<i>To have a notice listed in the Bulletin, e-mail <a href=mailto:gazette@connectionnewspapers.com>gazette@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with questions.</i>
Clotilda (Tillie) Cassidy, branch manager of Weichert, Realtors' Alexandria/Belle View Office, has announced the start of its annual holiday toy drive to benefit a local non-profit organization The community is invited to donate new, unwrapped toys from now until Dec. 14 at Weichert's Alexandria/Belle View Office, located at 1612 Belle View Blvd., during normal business hours. Additionally, the public can buy Whitehouse ornaments for $17 at the office until Dec. 17. Proceeds will go to benefit the DVP. For more information about the toy drive or to place an ornament order call the Alexandria/Belle View Office at 703-765-4000.
The 33rd running of the Alexandria Turkey Trot is held each Thanksgiving morning in Alexandria’s Del Ray community. This year’s five-mile road race will be held on Thursday, Nov. 27 at 10 a.m. at the Cora Kelly Elementary School at the intersection of West Reed and Commonwealth Avenues. The entry fee — with two cans of food — is $15 for individuals ages 13-21 years and $20 for those age 22 and over. Children 12 and under can participate for $10 at the door and two cans of food. The food will be donated to ALIVE, Inc., an ecumenical organization serving Alexandria families in need. Register online before Monday, Nov. 24 and save $5. Visit www.visitdelray.com/turkeytrot. Online registrants also pay a $1 per registration processing fee. Alexandria Turkey Trot T-shirts can be purchased online for $10 each, for all ages, until November 24.
The Alexandria Jaycees will sell Christmas trees this season, with proceeds to benefit the Holiday Shopping Tour for underprivileged children. This year's lot will be open Nov. 29 until all the trees are sold. The location is the Safeway parking lot in Old Town, 500 South Royal St. The operating hours are Monday-Friday, 6– 8 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday, 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. Prices from $45-$90. For more details or for membership information, call the Jaycees' 24-hour recorded event line: 703-866-7171 or visit www.alexjaycees.org.
Fairfax Area Agency on Aging's transportation assistance program for older adults is in need of volunteers. All areas of the county are in need of volunteers. For more information, call Fairfax Area Agency on Aging's Volunteer Intake line: 703-324-5406. TTY: 703-449-1186. Visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa, or e-mail DFSAAAvolunteer@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Meals on Wheels needs a flexible and organized volunteer in the Mt. Vernon area who can manage the schedule for Meals on Wheels drivers. For more information, please call the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging's Volunteer Intake Line: 703-324-5406, TTY: 703-449-1186. For information on additional volunteer opportunities visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa.
The Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Auxiliary is currently accepting applications for adult volunteers. A variety of positions are available and every effort is made to match the volunteer's availability, interest and abilities. The hospital is located at 2501 Parker's Lane. Call 703-664-7260 or visit www.inova.org for more information.
The Fairfax County Police Department is conducting their annual recruitment drive for their Auxiliary Police Officer Program (APO). Duties such as assisting with sobriety checkpoints, supporting training programs like the Sexual Assault Free and Empowered (SAFE) Class, conducting home security surveys and taking fingerprints at community events are just a few examples where APOs are needed. Applicants must be in good health, without a criminal record or history of drug use and not be an applicant for police officer in any jurisdiction. To learn more or sign up to begin the application process, call 703-280-0701 or auxiliarypolice@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Mt. Vernon Meals on Wheels is seeking a volunteer driver coordinator and a volunteer treasurer. For more information, please call Fairfax Area Agency on Aging's Volunteer Intake Line: 703-324-5406, TTY: 703-449-1186, e-mail DFSAAAvolunteer@fairfaxcounty.gov or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa.
The City of Alexandria is once again in search of a Colorado Blue Spruce, Leyland Cypress or other well-formed evergreen tree, approximately 25 to 35 feet tall, to serve as the City’s official 2008 Holiday Tree. The City will remove the tree from the donor’s property in mid-November and grind the stump at no cost. The tree will be decorated and displayed at Market Square (301 King Street) throughout the holiday season. Persons in the Washington metropolitan area who are interested in donating a tree should contact John Noelle, City Arborist, at 703-838-4999 or e-mail john.noelle@alexandriava.gov.
The Mount Vernon Kiwanis Club helps the children of this area enjoy special educational and recreational trips, summer camps, and many other healthy activities. If you would like to give more service to the Mt. Vernon community, meet the first and third Wednesday of every month from 6-8 p.m. for dinner and a program at the Mount Vernon Country Club on Old Mill Road. Contact Bruce or Joanne Malkin at 703-360-7725 or jbmalkin@verizon.net
Driver Coordinator Needed - Mt. Vernon Meals on Wheels is looking for a responsible volunteer in the Mt. Vernon area to manage the volunteer schedule for Meals on Wheels drivers. For more information, please call the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging’s Volunteer Intake Line: 703-324-5406, TTY: 703-449-1186 or email DFSAAAvolunteer@fairfaxcounty.gov. For information on additional volunteer opportunities with the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, visit our website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/aaa.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is seeking persons who are diplomatic, assertive, and good communicators to serve as volunteer ombudsmen. Volunteers are assigned to a specific local nursing home or assisted-living facility in the City of Alexandria and make weekly visits, meeting one-on-one with residents. For further information and to obtain an application, call 703-324-5422, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman.
The Northern Virginia Habitat ReStore, located at 7770-G Richmond Highway, Alexandria (behind Gold's Gym), sells new and used building and home improvement materials to the general public. All proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia. The ReStore is run by volunteers that dedicate their time and energy to the work of Habitat and we are in need of more volunteers. Call the store today at 703-360-6700 or stop by. For more information visit: www.restorenova.org.
Band musicians — young or old — bring instruments and play along with the Mount Vernon Community Band during their Tuesday evening band practices from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Mt Vernon High School Band Room. 8515Old Mt Vernon Road. No auditions. Just sit in and play along even if you are "rusty." Music and music stands will be provided. Call Ed Smith 703-768-8278 or Eric Leighty 703-768-4172.
Adoption Support Groups are forming in the Mount Vernon area. All members of the adoption triad, (adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents) are encouraged to call for more information about the groups as well as individual, couples, and/or family counseling. The groups will be held in the evenings. Contact Diana Tracey, licensed clinical social worker, at 571-245-0054.
Join the "Harmony Heritage Singers" Barbershop Chorus. Rehearse twice a month on Wednesday or Friday depending on the availability of the library at Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Drop in on any rehearsal. Rehearsal schedule can be found at: http://members.cox.net/the perfectpitch/ or by calling James Coulter 703-957-4597 Email: jnjcoulter@comcast.net
The Alexandria Workshop of Ikebana International meets at the Hollin Hall Senior Citizen Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, at 9:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month from September through June except December and January. Ikebana is the Japanese art of floral arrangement. The group makes Ikebana floral arrangements, studies the history of the art and learns new techniques. New members are welcome. For more information call Julie Cimino at 202-544-5331.