To have a notice listed in the Bulletin, e-mail gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with questions.
The Special Education Parent Resource Center holds a weekly Support Group for Parents of Children in Special Education from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday in the Parent Resource Center at Jefferson-Houston Elementary School, 1501 Cameron St. (Ring the bell at door No. 4).
Each meeting includes coffee and bagels, and an opportunity to share stories, support, information and problem-solving ideas related to special education issues, school and family life. The group is open to parents who have children of all ages with special needs. Infants and toddlers are welcome. Parents are welcome to drop in whenever they can.
For more information, please contact Anne Lipnick at 703-706-4552 (office) or 571-274-2866 (work cell), or email alipnick@acps.k12.va.us.
Celebrate and support Alexandria’s heritage at the first annual Historic Alexandria Museum Gala next month! This evening of dining, dancing and entertainment will be held on Saturday, September 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union Street.
With the theme of “Making History in Alexandria,” the gala pays tribute to Alexandria’s unique and rich past, from the discovery of a 13,000-year-old spear point to the preservation of historic properties where George Washington, Robert E. Lee, civil rights pioneers, and others made history. The gala also honors Senator John Warner for his service to Virginia and for his effort to promote Alexandria’s proud heritage. In celebrating Alexandria’s full and diverse history, guests will be “making history” themselves through their support of Alexandria’s museums and historic sites.
The memorable evening will begin with cocktails and daring 18th-century entertainment, including a swordsman and Italian equilibrist Signora Bella. Guests will be invited aboard the Godspeed, a replica of the sailing ship that carried English settlers to Jamestown in 1607, for a tour as it is docked along the Alexandria waterfront. Following cocktails, the Alexandria Town Crier and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums will call guests to dinner. During dinner, a visual experience in black and white will recall Alexandria’s vast and varied history and its remarkable preservation. Then following dinner, guests will enjoy dancing to the swinging big band sound of the Eric Felten Jazz Orchestra.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.historicalexandria.org and click the “Shop” link or call the Office of Historic Alexandria at 703.838.4554.
The Alexandria Landlord Tenant Relations Board will host a Tenant Forum on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the William Ramsay Recreation Center, 5650 Sanger Ave. The forum, scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon, will provide important information for renters and give them an opportunity to speak with elected officials, City staff, and organizations providing services to tenants. Free. 703-838-4545.
Males and females age 13-30 can audition for an upcoming fashion show on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 1-3 p.m. at Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 25 W. Reed Ave. Free. Visit www.walkthiswayproductions-kalaj.com or 703-927-2927.
On Sept. 20, Foster Care Alumni of America will host its inaugural Alumni Family Reunion open to all adults who experienced foster care as children, and their friends and family. The event will take place at Glencarlyn Park Shelter # 2, 300 N. Harrison St. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.fostercarealumni.org or call 703-299-6767.
CrisisLink's 24/7/365 hotline for the Washington Metro Region is currently recruiting volunteers. Come to a training session on Oct. 18. Go to www.crisislink.org, e-mail volunteer@crisislink.org, or call 703-527-6016 to learn more.
On Monday, Sept. 22, take time and observe Family Day by having dinner together with your family. Join parents across the country in logging onto www.CASAFamilyDay.org to take the Family Day STAR Pledge.
There will be a public hearing on the 2009-10 operating budget for Alexandria City Public Schools on Thursday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. The hearing is part of a regularly scheduled School Board meeting that will take place at 2000 N. Beauregard St. 703-824-6614, or send an e-mail to rwebb@acps.k12.va.us.
The Big Event is returning to Alexandria! The Alexandria Volunteer Bureau is organizing Alexandria youth to participate in their annual day of service called The Big Event. On Saturday, September 27th The Big Event will bring together non profits, corporate sponsors, faith groups and local youth for “one big day” of service aimed to give “one big thanks” to the Alexandria community. Participants of diverse backgrounds will form teams in order to complete half-day service projects for Alexandria nonprofits. We would love for and we invite motivated and open minded youth (ages13-19 years old) to sign up and be a part of a day that will leave a lasting impression on its participants. Please contact Alexis Grant at 703.836.2176 or agrant@alexand
There will be a multicultural health and Community Day on Sept. 27 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at 25 West Reed Ave. There will be games, free health screenings and more. Free. 703-838-6464.
The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program (DVP) and Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program invite the public to a special evening on Friday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. to hear Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis speak about his experience of surviving domestic violence. This free event will be held at the Hilton Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Road. For general information, visit www.alexwomen.com, call 703-838-5030.
The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) of Alexandria announces the start of its third program year of training parents to participate more fully in community and school life for the betterment of their children. Applications for the 20-week program in leadership skills, community building, civics, public policy, and practical democracy action are now being accepted. Up to 25 students may participate in the 2008-2009 program, which begins on Oct. 24, and continues to April 24, 2009. For more information or to request an application, please contact Fay Slotnick, Executive Director, at 703-739-0233, or e-mail info@plti-alex.org. Visit the PLTI website at www.plti-alex.org.
On Sunday , September 14 , the second annual "Olde Towne Dogge Walke" will be held in Alexandria , benefiting the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA). The mile and a half walk will kick off from the Olde Towne School for Dogs at 9 am. ET when Washington-area animal lovers and their four -legged friends take to the streets to raise money to fill the AWLA's recently aquired disaster preparedness trailer. This year Mayor Bill Eullie will be walking "Alex" the city's official mascot. Also "Sherman" the City of Alexandria's newest bomb sniffing dog will be joining the walk.
The registration fee is $25 per person and includes a free participant t-shirt and dog bandana. Registration forms are available at the Olde Towne School for Dogs ( 529 Oronoco St. ). A number of animal and people-friendly prizes will also be raffled off on site. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the AWLA.
For more information contact Olde Towne School for Dogs at 703-836-7643
The City of Alexandria and the Alexandria Citizen Corps Council will provide emergency preparedness information at three community events in September to help residents “Be Ready, Alexandria!” The events and locations are as follows:
∗ Olde Towne Dogge Walke, Sept. 14, 9-11 a.m., 529 Oronoco St.
* Cora Kelly Community Day, Sept. 27, noon to 5 p.m., 25 W. Reed Ave.
* World Rabies Day Fun Day, Sept 28, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ben Brenman Park
For more information about the Citizen Corps Council, or to download emergency preparedness checklists, visit alexandriava.gov/citizencorps or contact Kim Purcell at 703-706-3940, ext. 231.
The Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College is hosting a Community Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 20. This free family-friendly event will bring together community residents, businesses and civic organizations for a day filled with fun, food and activities.
The festival will feature children’s arts and crafts, entertainment, community exhibitors, and more. The event is sponsored by Northern Virginia Community College, AARP, Advantage Dental Care and First Family Dental, H. E. Enterprises, Ethnic Expressions, and State Farm.
The campus is located at 3001 N. Beauregard Street in Alexandria. For more information, contact Yolanda Barbier at 703-933-5076 or ybarbier@nvcc.edu.
Monday, Sept. 22: “On Stage: The State of Alexandria’s Performing Arts.” Agenda:Alexandria explores what it has taken for Alexandria to earn and keep its national reputation as an arts destination. Holiday Inn Eisenhower Metro Center, 2460 Eisenhower Avenue. Reception at 6:30 p.m., Dinner ($22 members with reservations/$27 non-members) at 6:45 p.m.; Program only (free to members/$5 non-members) 7:15 p.m. Mail checks to PO Box 3598, Alexandria, VA 22302. For information, contact Sherry Brown, agendaalexandria@aol.com or 703-549-4696.
Laurel Colless, will discuss the EEP pilot program on Wednesday, September 24, 7 to 9 p.m., at Virginia Tech’s Alexandria Center, 1021 Prince St., 3rd floor Conference Room. Free. For more information, contact Kris Wernstedt, 703-706-8132 or krisw@vt.edu.
Tenants and Workers United, The Cora Kelly Recreation Center, and the City of Alexandria will host the Annual Community Day and Health Fair on Sept. 27 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The Health Fair will provide free medical services and information from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. There will be games, music, food, and more. It will be at the Cora Kelly Recreation Center, 25 West Reed Ave.
The Alexandria Workshop of Ikebana International meets at the Hollin Hall Senior Citizen Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, at 9:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month from September through June except December and January. Ikebana is the Japanese art of floral arrangement. The group makes Ikebana floral arrangements, studies the history of the art and learns new techniques. New members are welcome. For more information call Julie Cimino at 202-544-5331.
The Friends of Fort Ward will present the City of Alexandria with the second annual General John G. Barnard Award on Saturday, Sept. 20, commemorating a more than 50-year legacy of preservation activities at the Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site. The award will be presented during “Fete at the Fort,” a celebration from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Museum. In addition to the presentation, Douglas Jimerson and the Civil War Comrades will offer a program of period music. Call 703-838-4848 to make a reservation. For more information, please visit www.fortward.org.
The Mount Vernon Republican Women will host a Wine & Cheese Book Signing on Thursday, September 18, starting at 7 p.m. at the home of Bryan and Sandy Bourne in Alexandria. Alexandria resident and author Craig Shirley will speak about his first book: Reagan’s Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign that Started It all. After the discussion, books will be personalized by the author. Mr. Shirley will also discuss his second book Rendezvous With Destiny: Ronald Reagan and The Campaign That Changed America, and will address the overall state of the GOP. Cost is $20 per person (includes 1 autographed book) or $30 for two people (includes one autographed book). Additional autographed books are $20 each. Reservations are required by September 12th. A reservation made is a reservation paid. For more information please email info@mvrw.org.
The Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) program is looking for compassionate listeners, both English speaking and bilingual, who would be comfortable talking to sexual assault survivors and their families. The next SARA training is scheduled to begin in early October and meets two evenings a week from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and on two Saturday mornings. For more information or to register for the SARA training, contact Stacey C. McCullough at 703-838-5030 or HYPERLINK "mailto:stacey.mccullough@alexandriava.gov"stacey.mccullough@alexandriava.gov.