12-5-2007: South Riding News, Loudoun County VA

South Riding News

Santa Tour & Grand Illumination
Santa will be out on a scouting mission through South Riding starting around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. He does this every year to familiarize himself with the area so he makes sure to stop at the homes of all the good children. As always our friends at the Arcola #9 Volunteer Fire & Rescue Station will aid him. Check out the community website to see when he will be near your home, or listen for wail of sirens and holiday music that precedes the Clauses.

Volunteers in Action
The Website and Technology Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Dec. 11 at Town Hall beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Committee is seeking additional members. The Recreation & Grounds Committee is scheduled to meet Thursday, Dec. 13 at Town Hall beginning at 7:00 p.m.

House Decorating Contest Deadline Looms
Every year the Association conducts a holiday decorating contest. The deadline to nominate your home or a home that you think should be considered is Thursday, December 13th. Judging begins on Dec. 14.

Send Your Community Announcement
If you’d like to see your South Riding community event or announcement get press coverage here, send news of the event to southriding@loudouni.com or the.sciencechick@verizon.net.

12-5-2007: Lansdowne News, Loudoun County VA

Lansdowne News

Seldens Landing 2nd Annual Holiday Concert
Seldens Landing Elementary School holds its 2nd Annual Holiday Concert on Thursday, Dec. 13 from 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. at the Tolbert Elementary School Auditorium. Students will perform a medley of holiday songs. Parents along with family and friends are invited to attend. Parents and students are asked to arrive by 6:20 p.m. and to dress in festive holiday attire.

HOA Teen Coalition Angels
The Lansdowne HOA Teen Coalition is sponsoring the Giving Tree again this Holiday Season. Residents are encouraged to stop by to select a paper Angel Tag from the tree located in the lobby of the Potomac Club. Residents must return unwrapped gifts, with the Angel Tag attached, to the Potomac Club by Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Lansdowne Community Coat Drive
The Lansdowne HOA Teen Coalition is also sponsoring a Coat Drive. The Potomac Club will be accepting donations of new or slightly used children’s or adult’s coats until Dec. 18.
Contact Kari Walker at kari_walker@smartneighborhood.net with Lansdowne area news or event notices.

12-5-2007: Countryside News, Loudoun County VA

Countryside News

Holiday Countdown Calendar
Winter break is approaching and students and teachers alike are beginning to count the days ‘til vacation! In this spirit, Loudoun County Public Schools hosts a daily calendar starting Dec. 1 at www.loudoun.k12.va.us/ featuring artwork from elementary through high school students. Art from seven River Bend MS students is featured on this year’s calendar. Congratulations to Samuel Beazell, Monica Gosa, Melissa Guidry, Jackie Koon, Hajar Noucair, Katie Palmer, and Faisal Turkistani.

Winterfest at Algonkian Elementary
Join Santa and your friends at the annual Winterfest evening of fun beginning 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7. Enjoy the chorus’ seasonal songs, have fun making crafts and playing games, and bid on the popular class baskets.

Family Day at Udvar-Hazy Center
The center spotlights the Wright Brothers and their aviation accomplishments on Sat., Dec. 8 from 10a.m.-3p.m. A full-size reproduction of the Wright Model B Flyer is on-site for a unique hands-on learning experience for children and adults. Visit the National Air and Space Museum’s website for event information and check out the webcast archives while you’re there: www.nasm.si.edu/webcasts/archive.cfm.

Potomac Falls Wrestling Results
The Potomac Falls High School Panther’s Wrestling Team began the season at the Christiansburg Duals Competition. Potomac Falls went 2-3, loosing only to state champions from prior years. Ryan Snead who went 5-0 and Aaron Rowane who went 4-1 led the Panthers. Both wrestlers scored against host Christiansburg with Snead winning by forfeit and Rowane by decision. The Panthers travel to Ft. Defiance for another tournament December 7-8.

Potomac Falls wins Cross Country Tournament

The Potomac Falls Cross Country teams won both the girls and the boys championships at the Dulles District tournaments held last month at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg. The Panther’s boys cross-country team won its seventh consecutive district tournament. Four Panthers finished in the top 10 runners. The girls’ team won the district title for the third time in eleven years, as four Panthers finished in the top 10. Potomac Falls sophomore Christina Lee won the individual girls championship and Potomac Falls junior John Hardin won the individual boys championship with times of 19:09 and 16:35 respectively.

12-5-2007: Cascades News, Loudoun County VA

Cascades News

Looking for a Few Good Toys
The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue System and the Loudoun Career Firefighters have joined forces with the Marines to collect and distribute toys to less fortunate children in our area under the Toys for Tots program. Bring new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations to Sterling Fire Station 18 at 46700 Middlefield Drive in Cascades by Dec. 21. Toys that resemble weapons or might be used as weapons will not be accepted. For additional information contact Lt. Nicole Hankin at 703 737-8011 or visit the Toys for Tots website at http://www.toysfortots.org/.

Loudoun Symphonic Winds Holiday Concert
Falcons Landing Continuing Care Retirement Community in Potomac Falls is hosting a free holiday concert featuring the Loudoun Symphonic Winds on Sunday, December 9 at 2 p.m. in the Falcons Landing Auditorium. The Loudoun Symphonic Winds has become one of the area's most exciting musical ensembles since its formation in 1993. Principal Conductor Gil Corella and the members of LSW perform a rich spectrum of music from classic marches to Broadway songs to holiday favorites. For more information, contact Donna Cassani at 703-404-5120. This event is open to the community, and no tickets are required.

Multi-Sport Holiday Camp at Claude Moore Park
The folks at DMB Sports Camps have some great activities planned for the upcoming student holidays on December 27 and 28 at Claude Moore Recreation Center. Camps are open to boys and girls ages 6-13 and meet from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day, with aftercare available from 4-6 p.m. Participants will be playing various sports and games, climbing the rock wall, creating arts and crafts, and swimming. All activity costs are included in the camp rate of $55 per day, and optional aftercare is available for $10 per day. Space is limited and registration is required. Call 703-444-8805 ext. 112 or visit http://www.dmbsportscamp.com/.

Spa Crafts
Saturday, Dec. 8 at 1 p.m., teens ages 12-18 will meet at the Cascades Library to make the gifts that keep on giving… stress reduction. The Spa Crafts Workshop is limited to 20, so registration is required by visiting the website at www.lcpl.va.us and clicking on the Calendar of Events. Come make some great gifts for your friends, and keep a little something for yourself.

Holiday in the Park

Enjoy the serenity of the winter season at Claude Moore Park on Saturday, December 8 from 3:30 – 6 p.m. Listen to beautiful music, take a candlelight tour of Lanesville House, and appreciate the old-fashioned holiday décor. What better way to appreciate the beauty of the park than from a hayride through quiet, winter meadows? Frogshackle Nature Center will also be open, where you may toast marshmallows, enjoy hot cider, and make holiday crafts. Although this event is free, donations of new mittens, scarves, and hats are requested for the Winter Warmth Tree. All donations will be given to the Loudoun County Holiday Coalition. No registration is required.

12-5-2007: Sterling News, Loudoun County VA

Sterling News

Dominion wins 1st Round of Scholastic Challenge

Defending champion Dominion High School was the winner in the first round of Loudoun County Public Schools Scholastic Challenge held last week at Heritage High School in Leesburg. Dominion, the winner for the past two years, took the first-half lead with a total of 320 points followed by Park View High School and Stone Bridge High School each with 290 points followed by Heritage with 230 points.

Points are earned by responding correctly to questions in a “Toss-Up” category, as the teams must buzz in with the correct answer before another school, and a “Direct” category, as teams are asked a random series of questions directed to one team, according to the announcement and explanation from Loudoun County Public Schools. The Scholastic Challenge champion is crowned each spring using an aggregate score of each school’s fall and spring scores. Also participating in this year’s event are Loudoun County, Potomac Falls, Broad Run, and Briar Woods high schools. The spring Scholastic Challenge finals will be held April 17, 2008 at Heritage High School.

Boulevard Cleanup Results
The Sterling Foundation expressed thanks to everyone who participated in the pickup of litter on Sterling Boulevard the morning of November 10. The quarterly cleanup collected 28 bags of trash along 3.3 miles of highway. The following persons contributed to the cleanup: Victoria Avery, Billy Bradley, Scott Bradley, Kristen Carlson, Earl Cox, Rich Lichvar, Bryan Loy, Lyn Loy, Vik Railan, Jake Wilton, Laura Wilton, and Michael Wilton. For information about volunteer opportunities in the Sterling community, call Kevin Chroninger at 703-406-7749 or visit http://www.sterlingfoundation.org/.

Stories to Warm Your Heart
The Sterling Library will present a family event at 4pm on Monday, Dec. 10. Bring the whole family for stories, games and crafts as we celebrate the season. Bring a book your family loves and share it with another family. (Make it a library book so they can check it out). Enjoy refreshments as we exchange holiday cheer.

Wrapping Paper for Soldiers
Sandra Lehrer of the Sterling Rotary Club shipped 120 rolls of wrapping paper to American troops stationed in Afghanistan. The club sends whatever the troops request, including coffee, creamer, hand sanitizers, hard candy and, at this time of the year, wrapping paper and tape to wrap gifts to send home. Sterling Rotarians donated the rolls of wrapping paper.

Week of 12-5-2007: Ashburn News, Loudoun County VA

Ashburn News

Santa Sightings
Santa will be making the rounds throughout Ashburn over the next couple of weeks. Here is a list of the places where you might be able to see jolly old Saint Nick.
2nd Annual Santa Parade: Saturday, Dec. 8 starting at 7:00 p.m. For parade route go to http://www.ashburnfirerescue.org/.

Lunch with Santa at Café Panache: Saturday, Dec. 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call Café Panache for reservations

Brunch with Santa at Sal’s NY Pizza: Sunday, Dec. 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children under 12 will receive Santa’s favorite Surprise Brunch Pizza and fountain drink for free

Holiday Breakfast for Broad Run Band
The Broad Run High School Band Boosters Association is sponsoring a Holiday Breakfast at Applebee’s in Sterling Dec. 15, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Breakfast includes pancakes and sausage, plus unlimited coffee, iced tea or soft drinks, for $5.00 per person. Applebee’s will donate all proceeds from this breakfast to the Band Program.

The Nutcracker
The Loudoun Ballet Company performs the Nutcracker at Stone Bridge High School. Show times are Dec. 8 and 15, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Sunday; Dec. 9 and 16 at 4:00 p.m. Advance tickets for adults are $16.00 and $12.00 for children and seniors. Tickets at the door are $20. For more information go to http://www.loudounballet.org/.

SBHS Project Graduation
Stone Bridge High School Projection Graduation, which sponsors the annual all night substance free graduation celebration at the Ashburn school is selling $20 tickets for a Grand Cash sweepstakes. A $20 ticket brings three chances to win, with first prize of $3,000, second prize of $1,500 and third prize of $500. Drawing will be held Friday, Dec. 14 at the school and winners need not be present to win. Ticket forms are available at Stone Bridge High School, 43100 Hay Road in Ashburn, and on line at www.louduon.k12.va.us/sbhs/site, click Proj. Graduation, or call 703 726-0799. Mail tickets or bring to the school, deadline for entry is Dec. 13. A receipt/ticket will be returned or mailed for all entries.

Week of 12-5-2007: Loudoun County News from Loudouni.com

Sterling Park Neighborhoods Receive Proactive Zoning

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted Dec. 4 to institute a pilot program whereby two streets in Sterling Park will receive enhanced zoning enforcement and education. The pilot program has been authorized for six months and will impact residents of Williamsburg Rd. and North Argonne Ave. in Sterling Park. Both neighborhoods have been the source of numerous prior zoning complaints.

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Tally Ho Movie Theatre To Close Jan. 1

The Tally Ho Movie Theatre, a longtime fixture of downtown Leesburg, will close its doors on Jan. 1, 2008. Judy Wilson, current owner of the Tally Ho, announced that she has exercised an option to end her lease of the property. Wilson has operated the Tally Ho for the past five years, focusing mainly on first run movies of a family-friendly nature.


The 19 West Market Street, Tally Ho Theatre property is owned by Divine Commercial. Noting increased competition and the need for improvements to the property, Wilson determined that this was the right time to move on. No plans have been announced regarding the future of the property. Considered a part of historic Leesburg, the Tally Ho opened as a single screen theatre in 1931, charging 31 cents admission. The first film shown at the Tally Ho was “Sporting Blood,” starring Clark Gable. The Tally Ho has closed in the past. The property remained empty from 2000-2002, until it was reopened by Wilson and Pat Hoke. More...

Holiday Coalition Donations in Progress

The Loudoun County Community Holiday Coalition program has provided “holiday cheer” for more than 10,480 families during the past eleven years. More than 1,500 families have registered for help this year, the highest number of families in the history of the program, according to the coalition announcement. Each year, the Coalition needs help from the community and this year is no exception.


The Coalition’s most needed items include: new clothing for children of all ages, especially children age 5-12 and teens; new clothing for Seniors; food gift certificates in $10 denominations; new warm winter hats and mittens/gloves for all ages; new gifts for pre-teens and teens; gift certificates from area malls and department stores; and cash donations to purchase inventory to help keep the Coalition Store stocked for seven days of distribution. More...

LINK Holiday Gift

LINK will be distributing Christmas food baskets Saturday, Dec. 15 and volunteers are needed in preparation for that day. LINK’s Holiday Food Basket program distributes food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas with client’s pre registered to receive food at a scheduled time and the amount of food given based on family size.


Volunteers are needed in advance to help sort and pack food. To volunteer email volunteercoordinator@linkinc.us to determine times and locations. Volunteers are needed Monday, Dec. 10 and Tuesday Dec. 11 – two sessions, 9 a.m. until noon and 7:00 until 9 p.m. and Friday Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. until sorting is completed. Volunteers may also be needed on distribution day, Saturday, Dec. 15 with various time slots from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sorting and distribution locations are Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Sterling and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Herndon. Visit Link’s website www.linkinc.us to learn more about the organization.

Championship Game for Stone Bridge

Stone Bridge High School Bulldogs will play in the State Group AAA championship football game this weekend in Charlottesville. The Bulldogs defeated Phoebus High School 38-24 Dec. 1 to advance to the Group AAA Division 5 Championship. More...