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<lst>Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, 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 Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
The Loudoun Commission on Women (LCCW) is seeking nominations for the 2007 Outstanding Women of Loudoun award program, to recognize the outstanding contributions of the women in the community. To obtain a nomination form and guidelines, visit the LCCW Web site, www.LCCW.org or visit the Board of Supervisors Office at the County Government Building, 1 Harrison St., S.E. Leesburg, fifth floor. Call Sally Myers, chair of the Loudoun Commission on Women, at 540-338-3609. The deadline for nominations to be submitted is April 13.
The Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging, in cooperation with the IRS, is sponsoring free tax preparation assistance for residents 55 and older whose adjusted gross income in $39,000 and below. Assistance will be provided at locations throughout the county, through April 9; appointments required, call 703-737-8037.
Have taxes prepared at no cost by volunteers from the AARP TaxAide program, from through April 16. All volunteers are trained in tax preparation and certified by the IRS. All returns will be e-filed and you can have refunds sent directly to the bank. For a list of locations and operating hours, call 1-888-AARPNOW.
The Town of Leesburg Parks and Recreation Department will present the 17th Annual Flower & Garden Festival in Downtown Historic Leesburg, rain or shine, April 21 and 22. The department is seeking applications from landscapers and vendors. To download an application visit http://www.idalee.org/parks/events/ or call 703-737-7157 to have an application mailed.
Call Ida Lee Park Recreation Center at 703-777-1368 or visit http://www.idalee.org.
Shenandoah University’s Northern Virginia Campus in Leesburg is seeking nominations for its Teacher of the Year award. Nominations must be received by Friday, April 20. All finalists will be recognized at a reception and the winner will be announced at a Loudoun County School Board meeting in May.
To be eligible, nominees must be full-time teachers in Loudoun County in a specialized area, such as special education, art, music, physical education, drama, kindergarten, English as a second language or gifted and talented. Nominees may work at any grade level but must have at least five years of teaching experience in Loudoun County. Contact Dr. RT Good, dean of the School of Continuing Education, at 540-665-1290 or Kelly Burk, chair of the Northern Virginia Advisory Council, at 703-779-0037.
Organizers of the Bluemont Fair, to be held in September, are seeking design submissions for consideration as the logo for this year's poster and brochure. Open to all ages and skill levels. Theme: Scenes of Bluemont. Designs should be rendered simply with minimal color that can be used for T-shirts, mugs, caps and stationary. Artist's name will be printed on the poster and acknowledged in publicity. Send submissions by May 7 to Bluemont Fair, P.O. Box 217, Bluemont, VA 20135. Call 540-554-2367 or visit www.bluemontfair.com.
Next Level 4 Teens Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Ashburn aimed at positively impacting the lives of local teenagers through educational programs and counseling, has launched its Vision Campaign, a fund-raising effort with the goal of allowing the center to offer its programs and workshops for free. The campaign seeks to find sponsors willing to pledge a monthly donation for a 12-month period. Call 571-214-1747 or visit www.nextLevel4Teens.org.