<bt> 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 Friday before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged.
CHADD is an organization that provides education, support, and legislative advocacy for persons, young and old, who are struggling with AD/HD and all subtypes. It aslo raises awareness and understanding of AD/HD by providing education programs for mfamilies and professionals at both the local and national level. CHADD proveds support to families and links porfessional services proveders and increases legislative awareness and advocady for all those affected by AD/HD
The Loudoun county Chapter will be working with local educators, providing programs to help them teach children with AD/HD. They will also be compiling resources for parents and adults with the disorder.
The group will be meeting monthly at the Town Hall location. For further information, you can e-mail the group at loudounchapterchadd@yahoo.com.
The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum is looking for seasoned Volunteers to help with archiving material and objects, and scanning 19th & 20th century family & business documents. For more information call Anna Fasolo at 703-421-5322.
Beginning Feb. 23, Loudoun County residents can expect to save time on Saturdays under the FastTrash program at the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility at 20939 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. This is a pilot program designed to continue quality service and accommodate an increase in customers.
The FastTrash Program is a cash-only program for Saturday customers who bring up to ten 33-gallon trash bags of household garbage.
FastTrash customers pay $3 at the scale house when they enter, proceed as directed, unload their trash and then exit. FastTrash customers bypass "weighting in line" to be weighed and pay for disposal at the outbound scale. The FastTrash program is designed to move customers in and out of the landfill quickly on Saturdays, the busiest day of the week.
The landfill scalehouse operator will determine FastTrash customers based on the number of garbage bags or equivalent volume of the household garbage. Up to ten 33-gallon garbage bags or 50-grocery store bags, paper or plastic, or three 90-gallon trash containers or the equivalent in boxes, barrels or cans are considered to be FastTrash loads. Items such as tires, gas cylinders, scrap metal, appliances, yard waste, construction waste, rubble or bulky items will not be accepted under the FastTrash Program. These items are accepted at the landfill and charged according to the current rate schedule and require weighing in and out.
More information is available from the Office of Solid Waste Management at 703-777-0187 or check http://www.loudoun.gov/oswm/fasttrash.htm.
Prospective and existing small fruit growers and any interested individuals are invited to attend a course offered jointly by the Loudoun Cooperative Extension and Frederick Cooperative Extension. This course features speakers from Virginia Tech, the University of Maryland and from the small fruit industry. Production practices for blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries will be addressed, as well as pest and disease management and weeds management.
The meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19 and 20. Feb. 19 is a full-day program in Winchester at the Virginia Tech Fruit Research Station. Feb. 20 is a morning program at Potowmack Farm in Loudoun County to demonstrate pruning of blackberries and young blueberries.
Pre-registration is required by Feb. 12 to reserve lunch and includes a $30 fee covering coffee, breaks, lunch and handouts. Later registrations will be accepted but will not include lunch. To register or to obtain more information about the course, contact Jason Murray, commercial horticulture extension agent at 703-737-8978 or jmurray@vt.edu.
Upcoming Classes at the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum:
Feb. 14 - 9:30 a.m. - Valentine Animal Cards: Make a card for a favorite valentine in the shape of a favorite farm animal and decorate it with fur, feathers, and other fanciful materials. $5. Ages 3-6.
Feb. 19 - 9:30 a.m. - Corny Crafts: Make a holiday craft out of corn and other grains growing on a farm. $5. Ages 3-6.
Feb. 20 - 9:30 a.m. - Bunny Bags: Meet the resident bunnies while learning simple animal care. Find out how to hold, clean, and feed these well-loved, furry friends. Decorate a bunny bag to take home. $5. Ages 3-6.
Pre-registration is required. Register at any Loudoun County Park, Recreation or Community Service facility. For more information please call 703-421-5322. Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum is located at Claude Moore Park, 21544 Cascades Parkway, Sterling.
The Salvation Army of Loudoun County has funding from the Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF) to provide heating assistance to Loudoun residents in need. Contact Sue Hogan at The Salvation Army at 703-771-3371 to make an appointment.
Oatlands Plantation is about to start its 2002 Potting Shed Series. "Shrubs and Trees" begins on March 12 and continues on March 19, 26 and April 2 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The cost of this class is $55 ($47.50 for Friends of Oatlands members).
Classes cannot be purchased on an individual basis and seating is very limited. Call 703-777-3174 for reservations. Oatlands is located six miles south of Leesburg on Route 15.
The Rural Economic Development Council is looking for a candidate to fill the vacant Banking and Finance position. Potential candidates should be knowledgeable in the areas of Banking and Finance, with particular experience and application in Agriculture and Rural businesses. Council members, who are appointed by the Board of Supervisors for a two-year term, must be willing to attend two meetings per month, plus a few additional hours per month for committee work. Candidates should send a letter of interest and a resume by Feb. 28to Jeff Browning, Chairman of the Rural Economic Development Council, at the following address: Department of Economic Development, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., P.O. Box 7000
Leesburg, VA 20177.
Interested in being a volunteer for The Democratic Party of Virginia? The DPA is looking for a few good volunteers to help out its office staff during regular shifts (Monday and Wednesday, 10-2 p.m.). Those interested in volunteering should contact Hilary at 804-644-1966 ext. 222 or hilary@vadem.org.
The Sterling Community Center is offering an aerobic exercise class that incorporates kick-boxing moves with no contact, on Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-10 a.m. Cost is $25 per month. Child care is available for an additional fee. Call 703-430-9480 for more information.
Travelers Aid Washington D.C. is looking for volunteers to help airline passengers have a smooth trip through Washington Dulles International Airport. Travelers Aid volunteers provide assistance with general information about the airport facilities, directions to ground transportation and connect travelers with special assistance if necessary. Call 703-572-7350.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is seeking citizens to fill vacancies on the following county advisory boards, commissions, and committees:
* Advisory Commission on Youth: There is a vacancy for a representative from the Sugarland Run District for a four-year term.
* Animal Advisory Committee: There is a vacancy for a representative from the Dulles District to serve a four-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2003.
* Building Code and Appeals Board: There is a vacancy for one four-year term expiring January 31, 2005 and three terms expiring Jan. 31, 2006.
* Cable TV Advisory Board: There is a vacancy from the Catoctin District to complete a two-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2003.
* Commission on Women: There is a vacancy for a Chairman's representative to complete a four-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2003.
* Commuter Bus Advisory Board: There are vacancies for an at-large representative and a Dulles District representative to serve four-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2003. These representatives must be riders of the Loudoun County Commuter Bus Service or commuters.
* Disability Services Board: There is a vacancy for a representative with a disability or with a family member with a disability to serve a three-year term.
* Open Space Advisory Board: There is a vacancy to complete the four-year term of the Sterling District representative, which expires Dec. 31, 2003.
* Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: There are vacancies for representatives from the Dulles and Sterling Districts to complete terms that expire Dec. 31, 2003.
* Rural Economic Development Council: There is a vacancy for a Banking and Finance Industry Representative to complete a two-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2003.
* Social Services Board: There is a vacancy for an at-large representative to serve a three-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2004.
Anyone interested in serving on one of these committees should send a letter of interest or resume to the Board of Supervisors, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177. Indicate which committee you would like to serve on, and in which supervisor's district you live.
For more information about the committees or vacancies, call the Board of Supervisors office, 703-777-0204.
A new MOPS group will be starting at Capital Community Church in Ashburn Village. The first meeting will be on Friday, April 12 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Call 703-729-7493 or 703-858-4461 for registration information. All mothers with children from infants to age five are welcome. Child care will be provided.
The Team A freshmen at Potomac Falls High School raised $3,508 in only one week to support local firefighters and help educate students about ways to protect themselves against terrorism. The fund-raiser, which was Team A's community service activity for this year, only took donations from members of the freshman class.
The Children's Friendship Project for Northern Ireland (CFPNI) is seeking local families to host a pair of Protestant and Roman Catholic teens (boys or girls ages 15-18) in their home for three to six weeks this summer. To be eligible, families must provide a safe-neutral setting for the teens to get to know one another, a single bedroom for them to share, and day-long adult supervision. For more information or to obtain a host family application, contact Jennifer Mullen at 703-450-4479, or visit our web site at www.cfpni.org. Interested families can contribute to peace and healing this summer with CFPNI.
<bt>Before making a commitment to any other organization, please check the prices of Stone Bridge Mulch Sale. The Stone Bridge Booster Club is sponsoring a Mulch Sale with scheduled delivery on Saturday, March 16. The cost will be $3.25 per 3 cu. ft. bag of premium shredded hardwood mulch. Free delivery to your front yard on orders of 25 or more bags (within a five mile radius); smaller orders may be picked up at Stone Bridge High School from 9:00 a.m.-noon on March 16. Order forms are due March 1. Call Concetta Marchio 703-724-0959 or Fran Walker 703-724-7746 for more information.
The Community Resilience Project of Loudoun County is forming a grief support group for family members of people who were lost in the September 11th terrorist attacks and their aftermath.
The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m.
The Community Resilience Project is a FEMA-funded program to provide community outreach and support. The FEMA grant is being administered by Loudoun County's Division of Mental Health.
For more information call the Division of Mental Health at 703-771-5100.
The Growing Stage is pleased to announce the award of a $1,000 grant from the Robey Foundation of Purcellville, Virginia. This grant will be used to fund The Robey Foundation Scholarship Fund for the Growing Stage's educational programs, especially the summer workshops. They are offering a performing arts camp for all ages, k-12, in several locations throughout the county. Space is limited and demand is great so call The Growing Stage today at 540-338-5367.
The Growing Stage will hold auditions for their next main stage production, "Little Women of Orchard House" on Monday, Feb. 18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Purcellville Baptist Church in Purcellville. Parts are available for girls ages 7-18, women ages 20-40, boys ages 16-22, and men over 40. Auditioners will be expected to deliver a one to two minute monologue. Please call The Growing Stage at 540-338-5367 for more information.
The Growing Stage has selected "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" as the summer musical production this year and will be holding auditions at the Purcellville Baptist Church in Purcellville Monday, Feb. 25 and Friday, March 1 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Men, women and children who can sing and dance are invited to audition. Auditioners must prepare 16 bars of an up-tempo song and 16 bars of a ballad.
<bt>The Loudoun County Public Library offers ongoing One-on-One Internet training at Eastern Loudoun Regional Library, Sundays from 7-8:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m. and at Purcellville Library (call 540-338-7235 for dates). Advance sign-up is required and space is limited. For more information call a local library branch or visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
Volunteers are needed for Ethics Seminar. If you are interested come to Herndon Middle School on Tuesday, Feb. 19. at 8:00-10:00 a.m. For more information call 703-437-5556.
It is time for Loudoun County Crimesolvers' Donate-a-Phone Campaign that collects used cellular phones. The new collection sites are: Belfort Furniture on Shaw Rd. in Sterling and St. Francis De Sales Church in Purcellville. The collection runs through Feb. 15. For more information call 703-627-9429.
The filing extension deadline for applications in the Loudoun County Land Use Assessment Program is March 1, for the 2002 assessment year.
Applications require the normal filing fee and late filing and extension fees of $30.00 each. Late filing fees and extension filing fees are in addition to any normal application fee required under county ordinances.
An application must be filed to qualify a property in the Land Use Assessment Program. An application is also required when the use of acreage of a previously qualified property changes for any reason.
Direct any questions regarding the Land Use Assessment Program to the Department of Financial Services, Assessor's Office at 703-777-0290.
The Department of Financial Services, Assessor's Office, will mail 2002 assessment notices on February 15. Preliminary estimates indicate that changes in assessed values will be similar to those experienced in calendar year 2001. The average percentage change will be ten to 25 percent on various types of residential real property. These are averages and individual properties may change at levels greater than or less than the average.
2002 assessed values are based on transactions occurring in the calendar year 2001. Market data from the year 2001 generally indicates increases from calendar year 2000 data that was the basis for the 2001 assessments.
The assessment notice has been redesigned for the coming year and will clearly indicate appeal procedures for those owners who wish to have their assessments reviewed. This new notice will also highlight information regarding the County's programs for Land Use Assessment Taxation, Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled, and the recently enacted program for Revitalized Residential Tax Exemptions.
Virginia law requires the assessed value of real property to reasonably reflect market conditions and market value. Real property tax bills are based on the real property assessment and the real property tax rate. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors sets the real property tax rate each year during the budget process.
For more information, contact Bill Gardner, Loudoun County Department of Financial Services, Assessor's Office, 703-777-0290.
The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue system is pleased to announce that February 10-16 is National Child Passenger Week. During this week and year round, the members of the Loudoun County Fire-Rescue system are encouraging parents and caregivers to buckle up their children on every ride and to educate children about safety in and around motor vehicles.
According to Joy Brown, Public Education Manager for Loudoun County, approximately 2,500 child safety seats were inspected in Loudoun County in the past year. An estimated 90 percent of the seats inspected were improperly installed.
When properly installed, a child safety seat helps provide effective crash protection for a child. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that when used properly, child safety seats have been found to reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (under one year of age) and 54 percent for toddlers (one to four years old). Furthermore, a properly installed child safety seat can reduce the need for hospitalization by 69 percent.
Throughout the County, members of the Loudoun County Fire-Rescue system are trained in the proper installation of child safety seats. To have a safety seat inspected or learn more about the proper installation and type of car seats to be used, contact a Fire and Rescue Stations below to schedule a Child Safety Seat Inspection. Inspections are by appointment only and the program is offered at no cost.
For additional information on child passenger safety, contact Joy Brown, Public Education Manager with the Loudoun County Department of Fire-Rescue Services at 703-777-0333 or call the Virginia Department of Health, Center for Injury and Violence Prevention at 1-800-732-8333 or visit its web site at www.vahealth.org/civp.
A five-lesson Boating Safely course will be taught at the Leesburg Public Safety Center on Saturday, March 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Course registration, distribution of materials, and a required orientation session will take place on Feb. 27, beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the Public Safety Center, 65 Plaza Street in Leesburg. A $25 fee is charged for instructional materials. For more information, call 703-444-5680.
Enter Loudoun's Tree Photo Contest. The photos should be no larger than 8"x10" and cannot be framed or matted. A sheet of paper affixed to the back of the photo should includes name, address and phone number of the photographer, location of the tree, the kind of tree (if known) and the significance of the tree to the photographer. All entries are due by March 29 to Michelle Vanhuss, Special Events Coordinator, Department of Parks, Recreation and Community, 1 Harrison Street SE, Leesburg, VA 20177. Winning photos will be displayed at the annual Arbor Day celebration on Saturday, April 13, at Banshee Reeks Park. For more information call 703-771-5308.
Loudoun County Volunteer Services will be recruiting volunteers at a Volunteer Fair in Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harridan Street, Leesburg, on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 9 a.m.-3 p.m. WAMU's Annual Heart-to-Heart Telethon will be on the same day at 6 a.m.-7 p.m. For questions about WAMU call 703-777-0113. For questions about the volunteer services call 703-771-5511.
The Loudoun County Public Library will be closed for all services on Presidents' Day on Monday, Feb. 18, 2002. The library and all services will open at regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002. For more information, call 703-737-8655 or visit the Loudoun County Public Library web site at www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
<mh>Suburban Area Community Meetings Scheduled
<bt>The next two of a four-part series of community input meetings on implementation of the revised Comprehensive Plan will be held next month.
The Potomac Suburban Area community meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2002, at Potomac Falls High School, 46400 Algonkian Parkway. The Potomac Suburban Area, located north of Rt. 7 between Broad Run and the Fairfax County border, includes the communities of Broad Run Farms, Cascades, Countryside, Lowes Island, and Sugarland Run.
The Sterling Suburban Area community meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2002, at Park View High School, 400 West Laurel Avenue in Sterling. The Sterling Suburban Area, located south of Rt. 7 east and south to the Fairfax County border, includes the communities of Sterling Park, Forest Ridge, Old Sterling and other communities throughout the Sterling area.
In July 2001, the Board of Supervisors passed a revised Comprehensive Plan to guide development in the county over the next 20 years. Central to this plan is the effort to ensure a high quality of life across the county. These meetings seek input from the Potomac and Sterling Suburban Area residents on community needs to help the Board in its Plan implementation efforts.
The meetings feature small group discussions to allow residents of each suburban area to work together in identifying community priorities for the Board's consideration.
Residents who plan to attend the Potomac Suburban Area community meeting, or who need more information should call the county Public Information Office at 703-777-0113 by Thursday, February 28, 2002.
Residents who plan to attend the Sterling Suburban Area community meeting, or who need more information should call the county Public Information Office at 703-777-0113 by Thursday, March 14, 2002.
<bt>The Growing Stage thanks all those who tried out for Little Women of Orchard House this week and invites the public to audition for our summer musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, next Monday, Feb. 25 and Friday, March 1 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Purcellville Baptist Church in Purcellville. All auditions are walk-in only. Performers will be asked to sing 16 bars of an up-tempo song and 16 bars of a ballad. Please bring the sheet music with you, and an accompanist will be provided. For more information, please call The Growing Stage at 540-338-5367.
<bt>Hurry! The Growing Stage summer programs are filling up fast! This summer, we offer workshops for rising grades 3-4, 5-6, 7-9, and 10-12. In addition, we are offering 4 sessions of our popular creative drama camp, for rising k-2nd graders, and new this summer, our first ever Theatre Tech Camp, for 13-18 year olds. Come learn about what goes on behind the scenes--and do it yourself! Limited spaces are filling up quickly! Call 540-338-5367 to reserve your child's space today.
<mh>Loudoun Chamber Member News
<bt>The American Cancer Society has started it's
"Daffodil Days" fund raiser. You can purchase
a bunch of ten daffodil stems ($6 per bunch)
or a Potted Mini Daffodils (3-4 bulbs per pot)
$8.50 per pot.
Contact Meagan Ulrich at 703-757-4557
or Maureen Gilmore at 703-771-9453
<mh>Celebrating George Washington
<bt>The George Washington University Virginia Campus and the Loudoun Museum present "George Washington: Charting New Territories in Leadership," on Thursday, Feb 21 from 3-5 p.m. at the GW Virginia Campus, 20101 Campus Way, Ashburn. It is a special symposium celebrating George Washington's birthday and the 10-year anniversary of GW's Virginia campus. The panel will explore Washington's connections to Northern Virginia and Loudoun County. Moderating the panel will be Doug Foard, Ph.D., the executive director of the Loudoun Museum. Cost $10 for general public, free for GW Corporate Liaison Program members and Loudoun Museum Members.
For reservations, call (703) 726-8300 or e-mail to reservations@va.gwu.edu