<i>Send announcements to The Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to reston@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Jean Card at 703-917-6437, with questions. 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.</i>
<b>Thursday/May 5</b>
Leadership Recruiting. Leadership Fairfax Inc. is a nonprofit community leadership organization that identifies current and emerging leaders and brings them together to study community issues and effect positive change. Visit the Web site at www.leadershipfairfax.org or call 703-752-7555. Individuals interested in the LFI program are encouraged to attend one of the informational sessions for the class of 2006 at 5:30 p.m.
Movie Screening. Shot in Loudoun and Clarke counties, the heart of the Mosby Heritage Area, Crazy Like A Fox tells a story, with wit and humor, about how one eccentric Virginia farmer, Nat Banks, inspires a communitywide rebellion as he fights to save his ancestral home. The Mosby Heritage Area Association will host this exclusive screening of Richard Squires’ film Crazy Like A Fox, at 7:30 p.m., at the Tally Ho Theatre in historic downtown Leesburg. Advance tickets are available from the MHAA for $10 or they can be obtained for $15 at the door. For further information or to reserve seats at the advance price, call the Mosby Heritage Area Association at 540-687-6681 or e-mail them at info@mosbyheritagearea.org.
Big Trucks. The Herndon Department of Public Works will be hosting its annual “Big Truck Days” throughout the week of May 2-6. This is a fun opportunity for children and parents to see the town’s big trucks and heavy equipment on display at the Herndon Public Works Complex. There will be refreshments and children will receive free souvenirs. Visits to “Big Truck Days” are available by appointment. To arrange a visit, call 703-435-6860.
Photography Lecture. On the first Wednesday of each month — September through June — the Vienna Photographic Society will have a guest lecturer address members, guests and the public, on a variety of interesting photographic subjects. At 7:30 p.m. Anne Owen, an accomplished underwater photographer, discuss underwater photography and display a collection of slides from recent trips to Indonesia and Alaska will speak. Anyone interested in photography is encouraged to attend this event. Free. Lecture Hall, Thoreau Middle School, 2505 Cedar Lane, Vienna.
Space Day. Spend the day at Udvar-Hazy Space Center with extended hours and free parking all day. Extended hours are from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Admission is free. What is it like to live in space? How do the Mars Rovers work? How can I become an astronaut? Find the answers at Space Day. Visit http://www.nasm.si.edu.
<b>Friday/May 6</b>
Play/Musical. The Herndon High School Cappies Show 2005, Les Miserables, will be performed, at 7:30 p.m., in the Herndon High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10/adults and $8/students or seniors. Tickets are available at the door, for that day's performance only.
Big Trucks. The Herndon Department of Public Works will be hosting its annual “Big Truck Days” throughout the week of May 2-6. This is a fun opportunity for children and parents to see the town’s big trucks and heavy equipment on display at the Herndon Public Works Complex. There will be refreshments and children will receive free souvenirs. Visits to “Big Truck Days” are available by appointment. To arrange a visit, call 703-435-6860.
Play. Reston Community Players presents “Two Gentlemen of Verona” by William Shakespeare, directed by Adam Konowe. Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. At the Reston Community Center Stage, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Call 703-476-4500 or visit www.restonplayers.org. Greyhound Rescue Inc. at www.greyrescue.org and Greyhound Pets of America-Northern Virginia Chapter at www.gpa-nova.org. are partnering with the Players to provide four different greyhounds for the play. Jerry, Hampton, Riley and Bailey will be taking turns gracing the stage as CRAB, the dog.
Community Forum. At 7:30 p.m., in Rooms 1-4 of the Hunters Woods Reston Community Center site, the Republican Club of Greater Reston will host a non-partisan community forum to discuss whether higher density development in the Reston area will change the character of Reston. There will be three panels — Rail to Dulles; Lake Anne Center Revitalization; and the proposed higher density development on Sunset Hills Road near Hunter Mill Road. It is hoped that the audience will engage in a strong question and answer discussion period following the panel presentations. All interested persons are invited to attend. For information or to RSVP, call Mary Buff at 703-904-0428.
Ballroom and Swing Dance. Enjoy ballroom and swing dancing at Reston Community Center's Social Dance, from 8 p.m.-midnight, at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. Admission is $5 per person at the door. This dance is for adults, age 18 and older. Contact the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500, 703-476-1514 (TTY)R or visit the Web site at http://www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
<b>Saturday/May 7</b>
Opening Reception. Galerie Europa presents a College Art Show from 7-10 p.m. Displaying the work of local art students. Call 703-787-9050.
Pet Fiesta. Reston Town Center, GoodDogz.org and Reston Dogs, Inc. present the 5th Annual Pet Fiesta at Reston Town Center Pavilion and Market Street. Tails on Trails 4K Dog Walk at 10 a.m. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. activities include Super Pet Adoption, Paws-itively Fun Pet Contests and more. On-leash pets of all kinds are welcome. Visit www.petfiesta.org.
Walk/Fund-raiser. The 4th annual Walk F.A.R for NAAR Autism Walk will take place at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, Md. Last year Walk F.A.R for NAAR events held throughout the country help NAAR award more than $5 million in grants funding autism research projects. Autism is estimated to affect more than 500,000 people in the United States alone and occurs in as many as one in every 250 children, making it the third most common developmental disability. There is currently no cure for autism and little definitive research about the disorder, which underscores the importance of collaborative efforts to understand autism. Visit us at www.autismwalk.org/wdc.
Native Plants. The Friends of Riverbend Park will sponsor their Fifth Annual Native Plant sale, joining in the festivities of Great Falls Day, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Held at Great Falls Grange in the picnic area located at 9818 Georgetown Pike in Great Falls, the sale will feature plants native to the Potomac River Gorge. Featured items are sized to carry and include shrubs, small trees and plants.
Benefit. This Mother’s Day weekend, The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery in Reston, will host “A Celebration of Women” to benefit My Sister’s Place, a nonprofit group providing services to victims of domestic violence in the Washington, D.C., area. The afternoon for sisters, mothers and girlfriends will take place, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Austin-Weston, located at 1825 Samuel Morse Drive, Reston. Proceeds for My Sister’s Place will be raised through “The Power to Give,” a charity gift boutique. Representatives from My Sister’s Place will be in attendance at the event to provide educational information. Visit www.austin-weston.com or call 703-893-6168.
Farm Festival/Plant Sale. The Alice Ferguson Foundation once again opens the Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Center to the general public for its Free Annual Spring Farm Festival and Plant Sale, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. All are invited to come celebrate the arrival of spring at the 350-acre farm in Accokeek, Md., just eight miles from the 495/Beltway. The facility is located along the Potomac River in Southern Maryland, opposite of Mount Vernon. Free admission and free parking. Call 301-292-5665 or visit www.fergusonfoundation.org.
Reston Farmers Market. This year’s Reston Farmers Market will open at the Lake Anne Village parking lot and will operate, from 8 a.m.-noon, each Saturday. For the first time, the Farmers Market will offer fresh meats — beef, chicken and pork; fresh dairy products — milk, sweet creamery butter, cheeses; and fresh eggs. In addition, almost all the favorite vendors from last year will be back with the freshest vegetables, fruits, flowers and plants, honey and lots more. Call John Lovaas at 703-318-9628.
Play/Musical. The Herndon High School Cappies Show 2005, Les Miserables, will be performed, at 7:30 p.m., in the Herndon High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10/adults and $8/students or seniors. Tickets are available at the door, for that day's performance only.
Mamapalooza. Mamapalooza will be held, from 3-6 p.m., at Ned Devine’s, 2565 Centreville Road in Herndon. This festival is dedicated to Moms Who Rock, prompting artistic mothers to begin garage bands as a way to express themselves as individuals. A portion of the festival’s proceeds will be donated to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Capital Chapter’s Man & Woman of the Year Campaign for 2005. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmonster.com.
Community Day. Taking place in the parking lot of the Dulles Park Shopping Center and inside the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, Community Day runs from 12–4 p.m. Visitors will be treated to a variety of live entertainment, a tae kwon do demonstration presented by H.K. Lee Karate and dances from around the world, including Korean, Peruvian and Irish. The Housing Fair will offer resources on home buying and home maintenance. Exhibitors include mortgage companies, banks, real estate agents and government and nonprofit organizations specialized in housing. The Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center is located at 1086 Elden St. Call 703-435-6830.
Author Discussion. Bob Dole "One Soldier’s Story: A Memoir." The former U.S. senator discusses and signs the memoir of his three-year battle to recover from debilitating injuries he sustained on the battlefield in World War II. 1 p.m., at Borders at Tysons Corner, 8027 Leesburg Pike. Call 703-556-7766.
Pet Fiesta. GOODDOGZ.ORG has partnered with Equity Office Properties and RestonDogs Inc. to host the 5th Annual Reston Pet Fiesta at the Reston Town Center. To kick off the event, GOODDOGZ.ORG will be sponsoring the “Tails on Trails” 4K Dog Walk around the Reston Town Center property. Pre-registration cost is $20 for the first dog and $5 each additional dog. The cost the day of the event will be $25. The first 200 pre-registrants will receive a goodie bag full of treats, toys and more. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. Dog walk is rain or shine. Sign-up online at https://www.gooddogz.org/events/PF_dogwalk.html or contact us at 571-233-4557.
Play. Reston Community Players presents “Two Gentlemen of Verona” by William Shakespeare, directed by Adam Konowe. Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. At the Reston Community Center Stage, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Call 703-476-4500 or visit www.restonplayers.org. Greyhound Rescue Inc. at www.greyrescue.org and Greyhound Pets of America-Northern Virginia Chapter at www.gpa-nova.org. are partnering with the Players to provide four different greyhounds for the play. Jerry, Hampton, Riley and Bailey will be taking turns gracing the stage as CRAB, the dog.
<b>Sunday/May 8</b>
Dress Giveaway. Local Cinderellas have a fairy godmother at RCC's Teen Department. She has been collecting gorgeous ball gowns, shoes, jewelry and accessories for young women who can't afford outfits for their senior proms. All sizes, styles, colors and lengths are available. To celebrate the coming of Spring Prom Season, Fairy Godmother Shauna is hosting "Diva Central," a dress distribution kickoff event on April 10 from 1-4 p.m. at the RCC, Hunters Woods. In addition to the dress giveaway there will be door prizes. Dresses will also be given away on April 24, May 1 and May 8 from 5-7 p.m. at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods. Diva Central is intended for high school students. Admission to this event is free. For directions, or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500 (V/TTY) or visit http://www.restoncommunitycenter.com. The Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, is located in the lower level of the Hunters Woods Shopping Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.
Tea Dance. The Reston Community Center's
Senior Academy holds a tea dance for dancers of all skill levels. Includes fox-trot, swing, cha-cha, and waltz, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Mini dance lessons, door prizes; partners are not required. Admission is $3 per person and the dance is intended for persons age 55 or older. Contact the Reston Community Center at 703-476-4500 (V/TTY). The Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, is located in the Hunters Woods Shopping Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.
Play. Reston Community Players presents “Two Gentlemen of Verona” by William Shakespeare, directed by Adam Konowe. Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. At the Reston Community Center Stage, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Call 703-476-4500 or visit www.restonplayers.org. Greyhound Rescue Inc. at www.greyrescue.org and Greyhound Pets of America-Northern Virginia Chapter at www.gpa-nova.org. are partnering with the Players to provide four different greyhounds for the play. Jerry, Hampton, Riley and Bailey will be taking turns gracing the stage as CRAB, the dog.
Spa Day and Benefit. Three small-business members of the Herndon-Dulles Chamber of Commerce have teamed together to organize a Ladies Day Out to benefit local charities. Marybeth Henry and Candee Percherke, both independent sales directors with Mary Kay Cosmetics and Deta Follin-Pyle, independent sales manager with Weekenders USA, have partnered to set up a Spa & Shopping Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tickets for the event will cost $15, and 100 percent of the ticket cost will go directly to participating charities and organizations. The Ladies Spa & Shopping Day will be held at the Sheraton Reston, 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. Additional information and directions are available at www.wahmfest.org/charityday, by calling 703-766-0294, or by e-mailing Henry at mbbeauty@cox.net. Tickets can be purchased through the Web site or through the individual organizations involved.
Nature Walk. Reston Historic Trust presents a walk at Meadowlark Gardens, with the staff naturalist, to enjoy the peak of the wildflowers. Meet at the Reston Museum at 1:30 p.m. and carpool to the gardens. A $5 donation is requested. Call Reston Museum, 703-709-7700 for reservations and more information.
<b>Monday/May 9</b>
Leadership Recruiting. Leadership Fairfax Inc. is a nonprofit community leadership organization that identifies current and emerging leaders and brings them together to study community issues and effect positive change. Visit the Web site at www.leadershipfairfax.org or call 703-752-7555. Individuals interested in the LFI program are encouraged to attend one of the informational sessions for the class of 2006 at 5:30 p.m.
Alzheimer’s Seminar. Navigating the Legal & Medicaid Maze of Long Term Care — Providing for long-term care of a loved one can be daunting. This program will address important issues such as durable powers of attor