THURSDAY/NOV. 6
<cal2>Residents who are new to the greater Northern Virginia area and members of the Welcome Club of Northern Virginia are invited to attend the Thursday, Nov. 6 luncheon at International Country Club, 13200 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax. The program will feature a Silent Auction and Holiday Boutique. Registration begins at 11 a.m. For reservations and additional information about the luncheon or the organization, call 703-319-9043. Deadline for reservations is noon on Oct. 31.
<cal2>Mother’s First-Chantilly/Centreville is a support group for women making the transition from careers to at-home motherhood. Join moms and tots of all ages for meetings, lectures, field trips, moms night out, etc. November meetings are Nov. 6 and Nov. 20 at the Centreville Regional Library from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org for more information.
<cal1>NOV. 8-9
<cal2>A Ski Swap by Ski Chalet of Chantilly will be held for both skiers and snowboarders on Nov. 8-9. The swaps are hosted by Ski Chalet and the National Ski Patrol divisions from five mid-Atlantic mountain resorts. A Ski Swap is a charitable event where hundreds of enthusiasts buy and sell used sporting goods for skiing and snowboarders. All equipment, clothing, and accessories in good condition will be accepted. Admission is free. A percentage of all consignment sales benefits local nonprofit volunteer Ski Patrols. The event will take place at 14130 Sullyfield Circle in Chantilly. Call 703-631-7880.
<cal1>SATURDAY/NOV. 8
<cal2>Equestrians are invited to support the bridle trails at the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's 1,000-acre Bull Run Regional Park by gathering sponsors for a Fall Ride-a-Thon on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 9 a.m. Trail enthusiasts may donate per-mile or set-amount contributions to benefit the park's hiking and equestrian trails. Checks should be written to NVRPA-Bull Run Regional Park. Ride options will vary from more than 20 miles to shorter routes. For registration and pledge forms and more information, call Al Ennis at 703-623-5504 or Dale Riggs, Assistant Park Manager, at 703-631-0550, ext. 101.
<cal2>Scrapbook Escape is hosting an all-day scrapbooking event to benefit the Susan Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research and Prevention at the Holiday Inn Fair Oaks on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to midnight. The hotel is located at 11787 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway in Fairfax. The cost of attendance is $65 per person and includes lunch, and access to the latest tools including accucut die cut machines, quikutz, and sizzix; computers with scanners, color printers and numerous fonts; and several onsite vendors as well as a goodie bag and the opportunity to win prizes. All net proceeds will go to support breast cancer research. To register, contact Anna Amselle by e-mail at escape@scrapbookescape.com or visit www.scrapbookescape.com.
<lst>Author Karen Santorum will sign her latest book, "Everyday Graces: A Child's Book of Manners," a rich and instructive anthology for parents and teachers, on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 1-2:30 p.m. at The Catholic Shop in Sully Station Shopping Center. Karen is a full-time mom and wife of U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. The address is 13939 Metrotech Drive, Chantilly. Call 703-222-0096.
<cal1>TUESDAY/NOV. 11
<cal2>New Mothers Luncheons are held every Tuesday for mothers and newborn babies to 8 months old. The group meets for lunch, speakers, discussions and fun — a different program every week. Bring a friend or come alone — it's a great way to meet other new moms and babies in the area. Meets Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Il Lupo Italian Restaurant, 4069 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax. Lunch is $20; four-lunch series is $75. Reservations required. Call Rochelle Goldberg at 703-961-9179 or email: eventbuilders@hotmail.com.
* Tuesday, Nov. 11 — Making the Transition From Work to Home, Susan DeRitis, Family and Home Network;
* Tuesday, Nov. 18 — Healthy Eating Habits/Picky Eaters (even as infants), Leigh McCarthy, MA, CCC-SLP;
* Tuesday, Nov. 25 — No lunch;
* Tuesday, Dec. 2 — Early Infant Communication, Diane Robey, MS, CCC, Children's Speech and Language Therapy Center;
* Tuesday, Dec. 9 — Physical Movement for Infants, Christina Souci, The Little Gym;
* Tuesday, Dec. 16 — Allergies — Your Questions and Answers, Food allergy and Anaphylaxis Network;
* Tuesday, Dec. 23 — No lunch;
* Tuesday, Dec. 30 — No lunch.
<cal1>WEDNESDAY/NOV. 12
<cal2>As part of the Fairfax Station Forum series of talks on topics of local historical interest, Ron Beavers, historian for the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, will be the featured speaker on the subject, "The Use of Railroads during the Civil War". Mr. Beavers will talk on the important role that railroads played supporting both sides in the Civil War. His presentation will start on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m., at the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum, 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Free, although donations are encouraged. Call 703-425-9225 or check the Web site at www.fairfax-station.org.
<cal2>The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, Fairfax Station Unit, will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Civil Liberties, taking a close look at the U.S. Patriot Act, will be the subject of the meeting. One of 15 League discussion groups, the Fairfax Station unit is comprised primarily of residents of Clifton, Fairfax Station and Burke and meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is welcome. Phone the membership chair at 703-335-9723 or the hostess at 703-492-4574 for directions.
<cal1>NOV. 14 TO JAN. 3
<cal2>Santa, angels, the universe and an enchanted forest — the Miracle of Lights — Northern Virginia's only drive-thru holiday light show will open Friday, Nov. 14 from 5:30-10:30 p.m. until Jan. 3, 2004. It features holiday theme groups, including Planet Holiday, Victorian Virginia, Noah's Ark, Santa's Woods, The Angel's Playground and The Enchanted Forest and more than two miles of lighted entertainment. Admission is $12 per carload (1-14 people), $25 per commercial van (15-34 people) and $50 per busload (35 or more). Discount coupons are available at www.miracleoflights.com. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Medical Care for Children's Partnership. At Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville. Call 703-709-KIDS (5437) or visit www.miracleoflights.com.
<cal1>NOV. 15-16
<cal2>Model Train Weekend at Fairfax Station Railroad Museum. The Washington, Virginia, Maryland Garden Gauge model railroaders and Monty and his Lego trains will be back on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 4-8 p.m. On Sunday, Nov. 16, the Northern Virginia NTRAK club will be running its N Scale model trains in the museum and caboose from 1-4 p.m. Adults $2; children 4-10 $1. Located at 11200 Fairfax Station Road. Call 703-425-9225.
<cal1>SATURDAY/NOV. 15
<cal2>The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders Inc. will be holding an open house on Saturday, Nov. 15 from noon to 4 p.m. Come and see the action on Northern Virginia's largest fixed operating "HO" scale model railroad. Featuring digital control, sound, and smoke. The club is located in the historic "Washington & Old Dominion Railroad" station, 231 Dominion Road (on the NoVa Regional Parks WO&D Trail) in downtown Vienna. Admission is free. However, donations (at the door) are accepted. Additional information and directions can be obtained by going to the Web site at www.nvmr.org‚ by e-mail at nvmrinc@hotmail.com, or by calling 703-938-5157 on the day of the open house.
<cal1>MONDAY/NOV. 17
<cal2>Centreville Toastmasters is the place to improve your communication and leadership skills. The club meets from 7-8:15 p.m. on Mondays at the Centreville Regional Library. Guests are welcome. Prepared speeches, oral evaluations and impromptu speeches (table topics) will be on the agenda. Upcoming meetings: Mondays, Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Dec. 15, Jan. 12, and Jan. 26. Call Lynn Griesmer 703-263-2468.
<cal2>The Greenbriar Woman's Club will meet Monday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m., at the Greenbriar Community Center, 4615 Stringfellow Road, Fairfax. The featured speaker is Barbara Ferris, president of Gilda's Club Greater Washington. Gilda's Club Greater Washington is currently raising $3 million to purchase, renovate, decorate and open a Clubhouse in Washington, D.C. Gilda's Club Greater Washington is one of the organizations the GWC has supported from funds raised through sales of White House ornaments.
Gilda's Clubs are named in honor of the "Saturday Night Live" comedian, Gilda Radner, who died in 1989 from ovarian cancer. Guests are always welcome at GWC meetings and events. Membership is open to all women 18 and over living in Greenbriar and the surrounding communities. Call 703-378-6009 or 703-266-7032. GWC is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (www.gfwc.org), the largest volunteer organization of women in the world.
<cal1>NOV. 18, DEC. 16
<cal2>The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area presents "More Power to You." The program, comprising sessions explaining how local government works and how it relates to state government, will take place once a month from 7 to 9 p.m. in Fairfax Government Center. The sessions will be on Nov. 18 and Dec. 16. The program costs $25. Those who complete the program will receive a certificate. Pre-registration is required; call 703-227-2231.
<cal1>FRIDAY/NOV. 21
<cal2>The MOMS Club of Centreville North will hold an all-member meeting and Thanksgiving Potluck social on Friday, Nov. 21 at 10:30 a.m. Learn about the club's activities (playgroups, social events, speakers, etc.) for mothers and their children. The meeting is at the Sully Government Center on Stonecroft Blvd. Children welcome. Call 703-830-7580 or visit the Web site at www.momsclubccva.org.
<cal1>SATURDAY/NOV. 22
<cal2>The 23rd annual St. Timothy School Craft Fair will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22 in Chantilly from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be over 150 artisans and crafters from the Northeast selling their homemade crafts, furniture and food items. Shop early for those one-of-a-kind items for that special person on your list. Don't miss this wonderful shopping opportunity. Contact Chris Gregory at 703-787-3560 or Kelly Schmank at 703-222-3823 or Karen Yee at 703-803-0460 for details, or log onto sainttimothyschool.org.
<cal2>A Holiday Extravaganza Craft Show will take place Saturday, Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, 6560 Braddock Road in Annandale. Sponsored by the Jefferson Crew Boosters and produced by Wild Iris Productions. Call 703-321-8373.
Parkinson's Disease Support Group meets monthly on the fourth Saturday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m., at Sully Senior Center, 5690 Sully Road (Route 28), Centreville. No charge. Patients and family members welcome. Call Darryl Edwards at 703-38-9213.
<cal1>NOV. 22-23
<cal2>Families are invited to join Volunteer Fairfax for the 5th Annual National Family Volunteer Day on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22-23. On this day, families across the region take part in service projects that help make Fairfax a cleaner and stronger community. This year's projects include food sorting, creating Thanksgiving holiday food baskets for families in crisis, decorating flower pots and planting flowers with senior citizens, assisting disabled citizens, and walking for the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon. Volunteering together is a great way for busy families to spend quality time together working as a team. While having fun and making a significant contribution to the community, children learn positive values and the importance of giving back. If you would like to take part in National Family Volunteer Day, contact Volunteer Fairfax at 703-246-3460 or VolsRUs@volunteerfairfax.org.
<cal1>NOV. 28-30
<cal2>The 21st annual Art and Craft Showcase presented by members of Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild will be held at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street, SE, Vienna on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 28, 29 and 30. Show hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $1. Some 75 juried Guild artisans and artists will display and sell their finest quality work in six display areas of the community center. There will be fine art, collectibles and decorative accessories, stained glass and fused art glass, jewelry, folk art, hand weaving, watercolors, fine art note cards and prints, pottery, photography, turned wood, dolls and more. Call Cele Sinnott at 703-938-8306.