Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, 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 Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
AARP driving safety class, April 24, 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m., Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg. Must attend both days to receive certificate. $10. Registration required, call 703-737-8039.
Sterling Annex Community Center, 22082 Shaw Road, Sterling, is offering workshops for child-care providers. Marcy Henninger of Primarily Kids LCC will teach the workshops. All sessions will be held at the Annex on Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. The cost for each is $25 with preregistration required. Nanny 911 on April 18 and Tapping into Toddlers on May 16. Call 703-430-6673.
Loudoun Volunteer Services will present a Volunteer Management Training (VMT) series, designed for volunteer managers of community organizations. The VMT series consists of six courses, Friday, April 27-Friday, June 6, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Claude Moore Recreation Center, 46105 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling. The cost for each course is $25 or register for all six for $100. To register visit www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm and click on "Volunteer Management Training Series" or call 703-777-0113 for an application. The deadline to apply is April 20.
Creative writing workshop, Saturday, April 21, 3 p.m., at Cascades Library, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Part three of four by author Nathan Leslie. Nonfiction: Learn how to tell the truth well in prose. Confessional writing exercises will follow. Recommended for teens and adults. Call 703-444-3228, Ext. 5.
Inova Loudoun Hospital will host a babysitting course Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., for students wishing to learn effective babysitting strategies, at the Lansdowne Campus at 44045 Riverside Parkway in Leesburg, in the patient education room. Cost is $55 per student, which covers manual and snacks. Students should bring a lunch. Register by calling 703-858-6360 or visiting the Web site at www.thebirthinginn.org.
There will be a Obstacle Course Clinic for Horse/Riders of any discipline April 21, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at Loudoun County Fairgrounds, 17558 Dry Mill Road, Leesburg. Cost is $40 per horse. To preregister and obtain waiver visit www.tristaterc.org.
Inova Loudoun Hospital will host an early pregnancy class Monday, April 23, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., for couples wishing to learn all about a new pregnancy, at the Lansdowne Campus at 44045 Riverside Parkway in Leesburg, in the family education room. Cost is $55 per couple. Register by calling 703-858-6360 or visiting the Web site at www.thebirthinginn.org.
Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, Sterling, is offering Sign Language I with instructor Jill Moebus. Sign Language I will run Monday, April 23-June 18, from 7-8:30 p.m. Participants must bring the book "The Joy of Signing." This book is available in all area libraries and book stores. Cost: $84 per person and preregistration is required, call 703-430-6673.
Creative writing workshop, Saturday, April 28, 3 p.m., at Cascades Library, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Part four of four by author Nathan Leslie. Show and Tell: The final session will feature readings by participants in the series, as well as readings by featured guest readers. Recommended for teens and adults. Call 703-444-3228, Ext. 5.
Loudoun Literacy Council is offering a free instructor training course April 28, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tutor or teach ESL students. No experience necessary except to speak English. Prior teaching experiences a plus. Call 703-777-2205 or e-mail vworstell@loudounliteracy.org.
The Loudoun Academy of the Arts is offering two new classes. Timothy Chambers’ class, Drawing and Painting the Portrait, is scheduled for Thursday afternoons from 1-3:30 p.m., beginning May 3-June 14. Jin Chung will teach Portrait Drawing and Painting Tuesday evenings, from 6:30-9 p.m., beginning May 1-June 5. Visit www.loudounacademy.org or contact the foundation at 703-777-8043.
The Loudoun Academy of Arts is offering "Rocking the Boat: An Experimental Painting Workshop" with Joyce McCarten, May 5 and 6, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., both days. The class will move from representational abstracts of still lifes and figures to nonrepresentational works. Cost $200 plus $15 model fee. Register by visiting www.loudounacademy or calling 703-777-8043.
"How Do I Deal with My Parents’ Divorce?" New Life Christian Church’s is offering a 13-week summer program for fourth- through sixth-graders on how to deal with all that happens when families split, May 6-Aug. 5, 9:30-11:00 a.m., Sundays at Broad Run High School, 21670 Ashburn Road, Ashburn. Contact Lucy Martinez at 703-220-5022.
Conversational English. An informal conversation circle for non-native speakers to practice English will take place Wednesdays, through May 9, at 7 p.m., at Ashburn Library. This is not a class, rather an opportunity to meet new people and share cultures. Only English will be spoken. Recommended for adults. Call 703-737-8100.
Inova Loudoun Hospital will host "Have an Unmedicated Birth" class Wednesday, May 9, from 6:30-9 p.m., for couples wishing to learn about having a "natural birth" at the Lansdowne Campus at 44045 Riverside Parkway in Leesburg, in the family education room. Cost is $55. Register by calling 703-858-6360 or visit www.thebirthinginn.org.
The Loudoun Academy of Arts is offering "The Figure and Still Life" with Dodie Petro, May 12 and 13, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Oil paint is the primary medium; pastel and acrylic are also acceptable. Cost $265 includes the model fee. Register by visiting www.loudounacademy or calling 703-777-8043.
Inova Loudoun Hospital will host Parenting 1*2*3 Magic course, Wednesday, May 16, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., for parents wishing to learn effective parenting strategies and discipline for children ages 2-12, at the Lansdowne Campus at 44045 Riverside Parkway in Leesburg, in the patient education room. Cost is $55 per couple. No child care is provided. Register by calling 703-858-6360 or visiting the Web site at www.thebirthinginn.org.
AARP driving safety class, May 23 and 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Must attend both days to receive certificate. $10 for members, $12 for nonmembers. Call 703-430-2397.
The Loudoun Academy of Arts is offering "Nuts and Bolts of a Critique" with Lisa Semerad, May 26, from 1-5 p.m. Participants will learn how to conduct a thorough critique of artwork using ten elements of evaluation. Cost $50. Register by visiting www.loudounacademy or calling 703-777-8043.
The Loudoun Museum's 12th Annual Children’s Needlework Seminar, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, June 25-29, 9 a.m.-noon. For ages 8-17 years. Snacks and materials provided. Cost $100. Reservations required, 703-777-7427 or e-mail education@loudounmuseum.org. Proceeds from the seminar will go to the Loudoun Museum’s Collections Fund.
The Loudoun County Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension will offer a Virginia Gardener Shortcourse. The Shortcourse is a condensed version of the training that Trainees who are new members of the Master Gardener Volunteer program receive. The Shortcourse is held in the Loudoun Cooperative Extension conference room at 30-B Catoctin Circle, SE (Wachovia Bank Building), Leesburg. The sessions are from 6-8:30 p.m. and are spread throughout the year. Dates for this year are: July 9, 23, Aug. 6, Oct. 25, and Nov. 8. Participants may sign up for individual sessions or for all eight. Contact Debbie D. Dillion at 703-771-5838 or ddillion@vt.edu.
Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, is offering a Sewing and Stitch-In class, Mondays, 9-11:30 a.m. Beginner level. Sewing machines provided; bring in your sewing project. Come and sew, knit, needlepoint or crochet. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Line Dancing, at the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, Wednesdays, 1-2 p.m. Learn some new line dances. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Beginner tap dancing, at the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m. Learn some new line dances. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, is offering a National Council on Aging exercise tape class, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, is offering stretch and tone classes where participants use bands and hand weights, every Thursday, 11-11:45 a.m. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg, is offering tai chi, which involves three primary subjects: health, meditation and martial arts, Mondays, 11 a.m.-noon. Free. Call 703-737-8039.