Aug. 14, 2002
<lst>Send your organization's announcement to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is two weeks before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged. Questions? Call Michael O'Connell at 703-917-6449.
The 2002 fall sports program for Special Olympics is open to all current participants and coaches, as well as any interested athletes, coaches and volunteers. Unified Bowling practices will meet at Village Lanes in Leesburg on Sundays beginning Aug. 18 from 12-2 p.m. Volleyball practice sessions take place at Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m. starting Aug. 28. The practice schedules for Soccer and Golf are currently being developed. Athletes, coaches and volunteers are needed. To get involved with Loudoun County Special Olympics, or for further information regarding the fall sports program, call 703-777-0438.
The general public is invited to voice their opinions and suggestions regarding the planned renovation of George Washington Carver School in Purcellville. The building was originally constructed in 1948 as the first modern elementary school for African American children in the county. The school has served as a surplus storage facility for the Loudoun County School Board since 1968. The Board of Supervisors awarded a contract for architectural and engineering services to Grimm & Parker, Architects. Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services and the Friends of Carver Center Advisory Board have worked closely with the contractor to prepare preliminary plans. Citizens will be given the opportunity to provide input during two public sessions on Aug. 20 from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. at Loudoun Valley Community Center in Purcellville. Call Loudoun County PRCS at 703-777-0343 for more information.
A Citizens Advisory Committee is being formed to help draft a Countywide Historic Resources Preservation Plan to ensure that the county’s rich heritage resources are preserved for the benefit of current and future residents. Applications are now being accepted. Information and applications about the project are available on-line at www.loudoun.gov/compplan/historic.htm or by calling the Department of Planning at 703-777-0246. Deadline is Aug. 16 at 5 p.m.
Loudoun County government employees are preparing for questions about the proposed countywide re-mapping and related draft zoning ordinance amendments in advance of the Planning Commission's public hearing. Between Aug. 5 and Aug. 16, staff will be available to answer questions from residents in the Bluemont Room of the County Government Center, 1 Harrison St., S.E., Leesburg, on the Zoning Hotline at 703-777-0103 or through the e-mail address zoningupdate@loudoun.gov. Anyone who wishes to speak at a public hearing session may sign up beginning at 1 p.m. on Aug. 14 on the first floor of the County Government Center. Information about the zoning ordinance revision and re-mapping project is available on-line on the county's Web site at www.loudoun.gov/compplan/remap.htm.
The MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club, an international support group for at-home mothers, is starting a new chapter in the Ashburn/Sterling area this month. This group provides monthly meetings with interesting speakers and topics for discussion, park play days, holiday activities and service projects benefiting children/families in the community. In addition, the group will sponsor special "activity groups" that will allow members to share similar interests. Typical activity groups are playgroups based on a child's age, a monthly MOMS night out, walking club, lunch outings, cooking club and many more. The first two meetings of the MOMS Club of Ashburn/Sterling will take place in the Eastern Loudoun Library Conference Room at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 16 and Sept. 20. There is an annual fee of $25 to become a member of the club. Anyone interested in more information may contact Laurie Scott at 703-948-0065 or Leanne Drake at 703-724-0480.
Special collection sites at the Park View High School Recycling Drop-Off Center in Sterling and the Leesburg Plaza Shopping Center received over 32,000 pounds of the old directories, which amounts to saving approximately 192 trees, 112,000 gallons of water and over 6,000 gallons of oil as the books are recycled into new paper products.
Residents and businesses that still need a place to recycle their old phone books can take them to one of seven County recycling drop-off centers that will accept them. Call the Loudoun County Recycling Hotline at 703-771-5318 or visit www.loudoun.gov/oswm/recycle/accept.htm to find the recycling center nearest you.
"Dark Skies Are Best!!" will host a peaceful placard demonstration near the Einstein Memorial in Washington, D.C. each Friday through the end of September 2002 from 6:30-8 p.m., to remind Loudoun and Fairfax drivers that "Dark Skies Are Best!!" as they drive homeward into the bright sun. All Loudouners are encouraged to bring their own signs. For more information visit darkskies@inorbit.com or see links to events from www.cafepress.com/darksky.
The Loudoun Chamber seeks nominations for the 2002 Small Business Awards. The award categories are: Entrepreneur of the Year, Retailer of the Year, Service Business of the Year, Product of the Year, Home-Based Business of the Year, Agri-Business of the Year, Technology Business of the Year, Franchise/Distributor of the Year and Small Business of the Year. Nomination forms are available from the Chamber Offices at 703-777-2176 or complete a form on-line at www.loudounchamber.org. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 27, 2002. The Loudoun County Chamber Small Business Awards is being chaired by Paul Bice with James Monroe Bank. The event is being sponsored by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, the Loudoun County Economic Development Commission, Johnson Promotions, Executive Gift Planners and Dominion Virginia Power. Contact the Loudoun Chamber for more information at 703-777-2176.
Malone, Inc. was recently hired to build permanent exhibits for the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum. The grand opening for the museum will be on Oct. 19. Malone, Inc. is a firm based in Atlanta, Ga. that designs exhibits.
Master Singers of Virginia is holding auditions in August for singers who are tenors or basses. The group needs one singer for each position in order to get the group to its maximum capacity of 28 singers. The group is going to begin its eighth year. For more information, call 703-858-2391.
MOPS at Capital Community Church will begin the MOPS 2002-03 year on Sept. 13. MOPS will meet at Capital Community Church, 20430 Ashburn Village Blvd., in Ashburn Village, the second and fourth Friday of each month, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Child care is provided. For registration information, call the MOPS Coordinator at 703-729-7493 or call Capital Community Church at 703-858-3864.
Depression and Manic Depression Support Group. The Sterling/Reston Chapter of DRADA meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 7-9 p.m. For location, contact Traci 703-433-1448; or Jan 703-669-5177. DRADA stands for Depressive and Related Affective Disorders Association, a non-profit self-help group sponsored by Johns Hopkins that has been in existence for over 20 years.
Three Wishes Program makes power wheelchairs available to senior citizens (65 years and up) and the permanently disabled with no cost to the recipient if they qualify. The power wheelchairs are provided to those who cannot walk and cannot self-propel a manual wheelchair in their home, and who meet the additional guidelines of the program. No deposit is required. Call 800-451-0971 for more information.
Oatlands is now part of the American Horticultural Society's (AHS) reciprocal Gardens program. This means that any AHS member can now visit Oatlands gardens and grounds for free. The gardens at Oatlands cover approximately four-and-a-half acres. They were designed and built by George Carter around 1804. Oatlands, a 261-acre property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is located six miles south of Leesburg, Virginia on Route 15. For additional information call 703-777-3174.
The MAiZE 2002. Saturday, Aug. 24-Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002. Hours: Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Closed. Wednesday and Thursday, 4-9 p.m. Friday, 4-10 p.m. Temple Hall, Farm Regional Park, 15789 Temple Hall Lane, Leesburg. Adults age 12 and older: $6 each. Children ages 6-11: $4 each. Children age 5 and younger: free. Groups rates for 15 or more visitors. Information Line: 703-777-6732. Web sites: www.nvrpa.org or www.cornfieldmaze.com. Hay rides, farm visits and a tot-sized hay-bale mini-maze for all ages. Teachers may call 703-779-9372 to schedule “Classroom in the Corn” field trips in September and October.
Sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and more animals live at Temple Hall Farm Regional Park’s interpretive center, which is open free to the public on summer Sunday afternoons, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The center offers guided tours to organized groups by reservation. Call 703-779-9372. NVRPA’s Temple Hall Farm Regional Park is located at 15789 Temple Hall Lane, Leesburg.
Loudoun Symphony Association. P.O. Box 4478, Leesburg, VA 20177. 703-771-8287. Fax 703-771-8211. E-mail: info@loudounsymphony.org. Web site: www.loudounsymphony.org. Esperanza Alzona, Executive Director. Mark Allen McCoy, Music Director and Conductor. The Loudoun Symphony is a 65-member orchestra. The Symphony presents classical music performances, ranging from full orchestral works to small chamber concerts, providing playing opportunities for a wide range of musicians. The Symphony presents a subscription concert series, a Connoisseurs' chamber concert and dinner, a free Children's Concert each year, an in-school mini-concert series for local elementary school students and an annual pops benefit concert. The Loudoun Symphony Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) Virginia corporation. The Symphony has received financial support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Loudoun Arts Council, Loudoun County Restricted TOT funds and United Arts Organizations. Individual and corporate donations offset the costs associated with presenting Symphony performances, keeping ticket prices affordable and concerts accessible to all.
Volunteers play a key role in the Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program's provision of advocacy services to recipients of long-term care in the region. The volunteer is assigned to a specific nursing home or assisted living facility, and makes weekly visits. Using the skills of listening, observing and mediating, the ombudsman works with the residents, their families and the staff of the facility to ensure that the residents' rights are being protected. The training for prospective Volunteer Ombudsmen is scheduled for Sept. 11, 12 and 20 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day. Applicants must successfully complete the training session and must be available to volunteer four hours per week, primarily during business hours. Call 703-324-5435 for further information and an application. Web site is www.co.fairfax.va.us/service/aaa/html/ombud_main.htm.
Crafters are needed for this year's Family Fall Fest on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 12-4 p.m. All crafts must be handmade. A sample must be submitted to Margo Kerns. No electricity or tables will be provided. There is no charge. Call 703-430-0715 with any questions.
Host families for the 2002-03 school year are needed for a 17-year-old girl from Finland, a 16-year-old girl from Germany, and a 16-year-old boy from China. Students are fully covered with health and accident insurance and have their own spending money. For more information, call 703-644-5429 or 888-587-0075.
La Leche League meetings emphasize the joys of breast feeding while informing and encouraging mothers who wish to nurse their babies. Meeting discussions include the latest medical research as well as mothers' personal experiences. LLL of Sterling meets on the third Friday of each month at 10:15 a.m. Mothers with their nursing babies and mothers-to-be are welcome. For directions to the meetings, or for more information call Sheila 703-450-0044 or Elizabeth 703-689-0811.
Colonial Camp, August 12-16, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Children ages 7-12 will reenact a "mock congress", explore the American Revolution and Native American life and hear folk tales. The camp fee of $100 covers lunch and all materials. For more information or to register, call Mark Summers at the Loudoun Museum, 703-777-7427.
Kinetic Arts offers weekly salsa lessons given from 8 to 9 p.m. for $10. Once a month, the group visits salsa clubs in the area. To learn more, visit Kinetic Arts, in the Countryside Shopping Center, 36 Pigeon Hill Drive, Sterling or call 703-444-0994.
The Northern Virginia Family Service seeks foster families for abused and neglected children. African-American families are particularly needed. Help is needed in both full-time and short-term programs. Training, support and financial compensation will be provided. For more information about the Northern Virginia Family Service call 703-533-9727 or smcallister@nvfs.org.
Loudoun County teens can visit www.loudounteens.org to learn how to get involved in their community and where to go to find information about jobs and other programs and services available to teenagers. Local teen Jon Hughes designed the site with input from teens that serve on the Loudoun County Advisory Commission On Youth (ACOY). For more information, contact the Loudoun County Office on Youth, at 703-777-0358.
Loudoun County Annual Growth Summary is now accessible on-line at: http://www.loudoun.gov/business/growthsummary2001.htm. The summary provides statistical snapshots of the county and also examines economic and demographic trends for Loudoun County and the Northern Virginia region. The Growth Summary was assembled by the Loudoun County Departments of Economic Development and Planning. Call the Department of Economic Development at 703-777-0426 for more information.