Loudoun County Supervisor Andrea McGimsey, Virginia Senators Senator Mark Herring and David Poisson, and Store Manager Craig Stern cut the ribbon to officially re-open the newly renovated Sterling Giant. This store, located at 20961 Southbank Street in Sterling, is part of Giant’s three-year Project Refresh investment plan to re-model or replace some 100 Giant stores throughout the Maryland, D.C., Northern Virginia and Delaware region.

Photo: Giant Food

Giant Food associate Elizabeth Hottinger with actor and comedian Martin Lawrence at the Giant Food in Purcellville. Lawrence regularly visits the Purcellville store during the summer, when he and his family relocate to the area for vacation.

Photo: Wendy Bragg

Gabby poses at the Institute Farm in Aldie, VA before starting a day of mantrailing field training.

Photo: Karen L Myers, KLMImages.com

Handler Susan Fleming (left) and Instructor Mike Belanger. Gracie sniffs the spot where her subject recently sat, looking for the freshest scent. Mantrailing exercise in Middleburg.

Photo: Karen L Myers, KLMImages.com

Gracie checks for the scent of her subject on the stairs. Mantrailing exercise in Middleburg.

Photo: Karen L Myers, KLMImages.com

Handler Susan Fleming (left) gives Gracie some water after her successful find and picks up some tips from instructor Mike Belanger. Mantrailing exercise in Middleburg.

Photo: Karen L Myers, KLMImages.com

Handler Antje Roark puts a special working harness on Boomer before beginning the water-find training. Mantrailing exercise in Aldie.

Photo: Karen L Myers, KLMImages.com

Handler Terri Heck (right) encourages Merit to approach the diver who laid the scent. Mantrailing exercise in Aldie.

Photo: Karen L Myers, KLMImages.com

Handler Kevin Schumacher rinses a patient Hunter off after the water find training. Mantrailing exercise in Aldie.

Photo: Karen L Myers, KLMImages.com

Thirteen girls from Junior Girl Scout Troop 5275 with help from Troop 5498, both from Service Unit 70-8 completed their Agent of Change Journey Program by providing grounds beautification at Galilee United Methodist Church in Sterling. The girls chose Galilee United Methodist Church because they provide meeting space for many Girl Scout troops in the area. The girls pulled lots of weeds, removed over 15 dead trees, laid over 36 bags of mulch and planted over 20 trees of various sizes. Girl Scouts would like to thank the Virginia Department of Forestry, Home Depot, Meadows Farms Nursery, and Virginia Ground Cover for their community support to this project.

Photo: Courtesy of Patti Weikert

Tagged: Galilee United Methodist Churc, Girl Scouts, Sterling

Kennedy Dickerson, a junior at Potomac Falls High School, and Stephen Clough, a senior graduating from Potomac Falls this year, went to their school's prom on May 2 clad in outfits they made from duct tape.

Photo: Picture by Lee F. Clough

Tagged: Potomac Falls High School, prom

Smoke comes from the Station Auto Wash in Leesburg in a fire that started around 7:30 p.m. on May 21.

Photo: Eric Steenstra

Tagged: Fire, Leesburg, Loudoun County Fire/Rescue

Congratulations to Tyler and Parker Thomson of Bristow, Virginia. They are the reigning champions of the Leesburg Animal Park’s 2009 Spring Fishing Derby. The 12 and 6 year old caught more fish than any other participant since the derby’s inception in 2007.

Photo: Peggy Coleman

Tagged: children, nature

Chelsea Jane of Purcellville was crowned the 2009 Miss Loudoun County at April 25.

Photo: Jim Poston

Tagged: Miss Loudoun County pageant, Purcellville

The Miss Loudoun County Court pictured from left to right on April 25: Christine Farrell, Jessica Maricle, Judge Juan Romero, Judge Juliette Rizzo, Stephanie Arnold, Chelsea Jane and Elizabeth Jackson.

Photo: Margaret Buracker

Tagged: Miss Loudoun County pageant, Purcellville

Studio 609 in Purcellville celebrated their one-year anniversary on Saturday with a Caribbean theme party for the community. Studio 609 is a full-service hair salon located at 609 N. East Main Street, Purcellville, VA 540-338-6430. Studio 609 owners are pictured left to right: Anne Marie Mayl, Linda Hutchins and Anne Loveless.

Photo: Sherry Frazier

Tagged: Purcellville, Studio 609

Patients in Inova Loudoun Hospital's new Oncology unit will find rooms with special support beds, patient recliner chairs, sleeper chairs for family members and flat panel televisions with DVD players.

Photo: Inova Health System

Tagged: health care, Inova Loudoun Hospital, user photo

The new Oncology unit at Inova Loudoun Hospital has eight beds, and was designed with the input of patients and family members.

Photo: Inova Health System

Tagged: health care, Inova Loudoun Hospital, user photo

The Oncology unit at Inova Loudoun Hospital has a comfortable reception area for family members.

Photo: Inova Health System

Tagged: health care, Inova Loudoun Hospital, user photo

The new eight-bed Oncology unit at Inova Loudoun Hospital was designed with the input of patients and family members in order to create a patient-friendly environment. Patients will find rooms with special support beds, patient recliner chairs, sleeper chairs for family members and flat panel televisions with DVD players.

Photo: Inova Health System

Tagged: health care, Inova Loudoun Hospital, user photo