Winter Programs
Guide Now Available. The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities’ 2014 Winter Program Guide is now available. Individuals who did not receive the program guide can download a free copy at alexandriava.gov/recreation. To sign up for a free subscription visit alexandriava.gov/recreation or call 703-746-4343.
Monday/Jan. 6
Submission Deadline. The City of Alexandria Office of the Arts and the Alexandria Transit Company have joined forces to host a poetry contest “DASHing Words in Motion.” Writers who live, work or study in the City of Alexandria, including local first-time or established poets of any age are encouraged to submit original poems. Poems that celebrate words and transportation are required and a broad range of ideas and subject matter are encouraged. Additional information including submission guidelines and frequently asked questions about the contest can be found on the Office of the Arts’ web site at www.alexandriava.gov/Arts, via email at poet@alexandriava.gov, or by phone at 703-746-5588.
Potomac Yard Metrorail Implementation Work Group meeting. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at City Hall, 301 KIng St. Get an overview about the proposed Metrorail station and the environmental planning process. Free. Visit alexandriava.gov/potomacyard for more.
Monday-Friday/Jan. 6-10
Park Closures. Contractors for the City of Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities will be on site to obtain soil samples at Beverley Park, 620 North Overlook Drive. Specialized vehicle-mounted equipment will perform the work. For safety reasons, the work will require that some areas of the park, including the playground be closed intermittently during the on-site work. The on-site work is weather permitting, will occur during daylight hours and is anticipated to take approximately two days.
Wednesday/Jan. 8
Public Hearing. A meeting on the new transportation management plan will be held at City Hall, 301 King St. Free. For more information about TMP SUPs and the text amendment, visit www.alexandriava.gov/6556 or email megan.cummings@alexandriava.gov.
Transportation Commission Meeting. 7-9 p.m. at City Hall, 301 King St. Visit alexandriava.gov/transportationcommission for more.
Monday/Jan. 13
Beginner Fencing Class. 7-8 p.m. at Charles Houston Rec Center, 901 Wythe St. Youth classes for children ages 10-15. $64/8-week session. Mask, foils and jackets provided. Register at www.alexandriava.gov/recreation or the night of class.
Tuesday/Jan. 14
Help the Cats Training Session. 7-8 p.m. at Kingstowne Library, 6500 Landsdowne Center. Learn how cats can be spayed and neutered for free and learn about the trap-neuter-return program. RSVP by emailing animals13@verizon.net.
Application Deadline. Applications are being accepted for the Alexandria Marketing Fund, a grant program providing seed money in the form of matching funds for new and innovative marketing programs. The program also provides grants for the expansion of ongoing or pre-existing programs. The fund is designed to increase revenues within the City by fostering public/private partnerships that promote Alexandria as a destination for visiting, shopping and dining, and doing business. To view fund guidelines and online application form, visit alexandriava.gov/MarketingFund. Contact Andrea Blackford at 703-746-3959 or andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov
Wednesday/Jan. 15
Application Deadline. The Alexandria Childhood Obesity Action Network is partnering with the Virginia Cooperative Extension to expand the Master Food Volunteer Program in Alexandria. Virginia Cooperative Extension is looking for applicants to become Master Food Volunteers. Volunteers help to lead Extension's many nutrition programs in the community. Training will be held in March, but applications are due Jan. 15. Contact Katie Strong at kstrong@vt.edu or 703-324-5369 or Jennifer Abel at jabel@vt.edu or 703-228-6417 for the brochure or information.
Senior Speaker Series. 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Hebrew Congregation, 3830 Seminary Road. “Planning for your Family’s Future” is co-sponsored by Senior Services of Alexandria and ACT for Alexandria. Free, but reservations requested. 703-836-4414 ext. 10 or www.seniorservicesalex.org for more.
Small Business Workshop. 9-11 a.m. at the Alexandria Small Business Development Center, 625 N. Washington Street, Suite 400. Patricia Frame of Strategies for Human Resources presents "Managing Your Employees: Smart Moves for Success in 2014." Registration Required. Free. Visit www.alexandriasbdc.org or call 703-778-1292.
Beginner Fencing Class. 7-8 p.m. at Charles Houston Rec Center, 901 Wythe St. for adults. Mask, foils and jackets provided. Register at www.alexandriava.gov/recreation or the night of class.
Thursday/Jan. 16
Order Deadline. The Mount Vernon Evening Lions will be selling honeybells, oranges and grapefruit. Delivery date is Jan. 25. Contact Andrea Corsillo at 703-960-4973 for information. All proceeds will be used for community and Lions projects.
Friday/Jan. 17
Family Fun Night. 6-8 p.m. at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility, 3210 King St. Enjoy water activities, playing on the racquetball courts and more. $4/resident; $8/nonresident. Contact Ralph Baird at 703-746-5435 or email ralph.baird@alexandriava.gov.
Tuesday/Jan. 21
Business Development Roundtable. Noon-1 p.m. at the Alexandria Small Business Development Center, 625 N. Washington Street, Suite 400. "Tune Up Your Branding for the New Year." No registration is required for this event. Free. Visit www.alexandriasbdc.org or call 703-778-1292.
Thursday/Jan. 30
Nonprofit Workshop Series. 9-11 a.m. at the Alexandria Small Business Development Center, 625 N. Washington Street, Suite 400. Jennifer Ayers, JL Ayers Consulting LLC, presents "Boot Camp for Changing the World: How to Start, Manage and Grow a Nonprofit Organization: NPO Basics." Join the first session of this nonprofit workshop series and learn the basics of nonprofit organizations. Registration required. Free. Visit www.alexandriasbdc.org or call 703-778-1292.
Friday/Feb. 14
Family Fun Night. 6-8 p.m. at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility, 3210 King St. Enjoy water activities, playing on the racquetball courts and more. $4/resident; $8/nonresident. Contact Ralph Baird at 703-746-5435 or email ralph.baird@alexandriava.gov.
Monday/March 3
Application Deadline. The online application for the Military Officers Association of America Educational Assistance Programs for the 2014-2015 school year is now available online at https://scholarship.moaa.org/login.aspx. Students can apply for the interest-free loans and grants, which are awarded annually for up to five years of undergraduate study (or until a student graduates).
Applicants must be graduating high school seniors or full-time college students working toward their first undergraduate degree. Students may apply online at www.moaa.org/education. The application deadline is Monday, March 3 at noon. For more information on educational assistance or making a contribution to the MOAA Scholarship Fund, visit www.moaa.org/scholarshipfund or email edassist@MOAA.org.
Friday/March 14
Family Fun Night. 6-8 p.m. at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility, 3210 King St. Enjoy water activities, playing on the racquetball courts and more. $4/resident; $8/nonresident. Contact Ralph Baird at 703-746-5435 or email ralph.baird@alexandriava.gov.
Friday/April 11
Family Fun Night. 6-8 p.m. at Chinquapin Park Recreation Center & Aquatics Facility, 3210 King St. Enjoy water activities, playing on the racquetball courts and more. $4/resident; $8/nonresident. Contact Ralph Baird at 703-746-5435 or email ralph.baird@alexandriava.gov.
Ongoing
Free Community Open Play. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 16, all ages can play soccer, lacrosse, touch football, frisbee and more at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Drive or Witter Recreational Fields, 2700 Witter Drive. Hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. No pets, smoking, alcohol or music are allowed at the fields. Use of the fields will be on a first come, first served basis. Contact Mac Slover at mac.slover@alexandriava.gov or 703-746-5402.
Be Heard at the City's monthly Public Hearings. A schedule of the meetings can be found at www.alexandriava.gov. Voice opinions, speak about something on the docket or just speak about something you are concerned about. Sign up in advance to speak through the city’ website. Anyone is welcome at any of the public hearings.
Mental Health First Aid Training Classes. Additional sessions have been added to the schedule. The course teaches risk factors, warning signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use disorders. Registration is open until filled. Limit 20 participants per class and seats fill quickly. Classes run from September through June. Visit alexandriava.gov/DCHS for class dates and registration. Attendees of the full eight-hour course will receive a three-year certification in MHFA. For more about the classes, contact Donielle Marshall at 703-746-3523 or donielle.marshall@alexandriava.gov. To learn more about MHFA, visit mentalhealthfirstaid.org.
The Groveton High School class of 1964 is looking for contact information for as many classmates as possible. The planning for the 50th reunion is underway, however only a small number of people have been contacted. Groveton graduates of ‘64 interested in attending next September’s reunion should email contact information to GHS64@verizon.net.
Preschool Registration. Register now for free ACPS preschool for eligible 4-year-old children. The program runs from 8 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Monday through June 18. Contact Citywide Early Childhood Programs Coordinator Stacey Joyner at 703-578-0293.
English as a Second Language Class. Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke St. Tuesdays and Thursdays, all levels 10 a.m.-noon, intermediate workshop 3-5 p.m. All classes free. Call the information desk, 703-746-1702, ext. 3.
The Talking Book Service at Alexandria Library will now operate Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment. Patrons may also reach the service by calling 703-746-1760 or emailing talkingbooks@alexandria.lib.va.us.
Amazon.com supporting Alexandria Libraries. The city of Alexandria can now support its local library when purchasing from Amazon.com through the Alexandria Library website. Alexandria Library introduces the “Buy It Now” feature, allowing anyone to purchase any item—not just books—through its website with a simple click of a button, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated back to the library.
Foreclosure Prevention Clinics. Noon at the Office of Housing, 421 King Street, Suite 200. The clinics will be held weekly, and will offer both group and individual counseling sessions to assist homeowners with financial difficulties. Call 202-667-7006.
Digital Magazines. Patrons of Alexandria Library will have unlimited access to read digital magazines, which can be viewed on most Internet-enabled devices inside or outside of the library. Accesible through www.rbdigital.com/alexandriava/zinio.
Eligible low income households can now use their SNAP benefits to buy local foods at the Old Town Farmers’ Market. SNAP customers are able to use their electronic benefits transfer cards to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and other eligible food products at the market. The Old Town Farmer’s Market is located on King Street between N. Royal and N. Fairfax Streets, and is open on Saturdays, year round from 7 a.m. to noon.
Opera NOVA has begun collection of previously used musical instruments. Any instruments welcomed, regardless of type. Snare drums, clarinets, and violins are just some of the instruments that could bring joy into a home or school. Any recorders donated will be sent to an orphanage in Haiti in order to build a musical presence there. Opera NOVA has tax-exempt status. Contact Miriam Miller at 703-536-7557 or mcdm1@verizon.net to arrange for delivery.
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum seeks a volunteer to translate their tour guide from English into different languages, such as Spanish, Japanese, French, German, or any other language the volunteer could offer. Contact Shadayna Taylor at taylors@gwmail.gwu.edu.
Free Medicare counseling is available for City of Alexandria residents through the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) to help individuals understand and navigate Medicare insurance programs. VICAP Medicare counselors will be available on Thursdays from 1-5 p.m. , by appointment only, at the Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services, located at 2525 Mount Vernon Ave. Speakers are also available to present information on Medicare Basic to community groups. Call 703-228-1726.
The Military Officers Association of America’s scholarship fund gives out loans and grants to children of military families. To learn more, apply or donate visit www.moaa.org/scholarshipfund.
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.
MOM's Organic Market in Del Ray, 3831 Mount Vernon Ave., is accepting holiday lights for recycling. They accept all holiday lights that are no longer wanted or working and offer recyclers a 30 percent off coupon for the purchase of new high-efficiency LED holiday lights.
VCE Master Gardener Help Desk. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Monday-Friday. Bring fresh samples of problem plants, weeds or insects to ensure accurate identification. VCE recommends carrying samples in plastic bags or other clear containers. No live insects. All clinics and Help Desk are free. 703-228-6414 or mgarlalex@gmail.com.
Five-Star Toastmasters, Club # 9623. Tuesdays, 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 Club President Charlie DeWitt at 202-997-5087 or Club_President@fivestar.freetoasthost.com.
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 Road. All Parkinson’s patients and caregivers are welcome.
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.
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 will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays, dependent upon the participant’s choice. 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.
Internet Offered for Low-income Families. Internet Essentials is an adoption program designed to help close the digital divide for low-income Americans. A household is eligible to participate if it 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; and does not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment. Comcast will sign up eligible families 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.
Volunteers Needed
The Wakefield Chorale needs a piano accompanist to rehearse with and accompany them during performances at Northern Virginia retirement communities. Rehearsals and performances are all on Tuesdays from 7:30-9:30 p.m., from mid-September thru mid-December and from mid-January through mid-June. They need an accompanist who can begin in mid-January. Contact 703-960-0440 or donnajean5536@gmail.com.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs volunteer advocates for residents in assisted living and nursing facilities throughout the area. Volunteers can work in facilities close to where
they live. Training and support is provided. Call 703-324-5861, TTY 711, or email Lisa.Callahan@fairfaxcounty.gov. Find more information at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/ltcombudsman/vol_ombud_program.htm.
The Kingstowne Senior Center in Alexandria needs volunteers to assist at the front desk on Fridays and instructors for classes in art, Spanish, and Tai Chi or QiGong/Khi Cong. Call 703-324-5406, TTY 711. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and link to Volunteer Solutions or email VolunteerSolutions@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Alexandria Archaeology seeks long-term volunteer docents to meet and greet visitors at the museum on the third floor of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St. Coverage from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and/or Fridays. In addition to meeting and greeting visitors, duties include answering phone, tracking museum security, maintaining brochure racks and hands-on activity area. Other opportunities in processing artifacts, research, education, and supporting Friends of Alexandria Archaeology are available. Visit www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or call 703-746-4719.
AARP Virginia is recruiting volunteers to help other state residents prepare and file their returns in the tax season ahead. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free face-to-face help for low- to moderate-income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60-plus. Volunteers are needed not only to prepare tax returns but also to greet people, maintain computers, manage the program or other volunteers or translate. Training is provided in December and January. For details, visit www.aarp.org/taxvolunteer.
Alexandria’s Juvenile Court Services and Seaport Foundation seek adult male mentors for the new SOHO (Space of His Own) creative mentorship program. Seaport SOHO will meet throughout the school year on Wednesday evenings, from 5:30-8 p.m., at the Alexandria Seaport Foundation, 2 Duke St. Seaport SOHO will provide boys from fragile and fragmented homes with yearlong one-to-one mentoring through engagement in carpentry, fishing and sports activities. No mentoring or carpentry experience is required; SOHO is looking for enthusiastic and innovative men to serve as mentors. Email ashley.snyder@alexandriava.gov.
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 independent in their own homes.