The Town of Herndon and the Cultivating Community Committee are seeking nominations for the Yard of the Month Awards. Residents can nominate their own yard or a neighbor's yard for this competition. Winners will be selected for June, July, August and September and will receive a $100 gift certificate to Home Depot and recognition in the media and by Town Council. To obtain Yard of the Month nomination forms, go to the Town's website at www.herndon-va.gov and click on "What's New" then "Yard of the Month Awards." Yards will be judged by members of the Cultivating Community Committee, a group formed to promote neighborhood beautification and enrich the quality of life in Herndon neighborhoods. The judges will select winners based on the following criteria:
* Yard is free of trash and clutter.
* Grass (if applicable) is green, mowed, generally free of bare spots and weeds, and properly edged.
* Trees and shrubs are neatly and correctly pruned and in good condition.
* Decorative rocks and mulch are displayed in a neat and orderly manner.
* Flowers and other vegetation are well landscaped and make good use of color.
* Garden edging methods such as logs, short fences, etc. are in good condition and neatly placed.
* Walkways and steps are clean and free of mold, stains or weeds.
* Overall appearance of the yard is well-balanced and aesthetically pleasing.
The Herndon Parks and Recreation Department is accepting registration for all outdoor tennis programs, held at the Bready Park. Register for any of the classes in person at the Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave. or online at www.herndon-va.gov. Registration for the Team Tennis League and the Herndon Open must be done at the Community Center. Classes begin in April and the Herndon Team Tennis League will begin play in mid-May. The Herndon Open runs from June 7-14. For more information, call 703-435-6868.
The Fairfax County Public Library's new virtual reference service allows users at home or work to contact county librarians by Internet to receive guided research assistance. This new service is available at the library's website, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library, during regular hours. Users do not need a library card to participate; they activate the service by going to "Ask a Librarian" and following the instructions. A librarian responds to the request, and together the user and librarian discuss the question and the progress of the search in an area on the right side of the screen while looking at resources offered by the librarian on the left side of the screen.
The ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program provides full-time, undergraduate-level college students with an eight-week, paid internship to experience operations in a non-profit community environment. ExxonMobil Foundation funds the intern salaries and Volunteer Fairfax expenses. Volunteer Fairfax administers the program and trains participating organizations how to recruit and select interns and how to organize their summer internships. Participating interns will get the opportunity to attend two developmental seminars on resume writing, interview tips, workplace ethics and etiquette, as well as the opportunity to complete a group community service project. Visit the Volunteer Fairfax website, www.volunteerfairfax.org, to obtain a list of participating local agencies, internship descriptions and agency contacts. Candidates should apply directly to the selected agencies.
Leadership Fairfax, Inc. (LFI), seeks candidates for its two leadership programs — the Leadership Fairfax Signature Program and Emerging Leaders Institute. The application deadline for the Leadership Fairfax Signature Program is June 1. The application deadline for Emerging Leaders Institute is July 15. The programs are open to individuals who reside or work in Fairfax County. Participants are selected each year from the business, government, education, and not-for-profit sectors of Fairfax County.