Know of something missing from the community calendar? E-mail it to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-917-6407 with any questions. Photos are welcome. For more volunteer opportunities, classes, announcements visit http://www.arlingtonconnection.com and click on Community.
If you 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 you find the answers at weekly Plant Clinics held in the following locations:
Arlington County Farmer’s Market, intersection of N. 14th Street and Courthouse Road, Saturdays, from 8 to 11 am, April 14 through September 29.
Arlington Central Library Plant Clinic, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Thursdays, from 6:45 to 8:45 pm, April 19 through November 15.
Old Town Farmers’ Market, 301 King Street, Alexandria, Saturdays, from 6:30 to 9:30 am, May 5 through September 29.
Del Ray Farmers’ Market, intersection of Mt. Vernon and East Oxford Avenues, Saturdays, from 8:30 to 11 am, May 5 through September 29.
VCE Master Gardener Help Desk (703-228-6414), or mgarlalex@gmail.com; staffed from 9 a.m. through noon, Monday through Friday, year round.
Home gardeners are also welcome to visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) office at 3308 S. Stafford St., Arlington, 9 a.m. through 5 p.m., and the website at www.ext.vt.edu.
Donations of Dresses. Washington-Lee High School will once again be holding its annual "Formals For Five" sale on April 25 and 26. To enable all girls to afford a dress for Prom, gently used formal and semi-formal dresses are being collected, as well as jewelry and handbags. The sale will be open to girls at all Arlington high schools. All proceeds will be donated to Arlington Public Schools. Tax receipts can be obtained for value of donation. To donate a dress, contact Coordinator Kristi Berkland at promdressdonation@gmail.com for information on drop-off locations.
Rock Spring Garden Club of Arlington County will hold this spring its 2012 Garden of the Year Award
competition for Arlington gardens. One Arlington residential garden will be selected as Garden of the Year. Gardens can be nominated by a homeowner, neighbor, friend or relative. Applications will be available
by mid-March from RSGC's website: http://rockspringgardenclub.com/
Application deadline is May 1. Judging will take place in mid-May.
24th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. The Alice Ferguson Foundation’s 24th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup will be held Saturday, April 14. Thousands of volunteers of all ages will pick up trash from different cleanup sites around the region. Find a cleanup site near you by visiting www.PotomacCleanup.org, or calling 202-973-8203.
Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs (AMEN Inc.) seeks volunteers who will take social workers’ calls from home 1 to 5 p.m., one or two weekday afternoons per month. Approve requests for emergency financial assistance for their clients. Must have some computer skills to record requests on AMEN’s laptop computer. Training and ongoing consultation is provided. To learn more about this opportunity, contact 703-558-0035 or amen@emergencyneeds.org. To learn more, see www.emergencyneeds.org
4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23 Mondays
Meditation and Buddhism Introductory Class. Every Monday at 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Cost $12. Living Meditation Series. Classes will include all the basics of meditation such as posture, why we meditate, and how we meditate. Classes will look at meditations for relaxation, developing a clear mind, kind heart and for healing. There will also be guided meditations to gain experience of the practice and time for questions and discussion. Class includes teaching, guided meditation, and Q&A. Class taught by lay Buddhist Teacher, Chris Jamison. Vajrayogini Buddhist Center, Arlington Branch Location — The Griffin Center 3800 Fairfax Dr., Suite 5, Arlington. Call 202-986-2257 www.meditation-dc.org
Ongoing
How you found out about your parents' divorce? Family therapist Vikki Stark is conducting a study of the impact on children of how they learned about their parents’ divorce. If you are an adult who was a child/teen when your parents got divorced or are currently a child/teen of divorce - help children in the future through your participation. Visit http://SurveyMonkey.com/s/ChildDivorceStudy to access the questionnaire online.
Arlington Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound Mondays to Fridays, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call 703-522-0811 or mowvolunteers@yahoo.com
The Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth & Families is seeking applications from individuals interested in becoming community representatives on the Partnership Board. Board members work with the Partnership’s paid staff to facilitate conversations among various community and school groups in Arlington in an effort promote the Developmental-Asset-Based Model of child and adolescent development (http://www.search-institute.org/). Board membership involves regular attendance at a monthly meeting and active participation in one of our committees. See www.arlingtonpartnershipforyouth.org/. Interest individuals should contact Barbara Gomez (bgblank@verizon.net) or Kim Durand (Kdurand@arlingtonva.us).
The Glee Club. A new show choir called The Glee Club is being formed as part of the expanded offerings of the Teens and Theatre Company in Arlington. The Glee Club will meet Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Students will learn and even create routines to show tunes and pop songs. The Glee Club will be broken down into fall, winter and spring sessions so that students who participate in sports or other seasonal programs can still join. Registration forms are available online at www.teensandtheatre.org. Call 703-527-4061.
Our Lady Queen of Peace is seeking to replenish its food pantry. The following are particularly needed: rice (large bags appreciated, the pantry will rebag), dry beans (again, pantry will repackage), canned vegetables, soup, small jars of peanut butter, small jars of jelly, pasta and pasta sauce. 2700 South 19th Street. http://www.ourladyqueenofpeace.org/
Second Sunday
PFLAG of Arlington. 3 to 4:30 p.m. PFLAG promotes the equality and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered persons and their families. Meets on the second Sunday of each month, at the Unitarian Universalist Church at George Mason Drive and Route 50. Contact: aly.pflagdc@gmail.com.