Ongoing
Mount Vernon — UCM's Back Porch Thrift Store is in need of donations of furniture. UCM will pick up furniture, as well as other larger donations, or they can be dropped off at the back of the store Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To arrange for pick-ups, call 703-768-7106, ext. 320. Located at the Mt. Vernon Crossroads Shopping Center at 7838 Richmond Hwy.
Volunteers Needed. AARP Tax-Aide, a free, national volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service for low to moderate income and elderly citizens, is currently in need of volunteers to electronically complete and file federal and state income tax forms for the 2013 tax season. Volunteers of all ages and background are welcome. The program will offer free five-day training using IRS computers and software. Volunteers become IRS Certified Tax Counselors after completing the training and passing the IRS examination. Trainings sessions will be held in Annandale, Centerville and Alexandria in December 2012 and January 2013. Volunteers interested in the program should visit: www.aarp.org/taxaide. Email will be sent in December announcing the specific, dates and times the above sites will be opened for the 2013 tax season.
Every Thursday
Dance for Parkinson’s Disease. 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. At Heritage Presbyterian Church, 8503 Fort Hunt Road. Those with Parkinson’s and caregivers are welcome. No dance experience necessary.
Through Oct. 4
“Quench Your Curiosi-Tea.” 1 p.m. Free and open to the community. Each session is different. 1500 Shenandoah Rd. Call 703-765-4573 to reserve a seat. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request. Call 703-324-4600, TTY 711.
Wednesday/Oct. 3 and First Wednesday of each month
The Parkinson’s Disease Support Group of Alexandria meeting. 1:30 p.m. At the Hollin Hall Senior Center, Rm. 109 1500 Shenandoah Road. All Parkinson’s patients and caregivers are welcome.
Oct. 15-Dec. 7
Medicare Open Season. Howard Houghton will discuss what people need to know about the 2013 Medicare health and drug plans at these free Fairfax County presentations. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/vicap.htm for more information.
Wednesday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m. Groveton Senior Center, 8350 Richmond Hwy, Suite 325. Registration not required.
Monday, Oct. 29, 10:15 a.m. Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Rd. Call to register: 703-765-4573, TTY 711.
Tuesdays/Oct. 16 through Nov. 27
Seminars. 12:30 –2:30 p.m. Join Fairfax County’s Independent Living Project, a free series of educational seminars of interest to older adults, along with exercise or yoga classes for strength and balance. The program also provides home safety visits for 60+ adults and adults with physical disabilities. Participation in the full project is advised, and space is limited. At 7000 Schoonmaker Court. To register, contact Jennifer Edge at 703-324-7210, TTY 711 or email Jennifer.Edge@fairfaxcounty.gov. Visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/independent.htm.
Friday/Oct. 5
Film event. 7:30 p.m. Poverty in America: its not what one thinks. Rising Hope UMC Mission Church is hosting a public screening and discussion of the new film sponsored by Sojourners The Line. This important and informative film documents the stories of people across the country living at or below the poverty line. At 8220 Russell Road.
Thursday/Oct. 11
Discussion on Sex Trafficking. 7 p.m. The Mount Vernon branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) invites the public to a free presentation by state Sen. Adam Ebbin on the topic of Child Sex Trafficking in Northern Virginia. Ebbin will discuss a recent Virginia law on preventing child sex trafficking through disseminating information in schools. The meeting will be held at Sherwood Hall Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane. Call Jeanne Gayler at 703-765-7866.
Transportation Funding Meeting. 7 p.m. Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors have launched an initiative to inform residents of the danger of allowing transportation revenues to continue to decline and local options available to help assure the county has the transportation network it needs to be globally competitive in the 21st century.
Saturday/Oct. 13
Annual Watershed Clean-Up Day. 9-11:30 a.m. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Join in this community service project and help collect tires, bed springs, bottles, cans and other debris from local waterways. Wear boots, old clothes and bring gloves. Trash bags will be provided. Call 703-768-2525 to reserve your section of the watershed. Huntley Meadows Park, 3701 Lockheed Blvd.
Monday/Oct. 15
Mini Open House. 1 p.m. Tour Hollin Hall Senior Center with Jan Kestyn. Enjoy refreshments, and peek in on some ongoing sessions. Call 703-765-4573. 1500 Shenandoah Road.
Tuesday/Oct. 16
Dinner Meeting. 6:30 p.m. The Evening Lions October dinner meeting will be held at Pema's restaurant. Davida Luehrs from the Foundation Fighting Blindness will be the speaker. Open to public. Contact Andrea Corsillo at 703-960-4973.
Wednesday/Oct. 17
Dispelling the Myths About Breast Cancer. 6:30-8:30 p.m. At Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, 2501 Parkers Ln. For information or to register, visit www.inovalinktopink.org or call 1-855-MY-INOVA (1-855-694-6682) .
Thursday/Oct. 18
Parents Night. 6:30 p.m. The Administrative Staff of Mount Vernon High School will host the annual Information Night for Parents, In the Little Theater (entrance 4). Parents can learn everything about Mount Vernon High School, including test scores, academic programs, school plan, attendance and discipline policies. Email nardos.king@fcps.edu or call 703-619-3103.
Sunday/Oct. 21
Free Health Lecture. 1:30 p.m. (in English) and 3:30 p.m. (in Spanish) "Divine Love: the Answer to Universal Health," hosted by First Church of Christ Scientist, featuring Christian Science lecturer, Jose’ de Dios Mata. Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane.
Tuesday/Oct. 23
PrimeTime Business Expo. 7-9 p.m. Take a stroll down “Main Street” and meet the businesses that are in neighbors in the greater South Alexandria business community. At the Knights of Columbus Hall, 8592 Richmond Hwy. Free. Call 703-360-6925 or visit www.MtVernon-LeeChamber.org
Friday/Oct. 26
Computer Lab Open House. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Meet the instructors and one-on-one volunteers, preview their curriculum and try the lab terminals. Light refreshments served. Call 703-765-4573 to reserve a seat. Hollin Hall's computer lab, 1500 Shenandoah Rd.
Saturday/Oct. 27
Free Mammogram. To celebrate the growing awareness around breast cancer, this free screening is available to all women over 40 who have a physician order. At Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, 2501 Parkers Ln. Registration is required. Call 571-423-5400.
Monday/Oct. 29
Medicare Session: “Getting Through the Medicare Maze.” 10:15 a.m. Call 703-324-4600, TTY 711. Hollin Hall Senior Center for Creative Retirement, 1500 Shenandoah Road.
Safe Driving Course. 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Improve driving skills and possibly decrease auto insurance costs. $12 for AARP Members and $14 for non-members. Checks payable to AARP at time of sign-up. Call 703-765-4573 to reserve a seat. Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road.
Thursday/Nov. 15
"Chart Your Retirement" 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. George Mason University is offering a non-credit, 8-hour class at the Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Rd. Participants will discuss changing roles and relationships, work, the value of community involvement, and changing family commitments. Presenters will share tools to create a customized retirement plan. Since this is part of a pilot project for potential research, the university is offering this class at a reduced rate of $40. Contact Lois Tetrick at ltetrick@gmu.edu.