FREE TREE ‘WHIPS’ AVAILABLE FOR HOUSEHOLDS: The Arlington Department of Parks and Recreation is accepting requests for up to 500 young native trees that will be provided free, one per household, next month.
“The trees you plant are part of our mission to expand and enhance Arlington’s urban-tree canopy,” county officials said. “This annual program is very popular and has yielded many beautiful trees and benefited our community.”
Trees that have been selected online will be available for pickup on Oct. 19 and Oct. 22 at Barcroft Park. They are “whips,” ranging in size from two to six feet tall and held in two-gallon containers.
Pin oak, bald cypress, American hornbeam, river birch, eastern redbud, flowering dogwood, Southern red oak and black gum are being offered (not all may still be available at time of selection). For information and to reserve a tree, see the Website at https://tinyurl.com/arlingtonnativetrees.
NAACP SETS THEME OF FREEDOM FUND BANQUET: “Passing the Baton: A Celebration of Youth, Culture and Community” will be the theme of the Arlington NAACP’s 77th Freedom Fund banquet, to be held Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Arlington campus of George Mason University.
The university’s president, Gregory Washington, will be keynote speaker at the event, which is designed to “serve as a dynamic bridge between generations,” officials said.
The event also will include presentation of a number of NAACP awards. Nominations are being accepted through Oct. 16; for information and a nomination form, go to tinyurl.com/naacpaward2024.
For more information on the event, see the Website at www.arlingtonnaacp.com.
ARLINGTON CHAMBER SETS DAY OF BUSINESS GALA: The Arlington Chamber of Commerce has announced plans for its 101st Arlington Business Gala, to be held on Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City.
The event will feature dinner, dancing, a silent auction and networking.
For information, see the Website at www.arlingtonchamber.org. For sponsorship opportunities, call Will Mulligan at (703) 525-2400, ext. 201, or e-mail [email protected].
ARLINGTON OUTDOOR LAB TO HOLD FALL OPEN HOUSE: The Arlington Outdoor Education Association will hold an open house at the Arlington Outdoor Lab on Sunday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At the family-friendly event, participants can paddle boats, fish in the pond, hike trails, observe creatures in the nature center and enjoy a picnic.
“Grab your ‘squad’ and explore our 226 acres of mountain trails, meadows, streams and pond,” organizers said.
Located in Fauquier County, the Arlington Outdoor Lab since the 1960s has been a joint effort of the non-profit organization and Arlington Public Schools, bringing students in an increasingly urban community to a more rural environment.
There is no charge to attend, but pre-registration is required. No dogs are allowed, and the event may be weather-dependent.
For information and to register, see the Website at www.outdoorlab.org.
POLICE TO HOST ‘COFFEE WITH A COP’ EVENTS: The Arlington County Police Department will mark “National Coffee with a Cop Day” with two happenings on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
“These morning and afternoon events are welcome to all and are a great informal engagement opportunity to ask questions, voice concerns, get to know neighbors and meet officers from different sections of the department,” police officials said.
Gatherings will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Indido’s Coffee and Social House, 1107 South Walter Reed Drive, and from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Compass Coffee, 4710 Langston Blvd.
“We work proactively to engage with all who live, work or visit Arlington County, and Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity to build these partnerships, one cup of coffee at a time,” police said.
PANEL DISCUSSION TO LOOK AT LOCAL GOVERNANCE: Advance Arlington (formerly the Arlington Committee of 100) will host a forum – “Governing in the 21st Century: Are Local Governments in Sync with Their Constituents” – on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. at George Mason University’s Arlington campus.
Arlington County Board Chairman Libby Garvey and Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson will discuss the current state of local governance and whether residents of the community have input into decision-making.
The event is cosponsored by Agenda Alexandria and George Mason University’s Schar School and Office of Community and Local Government Relations. In addition to the in-person option, there also will be the opportunity to watch online.
For information and registration, see the Website at www.advance-arlington.org.
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI HOST SCHOLARSHIP FUND-RAISER: The Northern Virginia chapter of the Virginia State University Alumni Association will host its 20th annual Scholarship Dinner/Dance on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington.
Suggested attire is chic.
Doors open at 5 p.m. with a cocktail hour and smooth jazz (Saleem Wayne Waters/Mystical Waters Music). A plated dinner (chicken, salmon or vegetarian) will be served at 7 p.m. DJ A-Ron will provide entertainment for the remainder of the evening.
Proceeds support scholarships for Northern Virginia students attending Virginia State University. Tickets are $110 and can be purchased at www.vsuaanova.org; those who will not be attending but wish to make a contribution to the scholarship fund also can use that address.
CANINE FASHION SHOW TO BENEFIT JANE FRANKLIN DANCE: “Ruff the Runway,” a dog fashion show and fundraiser to support Jane Franklin Dance, will be held on Monday, Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. at Snouts & Stouts Indoor Dog Park and Bar, 2709 South Oakland St.
“Strut your mutt down the runway and compete for fantastic prizes,” organizers said. “Whether your pooch is polished, pampered or just plain adorable, this is their time to shine!”
The cost is $25 to enter dogs in the show and win prizes. While free to attend, donations are strongly encouraged.
“Every penny of your donation goes directly to supporting Jane Franklin Dance’s mission to celebrate movement and make dance accessible to a wide range of audiences through public performance and dance education,” the organization said.
For information, see the Website at https://janefranklin.com/performances.
‘FESTIVAL LATINOAMERICANO’ ON THE HORIZON: The Arlington County government will host the 2024 Festival Latinoamericano on Friday, Sept. 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Arlington Mill Community Center.
The free event will feature delicious food, captivating performances and a warm community atmosphere, organizers said.
“Our mission is to showcase the rich tapestry of Latin American art, food and culture in Arlington County, providing a platform for local artists, chefs and performers to share their talents and traditions with the public,” organizers said. “By supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, we aim to foster economic growth and community spirit.”
Registration is not required, but is requested to help organizers anticipate the crowd size. For information and to register, see the Website at https://tinyurl.com/latinoamericano2024.
FALL HERITAGE FESTIVAL SET FOR GULF BRANCH NATURE CENTER: The Arlington County government’s Fall Heritage Festival will be held on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Gulf Branch Nature Center.
“You can try out old-time games and crafts, make a corn-husk doll, churn butter, dip candles and press cider,” organizers said. “Bring some old pants and a shirt to make a scarecrow – child sizes work best.
Registration is required. For information, see the Website at https://tinyurl.com/fallheritagefestival2024.
ONLINE WORKSHOP TO FOCUS ON FRESHENING UP FLOWER BEDS: Virginia Cooperative Extension will present “Redesigning Flower Beds” in an online program on Friday, Oct. 4 at 10 a.m.
Master Gardeners Evin Morrison and Rebecca Secula “will cover the whole process of creating beautiful gardens of all shapes and sizes – from the basics of garden design to finding inspiration,” organizers said.
“Enjoy seeing six fully designed examples using their tips and tricks, and then head out into your own space to implement what you’ve learned,” they say.
The program is free, but registration is required. For information and registration, see the Website at https://mgnv.org/rsvp-for-public-education-classes.
WAKEFIELD CAR SHOW BACK FOR SECOND INSTALLMENT: The second Wakefield High School car show is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26 at 8 a.m. in the school’s front parking lot.
The event is a fundraiser for the Class of 2025. There will be a food vendor in the parking lot.
Like last spring at the school’s first car show, when more than 80 vehicles were on site, registration is $20 per vehicle. Classics, resto-mods, cars, trucks, motorcycles and specialty vehicles are expected to be on hand.
Trophies will be awarded for the best engine, best paint, best interior, principal’s choice and best in show. There also will be trophies for the top 15.
The vehicles on hand at the spring show included an electric car being built from scratch by students at the Arlington Career Center and a rebuilt Hechinger lawn tractor.
If it rains, the show will be canceled.
FUNDING FROM RACE BENEFITS YOUTH LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION: More than $54,000 was raised to support mentoring and leadership programs for youth in the local area at the 12th annual Race for D.C. Kids, sponsored by DRT Strategies of Arlington on behalf of the Youth Leadership Foundation.
The in-person race was held Sept. 14, with others joining virtually.
“This year’s race demonstrated that the future of youth mentoring in the nation’s capital is extremely bright,” said Youth Leadership Foundation executive director Janaiha Bennett. “We are thankful to those who showed up to support our mission of building character and a brighter future for young leaders.”
The foundation provides quality one-on-one, value-based mentoring programs for students ages 7 to 17 across the metro area. Serving more than 350 youth each year, it facilitates empowerment through joy, excellence and a spirit of service while building character, emphasizing personal growth and creating transformative mentorship experiences.
For information, see the Website at https://www.helpingkids.org.
