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.
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 32nd Annual Troop 893-Boy Scout Totally Awesome Garage Sale-(TAG) is set for Saturday, May 14, at the Dulles Expo, located right off of Route 28 in Chantilly. Rain or Shine. Pick ups are set for the following Saturdays, April 23 and May 7. Go online to the Web site and log in a requested pick up, limited pickup area. The Troop's Web site is http://www.troop893.org/flea/. Or drop off donations on April 23 or May 7, between the hours of 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
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.
Students in Loudoun County are invited to apply for the Virginia Sheriffs' Institute (VSI) scholarship program, which assists students' educational endeavors in law
enforcement or criminal justice.
The scholarship program is limited to students attending Virginia colleges and universities. Applications for the scholarships are available at the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Administration Building in Leesburg, online at www.virginiasheriffs.org or check with high-school guidance counselors.
The application deadline is May 1. The applications must be returned to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Administration Building located at 39 Catoctin Circle, S.E. Leesburg, VA 20175.
ÒHorsing Around LoudounÓ is a countywide, outdoor arts project spearheaded by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Loudoun and its long-standing equine tradition. Thirty-two, life-size, equine fiberglass sculptures will be transformed into works of art by local artists and placed at public locations around the county in late July and remain on display for about three months. In late October, the herd will be "rounded up" and auctioned at a gala event.
LoudounÕs businesses will be given the opportunity to sponsor the creation of the horses for $5,000 each. A plaque on the base of the sculpture will recognize the sponsor.
Artists interested in receiving a ÒCall to ArtistsÓ packet or businesses interested in sponsoring a horse should visit http://www.horsingaroundloudoun.org or call the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce at 703-777-2176. The deadline for submissions is May 15.
Northern Virginia companies can now apply for the 2005 CARE (Companies As Responsive Employers) Awards administered by Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS). Applications are available online and must be submitted by June 10.
The CARE Awards recognizes businesses located in Northern Virginia that are leaders in promoting a positive work-life balance for employees through company policies and benefits.
The application can be downloaded from the Northern Virginia Family Service Web site at www.nvfs.org/applyforcare.pdf.
CARE Award winners are recognized at an awards breakfast to be held Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. Visit www.nvfs.org.
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.
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.
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.