HHW Collection Event
<bt>The Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management will hold the next household hazardous waste (HHW) collection event Saturday, July 15, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mill Road, Leesburg. The event is free and open to Loudoun County residents only.
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. They can be recycled year round at the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility.
Residents attending the event will be asked a few questions before being directed to the collection staging area where the contractor will remove the waste from their vehicle.
For more information about collection events and other services offered by the Office of Solid Waste Management, including directions to the landfill and hours of operation, visit the Loudoun County Web site at www.loudoun.gov/oswm or call 703-777-0187.
<sh>Boulevard Cleanup
<bt>The Sterling Boulevard Cleanup will take place Saturday, July 15, 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteers needed, meet at Park View Recycling Center, 400 W. Laurel Ave., to receive orange bags, safety vests, instructions and directions. Bring gloves. In case of inclement weather, the cleanup will be deferred to July 22. Call Kevin Chroninger at 703-406-7749 or visit www.sterlingfoundation.org.
<sh>Battle of the Bravest
<bt>The Loudoun County SheriffÕs Office deputies will compete against Loudoun County Fire and Rescue squads in flag football, Sunday, July 16, at Park View High School, at 1:30 p.m.
The Sully PTO will host the event to raise money for Sully Elementary SchoolÕs Discovery Park, a science playground scheduled to break ground in the fall.
Tickets are available at the door, for a suggested donation of $2 for adults and children are free.
<sh>False Alarm Amnesty Ends
<bt>This week marks the end of the three-month grace period for the new county false-alarm ordinance. As of Saturday, July 1, any residence or business exceeding the allotted number of false alarms will be fined.
The new ordinance requires homeowners and businesses with alarms to register with the Sheriff's Office and also includes a fining system for frequent offenders. The Sheriff's Office has developed a Web site allowing alarm system users to register online. Visit www.loudoun.gov/sheriff/alarms/index.htm.
In March 2005 the county board approved a false-alarm ordinance that requires all commercial and home-security alarm systems in the county be registered with the False Alarm Reduction Unit of the Sheriff's Office. The ordinance also includes a fining system for excessive false alarms. Businesses and homes will receive two free false alarm responses per calendar year. On a third false alarm response they will be fined $100 and the amount of the fine will escalate for each additional false response.
The ordinance does not include the residents or businesses inside the incorporated towns of Leesburg, Purcellville and Middleburg.
<sh>More Funding for
Antigang Programs
<bt>The U.S. House of Representatives approved continued funding for several antigang programs that combine enforcement with prevention and education, including more money for the two antigang task forces operating in the 10th District.
Both the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force and the drug task force in the Shenandoah Valley will receive funding in the annual spending bill that funds the Department of Justice. The final amount won't be determined until fall since the Senate has yet to act on its version of the fiscal year 2007 State-Science-Justice-Commerce Appropriations bill. In FY 2006, the Northern Virginia task force received $2.5 million.
The Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force is made up of law-enforcement officials from Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties, the cities of Alexandria, Manassas and Manassas Park and the towns of Leesburg and Herndon. The State Police, FBI, ATF, DEA and U.S. Marshals Service are also involved.
The measure also provides funding to the Virginia State Police, at the request of the governor, and to the Virginia Attorney General's office for statewide antigang initiatives.
<sh>LCDC Opposed Marriage Amendment
<bt>The Loudoun County Democratic Committee voted unanimously to adopt a resolution strongly opposing the proposed so-called "marriage amendment," and calling on Virginia voters to reject it. The committee also voted unanimously to join the Commonwealth Coalition, the statewide coalition of individuals, businesses and civic, community and religious organizations working to defeat the amendment.
The proposed amendment, on the ballot Nov. 7, would prohibit the Commonwealth of Virginia and any localities from granting any legal union, domestic partnership or other similar legal status to any same sex or unmarried couple. The broad language would amend Virginia's constitution to say:
"That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.
This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage."
<sh>Good Shepherd
Gets Grant
<bt>The Department of Labor has awarded a grant of $75,000 to The Good Shepherd Alliance Incorporated (GSA), for its ÒCareer Advancement Now!Ó (CAN) project, which seeks to improve the earning potential of Loudoun CountyÕs homeless population.
The Good Shepherd Alliance manages homeless shelters throughout Loudoun County. The project guides clients from the moment of intake all the way through self-sufficiency in a maximum of 89 days, and expects to enroll at least 50 new clients in the CAN program within the next 18 months. They estimate the average wage will be up to $9.85 an hour for the work performed within the program. Fifty percent of the new enrollees Ñ 25 clients Ñ will be encouraged to obtain a GED and 100 percent of the new enrollees Ñ all 50 clients Ñ will be encouraged and assisted to enter skills training, apprenticeships, or higher education as a part of the program. Services include post-job placement mentoring and educational/skills advancement.