With the arrival of spring and warmer weather, car-related events become common. With automotive and auto body courses there should be some interest in car-related activities.
If you are interested in participating in, watching or perhaps just want to find out more about the particular cars you are considering buying, then the following list of car activities in DC and the surrounding areas should be of value.

Trust is a very difficult thing to get, especially when talking about sharing personal information.

The Census is a prime example. Thanks to the data collected through the 2010 Census, communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year. This money helps job training centers, hospitals, senior centers, schools and other educational institutions including NOVA.

Most know that some information must be given to the government every decade. Everybody is informed that personal data provided is protected under federal law, and yet many people are reluctant to cooperate.

If you like food, music and fashion, then the International Festival is an event you won’t want to miss. Best of all, it’s free for everyone. The event will take place on April 14 in the cafeteria of the Alexandria campus in Bisdorf Building.

That day, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the International Club will be hosting a variety of activities that will celebrate countries from around the world such as a multicultural fashion show, free henna temporary tattoo body art and booths with items representing various countries. Students will also be able to enjoy an international food buffet along with different cultural artistic performances such as salsa and belly dancing and a performance by Erica Anderson, one of this year’s NOVA Idol finalists.

At the Annandale campus, the Korean Student Association is currently providing tutoring sessions for students taking a Korean course or those with an interest in learning the language.

On Mondays and Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in CF 230, officers of the association and some fluent speakers are teaching a few students ways to speak and write in Korean. The majority of the participants have been non-Korean but they said that they welcome those who were born in America and have Korean roots within their families. This gives them the opportunity to learn their own language.

InfoComm International, a Fairfax trade association for audiovisual and information communications professionals, is offering students who are studying for a career in the audiovisual field a chance to win scholarships.

The International Communications Industries Foundation, InfoComm’s non-profit foundation, awards scholarships to college students in good standing and majoring in fields such as audio, video, telecommunications, electronics, technical theater, data networking, software development and information technology. ICIF was established because of a growing need for a well-trained workforce.

“Relay never stops because cancer never stops” is the slogan and theme of the Relay for Life, the flagship fundraiser of the American CancerSociety. The event, which started at NOVA in 2002, allows students to channel the passion of those words and continue to make an impact in the war against cancer. For two nights, on April 17 and 18, over 170 registered students making up 26 teams will honor the lives of those with cancer through joining in the planned activities.

The National Mall hosted tens of thousands of protestors determined to push a major overhaul of the immigration system to the top of the nation’s political agenda. On Sunday March 21 protestors rallied to challenge President Barack Obama and Congress to fix laws that separate families and hurt the country’s economic and social stability.

As a candidate in 2008, Obama spoke eloquently about the promise of making immigration reform a priority in his first year of government. This would help the more than 11 million illegal immigrants realize their dream of having the rights of work, study and life that American citizens have.

What happens when a Russian energy drink and a hot tub’s control panel meet? You’ll find out in “Hot Tub Time Machine,” a movie with a name that tells it all. This movie will keep audiences in stitches, even during the few saccharin moments.

What starts out as a therapeutic retreat for an at-risk friend ends up being a crazy trip down memory lane for three middle-aged men and an adventure for one barely-legal boy. Lou (Rob Coddry) finds himself plagued by the same belligerent ski patrolman as 20 years before. Adam (John Cusack) meets the love of his life, a woman he never got over. Nick (Craig Robinson) wrestles with the prospect of cheating on his wife. And Adam’s nephew, Jacob (Clark Duke), gets to experience the 1980s for the first time.

The American public’s sentiment for creating sensible marijuana laws is ever increasing, and it seems someone finally brought these ideas to Virginia with the introduction of House Bill 1134.

Delegate Harvey Morgan was an unlikely candidate  to sponsor the first marijuana decriminalization bill in Virginia for over 30 years. The second most senior member of the Virginia House of Delegates, a Republican and pharmacist by trade; Delegate Morgan commands respect among his peers in the Virginia Legislature.

Everyone has dreams of fame and fortune. At one point or another, many believe that they have what it takes to perform for thousands of screaming fans. Hundreds of NOVA students have received this opportunity. NOVA Idol has been letting NOVA students have their 15 minutes of fame for several years. This year’s NOVA Idol was described by many as the best so far.