); the usual fee is $120. All of our cats and dogs receive vaccinations and microchips and are spayed or neutered before going to their new homes so a senior pet is a real bargain.
The League currently has 15 cats that are at least five years old, and we always have friendly adult dogs. For those who are considering adding an animal companion to their home, now is a great time to adopt from our shelter. You can take advantage of a reduced adoption fee and help a homeless animal. You can see all of our available pets on our Web site at www.awla.org or call us at 703-931-9241 x200. We have staff and volunteers who will be happy to help you meet our cats and dogs and find the right one to become your new best friend. Visit us Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, noon to 7p.m. or Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. at 2650 S. Arlington Mill Drive, Arlington.
Sierra Club Town Hall Meeting: An Energy Efficient VA. Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., free. Investments in energy efficiency are the cheapest, cleanest, and quickest means to meet our increasing demand for energy. NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd. Contact Linda Burchfiel at 703-506-4310 or larva@attglobal.net.
The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) chose Arlington County to receive a 2008 PCPFS Community Leadership Award. For more information on getting active in Arlington go to www.arlingtonva.us/fitarlington. To learn about the President’s Council, go to www.fitness.gov.
Invasive Plant Removal. Saturday, Nov. 8, 1-3 p.m., Barcroft Park, 4200 S. Four Mile Run Drive. Join Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and RiP Program volunteers to help rid Arlington's parks of invasive plants including English ivy, porcelain berry, and honeysuckle bush. To register, volunteer@arlingtonenvironment.org or 703-228-6406.
Whitman-Walker Clinic of Northern Virginia, 5232 Lee Highway, Arlington, will hold a Community Health Day on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Anyone can come for flu shots, free health screenings, HIV tests and massages. There will also be a car wash and bake sale to benefit the GSA of Wakefield High School. For more information, call 703-237-4900.
Valerie Cahill, high school special education teacher in Orange, Calif., requests mementos of Virginia for her 3rd period English class students, who are studying the state. Please send any contributions to: Valerie Cahill, El Modena High School, 3920 Spring St., Orange, CA 92869.
The Walter Reed Community Center is now home to Arlington's newest adult day health care center. It also contains a secured out-door garden area where participants can pace or just enjoy nature. For more information, to arrange a tour, or to schedule your free trial day, call Deborah Greenbush, Center Director at 703-228-0965.
On Nov. 12 there will be a Public Meeting from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Indigo Landing, Charleston Room, 1 Marina Drive, adjacent to the Washington Sailing Marina in Alexandria. Learn more and share your comments on how Arlington County's development of Long Bridge Park will have an impact on recreational uses on National Park Service land at Gravelly Point, Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary and the Mount Vernon Trail. Visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov/gwmp for information or to submit comments.
Nominations are open for the Jim Hunter Human Rights Award. Applications are due on Monday, Nov.17. Recipients will be honored on Wednesday, Dec. 10, during a ceremony and reception at the Arlington Central Library. For more information, visit www.arlingtonva.us/departments/commissions/HumanRights.
Financial pressure is mounting for families across the region as a result of the ongoing economic turmoil. With so many more people now in need of help, 2-1-1 VIRGINIA provides a new, easy to remember 3-digit phone number available 24/7 for people looking for community resources.
2-1-1 is the nationally designated 3 digit phone number for free, confidential community Information and Referral service with information on 4,400 programs that provide:
· Food, shelter, and clothing
· Utility and rent assistance
· Employment services
· Health care
· Legal Assistance
· Financial, Credit, Budget and Home Counseling
· Mental Health services
· Prescription Assistance
For more information, visit www.crisislink.org
A Wrapping Party for children of incarcerated parents that will be held December 18 from 6:30-8 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane. Community volunteers are needed to:
Donate new unwrapped gifts (NO clothing) for children up to 18 years of age; gifts for teens over 14 especially needed. You can bring the toys to the OAR Office at Courthouse Square, or bring the gifts with you to the party.
Contribute financially to help cover the costs of delivery, postage, and supplies.
Deliver the wrapped gifts to one or two families in your zip code.
The party is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Call 703-228-7030 for information.
Doorways for Women and Families is looking for donations for its Holiday Wishes program. Donors are asked to adopt a family and fulfill the holiday wish list for one family member, provide gift cards to allow families to shop for their own holiday gifts or begin collection drive at your workplace, faith community or family and friends. To learn more about donating contact Candice Lopez at clopez@doorwaysVA.org or 703-522-8858 x 19.
The Arlington Artists Alliance is pleased to announce it's “Artful Weekend” at Fort C.F. Smith on December 6th and 7th. This annual show features 39 2D and 3D artists working in oil, pastel, water media, wood, ceramics, and glass. The show and sale will be open at the historic Hendry House at Fort C.F. Smith on Saturday, December 6th from 10am - 5pm and on Sunday, December 7th from 12 noon - 4pm. Music will be provided by the Stardust Dance Band from 1pm - 3pm on Sunday. Fort C.F. Smith is located at 2411 North 24th Street, Arlington, Virginia.
Help prepare yourself, your family and your community for an emergency by participating in the Be Ready Alexandria/Arlington Medication Dispensing Exercise on Saturday, Nov. 8. Just walk into one of the exercise sites between 9 a.m. and noon to pick up simulated medications for yourself, your family and any neighbors you would assist in the event of a real emergency. Arlington County exercise sites are Aurora Hills Senior Center, 735 18th St. South and Fairlington Community Center, 3308 South Stafford St. For more information call 703-228-5580 www.arlingtonva.us/dhs.
Greenbrier Learning Center needs volunteers for its after-school program with 3rd-5th graders in South Arlington. Volunteers must be at least 15 years old, have a strong interest in working with children, be motivated, and have the ability to provide tutoring to 3rd-5th grade students. 703-379-6488 x104, volunteer@gblc.org.
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
Capital Hospice, is looking for daytime volunteers with diverse backgrounds who want to aid their community through Patient/Family Care, Translating Languages (especially Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese) and more. Call Capital Hospice at 703-538-2065 and ask to speak with a Volunteer Services Coordinator or visit www.capitalhospice.org. Eighteen hours of training, provided. Patient Care volunteers must take a TB skin test and complete a criminal background check, provided at no cost.
Blvd. Arlington.
Starting now, those who live, work in and visit Arlington County can register for Arlington Alert by texting “1776” to 411911. Arlington County uses Arlington Alert, to contact citizens when an emergency occurs via cell phone, e-mail, pager, BlackBerry, wireless PDA and XM Satellite Radio. In addition to enrollment via text message, Arlington Alert is available on the internet at www.arlingtonalert.com.
Volunteer Nurses are needed to work in the Communicable Diseases Clinic of the Arlington County Department of Human Services. Nurses must have Virginia license, current CPR card, and liability insurance. Orientation and training will be provided. Volunteers must be able to work two clinics (Thursdays) per month. Contact Tracey Hess at 703-228-5664. Located at 800 S. Walter Reed Drive.
Arlington’s Youth Team is for young volunteers ages 12 - 18 and provides a way for young people to volunteer for the Red Cross in a fun, social setting, while providing necessary services to the Arlington community. During the school year, the Youth Team has meetings once every other week in the evening, along with weekend and evening projects. During the summer, the Youth Team is much more active, with volunteer projects occurring 3-4 times per week during the day. All volunteers (youth and adult) must first attend a New Volunteer Orientation. Orientations are held approximately twice per month. You can find specific dates on www.arlingtonredcross.org. Volunteers age 18 and older must complete a background check. Contact Heather Pritchett, Volunteer Services Coordinator, 703-527-3010 x735.
Library Volunteer. Help make the Central Library's, 1015 N. Quincy St., programs go more smoothly by ushering, handing out programs, preparing children's crafts ahead of time, and then helping children complete their projects during the program. We need reliable, dependable, friendly people. Experience working with children is a plus. Contact Barbara Dean, Volunteer Coordinator, 703-228-7688.
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to assist its blood collections staff at blood drives and blood donor centers. Volunteers will assist with providing a high level of customer service to donors, and with caring for donors in the refreshment area after the donation process. This position is offered to people who are 14 years of age or older. Training is scheduled at volunteer’s convenience at Red Cross offices in Arlington. To register for training, call the American Red Cross Volunteer Office at 1-800-272-0094, ext 1, or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.