Send announcements or events, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail <a href="mailto:loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com">loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call 703-917-6454.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, local Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts will kick-off the annual Scouting for Food collection program in Northern Virginia. On that day, the Scouts will distribute collection bags in eastern Loudoun County, with Cub Scout Pack 905, chartered by Galilee United Methodist Church, and other Packs and Troops covering the areas of Countryside, Cascades, Sugarland Run, and Sterling. On Saturday, Nov. 8, the Scouts will return to collect donations of nonperishable food and deliver them to LINK Inc. for distribution to local families. Residents who receive bags are encouraged to fill them with food items such as canned goods, dry grains, and cereals, and to leave the bags on the front stoops for collection before 9 a.m.
The after-school book break meets at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, Wednesdays, except Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, at 4 p.m. For ages 6-8. November: Amber Brown series by Paula Danziger; December: various folklores by Tommie De Paola. Call 703-444-3228.
The Loudoun Education Alliance of Parents (LEAP) meets every second Wednesday of the month, at 7:30 p.m., at the LCPS Administration Building, 12000 Education Court, Ashburn. Nov. 12 the topic is "To ‘B’ or Not to ‘B’ … That is the Question," regarding the county’s grading policies. Public is welcome. E-mail Leap.news@gmail.com or visit www.loudoun.k12.va.us, go to Parents section and look for LEAP.
The mother and daughters book club meets at Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling, Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 4 p.m. For daughters ages 9-12 and their mothers or mentors. Call 703-430-9500.
The origami book club meets at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 4 p.m., to discuss "Three Good Deeds," by Vivian Vande Velde. For ages 8 and up. Registration required, call 703-444-3228.
The adult book club meets at Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling, Thursday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m., to discuss "The Midwife’s Tale," by Gretchen Moran Laskas. Call 703-430-9500.
The CountrySide Women's Club will meet Nov. 14, 9:30 a.m., at the parkway pool meeting room, 46020 Algonkian Parkway, CountrySide. The club is open to women of CountrySide and surrounding neighborhoods. For more information call Allyson at 703-404-1083. Guest speakers, Joyce Biesecker, president of the Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun Hospital and Kathleen Beaver, chairperson of their thrift shop. They will be accepting donations of household items, books, clothing, etc. at the meeting. Donations of food, toys and clothing will also be collected for the Good Shepherd Alliance.
The nonfiction book club meets at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, Monday, Nov. 17, at 4 p.m., to discuss "Frogs," by Nic Bishop. For ages 6-8. Registration required, call 703-444-3228.
The tween book club meets at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 4 p.m., to discuss "I Smell Like Ham," by Betty Hicks. For ages 8-11. Registration required, call 703-444-3228.
The adventures in reading book club meets at Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling, Monday, Nov. 24, at 4 p.m. Ages 6-11. Theme: international holiday food. Call 703-430-9500.
The adult book club meets at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, Monday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., to discuss "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex," by Nathaniel Philbrick. Call 703-444-3228.
The mother and daughters book club meets at Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling, Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m. For daughters ages 9-12 and their mothers or mentors. Call 703-430-9500.
The adult book club meets at Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling, Thursday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m., to discuss "Secrets on 26th Street," by Elizabeth McDavid Jones. Call 703-430-9500.
The origami book club meets at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 4 p.m., to discuss "The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories," by O. Henry. For ages 8 and up. Registration required, call 703-444-3228.
The adventures in reading book club meets at Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling, Monday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m. Ages 6-11. Theme: celebrate families. Call 703-430-9500.
The nonfiction book club meets at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, Monday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m., to discuss "When Fish Got Feet, Sharks Got Teeth and Bugs Began to Swarm," by Hannah Bonner. For ages 6-8. Registration required, call 703-444-3228.
The tween book club meets at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 4 p.m., to discuss "The City of Ember," by Jeanne DuPrau. For ages 8-11. Registration required, call 703-444-3228.
The Ashburn-Sterling Masonic Lodge meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:45 p.m. for dinner at the lodge, located at 43881 Waxpool Road, Ashburn. Visit www.AshburnLodge.org or e-mail info@AshburnLodge.org or call 703-470-2188.
The Loudoun Walking and Volkssport Club invites the public to check out its self-guided year-round walks. The club offers eight walks in the county that can be done any day at just about any time. Each has a choice of distance, 5 and 10 kilometers. The club offers these walks as part of its community outreach efforts. Contact Bob Wright at 703-737-2175 or rwright2@jhu.edu.
Sterling Ruritan Club is seeking vendors for its holiday bazaar, Saturday, Nov. 8, at 183 Ruritan Road, Sterling. Contact Anne Dyer 703-450-5674.
The English Conversation Group is an informal conversation circle for non-native speakers to practice speaking English. This is not a class, but an opportunity to meet new people, share your culture and have fun, Only English will be spoken and all levels are welcome. Recommended for adults. Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls, every Tuesday in October, at 7 p.m. Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., every Wednesday in October, at 7 p.m., except Oct. 15.