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 Education Foundation has awarded a special activity grant to the Loudoun Museum to fully fund its new ÒBraddockÕs March and the French and Indian WarÓ educational program. The grant will allow the museum to deliver a one-hour special program, upon request and at no cost, to each elementary school in the county.
The museumÕs program invites students to examine the French and Indian War from different perspectives, so they may understand the challenges of daily life for colonists, British soldiers, French soldiers and Native American warriors. Classes will explore different aspects of life in Loudoun County during the 1750s: they will compare native, colonial, and military medical treatments, evaluate the geography, mapping and route finding used during BraddockÕs March, and learn about the daily experiences of soldiers, colonists and Native Americans. With the support of the LEF grant, the museum staff will present the program and be able to supply all materials, as well as pre and post- visit activity sheets for the teachers.
Teachers may schedule the program for their classroom beginning in mid-March. Call 703-777-7427 or e-mail jgolden@loudounmuseum.org.
The Lucketts Fair Committee is accepting applications for artisans and crafts people to show at the 2005 fair, Aug. 27-28, located around the historic Old Lucketts School on Route 15. The fair features live bluegrass, food, fields of antiques and a juried craft show. Applications available at www.LuckettsCommunitycenter.org and at the Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road. Applications due Feb. 28.
Loudoun MADD seeks entries for its 2005 poster/essay contest, with a theme "Stay Alive; Don't Drink And Drive."
All entries must appropriately communicate the contest theme, although the actual theme does not have to be written on the entry. Attractiveness, use of color, expression, are items to consider with posters. Spelling, grammar, emotional appeal, are things to remember when writing an essay. Clarity and visual impact are important in any black-and-white photograph, as well as in a video PSA. New for 2005: PSA's may be submitted on either VHS or DVD formats. Radio "spots" may be submitted on compact disc.
The contest is broken into different divisions based on grade level. For more details, e-mail maddloudoun@aol.com or leave voice mail message at 703-771-8127.
Deadline to enter is Feb. 28. Mail entries to MADD Loudoun County, P.O. Box 4252, Leesburg, VA 20177.
Entry Forms can be downloaded from the Web site at www.maddloudouva.org. The contest is open to all public, private and home-schooled Loudoun County students. Last year, Loudoun MADD $2,500 worth of savings bonds were awarded to the winning students. The 2005 winners will be announced at the award ceremony in April.
Loudoun County has issued a solicitation under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act seeking proposals from private entities to finance, design, permit, build and operate a recycling depot on county-owned land at the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility. A pre-proposal conference and site visit will be held at the facility at 20939 Evergreen Mills Road (Route 621), at 11 a.m., March 4. Proposals are due April 4.
The recycling depot should also help increase the county's recycling rate and help service providers contain their costs by avoiding the current out-of-county transportation expenses.
For more information and to download a copy of the Request for Partnership Proposals, visit the Loudoun County Web site at www.loudoun.gov/procurement or contact Tina M. Borger at tborger@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0394.
The Loudoun County Government is seeking to partner with local financial institutions in the Linked Deposits Affordable Housing Plan.
The Linked Deposits Plan requires that banks have affordable housing loan programs in order to be selected by the county to receive deposits of certain general fund monies. The public/private partnership is designed to expand affordable housing opportunities for citizens with low to moderate incomes.
Under the program, the Loudoun County Treasurer has the authority to award the contracts with the banks and under state law, only 25 percent of the county's general fund can be utilized for the program. In Loudoun, the award amounts have ranged from $5 million to $7.5 million.
The county has issued a Request for Investment Proposal (RFIP) from interested financial institutions for participation in the Linked Deposits Plan in 2005. Proposals are due by March 11. The RFIP is available to download from the Loudoun County Government Web site at
www.loudoun.gov/treas. The site also offers more information
about affordable housing initiatives at www.loudoun.gov/housing.
Loudoun Volunteer Services (LVS) is seeking nominations for the Loudoun County Outstanding Volunteer Awards, an annual program that honors citizens and organizations throughout Loudoun County who donate time and service to their community. Nomination forms are available in the Loudoun Volunteer Services office at 1 Harrison St., S.E. or on the Web at www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm and must be returned by March 11 for consideration. Those eligible for nomination include individuals or groups whose volunteer services have directly benefited Loudoun County. Nominations may be submitted for a single individual or a team of volunteers to be honored. Call Lisa Rose, volunteer coordinator, at 703-777-0113.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
The 2005 Miss Virginia American Coed Scholarship State Pageant is looking for contestants for the pageant taking place Aug. 11-14, in Richmond. This is an "All Natural" scholarship pageant for girls ages 3-22, which emphasizes academic and volunteerism and natural look. The pageant does not allow makeup on contestants under the age of 13. For an application e-mail contact@msvaamericancoed.com or call 804-305-4239. Visit our Web site www.msvaamericancoed.com.