Submit civic/community announcements at ConnectionNewspapers.com/Calendar. Photos and artwork welcome. Deadline is Thursday at noon, at least two weeks before event.

Fairfax County Activates Coronavirus Info Center

Fairfax County activated a Joint Information Center in response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 13.

Fairfax County Health Department COVID-19 webpage – www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/novel-coronavirus

Emergency Information Blog (you can subscribe by email or follow by RSS) – www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/blog

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Call Center – The community may call 703-267-3511 with questions. The call center is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends.

Residents may also text FFXCOVID to 888777 to receive updates from Fairfax County about COVID-19.

Twitter – @fairfaxcounty and @fairfaxhealth

Facebook – www.facebook.com/fairfaxcounty and www.facebook.com/fairfaxcountyhealth

Wednesday/March 25

Pregnancy, Birth, and Your Back. 6-7 p.m. At Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street, Vienna. Presented by Dr. Charles Masarsky of Vienna Chiropractic. Back pain is common during and after pregnancy. This free one-hour presentation will explain the most common origin of back pain post-partum as well as during pregnancy. Practices to alleviate your pain will be discussed and demonstrated. To register, contact Kathy Blevins, Vienna Community Center, 703-255-7801 or KBlevins@viennava.gov.

Fill Us In Public Hearing. 7:30 p.m. At McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. The McLean Community Center is asking residents of Small District 1A-Dranesville, who pay a real estate tax surcharge to support the center, to “Fill Us In” on what kinds of new programs and services they would like to see offered and/or improved upon in the planning for FY2022 fiscal year. MCC is holding a Public Hearing on FY 2022 Programs. The hearing is the first step in planning for the FY2022 budget cycle, which begins July 1, 2021 and ends June 30, 2022. MCC’s divisions include the Robert Ames Alden Theatre and The Old Firehouse Center. New this year, residents can participate in the meeting remotely using GoToWebinar, an online video conferencing app. Residents can access the meeting on their computer, tablet or smartphone, at tinyurl.com/mcc-programs-2022, then sign in with the webinar ID: 324-478-547. Call the Center at 703-790-0123, TTY: 711, or visit: www.mcleancenterorg.

Tuesday/March 31

GFES Kindergarten Orientation. 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. At Great Falls Elementary School, 701 Walker Road, Great Falls. Children who are age 5 by September 30, 2020 are eligible to enter kindergarten for the 2020-2021 school year. To confirm Great Falls Elementary School serves your particular address, visit the FCPS website, click on the boundary link, and type in your address. Parents and eligible children are invited to an overview of the Great Falls Elementary School kindergarten program. Rising kindergarten students will meet our kindergarten teachers in the classroom for a special welcome and activities. Parents will meet in the cafeteria to receive an overview of the kindergarten program, including curriculum and the daily schedule. This is an excellent opportunity for parents unsure of whether or not their child is ready for kindergarten to come, listen, and make an informed decision. Registration packets are available online www.fcps.edu

Orange Line Closures

Beginning this Memorial Day, the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) will be closing three Metrorail Orange Line stations for full platform reconstruction and major station improvements. To expedite construction and minimize customer inconvenience, Vienna, Dunn Loring and East Falls Church Metrorail stations will be closed from Saturday, May 23 through Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, to allow for around-the-clock work. The station closures are part of WMATA's three-year Platform Improvement Project that will completely reconstruct the outdoor platforms at 20 Metrorail stations, making them safer and more accessible for customers with disabilities, while also addressing safety concerns and longstanding structural issues.

During the shutdown, Metrorail service will be reduced between Ballston and West Falls Church on the Orange Line, and between Ballston and Wiehle-Reston East on the Silver Line, as trains will be required to single track through the work area:

West Falls Church Station will serve as the western terminus of the Orange Line.

Orange and Silver line trains will pass through East Falls Church station, which will be closed to customers, using a single track.

Between West Falls Church and Ballston-MU on the Orange Line, and between Wiehle-Reston East and Largo Town Center on the Silver Line, trains will operate every 16 minutes throughout the day, and every 20 minutes during late night hours.

Extra Orange Line trains will be deployed at Ballston-MU, so Orange Line service will increase to every 8 minutes between Ballston-MU and New Carrollton (Monday – Saturday only).

Blue Line trains will operate every 8 minutes throughout the day to coordinate service (Monday – Saturday only).

WMATA will be providing free shuttle bus service in the impacted area partially replacing the trains along the Orange Line. Fairfax County commuters should also consider using Fairfax Connector express bus routes:

Fairfax Connector Express Route 698 - Vienna Metrorail Station to the Pentagon

Fairfax Connector Express Route 699 - Fairfax County Government Center to Downtown, D.C.

Additional trips to this route are pending Board of Supervisors approval

Fairfax Connector Express Route 697 - Stringfellow Park and Ride to Downton, D.C.

Support Groups

Parent Support Partners, a service of the Healthy Minds Fairfax initiative, are all parents who have received training and are qualified to offer education, support and assistance at no cost to families or caregivers. They provide reliable information that families can use in decision-making and are familiar with services and resources that can help families in distress. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/healthymindsfairfax or www.nami-northernvirginia.org/parent-peer-support.html.

Shepherd’s Center of Oakton Vienna Caregivers' Support Group takes place first and third Thursday of each month, 10-11:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax (UUCF) - Program Building, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. For caregivers to adult family members with dementia. First and third Thursdays of every month. Hosted by Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna, scov.org. Contact facilitator Jack Tarr at 703-821-6838 or jtarr5@verizon.net.

Haven of Northern Virginia Support Group. 703-941-7000, www.havenofnova.org or havenofnova@verizon.net.

Virginia Chronic Pain Support Group Meets from 1:30-3 p.m. the 2nd Wednesday of each month at Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine, 6829 Elm St., Suite 300, McLean. Group leader, Jodi Brayton, LCSW. 703-532-4892.

Volunteers Needed

STEM Professionals Needed. Volunteers are needed to assist K-12 STEM teachers in northern Virginia as part of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s STEM Volunteer Program, stemvolunteers.org, during the 2019-20 school year, beginning in September. Please contact Don Rea at 571-551-2488 or donaldrea@aol.com.

Assistance League of Northern Virginia, a volunteer nonprofit, invites community members to join the organization to participate in its Reading Express program. Volunteers provide one-on-one tutoring to first grade students during the school year. To learn more contact VP Membership Mary Gronlund at gronbiz@aol.com or Program Coordinator Lynn Barron at lynnieb517@verizon.net.

Volunteer Adult Mentors Needed. Help assist the Department of Family Services’ BeFriendA-Child mentoring program. The mentors provide opportunities for companionship, guidance and support to children who have been abused and neglected, or who are at risk of abuse and neglect. Contact Ibrahim Khalil at Ibrahim.khalil@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-324-4547.

Volunteer Victims Needed. Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1) is holding a full scale exercise and needs volunteers to act as victims in need of rescue. The exercise will take place from the evening of Monday, April 23 through afternoon of Thursday, April 26. A minimum shift of six hours is expected – overnight volunteers are especially needed. “Victims” will need to be able to crawl in and out of rubble piles, capable of sitting or lying in place for extended periods of time, and don’t mind getting dirty. Contact Christopher Yorty at christopher.yorty@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Operation Paws for Homes, a Virginia based 501(c)(3) organization seeks volunteers, especially to foster dogs. See www.ophrescue.org for information and all volunteer opportunities.

RSVP, a volunteer network for seniors seeking service opportunities in and around Fairfax County, Arlington County and the City of Alexandria, offers a wide array of opportunities for volunteers 55 and older. RSVP volunteers enjoy flexible schedules, free accident and liability insurance while serving, optional mileage and meal reimbursement and are invited to volunteer group projects and social gatherings. To sign up for an upcoming orientation, email Carly Hubicki at chubicki@volunteerfairfax.org or call RSVP at 703-403- 5360. To learn more about RSVP, visit www.rsvpnova.org.

Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church, 1205 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean continues to have an urgent need for new volunteers to help area senior citizens get to and from their medical and therapy appointments. To find out more about the Shepherd’s Center and how you can volunteer to provide transportation and other services, call the Center at 703-506-2199 or e-mail the Center at info@scmafc.org. The Center’s website is www.scmafc.org.

Master Gardener Training. The Fairfax County Master Gardener Association offers plant clinics, home turf training or speakers for homeowner’s meetings. Fees vary. Visit fairfaxgardening.org or call MG Help Desk at 703-324-8556 for more.

Volunteers Needed. PRS is looking for empathetic and caring volunteers to make phone calls to older adults who may be feeling socially isolated. The commitment is one 3-hour shift per week for one year. Located in Arlington. Ages 21 & up. Intensive training provided. Learn more and apply: prsinc.org/carering-volunteering/. Questions? Email lpadgett@prsinc.org.

The Northern Virginia Long Term Care Ombudsman Program needs volunteer advocates for residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Contact Lisa Callahan at 703-324-5861, TTY 711 or email Lisa.Callahan@fairfaxcounty.gov. Also visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/ltcombudsman/.

Fairfax County needs volunteers to drive older adults to medical appointments and wellness programs. For these and other volunteer opportunities, call 703-324-5406, TTY 711 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and click on Volunteer Solutions.

Respite Care volunteers give family caregivers of a frail older adult a well-deserved break so they can go shopping, attend a doctor's appointment or just have coffee with a friend. Volunteers visit and oversee the safety of the older adult for a few hours each month. Support and training are provided. Contact 703-324-7577, TTY 711, or Kristin.Martin@fairfaxcounty.gov.

The Lewinsville Senior Center in McLean needs a Certified Arthritis Exercise Instructor. For these and other volunteer opportunities, call 703-324-5406, TTY 711 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and click on Volunteer Solutions.

Volunteers for Change. A program for adults which offers more than 50 weekend and evening volunteer opportunities per month. www.volunteerfairfax.org.

Great Falls Hike or Bike Volunteers. Bike or Hike Patrol volunteers assist park rangers by riding on accessible trails in Great Falls Park. To assist park staff in providing info and services to park visitors, maintain good public relations as a representative of the National Park Service, and monitor park resources, visitor usage, and emergency needs. Skills and Experience Desired: Excellent communication skills. Ability to work with culturally, socially, and economically diversified people. Knowledge of the park and local resources, or the desire to learn. Knowledge of basic bike maintenance or willingness to learn. Willingness to provide basic first aid. Ability to demonstrate skill in basic operation of a bicycle. Call Volunteer Coordinator 703-285-2965 ext. 225

Potomac Paddlers Volunteer Corps. The Potomac Paddlers Corps is a volunteer group with the National Park Service under shared management between Great Falls Park and the C&O Canal national Historical Park. The primary mission of the Corps is to have trained, uniformed park volunteers on the Potomac River to assist the park in identifying and reporting incidents, watch out for risky park visitor behavior, and to deliver safety messages to the public about the dangers of the Potomac River in the Potomac Gorge. Contact: Volunteer Coordinator 703-285-2965 ext. 225 or visit www.nps.gov

Ongoing

1 Million Cups. Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. networking; 9-10 a.m. program at Make Offices at Tysons, 1751 Pinnacle Drive, Suite 600, McLean. Each week a different business owner gives a brief six-minute presentation about where they are in their business. They then offer up a challenge question about a new idea, product, expansion or something they are facing in their business. The group then masterminds solutions. Free and open to the public. Visit www.1millioncups.com/.

Great Falls Friends and Neighbors (GFFN) invites women living in the Langley High School District or The Estates of Lowes Island to learn more about the group. The purpose of GFFN is to establish and foster an atmosphere in which new and current residents can develop new friendships and community contacts through social, educational and cultural activities. In addition, the club provides service, support and donations to philanthropic and civic organizations in and around the Great Falls community. Email info@gffnva.org or visit www.gffnva.org.

Vienna Toastmasters. 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 7:30-9 p.m., at the Vienna Community Center on the 2nd floor room opposite the elevator, 120 Cherry St., S.E., Vienna. A friendly place to get comfortable with public speaking and impromptu speaking for new and experienced speakers. Open to the public.

Run With the Doctor. Every other Saturday at 7 a.m. 8230 Boone Blvd., Tysons Corner. The Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine offers its services in a convenient format to runners at this running event. Free. facebook.com/runwiththedoctor.

Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute Scholarship Program. Those enrolled in a Virginia college or university who are pursuing a degree in the field of criminal justice are eligible for the Virginia Sheriff’s Institute Scholarship Program; recommendation letter needed. 703-246-3251, shf-pio@fairfaxcounty.gov or vasheriffsinstitute.org/scholarship/.

Brinker Toastmasters. 2nd and 4th Saturday, 9:30 a.m. at Vienna Presbyterian Church, 124 Park St. N.E., Vienna. Brinker.wordpress.com.

Pauline Shirley Toastmasters Club Meeting. 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 7 p.m. McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. Develop better speaking and presentation skills, learn to think quickly and clearly on your feet. 703-893-5506 or paulineshirley.freetoasthost.info.

Northern Virginia Charter Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association Holds Business Meetings. The Chapter meets the third Thursday each month from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tickets via Eventbrite are $25 in advance and $30 cash at the door. Seating is limited. Open to businesspersons working or living in and around Fairfax and Prince William counties. Guests and prospective members welcome. The Northern Virginia Charter Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association embraces positive, energetic and supportive women willing to help themselves and other women succeed both professionally and personally. To register, use www.eventbrite.com/e/abwa-nvcc-welcomes-sherron-washington-from-the-p3-solution-tickets-25778817136.