Saturday/May 18
EMS Week Event. 10 a.m.-2 pm. at Mount Vernon Rec Center, 2017 Belle View Blvd. Browse displays, get one-on-one interactions, take a blood pressure screening, and more. Free. 703-768-3224.
Through May 18
Diaper Drive. Local volunteers, in conjunction with Northern Virginia Family Service, announced Diaper Drive 2013: Help Keep a Baby Dry intended to raise 10,000 diapers to assist local needy families. The drive will runs through May 18 and encourages people to drop off diapers at local elementary schools, churches and public locations in several Fort Hunt, Mount Vernon and Old Town locations. Donated diapers can be loose from an open pack or part of a sealed pack. Financial donations are also accepted through the drive's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DiaperDrive2013. Public Diaper Drop Locations include:Occasionally Cake - 207 King St. and 8859 Richmond Highway; Fort Hunt Safeway - 7900 Fort Hunt Road; St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church - 8531 Riverside Road; and Heritage Presbyterian Church - 8503 Fort Hunt Road.
Monday/May 20
Free Conference. 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at South County Building Conference Center, 8350 Richmond Highway. Bethlehem Baptist Church is sponsoring “Anticipating the Future 50+.” Register by May 15 to 703-3604170.
Presentation for Seniors. 11 a.m. at Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road. Carfit is holding a presentation on how to adapt a car to the needs of older adults. Bring your car for an assessment. Free, but reservations required. 703-765-4573.
Tuesday/May 21
Genealogical Society Meeting. 1 p.m. The Mount Vernon Genealogical Society will meet in room 112 of the Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road. The meeting will feature a presentation by Sharon Hodges titled "The File Burned, Now What? Finding Your WWII Relative." The United States entered World War II December 1941. More people than ever are attempting to find out exactly what their relatives did in WWII, but many are finding that the personnel file was burned. This session will explain what records are available and where to locate them. Free and open to the public. Visit www.MVGenealogy.org.
Colonial Republican Women Meeting. 6:30-9 p.m. at Virginia Hills Administration Center, 6520 Diana Lane. Program features Supervisor Pat Herrity who will speak on “How to Be an Effective Leader When You’re in the Miniority.” 703-624-3252.
Open House. 4-7 p.m. at The Beacon of Groveton, 670 Richmond Highway. Take a tour of the development, see nearby restaurants and more. Free. Visit www.beaconofgroveton.com for more.
Monday-Thursday/May 20-23
Blood Donor Week. 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Fort Belvoir Blood Donor Center, 9300 Dewitt Loop, Fort Belvoir (lower level Oaks Pavilion). Both Pence Gate and Tully Gate are accessible with a State Issued License or ID
Sponsored by American Legion Post 24. Call or email regarding eligibility questions or to make an appointment, 202-294-6674 or email donna.onwona.civ@health.mil.
Wednesday/May 22
Program for Seniors. 1 p.m. at Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road. Older adults can learn about an alternative for traditional senior care. Free. 703-765-4573.
Monday/May 27-Saturday/June 1
Operation Medicine Cabinet Cleanout. Drop off unused or expired medications at a Fairfax County Police district station (pills or liquids only, no pressurized canisters or needles). Disposal is free, convenient, confidential and safe. Safe handling of unused or expired medications prevents accidental poisoning, prevents drug abuse and protects the environment. The Mount Vernon District Station is located at 2511 Parkers Lane. Visit www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org or call 703-938-8723, TTY 711.
Saturday/June 1
Boater Education Course. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 8592 Richmond Highway. Take a course that meets the boating education requirements of all states. To register e-mail eaglesailor75@cox.net or 703-780-3765.
Monday/June 3
Application Deadline. Mount Vernon Estate is looking for D.C-area teachers who bring creativity and passion to their teaching, generate a love of learning and deepen their students’ understanding and appreciation of history. To apply for Mount Vernon History Teacher of the Year, e-mail educatio@mountvernon.org or 703-799-5082.
Toastmasters. Speechcraft will help develop confidence and competence in presentation skills. These skills will benefit you at work and at home. The six-week program will be at the South County Government Center, 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria. Sessions are offered on Monday or Tuesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. Speechcraft is free, but a refundable deposit is required to hold your spot. For more information or to register, contact: Dave Chase 703-307-8487, dave_c48@hotmail.com or Wanda Washington 703-862-7654, LW5158@verizon.net.
Tuesday/June 4
Toastmasters. Speechcraft will help develop confidence and competence in presentation skills. These skills will benefit you at work and at home. The six-week program will be at the South County Government Center, 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria. Sessions are offered on Monday or Tuesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. Speechcraft is free, but a refundable deposit is required to hold your spot. For more information or to register, contact: Dave Chase 703-307-8487, dave_c48@hotmail.com or Wanda Washington 703-862-7654, LW5158@verizon.net.
Monday/June 10
Open House. 3-5 p.m. at Stratford Landing Elementary. Celebrate the years of service to the school and community by retiring principal and four teachers. Free.
Thursday/June 19
County Forum. 7-9 p.m. at South County Center, 8350 Richmond Highway, Conference Room 221. Share ideas on ensuring the county continues to be a liveable,lifelong community for its growing older population. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults or 703-324-5411 to register.
Friday/June 21
Golf Tournament. 2 p.m. at Ft. Belvoir Golf Course. Register for the Fairfax County NAACP Inaugural Golf Tournament. $100/golfer. Rental clubs available. Includes dinner. Visit fairfaxnaacp.org for more.
Volunteers Needed
The Fairfax County Park Authority is seeking volunteers to support iCan Shine, a five-day camp that teaches children with disabilities to ride two-wheel bicycles. The camp will be held during Fairfax County Schools’ spring break, March 25-29 at Lee District RECenter in Franconia. Besides making a difference that will last a lifetime, volunteers will also earn one free RECenter day pass for each camp session worked (10 pass limit). Volunteers must be at least 15 years old. For more information, call Adapted Aquatics Coordinator LeeAnn David at 703-324-8565 or send an email toleeann.david@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Volunteer to host an exchange student for the school year 2013-14. These foreign teens (15-18 years old) want to attend high school here in Northern Virginia, and experience life as an American teen. They are looking forward to becoming an active member of their new host family. Academic Year in America (AYA) is a non-profit organization, and the Department of State does not allow us to pay our host families. If interested in welcoming a new family member into your heart and your home, visit www.academicyear.org or if you would like to find out more about hosting astudents, call local coordinator Louise at 540-286-1561.
Fairfax County needs a Meals on Wheels coordinator for the Mount Vernon area. Contact Fairfax County's Volunteer Solutions at 703-324-5406, TTY 703-449-1186, VolunteerSolutions@fairfaxcounty.gov, or visit Volunteer Solutions at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices and click on volunteers.
AARP Tax-Aide, a national volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service for low to moderate income and elderly citizens, needs volunteers to electronically complete and file federal and state income tax forms for the 2013 tax season.The program offers free five-day training using IRS computers and software. Volunteers become IRS Certified Tax Counselors after completing and passing the IRS examination. Training sessions will be held in Annandale, Centerville and Alexandria in Jan. 2013. Visit www.aarp.org/taxaide.
Ongoing
The New Gum Springs Civic Association will start a new Cub Scout Pack for boys ages 6-10 and adult leaders. For more information call 888-740-6009 or visit www.gumspringscivicassociation.com.
School Board Member, Dan Storck, Mount Vernon District representative, hosts community office hours the second Saturday of each month: Sherwood Hall Library: 1-3 p.m. Members of the community are invited to stop by to ask questions or to discuss concerns. No appointment necessary. If you have any questions about the community office hours, please contact Dan Storck at Dan.Storck@fcps.edu or his assistant, Barb Larsen at Barbara.Larsen@fcps.edu.
Band musicians, young and old, are invited to join the Mount Vernon Community Band. Rehearsals are Tuesday 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Mount Vernon High School band room, 8515 Old Mount Vernon Road. There are no auditions. The Mount Vernon Community Band is a nonprofit community service organization that has performed in the Mount Vernon area since 1978. 703-768-4172 or www.mvbands.com.
Alzheimer's Association support groups provide a place for people with Alzheimer's, their caregivers, family members, and/or friends to share valuable information, caregiving tips and concerns throughout the Alzheimer's journey. Groups are facilitated by trained group leaders and are ongoing, free and open to the community. There is a meeting on the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 8710 Mount Vernon Highway. Call the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 703-359-4440 or 800-272-3900 before attending a group for the first time to verify meeting information, obtain directions or other information about the group. A complete list of all groups in the National Capital Area region can be viewed at www.alz.org/nca.
Postpartum Support Virginia sponsors a free, bi-monthly support group for women suffering depression and/or anxiety during pregnancy or in the first year following childbirth. Meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at Inova Alexandria Hospital, Health Education Center, rooms 1-2, 4320 Seminary Road. Contact co-moderator Susan Doyle at suzjdoyle@gmail.com or 571-403-0673.
The Boy Scout Troop 1906 is seeking members. They meet every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church Parsonage, 7836 Fordson Road. Visit www.boyscouts-ncac.org/colonial for more.
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.-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.
Training Courses. The American Red Cross in the National Capital Region will host training courses in CPR, First Aid, and AED in the Alexandria and Fort Belvoir offices. These classes offer a two-year certification. Classes range from $70-$110 and are available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays. Advance registration is required. To register for a class or find another class in your area, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcross.org/takeaclass.
Dance for Parkinson’s Disease. Thursdays, 1:30-2:30 p.m. At Heritage Presbyterian Church, 8503 Fort Hunt Rd. Those with Parkinson’s and caregivers are welcome. No dance experience necessary.