To have community events listed in The Arlington Connection, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Photos, especially color, are encouraged. This free community listing is reserved to events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Marguerite Rogers at 703-917-6407 with questions.
The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) announced that it has permanently protected the historic Shreve House and the surrounding grounds adjoining Cherrydale Park in Arlington. By placing their property under a Preservation, Conservation and Open Space Easement with NVCT, the current owners of the Shreve House, Joseph and Pamela Bianculli, restricted their rights Ñ and the right of any future owners Ñ to make changes to the historic home, to subdivide the property, to develop the land or to remove the mature trees on the site. The property borders Cherrydale Park and is clearly visible from the trail in the Park. The Shreve House was constructed in 1889 and played a key role in the establishment of Cherrydale, one of Arlington's first communities centered on a stop on the Great Falls and Old Dominion Railway.
The Arlington County Red Cross Board of Directors announced today that Sens. Elizabeth and Robert Dole have graciously agreed to be honorary chairpersons of the first ever signature Gala to honor WW II veterans and Red Cross workers of Arlington on April 8. Board members Ken Swain, senior VP of Mercantile Potomac Bank, and Janie Guthrie of Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority are co-chairs of the event. The Arlington County Chapter of the American Red Cross has selected this focus for the Gala because the development of Arlington County and its Red Cross are so closely linked with the growth of Arlington during WW II, and because many of the longtime patrons and supporters of the Chapter are veterans of the war years. Tickets (at $50 and $200 VIP) go on sale Feb. 14.
The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and the Arlington Forest Citizens Association will be hosting an invasive species removal from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Feb. 19, at Lubber Run Park in Arlington. Meet at 10 a.m. at the parking lot for the Lubber Run Amphitheatre. Garden tools such as clippers are recommended (dull screwdrivers also work really well to pry the vines off tree trunks). Remember to dress appropriately for the weather. NVCT will provide hot Starbucks coffee and pastries from Cenan's in Vienna to keep workers fueled through the morning. Contact Whitney Butler to register, e-mail wbutler@nvct.org or call 703-354-5093.
The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington presents its Black History Month Program, "Crowns for the Queens" on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m. ,at the Arlington Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington. A drama presentation that demonstrates a historical perspective from slavery to the 21st century through music, speech and dress/hats for the era. Call Dr. Drue Shropshire Guy at 703-820-7998.
The Arlington Community Foundation Scholarship Program will be awarding $150,000 to 90 students in May 2005. Scholarships range from $500 to $5,000, and more than half of the awards are renewable. Scholarships are available to Arlington high-school seniors, previous Foundation scholarship recipients, and other post-high-school students. Scholarship application deadline is Friday, March 4. One application form makes a student eligible for all applicable scholarships. For financial-need-based scholarships, Feb. 1 is the recommended deadline for submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This can be filed online at www.FAFSA.ed.gov, or by completing and mailing the application, available from high-school counselors or the Arlington Central Library College and Career Section. Eight new scholarship funds have been established for 2005. See www.arlcf.org, e-mail jhadden@arlcf.org, or call 703-243-4785.
Cargill, a private Arlington international food, agricultural and risk management provider, announced Jan. 10, a two-year, $1 million grant to The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, to support conservation and sustainable agriculture initiatives in three Conservancy sites. Sites will include ChinaÕs Yunnan province, BrazilÕs Amazon region, and along the Mississippi River in the United States. The grant will help the Conservancy protect world ecosystems, promote environmental awareness, and build sustainable agriculture and economic development practices.
Virginia21, the commonwealthÕs advocate for young voters, has launched a new Web site, www.Virginia21.org, which will feature advocacy tools. Includes online polls, a Òweblog,Ó discussion boards, legislation tracking, issue briefs, fact sheets and policy papers.
Arlington CountyÕs Excess Computer Donation Program has donated 160 recycled computers to nine nonprofit Arlington agencies since 2002. The program is part of an e-Government initiative introduced by Board chairman Jay Fisette in his 2001 chairmanship. Visit www. arlingtonva.us to learn how to donate a computer.
The 45 Safeway stores throughout Northern Virginia will be accepting donations for the tsunami relief effort. Customers can tell the cashier to add the donation amount to the grocery bill. The funds will be forwarded to the Red Cross and UNICEF. In addition to the in store fund-raising, the Safeway Foundation will make a cash contribution to relief agencies and will match the contributions of Safeway employees.
Honor friends, relatives and spouse by giving a gift in their name to support one of the community funds. The Arlington Community Foundation will send gift recipients a special gift card notifying them of the gift and where the support has been directed. Call 703-243-4785. The gift form is on the foundation Web site, www.arlcf.org. Fill it out and fax it in to 703-243-4796 or mail it to the Arlington Community Foundation, 2525 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201.
Individuals and organizations wishing to donate to tsunami relief efforts can visit the Arlington Community Foundation Web site at http://www.arlcf.org. The home page offers a link to a list of agencies identified by the Council on Foundations. Additionally, those wishing to donate through the foundation may do so; the foundation will process checks and forward money to the agencies identified by donors. This administrative handling is free of charge. To learn more about making supporting tsunami relief efforts through the foundation, call 703-243-4785.
DMV Select services are now offered at Arlington Government offices located in Suite 218 at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. at Courthouse Plaza. Located on the Metro's Orange Line (Courthouse station), the office is open from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services include: Titles, original Ñ with or without liens, substitute, replacement, title maintenance Ñ change information on title records; registrations, originals, renewals, transfers, re-issues and surrender of plates; special and personalized license plate orders; trip permits, overload permits; handicapped parking placards; voter registration applications; transcripts, vehicle, driver; name and address changes that do not involve issuance of a driver's license or identification card; dealer title and registration transactions; returned checks, full or partial payment.
On Wednesday, Feb. 2, Jewish activists throughout Northern Virginia will head to Richmond for their annual statewide lobbying day. The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington is organizing Northern Virginia participation in conjunction with several local, state and national Jewish entities. Gov. Warner will provide a keynote address and several other statewide officials will offer remarks. For more information contact Debra Linick, 703-893-4007, dlinick@jcouncil.org.