Loudoun sets high goal on conserving energy

By simply installing high-efficiency lighting, conserving water, and reprogramming controls on heating and cooling, these six facilities hope to contribute to the county-wide goal of reducing energy consumption by 15% by 2012.

The top six largest energy-consuming facilities in Loudoun County have choose to help participate in hopes of reaching this goal. They are:

• Claude Moore Recreation Center
• Department of Information Technology
• Fire & Rescue Training Building
• Loudoun County Government Center
• Shenandoah Building and the Courts Complex
• Judicial Center & Historic Courthouse

Find out how you can help! Check out www.loudoun.gov/energy

Do you change your own motor oil? Here’s where you can drop it off

For free of charge, you may drop of your used motor oil at the Loudoun County landfill year-round for recycling between 8am to 4pm. Last year over 27,000 gallons of used motor oil was collected from local residents and businesses for recycling. All motor oil must be collected in a separate container for recycling.

Other automobile fluids such as antifreeze, gasoline, break fluid, etc. may be also be collected in separate containers and may be dropped off at any Loudoun County Household Hazardous Waste Event.

For more information about properly disposing automobile fluids and other hazardous waste, call (703) 777-0187 or go to www.loudoun.gov/oswm.

Watch out homebuyers, home prices are on the rise!

Currently, buyers have still been motivated to buy since home prices on average are still lower than last year. Although, over the last four consecutive months, home prices have continued to rise in the Northern Virginia area according to statistics taken from the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR).

In June alone 2,169 homes sold which is a 14% increase from June 2008. The average days a home was on the market shrunk 12 days from 83 days in June 2008 to only 71 days in June 2009. There is a 27% decrease in active listings since last June where there were 10,440 homes on the market compared to the 7,617 active listing in June 2009.

The sales prices of homes in Northern Virginia are still below last-years prices standing at $451,354 in June 2009 compared to $487,549 in June 2008. However, over the last quarter the average home sales price in April was $405,514 and in rose in May to $433, 257, and continued to rise in June to $451, 354.

What does this all mean? The housing market continues to improve due to the rise in average sales prices of homes and active listings going under contract faster while the housing supply continues to shrink.

The National Association of Realtors concludes that these statistics show that the real estate market locally and nationwide is beginning to show signs of stabilization. NAR states that the main contributing factors to the market stabilization are:

• Housing affordability
• Increase in contracts pending
• $8,000 First-time home buyers tax credit
• Consumer confidence index in June and beyond
• Respected economists oppose more stimulus spending

Sterling Picture Contest * Get the kids involved!

The Challenge:
Below are 5 cropped pictures of landmarks in the surrounding area of Sterling.

Try to see if you can guess what all 5 pictures are of!

Example:

What is this building a part of?

The Sterling Fire & Rescue Building

The Reward:
If you successfully guess the content of the photos, you will be notified and entered into a drawing to win 4 passes to Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington for a Washington Capitals Open Skate event on Thursday, July 23rd from 6 to 7:30pm. Check-in will begin at 5:30pm and if you don’t have ice skates, rental skates will be provided free of charge. Food and beverages are included.

Autographed Capitals memorabilia will be raffled off at the event!

How to Enter:
Submit your name, phone number, and email address to contest@ask-gina to enter the drawing. Only one entry per person. All entries must be received by July 19th.
The winner will be announced on July 20th.

Good Luck!

Picture 1:

What sign is this symbol on?

Picture 2:

Where is this wall?

Picture 3:

What does this sign say?

Picture 4:

What sign does this post go to?

Picture 5:

What community sign is this letter on?

*Please do no comment to this blog with the answers, please send all entries to contest@ask-gina.com by July 19th. Thank you! Good Luck!

Keep yourself from becoming the next victim!

Think just because it’s daytime that it is okay to run in and quickly grab something without locking your car? Think again. You might invite yourself to be the next victim in the area of larceny.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department reported a rise in larceny from vehicles in the last few months with 105 reported cases in June alone. The most recent cases were from parts of Sterling, Ashburn, and Aldie, where items such as GPS units, MP3 players, and wallets were left in plain view and stolen. That is why you should ALWAYS lock your car doors whenever you walk away from your car, even if it is parked in your garage; and ALWAYS conceal high dollar items in your vehicle if you decide to leave them there.

Know any information about any of these recent crimes? Contact the Criminal Investigations Division of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at (703) 777-1021 or call the Loudoun Crime Solvers line at (703) 777-1919 if you wish to remain anonymous. If an arrest and indictment follow, you could be eligible for a CASH REWARD of up to $1000. Sometimes it pays to do the right thing.

Last Hazardous Waste Drop-off of the Summer is July 18th!

Bring by your unwanted paints, stains, fuels, cleaners, and other hazardous wastes to Heritage High School in Leesburg on July 19th from 8:30am-2:30pm during the Household Hazardous Waste collection event. The next drop off event will be on September 19th.

Accepted Items:

• Fluorescent bulbs
• Oil-based paint/stains/varnshes
• Paint thinners
• Metal polishes
• Rust removers
• Wood preservatives
• Old fuels: gas/oil mixes, kerosene, & diesel

NOT accepted for HHW*

• Used motor oil
• Antifreeze
• Automobile batteries
• Lead-acid batteries
• Propane tanks

*These items can be dropped off year round at the Loudoun County Solid Waste Management Facility on Evergreen Mills Road.

For more information go to www.loudoun.gov/hhw or call the Solid Waste Management Office at (703) 777-0187.

Flying somewhere for vacation? You might want to check out this website

Paranoid about flying? The recent plane crashes such as the disappearance of Air France A330, flight 447 or engine failure of flight 1549 that miraculously landed in the Hudson River leaving you in doubt about flying this summer for business or vacation?
Don’t be, a new website called Flight Aware is dedicated to tracking the whereabouts and reporting the latest news of flights. It currently tracks over 5,000 airborne flights and has tracked over 90 million plane flights to date. No more desperately waiting for a call from loved ones once they land. Find arrival times, delays, flight patterns of planes all around the western hemisphere. Check it out at http://www.flighaware.com/

Volunteers needed! * Habitat for Humanity

With the summer months upon us, the ReStore is busy with work and many of our great volunteers are going on vacation. So we need your help! All willing individuals 14 years of age or older are welcome to help run the ReStore located at 715 E Main Street in Purcellville. The ReStore needs volunteers Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Every little bit helps, so any times that you are available will be put to good use. No special skills or materials needed.

Interested in volunteering? Send an email to volunteers@loudounrestore.org with days and times you are available.

Where to watch the fireworks on the 4th

July 3

• Sterling Park Golf at the Swim & Tennis Club (9:30pm)
• South Riding at the South Riding Golf Club (9:30pm)
• Lovettsville Community Center (9:30pm)
• Waterford (9pm)

July 4

• Franklin Park (9:30pm)
• Ida Lee Park (9:30pm)
• Ashburn Village (9:30pm)
• Middleburg Community Center (9:15pm)
• Trump National Golf Court *club members only* (9pm)

July 5

• Lansdowne Resort (9:25pm)

*Please remember that any personal fireworks are strictly PROHIBITED at any of these events. (including sparklers)

Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office

803 Sycolin Road, SE

Suite 104

Leesburg, VA 20175

(703) 777-0333 or (703) 737-8600