Women’s Self-Defense Workshop on May 5, 2009

The Loudoun Sheriff’s Office will hold their 30th Women’s Self-Defense Workshop on Tuesday, May 5, 2009.

The class is open to all female residents of Loudoun County over the age of fourteen and space is limited to 100 participants. “The workshop is a free session whose purpose is to educate women on sexual assault issues and rape awareness,” said Sheriff Steve Simpson. “The May session is an opportunity for all women to learn to be aware of their surroundings and how to protect themselves from becoming a victim,” Simpson added. The session will be held from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. The academy is located at 45299 Research Place in Ashburn, VA.

Participants are asked to wear gym style clothing and athletic shoes. Participants will be taught basic self-defense techniques through instruction, demonstration and actual practice of the methods taught.

Those interested in participating in this workshop must register, as space is limited. To register for the workshop you are asked to contact Audra Vogel at 571-258-3049.

Solid 'Green' Credentials

By Brigid Schulte
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 12, 2009; Page SM07

When Steve Kuhn says his moving and storage company is "green," he means it.

Many people claim too freely to be green, he said. And there's no way to prove that what they do is helping the planet.

So for nearly 10 years, the owner of JK Moving and Storage researched how he could make every aspect of his Northern Virginia company more environmentally friendly.

He decided to stop using cardboard boxes. Then, struck by the "abundance of waste" that people usually leave behind after a move, he looked into companies, charities and outlets across the region and found about 60 that could recycle or reuse items.

Office furniture and working appliances go to Goodwill Industries or Habitat for Humanity's Habitat ReStores. Because Goodwill can't take sofas or beds -- landfill managers say they've seen lots of perfectly good ones in trash bins over the years -- Kuhn found a company that recycles fabric into insulation, rugs and padding.

Broken water heaters and other metals go to one of a handful of smelters in the area. Wood waste is packed up and sent to a waste-to-energy facility in Baltimore that turns it into steam and pumps it into the Baltimore Steam Co. to power air-conditioning systems in the inner city.

Kuhn started a Web site that works much like the Freecycle Network, where people take photos of stuff they no longer want and post it at http://www.reusedc.org, so others can get it for free.
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By changing to "boxless moves" 10 years ago, Kuhn said he figures his company has kept more than 25,000 tons of compressed cardboard -- about 45 football fields stacked three feet high with cardboard -- out of landfills. He calculated that the company, which he founded with his brother in 1979, has saved 425,000 trees. And by aggressively looking for ways to recycle and reuse nearly every scrap that's typically tossed out in moves, he said JK Moving has kept more than a million pounds of waste out of landfills in just the past seven months.

"We've all been hearing more and more about being green. The reason why we didn't promote it three years ago when we started was because we didn't feel there was any accountability behind people who promote the word 'green.' So we spent years building a system that was foolproof," Kuhn said. "Our mission is to walk the talk."

Kuhn said he decided to go green a few years ago while sitting at his kitchen counter with some of his four children. They'd been talking a lot about the environment, and what they were saying stuck with him. With their help, he drew up the company's first environmental action statement.

"Now, I can't pass a light switch without turning it off," he said. "It's contagious. You start looking for things you can do, and it builds. It's like having an obsessive-compulsive disorder. But the bottom line is, we feel like we're in a position where we can make a difference, so that's what we want to do."

So committed is Kuhn that his company gives out an annual Environmental Sustainability Award. Last year's winner, announced late last month, is the Crystal City Business Improvement District, which has put being green among its top four priorities. The Crystal City BID and Kuhn's company sponsored a Power Purge event, in which more than 50,000 pounds of electronics was collected from about 300 community members and businesses and sent to recyclers. (This year's Power Purge is Wednesday.

To read the full article CLICK HERE

Interest Rates on the Rebound?

We all know over the past 4 years, fixed interest rates have been on a roller coaster. Starting out at 5.72% in November of 2004, they peeked during July of 2006 at 7.03% and hit rock bottom at the end of March 2009 to 4.78%.

Currently interest rates are at 4.86% and are continuing to climb. What does this all mean? If you are thinking of buying and haven't purchased a home of your own already, NOW is the time to buy.

If you have any questions about real estate, please feel free to contact me!



Gina M. Tufano
Realtor, CDPE, ASP, e-Pro
(703) 574-3478
gina@ask-gina.com
www.ask-gina.com

Why RENT when you can BUY?

Why buy now? With the best affordability in years, low interest rates, and the first-time home-buyers tax credit, you have probably heard that now is the time to buy. But these are not the only reasons why now certainly is the time to buy.

A home is probably one of the biggest purchases you will make in your lifetime and one of the best investments you can make for your future. Unlike a car, a home actually increases in value over its lifetime and the location of the home is the biggest determinant of how fast your home will appreciate over the years. Compared to renters, homeowners are also able to build equity and enjoy a greater net worth. So stop giving away your money to the landlord and buy a home of your own before interest rates go up and homes become less affordable again..!

Still on the fence about buying? Gina M. Tufano would be happy educate you on the local market of Eastern Loudoun and Western Fairfax and help walk you, step by step, through the home-buying process.

Paul L. Vickers is Named 2009 Principal of the Year

Paul L. Vickers, the principal of Mill Run Elementary, is the 2009 recipient of The Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award for Loudoun County.

This award also goes to Loudoun County's Principal of the Year.

“During the past eight years, I have come to know Paul Vickers first as a parent, then as a member of the PTO board, as his parent liaison, and now as a member of his staff,” wrote Laura Ikegami Warner, a technology assistant at Mill Run. “With each new relationship, I have seen more and more of Mr. Vickers in action and have gained new perspective of him as a leader. I have seen his great spirit as he helped to raise Mill Run Elementary from an empty building plunked down in the middle of farmland to a place of learning where children and their families eagerly fill the hallways on school nights to spend more time with their teachers and with each other.”

Mill Run's Second Grade Team wrote the following about Vickers in their nomination letter:

“Paul never asks his teachers or students to do something that he himself isn't willing to do first or do harder. From the International Family Festival to Movie Night, from Tales by Twilight to staff sports games, from the Book Character Parade to Run for Fun, Paul is the first to help plan, raise support and lead attendance. He is committed to making Mill Run a place where learning does not end with the dismissal bell.”

Several of the nomination letters spoke to Vickers' involvement with his students and their families outside of school.

“We had an unfortunate fire at our home in the fall of 2005,” wrote parents Jamie and Sue O'Brien. “Mr. Vickers was on site and offering his support before the fire was even out. He helped coordinate the efforts to help our kids cope, not only on that tough day, but also throughout the remainder of the year and to this very day. Our kids had a tremendous upheaval in their lives, but he ensured that school was going to be there to continue the nurturing each and every day. What he did for our family is what a leader in the community does. He made sure the Mill Run community came together with overwhelming and heartfelt support.”

Tolbert Elementary Principal Elaine M. Layman, who worked for Vickers as both a teacher and assistant principal, wrote this about him: “Paul taught me by example that the principal is someone who shows respect by his demeanor and appearance. The effective principal must maintain an unwavering focus on the students and their needs. It is the principal's responsibility to create an environment of respect, safety, comfort and success. Just as students learn from an excellent teacher, the principal is a role model. Paul Vickers serves as a model by knowing the students in his care and by showing them who he is as an educator and a person.”

Mill Run's resource teachers (John Cornely, Susan Curcio, Pam Daniel and Kerry Lennon) wrote this about Vickers in their nomination packet:

“Paul likes to develop and continue strong personal relationships with his staff. He takes the time to get to know each staff member on a professional and personal level, which makes us feel extremely valued and important, creating a feeling of family. If there is ever a concern or question by an adult in our building, he is quick to listen and provide feedback that will benefit both yourself and those involved. In addition, he is very open to suggestions from teachers on how our school can continue to improve and will often include these ideas as part of our school's improvement plan. By allowing us to feel individually heard, and by trusting the teachers to be creative with their instruction, our school's morale is always high.”

Mill Run's First Grade Team wrote this about Vickers in its nomination letter:

“As an administrator, Mr. Vickers has not lost touch with his roots as an elementary school teacher. In addition to his formal observations of staff members, Mr. Vickers makes it a point to drop in to check on the students of Mill Run from time to time. At the beginning of each school year, Mr. Vickers personally comes into each classroom to introduce himself to the students and wish them well with their new class and teacher. In addition to this, Mr. Vickers visits classrooms often to be a guest reader or to give ‘pep talks' to encourage positive behavior, even offering his company during the children's lunchtime as a reward for staying on track. Despite his demanding schedule, Mr. Vickers remains involved in the classrooms of Mill Run.”

A 1985 graduate of Virginia Tech, Vickers began his educational career as a kindergarten teacher at Vienna Elementary School in Vienna. In 1987, he joined the faculty of the newly opened Armstrong Elementary as a fifth grade teacher. During his four years at Armstrong, Vickers obtained a master's degree in administration and supervisory theory from George Mason University.

Vickers came to Loudoun County Public Schools in 1991 as an assistant principal at Catoctin Elementary School. In 1995, he helped open Potowmack Elementary as its assistant principal. In 1997, Vickers became the principal of Waterford Elementary.

He became the first principal of Mill Run Elementary School in 2000. Mill Run had only 486 students during its first year, but reached its 800-student capacity within three years. In 2004, the school ran on two campuses with a satellite campus at the adjacent Eagle Ridge Middle School.

For the 2008-2009 school year, Mill Run has an official enrollment of 875.

Past recipients of The Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award include:

· Mary Lee Phelps, Middleburg Elementary (1986)

· Bernice M. Nicewicz, Sugarland Elementary (1987)

· William L. Whitmore Jr., Leesburg Elementary (1988)

· Frances R. Fera, J. Lupton Simpson Middle School (1989)

· Terrence W. Hill, Sterling Middle School (1990)

· Dennis A. Young, Meadowland Elementary (1991)

· Kenneth W. Culbert, Loudoun Valley High School (1992)

· Michael A. Megeath, C.S. Monroe Technology Center (1993)

· Ronald E. Dyer, Sterling Elementary (1994)

· James E. Person, Park View High School (1996)

· Mary B. Morris, Cool Spring Elementary (1997)

· Wayne C. Mills, Rolling Ridge Elementary (1998)

· Charles J. Haydt, Sterling Middle School (1999)

· Laurie C. McDonald, Lowes Island Elementary (2000)

· Nancy E. McManus, Cedar Lane Elementary (2001)

· Dr. Virginia M. Minshew, Farmwell Station Middle School (2002)

· Dr. Edgar T. Markley, Broad Run High School (2003)

· Dr. Susan P. Browning, Seldens Landing Elementary (2004)

· Dr. Jack Robinson , Douglass School (2005)

· Margaret Huckaby, Heritage High School (2006)

· Eric L. Stewart, Smart's Mill Middle School (2007)*

More GOOD NEWS about the Housing market! NAR projects 1% rise in 2009 Sales

With improved housing affordability in the area and new buying incentives such as the $8,000 tax credit, more buyers are coming out to take advantage of the market. According to the Pending Home Sales Index, the number of contracts signed in February grew 2.1 percent from January and is only 1.4 percent lower than the number signed in February 2008.

What does all this mean? Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says that these are "hopeful indicators that we’ll see additional sales gains."

For more information on the housing market, check out www.realtor.org

Loudoun Family Festival Celebrates Earth Day April 26th

The Earth Day at Loudoun Family Festival is scheduled for Sunday, April 26, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Clyde's Willow Creek Farm in Broadlands. Earlier this year, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in support of Earth Day, which will be observed on April 22, 2009, and local Earth Day events being organized by the Broadlands Certified Community Wildlife Habitats Committee.

More information is available at www.EarthDayAtLoudoun.org.

Time to get Ready for Swim Season! Rivercrest Riptide Registration Dates

Please join us for our 2009 Kick-Off Meeting on Sunday, April 26th, at 3:30 pm at the Cascades Library. Come Meet your coaches, get a meet schedule, and register for the swim team. Your NEW 2009 Speedo Suit with the Riptide custom logo will also be available for purchase.

Note: The registration fee for this year is $115 per swimmer. For any registrations received between May 10-June 2nd, there will be a $25 per swimmer late fee. No registrations will be accepted for the 2009 Swim Season after June 1, 2009. There are no refunds on registration fees.

Evening practices begin May 26th-June 19th from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., while school is in session. Ages 8 and Under will practice from 7:30-8:00 and Ages 9 and Up will practice from 8:00-8:30 pm.

Sat. June 13th at 8:00 am will be the Time Trials at the Rivercrest Pool. Please make every effort for your child to attend.

Morning practices begin the morning on Monday, June 22nd from 8:00 a.m.-8:45 a.m. for ages 8 and under and from 8:45-9:45 am for ages 9 and up.

Your swimming group depends on your age. For example if your birthday is July 11, 1996, you will be swimming in the 11/12-year-old bracket, even though you will be 13 during the summer.

For further information, contact Riptide Team Manager, Denise Longo at longohome@aol.com or Sharon Brandt, Team Representative at sbrandt711@yahoo.com

GO RIPTIDE!

Facts about Loudoun County

Loudoun County

• Population: 283,387 (2009 forecast)

• County Founded: 1757

• County Seat: Leesburg

• Land Area: 520 square miles

• Public Schools: 75 (2008-2009)

• School Enrollment: 57,317 (2008-2009 estimate)

• Colleges and Universities: 8

• Community Centers: 11

• Library Branches: 7

• Median Household Income: $107,207 (2007, U.S. Census Bureau)

• Civilian Labor Force: 166,586 (Virginia Employment Commission)

• Tax Rate: $4.20 per $100 in assessed value for personal property; $1.245 per $100 in assessed value for real property

Spring Cleaning? Properly Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste April 18

Spring is the perfect time to clean and organize your garage, basement, and cabinets. As you sort through your household, it is important to remember that items such as paints, stains, fuels, and cleaners should not be poured down the drain or thrown away in your household garbage. The Office of Solid Waste Management encourages you to bring these items and others to the next Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event on Saturday April 18, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Loudoun Valley High School, 340 N. Maple Avenue, Purcellville.

HHW includes items such as fluorescent bulbs, oil-based paints/stains/varnishes, paint thinners, metal polishes, rust removers, wood preservatives, furniture polish, waxes, bathroom, kitchen and oven cleaners, pool chemicals, old fuels including gas/oil mixes, kerosene and diesel fuel, and many others. Latex or water-based paints are not a hazardous waste and can be dried or solidified and disposed of in your household garbage.

Used motor oil, antifreeze, automobile batteries, lead-acid batteries and propane tanks will not be accepted at any HHW collection events. They can be recycled year round at the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility on Evergreen Mills Road.

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.

Governor Kaine Announces Raytheon to Consolidate Facilities in Loudoun County

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Raytheon Company, a technology and innovation company specializing in defense, homeland security, cybersecurity and other government markets, is planning to consolidate some of its Northern Virginia facilities into approximately 600,000 square feet of building space in Loudoun County.

The project will include a capital investment of about $37.5 million and during the next 36 months Raytheon expects to create about 100 jobs for the company's Virginia operations. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland and Washington, D.C., for the project.

"Raytheon Company is an important employer in the Commonwealth," Governor Kaine said. "The location the company has selected in Loudoun County is an existing campus with room for expansion. As part of Raytheon's consolidation and expansion project, this facility best meets its needs for security, proximity to workforce, square footage and timeframe."

Raytheon employs more than 4,000 people in Virginia. The project is part of Raytheon Company's plans to improve facility efficiencies, and will involve relocating certain Raytheon employees from current, dispersed locations in Virginia to the Loudoun County site next year.

Raytheon will lease space in four office buildings at AOL's Pacific Corporate Park in Dulles, Virginia. The buildings are located at Route 28 and Waxpool Road. The Loudoun County facility will house portions of both Raytheon Technical Services Company and Raytheon's Intelligence and Information Systems business unit. AOL will continue to have a significant presence in Loudoun County at its Dulles campus.

With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon Company provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems; as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide and reported 2008 sales of $23.2 billion.

"Our decision to consolidate our offices brings many of our Northern Virginia employees to a common location and provides an opportunity for greater Raytheon teamwork, collaboration and innovative thinking," said Tom Culligan, senior vice president of Raytheon Company. "As one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, we are confident that the move to Loudoun County will support our efforts to attract and retain a highly skilled workforce in the Commonwealth."

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Loudoun County to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Kaine approved a $500,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist Loudoun County with improving and upgrading the Route 28 technology corridor project. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide training assistance through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

"On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I'd like to welcome Raytheon to Loudoun County," said Chairman Scott York, Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. "Raytheon's long history of important contributions to our national security and its reputation for generously supporting local communities makes Raytheon the perfect fit for our growing federal government contractor cluster. We are very excited that Raytheon recognized the advantages of doing business in Loudoun and has selected our community as a hub for two of its major business units. We're very confident Raytheon's employees, who will now be working here, will find Loudoun County a great place to live and work."

Article taken from www.loudoun.gov

Loudoun Sheriff’s Deputies Among Those Recognized at 2009 Valor Awards

Loudoun County, Virginia- Four Loudoun Sheriff's Deputies were among those recognized Tuesday afternoon at the 2009 Valor Awards ceremony held at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne.

Deputy Sean McCormack received a Lifesaving Award for his efforts on April 25, 2008. Deputy McCormack came upon a disabled vehicle on Route 28 near Sterling Boulevard. Outside of the vehicle was a woman on a cell phone in obvious hysterics. McCormack approached the vehicle and discovered an infant inside the car suffering from a medical emergency. The baby was blue and shaking, as if it was having a seizure. McCormack repositioned the baby and performed a "finger sweep" followed by a rescue breath. The baby then began breathing on its own. It is clear the actions of Deputy McCormack initiated directly in saving the baby's life.

Lt. Kenneth Christensen and Deputy Nicholas Campbell received the Meritorious Action Award. On May 31, 2008, the two were dispatched to a Leesburg residence for a reported burglary in progress. A suspect was reported to be inside the home with a firearm. The deputies entered the home and discovered a female brandishing a firearm. The female appeared upset and demanded the deputies shoot her. Two residents were inside the home and being held against their will. The two began negotiating with the woman, giving the residents an opportunity to flee the home. The woman was persuaded to put down the weapon and was taken into custody. Deputy Campbell's and Lt. Christensen's poise and bravery in the face of a grave danger ensured that there were no lives lost in this incident.

Deputy Christopher Grandner received a Lifesaving Award for his efforts on a medical emergency call on September 13, 2008. Grandner arrived prior to rescue personnel at a residence where a man was suffering from an apparent heart attack. The man was unconscious and was not breathing. Deputy Grandner initiated CPR until rescue personnel arrived on scene. Grandner's efforts clearly saved the man's life.

Also recognized at the event were members of the Leesburg Police Department, the Purcellville Police Department, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, personnel from Loudoun County Fire & Rescue and three citizens. Dr. Peter Klainer received the Lifesaving Citizens Award for assisting officers from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Dulles International Airport with a medical emergency. Robert Russ was also recognized after he gave CPR to a 72-year-old family member who had been overwhelmed by smoke during a house fire. His immediate action was a key factor the ultimate survival of the woman. And Mark Balensky was recognized for his assistance to emergency personnel after a vehicle struck a man in a Leesburg parking lot.

The Loudoun County Valor Awards program awards were established by the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the local public safety agencies, to recognize and acknowledge members of the various public safety departments, as well as everyday citizens, who have placed themselves in harm's way over the past year to ensure the safety of others.

Washington Mystics Sell-A-Thon: Season Ticket Packages

Washington Mystics Sell-A-Thon
Season Ticket Packages

Season Ticket Package A

• Two 2009 Mystics End Zone West Season Tickets ($199 per ticket)
• Two 2009 Capitals End Zone Mezzanine Game One Playoff Tickets
• One Autographed Alez Ovechkin Rock the Red Rally Towel
• Price: $365

Season Ticket Package B

• Two 2009 Mystics End Zone West Season Tickets ($199 per ticket)
• One Autographed Alex Ovechkin Hockey Puck
• Price: $250

Washington Mystics Sell-A-Thon
Community Packages

Gold Community Packages (24 FSE's)

• Sponsor 400 kids to a 2009 Mystics game
• Receive recognition on Verizon Center scoreboard during all 17 home games
• Receive recognition in a PA Annoucement during all 17 home games
• Receive listing as a community partner on washingonmystics.com
• Receive recognition on all 34 Mystics webcast broadcasts
• Receive a concourse table for two games
• Receive two 2009 Mystics End Zone West Season Tickets
• Price: $4,550

Silver Community Packages (10 FSE's):

• Sponsor 180 kids to a 2009 Mystics game
• Receive recognition on Verizon Center scoreboard during all 17 home games
• Receive recognition in a PA Announcement during all 17 home games
• Receive listing as a community partner on washingtonmystics.com
• Receive recognition on all 34 Mystics webcast broadcasts
• Price: $1,750