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. Call us at 703-917-6449 with any questions.
<lst>Loudoun County Public Library's Summer Reading Program is hosting a poster contest this June 21 through Aug. 13. Entries must use the Summer Reading Program's "Once Upon A Time ... And Ever After" theme in their design. Entry must be turned in by Aug. 13 and there will be three winners at every Loudoun County Public Library branch: 3-5 age group, 6-10 age group; 11 and up. For more information call 703-737-8655 or visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
Rust Library will host a free five part viewing and discussion series, Healing and the Mind on Sundays at 2 p.m. on June 13, 20, 27, and July 11 and 18. The award winning PBS series, created by Bill Moyers and moderated by Dr. John Grauerholz, explores the roles of thoughts and emotions in illness and health through interviews with doctors and scientists. For more information call 703-737-8655 or visit the library web page at www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services has announced the online Webtrac system, which will allow people to register and pay for most of their programs and activities online. With the launch of this new registration software, the County now offers participants the opportunity to enroll for PRCS programs and activities in person, by mail, over the phone using Teletrac, and online using Webtrac. For more information, visit www.loudoun.gov/prcs and click on the Webtrac link or call 703-777-0343.
The Loudoun Museum, 16 Loudoun Street SW, Leesburg, has announced that its gift shop is now open seven days a week for the summer shopping season. Current hours of operation are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5p.m. and Sunday 1p.m.-5 p.m. The gift shop offers items of a historical nature related to Loudoun County and Virginia history, heritage and culture. For more information, call the shop directly at 703-777-9388.
The Virginia Department of Health has honored the Loudoun County Health Department staff with two awards for their work in protecting Loudoun's citizens from outbreaks of disease, whether man-made or due to acts of terrorism.
Benita Boyer, Loudoun's epidemiologist, was honored for her leadership during Loudoun's malaria outbreak, our potential SARS case, and our preparation for smallpox vaccinations and for her creation of the Health Department's All-Hazard Emergency Response Team (ALERT), which also received an award. The ALERT team was created six months ago as a means of improving coordination between each Health Department division and enhancing emergency preparedness for the staff. The ten members of the team represent all sections of the Health Department. Some of the key accomplishments of this team include training in emergency preparedness, implementation of an emergency communication network, fit-testing personal protection masks, and participation in a statewide bioterrorism drill.
More information about the programs and services of the Loudoun County Health Department can be found on the Loudoun County Government Website at www.loudoun.gov/depts/health.htm.
The Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management will host the next Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Event on Saturday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Broad Run High School, 21670 Ashburn Road, Ashburn. This event is open to all Loudoun County residents and is free, as are all HHW events sponsored by the county.
Residents may bring their household hazardous waste to the collection event for disposal free of charge. Typical household hazardous waste items include oil-based paint and paint thinners, household cleaners, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, gasoline or other fuels, hobby chemicals (such as special glues or photography chemicals) and swimming pool chemicals. Used motor oil, antifreeze, automobile batteries and propane tanks will not be accepted at any HHW collection events this year. They can be recycled year round at the Loudoun County Sanitary Landfill. Call the Office of Solid Waste Management at 703-777-0187 for directions and hours of operation of the landfill or log onto the Loudoun County website at www.loudoun.gov/oswm/landfill.htm. For more information about HHW Collection Events and other services offered by the Office of Solid Waste Management, visit the Loudoun County website at http://www.loudoun.gov/oswm or call 703-777-0187.
Oatlands Plantation is calling all artists to submit works to the sixth annual Four Seasons of Oatlands Art Show and Sale, scheduled for July 11- Aug. 22 in the Oatlands Carriage House, Leesburg. Submitted works should depict Oatlands or surrounding areas (including Clarke, Faquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Warren counties in Virginia and Jefferson County, W.Va.) and may be in any medium, including painting, photography or sculpture. Entries are due by June 15. For more information and an entry form, call 703-777-3174.
Greater Loudoun Babe Ruth World Series, Inc. has launched a Web site at http://www.brws.com where players, coaches and fans can get up-to-date information about the 16-Year-Old World Series scheduled for Aug. 14-21, Firemen's Field in Purcellville. The site includes information on the host team, games, volunteer opportunities, sponsorships, important contacts and related links. For tournament information, call 540-338-0012.
The Babe Ruth World Series Committee will hold auditions for local singers interested in performing the National Anthem at the 16-year-old World Series games, scheduled for Aug. 14-21 at Fireman's Field in Purcellville. The auditions are being held at Loudoun Valley Community Center in Purcellville. Interested singers should call 703-771-5965 to schedule an audition.
The Loudoun County Surplus Store is expanding its hours of operation. The store is now open on the first and third Wednesday and Friday of each month from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and on the last Saturday of the month. The store's merchandise ranges from typical office items such as computers, desks, and chairs to unclaimed items confiscated by the sheriff's department such as bicycles, CD's, and luggage. The store is located at 14 Cardinal Park Drive, Suite 106 in Leesburg. Directions to the store and photographs of the merchandise can be found on the Loudoun County Government Website at http://www.loudoun.gov/maps/direct/sstore.htm.
The Loudoun Valley Homegrown Markets Association (LVHMA) markets are now open. Residents in Cascades, Leesburg, Middleburg and Purcellville will have the opportunity to enjoy fresh products from local farmers, including fruits and vegetables, flowers, fresh breads and baked goods and meat products. The Leesburg market and the Middleburg market operates from 8 a.m.-noon on Saturdays; the Cascades market operates from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sundays; and the Purcellville market operates from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on Thursday evenings. The Sterling market operates from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The Sterling Branch Library, located at 12000 Enterprise Street, Sterling has collectible books for sale. These include Little Golden Books, autographed, first editions, out of print, vintage and gift quality books. Additional bargains include adult paperback books, hardback books, all children's books, and all used audio/video. Proceeds and donations benefit the Sterling Library. Hours or operation are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call the library for any additional information at 703-430-9500.
In its first year of operation, the number of subscribers to the Loudoun County Citizen Alert System has grown to more than 3,000. The Citizen Alert System is a free service, developed by the county's Department of Information Technology, which allows subscribers to receive e-mails or text messages from the county government over their cellular phones or pagers. The service went online in April 2003. Some of the most popular alert categories are violent crime, road closures, and safety information from the Office of the Sheriff. To sign up for the service, go to the Loudoun County Government home page, http://www.loudoun.gov, and click on Citizen Alert System, under Online Services.