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 Friday, 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.
The Loudoun Academy of Art if offering Understanding Your Digital Camera with Jeanette Burkle. Saturday, Oct. 7, 1-5 p.m. $50. Visit www.loudounacademy.org or call 703-777-8043. The Loudoun Academy of the Arts is a 501c3 organization.
How to Write the SAT Essay with Robert Otten, Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 29, 2 p.m. Recommended for ages 16 and up. Advanced registration required, call 703-444-3228, Ext. 5.
Understanding and Prevention of Breast Cancer with Kundalini yoga with instructor Charlotte Freckman. Includes workshop, yoga sets and meditation. Tuesday, Oct. 10, Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, 7 p.m., 703-444-3228; Tuesday, Oct. 17, Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Road, Leesburg, 7 p.m., 703-777-0323.
Training sessions for the Teen Reading Buddies program, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road; Wednesday, Oct. 18, 4:30 p.m., Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. Discuss reading techniques, learn songs and games, choose books and talk about props. Recommended for ages 12-18. Advanced registration required, call Ashburn, 703-737-8100, Ext. 4 or Cascades, 703-444-3228, Ext. 309.
Every Child Ready to Read, early literacy workshops for parents and caregivers, Oct. 14, Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. Workshops focuses on relationship between shared reading experiences, language development and reading achievement, and presents skills to help child prepare to read. Recommended for parents and caregivers. Workshop focusing on newborns to 2-year-olds, 10:30 a.m.-noon; on 2- to 3-year-olds, 1-2:30 p.m.; and on 4- to 5-year-olds, 3-4:30 p.m. Advance registration required by Oct. 10, call 703-444-3228, Ext. 309.
Jewelry classes with jewelry artist, Carla Gardner at Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road. The necklace class will be held Saturday, Oct. 14 and the bracelet class Saturday, Oct. 28. Both classes are 11 a.m.-noon. The cost is $8 plus $7 for supplies per class. Preregistration is required. Classes are open to ages 8-15. Call 703-430-6673.
The Birthing Inn at Inova Loudoun Hospital is offering a free workshop, "Let's talk Babies," providing expectant parents with information related to the birthing process. This interactive workshop takes place Oct. 14, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Birthing Inn will be open for tours for the workshop attendees at the conclusion of the workshop. Includes giveaways and door prizes. To register, call 703-779-2694.
Yoga for Children, 10:15 a.m., Monday, Oct. 16, Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road. Children will learn basic yoga poses and songs that will enhance flexibility, balance, coordination, self-esteem and enlightenment to the world around them. Recommended for ages 4-6. Advance registration required, call 703-737-8105. Sponsored by the Ashburn Library Advisory Board.
Every Child Ready to Read, early literacy for parents and caregivers of 2- to 3-year-old children, Oct. 16, 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road. Workshop focuses on relationship between shared reading experiences, language development and reading achievement, and presents skills to help child prepare to read. Recommended for parents and caregivers. Advance registration required by Oct. 13, call 703-737-8105.
Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, is offering drawing and watercolor painting classes with instructor Maria Hawkins. For participants 7 years old through adult. Classes will be held Mondays, Oct. 16-Nov. 20, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The cost is $84. per person. Preregistration is required, call 703-430-6673.
The Ashburn Adoption Seminar Tuesday, Oct. 17, will present an overview of international and domestic adoptions as well as adoptive parents sharing their stories. This free seminar will be held at Broadlands Community Center, 43004 Waxpool Road, at 7 p.m. To register, contact Karen Law at klawadoption@aol.com or call 703-723-4385.
Explore the world with yoga, ages 4-6, is a yoga class for children. Class meets every Wednesday, from Oct. 18-Nov. 15, from 4:15-5:05 p.m., at the Douglass Community Center. Cost is $55 per child. To register, contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail at dcc@loudoun.gov.
Children's buddy yoga, for age 3, is a yoga class for children with adult buddy. Learn basic yoga poses enhancing flexibility, balance, coordination and self-esteem. Class meets every Wednesday, from Oct. 18-Nov. 15, from 3:30-4 p.m., at the Douglass Community Center, 407 East Market St. Leesburg. Cost is $30 per child. To register, contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail at dcc@loudoun.gov.
Adult computer classes will be held Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m., at the Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road. Classes are geared for novice students. Preregistration is required, call 703-430-6673. Microsoft Word, Oct. 19-Nov. 2, cost is $89 plus $10 for supplies. Microsoft Excel, Nov. 9-16, $59 plus $10 for supplies. Microsoft PowerPoint, Nov. 30-Dec. 7, $59 plus $10 for supplies.
The Loudoun Academy of Art is offering mural painting with Kathi Fertig. Saturday, Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $70. Visit www.loudounacademy.org or call 703-777-8043.
Infant massage taught by Allison Forbes, Oct. 21, 2 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road. Includes the proper way to massage your baby and the benefits of infant massage for both baby and parent/caregiver. Recommended for infants 1-6 months old and their parent/caregiver. Advance registration required, call 703-737-8105.
A class, Embracing Conflict; Creating Peace, taught by Unity ministers, David Mosher and Edna Fritz, is scheduled to begin Oct. 22, at the Purcellville library meeting room. The free class will be held Monday evenings, 7:15-8:45 p.m., for five consecutive weeks, ending Nov. 20. Call 703-678-8171 to register. The class is designed to help the individual find a way to create an inner peace in the midst of conflict. Although the class is free and open to all, preregistration required. Unity of Loudoun County is affiliated with Unity School of Christianity. Call 703-678-8171 or visit www.unityofloudoun.org.
Artist John Leone will teach a five-day painting workshop at the Loudoun Academy of the Arts in Leesburg, Oct. 24-28, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day, and the cost is $495. Advance registration required. A “Get to Know You” reception will be hold Sunday, Oct. 22, from 4-6 p.m. Each day, coffee and pastries will be available to participants, as well as a light lunch. Visit www. loudounacademy.org or call 703-777-8043.
The Loudoun Academy of Art is offering five-day oil painting workshop with John Leone. Oct. 23-27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $495. The Loudoun Academy of the Arts is a 501c3 organization. Visit www.loudounacademy.org or call 703-777-8043.
Kidzart: Discovery! for ages 3.5-5. Nurturing art program that helps preschoolers become creative thinkers. Taught by a certified Kidzart instructor. Tuesdays, Oct. 24-Nov. 14, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., $48. Douglass Community Center, 407 East Market St., Leesburg. To register, contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
KidzArt: Squiggles to Grins, for ages 2-3.5. Includes singing, storytelling and creative art projects with mommy and daddy. Tuesdays, Oct. 24-Nov. 14, 10:30-11:15 a.m., $48. Douglass Community Center, 407 East Market St., Leesburg. To register, contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
Kidzart Elementary for grades first-fifth. Fine arts program that builds self-confidence and develops creative thinking and problem solving skills in a noncompetitive environment. Wednesdays, Oct. 25-Nov. 15, 5:30-6:30 p.m., $60. Douglass Community Center, 407 East Market St., Leesburg. To register, contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
AARP driving safety class at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, Wednesday, Oct. 25 and Friday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. each day and attendance both days required to receive certificate. Cost $10 for members, additional $1 each day for nonmembers. Registration required, call 703-430-2397.
Preschool Sports Academy at the Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market St., Leesburg, for ages 3-5. Introduces children to the fundamentals and fun of sports. Classes are four sessions and meet at the Douglass Community Center gymnasium. All skill levels are welcomed. Thursdays, Oct. 26-Nov. 16, age 3, soccer, 3:30-4 p.m., $16; Thursdays, Oct. 26-Nov. 16, ages 4-5, soccer, 4-5 p.m., $32. To register, contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
Spooktacular Origami with Selah Jun, Thursday, Oct. 26, 4 p.m., at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. Learn to make Halloween decorations. Materials provided. Recommended for ages 7 and up. Advanced registration required by Oct. 23, call 703-444-3228, Ext. 309.
Inova Loudoun Hospital will hold a one-day, Safe Sitter Babysitting Course every month on select Saturdays beginning in the fall 2006. Dates are Oct. 28 and Nov. 18, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The course is for students 11-13 years old, and is held in the patient education room at the Lansdowne Campus at 44045 Riverside Parkway in Leesburg. Cost for the course is $55 per person.
Participants can register by calling 703-858-6360 or visiting the Web site at www.thebirthinginn.org.
Every Child Ready to Read, early literacy for parents and caregivers of 4- to 5-year-old children, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road. Workshop focuses on relationship between shared reading experiences, language development and reading achievement, and presents skills to help child prepare to read. Recommended for parents and caregivers. Advance registration required by Oct. 27, call 703-737-8105.
The Loudoun Cooperative Extension is offering a Virginia gardener short course, which will run throughout the year as a series of sessions Oct. 30 and Nov. 6. The course will be held at the Extension Office, 30 B Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg, from 6-8 p.m., on those dates.
Participants can choose to attend one session or all eight. Cost is $10 per session or $65 to register to attend all eight sessions. Those who complete all eight sessions will receive a certificate of completion at the closing of the short course in November. A registration flyer can be downloaded from the Loudoun County Extension Web site http://www.loudoun.gov/services/agri.htm or it is also available at local libraries. Call or e-mail the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpline Office and ask to have a registration flyer mailed, 703-771-5150, Ext. 107mg@vt.edu.
The Loudoun Sheriff's Office's 26th Women's Self-Defense workshop will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 7-10 p.m., at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy, 45299 Research Place in Ashburn. The class is open to all female residents of Loudoun County over the age of 14. Participants will be taught basic self-defense techniques through instruction, demonstration and actual practice of the
methods taught. Free. The Loudoun County Victim Witness Program will have staff present at the workshop to provide information regarding available services for women who are victims of violence. Contact Audra Vogel to register at 571-258-3049.
Dance 'N Play is a total body fitness class for mom with toddler, with body toning, cardio bursts and dancing to popular children's music. Classes are on-going and meet every Thursday, from 9:30-10:15 a.m., at the Douglass Community Center gymnasium, 407 East Market St., Leesburg. Cost of the class is $40 for four sessions. Contact the Douglass Community Center, 703-771-5913.
The Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia is forming Mommy & Me classes for children 3 months-2 years of age.
Includes circle time, singing, games, crafts, story time, holiday fun and more. Class locations include Arlington, Herndon, Fairfax, Springfield and Leesburg. Call Laurie Albert, JCCNV at 703-537-3064 or LaurieA@jccnv.org or visit www.jccnv.org.
The Douglass Community Center Child Care Program is accepting registration for new children. The program operates daily, from 7 a.m.-6:15 p.m., and serves children age 3 through prekindergarten, must be potty trained. Fees are $155 per week. Contact 703-771-5610 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov.
Dance 'N Play is a fitness class for mom with toddler, with body toning, cardio bursts and dancing to popular children's music. Classes are ongoing and meet every Thursday, from 9:30-10:15 a.m., at the Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market St., Leesburg. Cost of the class is $40 for four sessions. Contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or at dcc@loudoun.gov.
On every first and third Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., offers ESL basic computer skills needed for Internet, e-mail and word processing. Recommended for adult speakers of English as a second language. Limit 10 students per session. Register by calling 703-430-9500 V/TYY.