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.
<cal1>Thursday/Feb. 26
<cal2>JUNIE B. JONES BOOK CLUB. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Recommended for ages 6-9. Register online at http://library.loudoun.gov or phone 703-737-8100.
GUYS READ. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. The February book is "The Garfield Treasury" by Jim Davis. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Register online at library.loudoun.gov or phone 703-737-8100.
READING BUDDIES. 4:30 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Volunteer to be a "Reading Buddy" and read stories aloud to young children. This program is the orientation for the March-April session. Recommended for ages 12-18. Register at library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Friday/Feb. 27
<cal2>DIFFERENT THINKING. 10 a.m., George Washington University Virginia Campus, 20101 Academic Way, Ashburn. "Different Thinking," a series of educational seminars and peer-to-peer counseling provided by the county's leading business owners and CEOs on important business topics taught at a senior executive level. For a full list of topics and presenters, visit www.loudounchamber.org and click on the Events tab near the top.
<cal1>Saturday/Feb. 28
<cal2>DEADLINE FOR MADD LOUDOUN. The deadline for MADD Loudoun’s 2009 poster/essay contest, "It goes without thinking — stop underage drinking" is today.
Visit www.maddloudouva.org or leave message at 703-771-8127 for details, including categories and divisions, and to download an entry form.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. 11 a.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Loudoun Habitat for Humanity will host a volunteer orientation. Visit www.loudounhabitat.org or e-mail tonypammcgraw@cs.com.
<cal1>Monday/March 2
<cal1>ADULT BOOK CLUB. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. The group will discuss "The Tender Bar" by J.R. Moehringer. Call 703-737-8100.
<cal1>Tuesday/March 3
<cal2>WINTER CONCERT AND DINNER. 5:30 p.m., Briar Woods High School, 22525 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn. Have dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by the concert at 7 p.m. where the Briar Woods Symphonic Band and Symphonic Winds, Eagle Ridge Eighth Grade Band and the Stone Hill Middle School Stingray Band will perform. Dinner tickets: $11 adults, $6 children, free for children under 5. RSVP for the dinner by Feb. 24 to BWHSMBA@gmail.com with name, phone number and the number of adults and children.
<cal1>Thursday/March 5
<cal2>KIDS BOOK CLUB. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Ages 8-11. Registration begins four weeks before the program. Books will be available at the Children’s Desk. Selection: "Rules" by Cynthia Lord. Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
MASTER GARDNER. 7 p.m., Loudoun Extension Office, 30 Catoctin Circle S.E., Suite B, Leesburg. The Loudoun County Master Gardener Volunteers are holding a free monthly meeting. Keith Tomlinson, managing director Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, will address the topic, "Using Native Plants: Combining Ecology and Aesthetics." Call the Loudoun Extension Office at 703-777 0373 or visit www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org.
<cal1>Friday/March 6
<cal2>WRITERS FIRST FRIDAY. 7:30-9:30 p.m., Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg. The event is titled "Hooks and Books: How to Get Agents, Editors and Readers to Pick Up Your Story ... and Keep Reading," hosted by author Austin S. Camacho. Admission: $4 for Writer's Center members and residents of Leesburg, $6 for general public. Visit www.writer.org or call 301-654-8664.
LA LECHE LEAGUE. 10:15 a.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. La Leche League of Ashburn will hold its next meeting. The topic is "The Family and the Breastfed Baby." Pregnant and nursing women as well as their children are welcome to attend. Free. Call a La Leche League leader at 703-753-3214.
<cal1>Monday/March 9
<cal2>STUDY TIME. 5-9 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Study for the SATs with friends. A private room, refreshments and SAT workbooks will be provided. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Tuesday/March 10
<cal2>STUDY TIME. 5-9 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. See March 9 item for details.
FINDING EDUCATION SUPPORT. 10-11:30 a.m., George Washington University, Virginia Campus Library, 44983 Knoll Square, Ashburn. Learn how to research undergraduate scholarships, as well as funding for graduate and continuing education. Free. Registration required; call 703-726-8230 or e-mail virginia@gwu.edu.
<cal1>Wednesday/March 11
<cal2>MAGIC TREE HOUSE BOOK CLUB. 4 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Ages 7-9. Registration begins two weeks before the program. Selection: "Hour of the Olympics" by Mary Pope Osborne. Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
READING PALS. 4:30 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Children in grades one-three will be paired with a trained teen volunteer to practice reading in a six-week program. Call 703-737-8100 or go to library.loudoun.gov to register.
STUDY TIME. 5-9 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Study for the SATs with friends. A private room, refreshments and SAT workbooks will be provided. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Thursday/March 12
<cal2>MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOK CLUB. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. The Middle School Book Club will meet to discuss "Waiting for Normal" by Leslie Connor. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
STUDY TIME. 5-9 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. See March 11 item for details.
<cal1>Tuesday/March 17
<cal1>ADULT BOOK CLUB. 10 a.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. The group will discuss "Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil" by Deborah Rodriguez. Call 703-737-8100.
MOMS CLUB. 11 a.m. The MOMS Club of Ashburn Village will host a meet and greet for current and potential members. For location and information, e-mail Ashburnmomsclub@yahoo.com.
<cal1>Thursday/March 19
<cal2>KIDS EXPLORE BOOK CLUB. 4 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Ages 6-8. Registration begins two weeks before the program. Selection: "Let’s Try It Out with Towers and Bridges" by Seymour Simon and Nicole Fauteux. Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Saturday/March 21
<cal2>CASINO NIGHT. 7:30-11 p.m., Dulles Airport Marriott, 45020 Aviation Drive, Dulles. Briar Woods High School is holding "Casino Royale Night." Play blackjack, Texas hold ‘em, roulette and more and bid on items in a silent auction. Cost: $49 per person. Go to www.BWHScasinonight.com to purchase tickets.
<cal1>Monday/March 23
<cal2>PRIMARY BOOK CLUB. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Virginia Readers’ Choice primary book club for ages 5-8. Registration begins two weeks before the program. Selection: "Once I Ate a Pie" by Patricia MacLachlan. Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Wednesday/March 25
<cal2>BUYER/SELLER INFO EXCHANGE. 10:30 a.m. All local area vendors are invited to attend Loudoun County Procurement's 2008 buyer/seller information exchange sessions that provide information on the county's procurement processes and upcoming contracts. For location call 703-777-0403 or e-mail to Rebecca Kummel at procurement@loudoun.gov.
BIKE LOUDOUN. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. BikeLoudoun, a county bicycle advocacy group, will meet. All are welcome. Call Pat Turner at 703-444-4199.
<cal1>Thursday/March 26
<cal2>GUYS READ. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Ages 8 and up. Registration begins four weeks before the program. Selection: "Love That Dog" by Sharon Creech. Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
JUNIE B. JONES BOOK CLUB. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Ages 6-9. Registration begins two weeks before the program. Selection: "Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny" by Barbara Parks. Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Tuesday/March 31
<cal2>GIRLS BOOK CLUB. 4 and 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. American Girls book club for ages 7-11. Registration begins two weeks before the program. Selection: "American Girl: Samantha." Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Thursday/April 2
<cal2>KIDS BOOK CLUB. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Ages 8-11. Registration begins four weeks before the program. Books will be available at the Children’s Desk. Selection: "Phineas L. MacGuire … Erupts!" by Frances O’Roark Dowell. Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Monday/April 6
<cal1>ADULT BOOK CLUB. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. The group will discuss "Skeletons at the Feast" by Chris Bohjalian. Call 703-737-8100.
<cal1>Wednesday/April 8
<cal2>MAGIC TREE HOUSE BOOK CLUB. 4 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Ages 7-9. Registration begins two weeks before the program. Selection: "Tonight on the Titanic" by Mary Pope Osborne. Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Thursday/April 9
<cal2>MIDDLE SCHOOL BOOK CLUB. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. The Middle School Book Club will meet to discuss "Cupboards" by N.D. Wilson. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Thursday/April 16
<cal2>KIDS EXPLORE BOOK CLUB. 4 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Ages 6-8. Registration begins two weeks before the program. Selection: "Waiting for Wings" by Lois Ehlert. Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Tuesday/April 21
<cal1>ADULT BOOK CLUB. 10 a.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. The group will discuss "The Third Angel" by Alice Hoffman. Call 703-737-8100.
<cal1>Thursday/April 23
<cal2>BUYER/SELLER INFO EXCHANGE. 2 p.m. All local area vendors are invited to attend Loudoun County Procurement's 2008 buyer/seller information exchange sessions that provide information on the county's procurement processes and upcoming contracts. For location call 703-777-0403 or e-mail to Rebecca Kummel at procurement@loudoun.gov.
GUYS READ. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Ages 8 and up. Registration begins four weeks before the program. Selection: "Guinness World Records." Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
JUNIE B. JONES BOOK CLUB. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Ages 6-9. Registration begins two weeks before the program. Selection: "Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants" by Barbara Parks. Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Saturday/April 25
<cal2>CONSIGNMENT SALE. 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Sanders Corner Elementary, 43100 Ashburn Farm Parkway, Ashburn. The CFC Mothers of Preschoolers will hold a consignment sale. Seller registration is available March 1-April 11. Visit www.cfcmops.com.
<cal1>Tuesday/April 28
<cal2>GIRLS BOOK CLUB. 4 and 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. American Girls book club for ages 7-11. Registration begins two weeks before the program. Selection: "American Girl: Kit." Register by phone 703-737-8100 or online at http://library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Thursday/May 21
<cal2>BUYER/SELLER INFO EXCHANGE. 10:30 a.m. All local area vendors are invited to attend Loudoun County Procurement's 2008 buyer/seller information exchange sessions that provide information on the county's procurement processes and upcoming contracts. For location call 703-777-0403 or e-mail to Rebecca Kummel at procurement@loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Tuesday/June 23
<cal2>BUYER/SELLER INFO EXCHANGE. 2 p.m. All local area vendors are invited to attend Loudoun County Procurement's 2008 buyer/seller information exchange sessions that provide information on the county's procurement processes and upcoming contracts. For location call 703-777-0403 or e-mail to Rebecca Kummel at procurement@loudoun.gov.