Tuesday, July 31
Ned Devine’s Hosts Wounded Warrior Golf Tournament
Annual event will feature servicemembers, benefit wounded warrior charities.
Ned Devine’s Golfing Society will host their second annual golf tournament to benefit wounded warriors Sept. 22 at the Herndon Centennial Golf Course. The society, a 501(c)7, is based out of Ned Devine’s Irish Pub in Herndon.
Saying Farewell at Stonegate
Coordinator Jackie Phan made impression on residents of all ages.
In her three-plus years as community coordinator for Stonegate Community Center in Reston, Jackie Phan impacted almost every single resident of the nearby apartment complex. Young children remember that a blue jeep meant "Ms. Jackie" was in, and the adults enjoyed working with her. Edia Bruce interned with Phan for two years, and praised Phan’s leadership style.
Local Student Keeps Watching Weather
Seventh grader Andrew Bottom runs two weather-related websites.
When it comes to weather, Herndon Middle School student Andrew Bottom has got it covered. The seventh grader and Reston resident has been studying the weather since his days at Aldrin Elementary School.
VDOT Unveils EZ-Pass Flex
New transponder will allow HOV access to 495 Express Lanes.
The Virginia Department of Transportation unveiled the EZ-Pass Flex Wednesday, July 25 in Tysons Corner. The new pass will allow users of the 495 Express Lanes, which are scheduled to open at the end of this year, to switch between tolled and toll-free (for vehicles with more than three people) use.
Friday, July 27
Thursday, July 26
Classified Advertising (July 25, 2012)
Read the lastest Classified, Employment and Home and Garden ads!
Wednesday, July 25
Column: A Life Worth Living, Still
It might be my age (as in getting older), or it might be the fact that I have cancer (you think?), but my brain and the related physical and mental tasks it coordinates are not exactly working at peak efficiency.
Alarm at Lake Anne
As water level drops, RA encourages Hidden Creek to be a good neighbor.
Residents around Lake Anne have been watching the lake shrink over the past few weeks. With precipitation levels for the month of July below normal, the hot, dry weather is partly to blame. Evaporation is not the sole cause of diminishing lake levels, however.
Celebrating A Wedding
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Pesce of Oak Hill are pleased to announce the marriage of their son, Francis to Andrea, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Hobeck of Ruckersville.
Dulles Chapter 1241 Celebrates 40th Anniversary
U. S. Representative Gerald E. Connolly (D-11) and NARFE President Joseph Beaudoin headlined the impressive list of guests as members gathered to celebrate Dulles Chapter 1241’s rich history of representing active and retired federal workers in protecting their earned pensions and benefits for 40 years. The festive luncheon program was held on June 25 at the Amphora Diner Deluxe in Herndon.
Tech Savvy Girls Explore Technology
Sandra Beyer, executive director of DigitalKidz, is always looking to enhance the learning experience for students taking her technology camps and classes.
A Boisterous Musical Comedy
Elden Street Players present ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.’
Something completely different is arriving at the Industrial Strength Theatre. The Elden Street Players take on the Northern Virginia Area premiere of a hilarious comedy of two con men who may have met their match.
Tuesday, July 24
‘Oliver!’ at Herndon High
Play features students from several local schools.
The Herndon High School Theatre Boosters will present "Oliver!" starting July 27, a summer show that will feature students from Herndon, South Lakes, Chantilly and Westfield High Schools. The production also received assistance from several local elementary and middle schools, as well as the Reston Community Players, the Alliance Theatre of Chantilly, Westfield Theatre and the Centreville Presbyterian Community Theatre.
Envisioning ‘After the Apocalypse’
Local novelist explores future of mankind.
In a career spent working in international development, Reston resident David Anderson has seen his fair share of exotic locales and the issues they face every day. And his years of work taught him something.
Turtle Recall Releases Debut Album
Local band consists of several South Lakes graduates.
It was the start of 2009 when South Lakes High School graduate John-Currie Hester made a resolution to his fellow South Lakes graduate Guido DeHoratiis: to start a band. Soon they recruited a few other South Lakes alumni to join up and they started playing covers at shows around the area.
Final Metro Span Laid in Tysons
Workers complete overhead bridges, move to laying track.
Workers from Bechtel Construction placed the final aerial span for Metrorail in Tysons Corner Tuesday morning, the last of 258 that will support trains as they make their way from Falls Church to Wiehle Avenue along Phase One of the Silver Line.
Derek Lee, South Lakes Baseball, 1983
South Lakes slugger was drafted five times before playing for Minnesota Twins.
Derek Lee is remembered at South Lakes high school, and by those that watched him play baseball, for his ability to do one thing — swing the bat.
Taline Tahmassian, Langley Soccer, 2001
Langley star recorded 96 goals and before winning NCAA title at Santa Clara.
How good Taline Tahmassian was on the soccer field can be measured by the pages of old newspapers. Tahmassian and the Saxons could be seen celebrating in photographs while snappy headlines chronicled their victories in a week-by-week scrapbook of archived clippings.
Nate Friends, McLean Soccer, Basketball, 1991
Friends dominated the basketball court and soccer field to help McLean to several regional tournament appearances.
Chantilly coach Jim Smith was a relative unknown when he took over the reeling McLean High School boys basketball team back in 1989.
A Passion for Animals
"From a young age, I have always had a passion for animals. In college, one of my dogs passed away and I felt like I had lost a best friend..."
Get Your OlymPet
Fairfax County Animal Shelter’s special adoption event runs through Aug. 11.
Dogs, cats, birds and other small animals will be showcased at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter's Summer OlymPETS adoption event through Saturday, Aug. 11.
Appointed to Academies
U.S. Rep. Wolf announces service academy appointments.
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) announced the 10th District’s Class of 2016 appointments to the nation’s service academies, as well as those selected for Academy prep schools and scholarships to academy-affiliated prep schools.
Editorial: Separate and Unequal?
If we don't believe that poor students are less innately talented, then the disparities in Northern Virginia are truly unfair.
The numbers are eye-popping. Latino students are 22 percent of Fairfax County Public Schools students, but 2.7 percent of the incoming Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology freshman class, the class of 2016. Of the 480 students, seven are black. That's 1.4 percent, while black students are 10 percent of the county school system.
Consumer Confidence on the Rise in Washington Region
Survey participants perceive regional economy better than broader national picture.
Consumer confidence is on the rise, according to results of a new survey by the Greater Washington Board of Trade.
Friday, July 20
Oak Hill, Herndon Home Sales: June, 2012
In June 2012, 109 homes sold between $1,307,000-$118,500 in the Herndon and Oak Hill area.
Oak Hill, Herndon Home Sales in June, 2012
Pedaling with Pals
Potomac Pedalers provides group rides for area cyclists.
Cyclists of all ages and ability levels can participate in group rides with the Potomac Pedalers.
Thursday, July 19
Inaction May Cause Federal Officials to Create Health-Care Exchange for Virginia
January 2013 is the deadline for the commonwealth to create authority for exchange.
Virginia is suffering from deadline fever, although Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell is calling for a second opinion.
Wednesday, July 18
Herndon Festival Voted #1 Festival for Families
FAMILY Magazine’s Best for Families Readers’ Choice 2012 survey named the Herndon Festival as the "Best of the Best" in the category of Best Festival or Celebration for Families again this year.
Herndon Optometrist Receives Award
Thomas P. Finley, OD, owner of Dr. Finley’s Family Eyecare, was recently recognized by the Virginia Optometric Association with the 2012 Distinguished Achievement Award.
Column: Circumstances Be Damned
If only it were as easy to actually live it as it is to write it. As much as I believe what I write, it’s still difficult to ignore certain facts (“the underlying diagnosis,” as I often refer to my diagnosis) and the feelings associated with it.
Fairfax County, VDOT File Suit Against EPA
New EPA rules will impact homeowners, developers and could cost taxpayers nearly $500 million.
Fairfax County and the state of Virginia filed a federal lawsuit Thursday, July 12, challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new storm water regulations for the Accotink watershed, claiming the agency’s requirements are costly, onerous and vastly exceed its legal authority.
President Comes to the Area
Obama rallies his supporters during the campaign stop at Centreville High.
Before President Barack Obama addressed the huge crowd inside Centreville High, Saturday afternoon, Jerry Foltz of Wellspring United Church of Christ gave the invocation.
Herrity, Hugo Respond to Obama’s Visit
Both Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) and Del. Tim Hugo (R-40) held a joint press conference Saturday afternoon, speaking to local Romney supporters prior to President Obama’s campaign rally at Centreville High. Said Herrity: "It was nice to see so many people from Little Rocky Run stop by and pick up Romney signs and stand with us."
The Smoking Trail
New cigarette trafficking law aids enforcement.
Virginia has long been known as a tobacco-friendly state. Tobacco was one of the first major commercial products for New World European settlers, and the state remains one of the largest producers today. Virginia is also home to some of the cheapest cigarettes in the country.
Classified Advertising (July 18, 2012)
Read the latest Classifieds, Employment and Home and Garden ads!
Songwriter Performs Hometown Show
A.J. Smith performs with band at Lake Anne.
A few months ago, AJ Smith, a junior at NYU got an email from a professor asking him to stop by his office. As a student studying Music Composition, the Herndon native thought it might be some news about his songwriting workshop.
Moore Promoted to Lieutenant
Twelve-year veteran will serve as assistant support services commander.
Herndon police officer James Moore was promoted to lieutenant Monday, July 16. The 12-year veteran of the force will assume duties as assistant support services commander, where he will supervise criminal investigations, public information and crime prevention.
Garden Grows at Cedar Point
Apartment complex is site of newest community garden plot.
Reston’s garden plots have always been one of the community’s most popular features, with one exception. Years ago, Cedar Ridge was the fifth garden plot created, but it never caught on in the community located next to Forest Edge Elementary School.
Feds Feed Families Kicks Off at USGS
Reps. Wolf, Connolly host opening of food bank support program.
Many local food banks go for an extra push around the holiday season, trying to help the area’s less fortunate make it through the end of the year with extra food, maybe even a few gifts. But that changes during the summer, with schools out and people on vacation, food banks can find their supplies dwindling, even when the demand does not.
Tuesday, July 17
In Search of a ‘Forever Home’
Humane Society of Fairfax working for animal and human welfare.
Look up Petfinder.com on your Internet browser page. It’s a site where animal welfare groups can promote animals they have available for adoption. Type in a town or zip code. Let’s use Alexandria as an example. Check "Cat" for "Type of Animal." Hit "Search."
Childhood Hobbies: Finding the Right Fit
Experts offer suggestions for choosing extracurricular activities for the fall.
While many are still basking in the lazy days of summer, Anna Faust is planning her 5-year-old son’s after-school activity schedule for the fall.
Editorial: Leaving Millions on the Table
Virginia should embrace opportunity for more health care coverage for poor residents.
Chances are that if you are reading this, you have employer-provided health insurance. While you might worry about the young adults in your family or the lower wage workers in your organization, you also know that if you are sick, you can go to the doctor.
Letter: A ‘Key Reason’ Overlooked
I was disappointed in Mr. Horrock's commentary on the Silver Line [Silver Line Gets ‘Green Light’ The Connection, July 11-17, 2012].
Friday, July 13
Local Real Estate: May 2012 Top Sales in Great Falls, McLean, Reston, Herndon, Oakton and Vienna
Local Real Estate: May 2012 Top Sales in Great Falls, McLean, Reston, Herndon, Oakton and Vienna
Wednesday, July 11
Home Remodeling 101
Experts offer suggestions for a timely and efficient renovation.
Whether expanding a home or just remodeling an existing interior space, building projects can be daunting, especially if the goal is to be finished by a certain date. "If you wanted to get going on a project and your goal was to be done by Thanksgiving, the planning process and permit process is probably as long as the building process, but you don’t want to rush through those aspects of it and then wish you’d done something differently," said David Vogt of Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.
Column: A Victim of My Own Circumstances
Outliving one’s prognosis leads to all sorts of twists and turns and treatment conundrums: the longer one lives, the fewer the treatment options.
Sounds of Summer at Reston Town Center
Every Saturday, as the sun sets, Virginians come together for a different musical act at the Reston Town Center: They set up their lawn chairs and spread Tupperware picnics around the streets and sidewalks surrounding the glass domed pavilion that hosts Summer Concerts Series.
Letter: LINK Celebrates 40 Years of Community Service
Letter to the Editor
In 1972, five churches in Sterling and Herndon came together with the idea of delivering collected food donations directly to the homes of the needy. Members would store the food in their basement and deliver it themselves within 48 hours in order to eliminate the necessity for families to have transportation to receive food staples.
Connie Hutchinson Elected Vice Mayor
Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa C. Merkel and members of the Herndon Town Council approved a resolution naming Connie Haines Hutchinson as vice mayor for the town for the 2012-14 term.
Young Herndon Pianist Embarks on a Musical Journey
The walls of the piano studio where 10-year-old Anton Nelson of Oak Hill practices for four hours per day are lined with black and white portraits of the greats of the musical world: Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Chopin.
Classified Advertising (July 11, 2012)
Read the latest Classifieds, Home and Garden and Employment ads!
Herndon Hosts July 4th Celebration
Live music, games, fireworks highlight events at Herndon Community Center.
The Herndon Community Center hosted its annual Fourth of July celebration last Wednesday, welcoming hundreds of local residents to the fields next to the community center for an afternoon and evening of live music and entertainment, followed by fireworks.
Herndon Environmental Network Hosts ‘Battle of Bottles’
Two neighborhoods to face off.
This month, two Herndon neighborhoods will be facing off in a "Battle of the Bottles," to see who can recycle more by weight. Hastings Hunt, located off Dranesville Road south of Leesburg Pike and McNair Farms Landbay2, located off Fox Mill Road, will do battle throughout July. The initiativ
Horse Attacked for Second Time
Lucinda, victim of earlier slashing, assaulted again over weekend.
Lucinda, a horse housed adjacent to Frying Pan Farm Park, was assaulted for the second time in the past three months sometime between the evening of Saturday, July 7 and the morning of Sunday, July 8.
Trust Presents Story of Lake Anne
Early Reston workers share experiences of town’s opening.
When Robert Simon sold Carnegie Hall in 1960 and bought the land that was to become Reston in March 1961, it was the first of many steps in the founding of the community that bears his initials. Over the next two years, Simon set about the massive task of laying out the guidelines of what he wanted Reston to be, and getting approval from Fairfax County.
Tuesday, July 10
Editorial: Every Vote in Virginia Will Count
Top presidential donor zip codes in this area show Virginia is purple; Romney or Obama to be decided on Election Day.
If you wonder if presidential politics really matters in this area, consider that Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland hold some of the top zip codes for contributions to the two major party candidates.
Uke Fest Back at Lake Anne on July 14
The tranquil sounds of tiny strings will return to the Lake Anne waterfront when the 3rd Annual Ukulele Festival takes place on Saturday, July 14 from 11a.m.-5:30 p.m.
County Board Recognizes Steve DeBenedittis
At its meeting this morning at the Fairfax Government Center, Fairfax County Board Chair Sharon Bulova and the entire Board of Supervisors recognized Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis for his six years of service to the town.
LINK Provides Food, Hope
A Herndon-based nonprofit aims to deliver food to those in need.
In 1972, a group of churches in Sterling and eastern Loudoun County got together with the idea of providing food for the needy, with members storing donated food in their basement. Three years later, they made inroads into Fairfax County and it was eventually chartered as a nonprofit. Forty years later, the group consists of 17 member churches in Herndon, Sterling Chantilly and Potomac Falls and has provided tens of thousands of families with assistance.
Monday, July 9
Pushed to the Limit
Food pantries seek help for county’s most vulnerable residents.
At 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 7, it’s already 103 degrees in Reston - the 10th straight day temperatures hover near or above 100 degrees after a derecho storm swept through the region on July 29, causing extensive power outages.
9th Asian Festival Celebrating the Year of the Dragon
Festival will take place July 21-22 at GMU.
This year, the 9th Asian Food and Tennis Festival is celebrating the year of dragon. The Festival is a two-day, free admission event to promote greater understanding of the Asian countries and cultures. It will be held at the George Mason University on July 21, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on July 22, Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is open to the public.
Thursday, July 5
Wednesday, July 4
Column: Writing On!
It was June ’09 when I published my first column in the Connection Newspapers about being diagnosed with cancer. It was actually a column detailing the diagnostic steps I had taken during the first few months of the year attempting to identify the pain I had initially felt under my right-side rib cage in late December.
Tuesday, July 3
LINK Celebrates 40th Anniversary
A Herndon-based nonprofit aims to deliver food to those in need.
In 1972, a group of churches in Sterling and eastern Loudoun County got together with the idea of providing food for the needy, with members storing donated food in their basement. Three years later, they made inroads into Fairfax County and it was eventually chartered as a nonprofit. Forty years later, the group consists of 17 member churches in Herndon, Sterling Chantilly and Potomac Falls and has provided tens of thousands of families with assistance.
Chamber Hands Out Awards, Names New Board
Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce hosts annual awards luncheon.
The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce presented their annual Awards for Chamber Excellence (ACE) and welcomed their new board of directors Thursday, June 28 at the Hyatt Regency Reston. The chamber also celebrated its 30th anniversary, it was founded in 1982.
Express Care Teaches Essential Skills
Program aims to educate immigrants on health care, technology
In 1995, Naila Alam arrived to the United Stated from Pakistan to study hotel management. Soon she was diagnosed with a rare blood disease that almost proved fatal, and with her husband back in Pakistan, she had only her sister to help her navigate through a foreign country’s health care, as well as maintaining her educational studies and working.
Finding a Home for the Golden Years
Experts offer advice on choosing a retirement community.
When Jim Upp’s wife Jeannie died in 2006, the Fairfax senior citizen found himself surrounded by a lifetime of memories in the spacious home where the couple had raised three children.
Editorial: New Laws, Assault on Freedom?
oting restrictions, abortion restrictions, DUI restrictions, fewer gun restrictions, more go into effect July.
A plethora of new laws will go into effect in the Commonwealth on July 1, including restrictive new procedures for voting, and the loosening of multiple gun regulations.
Monday, July 2
FCPS Students Earn Awards at National TSA Conference
More than 28 Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) middle and high school students won awards at the National Technology Student Association (TSA) Conference, held recently in Nashville.
Helping Women in Sierra Leone
Helping Children Worldwide launched Women’s Cancer Screening in Sierra Leone.
Helping Children Worldwide piloted a breast and cervical cancer screening program at Mercy Hospital in Bo, Sierra Leone. Nearly $45,000 worth of supplies and equipment were donated and/or loaned by Cooper Surgical, Bard Surgical, Mary Washington Hospital, Cross Link International, Global Public Health/Sonosite and Clinical Pathology Laboratories.
Storms Leave 2 Dead, Power Out
At least two dead in Fairfax; 285,000 residents still without power after Friday night’s hurricane force winds.
Winds of more than 70 miles per hour swept through Fairfax County Friday night. Power went out as the storm blew into the area around 10:30 p.m. with hurricane force winds sounding like a freight train. The sound made some residents think a tornado was upon them, and many took refuge in basements.
Despite Failing Grade on Transparency, Law Enforcement Officials Resist Opening Access
Advocates for public access remain frustrated by persistent lack of transparency.
Back in March, Virginia received a failing grade from the State Integrity Investigation as the result of a systematic lack of transparency.
Sunday, July 1
Freak Storm Hits Reston
Strong winds knock out power and phone service, causing tree damage.
On Friday night a line of powerful storms moved through the D.C. area. The storms hit the Reston area around 10:30 p.m., taking many residents by surprise. The storms knocked out power and phone reception throughout Reston and caused significant tree damage.