Controlled Burn Scheduled for Western Loudoun Week of March 23

Under the direction of certified burn managers from the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF), a landowner in western Loudoun will be conducting a controlled burn on the landowner's property during the week of March 23, 2009. The beneficial use of controlled fire will reduce the risk of wildfires by removing fuels, such as grass, leaves, brush and pine needles, and will promote new vegetation that serves as food for many species of animals.

In advance of the burn, forest resource specialists developed a prescription detailing the need and benefits associated with the burn. The prescription sets forth all the conditions that must be in place in order to protect the public and conduct a successful burn. Those conditions include: the environmental impacts; the dispersal of smoke; how and when the burn will be conducted, and under what weather conditions.

The burn will be conducted along Branch River Road in the Neersville area of Loudoun County. In advance of the burn, informational signs will be placed along Harper's Ferry Road to notify the public as smoke from the fire could be visible for several days. Information about the burn may also be obtained by calling the Neersville Fire-Rescue Station 16 at 540-668-6974.

While the certified burn managers and the landowners are conducting the prescribed burns, the VDOF and local fire and rescue personnel and equipment will be on hand to monitor the fires.
For more information, contact the Leesburg office of the VDOF at 703-777-0457.

Check out the full article at www.loudoun.gov

Looking to buy? Feeling uneasy because of current Market conditions? Don't! Here is why...

Yes, the economy is struggling, yes we are currently experiencing one of the longest recessions in American history; but like Buffini, (one of the real estate gurus in the US) says, “a recession is a horrible thing… to waste!” Turn off the news & listen to the experts in the investment industry, the real estate market professionals, and the top economists in the nation.
Interests rates are lower than they have been in the last 30 years and home prices have dropped in the past 2 years to some of the most affordable prices in ages! It is expected that home prices will begin to increase in the next 5 years, so why wait and waste this unbelievable opportunity to buy?? Make the best investment to your future, buy a home today!

Gina M. Tufano attends an ample amount of real estate related seminars monthly and is up to date on the latest real estate & market conditions, and is more than happy to help you find the home of your dreams today!

Want more information on the current real estate market?
Please feel free to contact Gina M. Tufano, a trusted Realtor in Virginia since 1996.
gina@ask-gina.com * (703) 574-3478 * www.ask-gina.com

Loudoun County Launches Evacuation Assistance Registry

Loudoun County has created an evacuation assistance registry designed to help individuals with disabilities who live or work in the county. The County of Loudoun Evacuation Assistance Registry (CLEAR) is a secure, voluntary registry for use by the Office of Emergency Management in the planning and coordination of evacuation assistance.

Anyone who lives or works in Loudoun County who has a mobility, hearing or vision impairment; mental illness, cognitive disability or other disabilities or medical needs, and who requires assistance to safely evacuate during an emergency is eligible for the registry. A caregiver for a CLEAR-eligible individual may also register. Residents of assisted living facilities and nursing homes do not need to register with CLEAR because emergency officials already have information about those facilities.

The information registered with CLEAR will be available only to authorized emergency personnel for the county’s planning, response and recovery efforts in an emergency requiring evacuation, such as flooding, hurricanes or hazardous material spills and gas leaks.

“CLEAR is an emergency preparedness tool that will help us in situations that require evacuations,” said Kevin Johnson, Coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management. “We encourage everyone in Loudoun County to plan ahead for emergencies by preparing their own family disaster plans and disaster supplies kits.”

More information about CLEAR, including an online registration form, is available on the Loudoun County website at www.loudoun.gov/clear.

Loudoun to Sell General Obligation Bonds Next Week

Loudoun County is scheduled to sell its Series 2009A General Obligation Public Improvement Bonds in the maximum amount of approximately $174,000,000 to finance the construction and equipping of various county and school projects. The bonds will be offered on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, and Thursday, March 19, 2009. The offering on March 18 will be a retail offering and tax-exempt bonds will be available for purchase by the public on that day.

Please contact any of the investment professionals listed below for more information and to obtain a copy of the Preliminary Official Statement relating to the Series 2009A bonds:

• J.P. Morgan 888-299-7553
• Citi Smith Barney 800-404-5970
• BB&T Capital Markets 800-476-9847
• Edward Jones 800-ED-JONES
• Merrill Lynch & Co. 800-937-0768
• Banc of America Securities LLC 866-360-3319

Municipal bonds such as the Series 2009A bonds are debt securities that states, cities, counties, and other governmental entities issue to raise money for public purposes.

Article taken from http://loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=2560

Leesburg Weighs it Response to Water Ruling

Leesburg Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd said Tuesday she believes that the town should appeal a Loudoun County judge's ruling that the water and sewer rates paid by Leesburg's out-of-town customers are unreasonably high.

In a 19-page opinion issued Friday, Circuit Court Judge Thomas D. Horne said the 100 percent surcharge Leesburg imposes on those customers is unlawful under the Virginia code. He wrote that when setting utility rates, a legislative body's decision "must be based on more than their own opinion regarding what they believe to be reasonable."

The Town Council enacted the 100 percent surcharge in 2005. A year later, seven homeowners and the River Creek, Lakes at Red Rock and Spring Lakes homeowners associations sued the town, launching the case that led to Horne's ruling.

The town has 90 days from the date of the ruling to enact a new rate structure or respond to Horne's opinion.

Town Council members discussed the case in a closed session Monday night and as of Tuesday evening had not announced how they would respond to the judge's decision. Some council members said they expected to get a recommendation from the town attorney in the next two weeks.

Umstattd said she thinks Leesburg met its burden of proof during the trial of the lawsuit earlier this year.

"I sat through all of the days of the trial, and I'm convinced that the town was absolutely right in setting the rates the way they did," she said in an interview. "I strongly believe that the town has to appeal this decision."

Town Attorney Jeanette Irby said Monday that town officials were "still carefully reviewing the opinion and determining what our best options are going to be."

She said she believes the town proved that its rates were reasonable through testimony from utility rate experts and finance and utility department chiefs.

But Horne didn't think so.

The judge ruled that to be considered reasonable, the water rate surcharge on out-of-town customers would need to be reduced by 45.51 percent and the sewer rate surcharge by 36.53 percent.

Horne denied the plaintiffs' request for a refund, however.

If the judge's ruling stands, Leesburg would have to adjust its rates to maintain the $13 million to $14 million in annual revenue it receives from water and sewer fees, said town finance director Norm Butts. That revenue pays for the maintenance and operation of Leesburg's utility system and for the debt service on a bond issued to finance the system's upgrade.

Butts declined to say how town residents might be affected by a rate adjustment.

"We'll have to set the rate so that we bring in the same amount of money that we need to continue operations," he said. "Whatever that configuration is remains to be seen."

Umstattd said that if the in-town rates increase, there is a "good possibility" that some town residents could sue Leesburg.

Council member Kenneth D. Reid said he was still reviewing the judge's ruling and would not discuss what legal options he thought the town should pursue. But he said he was "shocked" by the ruling, because "I did think we had a strong case."

He suggested that if Leesburg has to roll back the out-of-town surcharge, it should cut costs in the utility department to hold down the rates paid by town residents.

"I don't think it's fair and I never thought it was fair to jack up the in-town rates to the benefit of the people out of town," he said.

Mike Quinan, the plaintiffs' attorney, said that they were not opposed to Leesburg charging more to out-of-town customers than to town residents and that their main concern was the size of the surcharge.

"The town can charge its own residents whatever it wants," he said. "But what they charge the out-of-town residents has to be fair and reasonable and equitable."

Stewart Curley, the plaintiffs' spokesman, said they viewed the surcharge as a case of taxation without representation.

"We really looked at this as a form of taxation in which we had no impact on the elections of those officials," he said. "That was, of course, very frustrating. The only recourse was through the legal process."

Curley, president of the River Creek homeowners association, said he was disappointed that the plaintiffs would not be getting a refund.

When the 100 percent surcharge took effect, Curley said, water and sewer bills nearly doubled for the roughly 2,800 out-of-town residences served by Leesburg.

Article taken from http://loudounextra.washingtonpost.com/news/2009/mar/09/leesburg-water-rates-out--towners-ruled-unreasonab/?local

Homeschooler Wins LoCo Spelling Bee, Again

For the second year in a row, 13-year-old Santos DeBarros, a homeschooler from Waterford, won the 27th Annual Loudoun County Regional Spelling Bee.

DeBarros claimed his title after correctly spelling the word “camionette,” a French derivative which means “a small truck or bus.”

The spelling bee, sponsored by the Loudoun Times Mirror, was held Thursday evening at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn.

The competition lasted two and a half hours and covered 217 words including “lederhosen,” “malaxage” and “ignominious.”

By the third round of the regional bee, 102 competitors -- consisting of fifth- through eighth-grade students -- had been whittled down to just eight. They were: DeBarros, Meena Nayagam of Seneca Ridge Middle School, Jenifer Bardi of Meadowland Elementary, Kara Newman of Seneca Ridge Middle School, Erin Brandt of Farmwell Stations Middle School, Barbara Regan of Blue Ridge Middle School, Paul Clement Jr. of Mill Run Elementary and Catherine Lasky of Lowes Island Elementary.

As the Loudoun spelling bee champ, DeBarros is now eligible to compete in the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee May 26 to 28 in Washington, D.C.

As a second-year contestant at the national bee, I asked DeBarros what he’ll be doing differently this time around to prepare for the competition.

“I’ll be studying much harder than last year,” he said. “The level of the words at the national bee is much more difficult.”

Kristin Hawkins of Sterling has come closest to winning the national spelling title for Loudoun. Hawkins was runner-up in the 2001 National Spelling Bee.

Good luck, Santos!

Article taken from http://loudounextra.washingtonpost.com/blogs/living-loco/2009/mar/09/homeschooler-wins-loco-spelling-bee-again/

Craigslist Scam

I received an email from someone today - wanting to verify a property that seemed priced "too good to be true" on Craigslist. It turns out that the ad was indeed a scam. I am posting the response below in full in hopes to cut down on the success of his fraudulant scam.

It came from "stewart.robert23@yahoo.com". Email read:

Hi,I did get your response concerning the AD I posted on craigslist. The house is still available but presently I'm not around.. I did bid for a portion of petroleum land sometimes ago in West Africa and fortunately I won the bidding so I have to move quickly down to Africa to have my company set up because I will still have to rebid for it in the next 10 years. I came over here with my wife, we both built the house when we got married. As soon as we settle down here I had a thought of selling the house so I have to look for an agent, after getting one, we got a deal but later my wife advised against that. She said we may not be able to win the bidding next time, in other to keep our head when we return that we have to keep the house. I reasoned with her and accepted her advise. So I contacted the agent back and requested for my keys and documents. Later we decided to have the house rent out, we would have give the same agent this job also but the truth ofthe matter is that the agent would want to handle it professionally and the occupant may not be able to reason along with him later. If you notice, you will discovered that the price we are offering is far below standard price, this is enough for you to know that we are not after the rental fee but the absolute care for the property. I know there is no way I can be sure that you are the right person to live in the house because we won't be able to see physical before sending you the keys and the documents to occupy the space. But I just had a feeling that anyone whoknows what it takes to put the kind of structure down should know that maintaining a building is mandatory, so if you belief you can take good care of the house and handle it like yours then I will be more than happy to let you rent the house.Please if you are ready now to occupy the house kindly provide the information below for record purposePLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELFFull Name__________________________________________________ Home Phone ( )________________________Date of Birth_________________________________Other Phone ( )___________________Current Address_______________________________Apt#________ City__________________ State______ Zip________Reasons for Leaving____________________________Rent $__________Phone ( )____________________________Are you married____________________________How many people will be living in the house____________________________How many people will be living in the house____________________________Do you have a pet____________________________Do you have a car____________________________Occupation____________________________Move In Date____________________________House Address20858 Royal Villa Terrace Sterling, VA 20165Best RegardsRobert Stewart+234-802-976-9680011-234-802-976-9680

Out-of-work but still want to buy? Here's some answers

Q: I lost my job last month. To cut expenses and avoid foreclosure, I want to sell my house, extract the equity and move down to a lower-priced short sale or bank-owned house. But because I don't have a steady income anymore, no bank seems to want to let me buy either type of home, even though when I sell my current place, I'll have enough equity to cover the entire cost of the new home. Is there anyway I can buy a short sale or bank-owned home contingent on the sale of my current home?

A: Unfortunately, you are caught in a bind that's common these days. Though you can make an offer contingent on the sale of your home, practically speaking, no lender will accept a bid from a person who doesn't have a job or other regular income stream.

Matt McCabe, chief executive officer of the National Short Sale Center in Scottsdale, Ariz., says that's because "such a contingency isn't time-specific." In this market, it could take you months or even years to sell your current home. In the meantime, any lender that accepts your offer would have to pay for the taxes and upkeep of the home, and perhaps watch it drop further in value in a declining market. That's too much of a risk for most lenders to take.

But you do have some options. Mr. McCabe suggests concentrating on short sales rather than foreclosures, since they usually take longer to sell—usually a month or two. If you're able to sell your own house during that time, you'll be able to submit a non-contingent offer. Keep in mind that lenders often only respond to the bidder who's made the highest offer on the property, and that desirable properties may even be the subject of bidding wars, despite the weak economy--so don't set your heart on any particular house. Another consideration: If you sell your old house before the lender accepts your offer, you may have to arrange to rent it back, or perhaps rent another house in the interim.

Another possibility is to take out a home equity line of credit (HELOC) against your existing house, and use that, perhaps supplemented by savings, to buy a new one. Of course, that may be tricky, since lenders have been reducing or freezing HELOCs. Bear in mind that if your house doesn't sell right away, you'll need funds to pay off that line of credit.

Finally, there's private money. Armed with an appraisal of your existing home, you may be able to convince a hard-money lender to make you a short-term loan, also known as a bridge loan, that will cover the cost of the new house--though you'll almost certainly have to pay above-market interest rates. (Usury laws in some states prohibit hard-money loans). A more economical approach: See if family or friends can front the funds.

Article taken from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123636616440255701.html

Understanding Housing Tax Credits

Editor's note: The original article contained an error. Those home buyers who are eligible for the $8,000 tax credit can claim that credit when filing their 2008 tax return.

As we move further into tax season, Treasury and IRS employees have been busy filling in the missing pieces on all of the new tax laws that were passed as part of the recent stimulus package.

When it comes to real estate, the rules are at best confusing. Let's shed a little compact fluorescent light on the subject:

2008 $7,500 tax credit vs. 2009 $8,000 tax credit

If you were a first-time buyer who purchased a home after April 8, 2008 through the end of the year, you might have realized that you could get a $7,500 tax credit on your 2008 tax return. This is a nonrefundable tax credit, which means that even if you don't pay $7,500 in taxes you'll still get that much in the way of a refund, provided you meet other qualifying details, according to Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for the tax and accounting group at CCH.

However, the 2008 $7,500 tax credit must be paid back in $500 equal installments over 15 years, which means that this tax credit effectively functions as a zero-interest loan. (Luscombe said the fine print in the new law says that if the taxpayer dies, the rest of the payback is forgiven. It's unclear whether both homeowners have to die if the property is owned jointly -- or just one of the homeowners.)

If you chose to close on Dec. 31, 2008, rather than Jan. 2, 2009 (perhaps to be able to itemize the interest and points on your 2008 tax return), you may be kicking yourself. The recently signed stimulus bill took the $7,500 tax credit and turned it into an $8,000 tax credit -- one that doesn't need to be repaid, Luscombe said.

But there are some wrinkles that require you to pay attention. To qualify for the $8,000 tax credit, you must earn less than $150,000 in adjusted gross income for couples filing jointly. Also, you must stay in the house (assuming it's your primary residence) for three years or there may be some payback requirement, according to Luscombe. (He's unclear how the IRS would be able to follow up, and some of the regulations and filing requirements aren't fully explained at the moment.)

The $8,000 first-time-buyer credit is good only for homes purchased by first-time buyers (or anyone who hasn't owned a home in the last three years) from Jan. 1, 2009 through Nov. 30, 2009 -- so don't wait to close in December or you'll miss out.

You can elect to take the credit on your 2008 taxes -- if you bought your house in 2009, you'll still qualify for the $8,000 tax credit on your 2008 tax return.

Going Green? Take a Tax Credit

The stimulus package eased requirements on energy tax credits. The $500 lifetime tax credit for building improvements has been increased to $1,500 for such improvements as the installation of energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors and mechanical systems.

In addition, you can take a 30 percent tax credit for every dollar you spend on things like solar heaters, fuel cells and heat pumps, Luscombe explained. The individual limits on particular expenditures have mostly been eliminated.

Foreclosure and Short-Sale Forgiveness

For those who are going through foreclosure or a short sale, where the house is selling for less than the amount owed on the mortgage, the forgiven debt will not be taxed as income through 2012.

"Up to $2 million of mortgage debt on the principal residence that has been forgiven can be excluded from income," Luscombe explained. "Taxpayers do not have to put it on their tax form," even if the lender has sent an IRS Form 1099.

Article taken from http://www.inman.com/buyers-sellers/columnists/ilyceglink/understanding-housing-tax-credits?page=0%2C1

Just move to Loudoun? Here is some useful links for new residents!

Loudoun County extends a warm welcome to all its new residents! If you are new to Loudoun County, you are not alone. Loudoun is the fastest growing county in Virginia, and one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. In fact, 18 percent of Loudoun residents have lived here less than 3 years, and 56 percent have been here less than 10 years.

There are many reasons for our rapid growth: a surplus of jobs, proximity to Washington, D.C., and Dulles International Airport, excellent schools and government services, scenic beauty, a strong sense of community and a high quality of life.

There is a great deal of information available for new residents on the Loudoun County Government website, as well as many other local websites. On this page, you will find links to a wealth of information to help you find out more about Loudoun County.

If you would like to have a package of information for new residents mailed to you, please send your request, including your name and mailing address, to: pivs@loudoun.gov.

Search the county website

• By alphabetical index
• By site map
• By geographical area
• By county department

Useful links for new residents

• Frequently asked questions
• Loudoun links
• Loudoun County Public Schools
• "Ask a Librarian" e-mail reference service
• County government e-mail list
• County employment opportunities
• Directions to County Government Facilities

Utilities

• Verizon
• Comcast
• Dominion Virginia Power
• Loudoun Water
• Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC)
• Virginia Energy Choice
• Washington Gas

How do I...

• Register to vote
• Register a car or truck
• Get a vehicle decal
• Pay taxes
• Get a dog license
• Get a library card
• Arrange for water service
• Find out about recreation programs
• Recycle
• Arrange curbside trash pickup
• Find child care
• Contact the Board of Supervisors
• Get a building permit
• Volunteer
• Find out if I live in a historic district
  

Article taken from http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=1348

Special offer to be a VIP "Friend of the Loudoun Summer Music Fest"

Hello from the Loudoun Foundation! For those of you who don’t know us, the Loudoun Foundation is a non-profit community based organization working to bring great events and National talent to Loudoun County. Our goal is to provide an affordable safe family atmosphere to listen to music with family and community.

We are looking forward to our Summer ’09 Concert Series. In the past years we have had great success and brought great music to Loudoun County. This year we are opening our season in June. Last year’s weather cancellations left us with less than expected resources. This has put a strain on this year’s events. This year we are looking to add to our list of national performing artists, make improvements and offer more services. We are also looking to the future to hold the series in a new larger upscale venue in the Eastern Loudoun Dulles corridor in the coming years. To continue with our plans and raise the necessary resources to enhance the experience and keep prices low , we are opening up a “Friends of the Loudoun Summer Music Fest” membership through a special limited offer.

For a limited time we are offering a Life-Time Membership and an All-Concert Access Pass. If you buy before April 1st, 2009, you will enjoy special VIP Privileges for Life.

Friend of the Loudoun Summer Music Fest Privileges Include:

• Lifetime General Admission Season Pass to all Loudoun Music Fest Concerts
• VIP Parking and early access to the venue
• Backstage Reception Access
• One Free Upgrade to One Free Upgrade to “Gold Circle”
• One Child 12 and under free admission per Member Pass
• Exclusive Invitation to 2009 "Friends of Loudoun County Music Fest" Private Launch Party with Special Guest Counting Crows members David Immergluck and Charlie Gillingham and Low Stars at the West Belmont Place in Lansdowne

The cost is $400.00 per “Friends” Member Pass. You can purchase your pass by April 1st for the first 1,000 members.

You can also purchase the Friends Pass on our web site at: www.LiveAtBelmont.com. The Loudoun Foundation can be contacted directly at 703-327-9096 or e-mail Tracey Parent at: tparent@integrity.com

Loudoun County: Becoming one of the top places to live in the nation!

The stars are aligning in Loudoun in the name of luxury accommodations.

Celebrities the likes of Sheila Johnson, Jack Nicklaus and Donald Trump have had a hand in Loudoun’s expanding stay-and-play market of luxury resorts and golf courses.

Johnson, of Black Entertainment Television fame, is building the posh Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg. A design company owned by legendary golfer Nicklaus was behind a new course at the Ritz-Carlton Creighton Farms development south of Leesburg. Meanwhile, last month, real estate mogul Trump bought Sterling’s Lowes Island Club with promises to turn it into one of his most luxurious properties.

Throw in the Lansdowne Resort, which recently marketed an all-inclusive inauguration vacation package valued at $200,900, and Loudoun soon could give Beverly Hills a run for its money in the market of leisurely opulence.

But why Loudoun? When the question was posed to several lodging and travel industry insiders, the answer that rose above the rest is the mantra of the development business: location, location, location.

“Loudoun has the proximity to Washington, D.C.,” said Prem Devadas, president of Salamander Hospitality. “And Washington is becoming the place to be in the U.S.”

Regarding Loudoun, he said the county's burgeoning wine industry, discount shopping in Leesburg and historical sites make the area a desirable place for destination resorts.

David Gabri, the company's president and chief executive, said the region is popular among resort developers because of its central location on the East Coast. The region's affluent demographics, which include Loudoun's position as the country's wealthiest county of its size, also are a factor, he said.

What makes Loudoun attractive, he said, is its rural setting out west and its proximity to the region's many association and corporate headquarters, many of which are in need of meeting space.

Finally, he stressed that Washington Dulles International Airport is big in the eyes of developers because it ensures the area has a steady stream of travelers.

Lansdowne Resort general manager Peter Faraone called the importance of having a major international airport in the county “huge.”

“We get a lot of business because of our proximity to Dulles,” he said, adding that the airport allows the resort to tap into overseas markets.

He also touted Loudoun's expanding reputation among savvy travelers. Many, he said, are now aware of Loudoun as a place to tour historical sites, sample wine and stroll through a small town while still being a short drive from the nation's capital.

“We really sit in a pretty nice area,” he said.

By Jason Jacks
Source: Loudoun Times-Mirror
MONDAY, MARCH 2 2009

Article taken from: http://www.loudountimes.com/news/2009/mar/02/loudoun-luxe-countys-high-end-resort-golfing-indus/

Extended Bus Routes for Metro in Loudoun County

A new bus route, the West Falls Church Express, connects the West
Falls Church Metro station with Loudoun County. The new service is
operated by Virginia Regional Transit (VRT) in partnership with
Loudoun County.

This route connects the West Falls Church Metro Station with George
Washington University’s Virginia Campus, the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute’s Janelia Farm Research Campus, INOVA Loudoun Hospital and
Beaumeade Circle.

Once in Loudoun, passengers can connect to various local routes to
travel to Leesburg, Purcellville, Sterling, Ashburn and Dulles
Airport.

More information about bus service in Loudoun County, including a
schedule for the new West Falls Church Express, is available on the
Loudoun County Government Website at www.loudoun.gov/bus.

Loudoun County's Solid Waste Management Drop Off March 21st @ Heritage HS

Loudoun County’s Office of Solid Waste Management will host the first Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event of 2009 from 8:30a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at Heritage High School, 520 Evergreen Mill Road in Leesburg.

Typical HHW items are oil-based paints/stains/varnishes, paint thinners, old fuels including gas/oil mixes, kerosene, and diesel fuel; and cleaners such as oven cleaners, drain cleaners, bathroom cleaners, and all purpose cleaners. Other HHW items are scouring powders, mothballs, mildew removers, metal polishes, rust removers,wood preservatives, furniture polishes and waxes, pool chemicals, and pesticides. Fluorescent bulbs and rechargeable batteries are also accepted.

Used motor oil, antifreeze, automobile batteries and propane tank swill not be accepted at any HHW collection events. They can be recycled year round at the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility.

Also, latex or water-based paints are not a hazardous waste. Dry or solidify leftover paint for disposal with your household garbage.

For more tips on proper paint disposal, identification of HHW, and the 2009 HHW event schedule, visit www.loudoun.gov/hhw or call the Office of Solid Waste Management at 703-777-0187.

Richmond American Homes hosts Lunch & Open Seminar on how to "Finance Your Dream Home"

This Saturday, (March 7th - 10:00-12:00) we will be holding a special event for both realtors and prospects entitled "Financing Your Dream Home". We have great new special financing options and 4 finished homes to preview! The event will be held at our Winsbury community in Arcola/Dulles, VA.

We will be providing food and drinks and it is a great chance to meet with colleagues, prospects, and learn more about new finance programs and the $8,000 tax credit.

Please R.S.V.P to Chris Roberts atchris.roberts@richmondamericanhomes.com or 571-221-4368. Please feel free to bring a client or co-worker, just let me know in advance.

Thanks so much and Happy Selling!

New Community website for residents in Potomac Falls and Sterling

A Potomac-Sterling Community webpage is a new addition to the Loudoun County Government Website. The webpage, www.loudoun.gov/potomac-sterling, is intended to centralize information of interest to residents of the Potomac and Sterling communities.

The page includes links to information about community facilities, neighborhood issues, code violations and enforcement, the Neighborhood Watch program, and relevant meetings. The page includes a link to a new online form that allows residents and business owners in the Potomac and Sterling communities to submit complaints to county officials concerning health issues, litter, tall grass or a derelict structure.

The webpage grew out of the Potomac-Sterling Community Outreach Project initiated by the Board of Supervisors last year. Throughout the project, residents described a need for better access to information from the county, especially through the county website.

The project led to the creation of the Board’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Potomac/Sterling Community Outreach Project. The committee has been reviewing the strategies presented in the final report of the outreach project and has been making recommendations on moving forward with the strategies. More information, including a link to the project’s final report, is online at www.loudoun.gov/potomac-sterling.

Tarara Winery Celebrates 20 Years with "Pour-a-Little-More" Campaign

Tarara Winery is now in its 20th Year and what better way to celebrate their anniversary than to give back to the community $2500; every month! Tarara has launched an exciting charitable contribution program with its "Pour A Little More" campaign.

To thank the community for 20 years of support and patronage. "Pour A Little More" will spotlight a local charity each month by donating 5% of their retail sales every Tuesday during that month. The selected charity for the month of March is Loudoun Habitat for Humanity so make it a point to drop by Tarara Winery any Tuesday in March and enjoy some fine local wines while giving back!

Tarara Winery
13648 Tarara Lane
Leesburg, VA 20176
(703) 771-7100

Directions From Leesburg, VA:

From the intersection of Rt. 7 and Rt. 15, follow Rt. 15 North approximately 10 miles to the Village of Lucketts. Take a right onto Rt. 662. Follow Rt. 662 for 3 miles to Tarara Winery entrance on the left.

Read more about Tarara's 20th Anniversary charitable contribution program
at www.tarara.com/community/