Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call 703-917-6454; for additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
The Loudoun County Department of Family Services is accepting cooling assistance applications through Friday, Aug. 15, as part of the Virginia Department of Social Services' (VDSS) Energy Assistance Program. Applications may be picked up at the Department of Family Services, located at 102 Heritage Way, N.E., Suite 103, Leesburg. Call 703-777-0353 to have an application mailed. Applications also may be downloaded from the state government Web site at www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/ea/.
The Giving Circle of HOPE, which helps needy people in Northern Virginia by awarding grants and conducting service programs, has opened its 2008 grant cycle. Grants of $1,000-$5,000 are awarded to nonprofit organizations in December through a competitive process. Grant guidelines and applications are due by Sept. 1 and may be accessed at www.givingcircleofHOPE.org or requested by e-mail at givingcircle@hotmail.com.
The Loudoun County Department of Building and Development has launched an awards program to identify and recognize development projects in Loudoun County for their efforts to preserve the county's natural resources through erosion and sediment control.
The program encourages nominations from individuals, industry representatives and county staff to identify those projects that have demonstrated sensitivity to environmental protection issues and continued attention to these issues throughout the duration of construction.
The award categories are single-family residential; single-family residential community; multi-family residential community; commercial/recreational/public projects; linear or atypical projects and tree preservation.
More information, including a link to the online nomination form, can be found at www.loudoun.gov/bd-environmental-awards or by calling the Department of Building & Development, 703-777-0397.