Alexandria — Email announcements to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday by noon. Photos welcome.
Thursday/Aug. 16
CARD Virginia School will host open house 6:30-8:30 p.m. for families of children ages 3-12 with autism spectrum disorders. CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disorders)
offers a unique program with a one-to-one student-teacher ratio and 215 days of instruction per year. At 5400 Shawnee Road Suite 208. Visit http://virginia.centerforautism.com or call 855-345-2273.
Monday/Aug. 20
Alexandria Hospital Lectures: Minimally Invasive Joint Replacement presented by John Albrigo, M.D. Inova Alexandria Hospital Auditorium. 7 p.m. 4320 Seminary Road. Register: 1-855-694-6682 or register online at inova.org/AskTheExpert
Town Hall Meeting hosted by the WPFW Local Station Board. 6:30-8:30 p.m. The meeting will at the Charles Houston Rec Center in Alexandria just 2 blocks from Braddock Metro Station at 901 Wythe St. The Rec center is in the middle of a community fighting to preserve affordable housing and fight displacement of low income families. The Town Hall is free and open to the public. Contact 202-588-0999 ext 0 for any questions. Or go to wpfw.org
Tuesday/Aug. 21
Alexandria Sheriff’s Office Accreditation. 3-5 p.m. The Office is asking for comments from interested community members during its on-site assessment by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), an international organization facilitating the pursuit of law enforcement excellence. Community members and agency employees are invited to a public meeting at 520 King St.
Saturday/Aug. 25
Emergency Management/Preparedness and Safety Fair. Inova Alexandria Hospital is hosting the 2nd annual Emergency Management/Preparedness and Safety Fair in partnership with the City of Alexandria. More than 25 vendors, including police, fire, health and safety organizations, will share simple precautions to help residents be ready for a range of emergency scenarios. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.
Wednesday/Sept. 12
Alexandria Hospital Lectures: Minimally Invasive Techniques in Gyn Surgery, Presented by Natalya Danilyants, MD. Inova Alexandria Hospital Auditorium, 4320 Seminary Road. 6 p.m. Register: 1-855-694-6682 or register online at inova.org/AskTheExpert
Ongoing
StagePlay Summer Camp registrations are now been taken for an assortment of camps for pre-schoolers through middle schoolers. Locations are at the Little Theatre of Alexandria and St. Aidans Episcopal Church. For a full camp listing, email bardsplay@gmail.com, or call 703-360-0233.
Plant Clinics. Wonder how to grow great tomatoes, which tree is best for your home landscape, or what strange insect you have found? VCE Master Gardeners can help find the answers at weekly Plant Clinics held in the following locations:
Old Town Farmers’ Market, 301 King St., Saturdays, from 7 a.m. - noon, May 5 through Sept. 29.
Del Ray Farmers’ Market, intersection of Mt. Vernon and East Oxford avenues, Saturdays, from 8:30-11 a.m., May 5 through Sept. 29.
VCE Master Gardener Help Desk (703-228-6414), or mgarlalex@gmail.com; staffed from 9 a.m. - noon, Monday-Friday, year round. Bring fresh samples of problem plants, weeds or insects with you to ensure the accurate identification of any diseases or pests. VCE recommends carrying samples in plastic bags or other clear containers. Don’t bring live insects. All clinics and Help Desk are free of charge.
Every Tuesday
Five-Star Toastmasters, Club # 9623. 5:30-7 p.m. at the Pentagon Conference Center. Toastmasters can help participants sharpen their speaking skills, boost their confidence and energize their leadership skills in a team-oriented atmosphere. Visit http://fivestar.freetoasthost.com or contact Club Vice-President for Membership Katharine Gagné at 202-521-2307 or e-mail of Club_VP_Mbrshp@fivestar.freetoasthost.com and Club President, Charlie DeWitt at 202-997-5087 or Club_President@fivestar.freetoasthost.com.
First Wednesdays
The Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of Alexandria meets the 1st Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. At the Hollin Hall Senior Center, Room 109, 1500 Shenandoah Rd. All Parkinson’s patients and caregivers are welcome.
The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium needs volunteers to tutor kindergarteners and first-graders in literacy skills for 30 minutes once or twice a week through May in Alexandria public schools. Training and lesson plans provided. Call 703-549-6670, ext. 119, or visit www.alexandriatutors.org.
At Home in Alexandria! Those interested in becoming AHA! Friends should call AHA! at 703-231-0824 or download the application form from the AHA! website at www.athomeinalexandria.org. AHA! is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports Alexandrians ages 55+ who prefer to remain — independently — in their own homes. A non-profit, volunteer organization, AHA! delivers reliable, cost-effective transportation, light home maintenance and computer-related services and ready access to other vetted service providers.
Connect with T&ES on Facebook. The City of Alexandria’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) is on Facebook. The T&ES Facebook page will share information on topics such as transportation planning, trash and recycling service, road work and maintenance, traffic, infrastructure and engineering projects, Eco-City Alexandria and environmental initiatives, emergency cleanup efforts, and more. Visit alexandriava.gov/SocialMedia.
Housing Roundtable on helping responsible homeowners. The roundtable will feature lenders, housing counselors, and other stakeholders discussing the refinancing process, recent changes to the HOme Affordable Refinance Program (HARP2), and other opportunties to help homeowners reduce their monthly housing costs. The roundtable will be held on August 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at City Hall, City Council Workroom, Second Floor 301 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.