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>Wednesday/Jan. 14
<cal2>PAJAMA PARTY. 2-4 p.m., Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Includes stories, humor, music, waffles and juice; participants dressed in pajamas optional. Cost: 3 members, $5 nonmembers and day of event. Transportation available after. Call 703-430-2397.
INOVA GRADUATION. 11:30 a.m., Inova Loudoun Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 235 Old Waterford Road N.W., Leesburg. Certified nursing assistants will graduate from the first ever certified nursing assistant advanced program at Inova Loudoun. All 10 graduates will continue to be employed at Inova.
ICE AGE ADVENTURE. 3:30-5 p.m., Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestal’s Gap Road, Sterling. Children ages 6-10 can explore how people in the Ice Age traveled great distances and faced many challenges. Discover the animals, the life of these people and the clues archaeologists have uncovered about their presence. Cost: $10.50 per child. Call 571-258-3700.
<cal1>Thursday/Jan. 15
<cal2>SPACE TECHNOLOGY. 7 p.m., Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. Rob Cork will talk about the technology and the people that helped get us to the moon. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Registration begins two weeks before the program at http://library.loudoun.gov or 703-444-3228.
CHILDREN’S HISTORY PROGRAM. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and take home one of his "big" words. Recommended for ages 6-8. Register at http://library.loudoun.gov or 703-737-8100 starting two weeks before the program.
DAY OF THE DRAGON. 4 p.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. Fun and games with a dragon theme. Recommended for ages 6-10. Registration begins two weeks before the program at http://library.loudoun.gov or 703-430-9500.
BILINGUAL STORY TIME. 4 p.m., Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. A Spanish bilingual story time with Barbara Davila. Recommended for ages 2-6. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
WII GAMING NIGHT. 6-9 p.m., Douglass Community Center, 405 E. Market St., Leesburg. Children ages 6-14 can come for a night of virtual gaming on the Nintendo Wii, age-appropriate movies and pizza. Advance registration required; call 703-771-5913.
HOOT FOR AN OWL. 9:30-11 a.m. or 12:30-2 p.m., Claude Moore Park, 21544 Old Vestal’s Gap Road, Sterling. Owls may fly at night, but can sometimes be spotted in the day. Search the woods for them and discover how their eyes, ears and feathers make owls special. Recommended for ages 6-10. Cost: $10.50 per child. Call 571-258-3700.
<cal1>Saturday/Jan. 17
<cal2>MAGDRL MEET AND GREET. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., PetSmart, 46220 Potomac Run Plaza, Sterling. Help find a home for a Great Dane at this meet and greet sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League. Visit www.nova-magdrl.org.
BIRD WALKS. 8-9 a.m., Rust Nature Sanctuary, 802 Children’s Center Road, Leesburg. Learn about bird watching in this class for beginners. Free. Call 703-737-0021.
HOOK-IN. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Algonkian Regional Park Conference Center, 47001 Fairway Drive, Sterling. The Goose Creek Ruggers will hold their 5th annual Hook-In. Cost: $5; call 703-673-6528.
COUNTRY DANCING. 8-11 p.m., Purcellville Skating Rink, 250 S. Nursery Ave., Purcellville. Bluemont continues its series of monthly dances with the band Night Watch playing lively old-time country-dance music with figure calling Shawn Brenneman of Radford. Cost: $10 per person, $7 per Bluemont Friends, students, seniors 65-plus and Purcellville residents.
<cal1>Sunday/Jan. 18
<cal2>WINTER ECOLOGY. 1-3:30 p.m., Rust Nature Sanctuary, 802 Children’s Center Road, Leesburg. Explore the ecology of winter with a senior naturalist. Recommended for adults and children over 10. Cost: $5 per person. RSVP at 703-737-0021 by Jan. 17 at noon.
<cal1>Monday/Jan. 19
<cal2>BILINGUAL STORY TIME. 4 p.m., Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. A Spanish bilingual story time with Barbara Davila. Recommended for ages 2-6. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
BIRD FEEDERS. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Douglass Community Center, 405 E. Market St., Leesburg. Create feeders for birds that are not flying south for the winter. Ages 3-4. Cost: $4. Call 703-771-5913 or e-mail jaime.cox@loudoun.gov.
MLK CELEBRATION. 10:30 a.m., Old Loudoun County Courthouse, 18 E. Market St., Leesburg. The annual Martin Luther King Day march starts at the Old Courthouse and travels to Douglass Community Center followed by a program at noon. This year’s theme is "Sharing the Dream Together."
<cal1>Tuesday/Jan. 20
<cal2>SKI TRIP. Whitetail Ski Resort, Mercersburg, Pa. Travel to Whitetail Ski Resort for a day of skiing or snow boarding. Pickup locations include Harper Park MS, Farmwell Station MS and Harmony IS. Trip is for children in grades six-12. Packages range from $65-$85 and registration and payment must be made at the Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market St., Leesburg. Call 703-771-5913.
KALEIDOSCOPE SERIES. 10 a.m., Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, 60 Ida Lee Drive N.W., Leesburg. Kaleidoscope Children’s Series kicks off its winter season with a performance of "Oh Susannah." Cost: $6 in advance; $8 at the door; adults free with paying child. Call 703-777-1368 or visit www.idalee.org for tickets.
<cal1>Wednesday/Jan. 21
<cal2>WACKY INVENTIONS. 4 p.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. Discover wacky and fantastic inventions created by children. Recommended for ages 8-11. Registration begins two weeks before the program at http://library.loudoun.gov or 703-430-9500.
SENIOR MOVIE. 1:30 p.m., Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. See "Swing Vote," starring Kevin Costner. Rated PG-13, running time 128 minutes. Cost: $2, includes popcorn and soda. Call 703-430-2397.
<cal1>Friday/Jan. 23
<cal2>CHINESE NEW YEAR. 2-4 p.m., Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Celebrate the Year of the Ox with Chinese food and karaoke. Cost: $3 members, $5 nonmembers and day of event. Transportation available after. Call 703-430-2397.
BOOK SALE. 10 a.m.- 9 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Purchase used books, software, video and music. Prices range from $.50-$2.00. Donate used items between Saturday, Jan. 10-Wednesday, Jan. 21 during normal library hours. To volunteer during the sorting period or sale, contact Douglas Nelms at alab_volunteer@yahoo.com.
SKI TRIP. 6:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m. A ski trip to Whitetail for students in grades six-12. Pickup/drop off locations: Harper Park Middle School, 701 Potomac Station Drive, Leesburg; Farmwell Station Middle School, 44281 Gloucester Parkway, Ashburn; Harmony Intermediate School, 38174 W. Colonial Highway, Hamilton. Cost: $60-85. Call 703-771-5913 or e-mail dcc@loudoun.gov to register.
MOVIE TIME. 3 p.m., Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. Bring popcorn and beverages and watch "Snow Buddies," Rated G. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Saturday/Jan. 24
<cal2>BOOK SALE. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. See Jan. 23 item for details.
<cal1>Sunday/Jan. 25
<cal2>BOOK SALE. 12-3 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. See Jan. 23 item for more details.
<cal1>Monday/Jan. 26
<cal2>MUSEUMS TRIP. The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, will take a trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the Smithsonian American Art/Portrait Gallery Museum or the Spy Museum. Lunch on own. Cost: $9 for members, $11 for nonmembers, includes transportation with free admission to the art museum; additional $15 admission at Spy Museum. Extensive walking. Call 703-430-2397 for departure and return times and locations.
BUDDY STORY TIME. 4:30 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Encourage a child’s love of books by pairing him with a teen reading buddy for one-on-one reading time. Recommended for ages 3-6. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
WOOLGATHERING. 6 p.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. Recommended for ages 12 and up. All knitting levels are welcome. Bring needles and yarn. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
VIDEO GAME DESIGN. 7 p.m., Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. Learn how video games are designed from a professional with 14 years experience. Recommended for ages 12-18. Register at http://library.loudoun.gov or 703-444-3228.
<cal1>Tuesday/Jan. 27
<cal2>ME AND MY WORLD. 4 p.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. Learn weird and wacky facts at this program called "The Scoop on Poop." Register at library.loudoun.gov or 703-430-9500.
<cal1>Wednesday/Jan. 28
<cal2>CASINO TRIP. The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, will take a trip to Charles Town, W.Va. Includes slots and simulcast horse racing; lunch on own. Cost: $8 for members, $10 for nonmembers, includes transportation and $5 cash back, subject to change. Minimum walking. Call 703-430-2397 for departure and return times and locations.
BRILLIANT BRAILLE. 4 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Learn about Braille with a speaker from the Maryland School for the Blind. Recommended for ages 7-11. Registration required; register at http://library.loudoun.gov or 703-737-8100.
<cal1>Thursday/Jan. 29
<cal2>FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Bring the family to watch "Wall-E," rated G, on the big screen at the library. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
PIRATE STORY TIME. 4 p.m., Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Potomac Falls. Children ages 4-7 can to listen to pirate stories and then have swashbuckling fun with foam swords. Register at library.loudoun.gov or 703-444-3228.
<cal1>Friday/Jan. 30
<cal2>PINK FLOYD. 7 p.m., Ned Devine’s Irish Village, 21800 Town Center Plaza, Sterling. The Paul Green School of Rock Music presents a live performance of the Pink Floyd's "The Wall." Cost: $10. Call 703-444-7873 or visit www.irishvillage.neddevines.com.
SENIOR PAGEANT. 12:30 p.m., Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. The center is holding a Miss Cascades Pageant. Contact Erik Onate, 703-430-2397.
<cal1>Saturday/Jan. 31
<cal2>PINK FLOYD. 7 p.m., Ned Devine’s Irish Village, 21800 Town Center Plaza, Sterling. The Paul Green School of Rock Music presents a live performance of the Pink Floyd's "The Wall." Cost: $10. Call 703-444-7873 or visit www.irishvillage.neddevines.com.
SOLAR ENERGY. 4:30-6:30 p.m., George Washington University Loudoun Campus, Building 1, 20101 Academic Way, Ashburn. Learn about energy conservation and home solar energy systems in this free presentation by the Potomac Region Solar Energy Association. Mitch King will discuss how solar energy systems can reduce the need for new power transmission lines and new power generation plants. Call 540-822-5145 or visit www.prsea.org or www.lccss.org.
<cal1>Monday/Feb. 2
<cal2>BUDDY STORY TIME. 4:30 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Encourage a child’s love of books by pairing him with a teen reading buddy for one-on-one reading time. Recommended for ages 3-6. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
WOOLGATHERING. 6 p.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. Recommended for ages 12 and up. All knitting levels are welcome. Bring needles and yarn. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Friday/Feb. 6
<cal2>LED ZEPPELIN. 7 p.m., Ned Devine’s Irish Village, 21800 Town Center Plaza, Sterling. The Paul Green School of Rock Music will play Led Zeppelin’s greatest hits. Cost: $10. Call 703-444-7873 or visit www.irishvillage.neddevines.com.
<cal1>Saturday/Feb. 7
<cal2>LED ZEPPELIN. 7 p.m., Ned Devine’s Irish Village, 21800 Town Center Plaza, Sterling. The Paul Green School of Rock Music will play Led Zeppelin’s greatest hits. Cost: $10. Call 703-444-7873 or visit www.irishvillage.neddevines.com.
STORY TIME MATINEE. 2 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Stories, songs, a video storybook and a craft. Ages 3-6. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
BRIGID’S FAIRE. 3-11 p.m., Esoterica, 25 S. King St., Leesburg. Brigid's Faire Winter Music Festival features live music throughout the day. Free admission prior to 3 p.m., $5 fee after that.
<cal1>Monday/Feb. 9
<cal2>BUDDY STORY TIME. 4:30 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Encourage a child’s love of books by pairing him with a teen reading buddy for one-on-one reading time. Recommended for ages 3-6. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Thursday/Feb. 12
<cal2>THEATER TRIP. The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, will take a trip to Baltimore, Md., to Toby's Dinner Theatre for the production of "Sophisticated Ladies." Cost: $61 for members, $63 for nonmembers, includes transportation, show, buffet lunch and tip. Minimum walking. Call 703-430-2397 for departure and return times and locations.
CASINO TRIP. The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, will take a trip to Charles Town, W.Va. Includes slots and simulcast horse racing; lunch on own. Cost: $8 for members, $10 for nonmembers, includes transportation and $5 cash back, subject to change. Minimum walking. Call 703-430-2397 for departure and return times and locations.
<cal1>Tuesday/Feb. 17
<cal2>ME AND MY WORLD. 4 p.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. Explore books about your favorite dogs at this program called "Big Red Puppy Love." Register at library.loudoun.gov or 703-430-9500.
<cal1>Thursday/Feb. 19
<cal2>FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT. 7 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Bring the family to watch "Tinkerbell," rated G, on the big screen at the library. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Friday/Feb. 20
<cal2>‘80S HAIR METAL. 7 p.m., Ned Devine’s Irish Village, 21800 Town Center Plaza, Sterling. The Paul Green School of Rock Music presents the ‘80s Hair Metal Show, a tribute to Spandex, long hair, guitar shredding and power chords. Cost: $10. Call 703-444-7873 or visit www.irishvillage.neddevines.com.
<cal1>Saturday/Feb. 21
<cal2>‘80S HAIR METAL. 7 p.m., Ned Devine’s Irish Village, 21800 Town Center Plaza, Sterling. The Paul Green School of Rock Music presents the ‘80s Hair Metal Show, a tribute to Spandex, long hair, guitar shredding and power chords. Cost: $10. Call 703-444-7873 or visit www.irishvillage.neddevines.com.
<cal1>Monday/Feb. 23
<cal2>BUDDY STORY TIME. 4:30 p.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Encourage a child’s love of books by pairing him with a teen reading buddy for one-on-one reading time. Recommended for ages 3-6. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
WOOLGATHERING. 6 p.m., Sterling Library, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling. Recommended for ages 12 and up. All knitting levels are welcome. Bring needles and yarn. Visit library.loudoun.gov.
<cal1>Wednesday/Feb. 25
<cal2>CASINO TRIP. The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, will take a trip to Charles Town, W.Va. Includes slots and simulcast horse racing; lunch on own. Cost: $8 for members, $10 for nonmembers, includes transportation and $5 cash back, subject to change. Minimum walking. Call 703-430-2397 for departure and return times and locations.