Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Get Me Started, Saturdays in October from 12:30-3 p.m. Cost is $25 each day. For true beginners only who want to be introduced to painting in a variety of mediums. All materials supplied. At the Loudoun Academy of the Arts Foundation, 222 South King St., Leesburg. Visit www.loudounacademy.org or call 703-777-8043.
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: 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.
Sign, Say and Play, ages birth-3 years. Designed for parents and children. Interactive play class highlights signs that are most important in the lives of babies. Class meets every Friday, from Oct. 26-Dec. 7, from 9:15-10 a.m., at the Douglass Community Center, 407 East Market St., Leesburg. Price is $55 per child and a $77 materials fee is due at the first class. Contact the Douglass Community Center at 703-771-5913 or e-mail at dcc@loudoun.gov.
Baby Fair at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn, Saturday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free educational seminars for expectant parents and parents of young children. Learn how to enhance the childbirth experience, how to soothe your baby, talk with your baby using sign language, how to enhance your child’s literacy skills plus much, much more. Prizes will be given away throughout the day. Advance registration required Visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
An "Understanding Your Teenager" seminar will be held Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Ashburn Presbyterian Church, 20962 Ashburn Road, Ashburn. The seminar runs from 2-5 p.m. Duffy Robbins, Youth Ministry Professor from Eastern University, will present principles for building good relationships with teenagers. Pre-registration is $25 per person or $40 per couple. Cost is $30 at the door. Call 703-858-1966.
Coping with "Difficult" People at the Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Cascades, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m. Learn and apply effective strategies, tips and techniques to effectively cope with "difficult" people in your life, improve your relationships and enjoy the results. Recommended for adults. Advance registration required, begins two weeks prior to program, limited to 20. Register online at www.lcpl.lib.va.us or phone 703-444-3228, Ext. 5.
Family Conversations with Older Drivers, Monday, Nov. 5, 7-8:30 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Loudoun County residents are invited to attend an informational seminar hosted by the AARP and Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers. Recognize warning signs indicating when older drivers may need to stop driving. Learn about developing transportation options for older drivers. Cost is free, but registration required. Call Amber Nightengale at 703-931-0758.
The Leesburg Police Department and the Loudoun County Gang Response Intervention Team (GRIT) are teaming up to host a training for parents regarding Internet safety for children. The class will be held Thursday, Nov. 8, at the Leesburg Police Department beginning at 6 p.m., with dinner provided. To RSVP, contact Ed Ryan with GRIT at 703-777-0241.
Adult Computer Classes will be offered at the Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, Sterling. All classes are held on Mondays and go from 7-8:30 p.m. Microsoft Excel classes are on Nov. 12 and Nov. 19; the cost is $59. Microsoft PowerPoint is held on Nov. 26 and Dec. 3. Cost is $59. Pre-registration is required for all classes. In addition, a $10 materials fee will be collected at the first class. Call Lenda Buchanan at 703-430-6673 or e-mail lbuchana@loudoun.gov.
The Sterling Annex Community Center, 22084 Shaw Road, is offering lunch bunch afternoons for children 3-5 Mondays and Thursdays, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Includes crafts, outdoor and indoor playtime and sports. Pack lunch from home, no microwavable food or refrigeration available. Cost: $7 an hour. Register required, call 703-430-6673.
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.
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.