Send announcements 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 the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.
Ashburn Boy Scout Troop 1158 will kick off its annual Spring Mulch Sale by distributing mulch sale order forms. Each 3-cubic-foot bag of Hardwood Mulch is selling for the cost of $3.80, tax included. If you do not receive a form you may send a check made out to Boy Scout Troop 1158 with the total number of bags ordered to: Boy Scout Troop 1158, c/o Mrs. Laurie Wallace, 20775 LaPlume Place, Ashburn, VA 20147. Orders with prepayment must be received by April 8. Free delivery on orders of five bags or more. Deliveries will take place on Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24, just in time for spring gardening. Proceeds from the sale of mulch help defray the cost of summer camp, the purchase of equipment and badge awards. Call Mrs. Wallace 703-729-5742.
The Loudoun County Democratic Committee announced plans to award its 4th annual $1,000 scholarship to any Loudoun County public high-school senior bound for higher education. Formerly the Fred Hetzel Scholarship, the scholarship has been recently renamed to include Billie Hetzel. Both Fred and Billie Hetzel were active Democrats in Loudoun County.
Eligible students must complete a 500-word, typed essay by April 14. Entries must have a title page with just name and school. The other pages should not have their names and schools. Entries are to be turned into the school guidance office.
The essay question this year: "Is a diverse society a valuable asset to a democratic society? Can diversity be positive and negative? Give specific examples."
The scholarship award winner will be chosen by May 20; the winner will present their essay to the LCDC at its monthly meeting in May. Contact Kelly Burk at kellyburk@aol.com.
The Loudoun School of Ballet is accepting artwork, from April 1-23, for the National Dance Week Choreography Competition Art Show. All artwork must have a dance theme. Gift certificates have been donated by The Cinnamon Tree, a dance supply store in Herndon, for first-, second- and third-place winners in each category: child, age 5-8; junior, age 9-12; senior, age 13-18 and adult, age 19 and up. The art will be on display in the lobby of Heritage High School during the choreography competition. All pieces will be judged by Saturday, April 30, and the winners will be announced at the beginning of the awards ceremony Sunday, May 1, at 4 p.m. Visit loudounballet.org.
The AARP's Northern Virginia Tax-Aide Program, a free, volunteer-run tax preparation service available to taxpayers with middle- and low-income, with special attention to those age 60 and older, will be available at nine locations including Falcon's Landing Senior Residence, 20225 Falcons Landing Circle, Sterling, Thursdays, 2-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Appointment required, call 703 404-5216 or visit the Web site at www.aarp.org/taxaide.
The Loudoun Literacy Council is recognizing April as National Poetry Month. To highlight the month, a poetry contest for adults will be sponsored by the council.
The Literacy Council will have judges review poems submitted as entries to one of seven categories: The Lord Loudoun, Sir William Morton Sonnet, Sir Dudley Wyatt, Catherine Culpepper Light Verse, Nicholas Minor Haiku, James Fields Courage, and Polly Philipse Poetry of Love. Each award category features an individual from Loudoun County history. The winners of each category will be announced at Loudoun Reads Day on May 20. This event will be held on the lawn of the Loudoun County Courthouse.
Submissions of entries begin April 1 and must be received by April 29. Entrants must be residents of Loudoun County and must be 18 years or older. A fee of $5 made payable to the Loudoun Literacy Council is required for each entry. Additional competition guidelines as well as sponsorship and judging opportunities can be found at www.loudounliteracy.org/poetry.
Loudoun County school children, prekindergarten-second grade, are encouraged to submit posters in celebration of Agricultural Awareness Day to the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum. This year's theme is "Who's a Farmer?" The deadline for submissions is April 30. The museum will select 50 posters to be displayed during the "Ag Day" festivities on May 20. Two grand prize winners will receive a $100 U.S. savings bond and a free trip to the museum. For contest rules and more information contact Katie Jones, 703-421-5322, e-mail kjones1@loudoun.gov or visit www.loudounfarmmuseum.org.
Loudoun County is sponsoring the Keep Loudoun Beautiful (KLB) "Spring Cleanup" campaign and is encouraging all county residents to help pick up litter during the month of April.
Spring Cleanup volunteers will be removing litter from county roadways, from streets in private neighborhoods and towns, and from Goose Creek during a canoe trip April 30. Call KLB at 703-771-4231 or visit www.keeploudounbeautiful.org to learn about KLB activities nearest you or to register for the Goose Creek cleanup.
There are other ways to help keep Loudoun beautiful, including keeping property litter free, especially along sidewalks, streets, and alleyways adjacent to your home or business; volunteering with the Virginia Adopt-A-Highway Program at 703-737-2031 or www.virginiadot.org; covering loose trash or other materials if transporting in an open or uncovered vehicle; contacting your town office or the Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management to learn about local cleanup activities; and reporting people caught littering or illegally dumping to the Loudoun County Sheriff. Contact the Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management at 703-777-0187 or visit www.loudoun.gov/oswm.
The Loudoun County Electoral Board is seeking 600 Officers of Election for the 2005 elections in which Virginia voters will choose a governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and members of the House of Delegates.
A Dual Primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, and the General and Special election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Election officers must be United States citizens and registered to vote in Virginia. Officers of Election are required to be at the voting precincts on Election Day from 5 a.m. until the polls close, the results are called in and all equipment is packed and ready to return to the Office of the General Registrar.
Election officers are paid for their time Ñ $100 for the entire day, $50 for a half-day and $15 for the training session that
will be held prior to the election.
More information about the duties of an election officer, including a set of forms to fill out and return to the Electoral Board, is available on the Loudoun County Government Web site at www.loudoun.gov/government/officers.htm or by calling 703-777-0548. Questions can also be directed to Dianna Price, Secretary of the Electoral Board, at dprice@loudoun.gov.
The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund honors the bravery and dedication exhibited by Americans in our armed forces who have sacrificed life or limb in the defense of our country by providing college scholarships to their children. Freedom Alliance is now accepting applications for the 2005-2006 academic year.
The application deadline is June 30. Freedom Alliance is accepting applications from dependent children of U.S. military personnel who have been killed or permanently disabled (100 percent VA rating) in the line of duty during the War on Terror (Iraq, Afghanistan, Philippines, etc.). Students must be enrolled (currently or by September 2005) at an accredited college, university or vocational school.
For more information about the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund or to download an application, visit http://www.freedomalliance.org or call 800-475-6620.
Arts in the Alley Õ05 on July 16, in the center of the traditional business district of Purcellville, is seeking artists and crafters to participate. Items including painting, photography, sculpture, fiber, mixed media, metal, wood, furniture, clay or glass are welcome. All items must be for sale and must be the original work of the artist. T-shirts and commercial items are not acceptable. No commission on sales. Artists may share a space, but each artist must submit photographs of work to be exhibited. Visit http://www.loudounsbest.com/art or send application form P.O. Box 479, Purcellville, VA 20134-0479, include photos representative of work and a non-refundable $25 fee. Applications will be evaluated as received. Spaces for
fine craft vendors on 21st Street are $150. Spaces for two-dimensional art in the original "Alley" are $50.
On Saturday, Sept. 10, Claude More Park will be sponsoring its 1st Annual Autumn Arts & Crafts Show in the Lanesville Historic Area. At this time, Claude Moore Park is searching for arts and craft vendors with hand-made items who may be interested in participating in this yearÕs show.
The show will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and set-up time will begin at 7:30 a.m. For $20, vendors will be provided with a pre-assigned 10x10 area; vendors must provide their own tents, tables, and chairs. Some limited electricity will be available as well for a small fee. Vendors will be able to park at their booth locations and this outdoor event will be held rain or shine. Only severe weather will cancel event.
Contact Claude Moore Park at 703-444-1275 between 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or visit www.loudoun.gov/prcs/park/claude. The deadline to register as a vendor is Friday, Aug. 26. Claude Moore Park is located at 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road in Sterling.
Loudoun Volunteer Services seeks nominations for Student Volunteer of the Month. Loudoun students will be recognized for their volunteer efforts during the 2004-2005 school year. Nominate students, or groups of students, elementary-12th grade, who volunteer their time in a variety of ways in their schools, churches, and towns. A one-page narrative may be sent to the Loudoun Volunteer Services Board at pivs@loudoun.gov or to 1 Harrison St., S.E., P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177.
The one-page narrative should include the student's name, address, telephone number, school and a description, including length of service of the exemplary volunteer efforts of the student. Contact information for the person nominating the student should also be included.
Volunteers will be featured in the Loudoun Volunteer Services Newsletter and on the Loudoun County Government Web site. Contact Lisa Rose, volunteer coordinator, at
703-777-0113.