Classes/Seminars
"How to Begin Homeschooling," a seminar sponsored by Christian Homeschoolers of Caroline County, July 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Carmel Baptist Church. 804/448-1271.
Lake of the Woods Square Dance Club lessons, 7:30-9:30 p.m. each Monday at LOW Clubhouse. 972-5987
Systematic Training for Effective Parenting class, Sundays, 9:45-10:45 a.m., St. Matthias United Methodist Church, Stafford. 373-8759.
Watercolor Workshop with Penny Soto Oct. 11-13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., The Depot in Culpeper. Sponsored by Windmore Foundation for the Arts. Register by Aug. 15 by calling 540/727-8777.
Workready Workshop Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Virginia Employment Commission. Call 540/898-3806 to register.
Self-Help/Support Groups
DivorceCare Support Group meets Mondays, 6-8 p.m., at Potomac Baptist Church, King George, 775-2882; Mondays, 7-9 p.m., Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 161 Embrey Mill Road, 659-1349; Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Stafford Baptist Church, 659-7517; Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Liberty Assembly of God Church, Bealeton, 439-0500; Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m., Mount Ararat Baptist Church Annex 1, 720-3260; and Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Lake of the Woods Church, Locust Grove, 972-9060.
Fredericksburg Foster and Forever Families , a support group for families with foster or adoptive children and for waiting families, meets fourth Thursday of every month,
Mocha Moms, support group for mothers of color but all are welcome, meets 10 a.m. to noon, second Tuesday of the month at Salem Church Library and fourth Tuesday of the month at various locations. 786-3014.
MOMS Club, a support group for stay-at-home mothers, meets monthly. Call 372-9939 or 373-2760 in Fredericksburg; 891-4293 or 898-9283 for Spotsylvania Central meetings; 891-8382 for Spotsylvania South meetings; 287-8917 for Chancellor meetings; 657-4144 for Stafford meetings; and 804/448-0193 or 804/633-9383 for Bowling Green meetings.
MOMS Ministry at Aquia Episcopal Church meets the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, 9:30 a.m., parish hall. 785-5620.
MOPS , Mothers of Preschoolers support group, meets at Mount Ararat Baptist Church, 65 Toluca Road, Stafford, first and third Fridays of the month, September-June, 9:30 a.m. 786-7180; meets at Liberty Assembly of God, Bealeton, second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, 10 a.m. 439-0500.
New Directions Singles Support Group meets third Thursday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Stafford Rescue Squad Building. 659-1348.
Parenting Again, a support and social group for family members raising nonbirth children, meets one Saturday each month, 1 p.m., 710-0346; Family Fun Night second Monday of every month at St. Peter's Lutheran Church on Courthouse Road, 5 p.m., 658-6440, 752-0212 or 804/633-6550.
Parent HELP holds weekly support groups for parents helping one another to learn positive parenting skills; meets Mondays in Stafford and King George, Tuesdays in Orange, Wednesdays in Fredericksburg and Caroline, Thursdays in Spotsylvania, 6:30-8 p.m. 785-6217 or 877/785-6217.
Rite Circle, a pet-bereavement support group, meets the second Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., Conference Room 2, Central Rappahannock Regional Library headquarters, Caroline Street; and the third Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., Salem Church Library. Sponsored by Animal Rites USA. 361-7487. Free.
Special Families With Special Needs support group meets first and third Tuesdays of the month, 7 p.m. Free child care provided. Call 720-7407
Meetings
A Course in Miracles study group meets Sundays, 6 p.m. Call 898-1320 or 898-1869 for location; also a group meets Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m., in Spotsylvania near Central Park. Facilitated by Marcia Grimsley. 785-4104.
American Legion Auxiliary meets the first Wednesday of each month,
American Legion Post 55 meets the first Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. 371-0461 or e-mail fbm mm1@yahoo.com.
American Needlepoint Guild, Fredericksburg chapter, meets the first Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ukrop's, State Route 3. 972-1158.
Bella Bagel Book Club meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7:30 p.m., Bella Bagel Cafe in Aquia Towne Center. E-mail bellabookclub@yahoo.com.
Beta Sigma Phi, Preceptor Alpha Zeta, meets the third Wednesday
Bright Beginnings, an outreach ministry at Salem Fields Community Church that addresses the needs
Central Virginia Beekeepers Association meets the first Thursday of each month, 7:30 p.m., DSS Conference Room, Ashland. 804/633-5309.
Chancellor Garden Club meets the first Tuesday of each month, 1 p.m. Call 786-8988 for location.
Christian Business Men meet Tuesdays, noon, Aunt Sarah's Restaurant, State Route 3, and Wednesdays, Aunt Sarah's Restaurant, U.S. 1 at Southpoint. Call 373-0084 for more information.
Colonial Beach Artists' Guild, a group of visual artists who support the arts and meet to share creative insights and techniques, inspire and promote visual arts, enhance the community through art and display and sell art, meets the third Thursday of each month, 6:30 p.m., Parish Hall of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Washington Avenue. Potluck meal.
Community Listening Circle meets second Monday of each month in the Cable Room, Central Rappahannock Regional Library headquarters, Caroline Street. Free. 899-6708.
Compassionate Friends, Fredericksburg chapter, meets third Tuesday of each month at Redeemer Lutheran Church fellowship hall, 5120 Harrison Road, 7:30-9 p.m. 540/775-8430, or toll free 866/900-4244.
Darbytown Civic Association meets the first Thursday of each month except July, 7 p.m., New City Fellowship Church, 200 Prince Edward St. 373-0865.
Daughters of the American Revolution, Falls of the Rappahannock Chapter, meets the second Thursday of the month, 7:30 p.m. Call 371-3906 for more details.
Daughters of the American Revolution, Overwharton Parish, meets the second Tuesday of each month,
Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington-Lewis Chapter, meets the second Tuesday of the month, 1 p.m. Call 373-3450 for location and details.
Daughters of the American Revolution, Spotsylvania Chapter, meets the third Saturday of each month,
Disabled American Veterans and Auxiliary, General Washington Chapter 7, meets third Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., VFW building, 2701 Princess Anne St. 710-9919.
Duplicate Bridge Club of Fredericksburg meets Mondays at 10 a.m., Brooks Park Activity Center, Butler Road; Thursdays at 7 p.m., 1114 Potomac Ave. For information on open games, call Jo Petranka, 371-3648. Stafford Duplicate Bridge Club meets Thursdays, 10 a.m., Brooks Park Activity Center. Call Mildred Levine, 373-2218.
Empowered Parenting, a program for teen parents, meets each Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., 324 Wallace St., Fredericksburg. 540/368-0806.
Fancy's Friends 4-H Dog Club meets third Thursday of the month, 5:30 p.m., Virginia Cooperative Extension's King George office. 775-7728.
Filipino-American Association of Stafford's board meets first Thursday of each month, 7-9 p.m., Porter Library, Stafford. 288-1423.
Fredericksburg Area Family Day Care Association meets first Tuesday of each month, 7-8:30 p.m. Call 720-0222 for location.
Fredericksburg Area Singles Club meets Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Muggsey's at Ramada Inn South. 786-0431 or 775-7272.
Fredericksburg Children of the Confederacy Chapter first meeting Tuesday, 2 p.m., White Oak Museum, Stafford. Call Connie Schroeder, 540/659-0929, or Jill Simmons, 540/854-5292, for details.
Fredericksburg Green Party meets first and third Sundays of each month, Central Rappahannock Regional Library headquarters, Caroline Street, Meeting Room 2, 4-5 p.m., 786-0608 or fredericksburg .vagreen party.org.
Fredericksburg Jaycees
meets the second Tuesday of every month, 6:30 p.m., at Fredericksburg Country Club. 371-6005, or visit fredericksburg jaycees.org.Fredericksburg Kiwanis Club meets every Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Freder-icksburg Country Club. 368-5220.
Fredericksburg Personal Computer Users Group meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 p.m., Falmouth Fire Station, Butler Road. 373-7929;
Fredericksburg Regional Genealogical Society meets second Wednesday
Fredericksburg Secular Humanists meet the second Monday of each month at Central Rappahannock Regional Library headquarters,
Fredericksburg Social Club, a contemporary club for 40-plus professionals, offering a variety of social, cultural and sports events each month for members to meet and socialize; free membership. Web site: fredericksburgsocialclub.org;
Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields, an educational organization that assists Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, meets the second Thursday of each month at Central Rappahannock Regional Library headquarters,
Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity board meets third Monday of each month, 7 p.m., Habitat office, 10825-A Houser Drive. 891-5009.
Greater Fredericksburg Kennel Club general membership meetings the second Thursday of the month, 7:30 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 1300 Augustine Ave. 899-0147 or visit gfkc.homestead.com.
Grow Up-Dress Up Club meets the first Tuesday of each month, 12:30 p.m., at Tea Tyme & What Nots, in the Galleria, 907 Caroline St. 368-0675.
Higher Ground, a group of young adults interested in a deeper relationship with God, meets Saturdays, 7 p.m.,
Historic Fredericksburg Antique Automobile Club of America meets the third Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m., Dorothy Hart Community Center, 408 Canal St. 372-9673.
Historyland Barbershop Chorus meets Thursdays, 7 p.m., at Fredericksburg Baptist Church choir room. For details, call 898-0969.
Irish American Society of Greater Fredericksburg meets first Monday of each month. Social, 6:30 p.m., meeting, 7:30 p.m., Lee Hill Community Building, 1 H.C.C. Drive. 273-9043 or fredericksburgirishsociety@yahoo.com.
John Birch Society meets locally. "Free Trade Areas" erode national sovereignty and jobs are outsourced. Web sites: stoptheftaa.org or jbs.org. 800/527-8721.
Junior Woman's Club of Fredericksburg meets the first Monday of each month, 7 p.m., Central Rappahannock Regional Library. 273-3226.
Mine Run Fire Auxiliary meets the second Monday of each month,
NAACP, Stafford Branch, meets first Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Shiloh Baptist Church New Site. 877/348-0304.
Neighborhood Watch coordinators
Neighborhood Watch members for Waverly Village, Governors Green, Maple Woods and Maple Grove subdivisions meet second Monday
Newcomers and Old Friends Club of Fredericksburg meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at Salem Church Library, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Vic Meadows of Meadows Farm Nursery will be guest speaker. Call Donna at 786-0063 for details.
Orange County Humane Society meets the second Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m., Wilderness Library
Order Sons of Italy in America, Bell'America Lodge 2656, meets the third Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., Salem Church Library. 898-3283.
Poetry Workshop Group by Charlotte Garrett meets first Wednesday of each month, 1 p.m., Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, Members Gallery, 813 Sophia St. 540/373-5646.
Power Surge Youth, ages 12-19, meets Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Praise Cathedral, 321 Wallace Lane. 898-2494.
Prospect Lodge 121, 7305 Lawyers Road, Spotsylvania, meets on Friday before the fourth Sunday each month, 8 p.m. E-mail prospect121@aol.com.
Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m., St. George's Episcopal Church, Faulkner Hall, 905 Princess Anne St. 371-3906.
Rappahannock Model Railroad Club meets first Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., Hudgins Road Clubhouse. Memberships in adult, teen and youth categories offered; rmrrclub.org.
Rappahannock Regional Toastmasters Club meets first and third Tuesdays of the month, Fredericksburg Visitor Center, 7:30-9 p.m. 372-7538.
Rappahannock Valley Amateur Radio Club meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m., 3300 Bourbon St., Bowman Center, Spotsylvania. 786-0669; talk on 147.015 MHz.
Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table, open to persons interested in American Civil War, meets the second Monday of each month at Uncle Sam's restaurant, Central Park. Social, 6:30 p.m.; dinner, 7 p.m.; lecture, 7:30 p.m. 786-0530.
Rappatomac Writers meets the third Thursday of each month at Chinn House, Rappahannock Community College, Warsaw, 2-4 p.m. For more information, visit chesapeakebay writersclub.com or e-mail jriverside @rivnet.net or chestyle@rivnet.net.
Restoration Community Praise Dance Ministry meets the first Tuesday of each month, 7-9 p.m., Grace Church of Fredericksburg; and first and second Saturday of each month, 3:30-5:30 p.m., at Lake of the Woods Clubhouse. 972-1734 or
Riverside Writers meets the second Saturday of each month at Salem Church Library, 1 p.m., includes critiquing session. 361-2666.
Scottish Society of Fredericksburg meets the third Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., St. George's Episcopal Church, Faulkner Hall, 905 Princess Anne St. 373-7651.
Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval society, meets every Tuesday, 7 p.m., Campus Christian Center, 1213 Dandridge St. 582-2699.
Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1722, a historic preservation society for descendants of Confederate veterans, meets second Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m., Salem Church Library. 834-4225 or cshsroa4545@aol.com. Web site: camp1722.org.
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War meets the fourth Thursday of each month from 7:30 to 9 p.m., Salem Church Library. 582-8382.
Spotsylvania Preservation Foundation meets first Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., Snow Library. 891-8756 or spfi.org.
Spotsylvanians Community Chorus,
Stafford Women in NAACP chapter meets the third Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., Porter Library, Stafford. For details, call Jackie Lester, 720-5994, or e-mail lester jal@msn.com.
The Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary meets the second Tuesday of each month, Salvation Army Annex, 821 Lafayette Blvd. Social, 9:30 a.m.; business meeting, 10 a.m. Goal is to help area needy children. 891-9230 or 371-8208.
The Virginia Star Quilters meet the third Wednesday of each month, Harrison Road Community Center. 825-4740.
TIPS, a ladies' free networking group, meets the third Friday of each month at Tea Tyme & What Nots, in the Galleria, 907 Caroline St., 8:30 a.m. 786-0630.
Town & Country Knitters meets the third Sunday of each month at The Knitters Cottage, 807 William St.,
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3103 meets the first and third Thursday
Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare meeting today, 11 a.m., Colonial Inn, to discuss pet overpopulation issues, gas chambers and 2006 legislative initiatives. 540/592-3386 or LSClan cy@crosslink.net.
Virtuous Nubian Women Reading Group meets the fourth Saturday of each month at Borders, Central Park. 371-2228; virtuousnubian women@yahoo.com.
Welcome Chapter 129, Eastern Star, meets first Friday of each month, 7:30 p.m., Bowling Green. E-mail Cbaker@Caroline.k12.va.us.
Welsh Society of Fredericksburg
Women's Aglow, Spotsylvania Chapter, meets every third Thursday, 12:30-2 p.m., Snow Library, 8800 Courthouse Road. 891-2443.
Miscellany
American Red Cross Youth Team yard sale fundraiser today, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Red Cross building. 373-5176.
Auditions Wanted by The Castaways Repertory Theater for "Ten Little Indians," Aug. 11, 7-10 p.m.; Aug. 13, 12:30-3:30 p.m., at the Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building, 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Woodbridge. 703/508-5418 or visit castawaystheatre.org.
Basket Bingo Fundraiser sponsored by Lacey Rae Foundation for Children with Disabilities at R. Thompson Middle School, 75 Walpole St., Stafford, July 26, 7 p.m. Tickets: $20. Call Kirsten Dye for tickets, 540/752-2449.
Candidates Wanted from Fredericksburg to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency county committee. Eligibility includes participation in an FSA program, legal voting age and residency in the county where the election will be held. Last day to nominate: Aug. 1. Visit USDA Service Center at 4805 Carr Drive or visit fsa.usda,gov/pas/publications/elections for nomination forms.
Digital Fingerprinting and Photographing for children at DBX Imaging Warehouse, 101 Juliad Court, Suite 107, Stafford Industrial Park, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., July 25-27. 1/866-934-3748.
Falmouth High School Alumni Association 40th reunion Aug. 20, 6 p.m., Fraternal Order of Eagles Club, Cool Spring Road. All students who attended 1932-1952 and 1953-1956 are invited to attend by registering with Thelma H. Hingston, 804/448-9030 before Aug. 10.
Fancy's Friends 4-H Dog Club 20th reunion being planned for Sept. 3. Past members and leaders should call 540/775-7728 or e-mail: hfcole man@verizon.net by Aug. 20 for reservations.
Fraternal Order of Eagles yard sale fundraiser July 30, 7 a.m.-noon,
The Child-care Network offers free referrals to homes, centers and preschools available to parents in need of child care. Assistance to providers to become state-licensed. 373-3275.
Volunteers Needed
Birthright of Fredericksburg needs volunteers for office work, fundraising, as counselors or speakers, and sorting donated clothes. Training provided. 371-6119.
Boys & Girls Club, 200 Gunnery Road, needs volunteers for education, homework help, tutoring, computer help, arts and crafts, music, games, flag football and basketball, for youth between ages of 5 and 17. 368-9531.
Bragg Hill Family Life Center needs volunteers for its after-school program on Mondays and Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. No special skills required. 371-3662.
Colonial Beach Committee for Children, working to fight problems of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, teen suicide and school failure, needs volunteers. Meets second Tuesday of each month, 11 a.m., Riverwood Community Center; also fourth Tuesday of each month,
Greater Fredericksburg Habitat for Humanity needs volunteers for 15 committees and building of homes. Anyone with skills to donate or willingness to help, call 891-5009
Low-cost spay/neuter clinic, Hudgins Road, needs volunteers to check animals in and out and answer phones. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 834-0080.
Meadowview Biological Research
Parent HELP, a support program for parents desiring to learn positive parenting skills, needs facilitators and children's-program workers for weekly support groups. 785-6217.
Rappahannock Area Community Services Board, Project Link, needs volunteers to monitor children's activities while their mothers attend sessions on-site at A Woman's Place. Free orientation and screening. 891-3132.
Rappahannock Area Office on Youth Court Ordered Opportunities Program needs volunteers to help at-risk youth and families obtain court-ordered services. 372-1149 or e-mail billie@officeonyouth.org.
Rappahannock Big Brothers Big Sisters needs volunteers from all walks of life to serve as adult mentors to children ages 6-13 from single-parent homes. The sister program urgently needs volunteers. Call 371-7444 or visit rbbbs.org.
Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault has opportunities for fund-raising, clerical work, community education, victim advocacy and
Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence needs volunteers to provide hotline counseling, transportation, child care, donations management, support-group assistance, shelter-residents support, court advocacy and fundraising for victims of domestic violence in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George and Caroline counties. Call 373-9372 for more information.
Rappahannock Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused, neglected and abandoned children in the court system needs volunteers. Training provided. 710-6199.
Items related to health and senior citizens are listed in calendars in the Healthy Living section on Sundays. Deadline is noon the preceding Tuesday. Items for the Community Calendar published on Saturdays in the Region section should be submitted by noon the preceding Thursday. Send to The Free Lance-Star, 616 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401; fax to 540/373-8455; or e-mail newsroom@freelancestar.com. Include a telephone number.