Send your organization's announcement to The Herndon Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, fax to 703-917-0991 or e-mail to herndon@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is two weeks before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call 703-917-6449 with questions.
The Herndon Relay For Life is scheduled for June 12 -13 at Herndon High School. An American Cancer Society activity, Relay For Life is an overnight event recognizing those who have survived cancer and those lost to cancer, which raises money to fight cancer. Teams camp out together, contributing to the atmosphere at Relay For Life. The Herndon Relay For Life will begin with a reception for cancer survivors at noon Saturday, followed by 2 p.m. opening ceremonies. Candles in honor of those touched by cancer will be lit during the Luminaria Ceremony, beginning at 9:30 p.m. Relay For Life will conclude at 8 a.m. on Sunday, June 13. To register for the Survivors Reception or to learn more about the Herndon Relay For Life, contact Shari True at the American Cancer Society, 703-937-1903, or shari.true@cancer.org.
The Town of Herndon is seeking applications for citizen volunteers to fill a current vacancy on the Architectural Review Board/Heritage Preservation Review Board (ARB/HPRB). The applicant must be a town resident. Individuals who already have an application on file and would like to have their application considered for this vacancy should contact the Town Clerk's office at 703-435-6804 or send an email to viki.wellershaus@herndon-va.gov. Individuals who do not have applications on file and are interested in serving should contact the Town Clerk's office. Copies of the application are on the website at http://herndon-va.gov.
Town of Herndon 125th Anniversary flags are now available. The flags are 3' x 5', with the anniversary logo printed in blue on a white background. The price per flag is $35. Five dollars of each purchase will be used to fund Government Day, an opportunity for Herndon high school students to learn more about town government and their community. To purchase a 125th Anniversary flag, send a check for $35 payable to the Town of Herndon to the following address: Public Information, Town of Herndon, P.O. Box 427, Herndon, VA 20172-0427
Flags can also be purchased during business hours at the Revenue Counter in the lobby of the Herndon Municipal Center, 777 Lynn Street. For more information, call 703-435-6800 ext. 2010 or email robin.runser@herndon-va.gov.
Homeless pets at Fancy Cats Rescue Team in Herndon, the Fairfax County Animal Shelter and the Humane Society of Fairfax County 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.
WAHMfest (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.
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 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.