Send announcements to the Gazette, by e-mail to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday at noon for the following week’s paper. Photos and artwork encouraged. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with questions.
Yoga in Daily Life - classes for people of all ages and physical ability, 7 days a week in the Del Ray area of Alexandria at 2402 Mt. Vernon Ave. Meditation classes also offered. Free trial class the first week of each session for newcomers - next session begins April 1st. Drop-ins welcome anytime. Visit www.yogaindailylifeus.org for complete class schedule or call 703-299-8946 for more information.
Come to a free Women Heart Support Network Meeting for women with heart disease. Guest speaker Cheryl Mirabella, Nutritional Health coach, will discuss life balance on Thursday April 19 at 7 p.m. at Inova Alexandria Hospital, 4320 Seminary Road, on the first floor in the Administration Board Room #1225. For more information: 703-455-4502 or northernva@womenheart.org.
Dr. Kevin Fricka, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital is holding a seminar to discuss arthritis, joint replacemand knee replacements specifically designed for women, Wednesday, April 18 at 7 p.m., Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, 2501 Parker's Lane. Free. To register call 703-204-3366 or visit www.inova.org/healthclasses.
In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Alexandria's Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program is sponsoring a "Living Out Loud" (LoL) workshop for survivors of sexual assault. The LoL workshop is free and will be held on Saturday, April 21, from 2 – 4:30 p.m. at La Bergerie in Old Town Alexandria. Call Jen McLish with the SARA program for more information and to register for the workshop at 703-838-5030 or visit lolworkshops.com .
Dr. Harvey Schwartz, osteoporosis expert, will discuss the effects of osteoporosis, Thursday, April 26 at 7 p.m., Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, 2501 Parker's Lane. To register call 703-204-3366.
Emotions Anonymous is a 12-Step fellowship for people whose emotions are causing difficulties in their lives. A local group of Emotions Anonymous meets every Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 2006 Belle View Blvd. Call 703-660-8798, or e-mail ea-alexandria@cox.net.
The Inova Hospital System asks the public to give blood. There is a need for all types of blood, with an emergency need for Type O-positive & O-negative. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome. There are T-shirts for all donors. Call 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372). A photo ID is required. Allow one hour for donation. In the Alexandria/Mount Vernon areas, blood can be given at Inova Alexandria Hospital, 4320 Seminary Road, 703-504-3500 or at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, 2501 Parker's Lane, 703-664-7229.
Free exercise classes will be offered to older adults in the Franconia-Rose Hill area this month. Classes begin Thursday, March 22, and will run through April. The one-hour classes will focus on improving balance, building strength and preventing falls. Registration is required; call 703-324-7210, TTY 703-222-9452. Seniors living in the Franconia-Rose Hill area may sign up for classes that meet once a week either on Thursdays or Fridays:
* Thursday, March 22-Thursday, April 26, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., St. John's Lutheran Church, 5952 Franconia Road.
*Friday, March 23-Friday, April 27, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., Virginia Hills Baptist Church, 6507 Telegraph Road.
"Fall Fighters" is dedicated to helping seniors improve their balance and learn more about ways to stay strong and steady as they age. The "Fall Fighters Challenge" is a series of balance tests, based on the Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment, the Berg Functional Balance Scale, the Field Sobriety Test and childhood schoolyard games (and yes, it is fun!). Seniors are able to then track their improvement as they do regular exercises proven to improve balance, such as tai chi and yoga, which are offered daily at St. Martin's Senior Center. Call Maryanne at 703-751-2766. All Seniors welcome.
Yoga & Health Studies Center offers classes at 7918 Bolling Drive, Alexandria. Four classes per week beginners to teachers. For private classes, to arrange seminars at your convenience or more information, 703-765-7707 or e-mail nandg@patriot.net .
His Kingdom Ministries, 2707 Dewitt Ave., Alexandria, will be teaching "Your Best Life Now," on Sunday mornings from 10-11 a.m. Free. 202-409-4761 or 703-329-1594.
The Alexandria Red Cross announces its Ready-To-Go Emergency Preparedness Kit has been named one of Quick and Simple magazine’s best "Quick Fixes" for 2007. During the inaugural Quick and Simple Awards ceremony held in NY, the Red Cross took home top prize in the Protect Your Family category. The streamlined kit comes complete with battery powered flashlight and radio, blanket, food, water and other supplies. Its compact design even features side detachable first aid and personal hygiene supplies kits. Contact the Alexandria Red Cross at 703-549-8300 or by e-mail, infoAlexandria@usa.redcross.org. You can also visit the online Chapter store at www.alexandriaredcross.org or visit the Chapter office located at 123 North Alfred St. in Old Town Alexandria.
Rebuilding, a nine week recovery program for divorced, separated and widowed, will begin on Sunday evenings starting Feb. 25 at St. Martin DePorres Center in Alexandria and is designed to help people move ahead with their lives after losing a spouse. $45 which also covers the book fee. Call Marsha Davis 703-680-9335 or visit www.copingrebuilding.com for more.
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Hotline helps those who are newly diagnosed or under treatment for breast cancer. Staffed 24 hours a day by trained peer counselor breast
cancer survivors: 1-800-221-2141 in English with interpreters available in 150 languages; 1-800-986-9505 in Spanish. Also one-on-one matches with a breast cancer survivor.
Haven of Northern Virginia is offering the following Bereavement Support Groups at 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale:
* General Bereavement Group: First and third Wednesday evening of each month, 7:30-9 p.m.
* Suicide Survivors Bereavement Group: First Tuesday evening of each month, 7:30-9 p.m.
* Widow/Widower Support Groups: First and third Thursday evening of each month, 2-3:30 p.m.; Second and fourth Tuesday evening of each month, 7:30-9 p.m.
Joyful Heart Yoga for body, mind and spirit. Mondays, 10 a.m., at St. Marks, 6744 South Kings Highway and 5:30 p.m., at Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal St.; Tuesdays, 7 p.m., at Mount Vernon Unitarian, 1909 Windmill Lane. Call Sandy at 703-971-2214 or go to joyfulheartyoga.com.
Burn Survivors Group. A group for people with serious burn injuries and their family and friends meet from 7:30-9 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month except December in the American Red Cross Building, 123 N. Alfred St., Alexandria. For more information, call 703-698-1626.
Take off Pounds Sensibly, TOPS chapter VA #280, Alexandria, meets Thursdays, at 10 a.m., at the Hollin Hall Senior Center on Shenandoah Road. For more information, call Joan at 703-751-6086.
The Alexandria Health Department has a volunteer opportunity focusing on emergency management. The position involves a commitment of 1700 hours over the next year with an Americorps educational stipend of $4725 upon completion. Flexible hours and some work-at-home possibilities. Individual will be directly involved in emergency preparedness and volunteer management. Contact John Clizbe, Emergency Planner, Alexandria Health Department, 4480 King St. Call 703-838-4400, Ext. 275.
Alzheimer's Support Group. The Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Support Group meets the first Wednesday of each month, at 4:30 p.m., at the Alexandria Adult Day Health Center. The group is free and open to the community. The Alexandria Adult Day Health Center is located at 1108 Jefferson St. Call 703-838-4224 before attending to verify time and location.
Alexandria Red Cross relies on volunteers to sustain its humanitarian mission for disaster relief efforts, to teach first aid and CPR, for the Friendly Visitor Program and other community service work, special events, administrative support, to work with the Junior Red Cross and for blood donation services for the citizens of Alexandria. Training is provided. Call 703-549-8300 or see the Web site at http://www.alexandriaredcross.org.
Haven of Northern Virginia sponsors several ongoing free bereavement groups meeting throughout Fairfax County. For more information, call 703-941-7000 or visit www.havenofnova.org.
The Mount Vernon Community Wellness Initiative has published a free educational pamphlet, "High Blood Pressure: Learn the Facts and Reduce the Risks." The pamphlet is being distributed to churches, libraries, pharmacies, physician's offices and community organizations. For a copy, call 703-360-4000.
CrisisLink has been helping people deal with anxiety, stress and crisis throughout the entire metropolitan area for 35 years. Call 703-527-4077 or 1-800-784-2433, or learn more about their confidential, free hot line and crisis response services on the web at www.crisislink.org.
"Living healthier, being more social, and helping others" are all ideas perennially at the top of people's resolution lists. Here's a suggestion to tackle all three at once. By joining the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training (TNT) program, individuals can actually complete their New Year's resolutions and have fun doing it. TNT can take people of all skill-levels (including beginners) from sitting on the sofa to the finish line of an endurance event. Participants will adopt a new lifestyle that they maintain even after their event is over. For additional TNT information, call The National Capital Area Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at 703-960-1100; or visit: www.teamintraining.org.
The Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program will be offering two support groups beginning in January 2007. The Significant Others Support Group is a six-week, co-ed group for partners of sexual assault/sexual abuse survivors. Group topics will include the recovery process, communication, and intimacy. This support group will meet on Thursday evenings from 6:30–8 p.m.
The Creative Expression Support Group is for adult survivors of sexual assault or sexual abuse that will incorporate non-verbal forms of expression, such as poetry, art, and journaling. This six-week group is for those who have previously participated in another support group. The support group will meet on Wednesdays from 6:30–8 p.m. Both support groups are sponsored by the SARA Program, and will be held in Alexandria. For more information on becoming involved, contact Jen McLish at 703-838-5030.
The Naomi Project is an all-volunteer resource program for pregnant and newly parenting mothers. The organization has been serving women and families in Northern Virginia for over 11 years promoting healthy pregnancies, fostering good parenting skills, and helping clients prepare for productive futures. Contact Kathy Shinal with The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program at The Campagna Center. Call 703.549.0111 X129 or e-mail kshinal@campagnacenter.org.
Inova HealthSource is now offering online classes for new parents and persons interested in losing weight. "Baby's First Foods" is an online course for working parents with no time to attend an on-site class. Tips are given for when to introduce solid foods and what types of foods to offer. The other class is "Weight Loss 101" and includes basic tips and strategies for healthy eating in our busy lives. Classes are available at anytime at the participant's convenience. The site is www.inovahealthsource.com, but pre-registration is required for a username and password. Class fee is $15. Register online at www.inova.org or by calling 703-204-3366.
Yoga Classes are offered by YogaKala at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St., on Saturdays, 10 a.m. for intermediate and 11:25 a.m. for beginners, and at the Carlyle Towers, 2151 Jamieson Ave., on Thursday 6 p.m. for intermediate and 7:15 p.m. for beginners, as well as Fridays, 10 a.m. gentle yoga. Cost: $15 per class or $96 for eight classes. For more information, call 703-549-0484 or e-mail YogaKala@aol.com.