Lovettsville Town Hall News and Events

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News and Events for the Lovettsville Area

	Mayor's Message December 9, 2016 CAPTION: Help us name our new Town mascot, the Distlefink! Send your suggestions to eventscoordinator@lovettsvilleva.gov by December 25! Wintertainmentfest! A big “thank you” to all of those who made our Town so set up for the Holidays these past few weeks-the snowflakes down East Broad Way look so classic, the Tree looks amazing, and Wintertainmentfest was such a good time! The Community Center helped start the night brightly with their lantern parade. Deputy Vic LoPreto read “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and the Lovettsville Elementary School Chorus sang their hearts out for us (more on them below). We lit the Tree and hung the pickle…we even lit the new clock faces (more on that below). The great volunteers at Stop Hunger Now also helped start our season off right by helping others and the Loudoun Valley German Society completed the weekend with their annual Christkindlmarkt. Thank you all for making our Town the place to be for the holidays. But we aren’t done yet! People all over Town are putting up all sorts of displays, spiking their electrical bills, and breaking all the basic rules of wiring and safety just to win the Light Up Lovettsville Contest! So, get out there and use everything you have ever learned about exterior illumination and get your house ready. Next Saturday night (December 17), you should hear jingle bells, some classic Christmas songs and see some festive lights moving around your neighborhood as the judges take to the streets to determine the best of the best in holiday lighting. The judges will be selecting homes to receive one of a bunch of awards including the coveted “Best in Show” travelling trophy! There is even a category for our businesses-the “Best Overall Holiday Spirit” travelling trophy. We will also award, for the second time, the “Juniper Award” for best lit street in Town. I hear that last year’s winner, Eisentown Loop, is poised to defend their title. New for 2016 is the People’s Choice award which is where you get to vote for your favorite display in Town. So, how do you win - Bing Crosby Award (most traditional) Think classic display from the ‘40s or ‘50s! Best way to do that is to play White Christmas and then run out and buy some lights! HINT: If you are thinking of putting up something in my yard-well, you are probably way off the mark. Macy’s Award (best theme) This one is fun because all you gotta do is keep with the same theme throughout your yard. Pick an era, or a movie, or a color and stay with it. The key is consistency in your display! HINT: Make sure your theme is clear to the judges-if the reference that you used is too obscure they may not recognize your brilliance! Chevy Chase Award (most outrageous) OK, this one is easy…Christmas Vacation all the way! If your display is costly, dangerous to put up, annoys your neighbors, or can be seen from space-you are on the mark. HINT: Quantity, quantity, quantity… Juniper Drive Award (best lit street) You can’t win this one by yourself (well, you could if you decorate every house on your street which may not be the smartest move) so you have to get your neighbors in on this one. So, use your holiday peer pressure as you lean on your neighbors to light up the street and win this award! HINT: The judges are looking for a street that has the most houses lit up. So share your lights or get a bunch of those projector lights and do the whole neighborhood from your front yard. People’s Choice Award (popular vote) This one is new and the winner will be selected by the public. Nominations can be made by posting a picture and/or the address on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #LightUpLovettsville. I am not sure how you can win this one (electronically stuffing the ballot box is a possibility…) but I am sure you will think of a way. How do you influence the judges? Well, simply put…bribes of cookies, etc. goes a long way. The best way to really put your house on the map and you on the winners’ podium is to meet and greet the judges when they come around. A few have done just that in costume and made a little show out of their display. That seems to work (as last year’s Best in Show can attest to.) and really makes the night more fun for the judges. But, I would be remiss if I did not mention cookies for the judges seems to have a remarkably positive effect. How do I know who won last year so I can check out the competition? Download the Maprika app for your phone or tablet: Maprika for Androids Maprika for iphones Once you have the app working go to their list of maps (or you can go to “nearby maps” which is a pretty cool feature) and find the map entitled “2016 Light Up Lovettsville Driving Map” and download it. Follow the app around town to see all of the lights and last year’s winners. Don’t forget to look at the sides of the map for some great discounts by some local food and beverage vendors! Congratulations to our Planning Commission! We have two newly certified Planning Commissioners-Shiva Shilling and Stephanie Wolf just graduated from the 89^th Certified Planning Commission School. This is a thorough 10-week course that requires both online and in-person class time. The course is pretty difficult but they were familiar with at least one of their instructors because our own PC Chairman, Frank McDonough, was tapped again to teach in this school. Frank shared with me that Lovettsville is used as an example in many of their lessons (and yes, there were positive examples)! Congratulations Shiva and Stephanie and thank you for making our PC and our Town a better place to live! As mentioned above-more about our favorite “little” Chorus: Mrs. Stillman and the Lovettsville Elementary 5^th Grade Chorus sang last night at the National Christmas Tree in Washington. Congratulations to them for another proud performance by some little Lovettsvillians! As mentioned above-more about the clock faces: We are working with the vendor who installed the faces to make them more visible. They were great to work with during the design stage and we expect them to work with us to make the faces better to see. We expect some work to take place when they return to install the fourth (facing West Broad Way) face. Oh wait…one last thing! Our Lovettsville Historical Society has started a new lecture series called “Living Legends of Lovettsville” and their first installment will be this Sunday, December 11. This first in the series will feature James “Jimmy” Spring, a long-time farmer in the Lovettsville area. The lecture starts at 3:00PM and will be held at the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church. For more information about this great little gem of a speaking series, please visit: Living Legends of Lovettsville Next week, we will share how you can track the judges while they make their way throughout the Town for the Light Up Lovettsville judging and we will let you in on the new revamped Berserkle! If you have any questions or comments about our Town, especially suggestions to make it better or offers to help, please feel free to email me at mayor@lovettsvilleva.gov Thank you, Bob Zoldos
	Town Hall Meetings All meetings are at Town Hall, 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, at 7:30PM unless otherwise noted. December 13 (6PM) Love Winter Committee Meeting December 14 (6PM) Love Summer Committee Meeting December 15 (2PM) Parks Committee Meeting December 15 Town Council Regular Meeting - Agenda items include Comprehensive Plan Review Work Session. Click HERE for a copy of the agenda. December 21 Planning Commission Meeting December 28 (6PM) Love Winter Committee Meeting January 5 (6PM) Business & Tourism Committee Meeting January 10 MayFest Committee Meeting NEW Water & Sewer Rates Go Into Effect Beginning In October The FY 2017 increases in the water and sewer rates will be going into effect with the October billing cycle. The new quarterly water/sewer rate is $135.18 for up to 6,000 gallons; over 6,000 gallons - water user rate is $8.70 per thousand gallons and sewer user rate is $13.82 per thousand gallons. Click HERE for the FY 2017 Schedule of Fees. *After Hour Emergencies* If you have a water/sewer emergency after normal business hours (M-F from 8:30-4:30), please call 540-822-0155. For all other emergencies, call 911. *2017 Vehicle Decal Renewals* Vehicle decal renewals were due November 15, 2016. Decals for cars, trucks, and SUVs are now $26 each and $17 for motorcycles. Additional late fees ($1/month) apply after the 15th of each month. Payment by cash or check only. Sign Up for Alert Loudoun Emergency Notification System The Town of Lovettsville uses Alert Loudoun to provide emergency alerts, notifications, and updates. Messages can be sent via E-mail (work, home, other), cell phone, pager, and Smartphone/PDA. Go to Alert Loudoun to create a new account or manage an existing account. Select the "Town" group, then select the Town of Lovettsville.
	Lovettsville Square Phase 1 - Now Leasing! NVRetail is actively leasing Lovettsville Square, a mixed use development that will include a 17,500 SF retail building conveniently located at the intersection of W. Broad Way and Berlin Turnpike (Rt. 287) in the heart of Lovettsville. Click HERE for more information or call NVRetail at 703-448-4312.
	Upcoming Town Events Saturday, December 17 Light Up Lovettsville Judging! Saturday, December 31 (4:00-6:30PM) Berserkle on the Squirkle & New Year's Eve on Town Square!
	Lovettsville Park and Community Center Road Frontage Improvements Loudoun County is continuing to work on the frontage improvements at Lovettsville Road and Milltown Road. The Town will provide updates on this project through the Friday Email when we receive information from the County.
	Lovettsville Library Events Mon. Dec. 12: 10:15 am: Baby & Toddler Storytime (for ages 0 to 36 months). Tue. Dec. 13: 7:00 pm: Teen Night: Graphic Novel Club (for all teens). Wed. Dec. 14: 3:30 pm: Snack Tales (for Grades K-2). Thu. Dec. 15: 11:00 am: Family Storytime (for all ages). Fri. Dec. 16: No events. Sat. Dec. 17: 11:00 am: Super Saturday! (for all ages). 3:00 pm: Cookie Swap - bring cookies to share, enjoy the music, chat with friends and neighbors, and head out at 5:00 to Light Up Lovettsville! (for all ages).
	USMC "Toys for Tots" Collection Toys for Tots is collecting new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages through December 13. Donation containers are located at Bonnie's Country Kitchen, 2 N. Berlin Pike, Lovettsville and Donna's House of Hair, 72 Souder Road, Brunswick, MD.
	Lovettsville Historical Society - Veterans of Lovettsville In honor of Veterans Day, the Lovettsville Historical Society has added to our website, a brand-new section devoted to VETERANS OF LOVETTSVILLE. The LHS is reaching out to the community to help us bring the lists up to date via crowdsourcing, asking you to submit names of Lovettsville's veterans, from the Revolutionary War up to the current day. (The names we have so far, were obtained from lists in a notebook created in 1991.) See the website at: http://www.lovettsvillehistoricalsociety.org/index.php/local-history/war-veterans-of-lovettsville-virginia/. or email us at: info@lovettsvillehistoricalsociety.org.
	Lovettsville Volunteer Spot The Town of Lovettsville LOVES their volunteers and we want to honor and celebrate a different volunteer organization every month by giving them a chance to shine and educate folks about all the wonderful things they do and why you should join. Volunteering is not only rewarding, it's fun and a huge confidence builder. Check out our Volunteer Group of the month - Mobile Hope, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, support children and young adults (24 years of age and younger) who are precariously housed, homeless, or at risk, living in Loudoun County. We create pathways for this fragile, overlooked, and often unacknowledged population to have access to daily essentials and life-changing support. Mobile Hope’s framework is based on the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) with the ultimate goal of creating stability and sustainability for those we serve. What are the Social Determinants of Health? We know that conditions in our community – where Loudoun families live, learn, work, and play – affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. The conditions that impact individual and community health include income, housing, education, transportation, access to services, physical environment, socioeconomic status, discrimination by social grouping, and social and environmental stressors. By applying what we know and leveraging the positive aspects of our community, Mobile Hope works to change adverse conditions one child at a time by providing for basic needs – things that many of us take for granted, like simply having your own toothbrush. Mobile Hope relies solely on the support of donors, volunteers and sponsors to fund our programs and to help us carry out our vital and needed mission. There are lots of Volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Please visit http://www.mobilehopeloudoun.org/ for more information about us and how you can get involved. We are excited to share with you that we are finally moving to our new location! We will be located at 741 Miller Drive, Suite F-1 (upstairs from Apex Gymnastics). We are also gearing up for our Annual Santa Event This will be held on December 17th from 10:00am to 2:00pm at the Douglass Community Center. We will have a lot of activities and Santa will be arriving on a Fire Truck, etc...so lots of help is needed.
	Lovettsville Fire & Rescue Breakfast with Santa Saturday, December 10 (8-11AM) 12837 Berlin Tpke, Lovettsville, Virginia 20180 Enjoy a breakfast of pancakes, bacon, sausage, biscuits, milk, coffee and more! Take your picture with Santa! Drop off a wrapped and labeled gift for your children and grandchildren between 6am and 10pm the week of December 4th at the firehouse. Donations of non-perishable food items for the food pantry are encouraged.
	Lovettsville Historical Society "Living Legends of Lovettsville" Sunday, Dec 11 (3PM) New Jerusalem Lutheran Church 12942 Lutheran Church Road, Lovettsville Lovettsville Historical Society will launch a new, occasional series of events, called the “Living Legends of Lovettsville.” Each event will feature stories and reminiscences of one of Lovettsville’s leading senior citizens. On Dec. 11, the event will feature Mr. James “Jimmy” Spring, a long-time farmer in the Lovettsville area. Friends and long-time acquaintances will relate stories about Mr. Spring’s life – and there are many stories – which will illuminate not only Mr. Spring’s life, but the way things used to be in Lovettsville. Anyone interested in learning what life was like in the “old days” around here, will not want to miss this event. All are welcome. Admission is free, but donations are welcome to defray expenses of the program. For further information, contact: Fred George, 703-623-5134 or Edward Spannaus, 540-822-9194.
	Inova Loudoun Hospital Stroke Survivors and Caregivers Support Group Wednesday, Dec 14 (11AM) 44045 Riverside Parkway, Leesburg 2nd floor Patient Education Room Inova hosts a free, monthly Stroke Survivors and Caregivers Support Group. The purpose of the support group is to provide a supportive and encouraging environment as a part of the stroke recovery process for those who are affected by stroke and their caregivers. The December speaker will be Dr. Peter Wei, a Board Eligible Physiatrist specializing in musculoskeletal and non-operative back and spine medicine. He earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed his PM&R residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He manages patients with spinal cord injury, stroke and patients in need of prosthetics or orthotics in order to maximize their function and minimize their pain. Dr. Wei performs EMGs, dry needling, trigger point injections as well as hand and peripheral joint injections.
	Inova Loudoun Hospital Mobile Health Services Thursday, Dec 15 (11AM-Noon) Lovettsville Community Center 57 E Broad Way Blood Pressure Screening
	DMV2Go Dates at the Lovettsville Community Center The mobile DMV2Go will be at the Lovettsville Community Center, 57 East Broad Way from 9am - 4pm on the following dates: December 20, 2016 January 12, 2017 February 9, 2017 March 9, 2017 April 13, 2017 May 11, 2017 June 15, 2017 *DMV2Go* is a handicapped-accessible, full service mobile office that is equipped to process all DMV transactions. For more information, go to https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/general/#dmv_2go.html.
	Loudoun County Sheriffs Office Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Parcel Theft As the holiday season approaches and the numbers of gifts purchased online rises, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is advising residents to take steps to avoid the theft of your delivered items. “Unfortunately, this type of crime rises during the holiday season,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman. “We are asking residents take a few steps to combat this type of theft and we are asking you to immediately report any suspicious activity in your community,” Chapman added. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office asks residents to consider taking these steps to help protect their delivered items: If possible, make arrangements to pick-up packages at a package store or postal service facility. If the items must be delivered, ask that packages be left on a back porch or set beside the front porch. This prevents the packages from being visible from the roadway. Request a specific delivery time. Ask a trusted neighbor to watch for the delivery and have them take it into their house until you get home. Use free package tracking options when you place an order. This will help you know when the package was delivered and make arrangements to have it picked up or brought inside immediately. It will also help you confirm that the package that was delivered is now missing. If you are expecting a package and it does not arrive as scheduled, follow-up with the carrier immediately. Residents are asked to call the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 703-777-1021 to report any suspicious activity.
	Lovettsville Food Bank Donations are accepted year-round at Town Hall, 6 East Pennsylvania Avenue, during normal business hours (M-F from 8:30am to 4:30pm) and before Town meetings. The following items are needed: Canned chicken, SPAM, tuna, salmon and vienna sausages Canned stew and chili Coffee - Instant and Ground, Regular and Decaf Hot Chocolate Pancake Mix and Syrup Breakfast/Snack Bars Peanut Butter and Jam (preferably in non-glass containers) Muffin, Cake and Brownie Mixes Jello and Pudding Canned Fruit Boxed Juice Drinks for Kids Canned Veggies, particularly peas, carrots, potatoes and squash Hamburger Helper Canned ravioli, spaghetti Boxed mashed potatoes Spaghetti Sauce in cans or plastic containers Dry cat and dry dog food Laundry Detergent and Dish Soap Toilet Paper, Kleenex and Paper Towels Larger sized (4, 5 and 6)Pampers, LUVS or Huggies Diapers and Baby Wipes "Box Tops for Education" are also collected.
	Lovettsville Lions Club 2016 White House Christmas Ornament The Lovettsville Lions Club, the only source for all of the White House Ornaments in Loudoun County, has the 2016 ornament as well as a supply of all the past ornaments available for purchase now. Contact a member of the Club, leave your contact information at Bonnie's Restaurant, or email royrsumner@hotmail.com. The 2016 White House Christmas ornament honors the administration of Herbert Hoover, who served as the thirty-first President of the United States from 1929 to 1933. It is inspired by the fire engines that responded to the 1929 Christmas Eve fire at the White House and the toy trucks presented to children by the Hoovers the following Christmas. The ornament is crafted from shiny brass plated with nickel and 24-karat gold, and the engine carries a Christmas tree for delivery to the White House.
	Seeking New Girl Scout Leaders Two adult volunteers to become Girl Scout leaders for a new Kindergarten troop, AND two adult leaders for a new 1st grade troop at Lovettsville Elementary. Lovettsville may be a small town, but Girl Scouting is very popular here. We have a waiting list of interested girls! No experience necessary. Training provided. Leading a troop of girls from childhood to adulthood is a tremendously gratifying experience. Often there are more girls than available troop openings, due to a lack of troop leaders. Please consider becoming a Girl Scout Adult Volunteer, so that no girl need be on a waiting list. Girl Scouts is a volunteer-run organization, and volunteer moms and dads serve as troop leaders, and in committee positions that support the troop such as cookie parent, money manager, camping-certified adult, or high-adventure certified adult (archery, canoe, kayak, low ropes, high ropes). The Girl Scout program builds courage, confidence and character in today’s young women, to make our world a better place. Please contact Melani Carty, Girl Scout Troop Organizer at lesorganizer7017@gmail.com.
	Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers Needs Volunteers Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers provides a wide range of support services for those in need of assisted transportation to and from appointments, assist with errands, yard work, and house hold chores. If interested in volunteering, contact LVC at 703-779-8617. Learn more about LVC at www.lvcaregivers.org.
	Lovettsville Museum Open Saturdays from 1:00-4:00PM The Lovettsville Museum, located at 4 East Pennsylvania Avenue, is open on Saturdays from 1:00-4:00PM and at other times by appointment. The museum includes many objects pertaining to a past way of life in the Lovettsville area. School classes and other groups are welcome to visit the museum by special appointment. Lectures are given monthly by leading historians on topics pertaining to events surrounding Lovettsville. For more information, call Lovettsville Historical Society President Fred George (703) 623-5134 or Ed Spannaus at (540) 822-9194 click HERE