Send announcements or events, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail <a href="mailto:loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com">loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call 703-917-6454.
The grand opening for Ashby Ponds, 21170 Ashby Ponds Blvd., Ashburn, Erickson's newest retirement community, is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The event will feature live entertainment, food, community tours and speakers.
Curves of Ashburn, 20604 Gordon Park Square, unit 150, will be offering the Liv Aid breast self-exam kit during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to help women become more comfortable performing their monthly at-home exams. Nonmembers can get a free Liv Aid when they come in to the fitness center and experience a CurvesSmart demonstration. Curves members have a variety of ways to obtain a Liv Aid, including showing proof of a mammogram within the last 12 months. Liv Aids are also available for purchase by anyone in the community. For more information on Curves of Ashburn or details about how women can get a free Liv Aid breast self-exam kit, contact Sonja Beiler or Dawn Manausa at 571-223-0123.
The Verizon Foundation presented a check for $106,000 to Save the Children. The check matched dollar for dollar the amount of money contributed so far by Verizon employees to aid disaster relief in China and Myanmar. The presentation was made Wednesday, July 16, at a community investment fair at Verizon Business' Ashburn campus.
Allstate Insurance Company announces the opening of a new office in Ashburn, owned and operated by Patricia Booth, CPA. The office is located at 22855 Brambleton Plaza, Suite 204.
Ideal Schools held its opening ceremony, Sept. 12, at 44675 Cape Court, Suite 105, Ashburn.
The One Loudoun development team has entered into a partnership with Loudoun County Public Schools to improve landscaping surrounding Steuart W. Weller Elementary School.
One Loudoun has given the public school system a gift of $20,000 to augment the standard landscaping package at the county's schools. The funds will go towards planning and materials to beautify the exterior of the school. Steuart W. Weller Elementary School, which opens in September, is located on proffered land from One Loudoun on Marblehead Drive near the intersection of Loudoun County Parkway.
A locally based South of the Border-theme restaurant and a national chain featuring all-American cuisine plan to open late this year and early in 2009 at Brambleton's Town Center.
Cantina Cove, opening in early 2009, will spotlight a Mexican-theme with new twists, including tableside, freshly made guacamole, specials, outdoor seating and a second-story mezzanine.
Reminiscent of "feel-good Americana," Johnny Rockets plans to open in mid-November with a menu that includes hamburgers, hand-dipped shakes and malts, and freshly baked apple pie.
Zachary Casagrande, DDS, who opened his practice earlier this year, operates Northern Virginia Orthodontics, also at the Town Center. A Brambleton resident, Casagrande is a board-certified orthodontist and a provider for Invisalign, an invisible braces provider. He sees pediatric, adolescent and adult patients.
Loudoun Dental Institute, with Mahnaz Jafari, DDS, opens a practice of general dentistry in August at the Town Center. Jafari offers a general dentistry practice for all ages and specializes in implants and cosmetic dentistry.
Coming Oct. 1 is Lisa Settle's destination-shopping spot, The Pink Polka Dot, offering designs for the fashion conscious, the home and new little arrivals. A grand opening is planned mid- to late October.
The newly enhanced Black Olive Sports Bar at The National Conference Center has opened. It includes 16 42-inch, flat-screen televisions, extensive menu, top-shelf beer, wine and liquor as well as several pool tables and Wii Lounge.
Radiology Imaging Associates has installed the newest and highest-resolution MRI scanners available, the Achieva 3.0T system from Philips Healthcare.
Because of the level of anatomic detail it provides, the Achieva 3.0T can assist radiologists and physicians in the earlier diagnosis of a variety of medical conditions, including brain disorders and/or cardiovascular disease. The new 3.0T MRI will be patient ready in mid September at RIA's full service diagnostic imaging facility at Lansdowne.
All local area vendors are invited to attend Loudoun County Procurement's 2008 buyer/seller information exchange sessions. These sessions are to provide information on the county's procurement processes and upcoming contracts. The sessions will take place Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 10:30 a.m.; Thursday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. For locations call 703-777-0403 or send an e-mail to Rebecca Kummel at procurement@loudoun.gov.