To have a notice listed in the Bulletin, e-mail gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with questions.
The second annual World AIDS Day Service Excellence Awards program will be from 7-8:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 1, at First Baptist Church of Alexandria, 2932 King St. To RSVP, 703-838-4400 ext. 305.
The application deadline for the Winter Fuel Assistance Program has been extended to Monday, Dec. 1. Because of the additional funding for the Winter Fuel Assistance Program, the City of Alexandria’s Department of Human Services wants to make sure that all eligible households have an opportunity to apply. Applications for assistance may be obtained at the Department of Human Services, 2525 Mt. Vernon Ave., Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. To request an application by mail, contact Ward Pivec at 703-838-0971.
With the season of giving here, Kim Farina, branch manager of Weichert, Realtors' Alexandria/Old Town Office, announced The Alexandria/Old Town Office of Weichert, Realtors’ is starting its annual holiday toy drive to benefit a local non-profit organization. The local community is invited to donate new, unwrapped toys from through Friday, Dec. 21, at Weichert's Alexandria/Old Town Office, located at 121 N. Pitt Street, during normal business hours. All toys will be donated to The Campagna Center.
Every year, the Alexandria Office on Women organizes a holiday party for mothers and children who have been recently served by the Domestic Violence Program. Toy donations for the children and gift cards for their mothers are needed. To make a donation, bring unwrapped toys and gift cards to the Office on Women, 421 King Street, Suite 400 no later than Dec. 15. For more information, call 703-838-4911.
The Alexandria Department of Human Services (DHS) invites the public to make the holiday season brighter by purchasing gifts or certificates for low-income Alexandria families, foster children or senior citizens. Donors may deliver gifts directly to recipients or bring them to the City’s Human Services Center, 2525 Mount Vernon Ave., for distribution by staff. For more information, call Suzanne Kratzok at 703-838-0762 or e-mail holidaysharing@alexandriava.gov.
Each year, the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office provides toys and gifts to children of inmates housed in the Alexandria Detention Center. This year, the Sheriff’s Office seeks gifts for children of all ages, to include older children, ages 12-18, who are often left out of traditional holiday toy drives. The toys and gifts will be distributed on Dec. 18 at the Public Safety Center. For more information on donating toys and gifts, or on the procedures for receiving them, contact Gloria Hicks, Volunteer/Programs Coordinator, at 703-838-4111 ext. 4904 or e-mail Gloria.Hicks@alexandriava.gov.
The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, a Virginia non-profit land trust will host: “The Eighth Annual Conservation Breakfast,” on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009 from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road. U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) is the keynote speaker. Tickets are $50. Space is limited. For reservations or further information, call 703-354-5093 extension 22.
The Alexandria Commission for the Arts is seeking volunteers with expertise in music, theatre, and dance to serve on Resource Panels. Panel members are expected to serve three-year terms and should be prepared to review grant applications by the first panel meeting to be scheduled in mid- to late- January. Individuals who are interested in serving should send a letter of interest and resume, or curriculum vita, to the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 or e-mail it aca@alexandriava.gov. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12. The Commission will appoint members to these vacancies at its Dec. 16 meeting. For more, call 703-519-3494.
The Alexandria Department of Human Services invites the public to help make the holiday season brighter for low-income families, foster children, and seniors by participating in the City’s Holiday Sharing Program. Donors may deliver gifts directly to recipients or bring them to the City’s Human Services Center, 2525 Mount Vernon Ave. for distribution by staff. The Department of Human Services is also seeking volunteers to help sort and deliver gifts at the Human Services Center on Dec. 16, 17, and 18 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Interested sponsors and volunteers should contact Suzanne Kratzok at 703-838-0762, e-mail holidaysharing@alexandriava.gov or visit www.ourkids-ourbusiness.org/thefundforalexchild for more information.
Every year, the Alexandria Office on Women organizes a holiday party for mothers and children who have been recently served by the Domestic Violence Program. To donate to the Children's Holiday Party this year, bring unwrapped toys and gift cards to the Office on Women, 421 King Street, Suite 400. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All donations must be received by Monday, Dec. 15. For any questions, call Shannon McGregor or Stephanie Romonchuk at 703-838-4911.
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.
At the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau’s annual Evening in the Heart of Alexandria, the 28-year-old Alexandria nonprofit announced that its name had been changed to Volunteer Alexandria, reflecting an updated approach to volunteer recruitment and management.
Note the winter hours for the following history museums operated by the City of Alexandria. These hours are effective through March 31, 2009.
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
4301 West Braddock Road
Alexandria, VA 22304
703.838.4848
www.fortward.org
Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Monday, closed
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
134 North Royal Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.838.4242
www.gadsbystavern.org
Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday, closed
Stabler-Leadbetter Apothecary
www.apothecarymuseum.org
Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday, closed
The 33rd running of the Alexandria Turkey Trot will be held 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. Register online before Monday, Nov. 24 and save $5. Visit www.visitdelray.com/turkeytrot. Alexandria Turkey Trot T-shirts
Applications for the following awards are now being accepted: The Women’s Opportunity Awards program aids women seeking to improve their economic status by gaining additional skills, training and education. The women may use the award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education including books, childcare and transportation.
The Violet Richardson Award recognizes and honors young women, between the ages of 14 to 17, who make the community and world a better place. The program offers a cash grant to award recipients and the organizations for which they volunteer.
Applications are available by contacting Sylvia Winterling, svlwint@aol.com. All completed applications are due by January 10, 2009.
The Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities (ACPD) is currently seeking input from City residents through a Needs Assessment survey. If you are a person with a disability, a family member of a person with a disability, or a service provider to persons with disabilities, please take the Needs Assessment survey today at alexandriava.gov/acpdsurvey. To request additional information, a reasonable accommodation, or an alternative format, e-mail mike.hatfield@alexandriava.gov or call 703-746-3148, TTY 711.
The Special Education Parent Resource Center holds a weekly Support Group for Parents of Children in Special Education from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday in the Parent Resource Center at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School, 1501 Cameron St. (Ring the bell at door No. 4.)
Each meeting includes coffee and bagels, and an opportunity to share stories, support, information and problem-solving ideas related to special education issues, school and family life. The group is open to parents who have children of all ages with special needs. Infants and toddlers are welcome. Parents are welcome to drop in whenever they can.
For more information, contact Anne Lipnick at 703-706-4552 (office) or 571-274-2866 (work cell), or email alipnick@acps.k12.va.us.
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.
The Alexandria Community Services Board is in need of volunteers to serve in the following positions:
* Friends of the Alexandria Mental Health Center Board Members: Friends is seeking new members who will take an active role in fund-raising, building relationships with the business community and helping coordinate Friends community events. The Board meets one Wednesday evening every other month with occasional subcommittee meetings and additional time required for leading or assisting with projects.
Mural Artists: Alexandria Vocational Services is seeking a mural artist or group of artists to paint a portion of a 30’x 60’ concrete wall in a warehouse that houses the Sheltered Workshop Program. Program participants complete projects such as labeling, envelope stuffing and film recycling. Some funds are available for supplies.
For more information about these volunteer opportunities, contact Jennifer Cordero at jennifer.cohen-cordero@alexandriava.gov or 703-838-4455, x 161.
Nonprofit organizations and other grantseekers in Alexandria looking for funding sources now have access to a valuable new collection of resources through Alexandria Library. The Foundation Center’s core collection includes “The Foundation Directory Online” and “Foundation Grants to Individuals Online.” All four Alexandria Library branches have access to the two databases through their catalog computers. The complete Cooperating Collection of print and electronic resources is held at the Barrett Library, located at 717 Queen St. Visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us .
The 4Paws Rescue Team is allowed to keep foster cats at the Petco in Alexandria to increase their chances of finding a loving home. Petco volunteers are asked to commit to one evening or morning each week to care for 2-4 cats. Currently are in dire need of Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning volunteers (until noon), but volunteers for other shifts are encouraged to apply as well. If interested, contact info@fourpaws.org or by phone at 703-715-6369.
Alexandria Library now offers its patrons a chance to write their own reviews of almost all of the library holdings (books, movies, music, and other materials) on the Alexandria Library Web site online catalog at www.alexandria.lib.va.us. To access the online catalog, visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us , click on “Library Catalog,” and begin browsing. To write a review, simply register and type a review for all to read. For more information, contact Mark Schwartz at 703-519-3498, or e-mail mschwartz@alexandria.lib.va.us
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 more information and to obtain an application, call 703-324-5422, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman.
The Alexandria chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Contact 703-684-6190 or visit www.naacpalexandria.org.
Greenlight Toastmasters International meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mount Vernon Rec Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Visit greenlight.freetoasthost.info or 703-569-4810.
Every Saturday, 7–9 a.m. there are bookmark distributions in Del Ray and Old Town to promote awareness about domestic violence. For more information contact Stephanie Romonchuk at Stephanie.romonchuk@alexandriava.gov or 703-838-4911.
Come and volunteer at The Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC) headquarters offices in Alexandria. Again this year, CFNC staff and volunteers will be preparing our holiday solicitation mailing. They need help to hand-address, collate stuff and stamp over 2,500 letters. Call Patricia Chapman at 703-836-0214, or e-mail to pchapman@cfnc-online.org.