Know of something missing from our community calendar? E-mail it to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with any questions. Photos are welcome. For more volunteer opportunities, classes, announcements visit www.arlingtonconnection.com and click on Community.
All Naval Officers’ Spouses (active, reserve and retired) are invited to a Welcome Coffee on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington. RSVP to jckamp@aol.com or 703-538-5874.
Preschool and Kindergarten Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 10 a.m. to noon. Gather curriculum, registration and tuition information from a variety of private, parochial, and public schools all at St. Thomas More Cathedral School, 105 North Thomas St. Free. Call 703-528-6781 x24 or e-mail stmoffice@stmschool.org for details.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the League of Women Voters will present a Candidates' Forum on Monday, Oct. 6, 6-8 p.m. at the Arlington County Library Auditorium, 1015 North Quincy St. Candidates for the US Senate, the US House (District 8), the Arlington County Board, and the Arlington County School Board will speak and take questions. For more information contact Janet Witt, AAUW Public Policy Chair, at 202-216-8341 or 703-534-3122.
Prepare for the future on Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 12:30-2 p.m. at Brighton Gardens, 3821 Wilson Blvd. Bill Fralin will talk about living wills and more. Free, box lunch provided. RSVP to 703-294-6875.
Thursday, Sept. 25: Mildred Muhammad, former wife of convicted DC Sniper John Allen Muhammad, will talk about her experience as a survivor of domestic violence at Kenmore Middle School, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road from 7–8:30 p.m. Free. For more information call 703-228-1678 or visit www.arlingtonva.us/projectpeace.
Help prepare yourself, your family and your community for an emergency by participating in the Be Ready Alexandria/Arlington Medication Dispensing Exercise on Saturday, Nov. 8. Just walk into one of the exercise sites between 9 a.m. and noon to pick up simulated medications for yourself, your family and any neighbors you would assist in the event of a real emergency. Arlington County exercise sites are Aurora Hills Senior Center, 735 18th St. South and Fairlington Community Center, 3308 South Stafford St. For more information call 703-228-5580 www.arlingtonva.us/dhs.
Volunteer Overview. Monday, Sept. 29, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington. Learn about service opportunities with Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, including service project leadership, board committees, newsletter writing, promoting reusable bags, and green living outreach. For more information: 703-228-6406 or volunteer@arlingtonenvironment.org.
The Arlington League of Women Voters September program will be "What We Eat - And Why It Matters To Us And To The Planet." It will be held at the Arlington Farmers Market on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. For more information and to register call 703-920-7870 or kagoss@aol.com.
Arlington County will host a three-series of community conversations this fall that will bring together community members of diverse ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and perspectives in a civil and supportive environment. Free, but registration is required, 703-228-0590.
∗ Wednesday, Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St.
∗ Thursday, Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m., Barrett Elementary School, 4401 N. Henderson Road
∗ Sunday, Oct. 26, 1:30 p.m., Drew Model School, 3500 S. 23rd St.
The Virginia Hospital Center is sponsoring a free Health Fair for seniors on the opening day of the 2008 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics, Sat., Sept. 20. The Fair will be held from 9 a.m. – noon at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 S. 2nd St. 703-228-4721.
Arlington parents can attend "Things We Wish We'd Known about the College Search Process (but didn't know enough to ask!)" on Sept. 25 from 7-9 p.m. at Yorktown High School, 5201 N. 28th St. Free. 703-201-3399.
Learn how to get movies distributed on Sept. 20 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the NRECA building, 4301 Wilson Blvd. For more information www.distribution.la.
Learn how to safely lose weight surgically or non-surgically on Thursday, Sept. 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Virginia Hospital Center, Conference Center, 1701 N. George Mason Drive. Free, registration required. 703-558-0877.
Volunteer advocates are needed to promote the quality of life and care for people living in Arlington nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Volunteers are assigned to a specific facility and spend 4 hours per week (2 during the weekday) meeting with residents. Good diplomacy and communication skills are essential. Training is scheduled for Sept. 15, 16 and 26. Following assignment, ongoing training and support are provided. For more information and an application, contact the Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program at 703-324-5422, or TTY: 703-449-1186 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman.
Coming Out at Any Age: Support Group for Gay Men, at WWC NOVA, 5232 Lee Highway, Arlington, 6:30 p.m. Begins Sept. 17 and runs for 10 weeks. Call 703-531-4932 for more.
The Arlington Rotary Club recently received four awards from the District Governor for its outstanding leadership in Rotary and specifically within our district! These awards were given to past president, Elizabeth Harr Bricksin for her leadership and key role towards each of these awards. The following awards were received: The Rotary International Presidential Citation; The Rotary District 7610 Governor's Citation; Rotary District 7610 "Exceptional" Award for International Service and Rotary District 7610 "Exceptional" Award for Club Service.
Greenbrier Learning Center needs volunteers for its after-school program with 3rd-5th graders in South Arlington. Volunteers must be at least 15 years old, have a strong interest in working with children, be motivated, and have the ability to provide tutoring to 3rd-5th grade students. 703-379-6488 x104, volunteer@gblc.org.
Arlington Free Clinic will be holding an online auction in addition to their Benefit Gala Silent Auction on Oct. 18. The online auction will be available beginning on Sept. 1 and will run through Oct. 20. It will feature items such as restaurant gift certificates, theater tickets and vacation getaways. View the items at www.arlingtonfreeclinic.org. For more information on the online auction or the gala, contact Jody Steiner Kelly at 703-979-1425, ext. 43 or jody@arlingtonfreeclinic.org.
Interested in Foster Care? Have questions? Join the Arlington County Foster Care/Adoption Program at our next Foster Parent Orientation Session on Saturday Sept. 6, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at 3033 Wilson Blvd. Find out what it takes to be a foster parent, the process of becoming certified, how you can help a child in need and how our team will support you. For more information or to RSVP, contact Gerson Paniagua, Resource Recruiter, at 703-228-1550 or openheartsopenhomes@arlingtonva.us
On Sept. 18, there will be a volunteer management workshop “Managing Organizational Conflict” at 9:30 a.m. at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. RSVP to Emily Gibbs at 703-246-3809. Free.
During construction of the new community center, Arlington Mill WIC clients will receive services at alternate locations in Arlington. There are three location choices for WIC Clinic starting September, 2008:
* Carlin Springs Elementary School—Wednesday only
5995 S. 5th Road 
Arlington, VA 22204
* Fenwick
800 S. Walter Reed Drive
Arlington, VA 22204
* 3033 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 200A
Arlington, VA 22201
If you have questions or need an appointment, call 703-228-1260
Arlington County Public Health Division will offer STD and Family Planning services as well as HIV testing at two locations: 3033 Wilson Blvd. and 800 South Walter Reed Drive. The STD and Family Planning services listed below (on Monday and Thursday) will be by same-day appointment. Call to schedule an appointment.
* STD and Family Planning Services: Monday: Noon-3 p.m. at 3033 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200B; Thursday: 3-6 p.m. at 800 South Walter Reed Drive. To schedule an appointment, call 703-228-1200. For more information call 703-228-5200, option #3
* HIV Testing Services: Tuesday: 3-6 p.m. at 800 South Walter Reed Drive; Thursday: 10 a.m. -1 p.m. at 3033 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200B. HIV Testing is on a walk-in basis on the two days above –no appointment is necessary.
The Arlington Disability Advisory Commission is seeking applicants to interview for several vacant positions. The Arlington Disability Advisory Commission is a 13 member, County Board appointed advisory group comprised of individuals who live and/or work in Arlington, and who are interested in and knowledgeable about issues involving people with physical and sensory disabilities. People with disabilities, community leaders, and business people are urged to apply. Individuals interested in serving on the Commission or any of its committees should contact the Disability Advisory Commission staff at 703-228-7096 or via e-mail at amaynard@arlingtonva.us for more information or to request a copy of the Commission's Application Form. The form may also be found on the Arlington County Web site under “Advisory Groups.”
Now Arlington community members have a new, convenient way to get trained in lifesaving skills such as CPR and first aid – online. The Arlington County Chapter has partnered with the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis to offer Red Cross online training. Some online training courses, like CPR, require students to attend a skill session before a certificate can be issued. Skill sessions normally take about two hours and are regularly scheduled, during the week and the weekends for convenience. Visit www.arlingtonredcross.org or, call 703-527-3010 ext. 736
Volunteer with the Arlington Red Cross, and help families in Arlington, the Greater Washington Area, or even nationally. Choose your level of participation. Red Cross training also helps you to prepare for emergencies in your own life. Since the Red Cross needs many special skills, almost everyone can find a place to make a meaningful contribution to their community. Contact Heather Pritchett, Volunteer Services Coordinator, 703-527-3010 x735, or visit http://www.arlingtonredcross.org.