Alexandria — Email announcements to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Thursday by noon. Photos welcome.
Wednesday/Sept. 26
Adoption Session. 6-7 p.m. UMFS will hold a free, no obligation orientation session for prospective foster parents at 5400 Shawnee Rd., Suite 101. Agency representatives will be on hand to answer questions and explain the requirements to foster or adopt. To RSVP, call 703-941-9008 or visit www.umfs.org.
Thursday/Sept. 27
Commission for the Arts - Arts Forum Committee noon. Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center, 1605 Cameron St. Contact Cheryl Anne Colton, cherylanne.colton@alexandriava.gov, or call 703-746-5565.
Waterfront Commission 4 p.m. City Hall, Room 2000, 301 King St. Contact Jack Browand, 703-746-5504.
Alexandria Transit Company Board 5:30 p.m. City Hall, Sister Cities Room 1101, 301 King St. Contact Marlene Jones, 703-746-5637.
City Council Work Session 5:30 p.m. City Hall, Council Work Room, 301 King St. Call 703-746-4550.
Commission for the Arts - Grant Review Committee 6 p.m. Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center, 1605 Cameron St. Contact Cheryl Colton, 703-746-5588.
Alexandria City Council Legislative Meeting 7 p.m. City Hall, Council Chamber, 301 King St. Contact Jackie Henderson, 703-746-4550.
Sept. 28-30
Food Drives. To conclude Hunger Action Month, Giant Food of Landover, Md. will host Giant Food Community Food Drives at all its neighborhood locations during store hours. Food banks across the region are in need of nonperishable food items including canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, pasta sauce, rice, 100 percent fruit juice, canned meats, cereal, peanut butter, and more.
Saturday/Sept. 29
Complimentary Open House and Wellness Clinic. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. October is National Physical Therapy Month. Free open house focuses on how physical therapy and other wellness habits can help decrease pain, improve mobility, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Attendees will also hear tips in physical activity, nutrition and stress management and etc. Light refreshments will be served. Besides, our month-long “Move Forward” series will continue throughout October with special events dedicated to moms, athletes, those 50+ and more. Core Wellness & Physical Therapy, 2212 Mount Vernon Ave. Call 571-403-2673.
2012 Women’s Issues Conference. 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. U.S. Rep. Jim Moran will host his 2012 Women’s Issues Conference at Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington. The conference will also include health screenings, non-profit information fair, and a series of seminars on topics including healthy living, work-life balance, issue advocacy and career networking. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Free of charge and open to all 8th District residents. Registration is still open at: http://moran.house.gov/event/womens-conference-event.
Through Sept. 30
ZIPS Dry Cleaners Renew Partnership with Will2Work Clothing Drive. The Will2Work Clothing Drive will provide disadvantaged adults trying to re-enter the workforce with access to donated suits and professional attire that can be worn on the job or to job interviews. Visit www.321zips.com.
Tuesday/Oct. 2
Career Fair. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The City Department of Human Resources and JobLink will host its Fall 2012 Career Fair “Hire Our Heroes.” Free and open to the general public. The Activity Center, Campus of First Baptist Church, Building Entrance 4, 2932 King St. Event Registration: www.alexandria.eventbrite.com. Contact: 703-746-5850
Community Forum on Drinking and Driving by Youth and Young Adults. 7 p.m. Fairfax County residents, 18 years of age or older, are encouraged to join the conversation about drinking and driving by attending one of five community forums at West Potomac High School, Kogelman Theatre, 6500 Quander Rd. Call 703-938-8723 or visit www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org.
Work Session. 6:30 p.m. The Planning Commission will hold a work session to receive an update on open space, housing, land use and transportation implementation of the Beauregard Small Area Plan. At the City Hall, 301 King St. Council Work Room.
City Council and Mayoral Candidate Forum. 7-8 p.m. At George Washington Middle School Auditorum, 1005 Mount Vernon Ave.
Saturday/Oct. 6
532Yoga Sessions. 532 N. Washington St., Suite 100. Visit www.532Yoga.com, email suzanne@532Yoga.com, or call 703-209-0049. 11 a.m.-noon. Beginners Yoga, 8 week course or drop-in. Please register online. Cost $99 prior to 9/28 or $20 drop-in. noon-2 p.m. Inversion Immersion. Explore the foundation of arm balances and inversions and learn to fly! Cost $35 prior to 9/28. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Asana, pranayama, meditation and discussion on this complete yoga practice as taught by Sri Dharma Mittra. Suitable for beginners. Cost $35 prior to 9/28.
Sunday/Oct. 7
532Yoga Session. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Ashtanga Yoga Workshop with authorized level two teacher, Antonella Accinelli. This is a three-part workshop: Part I, The Practice, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Part II, The Nuts & Bolts 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Part III, The Theory, 4-6 p.m. Full Program $80, individual $35. Register through www.532Yoga.com, email suzanne@532Yoga.com, or call 703-209-0049.
Wednesday/Oct. 10
Alexandria Mayoral and City Council Candidates Forum. 7 p.m. Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, 530 S. Saint Asaph St. All Alexandrians Welcome.
Health Expo. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Inova Alexandria Hospital is hosting its annual health expo at the USPS, 600 Dulany St. This event is free and open to the public. This year s Health Expo will feature seminars and demonstrations. Registration is preferred, but not required. Call 855-My-Inova (855-694-6682) or visit inova.org/expo
Thursday/Oct. 11
Lunch and Learn. noon-2 p.m. Receive a chef-prepared meal and the information on whether keeping or selling home. The Fountains at Washington House, 5100 Fillmore Ave. Call 703-845-5100.
Tea & Talk: “Open Your Eyes to News You Can Use” 1:30-3 p.m. Every day brings new information about products, services, and resources that encourage independence for people facing vision loss. Join the group for information and fellowship. Charles Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St. Call 202-234-1010 or 703-746-1702.
Saturday/Oct. 13
"Alexandria for a Lifetime!" 8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. This free seminar will target planning documents, housing, insurance, financing, medical and care resources available to families, seniors and children. Open to public. Register by calling Senior Services of Alexandria at 703-836-4414, ext. 10, or visiting www.seniorservicesalex.org First Baptist Church is located at 2932 King St.
Sunday/Oct. 14
Race. Sign up to support Boys & Girls Club - Alexandria Olympic & Fairfax Branches for the Acumen Solutions' Race for a Cause 8K and 1 Mile Fun Run race. Visit www.theraceforacause.com to sign up.
Saturday/Oct. 27
79th Annual Membership and Awards Banquet: “Your Power, Your Decision - VOTE." 5:30-8:30 p.m. At the Holiday Inn & Suites, 625 First St. The guest speaker will be Sonia Sanchez, poet, activist, scholar and author of 16 books. Special recognition will be given to the Divine 9, the nine Black Greek fraternities and sororities. Tickets prices are $75. Send checks to: NAACP, P. O. Box 1740, Alexandria, VA 22313 by Oct. 20.
Ongoing
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.
Poet Laureate Needed. The City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts is in search of individuals to serve on the Poet Laureate Selection Panel. Individuals with experience in arts education, business, or who are civic leaders, arts patrons and artists are encouraged to apply. All volunteers will serve three-year terms. Individuals who are interested in serving should send a letter of interest and vita to the Office of the Arts/Alexandria Commission for the Arts, 1605 Cameron St., Alexandria, VA 22314, or send to aca@alexandriava.gov.Visit www.alexandriava.gov/arts or call 703-746-5588 for more information.
Volunteers Needed. Alexandria Archaeology is seeking one or two highly motivated volunteers to assist in the cataloging of these archaeological finds. Prior database and/or cataloging experience and a keen attention to detail are desirable qualifications for this position. This position offers the opportunity to work closely with Alexandria Archaeology’s professional staff in a friendly and fast-paced museum environment. Interested applicants should contact Alexandria archaeologist Paul Nasca at paul.nasca@alexandriava.gov.
Internet Offered for Low-income Families. Comcast kicks off year two of Internet Essentials, an adoption program designed to help close the digital divide for low-income Americans. A household is eligible to participate if it meets all of the following criteria:
Is located where Comcast offers Internet service; has at least one child who is eligible to receive either a free or reduced price school lunch under the NSLP; has not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days; does not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment. Comcast will sign up eligible families in the program through the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Any household that qualifies will remain eligible for Internet Essentials if at least one child eligible for either a free or reduced price school lunch remains living in the household.
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.
Tuesdays
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 Aug. 14 from 7-9 p.m. at City Hall, City Council Workroom, Second Floor, 301 King St.
The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium needs dependable volunteers to tutor Alexandria City Public School kindergarteners and first graders who need help with literacy skills. Training and lesson plans targeted at the child’s reading needs are provided. 85% of the 192 children tutored last year reached their spring grade level literacy benchmarks. Please go to http://www.alexandriatutors.org for more information and to register.