Send announcements to The Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to herndon@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost. For additional calendar listings, visit our Web site at www.connectionnewspapers.com.
<cal1>Thursday/Dec. 30
<cal2>Practice Your English. Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 7 p.m. Beginner-level conversation group for people learning English. For adults.
<cal1>Sunday/Jan. 2
<cal2>Country-Western Dance. From 6:30-9:30 p.m., at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. Participants dance to recorded music and enjoy light refreshment. Admission is $5 per person. Call 703-476-4500 or visit the Web site at http://www.restoncommunitycenter.com. The Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, is located in the Hunters Woods Shopping Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road.
<cal1>Tuesday/Jan. 4
<cal2>Kittens and Mittens. Stories and activities at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 10:30 a.m. For ages 2-3 with an adult. Call 703-689-2700.
<cal1>Wednesday/Jan. 5
<cal2>Mother's First Meeting. Mothers First-Herndon/Reston meets, from 10 a.m.-noon, at the Herndon Fortnightly Library, 768 Center St., Herndon. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
<cal1>Thursday/Jan. 6
<cal2>Circle Time. Interactive story time for child and adult. For ages 13-17 months with adult. Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 10:30 a.m. Call 703-689-2700.
<cal1>Friday/Jan. 7
<cal2>Reston VIP. Support group for people with vision loss. Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 2 p.m. For adults. Call 703-689-2700.
<cal1>Saturday/Jan. 8
<cal2>Kaydee Puppets: Teddy Bear Time. For all ages. Reston regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 10:30 a.m. Call 703-689-2700.
Contra Dance. Called by Eva Murray to music by the June Apple Band, 8-10:45 p.m., at the Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.
New dancers' workshop. 7:15 p.m. Admission $7, includes workshop. Goodies for the break welcome. Call 703-709-9121; directions, call Reston Community Center 703-476-4500.
<cal1>Monday/Jan. 10
<cal2>Special Education Workshop. Learn how to go through the right channels and use the correct language to get services for children with special needs. Federal, state and county laws as well as 504 and IEP guidelines will be addressed. Presented by Beth Orloff, M.Ed. Educational Resources Services, 12801 Worldgate Drive, fifth floor conference room, Herndon, 7:30-9:00 p.m. RSVP by calling Ann Dolin at 703-264-7400 or e-mailing to ann@educational-connections.com by Thursday, Jan. 6. Cost is $20.
Homework Busters: Fabulous Fiction. Get ideas for book reports. Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 4:15 p.m. For ages 8 and up. Call 703-689-2700.
Club Meeting. The Herndon Woman's club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Herndon Elementary School Library, 630 Dranesville Road. Call 703-430-6404.
<cal1>Tuesday/Jan. 11
<cal2>Alphababies. Stories and activities at Reston regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 10:30 a.m. For ages 18-23 months with an adult. Call 703-689-2700.
<cal1>Wednesday/Jan. 12
<cal2>Winter Wonderland. Stories and activities, Herndon Fortnightly, 768 Center St., 10:30 a.m. For ages 2-3 with an adult. Call 703-437-8855 to register.
Book Discussion. At Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 10:30 a.m., call for month’s selection. For adults. 703-689-2700.
Mother's First Meeting. Mothers First-Herndon/Reston meets, from 10 a.m.-noon, at the Herndon Fortnightly Library, 768 Center St., Herndon. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
MOMS Meeting. The MOMS Club of Reston meets at 10 a.m. Children welcome at all activities. The Reston chapter is open to residents of ZIP codes 20190, 20191 and 20194. For more information, including meeting location, call 1-800-520-0801, Ext. 1524, or e-mail MomsClubofReston@onebox.com.
<cal1>Thursday/Jan. 13
<cal2>Super Science! Stories about science at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 2 p.m. For ages 4-6 with adult. Call 703-689-2700.
Friends’ Book Discussion. At Reston regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 7:30 p.m. Call for month’s selection. For adults. 703-689-2700.
Symphony Performance. Evening of Harp and Percussion
with National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellows, Kyle Brightwell, Matt McKay, Grace Browning and Sara Franke, 6 p.m., Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Admission is free.
<cal1>Saturday/Jan. 15
<cal2>Radical Reptiles. Presentation by Town of Herndon naturalist Susan Lily, at Herndon Fortnightly, 768 Center St., 10:30 a.m. For ages 6-12. Call 703-437-8855 to register.
Magician Joe Romano. At Reston regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 11 a.m. Book: The Magic is Real. For ages 6 and up. Call 703-689-2700.
Lyrics Lounge. A showcase for the creativity of local high-school students. Budding poets can share their art and display their hip-hop battle skills. Poets can do solo readings or compete in freestyle battles and slams. The best rapper will be crowned king or queen and will return to defend their title. From 7-11 p.m., at the JoAnn Rose Gallery, in the RCC Lake Anne, located in the Lake Anne Village Center near the intersection of Village Road and North Shore Drive. Call Shauna Cole, Reston Community Center teen program director, at 703-390-6158.
MLK Celebration. Bring canned food and clean winter coats, gloves and hats to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at South Lakes High School. Includes events and activities designed to evoke the spirit of King. Free event. South Lakes High School is located at 11400 South Lakes Drive in Reston. Contact Haywood R. Hopson, special events director, at
703-390-6161 or go to the Web site, www.kingday.org.
Railroaders Open House. The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders Inc. will be holding an open house, from 1-5 p.m. The club is located in the historic "Washington & Old Dominion Railroad" station, 231 Dominion Road, on the Northern Virginia Regional Parks W&OD Trail, in downtown Vienna. Free admission. However, cash or check donations are gratefully accepted at the door. Visit www.nvmr.org, e-mail nvmrinc@hotmail.com, or call 703-938-5157 on the day of the open house.
<cal1>Tuesday/Jan. 18
<cal2>Circle Time. Interactive story time for child and adult. For ages 13-17 months with adult. Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 10:30 a.m. Call 703-689-2700.
<cal1>Wednesday/Jan. 19
<cal2>Have a Mice Day! Stories and activities for the whole family at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 7:15 p.m. For all ages. Call 703-689-2700.
<cal1>Friday/Jan. 21
<cal2>Winter Wonderland. Stories and activities at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 10:30 a.m. For ages 2-3 with adult. Call 703-689-2700.
<cal1>Sunday/Jan. 23
<cal2>ARC Ball. The Arc of Northern Virginia will be holding the "Stars & Stripes Inaugural Ball," from 6-9 p.m., on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University, at The Bistro located in the lower level of the Johnson Student Center. It is going to be a party, a black tie optional event. Tickets are $25 a person, and $5 for The Arc members. Call 703-532-3214 for tickets and sponsorship opportunities.
<cal1>Tuesday/Jan. 25
<cal2>Cozy Time. Stories and activities at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 10:30 a.m. for ages 2-3 with adult. Call 703-689-2700.
Mothers First Meeting. The Mothers First January lecture, 7:30 p.m., at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive Reston, will feature Donna Pence, a nurse practitioner at Kaiser Permanente with more than 30 years of experience in pediatrics, who will answer questions and concerns about behavioral issues and discipline. RSVP at lecture-rsvp@mothersfirst.org or 703-827-5922.
<cal1>Wednesday/Jan. 26
<cal2>Alphababies. Stories and activities at Reston regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 10:30 a.m. For ages 18-23 months with an adult. Call 703-689-2700.
<cal1>Saturday/Jan. 29
<cal2>Ssuuna! Music, dance and storytelling from Uganda, with audience participation, Herndon Fortnightly, 768 Center St., 2 p.m. For all ages. Call 703-437-8855 to register.
Chasing Away the Winter Blahs! Inova specialists give strategies on coping with winter blues at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 10 a.m. For adults. Call Inova to register, 703-204-3366.
<cal1>Sunday/Jan. 30
<cal2>Film Series. The Independent and International Film Series at CenterStage at the Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, presents "Gaza Strip." Free, tickets required and must be picked up at the customer service desk or CenterStage box office. Limit four per person. For ages 18 and older.
<cal1>Monday/Jan. 31
<cal2>Busia Bear’s Book Buddies. Bring favorite story to book club at Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, 4:15 p.m. For ages 5 and up.