<lst>The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, located at 4026 Hummer Road, Annandale, will be looking at local transportation plans and funding for roads, transit, and other ways of getting around in the Fairfax area, at meetings on June 10 through 12 at locations throughout Fairfax County. Meetings include Wednesday, June 11, 6:15 p.m., at Yen Cheng Restaurant, 9992 Main St., Fairfax, and a daytime meeting in Fairfax City on Thursday, June 12; call 273-7825 for location. The meetings are open to guests, free (dinner excepted), and no registration is required. Call 703-658-9150 or visit the League's web site at www.lwv-fairfax.org for further information and other meeting locations.
The National Association of Counties named the Healthy Families Fairfax (HFF) program, a public/private collaboration among six human service agencies, two Fairfax County governmental agencies and four nonprofit organizations, including United Community Ministries, as one of the 2003 Counties Care for Kids Award winners. HFF received the award at an April 8 ceremony in Washington, D.C. HFF offers voluntary, home-based educational and support services for new and prospective parents.
A local charity in the Springfield/Burke area, ECHO, has outgrown its current facilities and so is hosting a first-time golf tournament fund-raiser on July 28 at the Springfield Golf and Country Club. ECHO is currently seeking sponsorships from the local business community. The Tournament Chair is Kathleen Bavely at 703-323-6382. The Golf Tournament is also a volunteer-run event and every dollar raised from it will go directly to the ECHO building fund.
Starbucks, United Community Ministries and Bryant Alternative School are sponsoring the Spring into Reading Community Book Drive. The book drive will run from through June 30. The purpose of the book drive is to promote literacy among our youth and encourage parents to read to their children by providing books to families who might not be able to buy them. The goal of the book drive is to collect 2,500 books that will be distributed to the children attending United Community Ministries (UCM) Bryant Early Learning (BEL) Center, parents attending Byrant Alternative School, a literacy library at the BEL Center, and a designated reading area that will be set up at the Beacon Hill Starbucks.
The Mount Vernon/Lee and the Springfield Chambers of Commerce (COC) are supporting this effort. Numerous COC businesses will have drop off boxes where community members can deposit their donated books. New and used books are being accepted for children age birth to 12.
The City of Fairfax is planning a comprehensive mosquito control program for this summer and asks citizens to remain vigilant regarding mosquito control on their own properties.
To help reduce the mosquito population and thereby reduce the risk of mosquito-spread West Nile virus, the Fairfax County Health Department will treat city storm sewers with naturally occurring bacterial larvacide that is harmless to other insects, wildlife and the environment. City workers are also being trained to recognize mosquito breeding habitats.
To help make property mosquito-proof, citizens should clean out roof gutters and down spout screens so water will not pool and check other places where water will collect. Eliminate standing water on tarps and clean out birdbaths at least once a week.
Bites can be avoided by wearing long, loose, light-colored clothing. Use insect repellent as directed by the manufacturer.
West Nile virus is spread to birds, humans and other animals through the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people bitten by infected mosquitoes do not get sick. For more information, call 703-246-2300 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/service/hd/.
The Inova Fairfax Hospital/ Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Auxiliary is celebrating the grand opening of its newest Treasure Trove consignment shop, located in Springfield. Members of the hospital's volunteer auxiliary will manage and staff the store. Initial proceeds will go toward a $3 million pledge for the Inova Heart Institute, which is scheduled to open in spring 2004. Once this pledge has been met, all proceeds will benefit Inova Fairfax Hospital/ Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children. The store is located at 6416 Springfield Plaza, Springfield, and will be open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 12-5 p.m. For more information on Treasure Trove and other volunteer opportunities, call 703-698-3447 or visit www.inova.org and click on "How can I Help?"
Mother's First Organization is a support group for women who are adjusting to motherhood and staying at home full/part time. Support meetings, field trips, lecture series, mom's night out and other events. Groups throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland. Call 703-827-5922 or contact mothersfirst.org.
The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park is seeking footage in home movies, documentaries and other film capturing moments in time of the old W&OD Railroad. The film footage will be part of the agency's ongoing study of the park's history. To share information about available footage, call the trail office at 703-729-0596; e-mail wodtrail@erols.com or write: W&OD Trail Office, 21293 Smiths Switch Road, Ashburn, VA 20147.
The 25th Anniversary Adopt-a-Flag Program calls for the display of American flags along Burke Centre Parkway each year on various holidays and other notable dates. Currently, the program consists of 50 flags to be displayed, which residents may adopt. The adoption fee is $50 for a two-year period. The adoption fee covers the cost of the flags, poles, pipe sleeves, flag storage and general upkeep. Flag adopters will receive a certificate of adoption noting the number of their particular flag. Those interested in adopting a flag should stop by the Burke Conservancy office to complete a short form and make payment. Adoption certificates will be issued by mail. For more information, contact the Burke Conservancy office at 703-978-2928.
Applicants are now being accepted for the title of Mrs. Virginia 2003. This is the official preliminary title to the Mrs. International Pageant, which will occur on May 31. The woman chosen to be Mrs. Virginia International will become an ambassador from the state of Virginia and will receive an official title, sash, and a prize package valued at more than $5,000. The competition includes interview, aerobic wear, and evening gown competitions. Married women living or working in Virginia should call 276-596-9332.
Rotary International, a world-wide service organization, annually awards World Peace Scholarships to 70 qualified candidates on a global competitive bases. The scholarships are for two-year Master’s degree level studies at one of seven Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution. Candidates selected for a scholarship will have appropriate academic preparation, including language skills and significant work experience with proven leadership abilities demonstrating a commitment to peace and conflict resolution.
As scholarship recipients may not study at a center in their own countries, two U.S. centers, the University of California, Berkeley and Duke University combined with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill are open only to scholars from overseas. The other Rotary center hosts are located in Argentina, Australia, England, France, Japan and Peru.
The application deadline for this scholarship is June 1. For more information and an application, contact Pono Prasad, Chair, World Peace Scholarships Committee District 7610, at 703-383-6911, or e-mail sankarshan_p@yahoo.com. Interested individuals may also want to consult the Rotary Web site at www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/centers/about.html for more information. A list of clubs in Virginia may be found at www.rotarycommunity.org/7610.
Burke area girl scout troops from service unit 52-07 are collecting donations to send girl scout cookies to deployed troops in the Middle East. Contributions can be made at local cookie booths at the Safeway on the corner the Lee Chapel and Old Keene Mill, Petco, Radio Shak and Hollywood Video or by contacting Susan Smith at 703-440-0458.
New Beginnings offers discussion groups and social events for recently separated or divorced men and women. For Northern Virginia activities, call 301-924-4101 or visit www.newbeginningsusa.org.
United Community Ministries (UCM) is looking for donations for the needy. Items can be given through church or community organizations or dropped off at 7511 Fordson Road between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday–Friday. UCM can schedule pickups for donations of food by churches or other organizations. Items that are most needed are spaghetti sauce, pasta, macaroni and cheese, dry cereal, beans, single-serving cereal for homeless care packages, diapers and paper and plastic grocery bags. Also needed are tuna or canned meats, canned fruit, rice, canned soup, sugar, jelly or jam, canned vegetables, peanut butter, individual juice boxes, canned fruit, individual fruit cups, individual applesauce, individual raisin boxes, individual pudding cups, saltine crackers, baby food, formula (Good Start), bath soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine care products, laundry soap, deodorant, toothbrushes and shampoo. Call Tracy Davis at 703-768-7106, ext. 328.
NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees): The only organization that serves current and retired federal workers, spouses and survivors united to preserve their economic security and well-being by supporting legislation to protect current retirement benefits; to clarify the public's perception of federal workers; and to strengthen political influence at both state and national levels. Springfield Chapter 893 meets the second Wednesday each month, except July and August, at 1 p.m., St. John's United Methodist Church, 5312 Backlick Road, Springfield.
World Heritage is seeking families, couples (with or without children) or single parents interested in hosting a high-school-age foreign exchange student. Call Judith Henderson at 703-998-0606.