The Reading Connection is Raising Funds for At Risk Kids in Arlington

The Reading Connection serves at-risk families and their children in Arlington by creating environments that encourage reading.  Tuesday, June 14th, between 5-8pm, Chick-Fil-A Ballston Commons Mall will donate 15% of purchases to TRC.  Just bring in the TRC Chick-Fil-A Flyer or tell the cashier when you order you are with TRC!

How they do what they do:
Volunteers read aloud to children at shelters and community centers,  donations provide children with free, new books to keep, parent workshops teach effective reading techniques, training for family support workers who promote the importance of reading.

Volunteers read aloud to children at 12 shelters and community centers throughout Washington DC and Northern Virginia.

First Thursday Del Ray – Dog Days of Summer (Photos)

First Thursday: Del Ray

We dropped into Del Ray tonight for First Thursday, a series of monthly events the community hosts and the theme for June was “Dog Days of Summer”. So many Dogs, Kids and Neighborhood FUN!

Next months theme:
“A Nation’s Celebration”
Catch the event on July 7th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm along Mt. Vernon Ave.

 

Girls saving animals through the World Wildlife Fund raise money selling handmade stuffed Owls made from all recycled materials.

HOOT Girls

HOOT: Owls

FUSE BOX

 

 

 

 

 

Incredible group of middle school teens from local band Fuse Box played a rockin’ show in front of Del Ray Performing Arts. They’ll be playing a benefit concert on June 15th at Evening Star Cafe.

Our amazing Pedi-Cab driver Alex. He's a peddling rockstar!

 

 

Alex, from ViaVelo Pedi-Cabs a new eco-friendly transport service covers Del Ray and Old Town Alexandria for only $5.00 per zone. Surprisingly speedy and comfortable.

TALK: Parenting – Putting the Pieces Together

Photo Credit: House of Sweden

Tonight, (6-8pm) the House of Sweden – Embassy of Sweden will host a TALK on the challenges families face in combining work and family life as family roles are reshaped.

Speakers will discuss parental leave, identify challenges and compare situations in the U.S. and Sweden. Have work force policies kept up with the needs of the modern family?

This evening talk is part of the Embassy of Sweden 2011 program “Fabric of Life”.

A Flush of Insight: Local Mom Tours the Arlington Water Pollution Plant

I’m a sucker for a plant tour. Such a sucker, in fact, that a mild day in March had me suiting up in reflective vest, safety goggles, and a hardhat for an hour-and-a-half tromp around Arlington County’s sewage treatment facility, the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP). (Also, I am the mother of a potty-training three-year-old boy. This is familiar territory.) My guide was Frank Corsoro, Operations Specialist. His job involves monitoring and controlling the processes that turn all the stuff that people flush down their toilets into clear water that is pretty darn clean. (Cleaner, in fact, than what much of the world is drinking.) Mr. Corsoro conducts tours of the plant to help educate the public about this facility that is so important to the health of Virginia waterways, including Four Mile Run, the Potomac River, and the Chesapeake Bay. If you like to eat crab cakes, you should care deeply about what goes on at the WPCP and places like it throughout the Ches Bay watershed.

Operations Center

Mr. Corsoro is a longtime sewage treatment process control guy. When he says he could talk about this stuff all day, I believe him. There is a lot to know. Raw sewage undergoes physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes. All the inputs and outputs of each process are constantly measured and monitored, to make sure the right levels of nutrients, oxygen, coagulants, bacteria, and minerals are present. Computers in the Operations Control Building keep all the systems running smoothly. Recent upgrades to the plant included a massive generator to allow business to continue as usual in case of power outages.

Kennedy Center CETA Program Awards Arlington Teachers

Arlington teachers from Abingdon Elementary, Drew Model School and Kenmore Middle School were honored at the Kennedy Center’s Certificate of Study Awards Dinner on Friday, May 13th. The teachers were among the 69 D.C. Metropolitan area educators that have successfully completed the Kennedy Center’s Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA) program.

Through CETA’s courses and workshops, led by expert artists and artisans, teachers learn various ways to integrate the arts in their teaching of math, science, social studies and the language arts. Anne Sywilok, Abingdon Elementary Science teacher, has taught for 34 years. “This innovative program cultivates an active, fun and highly engaged learning environment for all students. Furthermore, second language learners communicate and understand at a higher level.” Her colleague, Carrie Abbott, Abingdon Elementary Communications teacher says, “CETA builds confidence in learning. Every year I witness shy students that blossom into open and expressive learners.”

Abingdon Elementary has the largest contingent of CETA certificate recipients. Under the leadership of Principal Joanne Uyeda, Abingdon’s partnership with CETA has fostered higher testing scores, a culture of engaged students and a loyal and dedicated teaching staff. Principal Uyeda commented after the event, “It was an honor to celebrate with 17 Abingdon teachers. This is another example of the staff’s continued commitment and dedication to their own professional learning and the education of our students.”

No Animals at the Petting Zoo? Because it’s a “Real Truck” Petting Zoo!

Confused? A petting zoo without animals?

That’s right, no animals, but Arlington’s Central Library knows kids and the many interests and stages they experience. Like the love of BIG vehicles.

They’ve gathered a lot  filled with the “real” BIG TRUCKS of Arlington. Cool work vehicles including trucks for construction, fire and rescue, trash pick-up, police cars, a commuter bus and more! Find out how these vehicles get the job done.

Expected in the “Zoo”:

• A fire engine from the Arlington Fire Department
• A street sweeper, garbage truck and dump truck from the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services
• A concrete mixer from Vulcan Materials
• A gas operations vehicle from Washington Gas
• Arlington Transit’s Art on the ART Bus
• And a motorcycle and police cruiser from the Arlington Police Department

* Depending on availability, they may also have an ambulance and ladder truck, as well as other large construction vehicles.

This Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m
Central Library East Parking Lot (near tennis courts)
1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington, Va.

5 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Everyday with your Family in Arlington

Earth Day 2011

We reached out to our friends at Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment and they helped us gather ideas on how to celebrate Earth Day with your family. Have a look at these great activities below.

• Check out Nature Rocks for ideas on how to have a family-friendly outdoor adventure.
• Take a hike in a National Park and do a scavenger hunt in celebration of National Parks Week (free admission). You might even consider becoming a Junior Ranger to help keep our National Parks healthy.
• Create your own Family Nature Club. Don’t know where to start? Visit the Children & Nature Network’s Natural Families page for resources and a toolkit on how to start.
• Visit your local nature center, Arlington has three of them: Long Branch Nature Center, Gulf Branch Nature Center, and Potomac Overlook Nature Center.
• Start a family Pizza Garden (or Salsa or Pot Pie Gardens, whatever suits your family)! Visit the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Arlington Office to get free seeds to start your own vegetable garden – with or without a theme. Here’s additional tips from the Daily Candy DC Kids. Don’t have a yard? Start a Kitchen Counter Garden. A recycled egg carton makes a great seed starter.

About Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE):
Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) promotes stewardship of our natural resources and practical solutions to a sustainable lifestyle in order to protect water, air, and open spaces in the Arlington community.

Lola’s Laboratory: Spring Break Camp

Lola’s Laboratory, in cooporation with Arlington County Parks and Recreation, will host a Spring Break Day Camp in the theme of a children’s State Fair.

Kids, imagine yourself at the State Fair designed entirely by you. Attendees will brainstorm and grow giant crops, enter a prettiest cow contest, make their own monster trucks from recycled objects, design thrilling rides, invent the funniest arcade games at a fabulous state fair!

April 19-22, Grades K-5th
9am-3pm
Madison Center
3829 North Stafford St.
Arlington, VA

$300 registration fee for the week. But don’t let fees hold you back, Arlington residents may request a fee deduction.

Open House Art Sampler at TJ Art Studios

Open house hands-on fun! Explore the studios and classes, meet the talented instructors and even get a little dirty.

Try-It sessions in ceramics, photography, jewelry and mixed media. Art instructors for  children and adult classes will be available for demonstrations and to answer questions on all the community arts resource programs. There will be light refreshments served and pottery for sale.

Location:
TJ Art Studios is located inside of Thomas Jefferson Community Center
3501 S 2nd St., Arlington, VA 22201
Date: Saturday, April 9th, 2011
Time: 12:00 – 4:00 pm

Bonding Mom’s and Their “Tween” Daughters Through Yoga: Dream Yoga Studio Makes it Possible

Finally….  a Yoga class for Mothers and Daughters that is focused toward tweens.

Mondays beginning on April 25th from 3:30-4:30pm Dream Yoga, located in  McLean, VA will begin a 5 week session of classes called “Mother Daughter Yoga”. It’s for girls ages 8 and above. A great way for moms and daughters to connect.

A gentle yoga class that will include breath work, stretching, and individual and partner poses in a relaxed atmosphere. Each class will end with a relaxation meditation. This is a special time that is meant to honor each other and create an atmosphere of physical and emotional health together. If moms aren’t available, other female family members or close friends are also welcome as partners for the girls.

The class is taught by Judi Eskovitz who specializes in yoga for kids.

Dream Yoga offers a wide variety of classes and workshops for Adults and Children.