ONGOING
<cal2>Drunk Driving Victim Support Group: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) sponsors groups for injured victims and for relatives and friends of those who have been killed in drunk driving crashes. The next Injured Victim Support Group meeting will be held Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. New participants are always welcome; meetings are free. Call 703-978-3025.
Northern Virginia Bookcrossing Meetup — These book lovers like to keep their books busy by reading, releasing and tracking their books' adventures with others locally, nationally and internationally. Fun book challenges, hunt for books "in the wild" and more. Share your books and be a unique group with a different angle to book loving. For more information and next monthly meetup date, visit http://bookcrossing.meetup.com/72/.
<cal2>Fairfax Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is recruiting community-minded citizens from diverse backgrounds to volunteer as advocates for children whose families have been cited for abuse and neglect by the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. The role of a CASA is to investigate a child's situation and to advocate for what is in the best interest of the child in court. All CASA Volunteers undergo training to prepare them for this role and no prior experience in child welfare is required. To learn more about this volunteer opportunity and upcoming orientation and training dates, visit www.casafairfax.org or contact CASA's development and recruitment associate at 703-273-3526 or staff@casafairfax.org.
<cal2>Red Hat Society — A chapter of the Red Hat Society is now in Centreville. Women age 50 and up wear red hats, purple outfits, kick up their heels and have fun. Meetings are the last Wednesday of the month, at 11 a.m., at the Sully Senior Center, 5690 Sully Road (inside Centreville Presbyterian Church, off Route 28 south, near the I-66 west exit).
All area seniors are welcome to join or come for a visit. Call Mary Doerman, 703-968-7889; Scotti Brennan, 703-378-5206; or Sully Senior Center Director Carma Ryan, 703-322-4475.
<cal2>The Western Fairfax County Woman's Club (formerly the Greenbriar Woman's Club) is selling 2004 White House Christmas ornaments. This year's ornament honors President Rutherford B. Hayes. Cost is $17, and all profits benefit charity. To order, call 703-378-6841 or 703-378-6216.
<cal1>THURSDAY/DEC. 9
<cal2>The George Mason University Theatre Department will present "One by One" on Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Kellar Theater at the Center for the Arts. Serving as playwright, director and actor, each artist will showcase an original short play. Scene studies will be presented at 7 p.m. at the Caton Merchant Gallery, followed at 8 p.m. by "One by One" in the Kellar Theater. Tickets are $5 at the door, and parental guidance is suggested, due to mature subject matter. The Center for the Arts is at 9419 Battle St. in Manassas. Call 703-330-ARTS for further information.
<cal1>FRIDAY-SUNDAY/DEC. 10-12
<cal2>Encore Theatrical Arts Project presents "Jolly Follies Holiday," a Christmas show with a cast of 53 people featured in splashy song-and-dance numbers, with colorful costumes in imaginative settings. An eagerly awaited holiday tradition, each year, Encore's show has a brand-new storyline and is sure to entertain the entire family.
Performances are Friday, Dec. 10, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 11, at 1, 4 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 12, at 1 and 4 p.m. at the Annandale campus of NOVA in the Ernst Community Cultural Center. Tickets are $12 for students and senior citizens and $15 for adults; call 703-222-5511.
<cal1>FRIDAY/DEC. 10
<cal2>Swing dances are held Friday nights at the Dulles Hilton in Herndon (corner of Route 28 and McLearen Road). All dances include a beginner class from 8:30-9 p.m. and then the bands play three sets between 9 p.m. and midnight. It's all for $12 per person. Visit www.gottaswing.com. Hosted by Sue and Gary Caley at www.sueandgary@gottaswing.com All dances are in the solarium at the Dulles Hilton.
* Dec. 10 — No dance.
* Dec. 17 — Daryl Davis Band. Winter Holiday dance.
<cal1>SATURDAY/DEC. 11
<cal2>The Fairfax Choral Society Youth Choruses will stage "A Child's Christmas" choral concert on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. at Fairfax United Methodist Church, 10300 Stratford Ave. in Fairfax. Featuring John Rutter's fable, "Brother Heinrich's Christmas," the youth choruses will present a variety of seasonal favorites with special appeal to the younger members of the family. Cost is $10. Visit www.tickets.com or call 703-218-6500.
<cal2>The Train Collectors Association is celebrating its 50th year with a toy and train show on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It will be held at the Kena Temple, 9001 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax. Children under 12 admitted free with adult. Scouts/military in uniform admitted free. Others are admitted for $5. Bring an unwrapped toy for a child at Shriner's Hospital. Call Dan at 703-222-2925 or Sam at 301-931-1269.
The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders Inc. will hold an open House on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 1-5 p.m. Come see the action on Northern Virginia's largest, fixed-operating "HO" scale model railroad. It features digital control, sound and smoke. Also, visit the W&OD railroad's real caboose. The club is in the historic Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Station, 231 Dominion Road, in downtown Vienna. Admission is free, but cash or check donations are gratefully accepted at the door. Obtain additional information and directions 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/DEC. 13
<cal2>New Mothers Luncheons are held every Monday 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. It meets Mondays from 11:45 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 are required. Call Rochelle Goldberg at 703-273-5593 or e-mail eventbuilders@hotmail.com.
* Monday, Dec. 13 — "Making the transition from work to home," Jill Peterson, owner of Simplify! Organizing;
* Monday, Dec. 20 — No lunch. Happy Holidays.
* Monday, Dec. 27 — No lunch. Happy Holidays.
* Monday, Jan. 3, 2005 — No lunch. Happy New Year's.
* Monday, Jan. 10 — "Staying fit — stroller strides with baby;" Jennifer Lungren, Stroller Strides;
* Monday, Jan. 17 — "Kindermusik;" Pam Phillips, Kindermusik of Fairfax;
* Monday, Jan. 24 — "Pediatrics 101 – What do I do if…?" Dr. Faith Frankel, Children’s Medical Associates.
<cal1>TUESDAY/DEC. 14
<cal2>Gretchen Laskas, author "The Midwives Tale," will be the guest speaker at the Novel Society Book Discussion Group at the Centreville Regional Library, on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. The library is at 14200 St. Germain Drive, Centreville. This event is free. Sign up at 703-830-2223.
<cal1>THURSDAY/DEC. 16
<cal2>Mothers First – Chantilly/Centreville is dedicated to supporting women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms night out, and lectures. This month's meeting is Thursday, Dec. 16, from 10:15-11:30 a.m. at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Dr. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
<cal1>Sunday/Dec. 26
<cal2>The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and the Fairfax Audubon Society invite local birders and nature enthusiasts to participate in a wintertime tradition of citizen science that dates back to Christmas Day, 1900! Join local volunteers in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count at Manassas-Bull Run Regional Park on the morning of Sunday, Dec. 26. Novice birdwatchers of all ages will be paired up with experts to identify and count birds within a designated area. For more information and to sign up for this wintertime tradition, RSVP by Dec. 15 to Whitney Butler, manager of Stewardship & Adventures in Conservation at the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust: 703-354-5093 or wbutler@nvct.org.
<cal1>SUNDAY/JAN. 9
<cal2>A panel of experts on American politics, religion, the news media, and conflict resolution will discuss Morality and Power: The Elections of 2004 and America's "Culture Wars." This free event takes place on Sunday, Jan. 9 at 1:30 p.m. at the Pohick Regional Library in Burke. Call 703-644-7333 to reserve a seat. This event is co-sponsored by The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area Education Fund, and Fairfax County Public Library.
Are people in the United States seriously divided by cultural and moral differences? How do these divisions impact U.S. foreign and domestic policies? What can be done about them? The panel will discuss how conflicts over moral issues in the United States influenced the elections of 2004 and the implications of this struggle for America's future. The discussion will be moderated by Prof. Rich Rubenstein of the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University.
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization that promotes an active and informed participation in state, local and national government. All persons of voting age, male and female are encouraged to become members of the League and participate in its activities. For further information call 703-658-9150. The League reminds all citizens to become informed about candidates and issues, register and vote.