Send announcements or events, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail <a href="mailto:loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com">loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call 703-917-6454.
Rhythm, Rhyme & Tune Time, early language learning, Thursdays, Sept. 4-Oct. 9, at 10 a.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St. Sing, chant, play instruments and move creatively as a way to explore the sounds, rhythms and patterns that make up language. Each session lasts for six weeks. Recommended for ages infant-4 years with parent/caregiver. Register online at http://library.louduon.gov or phone 703-430-9500.
Every Child Ready to Read, early literacy workshop, Monday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Learn six important prereading skills to teach babies and toddlers. For parents or caregivers of infant to 2-year-olds. Register online at http://library.loudoun.gov or phone 703-737-8100.
Drawing for Pleasure class, at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, 60 Ida Lee Drive, N.W., Leesburg, starting Monday, Sept. 8, at 10 a.m. Learn the fundamentals of drawing, including learning about a number of drawing materials, line and shading. This activity is for ages 18 and over. Cost: $120 and include all materials and supplies. Preregistration is required, call 703-777-1368 or visit www.idalee.org. This class consists of six, two hour and 30 minute classes.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is offering a free, English as a Second Language program for non-English speaking adults. The LDS church holds classes three nights a week. The ESL program follows the public school year and offers three beginner courses and one advanced class. The schedule is every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening, from 7:30-9 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 22066 Circle Drive, Sterling. Enrollment takes place Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 7:30 p.m., with classes to begin on Wednesday, Sept. 10.
Homework 101, Tuesday, Sept. 9 and Wednesday, Sept. 10, 1:30 -4:30 p.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. A two-day workshop designed to show the home schooled and their parents what electronic resources the library has to offer, from language programs to a "self-test" database. Register online at http://library.loudoun.gov or phone 703-430-9500.
Registration for ESL classes, computer and typing for ESL students will be held Tuesday, Sept. 9 and Thursday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., at Faith Bible Church, 21393 Potomac View Road, Sterling.
ESL classes will start Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Cost: $35 for the school year September 2008-May 2009. Typing class will start Tuesday, Sept. 23 and computer class will start Thursday, Sept. 25. Both classes start at 7:30 p.m. Typing class is $35 from September-December. Call church's office at 703-430-1345.
Beginning Painting class, at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, 60 Ida Lee Drive, N.W., Leesburg, starting Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 10 a.m. an introduction to oil painting and focuses on the basics. This class will cover color mixing, composition and simple techniques. This activity is for ages 18 and over. Cost: $120 and include all materials and supplies. Preregistration is required, call 703-777-1368 or visit www.idalee.org. This class consists of six, two hour and 30 minute classes.
Babygarten, an informational program for infants and their parents or caregivers. Classes focus on how nursery rhymes, songs and books can enrich a child's life from the very beginning and provide them with a foundation for the future. Sponsored by the Loudoun Library Foundation Inc., and branch advisory boards. Each Babygarten session lasts for six weeks. Recommended for children from birth through 18 months with their parent or caregiver.
Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Wednesdays, Sept. 10-Oct. 15, at 10 a.m.; Wednesdays, Sept. 10-Oct. 15, at 2:30 p.m.; Fridays, Sept. 12-Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. Call 703-737-8100.
Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Mondays, Sept. 8, 22, 29, Oct. 6, 20 and 27, at 10:30 a.m.; Tuesdays, Sept. 16-Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. Call 703-444-3228.
Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Wednesdays, Sept. 3-Oct. 8, at 10 a.m. Call 703-430-9500.
Rhythm, Rhyme & Tune Time, early language learning, Fridays, Sept. 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10 and 17, at 11:15 a.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Sing, chant, play instruments and move creatively as a way to explore the sounds, rhythms and patterns that make up language. Each session lasts for six weeks. Recommended for ages infant-4 years with parent/caregiver. Register online at http://library.loudoun.gov or phone 703-737-8100.
Novelist Tracee Lydia Garner will host a writer's conference at Dominion University, 21335 Signal Hill Plaza, Sterling, Saturday, Sept. 13, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The conference includes workshops from local industry leaders and a screenwriter and instructor at Northern Virginia Community College, Loudoun campus. For more information about the conference, or for reservations, call 571-296-4448 or e-mail Teegarner@aol.com.
Computer basics at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, Part I, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m.-noon; Part II, Thursday, Sept. 18, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Learn about e-mail accounts, typical Web sites, using search engines. Cost: $21 for members, $23 for nonmembers. Call 703-430-2397 to register.
Ceramics class at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Pace, Sterling, Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 10:30 a.m.-noon. Cost: $21 for members, $23 for nonmembers and includes small ceramic piece. Call 703-430-2397 to register.
The Loudoun Amateur Radio Group (LARG) is sponsoring a free two-day seminar preparing people of all ages to successfully complete the entrance level FCC amateur radio license exam. The training will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20 and 21, at the Leesburg VFW Hall at 401 Old Waterford Road, N.W., Leesburg. FCC exams will be administered one week later at the Leesburg Armory. There is no minimum age requirement.
Becoming an amateur radio operator or "Ham," requires students pass a 35-question multiple choice exam. There is no Morse Code requirement.
A demonstration of various modern radio communications techniques will be displayed during the two-day event including world-wide high frequency or "HF" communications, the Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS), local and regional repeater operations, and "EchoLink," a method of connecting radios to the Internet and talking to other hams throughout the world.
To sign up for the course, contact Steve Reed via e-mail at kw4h@arrl.net. For more information about the club and its training program, go to http://www.k4lrg.org/Training/index.htm or go to www.arrl.org.
Computer applications I, record keeping, organizing and computing, at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, Part I, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 10:30 a.m.-noon; Part II, Thursday, Oct. 16, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Cost: $21 for members, $23 for nonmembers. Call 703-430-2397 to register.
Computer applications II, word processing, at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, Part I, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 10:30 a.m.-noon; Part II, Thursday, Nov. 20, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Cost: $21 for members, $23 for nonmembers. Call 703-430-2397 to register.