Send announcements or events, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail <a href="mailto:loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com">loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged.
Northern Virginia Community College will be closed on Inauguration Day and all classes are cancelled. The college is substituting holiday annual leave hours granted to it by state government to make the cancellation possible. NOVA will also be closed Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a previously scheduled holiday.
The Loudoun County Department of Animal Care and Control will hold its Furry Friday program, where adoptable animals visit the Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise St., Sterling on Fridays, Jan. 23, Feb. 6 and Feb. 23, 5-7 p.m. Visit www.loudoun.gov/animals.
Loudoun County is holding a Ms. Senior Loudoun County pageant in January. Open to residents who will reach 60 years of age by Jan. 24. For more information, call the local senior center or Carolyn Bledsoe, 571-437-4543.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, locally known as the Northern Virginia CASH is seeking volunteers to deliver free tax preparation services at no cost to working families and individuals in the community who earned less than $42,000 in 2008. Contact Karen Velez, 703-771-5718 or karen.velez@loudoun.gov or Debra Bressler, 703-777-0505 or debra.bressler@loudoun.gov to register.
The Loudoun Literacy Council has received a matching donation of $10,000 from an anonymous donor. The donor pledged a gift of $10,000 if the board of directors of the Loudoun Literacy Council can raise $10,000 during December. The council conducts English classes in churches and community centers, offers individualized tutoring to low-literate adults and provides literacy activities to children from disadvantaged families. To contribute, mail a check to Loudoun Literacy Council, to P.O. Box 1032, Leesburg, VA 20177 or donate at www.loudounliteracy.org.
The Loudoun County Design Cabinet has announced the call for nominations for their 5th Annual Signatures of Loudoun Design Excellence Program. The awards recognize the buildings, interiors, places and details that make Loudoun County unlike any other. The Design Cabinet will be accepting nominations through 5 p.m. Feb. 6. Entry forms, rules, photos of previous winners and the award criteria can be downloaded from www.biz.loudoun.gov/designcabinet.
The Heritage Farm Museum, 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, is seeking exhibitors for Bunny Bonanza Wednesday, April 8. The event features live animals, demonstrations, hands-on experiences and information. Visitors also learn about volunteer opportunities in the area. Bunny Bonanza is free with paid museum admission.
The Douglass Community Center, 405 E. Market St., Leesburg, now offers Wii gaming birthday parties. The package includes use of a party room equipped with two Nintendo Wii systems and games. Anyone interested must call or e-mail the community center to inquire about prices and availability at 703-771-5913 or dcc@loudoun.gov.
Rides on the Ashburn LINK shuttle bus are free for the winter. Riders can pick up the LINK at designated stops on Ashburn Farm Parkway near Summerwood Circle and just past Crossroads Drive. The third pickup location is on Claiborne Parkway at Belgreen Drive. Parking is available at Parkhurst Plaza Shopping Center and in the lot across the street from Crossroads United Methodist Church. Call 703-771-5665 or visit www.loudoun.gov/bus.