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.
The Loudoun Literacy Council has extended the deadline for its adult poetry contest to May 31. There are several award categories and opportunities for everyone. Entrants must be 18 or older and a resident of Loudoun County. Winners will be announced at the council's silent auction event, "Desserts and Discoveries: A Novel Event," at Historic Carradoc Hall, June 10, from 8-11 p.m. For more information, visit www.loudounliteracy.org.
The Foster and Respite Care Programs of Northern Virginia Family Service are seeking gift basket donations for its foster families from Northern Virginia residents and businesses. Those wishing to donate new items, call Maggie at 703-219-2126. For more information on becoming an NVFS foster or respite care provider, call Ginny Snaider, 703-219-2184.
The Fire Marshal's Office reminds citizens that there is no open burning in Loudoun County between June 1-Aug. 31. Visit www.loudoun.gov/news/burning.htm.
The Loudoun County government is offering summer internships for local high school and college students.
Interns will be assigned to county departments to provide
administrative assistance and help with special projects. Computer experience is preferred, including experience with Microsoft Office products. The county will try to match student skills and interests to projects within the county departments.
High school students must be at least 16 years old, live in Loudoun County and attend high school, home school, or be a 2005 graduate. The high-school internships are for 20-30 hours a week and pay $9 an hour.
College students must be Loudoun County residents who are currently enrolled in college or who are 2005 graduates. The college internships are 20-30 hours week and pay $11 an hour.
For more information, call the Division of Human Resources,
703-777-0213 or visit the Loudoun County Web site,
www.loudoun.gov/hr/jobs.htm.
The Sterling Foundation has awarded the 2005 contract for mowing Sterling Boulevard after competitive bidding. For a consecutive year, the contract to Wye Creek Inc. of Bristow is for mowing and trimming the median and utility strips among the 3.3-mile length of Sterling Boulevard. The contractor will mow the boulevard eight times between April 15-Oct. 15. Funding comes primarily from newspapers recycling at Park View HS and membership donations. For more information visit www.sterlingfoundation.org or call Kevin Chroninger at 703-406-7749.
Loudoun County is assembling "Kamp Kits for Kids" for children who will be benefiting from the Loudoun County Summer Camp Scholarship Programs. The goal is to be able to provide a "Kamp Kit" with brand new items for each camper. Items needed include backpacks, insulated lunch boxes, insulated water bottles, suntan lotion (minimum 15 SPF), non-aerosol insect repellent, small freeze packs (blue ice), child/youth size rain ponchos, individually wrapped hand wipes.
The needed camp supplies will be collected through May 11. Donation boxes are available at the following locations: Eastern Regional Library, Cascades; Sterling Annex Community Center; Ashburn Library; YMCA, Leesburg; Loudoun Valley Community Center, Purcellville; Purcellville Library and Lovettsville Community Center.
For more information contact Karen Velez at the Department of Social Services at 703-771-5718 or Lyndia Calkins at 540-338-7491.
Loudoun County is accepting requests from individuals or organizations for Fiscal Year 2006 funding from federal Transportation Equity Act in 21st Century (TEA-21) program funds. To be eligible for TEA-21 funding, proposed projects must be directly related to transportation and fall under one or more of the following categories: provision of facilities for bicycles and pedestrians; provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists; acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites; scenic or historic highway programs; landscaping and other scenic beautification; historic preservation; rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities, including historic railroad facilities and canals; preservation of abandoned railway corridors including the conversion and use of the corridors for pedestrian and bicycle trails; control and removal of outdoor advertising; archeological planning and research; environmental mitigation to address water pollution due to highway runoff or reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality while maintaining habitat connectivity; and establishment of transportation museums.
County staff will review requests for TEA-21 funds during June with a public hearing on project submissions expected to be held July 12, followed by the Board of Supervisors' endorsement of recommended projects on Sept. 6. The county will submit the final grant applications to the Commonwealth Transportation Board by Nov. 1.
Anyone interested in submitting a request for TEA-21 funds must complete an application form, which may be obtained from Alice Vlad in the Department of Management and Financial Services at 703-737-8186 or avlad@loudoun.gov. The requests for funding should be sent to Alice Vlad, Loudoun County Department of Management and Financial Services, P.O. Box 7000, 1 Harrison St., S.E., Leesburg, VA 20177. The deadline for submissions is May 27.
Northern Virginia companies can now apply for the 2005 CARE (Companies As Responsive Employers) Awards administered by Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS). Applications are available online and must be submitted by June 10.
The CARE Awards recognizes businesses located in Northern Virginia that are leaders in promoting a positive work-life balance for employees through company policies and benefits.
The application can be downloaded from the Northern Virginia Family Service Web site at www.nvfs.org/applyforcare.pdf.
CARE Award winners are recognized at an awards breakfast to be held Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner. Visit www.nvfs.org.
Loudoun MADD is selling the new red MADD CHOOSE COURAGE community awareness wristbands for $1, which can be mailed for an additional $.50 each. The wristbands can be purchased by sending a check to Loudoun MADD at P.O. Box 4252, Leesburg, VA 20177, with the number of wristbands for purchase. Visit the Loudoun MADD Web site at www.maddloudounva.org to see a picture of the wristbands. For questions send an e-mail to maddloudoun@aol.com.
The 70th annual Loudoun County Fair, one of the oldest and longest running events in the county is looking for sponsors. The fair will run from July 25-30 at the Loudoun County Fair Grounds off Dry Mill Road just west of Leesburg. Send a donation along with your name and a contact number to: Loudoun County Fair, 117 Plaza St., N.E., Leesburg, VA. 20176, Attention: Tricia Corle.
The Loudoun Symphony Association Inc. is seeking nominations to fill upcoming vacancies on its Board of Directors.
Board members should be residents of, or have significant business interests in, Loudoun County or the surrounding area, and they should have the time and inclination to actively support the symphony by participation on a committee and by regular attendance at meetings and symphony sponsored events. Board committees include finance, artistic, development, marketing, audience development, long-range planning, gala and special events, nominating, education and volunteer coordination.
Interested individuals should send a letter of interest along with a resume or biographical information to Loudoun Symphony Association, Nominating Committee, P.O. Box 4478, Leesburg, VA 20177. Call 703-771-8287.
Arts in the Alley Õ05 on July 16, in the center of the traditional business district of Purcellville, is seeking artists and crafters to participate. Items including painting, photography, sculpture, fiber, mixed media, metal, wood, furniture, clay or glass are welcome. All items must be for sale and must be the original work of the artist. T-shirts and commercial items are not acceptable. No commission on sales. Artists may share a space, but each artist must submit photographs of work to be exhibited. Visit http://www.loudounsbest.com/art or send application form P.O. Box 479, Purcellville, VA 20134-0479, include photos representative of work and a non-refundable $25 fee. Applications will be evaluated as received. Spaces for
fine craft vendors on 21st Street are $150. Spaces for two-dimensional art in the original "Alley" are $50.
On Saturday, Sept. 10, Claude More Park will be sponsoring its 1st Annual Autumn Arts & Crafts Show in the Lanesville Historic Area. At this time, Claude Moore Park is searching for arts and craft vendors with hand-made items who may be interested in participating in this yearÕs show.
The show will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and set-up time will begin at 7:30 a.m. For $20, vendors will be provided with a pre-assigned 10x10 area; vendors must provide their own tents, tables, and chairs. Some limited electricity will be available as well for a small fee. Vendors will be able to park at their booth locations and this outdoor event will be held rain or shine. Only severe weather will cancel event.
Contact Claude Moore Park at 703-444-1275 between 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or visit www.loudoun.gov/prcs/park/claude. The deadline to register as a vendor is Friday, Aug. 26. Claude Moore Park is located at 21544 Old Vestals Gap Road in Sterling.
The Loudoun County Electoral Board is seeking 600 Officers of Election for the 2005 elections in which Virginia voters will choose a governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and members of the House of Delegates.
A Dual Primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, and the General and Special election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Election officers must be United States citizens and registered to vote in Virginia. Officers of Election are required to be at the voting precincts on Election Day from 5 a.m. until the polls close, the results are called in and all equipment is packed and ready to return to the Office of the General Registrar.
Election officers are paid for their time Ñ $100 for the entire day, $50 for a half-day and $15 for the training session that
will be held prior to the election.
More information about the duties of an election officer, including a set of forms to fill out and return to the Electoral Board, is available on the Loudoun County Government Web site at www.loudoun.gov/government/officers.htm or by calling 703-777-0548. Questions can also be directed to Dianna Price, Secretary of the Electoral Board, at dprice@loudoun.gov.
Loudoun Volunteer Services seeks nominations for Student Volunteer of the Month. Loudoun students will be recognized for their volunteer efforts during the 2004-2005 school year. Nominate students, or groups of students, elementary-12th grade, who volunteer their time in a variety of ways in their schools, churches, and towns. A one-page narrative may be sent to the Loudoun Volunteer Services Board at pivs@loudoun.gov or to 1 Harrison St., S.E., P.O. Box 7000, Leesburg, VA 20177.
The one-page narrative should include the student's name, address, telephone number, school and a description, including length of service of the exemplary volunteer efforts of the student. Contact information for the person nominating the student should also be included.
Volunteers will be featured in the Loudoun Volunteer Services Newsletter and on the Loudoun County Government Web site. Contact Lisa Rose, volunteer coordinator, at
703-777-0113.