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.
Sugarland Run's first annual 5K Fun Run/Walk, Saturday, May 7, beginning at 9 a.m., at the community center, 200 Greenfield Court, Sterling. Proceeds benefit scholarship funds for youths in Sugarland Run. Registration due April 29. Cost $12 for adults, $8 for children 5-18, free for children under 5. Registration forms available at the community center and in the monthly newsletter. Participants should be at the community center by 8:30 a.m. Call Cindy McNanley 703-406-9114.
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.
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 up is set for Saturdays, 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 May 7, between the hours of 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
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.
The Food for Others 2nd Annual Golf Tournament is slated for Monday, May 16, at the Herndon Centennial Golf Course. The format is a four person, captain's choice with a 1 p.m. shotgun start; registration opens at noon.
Cost, before April 30, $400 per foursome, $100 per individual; after April 30, $475 per foursome, $125 per individual. Contact Food For Others 703-207-9173 or www.tournamentor.com/foodforothers. Cost includes green fees, golf cart, box lunch, barbecue dinner, beverages, contests and prizes.
Food for Others is a nonprofit (501c3) food bank and food rescue operation, working to help some of the 90,183 persons living in poverty in Northern Virginia. Clients range from new immigrants to the working poor, to professionals who have lost their jobs. More than 98¢ of every dollar raised goes directly to food program expenses.
Loudoun County is assembling "Kamp Kits for Kids" for children who will be benefiting from the Loudoun County Summer Camp Scholarship Programs. The goal is to be able to provide a "Kamp Kit" with brand new items for each camper. Items needed include backpacks, insulated lunch boxes, insulated water bottles, suntan lotion (minimum 15 SPF), non-aerosol insect repellent, small freeze packs (blue ice), child/youth size rain ponchos, individually wrapped hand wipes.
The needed camp supplies will be collected through May 11. Donation boxes are available at the following locations: Eastern Regional Library, Cascades; Sterling Annex Community Center; Ashburn Library; YMCA, Leesburg; Loudoun Valley Community Center, Purcellville; Purcellville Library and Lovettsville Community Center.
For more information contact Karen Velez at the Department of Social Services at 703-771-5718 or Lyndia Calkins at 540-338-7491.
Loudoun County is accepting requests from individuals or organizations for Fiscal Year 2006 funding from federal Transportation Equity Act in 21st Century (TEA-21) program funds. To be eligible for TEA-21 funding, proposed projects must be directly related to transportation and fall under one or more of the following categories: provision of facilities for bicycles and pedestrians; provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists; acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites; scenic or historic highway programs; landscaping and other scenic beautification; historic preservation; rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities, including historic railroad facilities and canals; preservation of abandoned railway corridors including the conversion and use of the corridors for pedestrian and bicycle trails; control and removal of outdoor advertising; archeological planning and research; environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff or reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity; and establishment of transportation museums.
County staff will review requests for TEA-21 funds during June with a public hearing on project submissions expected to be held July 12, followed by the Board of Supervisors' endorsement of recommended projects on Sept. 6. The county will submit the final grant applications to the Commonwealth Transportation Board by Nov. 1.
Anyone interested in submitting a request for TEA-21 funds must complete an application form, which may be obtained from Alice Vlad in the Department of Management and Financial Services at 703-737-8186 or avlad@loudoun.gov. The requests for funding should be sent to Alice Vlad, Loudoun County Department of Management and Financial Services, P.O. Box 7000, 1 Harrison St., S.E., Leesburg, VA 20177. The deadline for submissions is May 27.
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.
Loudoun MADD is selling the new red MADD CHOOSE COURAGE community awareness wristbands for $1, which can be mailed for an additional $.50 each. The wristbands can be purchased by sending a check to Loudoun MADD at P.O. Box 4252, Leesburg, VA 20177, with the number of wristbands for purchase. Visit the Loudoun MADD Web site at www.maddloudounva.org to see a picture of the wristbands. For questions send an e-mail to maddloudoun@aol.com.
The 70th annual Loudoun County Fair, one of the oldest and longest running events in the county is looking for sponsors. The fair will run from July 25-30 at the Loudoun County Fair Grounds off Dry Mill Road just west of Leesburg. Send a donation along with your name and a contact number to: Loudoun County Fair, 117 Plaza St., N.E., Leesburg, VA. 20176, Attention: Tricia Corle.
The Loudoun Symphony Association Inc. is seeking nominations to fill upcoming vacancies on its Board of Directors.
Board members should be residents of, or have significant business interests in, Loudoun County or the surrounding area, and they should have the time and inclination to actively support the symphony by participation on a committee and by regular attendance at meetings and symphony sponsored events. Board committees include finance, artistic, development, marketing, audience development, long-range planning, gala and special events, nominating, education and volunteer coordination.
Interested individuals should send a letter of interest along with a resume or biographical information to Loudoun Symphony Association, Nominating Committee, P.O. Box 4478, Leesburg, VA 20177. Call 703-771-8287.
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.