Send announcements to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@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.
Assistance League of Northern Virginia will hold a multi-town membership meeting Monday, Feb. 28, from 10:15 a.m.-noon, at the Chantilly branch of the Fairfax County Public Library, 4000 Stringfellow Road in Chantilly. Members will review plans for the annual benefit, "Great Escapes," to be held on Sunday, April 10, at Dante's Ristorante in Great Falls.
Assistance League of Northern Virginia is a chapter of National Assistance League, a nonprofit, nonsectarian, volunteer service organization that promotes volunteerism through leadership training and education in 25 states. For more information on membership, contact Debbie Kiessling, membership chairman, at 703-758-1085. The National Assistance League Web site is http://www.assistanceleague.org/.
Mothers First-Leesburg 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. March's meetings are March 1 and 15, from 10-11:15 a.m., at the Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Mothers First-Sterling 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. March's meetings are March 1 and 15, from 10:30 a.m.-noon, at the Eastern Loudoun Regional Library, 21030 Whitfield Place. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Mothers First-Ashburn 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. March's meetings are March 8 and 22, from 10:15-11:45 a.m. at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
La Leche League meetings emphasize the joys of breastfeeding while informing and encouraging mothers who wish to nurse their babies. Meeting discussions include the latest medical research as well as mothers' personal experiences. LLL of Sterling meets on the third Friday of each month at 10:15 a.m. Mothers with their nursing babies and mothers-to-be are welcome. Call Elizabeth 703-689-0811, Christine 703-404-0121, or Meg 703-467-8341.
Equality Loudoun, community and advocacy for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people and allies. Social events, issues advocacy, outreach and education to build a Loudoun community with respect for all. Write to Equality Loudoun, P.O. Box 251, Leesburg, VA 21078. , call 703-431-0882. or visit www.equalityloudoun.org.
Alzheimer Caregivers Support Group meetings are held at 7 p.m., the second Monday of each month, at Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Road, Sterling.
Loudoun Photography Club meets on first and third Tuesdays of each month, September through May. First Tuesday meetings are speakers. Third Tuesday meetings are competitions. Visitors are always welcome at meetings and club events. Visit the Web site www.loudounphoto.com, e-mail loudounphotoclub@cox.net, or call 703-725-2931.
Birthday Blessing Inc. A nonprofit organization created to deliver gifts to needy children who might not receive a gift on their birthday. Birthday Blessing finds these children through social services, homeless shelters, youth shelters and prison ministries. The organization is looking for sponsors, new toys for children 3-16 years old, new books, wrapping paper, birthday cards and shipping boxes. Monetary donations can be made to sponsor children or can be made in the honor of a friend or relative. Call Sharon Hough at 703-481-8180, or visit www.BirthdayBlessing.org.
Bond Between Us is a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering a support group to birth parents and their significant others. Call 703-771-7844.
Dance Lovers Singles Club. Monthly at Dance with Me Dance Studio, 22360-D 101 Sterling Blvd., Sterling. Workshops and "mix-em up" dancing. Cost is $5 per person. After orientation, dances cost $10 per person. Call 703-444-3061. Visit www.dancewithme.net.
Sterling/Reston DRADA (Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association) Support Group meets first and third Tuesdays of each month, 7-9 p.m., in Reston. Call Ginny at 703-966-2510.
Eastern Loudoun Civil War Roundtable. Group meets at the Sterling Annex in Sterling the third Tuesday of every month, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Nonmembers are welcome. Call Steve Meserve at 703-404-0542 or Rebecca Fitzgerald at 703-430-4367.
Junior Woman's Club of Loudoun. New members and new ideas welcome. Members are ages 18 and up. The group meets the third Tuesday of the month, at 7:30 p.m., at 215 Depot Court (across from Tuscarora Mill Restaurant), in Leesburg. Call 703-609-6500.
Ketoctin Chapter of the DAR. Serves Loudoun County, meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 11:30 a.m., except July and August. Members can trace lineage to a Revolutionary War soldier or patriot. The objective of the group is to promote patriotism, education and historic preservation. Call Gail Adams at 703-443-2787.
King Street Studios. Studios are located in the Art Center at 222 S. King St. in Leesburg has available studio space. The King Street Studio artist association is a group of artists working in oils, pastels, watercolor, jewelry. Contact Ann Noel at 703-444-5900 or the Loudoun Academy of the Arts 703-777-8043.
Knitting and Crochet Group. For women who are 55 years of age and older. Meet at the Loudoun County Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace each Friday at 10 a.m. to make afghans, lap robes, baby hats and sweaters. The group has donated more than 300 items to the Loudoun County Homeless Shelter, the Northern Virginia Ronald McDonald House, the Loudoun Hospital Center and the Long Term Care Unit at Loudoun Hospital. The yarn is donated to the Senior Center from individuals in the community and from the Good Shepherd Alliance Inc. The group accepts donations of yarn and needles and donations to purchase yarn. Drop donations at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Call Kim at 703-430-2397.
The Loudoun County Crime Solvers (LCCS) Committee is seeking new members from the community. The mission of Loudoun County Crime Solvers is to promote community participation by assisting local law-enforcement agencies in the apprehension and convictions of criminals through a system of cash rewards. LCCS allows those with knowledge of a crime who want to remain anonymous to call a dedicated local phone number, 703-777-1919. Contact the Public Information Office for the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office at 703-771-5278.
Learning Disabilities. LDSocial Sisters meets at the Eastern Loudoun Regional Library in Cascades, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling. The group welcomes young women, ages 17 to 30, who share a common bond in learning differences. Gatherings are primarily for social events, with future volunteer activities. E-mail LDSocialSisters@aol.com.
Leesburg Civil Air Patrol. Group holds meetings at the National Guard Armory in Leesburg, the first and third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. The Civil Air Patrol is a nonprofit organization performing inland search and rescue missions in the continental United States. Visit www.capnhq.gov.
Photographers looking for darkroom facilities are encouraged to contact The Loudoun Academy of the Arts in Leesburg. The academy now offers darkroom rental space on Thursday evenings from 6 to 10 p.m. Space is limited and reservations are required. The cost is $25 for two hours, $35 for three hours, $40 for four hours, and includes use of an enlarger, paper, chemicals, trays, and water. A professional lab assistant will monitor the darkroom sessions, mix chemicals and answer questions. Darkroom experience is required, and participants must be at least 15 years old. Chemicals for film processing are currently not available, but developing tanks are available for photographers who bring their own chemicals, paper, and blotting book. Contact the Loudoun Academy of the Arts at 703-777-8043.Ê
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The Loudoun County Chapter of CHADD. Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Meetings are held in the lower level conference room of the Town of Leesburg Town Hall at 25 Market St.
The Loudoun Family Child Care Coalition. LFCCC meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The LFCCC's goal is to provide support for child-care providers by raising awareness of the experience of quality home-based family child care through advocacy, training and education. In cooperation with Child Nutrition Inc. and Loudoun County Social Services, LFCCC covers the Leesburg, Sterling, Ashburn and neighboring communities. Call 703-715-6656.
Loudoun Photography Forum. Photographers and enthusiasts are invited to attend the Loudoun Photography Forum's monthly event held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. Contact Tonya at 703-726-3853.
Mom and Tot Playgroup. Meets on Mondays, from 10 a.m.-noon, at Sterling Annex, 1115 W. Church Road, Sterling. Spend a morning with children and other moms. Space and toys provided. Ages infant-24 months. Cost is $2 per session. Call 703-430-6673.
Mothers and the Law, a support/focus group for women with an interest in promoting justice for mothers and children of separation and divorce, meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, at 7 p.m., in the library of McLean Baptist Church, 1367 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Share experiences as litigants in the courts of Virginia. Call 703-421-6203 or 703-748-0072.
Mothers First-Leesburg is dedicated to supporting women that have chosen to alter their careers to raise children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms night out and lectures. February's meetings are Feb. 1 and 5, from 10-11:15 a.m., at the Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Mothers First-Sterling is dedicated to supporting women that 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. February's meetings are Feb. 1 and 15, from 10:30 a.m.-noon, at the Eastern Loudoun Regional Library, 21030 Whitfield Place. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Mothers First-Ashburn is dedicated to supporting women that 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. February's meetings are Feb. 8 and 22, from 10:15-11:45 a.m., at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Adoption Support. Bond Between Us Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a monthly support group free of charge. Group addresses issues birth parents and their families face, not only at the time of placement but throughout the life span. Call 703-771-7844.
American Legion. The Ashburn American Legion Post meets every second Thursday of the month at Wingler House located on Gloucester Boulevard in Ashburn Village. All veterans of past periods of hostilities are welcome to attend these meetings and participate in the Post activities. Call 703-858-0066.
Beginners Line Dancing. 12:30-1:15 p.m. every Friday. Free. Loudoun County Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling.
Mothers & More of the Dulles Area, a national support network for mothers who have altered their career paths to care for their children at home, has a monthly meeting from 7-9 p.m., every second Wednesday at the Eastern Regional Loudoun Library. Visitors are welcome. Call 571-437-7916 or visit www.mothersandmore.org and www.dullesmoms.org.
MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) at Capital Community Church is now taking registration for the 2004-05 MOPS year. MOPS' goal is to provide resources and relationships to support mothers of preschoolers. The group meets the second and fourth Friday of each month from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Capital Community Church located at 20430 Ashburn Village Blvd., Ashburn. Child care is provided. Call 703-723-9290.
Bible Study Groups. Every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., and the first and third Wednesday, at 10 a.m., Loudoun County Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling.
Moms In Touch International. A group of mothers who gather to pray for students, teachers and schools. To obtain a listing of MITI nearby groups praying for schools visit the ministry's Web site at www.MomsInTouch.org. The Web site also offers instructional materials, as well as videos and leadership resources to help mothers start MITI groups for schools that don't already have one. Contact the ministry at 1-800-949-MOMS or info@MomsInTouch.org or in Virginia call 1-757-482-5882 or miti4va@erols.com.
Ruritan Club. The Ashburn Ruritan Club is a community-service organization which holds monthly meetings and seeks concerned citizens in the Ashburn area. Newcomers are always welcome. Call 703-729-2962.
Sterling Chapter of the DAR. New membership welcome. Call 703-620-2279 or e-mail tward@mmiconnect.com.
Sterling Silvers. Every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. Weekly meetings include lunch, short business meetings and program. Participants can bring a lunch or sign up for CAFE lunch. Cost for CAFE lunch is $3.75 and reservations are required. See Olga for more information on Sterling Silvers and Beth for CAFE lunch. Loudoun County Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling.
Sterling Singles. A metro-area social club for singles over 21 welcomes prospective members to their monthly mixers held every third Wednesday at Sylvana's Restaurant in Herndon. Happy hour is at 6:30 p.m.; dinner orders at 7 p.m. Call 703-444-5534, e-mail sterlingsingles@sterlingsingles.org or visit www.sterlingsingles.org.
Stress Management. The Community Resilience Project of Loudoun County offers a Stress Management Skill Practice Group at the Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road, Leesburg. Group meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month. Free. Call June Eddinger at 703-737-8524.
SELF (Supporting Eastern Loudoun Families), a coalition dedicated to keeping our community safe and drug free, meets 7:30-9 p.m. the fourth Monday of the month at Eastern Loudoun Branch Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling.Ê Eastern Loudoun residents welcome. Call 703-771-6428.
Save Scenic Loudoun has set up an online resource center to share information on under grounding power lines. The resource center includes letters, articles and links to related Web sites and provides information on what other communities are doing to get power lines underground.
This site will be updated continuously. Visit www.SaveScenicLoudoun.com.