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. For additional ongoing events listings, visit our Web site at www.connectionnewspapers.com.
The Loudoun County School Board's new school play policy is this month's topic on "The Road ToÉ," a local political panel discussion program produced by Sterling residents Tony and Marlene Barney of NoraBett Productions.
Guest panelists John Andrews, chairman of the Loudoun County School Board, and David Weintraub, president of Equality Loudoun, discuss and debate the new policy, and the public controversy surrounding a student-authored play performed at Stone Bridge High School this past year. Political analysts Mike Lane, former chair of the Arlington County Republican Party, and John Flannery, Leesburg attorney, also participate.
"The Road ToÉ" can be seen every Wednesday, at 8 p.m., on Adelphia Cable Channel 23 in Loudoun County, and this Monday ,at 8 p.m., and Tuesday, at 12 p.m., on Cox Cable Channel 10 in Fairfax County.
The July edition of "Inside Loudoun County" takes a look at the county's agriculture and rural enterprise with Lou Nichols, agricultural development officer. The television show also features information about on-site wastewater treatment systems with Robert E. Lee and Erin Fisher of the Environmental Health Division of the Loudoun County Health Department. http://www.loudoun.gov/news/ilc.htm.
The staff at Morven Park will share some of their favorite stories on location in a lantern-lit evening tour, "Tales from Morven Park." Program will be more than just a ghost tour. Some of the tales of local color, some are ironic, some exciting, some amusing, some sad, and a number are just downright chilling. The tours will begin in the large parking lot just off Southern Planter Lane at 8:15 p.m., on three Saturday nights, July 30, Aug. 6, and Aug. 20. Guides with lanterns will greet the visitors. The outside tour lasts one hour and 45 minutes and will cover a number of sites on the grounds of Morven Park. Walking shoes are highly recommended. The tour does require reservations and there is a small fee. Call 703-777-6034 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for reservations and specifics.
More than 200 top horses in the region are expected to compete in the annual Morven Park Summer Dressage Classic July 30-31, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Morven Park International Equestrian Center in Leesburg. The highlight of the competition is the Musical Freestyle, the $10,000 Pas de Deux Challenge Cup, which will begin at 1 p.m., Sunday, July 31, which matches choreographed movements to the beat of specially selected music, similar to synchronized swimming, which emphasizes the gracefulness of communication between horse and rider. The Pas de Deux is a musical freestyle with two horses and riders executed in exact mirror image.
The Morven Park Equestrian Center is located just north of Leesburg on Route 15. Call Shannon Pedlar at 703-777-2890 or visit the Morven Park Web site at www.morvenpark.org.
The Challenge Cup is sponsored by Patton Equine Legal Services in honor of the Dancing Horse Fund. There is no admission fee for spectators.
Artwork by Loudoun's leading artists will be on display at Gallery 222 through July 30. Artists represented include painters Trisha Adams, Don Black, Dasher Chagnaa, Carmen Howell, Alfred McAdams, Antonia Walker, Velda Warner and clay artist, Mary Wolff. Gallery 222 is located at 222 South King St. in historic Leesburg. Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment.
Dozens of artists from the region have submitted artwork to Gallery 222Õs 4th annual juried ÒSomething HotÓ exhibition, and selected works will be on display at the gallery,
Aug. 3-27. An opening reception will be held Friday, Aug. 5, from 6-9 p.m. during LeesburgÕs First Friday event in the downtown historic district. Gallery 222 is located at 222 South King St., Leesburg. Contact the gallery at 703-777-5498 or visit gallery222.com. Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Sterling Playmakers present "Annie," July 29, 30, 31 and Aug. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14, at Potomac Falls High School, 46400 Algonkian Parkway, Sterling. The show is directed by Beth Robertson and produced by Mark Humphrey, with musical direction by T. J. Miles, and choreography by Tosha Shall. Tickets are $12 for the reserved section and $10 for general admission. Call the hotline at 703-437-6117 or visit www.sterlingplaymakers.com.
Black and white monotypes created by Tucker Hill will be featured at the Waddell Art Gallery on the Loudoun Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. The exhibit runs through Aug. 5, and features HillÕs recreations of VirginiaÕs rural landscapes. Hill is a member of ONE/OFF, a group of printmakers whose work has been featured around the world, and his works are in private collections across the country. The Waddell Art Gallery, Northern Virginia Community College Loudoun Campus, 1000 Harry F. Byrd Highway, Sterling. Gallery hours 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday. Free and open to the public.
"The Tempest" performed by international, regional and local professional actors A