<lst>Send announcements to the Herndon Connection, by mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, by e-mail to herndon@connectionnewspapers.com or by fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday 5 p.m. for the following week's paper. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Meghan Williams at 703-917-6407 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.
<cal1>Friday/Nov. 18
<cal2> Flint Hollow, a Northern Virginia bluegrass band, features at the Bluegrass Concert Series, Holy Cross Lutheran Chuch, 1090 Sterling Road, Herndon, doors open 7 p.m. Admission is $12. Contact Bob Thompson, 703-435-8377, or Ellie, 703-437-1883 for information or reservations.
<cal1>Friday/Dec. 2
<cal2>Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, invites local seniors, age 55 or older, to take part in the annual holiday luncheon, Sheraton Reston Hotel, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. To feature lunch, gifts, dance music and a performance of winter holiday music by the Heatherwood Harp Ensemble. Free bus transportation is available from the Hunters Woods Fellowship House, the Lake Anne Fellowship House and Thoreau Place for those in need. $16 for seniors who live or work in Reston, $32 for all others. Each guest must register individually, either in person or by faxing a completed RCC Registration form to 703-476-8617. Call 703-476-4500.
<cal1>Saturday/Nov. 12
<cal2>Handbell Celebration Concert. The 10th Herndon Handbell Celebration Concert will be held at 6 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 651 Dranesville Road. Over 75 ringers from Dranesville United Methodist Church, Fairfax United Methodist Church, Floris United Methodist Church, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church and United Christian Parish will participate. William A. Payne will be the guest conductor. The concert is free. A goodwill offering will be taken.
YMCA Gala, “Celebrate the Stars – Mardi Gras Style,” 7 p.m.-midnight at the YMCA Reston. Benefits the annual “Building Bridges” campaign which enables the YMCA to provide financial assistance to individuals, families and children that cannot afford to pay for YMCA membership or programs. This year, a portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to YMCAs affected by Hurricane Katrina so they can help serve their communities. Event will feature live music, dinner and cocktails, along with a live and silent auction. For information on gala tickets, raffle tickets or volunteer opportunities for the event, contact Christine A. Mohr, at 703-318-5296 or cmohr@ymcawashdc.org.
Fall Festival. Harvest Bazaar and Fall Festival hosted by the Vienna Woman's Club, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., Vienna. Will include a bake sale, food and activities for kids. Crafters and vendors welcome; call 703-938-7716, 703-620-2593 or 703-352-3057 for an application.
Community Gala. The YMCA Fairfax County Reston Gala will "Celebrate the Stars! Mardi Gras Style" at the YMCA. The evening will feature: dinner and cocktails, live music, a live auction, and a silent auction with many great items donated by community partners. 7 p.m.-midnight at the YMCA Fairfax County Reston, 12196 Sunset Hills Road. Individual tickets: $100; Table of 10: $1,000.
Winery. Fall Barrel Tasting at Tarara, 7-10 p.m. Taste our barrel-aged wines and vertical flights in the candlelit wine-making cave. Hors d’oeuvres will complement the evening. Rain or shine at Tarara Winery, located at 13648 Tarara Lane, Leesburg. $45 per person; tickets available online. Call 703-771-7100 or visit www.tarara.com.
<cal1>Sunday/Nov. 13
<cal2>Northern Virginia Ethical Society hosts Professor Chris Hanson, a contributing editor for Columbia Journalism Review, to discuss whether “journalistic ethics” is a contradiction in terms. 11 a.m., 225 Nutley St., NW, Vienna. Admission is free. Visit www.noves.org, or call 703-437-3161.
Beachfront Property sings Jukebox Gold at Reston CenterStage at 3 p.m. This show is suitable for all ages. Tickets are $15 all seats, reserved seating. To purchase tickets, call 703-476-4500 or visit the box office Tuesday-Thursday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. or Saturday 1-5 p.m. Visit www.beachfrontmusic.com.
<cal>Monday/Nov. 14
<cal2>Former Deputy Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Anwar Ibrahim, holds a special lecture, “After Democracy… What? Prospects for a Reform in the Muslim World,” presented by The Center for Global Studies and Phi Beta Delta. Center for the Arts, Concert Hall, George Mason University, Fairfax campus, 6 p.m. Contact Marcy Glover at mglover2@gmu.edu.
<cal1>Wednesday, Nov. 16
<cal2>Generating Jewels of Light. 7 p.m. Brenda Belfield will present a program on the creation of stained glass windows for the National Cathedral.
Brenda designed 60 of those windows at her Reston home. Call 703-709-7700 or visit www.restonmuseum.org.
<cal1>Thursday/Nov. 17
<cal2>Book Group Meeting. The Reston Community Center's senior book group, Bookends, will meet, 12:30-2 p.m., at the Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, to discuss "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry. Participants should bring a bag lunch. Books are on reserve at the Reston Regional Library. This free activity is intended for adults age 55 or older. Call 703-476-4500.
<cal1>Saturday/Nov. 19
<cal2>“Dance With Me!” Ballroom Dance Studio announces its Open House, noon-3 p.m., 251 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon. Salsa is taught noon-1 p.m., Big Band Swing 1-2 p.m. and Slow Dance 2-3 p.m. $15 for one class. Call 703-444-3061 or go to www.dancewithme.net.
GOODDOGZ.ORG announces its second annual DC area Home 4 the Holidays homeless pet adoption event, Reston Town Center, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Area dog rescue groups bring mixed and purebred homeless dogs of all ages. The event also hosts Santa Paws. To volunteer contact Mark Bates at 703-623-3304 or mark@gooddogz.org. Visit www.gooddogz.org .
Turkey Trot 5k. All ages and levels welcome. Race starts at 4 p.m. at the Herndon Centennial Golf Course. Pre-register for $10 at www.active.com or at the Herndon Community Center. Race-day registration is $12, 2-3:30 p.m at the Herndon Community Center Gym. All participants are asked to bring canned goods for donation to LINK. Prizes for winning runners include components of a Thanksgiving dinner, as well as complete dinners. Call 703-435-6800, Ext. 2106.