Now through June 18
<cal2>The Family Zone is held Sundays, now through June 18, from 9:30-10:10 a.m., at Centreville Elementary. It offers local parents the opportunity to learn hands-on, how to teach their 4- to 9-year-old children about right from wrong. Call 703-502-1732.
<cal1>Now through June 25
<cal2>ArtBeat Gallery, "Earthly Wonders." Some 20 local artists display paintings, photography and sculpture. Featured Artist, Maria Briganti presents "The Pastel Works of Maria Briganti." Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday, 12-6 p.m. Reception, May 6, 2-6 p.m. Located at 9407 Main St., Old Town Manassas. Visit www.artbeatgallery.org or telephone 703-365-8558.
<cal1>Now through June 30
<cal2>Clifton artist Phoebe Twichell Peterson will show her art at Willow Antiques and Interiors, 7145 Main St., Clifton. This show will feature local landscapes and scenes from New England where she grew up. All her paintings are done in oil on hand-stretched, linen canvases.
<cal1>Thursday/June 8
<cal2>Night Fighting: The P-61 Black Widow at 8 p.m. Bob Bolinder, Louis Bost, Robert Ferguson, and Avery J. Miller at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly. Come at 6:30 p.m. for a special look at the P-61 Black Widow, one of only four on display in the world. The P-61 is the most recently restored aircraft to be added to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. This lecture is free, but tickets are required. See www.nasm.si.edu/events/lectures/ticketsform.cfmor or call 202-633-2398 to reserve tickets.
<cal1>June 9-10
<cal2>Immaculate Heart of Mary National Home School and Family Conference at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. Approximately 35 Catholic curriculum vendors and 31 talks. The show runs from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Call 540-636-1946 or visit www.ihmconference.org.
<cal1>Thursday/June 15
<cal2>Mothers First — Chantilly/Centreville 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' nights out and lectures. June's meetings are from 10:15-11:30 a.m. at the Centreville Regional Library, 14200 Saint Germain Drive. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
La Leche League of Centreville/Chantilly will hold a morning meeting at 10 a.m. The topic is “The Family and the Breastfed Baby”. Pregnant and nursing women as well as their children are welcome to attend. Meeting location is the Centreville Library, 14200 St. Germaine Drive. Free. Call a La Leche League leader at 703-471-7762 or 703-766-1589.
Curator’s Choice. “Bell XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft” from 12:30-12:45 p.m. with Roger Connor, Aeronautics Division at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly.
<cal1>Saturday/June 17
<cal2>St. Timothy Parish Annual Garage Sale, 13807 Poplar Tree Road in Chantilly, will be held Saturday, June 17 from 8 a.m. -3 p.m. Pickup begins on Wednesday, June 7. Call Jan in the Parish Office at 703-814-7980 to arrange for pickup.
The Fairfax Ballet’s annual jazz, tap and modern dance revue, Dance Snapshots, will be held at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Herndon High School Theatre, 700 Bennett Street in Herndon. Tickets are $18 for adults, $14 for children, students and senior citizens. Purchase tickets at the school office, located at 14119-O Sullyfield Circle, Chantilly, between the hours of 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Or purchase tickets at the door on the day of the performance. Call the school at 703-803-1055, or visit: www.fairfaxballet.com.
The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce announces the return of Taste of the Town from noon-10:30 p.m. at the Reston Town Center. The 16th annual Taste of the Town presents delectable fare from the region’s finest eateries, live music all day, and activities and games at Kids Korner. Admission and parking are free, and tastings start at $1.
Taste of the Town, Northern Virginia’s largest outdoor food festival, features tasty delights from restaurants such as Big Bowl, Busara, Lucia’s Italian Ristorante, Market Street Bar & Grill, Obi Sushi, Paradise Ice Cream and Whole Foods, with more than 25 participating vendors. Live entertainment will be presented on the Pavilion stage, with beer and wine garden. Call 703-707-9045 or visit www.restonchamber.org.
Border Cafe Kid's Safety Day at 5825 Trinity Parkway, Centreville from 1-5 p.m., rain or shine. Free, digital fingerprinting, carseat clinic, crime-prevention information and moonbounce. Call 703-266-4400 or visit www.BorderCafe.com.
Bluegrass Festival Returns to Mason Neck State Park. The Pickin’ On the Neck all-day Bluegrass Festival will be bigger and better this year with four bands starting earlier and running longer. This Mason Neck Lions-sponsored event is from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Mason Neck State Park rain or shine. The returning bands are Skystone and the Flatland Bluegrass Band. Added bands this year are the Bluegrass Gospel Express and Copper Ridge. Tickets at the gate are $15 for adults and for children under 10 they are $5. Children under 3 years admitted free. For advance tickets, call 703- 799- 0372 or e-mail StphnMhn@aol.com. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food will be provided by the Lions and American Barbeque.
Reach for the Sky: Become a Pilot Family Day and Static Aviation Display from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly. Fifty visiting aircraft will surround the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center as part of the second annual Become a Pilot Family Day and Aviation Display. Appearing with their aircraft parked outside the center's Boeing Aviation Hangar, pilots will greet visitors and discuss life in the cockpit, and in some cases, let visitors climb behind the controls.
<cal1>June 17-18
<cal2>International Festival at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly. More than 300 vendors, exhibitors, crafters and other participants make up the heart of the International festival. It runs from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. -6 p.m. on Sunday. Call 703-328-2950 or visit www.gmcfestivals.com.
<cal1>Sunday/June 18
<cal2>Enjoy the 33rd Antique Car Show at Sully Historic Site from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Co-sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Model A Ford Club of America, the annual event features cars, trucks and motorcycles through 1972. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children. Free parking is available on the grounds.
<cal1>Monday/June 19
<cal2>Sierra Club meeting on "Cool Cities." Learn about efforts in Fairfax County and among local governments throughout the country to help solve one of the country’s most pressing problems: global warming. Leaders from the Sierra Club will discuss how local leaders are taking action to make energy use cleaner and more efficient from 7-9 p.m. at the Lake Anne Community Center, 1609 Washington Plaza N., Reston. Free. Call 703-385-7564. Visit the Sierra Club Great Falls Group Web site at http://virginia.sierraclub.org/greatfalls/.
Hard rock band KORN is throwing a world premiere party at 9 p.m. for their new concert DVD, KORN: Live On The Other Side, at 111 movie theaters across America the night before the DVD hits stores. KORN fans attending the Big Screen Concert's premiere event will get an insider’s look at the private party the band held to celebrate the DVD, and will be the very first to see Live On The Other Side, shot in Hi-Def at a one-night-only standing room performance at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. At Fairfax Towne Center, located at 4110 W. Ox Road. Tickets for this Big Screen Concerts event are on sale now at presenting theater box offices and online at www.BigScreenConcerts.com for $10 in advance and $12.50 on the day of the event.
<cal1>June 19-23
<cal2>Border Cafe, 5825 Trinity Parkway, Centreville, is holding a fund-raiser during these dates, as well as on June 17, for the Armel Family and Garbarino Family trust funds. (Vicky Armel and Mike Garbarino were the two police officers killed at the Sully District Station). To participate, diners at Border Cafe need to tell their server that they wish to do so, and a percentage of their total check will be contributed.
Large groups are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity because, the larger the group, the more money that can be donated. For more information, or to sign up in advance for the fund-raiser, call Stacie Brown at 703-554-3270 or e-mail sbrown@bordercafe.com.
<cal1>June 20 - Sept. 2
<cal2>The Fairfax County Public Library invites children in Fairfax County to participate in the 2006 Summer Reading Program. The program encourages children to read for pleasure during the summer. More than 25 businesses and organizations have donated more than $1 million worth of prizes to kids who finish the program; other sponsors will donate prizes for special drawings at the end of the summer. An array of performers from jugglers and puppeteers to magicians and musicians will entertain and educate children at library branches all summer long. Call to sign up beginning two weeks before an event. Ask for signed interpretation or assistive listening devices when you call 703-324-8365.
<cal1>Friday/June 23
<cal2>Join the Fairfax Fatherhood Collaborative in a panel and group discussion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the importance of addressing Responsible Fatherhood at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. All are welcome to come and participate in an exciting discussion about the necessity of how we all can promote father friendly services and agencies. Call 703-246-3033.
<cal1>June 23-24
<cal2>The Fifth Annual Great American Scrapbook Convention from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Dulles Expo Center, 4368 Chantilly Center, Chantilly. Call 801-627-3700.
<cal1>Saturday/June 24
<cal2>The Second Annual Summer Kidfest in Clifton will run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and is expected to attract more than 4,000 people from the Washington Metropolitan area. There'll be two stages with live music performed by professional children's entertainers, hands-on children's crafts and activities, a silent auction, bazaar, vendors, moonbounces and a safety village with police and firefighters. Admission is $5. Visit www.novakidfest.com or call 703-815-8600.
A Dog Wash will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Centreville's Fire Station 17, at 5856 Old Centreville Road. Proceeds benefit the new dog park at Quinn Farm Park, 15150 Old Lee Road in Centreville, and CentrevilleDogs, a nonprofit group of 350 area residents and businesses who maintain the park.
Basic Pistol Shooting Class. Learn about all types of pistols in a safe, responsible and fun way at the Basic Pistol Shooting class offered at National Rifle Association headquarters from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. in Fairfax. This 10-hour class focuses on safety, operation, maintenance, purchasing, storage, transportation and shooting of different types of pistols. Range safety test, range fees, and a range card are included as well as use of a pistol, eye and ear protection and ammunition. Certificate awarded for completion of the course which can be used to apply for a Virginia concealed handgun permit. Email amselle@nrahq.org or call 703-267-1567.
Fair Oaks Shopping Center celebrates the official start of summer on June 24 with a fun-filled Balloon Day. In addition to free balloons, everyone attending can enjoy special offers from participating stores and restaurants from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Visit www.ShopFairOaksMall.com or call 703-359-8302.
<cal1>Sunday/July 2
<cal2>Let Freedom Ring at the Sully Historic Site from 1-3 p.m. Find out why Sully flies a 15-star flag, sign the declaration, learn of the fight for independence among the enslaved African American community. Guided tour and quill pen with ink packet included. Cost is $6. Call 703-324-8563 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully.
<cal1>Monday/July 24
<cal2>The New Moms Lunch Group will present a lunch with Leslie Morgan Steiner of The Washington Post and author of The Mommy Wars. She will be joining the group to discuss her new book in which she writes about the choices of stay-at-home moms and working moms. RSVP as space will be limited. The cost for the lunch is $20. In addition, it is possible to pre-order a copy of her book for $15.72. Contact Rochelle Goldberg at eventbuilders@hotmail.com.
<cal1>Tuesday/Aug. 1
<cal2>National Night Out is intended to heighten crime and drug prevention and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in the community.
Vpstart Crow's 2006 theater season:
July 14-30 — "Anne of the Thousand Days";
Oct. 6-22 — "The Seagull";
Dec. 1-17 — A Christmas Carol".
All performances take place at The Cramer Center, a restored church-turned-theatre, at 9008 Center St. in Old Town Manassas, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students, seniors, and City of Manassas or Prince William County employees. Tickets are available through www.tickets.com or at the door (subject to availability) 30 minutes prior to performances. Reservations can be made by contacting Vpstart Crow at 703-365-0240 or vpstartcrow@comcast.net. Visit www.vpstartcrow.com.
Noodles & Noggins presents Mighty Mondays with Mr. Knick Knack each Monday from 10-11 a.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Sing, dance, and have loads fun. For all ages. Suggested contribution per child. Call the store at 703-815-8600.
Noodles & Noggins presents Fun Club each Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Enjoy some books, do a craft, sing songs and dance. A new theme each week. For ages 1-6 years. Suggested contribution per child. Call the store to register at 703-815-8600.
While the INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital Auxiliary is in need of volunteers to assist with various functions in the hospital, the current need is especially acute in the Thrift Shop at Fairfax Circle. The Thrift Shop needs volunteers who can sort and price merchandise, stock shelves, process sales, and assist customers in various ways. Call 703-391-3659 for information regarding the next orientation for volunteers.
The Fairfax Meals on Wheels (MOW) group needs a volunteer to serve as Treasurer. This leadership position is responsible for the finances of the MOW group, including a monthly report to the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals (Monday through Friday) to senior adults in the following areas: Annandale, Baileys Crossroads, Falls Church, Manchester Lakes, Centreville/Chantilly, Fairfax, Tysons, Herndon/Reston and Little River Glen. The job involves picking up meals at specified sites between 10:30 a.m. and noon, and delivering them to seniors by 1 p.m. Volunteer drivers can choose to deliver meals on a daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly or substitute basis. Call the Fairfax AAA Volunteer Intake Line at 703-324-5406 or E-mail melanie.mitchell@fairfaxcounty.gov
Volunteers are needed for day and evening hours to work one-to-one with adult learners in public libraries or adult learning centers. Additional opportunities are available working with adolescents in alternative school settings. The Volunteer Learning Program (VLP) trains tutors, assesses learners, and provides materials with follow-up support. VLP is a joint community project of the Fairfax County Public Schools (Adult & Community Education), Fairfax County's Juvenile Court, and the Fairfax County Public Library. Call 703-246-2139 or e-mail VLP@fcps.edu.
Mocha Moms Inc. is a support network for stay-at-home mothers of color. Meetings are every first, third and fifth Wednesday between 10 a.m. and noon at the Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. www.restonmochamoms.org. All are welcome.
The Northern Virginia Artists League (NOVALArt.com) is a local group of artists and photographers who meet every month for an "Art Outing" and general meeting. The group meets monthly to encourage each other, critique each other's work, and share ideas for marketing the art. There are monthly art outings for plain air painting or photography. All medias, watercolor, acrylic, oil, colored pencil, photography, etc., are welcome.
The Centreville chapter of Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club is moving. The club will meet Thursday evenings at the Centreville Presbyterian Church 15040 Lee Highway, Centreville. TOPS is a non-profit, non-commercial weight loss support group open to anyone 7 years of age and older. At $20 per year, this is an affordable, supportive program for weight loss and weight maintenance. Weigh-in is from 6:15-7 p.m. with the meeting starting at 7:10 p.m. Call Susan at 703-392-7937 or visit www.tops.org.
Fancy Cats Rescue Team adoption event on the first and third Saturdays and every Sunday of the month from 12-4 p.m. at the PetsMart, Fair Lakes. Cats and kittens need a loving home. Choose from a wide variety of loving cats. Visit the Web site a www.fancycats.org. E-mail to info@fancycats.org.
Starlight Starbright has teamed up with Starbucks across the country to collect books and toys to give to children in need. Centreville Starbucks, 5623 Stone Road, is kicking off the 2005 toy drive with a bang and goal of being the Starbucks with the most toys. They are challenging the community to donate a bicycle per week and the local Starbucks will match it. Call 703-502-4845.
Mothers & More is a support organization for women who have altered their career path to care for their young children at home. General Meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month in Braddock Hall at the Kings Park Library, Burke at 7:30 p.m. The group offers children's and family activities, guest speakers, book club, mom's night out, movie night, chat group and much more. Call (toll free) 866-716-7766 or visit the Web site www.novamoms.org.
Mighty Mondays with Mr. Knick Knack. Come sing, dance, and have loads fun each Monday with Mr. Knick Knack from 10-11 a.m. The event will be indoors all this month at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road. Open to all ages.
Wednesdays with Noodles & Noggins Fun Club from 10 to 11 a.m. at Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road. A new theme each week. Listen to a story, make a craft, sing songs, dance, and have fun. Suggest contribution per child. Reservations requested. Call 703-815-8600.
Thumpin' Thursdays with Mister Don from 4 to 5 p.m. Sing, play, and get the wiggles out before dinnertime. For all ages. Suggested contribution per child. Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road.
A Mindfulness Meditation Class will be held every Sunday from 7-8 p.m. at the Fairfax Sun and Moon Yoga Studio, 9998 Main St., Fairfax. Free. Contact ErikaKL@aol.com or call 703-864-2807.
Northern Virginia Bookcrossing Meetup. These book lovers like to keep their books busy by reading, releasing and tracking their books' adventures with others locally, nationally and internationally. Fun book challenges, hunt for books "in the wild" and more. Share books and be part of a unique group with a different angle on book loving. Visit bookcrossing.meetup.com/72/.
Fairfax Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is recruiting community-minded citizens from diverse backgrounds to volunteer as advocates for children whose families have been cited for abuse and neglect by the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. The role of a CASA is to investigate a child's situation and to advocate for what is in the best interest of the child in court. All CASA volunteers undergo training to prepare them for this role, and no prior experience in child welfare is required. To learn more about this volunteer opportunity and upcoming orientation and training dates, visit www.casafairfax.org or contact CASA's development and recruitment associate at 703-273-3526 or staff@casafairfax.org.
Red Hat Society. A chapter of the Red Hat Society is now in Centreville. Women age 50 and up wear red hats and purple outfits and kick up their heels. Meetings are the last Wednesday of every month at 11 a.m. in the Sully Senior Center, 5690 Sully Road (inside Centreville Presbyterian Church, off Route 28 south, near the I-66 west exit). All area seniors are welcome to join or visit. Call Mary Doerman at 703-968-7889, Scotti Brennan at 703-378-5206, or Sully Senior Center Director Carma Ryan at 703-322-4475.
<lst>To have community events listed in Centre View, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to centreview@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Photos, especially color, are encouraged. Deadline is one week before publication. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-917-6434 with any questions.