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 Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
Daisy Girl Scout Troop No. 4696 from Ashburn visited the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility to see how garbage is disposed of in a landfill and to learn about recycling. The group had the opportunity to watch where and how garbage is buried, and learn why it is important to recycle.
Kimberly Lyons, an 11th-grader from Potomac Falls High, is one of 18 finalists named in the Jamestown 2007 commemorative cachet historic art contest. Laura Dreyer, also an 11th-grader from Potomac Falls High, received an honorable mention.
More than 4,100 Virginia public, private and home-schooled students and teachers submitted designs for consideration depicting the story of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.
The finalistsÕ designs best illustrate themes that comprise AmericaÕs 400th Anniversary. They will be displayed at the World Philatelic Exhibition in Washington, D.C., from May 27-June 3. Six first-, second- and third-place winners Ñ one from each of six categories Ñ will be announced at a special ceremony May 28.
First-place designs in the three grade-school categories Ñ kindergarten-fifth, sixth-eighth and high school Ñ will be reproduced on envelopes and presented as gifts to the winning students. First-place designs from teachers, higher-education visual-arts and higher-education graphic-design students will be printed on cachets and be made available for purchase at Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne and select National Park Service locations throughout 2007. Proceeds from the cachet sales will benefit Jamestown educational initiatives undertaken by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and Historic Jamestowne.
The Loudoun Volunteer Financial Council held its annual meeting April 27, at the Loudoun Extension Office in Leesburg. Priscilla Godfrey was chosen to serve as president of Loudoun Volunteer Financial Council for the coming year. Godfrey was first elected to the board in 2004, and she also currently serves as a member of the Loudoun County School Board. Graeme MacHorton was elected to serve as president-elect; Leon Miller, treasurer and Ed Senft as secretary.
LVFC was incorporated in 1994 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to serve Loudoun County residents and families in need of financial planning services and debt counseling as a means of supporting them on the road to financial self-reliance.
The Best In Show of the 2006 10th Congressional District Art Show is titled "Wetlands" and was painted by Conor Backman of Loudoun County.
Backman is the son of Keith and Shaileen Backman of Purcellville. He is a junior at Loudoun Valley High School. The painting is an oil and depicts a scenic wetland surrounded by foliage with mountains in the background.
The annual show is part of a program open to high-school students across the country and sponsored locally by individual members of Congress. The Best In Show of each of the respective shows hangs in the Capitol for a year.
The 10th District show, held May 6, at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center in Leesburg, was held this year in conjunction with the Loudoun Youth Initiative's Teen Fest.
The show was judged by Howard Paine of Delaplane and Randy Michener of Washington, D.C.
Two employees of the Loudoun County Department of Family Services have been elected to leadership positions with the Virginia Association of Housing Counselors (VAHC).
Stuart Shatz, Loudoun County Housing Choice Voucher Division manager, has been selected as the new president of the board of directors of the statewide group. Shelita Adams, Loudoun County Affordable Housing Program manager, has been chosen as a member-at-large of the board.
VAHC is the professional organization for housing counselors in Virginia. The group is dedicated to assuring that low- and moderate-income families and individuals have the opportunity to live in safe, decent and affordable housing. The group assists homeowners, home buyers and renters with housing related problems.
Jessica West, Ashburn LibraryÕs head of references, was named 2006 Outstanding Library Staff member by the Virginia Library Directors. West received the award for her expertise in technology, outstanding supervisory skills and her knowledge of reference and databases.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Volunteer Ombudsman Program was selected as a winner in the National Association of CountiesÕ 2006 Acts of Caring Award, which recognizes top county volunteer programs in the country. The ombudsman program was established in 1985 to advocate for persons receiving long-term care services with a mission to ensure the highest quality of life and care.
The award was presented at a breakfast ceremony Thursday, May 4, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. The Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) had six volunteer ombudsmen during 2005. The volunteers are Bernie LaDue, Katherine Layton, Kathleen McCuistion, Emily Sprouse, Novella Whitehead, and James Wille.
Volunteers in the ombudsman program are assigned to a specific local nursing or assisted living facility, and make weekly visits, meeting one-on-one with residents.
The CountrySide Women's Club announces the new officers for the 2006-2007 year.
President, Teresa Bettac; first vice president, Diane Demakis; second vice president, Maryann Richard; treasurer, Sally Velt; and secretary, Joan Louise McCaffrey.