Visitor’s Center Plans Gala Art Exhibition, Auction
The Herndon Dulles Visitor’s Center will hold its first annual Art Exhibition and Auction, Friday, March 11, at the Herndon Municipal Center at 777 Lynn St.
Approximately 160 pieces of art, memorabilia and glass will be presented by Marlin Art of New York.
The auction will include a wide range of artists, including some from the local area, and will offer something for all tastes and price ranges.
A $10 admission fee includes complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres, as well as door prizes with a preview hour beginning at 7 p.m.
This event is open to the public and tickets can be obtained by calling the Visitor’s Center at 703-HERNDON (437-6366) or sending an e-mail to connie@visitherndon.com.
Doors will open at 7 p.m. The live auction will begin promptly at 8 p.m.
El Salvadorian Embassy at ADAMS Center
The El Salvadorian Embassy is scheduled to process paperwork for its Temporary Protective Status (TPS) citizens at Giffin-Owens Insurance, Sunday, March 6, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Because the embassy expects to process paperwork for 100 to 150 residents through the day, Project Hope and Harmony is asking for volunteers with Spanish-speaking skills to assist.
Free Home Maintenance Workshop
A one-day overview of effective preventative home maintenance and small repair techniques will be held Saturday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center.
Designed to help homeowners avoid home component failures and the costly repairs that follow, the workshop will include recommendations on how to develop short and long-term maintenance plans.
In addition the workshop will also address problems associated with and preventative maintenance of appliances, HVAC (heating and cooling), kitchens, bathrooms, electrical, plumbing, doors and windows, walls and floors, siding, and roofing. There will be demonstrations of techniques and handouts will be provided.
The Neighborhood Resource Center is located at 1086 Elden St. in the Dulles Park Shopping Center. For more information regarding the workshop, call 703-435-3182 or e-mail pablo.hollstein@herndon-va.gov.
Girl Scout Cookies to Benefit Tsunami
Girl Scout Troop 4515 will donate 15 cents per box of its cookie sale proceeds to donate to tsunami victims.
Cookie booth sales will be March 12, 6 -9 p.m., at the Fox Mill Blockbuster, 2599 Quincy Adams Drive in Herndon.
Author Pokes Fun at Life
Join author, speaker and humorist Ron Culberson, on Saturday, March 5, at the Industrial Strength Theater. Through the art of storytelling and comedy, Culberson will entertain with a powerful message that humor is more than just a punch line. Culberson, Director of Everything! At FUNsulting, etc., is a speaker, humorist, author of "Is Your Glass Laugh Full?" and former social worker. As a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), the highest earned award from the National Speakers Association, he is in the less than seven percentile category of speakers worldwide who have received this designation and has provided entertaining and informative programs to more than 70,000 people.
Admission for adults is $9 in advance; $10 at the door and for children ages 12 and under $7 in advance; $8 at the door. To order tickets, call 703-435-6868.
Training for ESOL Teachers
Enrollment and applications for scholarships are now being accepted for the Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce's Courses for Trainers for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).
The introductory certificate program includes 60-class hours of training for introductory and advanced speakers.
Introductory classes begin March 15 and will be taught by faculty from Northern Virginia Community College. Section 1 Classes are offered Tuesday and Thursday nights, 7-9 p.m., at St. Joseph's Event Hall, 750 Peachtree St., and Section 2 are offered Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Neighborhood Resource Center, 1086 Elden St.
Included in the courses will be concepts such as teaching basic literacy, cross-cultural communication, tutoring adult ESL students, grammar review, assessing English proficiency and teaching content ESL. The advanced course will be taught by Fairfax County Public Schools Continuing Education staff, beginning in early summer. Visit www.herndondulleschamber.org. Schedule:
* Introduction to Teaching ESL/ESOL
Section 1: Starting March 15 through March 24.
Section 2: March 19 and 26.
* Strategies for Teaching Basic Literacy
Section 1: March 26 through April 7.
Section 2: April 2 and 9.
* Cross-Cultural Communication
Section 1: April 12 through April 21.
Section 2: April 16 and 23.
* Tutoring Adult ESL Students
Section 1: April 26 through May 5
Section 2: April 30 and May 7.
* Grammar Review for ESL Volunteers
Section 1: May 10 through May 19
Section 2: May 14 and 21.
* Assessing English Proficiency
Section 1: May 24 through June 2.
Section 2: May 28 and June 4.
* Teaching Content ESL
Section 1: June 7 through June 16.
Section 2: June 11 and 18.
Herndon Festival Vendors Needed
The Herndon Parks and Recreation Department is actively soliciting vendors for the 2005 Herndon Festival K9/2K Doggie Expo, taking place Saturday, June 4, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Acceptance into the event is limited with priority given to local businesses and residents. The selection of vendors will be at the discretion of the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department.
Booth fees are as follows:
* Private Business:
Early Bird, Feb. 1-March 31: $50
Regular, April 1-31: $75
Late, May 1-28: $100
* Nonprofit Organizations:
Early Bird/Regular, Feb. 1-April 31: $25
Late, May 1-28: $50
For more information, call the Herndon Community Center at 703-435-6800, Ext. 2109 or e-mail Kimberly.Wood@herndon-va.gov for an application.
Good Neighbor Award Nominations
The Town of Herndon and the Cultivating Community Committee are seeking nominations for the Good Neighbor Award by March 25.
The purpose of this award is to recognize those people who go beyond the call of duty to act as good neighbors in their respective neighborhoods: the neighbor who helps others with repairs or who takes care of common property needs; the neighbor who looks over property while others are away; the neighbor who looks after children and pets; the neighbor who helps out in a crisis; the neighbor who commits helpful or charitable acts toward other neighbors; the neighbor who participates in volunteer activities and who does special things to make the neighborhood a better place.
The winner will receive recognition by Town Council at a public meeting in April. Eligibility for the Good Neighbor Award includes:
* Must be a resident of Herndon.
* Act(s) for which the person is nominated must not be performed as an element of paid employment.
* Contributions to the neighborhood may have occurred over the course of many years, but the judges will give special consideration to recent good deeds.
Residents may nominate a family member, friend or neighbor who makes noteworthy contributions to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood.
To nominate an individual for the award, please attach to a nomination form a description of why you believe that person exemplifies the qualities of a good neighbor. In 300 words or less, answer the question: "What makes this person a good neighbor?" Some of these qualities may include:
* Contributions to the community beyond the scope of normal citizen responsibilities.
* Concern for their neighbors' well-being or overall quality of life in their neighborhood. This concern may be demonstrated by care of property, helpful or charitable acts toward neighbors or participation in committees or volunteer activities that contribute to positive changes in the neighborhood.
Nominations must be made prior to March 25. Forms are available on the Town of Herndon Web site, www.herndon-va.gov — click on What's New. Forms are also available at the Herndon Municipal Center and the Neighborhood Resource Center. For more information, call 703-435-6800, Ext. 2010.
Budget Hearings Scheduled
The Town of Herndon is in the process of preparing the upcoming fiscal year 2006 budget, including the FY '06-11 capital improvement program (CIP). The Town Council and Planning Commission will be holding several work sessions and public hearings to give an opportunity for interested citizens to present ideas or issues for consideration while the budget is being developed. All public hearings are held in the Council Chambers; work sessions are held in the conference room, both located at 765 Lynn St.
A budget summary will be mailed to all Herndon residents during the first week in April, at which time it is anticipated that the complete recommended budget document will be available for public review. Information will be posted on the town's Web site, www.herndon-va.gov, as it becomes available. A copy of the proposed budget will be available for review at the Herndon Fortnightly Library.
The complete budget schedule is as follows:
* Monday, March 7, 7:30 p.m., Planning Commission public hearing on the CIP.
* Tuesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., Town Council work session to review proposed budget and CIP.
* Tuesday, April 12, 7:30 p.m., Town Council public hearing to allow public testimony on proposed budget and FY '06 portion of CIP.
* Tuesday, April 19, 7:30 p.m., Town Council work session to review proposed budget and FY '06 portion of CIP.
* Tuesday, April 26, 7:30 p.m., Town Council public hearing — consideration and adoption budget and entire CIP.