<lst>Send your organization's announcement to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday before publication. Photos/artwork encouraged.
Citizens wishing to make their opinion known about the proposed fiscal plan for Loudoun County for Fiscal Year 2003 are invited to sign up to speak at the Feb. 21 Board of Supervisors' public hearing. The first session of the public hearing will start at 3 p.m. in the Board of Supervisor's Meeting Room at the Loudoun Government Center in Leesburg. After a break for dinner, the hearing will resume at 6:30 p.m. The deadline for signing up to speak is noon on Feb. 21. Comments on the fiscal plan can also be submitted in writing to the Board of Supervisors, P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177 or by e-mail at loudounbos@aol.com. Loudoun residents can also leave comments on the Citizen Comment Line at 703-777-0115. For more information, contact Sally Keefer at 703-777-0204.
Beginning Feb. 23, Loudoun County residents can expect to save time on Saturdays under the FastTrash program at the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility at 20939 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg. This is a pilot program designed to continue quality service and accommodate an increase in customers.
The FastTrash Program is a cash-only program for Saturday customers who bring up to ten 33-gallon trash bags of household garbage.
FastTrash customers pay $3 at the scale house when they enter, proceed as directed, unload their trash and then exit. FastTrash customers bypass "weighting in line" to be weighed and pay for disposal at the outbound scale. The FastTrash program is designed to move customers in and out of the landfill quickly on Saturdays, the busiest day of the week.
The landfill scalehouse operator will determine FastTrash customers based on the number of garbage bags or equivalent volume of the household garbage. Up to ten 33-gallon garbage bags or 50-grocery store bags, paper or plastic, or three 90-gallon trash containers or the equivalent in boxes, barrels or cans are considered to be FastTrash loads. Items such as tires, gas cylinders, scrap metal, appliances, yard waste, construction waste, rubble or bulky items will not be accepted under the FastTrash Program. These items are accepted at the landfill and charged according to the current rate schedule and require weighing in and out. More information is available from the Office of Solid Waste Management at 703-777-0187 or check http://www.loudoun.gov/oswm/fasttrash.htm.
The Salvation Army of Loudoun County has funding from the Washington Area Fuel Fund (WAFF) to provide heating assistance to Loudoun residents in need. Contact Sue Hogan at The Salvation Army at 703-771-3371 to make an appointment.
Oatlands Plantation is about to start its 2002 Potting Shed Series. "Shrubs and Trees" begins on March 12 and continues on March 19, 26 and April 2 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The cost of this class is $55 ($47.50 for Friends of Oatlands members).
Classes cannot be purchased on an individual basis and seating is very limited. Call 703-777-3174 for reservations. Oatlands is located six miles south of Leesburg on Route 15.
The Rural Economic Development Council is looking for a candidate to fill the vacant Banking and Finance position. Potential candidates should be knowledgeable in the areas of banking and finance, with particular experience and application in agriculture and rural businesses. Council members, who are appointed by the Board of Supervisors for a two-year term, must be willing to attend two meetings per month, plus a few additional hours per month for committee work. Candidates should send a letter of interest and a resume by Feb. 28 to Jeff Browning, Chairman of the Rural Economic Development Council, at the following address: Department of Economic Development, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., P.O. Box 7000
Leesburg, VA 20177.
The Sterling Community Center is offering an aerobic exercise class that incorporates kick-boxing moves with no contact, on Wednesdays and Fridays, 9-10 a.m. Cost is $25 per month. Child care is available for an additional fee. Call 703-430-9480 for more information.
Travelers Aid Washington D.C. is looking for volunteers to help airline passengers have a smooth trip through Washington Dulles International Airport. Travelers Aid volunteers provide assistance with general information about the airport facilities, directions to ground transportation and connect travelers with special assistance if necessary. Call 703-572-7350.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is seeking citizens to fill vacancies on the following county advisory boards, commissions, and committees:
* Advisory Commission on Youth: There is a vacancy for a representative from the Sugarland Run District for a four-year term.
* Animal Advisory Committee: There is a vacancy for a representative from the Dulles District to serve a four-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2003.
* Building Code and Appeals Board: There is a vacancy for one four-year term expiring January 31, 2005 and three terms expiring Jan. 31, 2006.
* Cable TV Advisory Board: There is a vacancy from the Catoctin District to complete a two-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2003.
* Commission on Women: There is a vacancy for a Chairman's representative to complete a four-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2003.
* Commuter Bus Advisory Board: There are vacancies for an at-large representative and a Dulles District representative to serve four-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2003. These representatives must be riders of the Loudoun County Commuter Bus Service or commuters.
* Disability Services Board: There is a vacancy for a representative with a disability or with a family member with a disability to serve a three-year term.
* Open Space Advisory Board: There is a vacancy to complete the four-year term of the Sterling District representative, which expires Dec. 31, 2003.
* Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: There are vacancies for representatives from the Dulles and Sterling Districts to complete terms that expire Dec. 31, 2003.
* Rural Economic Development Council: There is a vacancy for a Banking and Finance Industry Representative to complete a two-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2003.
* Social Services Board: There is a vacancy for an at-large representative to serve a three-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2004.
Anyone interested in serving on one of these committees should send a letter of interest or resume to the Board of Supervisors, 1 Harrison Street, S.E., P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177. Indicate which committee you would like to serve on, and in which supervisor's district you live.
For more information about the committees or vacancies, call the Board of Supervisors office, 703-777-0204.
A new MOPS group will be starting at Capital Community Church in Ashburn Village. The first meeting will be on Friday, April 12 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Call 703-729-7493 or 703-858-4461 for registration information. All mothers with children from infants to age five are welcome. Child care will be provided.
The Team A freshmen at Potomac Falls High School raised $3,508 in only one week to support local firefighters and help educate students about ways to protect themselves against terrorism. The fund-raiser, which was Team A's community service activity for this year, only took donations from members of the freshman class.
The Children's Friendship Project for Northern Ireland (CFPNI) is seeking local families to host a pair of Protestant and Roman Catholic teens (boys or girls ages 15-18) in their home for three to six weeks this summer. To be eligible, families must provide a safe-neutral setting for the teens to get to know one another, a single bedroom for them to share, and day-long adult supervision. For more information or to obtain a host family application, contact Jennifer Mullen at 703-450-4479, or visit our web site at www.cfpni.org. Interested families can contribute to peace and healing this summer with CFPNI.
<bt>The Stone Bridge Booster Club is sponsoring a Mulch Sale with scheduled delivery on Saturday, March 16. The cost will be $3.25 per 3 cu. ft. bag of premium shredded hardwood mulch. Free delivery to your front yard on orders of 25 or more bags (within a five mile radius); smaller orders may be picked up at Stone Bridge High School from 9:00 a.m.-noon on March 16. Order forms are due March 1. Call Concetta Marchio 703-724-0959 or Fran Walker 703-724-7746 for more information.
The Community Resilience Project of Loudoun County is forming a grief support group for family members of people who were lost in the September 11th terrorist attacks and their aftermath.
The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m.
The Community Resilience Project is a FEMA-funded program to provide community outreach and support. The FEMA grant is being administered by Loudoun County's Division of Mental Health.
For more information call the Division of Mental Health at 703-771-5100.
The Growing Stage has received a $1,000 grant from the Robey Foundation of Purcellville. This grant will be used to fund The Robey Foundation Scholarship Fund for the Growing Stage's educational programs, especially the summer workshops. They are offering a performing arts camp for all ages, k-12, in several locations throughout the county. Call The Growing Stage today at 540-338-5367.
The Growing Stage has selected "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" as the summer musical production this year and will be holding auditions at the Purcellville Baptist Church in Purcellville Monday, Feb. 25 and Friday, March 1 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Men, women and children who can sing and dance are invited to audition. Auditioners must prepare 16 bars of an up-tempo song and 16 bars of a ballad.
The Loudoun County Public Library offers ongoing One-on-One Internet training at Eastern Loudoun Regional Library, Sundays from 7-8:30 p.m. and Tuesdays from 2-4 p.m. and at Purcellville Library (call 540-338-7235 for dates). Advance sign-up is required and space is limited. For more information call a local library branch or visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
It is time for Loudoun County Crimesolvers' Donate-a-Phone Campaign that collects used cellular phones. The new collection sites are: Belfort Furniture on Shaw Rd. in Sterling and St. Francis De Sales Church in Purcellville. The collection runs through Feb. 15. For more information call 703-627-9429.
The filing extension deadline for applications in the Loudoun County Land Use Assessment Program is March 1, for the 2002 assessment year. Applications require the normal filing fee and late filing and extension fees of $30.00 each. Late filing fees and extension filing fees are in addition to any normal application fee required under county ordinances.
An application must be filed to qualify a property in the Land Use Assessment Program. An application is also required when the use of acreage of a previously qualified property changes for any reason.
Direct any questions regarding the Land Use Assessment Program to the Department of Financial Services, Assessor's Office at 703-777-0290.
A five-lesson Boating Safely course will be taught at the Leesburg Public Safety Center on Saturday, March 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Course registration, distribution of materials, and a required orientation session will take place on Feb. 27, beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the Public Safety Center, 65 Plaza Street in Leesburg. A $25 fee is charged for instructional materials. For more information, call 703-444-5680.
Enter Loudoun's Tree Photo Contest. The photos should be no larger than 8"x10" and cannot be framed or matted. A sheet of paper affixed to the back of the photo should includes name, address and phone number of the photographer, location of the tree, the kind of tree (if known) and the significance of the tree to the photographer. All entries are due by March 29 to Michelle Vanhuss, Special Events Coordinator, Department of Parks, Recreation and Community, 1 Harrison Street SE, Leesburg, VA 20177. Winning photos will be displayed at the annual Arbor Day celebration on Saturday, April 13, at Banshee Reeks Park. For more information call 703-771-5308.
The National Right to Life Oratory Contest for 2002 is to be held on Saturday, June 29 in Pittsburgh, Pa. in conjunction with the annual convention of the National Right to Life Committee. This contest is coordinated in Virginia by the Virginia Society for Human Life. The Loudoun Chapter of the Virginia Society for Human Life will hold a preliminary oratory contest on Saturday, April 6 at the Eastern Loudoun regional Library from 2-5 p.m.
The contest is open to the public, private and home schooled high school juniors and seniors. Each contestant will select and study an issue regarding abortion, infanticide or euthanasia, and prepare and present a 5-7 minute talk from a pro-life perspective on the issue. Local contest prizes are: First place, $100; second place, &75; third place, $50; fourth place, $25. The winner of the April 6 contest will go on to the state contest on April 27. Contest entries must be submitted to the local coordinator by Thursday, March 28. For more information or an application, contact Maureen Whalen at 703-669-4457.
CHADD is an organization that provides education, support, and legislative advocacy for persons, young and old, who are struggling with AD/HD and all subtypes. It also raises awareness and understanding of AD/HD by providing education programs for families and professionals at both the local and national level. CHADD provides support to families and links professional services providers and increases legislative awareness and advocacy for all those affected by AD/HD
The Loudoun county Chapter will be working with local educators, providing programs to help them teach children with AD/HD. They will also be compiling resources for parents and adults with the disorder.
The group will be meeting monthly at the Town Hall location. For further information, e-mail the group at loudounchapterchadd@yahoo.com.
The Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum is looking for seasoned Volunteers to help with archiving material and objects, and scanning 19th and 20th century family and business documents. For more information call Anna Fasolo at 703-421-5322.