Stories for March 2013

Classified Advertising March 27, 2013

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Editorial: More Obstacles to Transparency

General Assembly puts more information out of public reach, but other factors also limit access.

The first paragraph of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, passed by the General Assembly in 1968, states that all public records "shall be presumed open." It doesn’t add, “except when we don’t want to,” although that provision does seem to be available in many cases. Individual government entities have a variety of ways of making it hard for the public to access public information.

Column: 14.8 Percent

That is the percentage of diagnosed lung cancer patients who survive beyond five years, according to The National Cancer Institute’s SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2009, in a graph published in the Feb. 26, 2013 Washington Post’s weekly Health & Science section. As a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivor beginning his fifth year post-diagnosis, charting my prospects in such a cold and impersonal manner is both chilling and arguable. “Chilling” in that facts speak for themselves and are hardly made up of whole cloth, to invoke one of the late Jack Kent Cooke’s more famous quotes. And “arguable” in that charts, statistics, etc., may very well measure the mean, but it sure doesn’t measure the man (this man, anyway). Meaning, from my perspective: sure, the chart is scary as hell, but I’m not sure I’m on it, if you know what I mean? (I know you know what I hope.)

Better Training, More Technology

The bipartisan commission released findings, recommendations regarding long lines on Election Day.

"The commission has identified a variety of improvements and efficiencies to ensure access and convenience for voters in future elections.” —Sharon Bulova

Governor Approves Conditional Budget for Medicaid Expansion

Vote-swapping operation traded transportation votes for Medicaid money.

Half a million uninsured Virginians may be eligible for Medicaid under an agreement now being worked out in Richmond — a deal in which Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell agreed to include Medicaid expansion as part of the budget if Senate Democrats supported a transportation package.

U.S. Geological Survey Tightens Services

U.S. Geological Survey stops hosting science camp, closes visitors center.

The U.S. Geological Survey in Reston is canceling its participation in the annual science camp it hosts in partnership with the Reston Association and closing its visitors center as part of its implementation of the sequester.

Helping Provide Food for Others

In an area where the median household income is above $100,000, how can there be 47,000 students eligible for free and reduced lunches? But this is the case in Fairfax County, where one in six do not have sufficient resources to meet daily expenses. The Giving Circle of HOPE is making a difference by hosting Empty Bowls, an event that raises funds to fight hunger, on Friday, April 12.

Week in Herndon

Letter:Airport Authority Gets Into Business

Music Loft and Council for the Arts Hold Instrument Drive

Fundraising party at Jimmy's Old Town Tavern benefits drive.

Council for the Arts of Herndon partners with The Music Loft, LLC, to bring donated musical instruments to Herndon-area schools via a used instrument donation drive.

Clearview Celebrates National Literacy Month

Clearview Elementary School in Herndon celebrated National Literacy Month, March 2013, by hosting children's books authors Jacqueline Jules and Sara Lewis Holmes.

Farm Fresh at Frying Pan

Farmers Table at Frying Pan Park offers a preview of the market season.

Dreaming of all that farm fresh produce and the treats on offer at the area farmers’ markets? Counting the days until May when most will re-open? Stop dreaming. And stop staring at the calendar. Wander over to Frying Pan Farm Park on Thursdays between 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and satisfy your cravings for food that hasn’t been flash-frozen or packed with preservatives so that it could make the gazillion mile trip from who-knows-where to your grocery store.

A Voice for the Voiceless

Q&A with SALT Coordinator John Horejsi.

“When there are bills affecting the wealthy the committee rooms are filled to capacity, but when issues affecting the needy, the hearing rooms are empty.” —SALT Coordinator John Horejsi

Local Perspective

Small-business owner tackles the sequester.

Raul Danny Vargas has beaten the odds all his life.

Classified Advertising March 20, 2013

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Oak Hill, Herndon Home Sales: February, 2013

In February 2013, 45 homes sold between $920,000-$130,000 in the Herndon and Oak Hill area.

Oak Hill, Herndon Home Sales: February, 2013

Editorial: Say Yes to Health Coverage

Governor, state panel must accept coverage for 400,000 Virginians without health insurance.

More than 140,000 residents of Fairfax County have no health insurance. That’s more than 13 percent of the slightly more than 1 million people who live in the wealthiest county in the nation. Arlington and Alexandria have similar percentages of uninsured.

Column: Just Wondering

Having never attended medical school (and not really having had the grades or commitment to do so), and having only completed 10th grade biology and freshman year astronomy, and rarely even driven by a medical school growing up, my understanding and/or instincts regarding how a medical professional plans and/or prepares for his day is as foreign to me as sugar-free chocolate (if I’m going down, I’m going down swinging; in truth however, considering the anti-cancer, alkaline diet I’m following, I do need to swing a little less frequently).

The Sound of Music

Enhancing your child’s music education during Music in Our Schools Month and beyond.

From the powerful sounds of a high school band to the soothing melodies sung in a kindergarten music classroom, local music educators are using the month of March to raise awareness of the benefits of learning music.

Week in Herndon

Easter Festival at Floris United Methodist Church

Floris United Methodist Church will hold its Annual Family Easter Festival on Saturday, March 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. (Doors open at 2:45 p.m.) Everyone is welcome. The Egg Hunt (organized by kindergarten through first grade, second grade, and third through fifth grade) begins shortly after 3 p.m.

ArtSpace Herndon Hosts Reception for ‘Beyond the Blue and Grey’ Exhibit

On Saturday, March 2, ArtSpace Herndon hosted an artist’s reception at their location in downtown Herndon. The event was open to the public and provided an opportunity to speak with the artists whose work was on display.

Herndon Cox Communications Celebrates Black History Month

In partnership with Fairfax County, Cox Communications celebrated Black History Month at the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality event, a celebration of culture and heritage held at the Fairfax County Government Center Forum & Board Auditorium in Fairfax on Friday, Feb. 22.

Bringing Local History to Life

“I wanted the kids to see that this area wasn’t always townhouses and shopping centers.” So answered McNair Elementary School-based Technology Specialist Laura Reasoner Jones, when asked what motivated her to produce a movie and organize a McNair History Night. Jones has authored several well-reviewed books, including “Herndon (Then and Now)” and “The All-Wise Being: A Tale of God and Republicans,” the latter being a fictionalized account of her ancestor Ethan T. Reasoner, based largely on his personal journals.

Farmers Table at Frying Pan Park Offers a Preview of the Market Season

Dreaming of all that farm fresh produce and the treats on offer at the area farmers’ markets? Counting the days until May when most will re-open? Stop dreaming. And stop staring at the calendar. Wander over to Frying Pan Farm Park on Thursdays between 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and satisfy your cravings for food that hasn’t been flash-frozen or packed with preservatives so that it could make the gazillion mile trip from who-knows-where to your grocery store.

Bulova Appoints Mary Cortina, Faisal Khan to Park Authority Board

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova (D-at-large) recently appointed two new representatives to the Fairfax County Park Authority Board.

Classified Advertising March 13, 2013

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Letter: CVHS Needs Volunteers

The Centreville High School PTSA is hosting the 2013 CVHS All-Night After-Graduation Party on June 18, 2013 at Dave & Busters.

Recycle, Reuse, Remodel

Remodeling often affords an opportunity to re-purpose existing materials by donating to those less fortunate. Ask your remodeler if there is a plan or policy for saving materials for re-use rather than sending it to a land fill. Every project is different. And some materials are more easily removed and saved than others. Here are a couple of organizations that accepted used materials.

World’s Fanciest Rummage Sale Coming April 7

Rumor has it that the “world’s fanciest” rummage sale will feature some of the crystal light fixtures and other items recently replaced in the remodeling of the Ritz-Carlton Tysons.

‘How to Fall in Love’

Hopkins & Porter, Inc. will be offering "How to Fall in Love with Your Home Again,” a free design and remodeling seminar on Thursday, March 21, 6-8 p.m. This seminar will include a complimentary supper with opportunity to discuss one's own project with professional staff.

Virginia Garden Week to Feature NoVa Gardens

80th Historic Garden Week, April 20-27, 2013

Historic Garden Week 2013 will feature approximately 200 private homes and gardens open on 32 separate tours throughout the state of Virginia over eight consecutive days. It is the largest ongoing volunteer effort in Virginia and represents the coordinated efforts of 3,400 club members. One hundred percent of tour proceeds are used to enhance Virginia’s landscape. For 80 years, the grounds of the commonwealth’s most cherished historic landmarks have been restored or preserved with help from proceeds from Historic Garden Week including Mount Vernon, Monticello and the grounds of the Executive Mansion in Richmond.

Column: Writing What Four

As far as anniversaries go–and I hope this one “goes” a lot further; acknowledging, dare I say celebrating my four-year survival anniversary from “terminal” stage IV (inoperable, metastasized) non-small cell lung cancer, a diagnosis I initially received on Feb. 27, 2009, along with a “13-month to two-year prognosis” from my oncologist, is certainly column-worthy.

Editorial: Hybrid Hijinks

Discouraging innovation in high-tech Virginia.

Consider this as a possible scenario (although perhaps we should have saved this for April 1): Fewer people are smoking, and many of those who do are smoking less. Virginia’s cigarette tax, the lowest of any state at 30 cents a pack, is a declining revenue source. Higher cigarette taxes are proven to reduce smoking. Under current logic in the commonwealth, there would be two courses of action to raise revenue: a) cut the cigarette tax, and b) charge non-smokers a fee to make up the difference and to compensate for the fact that they don’t pay cigarette taxes.

EPA Will Not Appeal Court Decision on Accotink Watershed

EPA regulations could have cost county $300 million.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) effectively ended a two-year legal battle with Fairfax County when the agency announced last week it will not appeal a federal court decision favoring Fairfax County’s handling of the Accotink Creek watershed.

Bicyclists Pedal Onward, Despite Legislative Losses

FABB promotes extended hours on W&OD Trail.

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, Northern Virginia bicyclists are back on the roads and trails, despite the Virginia General Assembly’s antipathy for bike safety bills this session.

Metrorail Makes Progress

Wiehle-Reston East Station 82 percent completed.

Construction of the five stations in Phase 1 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail stations is now focusing on interior finishes, installation of elevators and systems. The Wiehle-Reston East Station, the temporary end of the Phase 1 alignment, is now 82 percent done and is the most complete of all the stations.

Passover—Exodus From Slavery or Holiday of Bondage?

Chabad Community Passover Seder This year, join friends and family at the Chabad Community Passover Seder. Relive the exodus, discover the eternal meaning of the Haggadah, and enjoy a community Seder complete with hand-baked Matzah, win and a wonderful dinner spiced with songs and insights. First Seder Night Monday, March 25, at 7:15 p.m. Couvert: $40 per person, $20 for children ages 4 through 12 and $180 for an Evening Sponsorship. For more information call 703-476-1829, email rabbi@chabadrh.org or visit www.chabadrh.org.

Revelations and Redemptions Await

“The Seafarer” next for Elden Street Players.

Where and When Elden Street Players present "The Seafarer" at Industrial Strength Theater, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon. Performances March 15-April 6: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinee, March 24, at 3 p.m.; Sunday evening, March 31, at 7 p.m.; and Thursday evening, April 4, at 8 p.m. Tickets: $20. Call 703-481-5930 or visit www.eldenstreetplayers.org.

Herndon High Cadets Finish Eighth in National Orienteering Championship

Herndon High School's Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NJROTC) cadets defeated 19 of the best orienteering programs in the nation to finish eighth.

Senior Takes STEM Challenges Head On

Mayank Mahajan earns Siemens Foundation scholarship.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology senior Mayank Mahajan enjoys taking on tough challenges.

Classified Advertising March 6, 2013

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Nominations Open for Jean Tibbetts History Award

The Jean Tibbetts History Award honors outstanding contributors to the research, articulation, dissemination and preservation of the history of life along the Potomac River corridor from McLean to west of Dranesville and south through Herndon. Candidates for the Jean Tibbetts History Award are selected from annual nominations to the society and the award carries a stipend of $200. The awardee’s name is placed on the Great Falls Historians plaque, displayed in the Great Falls Library.

Lions Club Offers Vision Screenings

The eight Lions Clubs serving Loudoun County and Northwestern Fairfax County, with funds raised in their various communities in addition to grants from United Way, Lions of Virginia Foundation and Cardinal Bank, have obtained two PediaVision “Spot” Screening devices for the purpose of screening the vision of children starting at six months of age. The PediaVision “Spot” is a breakthrough vision-screening device that will help identify children with vision issues. Using this innovative new technology “Spot” can assess a child's vision with a very quick capture time of less than one second, which makes eye care screening efficient in a large-scale public environment such as a day care center.

Week in Herndon

Dranesville Supervisor John Foust has scheduled three town hall meetings in March and April to give Dranesville residents an opportunity to learn about and discuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2013 (FY2014) Budget for Fairfax County. County management and budget staff will be present to make a summary presentation of the budget and answer questions. The Herndon session is scheduled for Monday, April 3, at 7 p.m. at the Herndon Town Council Chambers, 765 Lynn St., Herndon.

ArtSpace Herndon Photography Competition Call For Art

ArtSpace Herndon invites photographers to participate in the 2013 Fine Art Photography Competition.

The competition is open to fine art photographers aged 18 or older working in any medium (digital or analog, color or monochrome), and using any printing technique—they care about well-done art more than the specific medium, technique or format. Fine art photography of any subject is welcome; there is no required theme for entries.

Letter: Middle Schools Need Sports Too

I go to Franklin Middle School, and I love sports. I just wish middle schools had varsity and junior varsity teams for sports, such as soccer, football, basketball, lacrosse and track. Sports are very important to many people like me. They are a way to make new friends, but also to build up teamwork. Also, when having school teams you have a better chance of playing against people at your level of skill, and a better chance of getting on a team in high school. Thank you for letting me express my opinion.

Column: E-male

My oncologist is a man. He has e-mail. He works for an HMO that encourages/advertises its connectivity and responsiveness – electronically, to its members. If I want to get medical answers in a reasonable amount of time – save for an emergency, typing, “mousing” and clicking is the recommended methodology. No more phone calls, preferably. Though pressing keys on a keyboard rather than pressing buttons on a phone might have felt counter-intuitive at first as a means of receiving prompt replies, it has proven over these past few years to be a fairly reliable and predictable information loop. Not in minutes necessarily, but more often than not during the same day – and almost always by the very next day. In fact, I’ve received e-mails from my oncologist as late as 9:18 p.m. (time-stamped) after a sometime-during-the-day e-mail had been sent.

Putting a Face on Homelessness

462 homeless interviewed during Registry Week, an intense effort to document Fairfax County’s chronic homeless.

"We have to step up to this question. … Are we going to walk away from this tonight and say, 'That's just the way people live?’ Well, it's not the way people should live." —Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill)

The Snowquester Hits the Area

Snowstorm’s impact downgraded, but slushy roads still a problem.

The National Weather Service Wednesday downgraded its Snowquester forecast from 8-10 inches to about 4-6 inches in the region. At 3:18 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, the NWS predicted total snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches in Fairfax County before the storm fizzles out later that night, and north winds with gusts up to 45 mph in some areas, making driving hazardous.