<i>Know of something missing from our community calendar? E-mail it to<a href=mailto: arlington@connectionnewspapers.com> arlington@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. 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 <a href=http://www.arlingtonconnection.com and click on Community>www.arlingtonconnection.com</a>.</i>
A free financial seminar series will be held at the Arlington County Public Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington. Call 703-228-6417 or jabel@vt.edu for more information. Classes are 7-9 p.m. Wednesday nights. Oct. 1: _Planning for future life events: _estate planning, wills, and more. _Oct. 8: _Long-term care insurance. _Oct. 15: _Controlling paper clutter. _Oct. 22: A session on how to _find reputable and reasonable _service providers. _Oct. 29; _Green Money: Environmentallyfriendly _practices that put money in _your wallet.
Mount Olivet United Methodist Church in Arlington is hosting a Blessing of the Animals service on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. Bring your pets (or photos of them) and have them blessed by our pastors. All are welcome. Mount Olivet is located at 1500 N. Glebe Road. 703-527-3934 or www.mtolivet-umc.org.
Workshop for Parents & Teachers: 10 Keys to a Stress Free School Year. The Workshop is free to the community. Teachers, parents, grandparents and all caregivers are encouraged to attend. The Workshop will be held on Sunday, Oct. 5 from 6:30- 8:30 p.m. at the Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. Visit www.CelebrateCALM.com.
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.
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 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-
* 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.
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.
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
Volunteer movers are needed to assist families in the HomeStart (transitional housing) program. The families that Doorways serves often in need of assistance moving into their new homes or picking up and delivering donated furniture items. Looking for volunteers who have access to trucks and/or could lend a hand in assisting families transitioning out of homelessness. Movers would help families moving in or out of Doorways HomeStart Program (formerly the transitional housing program) on an as-needed basis. All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and able to lift small and/or large pieces of furniture. Contact Candice Lopez, Community Resources Manager, 703-522-8858 x13 or visit http://www.doorwaysva.org
Capital Hospice, is looking for daytime volunteers with diverse backgrounds who want to aid their community through Patient/Family Care, Translating Languages (especially Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese) and more. Call Capital Hospice at 703-538-2065 and ask to speak with a Volunteer Services Coordinator or visit www.capitalhospice.org. Eighteen hours of training, provided. Patient Care volunteers must take a TB skin test and complete a criminal background check, provided at no cost.
The "Live And Let Live" Alanon Family Group (www.alanonva.com/) provides a safe and dependable space where GLBT people gather to disciss the 12 Steps and Traditions of Al-Anon Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Unitarian Church, 4444 Arlington Blvd. Arlington.
Starting now, those who live, work in and visit Arlington County can register for Arlington Alert by texting "1776" to 411911. Arlington County uses Arlington Alert, to contact citizens when an emergency occurs via cell phone, e-mail, pager, BlackBerry, wireless PDA and XM Satellite Radio. In addition to enrollment via text message, Arlington Alert is available on the internet at www.arlingtonalert.com.
Volunteer Nurses are needed to work in the Communicable Diseases Clinic of the Arlington County Department of Human Services. Nurses must have Virginia license, current CPR card, and liability insurance. Orientation and training will be provided. Volunteers must be able to work two clinics (Thursdays) per month. Contact Tracey Hess at 703-228-5664. Located at 800 S. Walter Reed Drive.
Arlington’s Youth Team is for young volunteers ages 12 - 18 and provides a way for young people to volunteer for the Red Cross in a fun, social setting, while providing necessary services to the Arlington community. During the school year, the Youth Team has meetings once every other week in the evening, along with weekend and evening projects. During the summer, the Youth Team is much more active, with volunteer projects occurring 3-4 times per week during the day. All volunteers (youth and adult) must first attend a New Volunteer Orientation. Orientations are held approximately twice per month. You can find specific dates on www.arlingtonredcross.org. Volunteers age 18 and older must complete a background check. Contact Heather Pritchett, Volunteer Services Coordinator, 703-527-3010 x735.
Library Volunteer. Help make the Central Library's, 1015 N. Quincy St., programs go more smoothly by ushering, handing out programs, preparing children's crafts ahead of time, and then helping children complete their projects during the program. We need reliable, dependable, friendly people. Experience working with children is a plus. Contact Barbara Dean, Volunteer Coordinator, 703-228-7688.
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to assist its blood collections staff at blood drives and blood donor centers. Volunteers will assist with providing a high level of customer service to donors, and with caring for donors in the refreshment area after the donation process. This position is offered to people who are 14 years of age or older. Training is scheduled at volunteer’s convenience at Red Cross offices in Arlington. To register for training, call the American Red Cross Volunteer Office at 1-800-272-0094, ext 1, or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.