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.
Ashburn Boy Scout Troop 1158 will kick off its annual Spring Mulch Sale by distributing mulch sale order forms. Each 3-cubic-foot bag of Hardwood Mulch is selling for the cost of $3.80, tax included. If you do not receive a form you may send a check made out to Boy Scout Troop 1158 with the total number of bags ordered to: Boy Scout Troop 1158, c/o Mrs. Laurie Wallace, 20775 LaPlume Place, Ashburn, VA 20147. Orders with prepayment must be received by April 8. Free delivery on orders of five bags or more. Deliveries will take place on Saturday, April 23, and Sunday, April 24, just in time for spring gardening. Proceeds from the sale of mulch help defray the cost of summer camp, the purchase of equipment and badge awards. Call Mrs. Wallace 703-729-5742.
Loudoun MADD announces the new magnetic red MADD ribbons are available to purchase. The red magnetic ribbons with white lettering read MADD & DRIVE SOBER and are used to promote public awareness to deter drunk driving. The magnetic ribbons can be seen on the Loudoun MADD Web site at www.maddloudounva.org. The small ribbons are a $3 donation and the large ribbons are a $5 donation. To order, mail a check with the size and number of ribbons to MADD Loudoun, P.O. Box 4252, Leesburg, VA 20177. Proceeds from the MADD magnetic ribbons are used for Loudoun MADD programs to fight the crime of drunk driving in Loudoun County.
The Loudoun Literacy Council is recognizing April as National Poetry Month. To highlight the month, a poetry contest for adults will be sponsored by the council.
The Literacy Council will have judges review poems submitted as entries to one of seven categories: The Lord Loudoun, Sir William Morton Sonnet, Sir Dudley Wyatt, Catherine Culpepper Light Verse, Nicholas Minor Haiku, James Fields Courage, and Polly Philipse Poetry of Love. Each award category features an individual from Loudoun County history. The winners of each category will be announced at Loudoun Reads Day on May 20. This event will be held on the lawn of the Loudoun County Courthouse.
Submissions of entries begin April 1 and must be received by April 29. Entrants must be residents of Loudoun County and must be 18 years or older. A fee of $5 made payable to the Loudoun Literacy Council is required for each entry. Additional competition guidelines as well as sponsorship and judging opportunities can be found at www.loudounliteracy.org/poetry.
Loudoun County school children, prekindergarten-second grade, are encouraged to submit posters in celebration of Agricultural Awareness Day to the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum. This year's theme is "Who's a Farmer?" The deadline for submissions is April 30. The museum will select 50 posters to be displayed during the "Ag Day" festivities on May 20. Two grand prize winners will receive a $100 U.S. savings bond and a free trip to the museum. For contest rules and more information contact Katie Jones, 703-421-5322, e-mail kjones1@loudoun.gov or visit www.loudounfarmmuseum.org.
Loudoun County is sponsoring the Keep Loudoun Beautiful (KLB) "Spring Cleanup" campaign and is encouraging all county residents to help pick up litter during the month of April.
Spring Cleanup volunteers will be removing litter from county roadways, from streets in private neighborhoods and towns, and from Goose Creek during a canoe trip April 30. Call KLB at 703-771-4231 or visit www.keeploudounbeautiful.org to learn about KLB activities nearest you or to register for the Goose Creek cleanup.
There are other ways to help keep Loudoun beautiful, including keeping property litter free, especially along sidewalks, streets, and alleyways adjacent to your home or business; volunteering with the Virginia Adopt-A-Highway Program at 703-737-2031 or www.virginiadot.org; covering loose trash or other materials if transporting in an open or uncovered vehicle; contacting your town office or the Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management to learn about local cleanup activities; and reporting people caught littering or illegally dumping to the Loudoun County Sheriff. Contact the Loudoun County Office of Solid Waste Management at 703-777-0187 or visit www.loudoun.gov/oswm.
The deadline for nonprofit organizations to apply for a local exemption from real or personal property taxes for 2006 is April 1. Under policies adopted by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and allowable under the Code of Virginia, certain nonprofit organizations, such as benevolent, charitable, educational, recreational or religious groups, may be eligible for exemption from real or personal property taxes or both.
Nonprofit groups must file their tax exemption applications with the Office of the Loudoun County Administrator; application forms as well as more information about the program may be found on the Loudoun County Government Web site at
www.loudoun.gov/government/taxes.htm. Information is also available or by calling the Office of the County Administrator at 703-777-0200 or sending an e-mail to coadmin@loudoun.gov.
The Loudoun School of Ballet is accepting artwork, from April 1-23, for the National Dance Week Choreography Competition Art Show. All artwork must have a dance theme. Gift certificates have been donated by The Cinnamon Tree, a dance supply store in Herndon, for first-, second- and third-place winners in each category: child, age 5-8; junior, age 9-12; senior, age 13-18 and adult, age 19 and up. The art will be on display in the lobby of Heritage High School during the choreography competition. All pieces will be judged by Saturday, April 30, and the winners will be announced at the beginning of the awards ceremony Sunday, May 1, at 4 p.m. Visit loudounballet.org.