Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Through a $10,000 grant from the Allstate Foundation, Loudoun County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management has produced a DVD on child passenger safety. The DVD titled, "A Safer Journey," will be presented for the first time, Saturday, April 12, to parents attending the Let’s Talk Babies Seminar hosted by Inova Loudoun Hospital Center. Contact Public education manager Joy Dotson at 703-771-5551.
The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office (PPO) and Nextbook, a gateway to Jewish literature, culture and ideas, has selected Loudoun County Public Library to receive a grant for Let's Talk About It: Jewish Literature programs. Loudoun County Public Library will present a five-part scholar-lead discussion series based on one of the themes of Modern Marvels: Jewish Adventures in the Graphic Novel for a public audience. Books that will be discussed include: Maus I/II by Art Spiegelman, A Contract with God by Will Eisner, Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: Stories by Ben Katchor, The Quitter by Harvery Pekar and The Rabbi’s Cat by Joann Sfar.
The Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging VITA tax assistance program will offer tax preparation assistance from late February through mid-April. Persons whose income is $39,000 or less and file a standard form, call 703-737-8037 after Feb. 1 to make an appointment.
AAPR is offering free tax aide assistance through April 15, at Falcon’s Landing. Call 703-404-5216 for an appointment.
The Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney and the Victim-Witness Assistance Program will be holding an open house, Friday, April 18, from 9-11 a.m. During that time they will also be having our Victims' Services Award Ceremony.
Loudoun County's first responders will be able to receive wills, advanced medical directives and durable powers of attorney, all free of charge, thanks to a program co-sponsored by the Loudoun County Bar Association and the Valor Foundation. The program will have eight document preparation sessions from the last week in March through April 20. The program will be holding training sessions for attorney volunteers at the Leesburg Public Safety Building on Plaza Street March 25, 26 and 27. Attorneys who wish to volunteer, contact Mr. McClafferty at lmcclafferty@mccandlaw.com. Other volunteers should contact the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce at 703-777-2176.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office announces applications are being accepted for the Virginia Sheriffs’ Institute Scholarship Program. Scholarships are awarded to students studying law enforcement or criminal justice at Virginia colleges and universities. Applications are available at the administration building located at 39 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Leesburg. They can also be downloaded at www.virginiasheriffs.org or picked up at a guidance counselor’s office. Applications must be received by April 18.
The Loudoun County affordable dwelling unit (ADU) program is accepting applications for 22 units available for adults age 55 and over at Potomac Green, an adult retirement planned community in Ashburn. Contact the ADU program of the Department of Family Services, 703-737-8043.
SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Northern Virginia is seeking nominations for the 2008 Ally in Prevention Awards. The annual honors, given to individuals from each of Northern Virginia ’s regions, including Loudoun, were created to recognize the unsung heroes who go above and beyond everyday in their efforts to support and protect our community’s children. To submit a nomination, visit SCAN’s Web site at www.scanva.org or contact the SCAN office at 703-820-9001.
The 2008 edition of the Loudoun County "Guide to Services" is now available. Produced by the Office of Public Information, the guide is a comprehensive handbook of information about services provided by the county government, as well as services provided by other governmental and nongovernmental agencies. Copies of the guide are available at Loudoun County community centers, public libraries and at the front counters of county government departments and agencies. Copies of the guide are also available by contacting the Office of Public Information at pivs@loudoun.gov or 703-777-0113. The guide also is available online at www.loudoun.gov/guide.
The Loudoun County Animal Shelter reports that 45 cats and kittens found new homes in time for the holidays thanks to the "12 Days of Cat-mas" promotion. This represents a 105 percent increase over the number of cats and kittens (22) adopted over the same time period in 2006.
Governor Timothy M. Kaine issued Executive Order 59 establishing the Commission on Climate Change. In establishing this Commission, Governor Kaine is fulfilling one of the recommendations of the Virginia Energy Plan, which was completed in September of this year.
The Virginia Energy Plan identified four overall goals, one of which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2025, bringing emissions back to 2000 levels. The reduction in emissions will be partially achieved through energy conservation and renewable energy actions identified in the Energy Plan. The Commission on Climate Change will further study and formulate an action plan to fully achieve this goal.