More volunteers are desperately needed for this year’s All Night Drug and Alcohol Free Graduation (ANGP) party on June 20 at Chinquapin Recreation Center, following the graduation ceremony. Volunteers are needed for the first shift (10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.) and second shift (1 to 4:30 a.m.), and a few more individuals are needed for clean-up, (4:30 to 6 a.m.) Please email ANGP Volunteer Coordinator Jim Wilson at TCgradnight@comast.net to sign up.
There is a pet calendar contest to benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. All pets are eligible and all entries will appear in the calendar. $25/pet, which includes one calendar. Entry deadline is Aug. 22. Visit www.alexandriaanimals.org or 703-838-4774.
. The Alexandria chapter of the Coronary Health Improvement Project (CHIP), will sponsor a Community Health Expo and Seminar on Sunday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Community Praise Center, 1400 Russell Road. The event highlights include a fitness clinic, vegan cooking demonstrations, health information on hypertension, diabetes, cancer, cholesterol, door prizes. Free health screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, body fat analysis and more will be provided. Services for alternative health therapies will also be offered for a nominal fee. The expo is free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, call 703-823-2139 or email cpcchip@comcast.net
The annual Fostering the Future Cruise: a Parrothead Paradise takes place on Wednesday, June 25, aboard the Cherry Blossom paddleboat at the City Marina in Old Town Alexandria. Cocktail reception at the dock at 6:30 p.m., before setting sail at 7:30 p.m. Ticket price includes buffet and bar, with margaritas from Mango Mike's and the laid-back island music of the Nautical Wheelers Band. On-board raffle for Sony Bravia 32" flat-screen TV and other great prizes. Attire is Key West casual, flip-flops optional. All proceeds benefit The Fund for Alexandria's Child. For tickets and further information, call 703-519-3318 x 206 or visit: www.ourkids-ourbusiness.org/thefundforalexchild
Nonprofit organizations and other grantseekers in Alexandria looking for funding sources now have access to a valuable new collection of resources through Alexandria Library. The Foundation Center’s core collection includes The Foundation Directory Online and Foundation Grants to Individuals Online. All four Alexandria Library branches have access to the two databases through their catalog computers. The complete Cooperating Collection of print and electronic resources is held at the Barrett Library, located at 717 Queen St. For more information visit visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us .
The City of Alexandria has partnered with Alexandria City Public Schools to obtain a grant for $70,000 to retrofit approximately 40 school buses with clean air technology that reduces pollutants emitted by diesel engine school buses. For more information about the Retrofit Grant Program, please contact Erica Bannerman, Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, at 703-838-4334 or David Rose, Alexandria City Public Schools, at 703-461-4169.
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The Northern Virginia Review is accepting entries for the next issue, slated for publication in March 2009. The Review, an annual journal of essays, fine art, photography, poetry and short stories, accepts submissions from residents of the Northern Virginia and the greater Washington metropolitan area.
People may submit two essays, two works of fiction, three pieces of artwork and four poems, with a limit of five items per person. The deadline for entries is Sept. 18. Additional guidelines can be found at http://www.nvcc.edu/depts/nvreview/nvr-submit.htm. The Review is funded by Northern Virginia Community College, the NVCC Educational Foundation, individuals and corporate sponsors. Contributions are tax deductible and all donors are recognized in the publication. To make a donation or learn more about the journal, contact Managing Editor Steve Drasner at sdrasner@nvcc.edu.
The Alexandria Archaeological Commission (AAC) is now accepting nominations for the Bernard “Ben” Brenman Archaeology in Alexandria Award. The Brenman Award is open to businesses, organizations, families, professional preservationists, volunteers, students and other individuals who have demonstrated work or efforts in archaeological investigation, research, site protection, education, public interpretation, open space design, collections, or conservation. Nomination forms are available at www.alexandriaarchaeology.org or by calling the Alexandria Archaeology Museum at 703.838.4399. The deadline for nominations is June 30.
Alexandria Library now offers its patrons a chance to write their own reviews of almost all of the Library holdings (books, movies, music, and other materials) on the Alexandria Library Web site online catalog at www.alexandria.lib.va.us. To access the online catalog, visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us , click on “Library Catalog,” and begin browsing. To write a review, simply register and type your review for all to read. For more information, contact Mark Schwartz at 703-519-3498, or e-mail mschwartz@alexandria.lib.va.us.
Community Partners for Children’s fourth annual baby supply drive is underway. The following Alexandria drop off locations will have donation baskets and containers at their businesses. The items collected during the drive will be donated to four local non-profit groups that help struggling families: Casey Clinic, Alexandria Neighborhood Services in Arlandria, Center for Alexandria’s Children and the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM). The other way to help is to donate a tax-deductible check to support Community Partners for Children’s Baby Supply Drive, Back-to-School Drive and the Holiday Toy Drive. Send your check to Community Partners for Children, PO Box 2738, Alexandria, VA 22301.
* A Show of Hands, 2204 Mt. Vernon Ave.
* Burke & Herbert Bank, 306 E. Monroe Ave.
* Caboose Café, 2419 Mt. Vernon Ave.
* Chinquapin Rec. Center, 3210 King St.
* Chrysalis Chiropractic, 3140 Commonwealth Ave.
* Dairy Godmother, 2310 Mt. Vernon Ave.
* St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, 2300 Mount Vernon Ave.
* T.C. Williams High School, Main Office, 3330 King St.
* Yoga in Daily Life, 2402 Mt. Vernon Ave.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is seeking persons who are diplomatic, assertive, and good communicators to serve as volunteer ombudsmen. Volunteers are assigned to a specific local nursing home or assisted-living facility in the City of Alexandria and make weekly visits, meeting one-on-one with residents. For further information and to obtain an application, call 703-324-5422, or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman.
Have an attic or basement full of treasures collecting dust? Put them to good use instead by donating them to MV Big Flea. The Big Flea benefits the Mount Vernon Community School PTA in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood. Here's how it works: You donate items to the school PTA. They sell them and keep the proceeds. You receive a tax-deductible contribution. Donations can be dropped off on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at 409 E. Alexandria Ave. If possible, send an email to joseph.lamountain@gmail.com and let Joe know that you are coming and what you plan to bring so we can plan accordingly. You may also contact Joseph LaMountain at 202-288-5124.
The Alexandria chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) meet at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Nannie J. Lee Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Contact 703-684-6190 or visit www.naacpalexandria.org.
Greenlight Toastmasters International meets every second and fourth Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Mount Vernon Rec Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. Visit greenlight.freetoasthost.info or 703-569-4810.
Every Saturday, 7–9 a.m. there are bookmark distributions in Del Ray and Old Town to promote awareness about domestic violence. For more information contact Stephanie Romonchuk at Stephanie.romonchuk@alexandriava.gov or 703-838-4911.
Come and volunteer at the The Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC) headquarters offices in Alexandria. Again this year, CFNC staff and volunteers will be preparing our holiday solicitation mailing. We need your help to hand-address, collate stuff and stamp over 2500 letters. We always have a wonderful time working on this project, talking, snacking and getting to know each other. We would love to have you join us. CFNC relies on the funds from this mailing to help provide no cost preschool and family services to those children and their families living at or below the poverty level in Alexandria and Arlington. Please call Patricia Chapman at 703-836-0214, or e-mail to pchapman@cfnc-online.org.