<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 Sterling Lions Club of Sterling are seeking applicants for its annual James Bland Music Scholarship Competition. Applications available at Melodee Music in Sterling or by request from the club by calling 703-723-0077, writing Sterling Lions Club, P.O. Box 45, Sterling, VA 20167-0045 or e-mailing sterlinglions@adelphia.net. Packet includes rules and application, which is due Jan. 4.
Open to residents of Virginia who attend elementary through high school or are being home schooled at those levels. For more information visit www.valions.org/sterling/bland.html.
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, Feb. 26-April 9; appointments required, call 703-737-8037.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announces the 2007 MADD Media Awards with a “call for entries.” The 5th annual MADD Media Awards program recognizes media professionals and organizations for outstanding coverage of issues related to MADD’s mission to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.
Entries must be postmarked by March 31. Winners will be honored at a luncheon attended by hundreds of volunteers and staff at the 2007 MADD National Conference in September in St. Louis, Mo.
To be eligible, stories or programming must have been printed or broadcasted between April 1, 2006 and March 31, 2007 and have originated in the United States. Stories may be hard news or features and may be a single piece of work or a series. There is no limit on the number of entries that may be submitted by an individual or media entity.
Visit www.madd.org/media-awards.
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.
The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, is collecting unused eyeglasses to be recycled foe people who cannot afford to purchase eyeglasses. Call 703-430-2397.
The Loudoun Youth Advisory Council is recruiting youth representatives in grades ninth-12th, for the 2006-2007 school year. The Loudoun Youth Advisory Council is a consortium of youth representatives from Loudoun County's public, private, parochial and home schools who promote leadership and advocate for youth issues to community leaders and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.
Council meetings are held the second Monday of each month in the Board of Supervisors meeting room of the Loudoun County Government Center, located at 1 Harrison St., S.E., Leesburg.
The application can be found on the Loudoun Youth Initiative Web site at www.loudounteens.org. For more information about the Youth Advisory Council or the Loudoun Youth Initiative, contact Angela Johnson, Loudoun Youth Initiative at 571-258-3135 or by e-mail at ajohnso1@loudoun.gov.
The Loudoun County Disability Services Board (DSB) is looking for members. Those who are interested in serving on the board will be provided with a member job description and application. Duties listed on the job description include attendance at board and committee meetings, active participation in the compilation and development of the DSB Needs Assessment every three years and participation in public relations and advocacy activities. Contact Flor Gibson at 703-737-8755.
Loudoun Volunteer Services (LVS) is seeking nominations for outstanding student volunteers, to be recognized as Student Volunteer of the Month.
The qualifying student, or group of students, must be enrolled in Loudoun County public, private or home-school grades kindergarten through 12th. Nominees must demonstrate contributions to the Loudoun County community through exceptional volunteer service.
Students who are selected as Student Volunteer of the Month will receive recognition through their school, the media and Loudoun Volunteer Services' Web site and will receive a $100 donation to a local nonprofit of the student's choice. Recognition is given monthly, during the school year, September through June.
For a written description of the nomination process and criteria, contact Lisa Rose, volunteer coordinator, at 703-777-0113 or visit www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm.
The grassroots nonprofit organization, Operation Pinecone, based in South Riding, strives to support the service members and their families by sending care packages abroad and delivering comfort items and providing support in various ways to service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. There are collection boxes for donations for this cause throughout Loudoun County. Visit Operation Pinecone, www.operationpinecone.org.
The Loudoun School Community Coalitions sponsor the “Parents Who Host Lose the Most” campaign to reduce underage drinking and is asking parents to take a survey by visiting www.loudoun.k12.va.us, and click on the “for Parents” button, then “Coalitions,” then the George Mason University survey button. It takes about three minutes, then hit the submit button.
Sponsored by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.