Residents who are new to the greater Northern Virginia area and members of the Welcome Club of Northern Virginia are invited to attend the Thursday, March 4 luncheon at International Country Club, 13200 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax. The program will feature Dorothy Moxley, who will talk about her personal journey after the murder of her daughter in Greenwich, Conn. in 1975. Registration begins at 11 a.m. For reservations and additional information about the luncheon or the organization, call 703-319-9043. Deadline for reservations is noon on Feb. 27.
On Sunday, March 7, the Herndon Parks and Recreation department, in conjunction with the Herndon Optimists, will be holding the 2004 Super Shooter competition in the Herndon Community Center gym. Both a boys and girls division will be held in the following age groups: 9-11, 11-12, 13-14, 15-17. Awards will be given to the top three finishers in each division and age group. Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m. and continue until 11:30 a.m. The competition will begin at 12 noon. Volunteers are also needed for registration and during the competition. For more information, contact Tom Wissinger, Recreation Services Supervisor at 703-435-6868 or by email at tom.wissinger@town.herndon.va.us.
The Fairfax County Public Library's new virtual reference
service allows users at home or work to contact county librarians via the Internet and 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 simple 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 nonprofit community environment. ExxonMobil Foundation funds the intern salaries and Volunteer Fairfax expenses for the program. Volunteer Fairfax administers the program and trains participating organizations in how to recruit and select interns, and how to organize their summer internships. Participating interns also have the opportunity to attend two developmental seminars on resume writing, interview tips, workplace ethics and etiquette, as well as to complete a group community service project. College students interested in the ExxonMobil-funded internship may 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.
The Fairfax County Park Authority is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, March 23 to present a proposal for master plan revisions at Ossian Hall Park, located at the corner of Heritage Drive and Four Year Run in Annandale at 7900 Heritage Drive. The hearing culminates months of hard work by a local task force, which sought innovative approaches to improving the 23 acre green space. The concept proposes a park with a more urban feel and addresses concerns from the neighborhood about safety issues by opening up some areas of the park and lighting others. The proposal includes adding a rectangular field, lighted plaza space, a lighted skate area, picnic shelters and additional lighted parking. In addition, the plan proposes relating and updating the existing playground and basketball court. The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at Annandale Terrace Elementary School at 7604 Herald Street in Annandale. To view the proposed plans online, visit our website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks. Individuals or groups wishing to speak at the hearing should contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662 or sign up to speak by sending an e-mail to Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov. Residents may also offer written comments on the plan at that e-mail address or send comments to Ms. Lynn Tadlock, director of Planning and Development Division, Fairfax County Park Authority, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 421, Fairfax, VA 22035. The 30 day comment period following the hearing ends on Friday, April 23, 2004.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins will be holding a
community meeting on the Fairfax County Fiscal Year 2005 Budget. The public is strongly encouraged to attend. A meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m., at Floris Elementary School, 2708 Centreville Road, Herndon.
Leadership Fairfax, Inc. (LFI), is seeking candidates for its two leadership programs – the Leadership Fairfax Signature Program and Emerging Leaders Institute. LFI will host a Recruiting Preview on Wednesday, March 3 at the Fairfax County Government Center from 5:30-7 p.m. This information session is free and will provide prospective candidates with overviews of the two programs and their application requirements. For more information, call 703-749-0409 ext. 338 or email info@leadershipfairfax.org. LFI will accept applications for the Class of 2005 beginning in Mar. 2004. 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.
The first piglets of the year have arrived at Frying Pan Park, with 16 new piglets now calling the barn home. Two sets of piglets were born on Friday, Jan. 23, and Sunday, Jan. 25. Moms, “Ohee,” a white Yorkshire Cross, and “Wanda,” a Hampshire, each had eight babies. All the babies are healthy and ready for visitors. Farm hours for visitation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Frying Pan Park is located at 2709 West Ox Road in Herndon. Check out the website at www.fairfaxcounty.gov./parks/fpp for updates on future births.
Homeless pets at Fancy Cats Rescue Team in Herndon, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter and the Humane Society of Fairfax County, Inc. can find homes with the help of Petfinder.com. Potential adopters should visit the Web site, enter their zip code and find a list of pets that are available for adoption in their area.
The Town of Herndon is accepting grant proposals up to $5,000 this year through the Virginia Commission for the Arts Local Government Challenge Grant Program. Non-profit arts organizations incorporated in the Town of Herndon must meet general policy guidelines as published by the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Please see www.arts.virginia.gov. Organizations who intend to apply for grant funding may submit their proposals by Feb. 18 by noon to Holly Popple at the Herndon Department of Parks and Recreation at the Herndon Community Center, 703-435-6800 ex. 2120.
The Town of Herndon Department of Parks and Recreation is inviting local businesses and organizations to sponsor one of the concerts in the 2004 Summer Concert Series. This weekly series, which attracts an audience of approximately 7,000 over three months, is held on Thursday evenings on the Town Green in historic downtown Herndon. Sponsors of the 2004 Summer Concert Series will receive high profile publicity with their organization's name appearing in the Community Center's summer brochure that is distributed to households in the greater Herndon area, as well as on promotional flyers and pocket guides. Sponsors will have the ability to choose the date they would like to sponsor on a first come, first served basis and receive special recognition at one concert designated to their organization. To participate as a sponsor, a $300 contribution is requested. For a sponsorship packet, contact Holly Popple at 703-435-6800 ext. 2120. The deadline for sponsorship opportunities is Friday, March 5.
Virginia Residents can pick up state and federal income tax forms at all 21 branches of the Fairfax County Public Library. Forms are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Tax forms are also available online; check the Library’s Web site for links to tax forms: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library
Tax preparation assistance for the elderly and people with disabilities is available at several Fairfax County Public Library branches from Feb. until April 15. Organizations providing tax preparation assistance include the American Association of Retired Persons and members of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
WAHMfest (the Work at Home Moms Expo) has teamed up with home-based businesses and local merchants to create Help a Spouse Care Baskets. Each basket includes a variety of items, including body wash and body sponge, a scented candle, hand cream, chocolates and other "relaxation" items. The public is encouraged to nominate a military spouse for a care basket by visiting www.wahmfest.org/helpaspouse or by calling 703-926-8576. As funds are raised for each basket, a new name will be randomly drawn and the basket will be sent to the winner.
Herndon Parks and Recreation will offer online and touchtone phone registration for most recreation programs, classes and activities beginning with the Winter 2004 schedule. Patrons will establish a customer identification number and registrations will be on a first-come, first-served system with priority given to Herndon residents. Visit www.Herndon-va.gov and click on the Parks and Recreation Online Registration button to follow the step-by-step instructions.