Stories for October 2013

Trinity Presbyterian Holds Annual Fall Festival

Herndon’s Trinity Presbyterian Church held their annual children’s fall festival from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27. This free event included several activities including a cupcake walk, art and craft event, and trunk or treating. Trinity’s youth group sponsored the event.

St. Joseph’s Parish Holds Annual Craft Fair

The St. Joseph’s Ladies Society held its annual craft fair on the last Saturday of October. The fair was held at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, a large, well-lighted space with ample on-site parking available. “This is our ninth year and our biggest year ever,” said Lisa Kimpflen.

Clinton, McAuliffe Come to Herndon

Former President Bill Clinton and gubernatorial hopeful Terry McAuliffe came to Herndon Middle School for an Oct. 28 election event. Clinton is spending several days in Virginia campaigning with McAuliffe.

Letter: Strongly Opposed to Cutting Food Aid

Last week, Elizabeth Berry wrote a letter expressing concern over a bill passed by the House of Representatives that would cut food aid for nearly 3.8 million people, and asked that I oppose this legislation. I strongly oppose it. The cuts recommended by the House would eliminate free school meals for 280,000 children and aggravate an already difficult situation for many families in Virginia struggling to put food on the table. We must protect nutrition assistance programs because it’s our responsibility to ensure the neediest among us have access to food when times are hardest.

Editorial: Vote Nov. 5 or Before

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

For voters in Virginia, it is hard to overstate how important it is to go out and vote next week. All Virginia voters will see statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, plus one delegate race. In addition, there are a few local races in Alexandria and Arlington, a bond question in Fairfax County and a referendum question about the housing authority in Arlington.

Column: Excuse Me, Pardon Me, Excuse Me…

If it wasn’t a coincidence, it was the next thing to being one. What it was, was the hiccups; occurring after chemotherapy infusion number one and again after chemotherapy number two. The first episode lasted only a few days and annoyed my wife, Dina, way more than it annoyed me. The first hiccuping episode was fairly constant; however it was not exhausting – and I wasn’t having any trouble sleeping because of them. Nor was I making any disturbing sounds or having any difficulty breathing – when caught in mid-hiccup, and/or eating because of the herky-jerky movements/spasms of my diaphragm. In general, it was a fairly benign effect. In the big picture, it didn’t seem particularly important that it was the hiccups I was having, so I never called my oncologist. It was the hiccups after all. It might as well have been a skinned knee. Jeez. And sure enough, within a couple of days, I was “hiccuped out.”

Sheriff’s Race Heats Up

Kincaid, Wolfe trade barbs over guns, vandalism.

Like many of her neighbors, Vienna resident Jane Li said she didn’t know Fairfax County had a sheriff’s department until a few weeks ago.

Voters to Decide on $250 Million Bond

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Fairfax County voters will be asked to approve a $250 million school bond. If approved, the schools plan to use the money to:

Making Voters Feel Welcome, No Matter Their Language

County election officials have stepped up outreach efforts and volunteer recruitment efforts.

“I was touched with the Korean community’s efforts to help us translate materials and provide volunteers. … And so we're trying to encourage other pockets. My next target is Vietnamese. We’ve also printed recruitment brochures in Farsi, Arabic, Chinese Korean, French, and Spanish.” — Cameron Quinn, Fairfax County’s chief elections officer

Democrats Lead in Polls as Voters Head to the Polls for Election Day

Hotly contested race for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Democrats have the wind at their backs heading into Election Day next week, as Republican gubernatorial candidates Ken Cuccinelli struggles to overcome a deficit in the polls.

Week in Herndon

Leaf Collection Begins in Herndon

Annual collection of leaves has begun in Herndon. Residents should rake leaves as close to the curb as possible without blocking storm drains, sidewalks or mailboxes and without impeding vehicular traffic. During leaf collection, grass clippings, shrub clippings and weeds must be placed in 30-gallon kraft, recyclable bags and should continue to be placed out only on your regular trash day. Following the scheduled fall collection, leaves must be placed in 30-gallon kraft recyclable bags and will be picked up on regular trash/yard waste collection days.

John Burkarth Wins Special Olympics Gold Medal

John Burkarth of Herndon won his first national tournament and became the Virginia gold medallist in the Special Olympics 2013 held in Galloway, N.J., Oct. 18-20. Burkarth was tested in six different shot-making skills and scored 64-86-59 for a total score of 209, first place in the top division of the individual skills competition. Burkarth celebrated with medals, smiles and high fives at the end of the three-day Special Olympics North America Golf Invitational Tournament at the Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club in Galloway. A field of 176 golfers from 23 programs representing the United States and Canada competed in one of five levels of competition—individual skills (Level I), 9- and 18-hole alternate shot team play (Levels II & III), and 9- and 18-hole individual stroke play (Levels IV & V).

A Candidate With No Baggage

To the Editor: Tom Rust has enthusiastically endorsed the entire Rupublican slate. He has done so because he is a Republican. It doesn't surprise me that he endorsed Cuccinelli, but I find it very difficult to accept that, in his heart, he could endorse the candidate for lieutenant governor, Rev. Jackson. Jackson's comments about gays and those who aren't strong Christians and other comments he has made, are of the kind that Rust would not, normally, accept.

Supporting Boysko

To the Editor: It is time to take back Virginia from the Republican extremists in the House of Delegates. One way we can do that is to vote for Jennifer Boysko for House of Delegates in the 86th District.

Boysko for 86th

To the Editor: Jennifer Boysko is a Democrat with a long record of experience and integrity that will serve us well in the Virginia House of Delegates for the 86th district. In our district she has worked tirelessly—most recently as Supervisors Foust’s aide—deeply involved in constituent services and spending several years at the table with elected officials, community representatives, business leaders and inner jurisdictional staff, identifying and planning the best land use and transportation solutions in and around our Herndon/Sterling area. She has worked on tasks large and small, working with the local PTSAs to identify educational solutions, working with county staff to help coordinate the planning of Herndon’s new fire station, and coordinating all the players involved in bringing synthetic turf to the Herndon High School athletic fields.

Two Herndon Students in Children’s Show

The Alliance Theatre presents “The Little Mermaid Jr.”

Ariel, Prince Eric, Flounder, Sebastian the Crab and all the other characters from the popular story and movie are in The Alliance Theatre’s production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” And two Herndon students are among the featured actors.

Commentary: Dollars and Sense—Stewardship of FCPS

As many have become aware, the Fairfax County School Board’s budget discussions for the 2015 fiscal year have begun early. It is unfortunate that it has taken a combination of a $140 million deficit and demonstrable efforts by FCPS’ new Superintendent Karen Garza to bring full attention of the stakeholders, including the School Board, to education policy and funding.

RA Board to Decide on Lake Anne Land Swap

Swap would assist in redevelopment efforts, vote to be held Nov. 21.

The Reston Association Board of Directors will vote on a land swap involving two parcels of land near Lake Anne at their Thursday, Nov. 21 meeting.

Rust, Boysko Duel for 86th District Seat

Incumbent Tom Rust faces challenger Jennifer Boysko on Nov. 5.

Del. Tom Rust (R-86) seeks re-election to a seventh term on Tuesday, Nov. 5, with Democratic challenger Jennifer Boysko hoping to unseat him.

Washington West Film Festival Comes to Reston

Proceeds from festival will go to fight homelessness locally.

Bow Tie Cinemas in Reston Town Center hosted filmmakers and moviegoers alike as part of the Washington West Film Festival last weekend, concluding with a red carpet event and showing of the Peabody award winning “My Neighbourhood” by local filmmaker Rebekah Wingert-Jabi Saturday, Oct. 26.

Classified Advertising October 23, 2013

Read the latest ads here!

Herndon Police Promote Public Safety

Crime prevention agencies present their work, tools.

Herndon Public Safety Day took place on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the 700 block of Lynn Street in downtown Herndon, with some activities held in the parking lot of the Municipal Building near the Herndon Fortnightly Library.

Editorial: Halloween Party Safety Net

Make plans for a safe celebration; SoberRide safety net for those over 21.

Halloween is now a major holiday for adults, especially young adults, and also one of the major holidays each year that involve partying with alcohol and the risks of drinking and driving.

Week in Herndon

Nominations Sought for Good Neighbor Award

The person next door who is always ready to help with neighborhood fix-it projects. The neighbor down the street who can be counted on to look after pets or keep watch on homes when owners are on vacation. The friend across the way who never fails to offer a smile, a wave, a hello—and a helping hand.

Oak Hill Wakeboarder Places 3rd in Nation

Andy Ceh of Oak Hill is a senior at Chantilly High School who spends all summer wakeboarding at Kerr Lake on the southern border of Virginia. But hobby isn't the right word for what Ceh does. Proof of his intensity is his performance in Bakersfield, Calif., the week of Oct. 8-12, where he placed third in the expert division of the INT National Competition and brought a trophy home. This was the second time he has ranked nationally in the sport; in 2010 he placed third in the junior novice division.

Denim Do-gooders Help Put Zip on Homelessness

Deltek hosts “challenge breakfast” to turn $5 into $25,000.

Casual Friday got a twist on Friday, Oct. 18, as thousands of employees throughout Fairfax County became denim do-gooders by throwing on a pair of jeans to help prevent and end homelessness. Deltek, Inc., the Herndon-based global software and information solutions company, kicked off the third annual Jeans Day in Fairfax County by hosting a fundraising breakfast. The company, founded in 1983 by Don deLaski and his son Kenneth, hosted one of the first Jeans Day events in Fairfax County. “We were excited to see Deltek host this challenge breakfast that welcomed businesses, nonprofits and other community leaders interested in helping to make jeans day a huge success this year,” said Dean Klein, director of Fairfax County’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH). “Even though we continue to have great support from longtime supporters, we also saw so much energy and enthusiasm from new partners.”

Reston Ice Skater Wins Regional Championships

Local figure skater Christina Cleveland topped the competition in the recent 2014 Regional Figure Skating Championships. A junior lady, Christie won both the short and the long programs in the championships, held in Louisville, Ky. The top four skaters in each division progress to the Sectional Championships, which will be held in East Lansing, Mich. in November. From there, the top four earn a spot in the 2014 US National Championships in Boston, Mass. This year, the national competition will also be the United States Olympic Trials for the Sochi Olympics in mid-winter. Christie is a junior at Herndon High School and skates under Rashid Kadyrkaev at the Ashburn Ice House. Her team of coaches helps her to succeed. She does stretching, cardio, ballet, strength training and trampoline, as well as her on-ice regimen, as her daily fitness activities.

Frying Pan Farm Park Hosts Farm Harvest Days

The evening Halloween wagon rides on Oct. 26-27 and Nov. 2-3.

Fall brought busy days to Herndon’s Frying Pan Park in October. Carnival rides through Cole Amusement Company, Inc. were at the park from Oct. 17 to Oct. 20. “It is through patrons support of our carnival that allowed us to have free activities on the weekend,” said Yvonne Johnson, park manager. “It is great to be able to offer so many free activities to our visitors.”

Vote Boysko for Delegate

To the Editor: It is time to take back Virginia from the Republican extremists in the House of Delegates. One way we can do that is to vote for Jennifer Boysko for House of Delegates in the 86th District.

Sheltering Animals & Families Together

Initiative promotes domestic violence shelters that accept pets.

Did you know that approximately 2.3 million people, primarily women, are victims of partner violence? Did you know that over 62 percent of the American households have, at least, one pet? Approximately 48 percent of abused women do not leave an abusive situation because they will not leave their pets behind. Pets are likely to be victimized by the household abuser. The abuser’s animal cruelty is used to force compliance from the victims. “What I do to the dog is what I can do to you” is the message the abuser sends, according to Allie Phillips, founder of Sheltering Animals & Families Together [SAF-T]. “As a prosecutor in Michigan, I saw women who stayed with their abusers to protect their pets,” said Phillips. “If they leave, the abuser will turn his anger on the pet. The pet usually is the primary target used to control the victim. “I created the safety program to help get these women out of their abusive homes.”

Home Tour Celebrates Simon’s Vision

Annual tour gives glimpse of variety of Reston homes.

Danielle Harrison has lived in Reston for 10 years. She has attended a few events at the Reston Museum, is excited for Reston founder Robert Simon’s 100th birthday next April and considers herself very knowledgeable when it comes to Reston history.

Planning Around Reston’s Metro Stations

Master Plan Special Study Task Force update presented at forum.

The Reston Association, Reston Citizens Association and the Alliance for Reston Clusters and Homeowners hosted a joint community forum Thursday, Oct. 17 to discuss Phase One of the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force.

Reston Hospital Provides Construction Update

Physicians expected in new medical office building after Thanksgiving.

Reston Hospital Center is currently in the process of adding more than 150,000 square feet of new office space and facilities.

Screamin’ for a Reason at Bradley Farm

Bradley Farm Haunted House returns to benefit Herndon-Reston FISH.

The annual Bradley Farm Haunted House will be resurrected this year on Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26. The annual haunted house, which raises money for Herndon-Reston FISH, is themed “Panic Attack: Confront Your Fears and Phobias.”

Stone Sisters Lead Herndon Field Hockey to Region Berth

Hornets beat Robinson in first round of Conference 5 tournament.

The Herndon field hockey team snapped a three-game losing streak with a win against Robinson.

Creating a Spooky Halloween Dinner

Local culinary experts offer ideas for turning an ordinary meal into a ghoulish adventure.

Halloween dinner in Christine Wisnewski’s Vienna home is often a balancing act between healthy and sugary. On the sweetest holiday of the year, for example, the mother and culinary instructor at Culinaria Cooking School, also in Vienna, prepares a wholesome dinner for her eager trick-or-treaters, managing candy-induced sugar highs and inevitable post-confection lows.

Oak Hill, Herndon Home Sales: September, 2013

In September 2013, 81 homes sold between $1,365,000-$147,000 in the Herndon and Oak Hill area.

Oak Hill, Herndon Home Sales: September, 2013

Herndon Homecoming Parade Beats Drizzle

The theme of the 2013 parade was “Sea Swept.”

Despite overcast weather and a continued drizzle, Herndon High School held the annual homecoming parade in downtown Herndon on Saturday, Oct. 12. Parade participants began staging on Sterling Road, where the parade kicked off at 9:30 a.m. The parade then turned left onto Elden Street and headed into downtown.

Editorial: Don’t Let Negatives Keep You From Voting

Choices are stark; think about what principles should guide governance in Virginia for the next four years.

Every Virginia voter will have the option to cast a ballot for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and their member of the Virginia House of Delegates. While much of the coverage and advertising at the top of the ticket has been negative in the extreme, it will still matter who is governor. Don’t turn up your nose, hold your nose if necessary, and go vote. You can vote on Nov. 5; most likely you can vote before that.

Classified Advertising October 16, 2013

Read the latest ads here!

Council Approves Preliminary Boundary Agreement

Agreement would help settle western town border issue with Loudoun County.

The Herndon Town Council voted unanimously a resolution that would begin the process of settling a dispute over the town’s western border Tuesday, Oct. 8. The approval sets in motion a process by which the town and Loudoun County could come to an agreem

Town Center Hosts Oktoberfest Reston

Annual festival features German food, dance.

Thomas Redding had one thing on his mind during last week’s succession of rainy days, and it could only be found Saturday morning at Reston Town Center.

Battleground Northern Virginia

What role will the region play in the election?

For many years, Northern Virginia has been written off by both parties as a Democratic stronghold — a place where Republicans simply try to cut their losses while they focus on the rest of the commonwealth. But this election cycle may be different. All three of the gubernatorial candidates are from Fairfax County. And recent statewide candidates have not been able to win without picking off selected jurisdictions in Northern Virginia. "As you look at Northern Virginia that's further from Washington, you see a more Republican area — Prince William, western Fairfax, Fauquier," said Stephen Farnsworth, professor at University of Mary Washington. "That's where the real action is in Northern Virginia politics." As Election Day draws closer and television becomes a virtual battlefield for attention, a real battle is brewing on the ground here in Northern Virginia. Candidates and their advisors are looking at the path to victory back in 2009 for Republican Bob McDonnell, who won Prince William County, Fairfax County and Fauquier County. Although this race is likely to be closer than 2009, the importance of Northern Virginia is looming larger than ever.

Week in Herndon

Local Centers Host Free Trick-or-treating

The merchants of Franklin Farm Village Center in Herndon, Colonnade at Union Mill in Clifton and Centrewood Plaza in Centreville are hosting free trick-or-treating on Saturday, Oct. 26, rain or shine. All children dressed in their Halloween costumes will receive candy and other goodies from participating businesses from noon to 2 p.m. at Franklin Farm Village Center, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Colonnade at Union Mill and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Centrewood Plaza. Entertainment will include a balloon artist and magician at each center.

Pack 913 Wins First for Civic Organization

Cub Scouts from Pack 913 won first prize in the civic organization category at the Saturday, Oct. 12 Herndon Homecoming Parade.

Classical Ballet Theatre Presents Master Classes

As part of its monthly Master Class series, Classical Ballet Theatre will present two Master Classes with former American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancers Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner, two of the country’s most highly acclaimed dancers.

Editorial: Get a Flu Shot, Register to Vote

Getting a flu shot has never been easier.

Classified Advertising October 9, 2013

Read the lastest ads here!

Sophomores Lead South Lakes Volleyball Past Herndon

Caloyannides finishes with 18 kills for Seahawks.

South Lakes won its second best-of-five match of the season.

Runnymede Hosts NatureFest

Annual festival explores flora and fauna at local park.

The Friends of Runnymede Park and the Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation Department hosted the annual NatureFest Sunday, Oct. 6. The festival gave nature enthusiasts of all ages a chance to explore the diverse habitats within the park.

Reston Native David Bendernagel Releases Novel 'The End of the City'

“The End of the City” features South Lakes student protagonist.

Growing up in Reston, David Bendernagel said he always thought writing was cool. His interests ranged from the fantastical to the realistic, and with his first novel, “The End of the City,” he has found a way to explore both of those themes in an unorthodox, but interesting way.

Decorating for Fall

Local designers offer suggestions for bringing the harvest into your home.

The colors of autumn are all around as pumpkins and squash fill produce stands and leaves change from green to orange, red and yellow before falling from their branches. Local designers and tastemakers are unveiling home accents that bring the warm hues of the season into the home. Whether using pillows, throws or flowers, adding the colors and textures of fall requires less effort than one might expect. “Emerald green, orange and turquoise are three of the biggest color trends we’re seeing,” said Marcus Browning of European Country Living in Old Town Alexandria. “Throws and pillows are a given, but you can also tie in traditional and modern accessories with rugs, stained glass lamps with modern or intricate designs.” Small trays provide a canvas for highlighting color and adding functionality to a room, says Marika Meyer of Marika Meyer Interiors in Bethesda, Md. “Color and pattern are in right now,” she said. “I just purchased the C. Wonder (http://www.cwonder.com) navy and white chevron tray for my home. It adds a punch of color and freshness to a room. Preppy is back in a big way, too, offering lots of patterns.”

Negative Campaign

Candidates appear at minority business forum, attacking each other.

Local and statewide candidates for office appeared at an unprecedented forum in Northern Virginia last weekend, a collaboration of minority business groups of blacks, Hispanics and Asians. But as candidates arrived at the Annandale campus of the Northern Virginia Community College for a Sunday afternoon forum, voters realized that the tone of the campaign would remain unrelentingly negative. "All three of the Republican candidates are Tea Party right wing extremists," said Del. Ken Plum (D-36), who is running unopposed. "Look at their records and their stands on the issues." Plum attacked Cuccinelli's lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act as well as his investigation into a University of Virginia professor studying climate change. The longtime delegate also said the Republican attorney general candidate Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-25) has a similar record, including a bill that would have required women to report abortions to police. Together with the candidate for lieutenant governor, Plum said, the ticket is Tea Party from top to bottom.

Week in Herndon

Fatal Crash in Franklin Farm Area

Around 3:50 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, a 19-year-old driver of a 2012 Honda Civic was traveling westbound on McLearen Road, near Cobra Drive. For reasons unknown, the Honda drove off the road and then reentered the roadway heading west in the eastbound lanes of McLearen Road and struck a 2000 Honda Civic head-on, which was driven by 64-year-old Chris Reams of Sterling. Both drivers were transported to a local hospital where Mr. Reams died.

Running, Walking to Help Haitians

VIP 5K run/walk to be held Saturday, Oct. 12 at Lake Fairfax Park.

The Vanessa Pean Foundation is sponsoring the second annual VIP 5K run/walk in memory of Great Falls resident Vanessa Pean who died tragically in a car accident on Beach Mill Road Oct. 30, 2005 at age 16. Since 2005, the Vanessa Péan Foundation has been shaping the future of Haiti by providing scholarships to underprivileged children as well as critically needed basic services such as clean water. This 501c3 is dedicated to creating a better future for all Haitians through education and by addressing basic human needs. Over 322 scholarships have been provided and a clean spring water well now provides potable water for a town the size of Great Falls.

Promoting Jewish Medical Awareness in Northern Virginia

The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) will present a program on ethics, “Life in the Balance: Jewish Perspectives on Everyday Medical Dilemmas,” as part of the institute’s new six-session Fall 2013 course that will begin during the week of Oct. 27.

Potter’s Fire Opens in Herndon

A grand opening ceremony to be held on Thursday, Oct. 10.

Mike Faul’s business Potter’s Fire will be holding its grand opening this week in Herndon at 797-B Center Street. Previously, Faul had operated a marketing agency at this location. “My first exposure to ceramics was in junior high school, about 41 years ago,” said Faul.

Portrait Exhibit Opens at ArtSpace Herndon

Arts Council holds weeklong art celebration.

Art related activity in downtown Herndon is on a high as the Council for the Arts of Herndon has set up special activities and events to celebrate local artists and artwork. Events are being held at ArtSpace Herndon on 750 Center Street as well as local restaurants to highlight the opportunities to enjoy art in the town.

Boy Scouts Collect Bikes for the World

Herndon Boy Scout Troop 159 held a successful bike drive for Bikes for the World on Saturday, Sept. 28, collecting 87 used bikes, as well as accessories such as helmets. Bikes for the World is an Arlington-based charity that sends used bikes around the world to help children and adults needing reliable transportation to school, work and health care. Troop 159 collected the bikes on Sept. 28 at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Herndon. The drive was conducted as the Eagle Scout service project for troop member Conor Mears, 16, of Reston. The scouts processed the bikes for shipping, provided donors with receipts, and loaded the bikes onto the trailer. The bikes will most likely be shipped to Barbados in a few weeks.

Classified Advertising Oct. 2, 2013

Read the latest ads here!

Guest Editorial: Virginia’s Easy Access to Guns

A parent asks why background checks aren’t better.

How do you respond to a 7 year old when she comes home from school and says “we did our bad man drill today Mommy, but don’t worry it was just for practice, no one really came into our school to shoot us”?

Senior Volunteers Stay Active

Fifty percent of Mount Vernon RECenter’s volunteers are senior citizens.

The Mount Vernon RECenter is known for its ice skating rink, massive indoor swimming pool and fitness center with spa and sauna. It has 46 volunteers who help greet guests, clean up the fitness room, landscape the grounds and assist people with adapted swimming and ice-skating. Exactly half of them are retired senior citizens over 50 who want to stay active while giving back to the community.

Choosing a Home for the Golden Years

Many options for retirement communities in the region.

Jim Harkin, 81, and his wife, Phyllis, 80, have little free time these days. Jim spends his days protecting and photographing wildlife on the 60-acre campus at The Fairfax, a Sunrise Senior Living Community, in Fort Belvoir. He helped build, refurbish and maintain more than 20 birdhouses on the grounds, including homes for tree swallows and purple martins.

Active Seniors Compete for Glory

fter 11 days of more than 50 events held Sept. 7-19, the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics finished with a golf event at Forest Greens Golf Course in Triangle, Va. Other events ranged from cycling, swimming and pickle ball to Mexican train dominos and Scrabble.

Diverse Needs, Desires Drive Mobility Solutions

Seniors increasingly seek innovative plans that embrace both the present and the future.

Russ Glickman was a traditional full-service remodeler until the late 1990s when he abruptly added a host of accessibility certifications to a long list of building industry credentials. The service extension was less about opportunity than a personal call to apply what he’d learned from personal experience in helping his son, Michael, who was born with cerebral palsy.

Column: “Mor-Tality” or Less

Meaning, in my head anyway, the future and what there is left of it. More specifically, I mean life expectancy. When you’re given a “13-month to two-year” prognosis—at age 54 and a half, by a cancer doctor, your cancer doctor—the timeline between where you are and where you thought you’d be when becomes as clear as mud.

Residential Studios Put on Hold

Supervisors establish committee, plan additional public outreach.

At the recommendation of Chairman Sharon Bulova (D-At-Large) and Supervisor Michael Frey (R-Sully), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday deferred its Nov. 20 public hearing on a proposed residential studios (RSUs) amendment to conduct additional community outreach.

Now What?

Fairfax County braces for “domino effect” of federal government shutdown.

“We live in a ‘company town’ and the company is the federal government, so most of us have family and friends who are federal employees or contractors impacted by this shutdown,” Long said in a memo emailed to county employees Tuesday. Long said his biggest concern was the “domino effect” the shutdown will have on the local economy, and “the short-term uncertainty that will impact business decisions.”

Social Justice Matters

SALT forum gives candidates a chance to tell voters where they stand on social justice issues.

But one group also thinks voters should know where candidates stand on social justice issues when they go to the polls Nov. 5. “Our elected officials have a great deal of influence on the common good, so it’s reasonable that we find out where candidates stand on these issues,” said John Horejsi, founder of SALT (Social Action Linking Together), a non-partisan, faith-based advocacy group started in 1983.

Leadership Fairfax Honors Community Leaders Who Make a Difference

Leadership Fairfax (LFI) has chosen the 2013 Northern Virginia Leadership Awards (NVLA) recipients via a panel of community and business leaders evaluating nominations submitted by Leadership Fairfax alumni and the general public. The award recipients will be honored at the Northern Virginia Leadership Awards luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 7, at Westwood Country Club in Vienna.

Minority Chambers of Commerce to Host Candidates’ Forum

The recently formed alliance of Northern Virginia Minority Chambers of Commerce will give members of the fast growing minority business community the opportunity to meet with the commonwealth’s gubernatorial and statewide candidates at the first-ever joint Candidates’ Forum, Sunday, Oct. 6, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus.

On the Job and Hot on the Trail

Finding people is fun for new, police bloodhound pups.

“We’ll get them out here and acclimate them to the noises — gunfire, [vehicle] brakes and birds,” said Masood. They’ll also be exposed to airplanes, wind, rain, heat, car horns honking, plus obstacles such as fences. And they’ll learn how it feels on their paws to walk in the woods, through brush, on cement, carpet, tile floors, etc. That way, said Clarke, “When they get out on the street, when they’re almost a year old, they’ll be ready.”

Elden Street Players Reach NextStop

Herndon theatre goes professional, opens its first show.

NextStop Theater Company in Herndon began its production of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps” on Sept. 26. Adapted by Patrick Barlow, this comedic adaptation of a 1930s Alfred Hitchcock film is NextStop Theatre’s first professional production. Formerly known as Elden Street Players, the all-volunteer amateur theater group has gone professional, hiring Producing Artistic Director Evan Hoffman in January. Hoffman is the director for this production.

Herndon Hosts Fall Carnival

The first ever Herndon Fall Carnival was hosted at the Station Street parking lot in downtown Herndon Thursday, Sept. 26 to Saturday, Sept. 29. This location is adjacent to the ArtSpace Herndon at 750 Center Street and the Town Green. The Herndon Rotary Club partnered with the Town of Herndon and carnival company Jolly Shows to host this event.

Week in Herndon

Columbus Day Holiday Schedule

Town of Herndon government offices and services will be impacted by the Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 14 holiday as follows: *Town offices—Closed Monday, Oct. 14. *Refuse collection—Refuse will not be collected. Refuse normally collected on Monday will be collected on Tuesday, Oct. 15. *Herndon Community Center—Open, 6 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Class schedules for Oct. 12-14 may be changed due to the Harvest Moon Swim Meet Oct. 12 and 13, and the holiday; check with the class instructor or call the HCC at 703-787-7300. The Indoor Tennis Bubble is open regular hours and classes will be held. *Herndon Centennial Golf Course—Open, 7 a.m.-dark. *The town-wide Fall Clean-up will be held Oct. 7–11. Pick-up is on your trash day only.

Learning About Polluted Runoff

To the Editor: My name is Benji Prickett, I attend Kilmer Middle School. Lately we have been learning about the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the dangers of runoff. Runoff can carry sediments, rocks, pollutants and also fertilizers and pesticides. Fertilizers and pesticides especially can be very dangerous; they can kill the wildlife in the bay and can also stop recreational activities like fishing, boating and swimming, just to name a few. I hope that we can cut back on using spray pesticides on our lawns. My family has been doing this for many years and our lawns look fine. Currently our bay is very polluted, but if we where to cut back on pesticides our bay would be so much better for everyone and every thing.

Vote Early

This year's Virginia elections are critical, with candidates representing starkly different policies and approaches. The results will have long-lasting ramifications for all Virginians. It's therefore critical that everyone get out and vote. One easy way to do this is to take advantage of In-Person Absentee Voting, which means that citizens can vote early, ahead of Nov. 5. In this way, one doesn't have to worry about unexpected illness, traffic and/or work concerns, difficult weather, or longer Election Day lines. In order to vote in-person absentee, a voter must state that he or she satisfies one of 15 requirements. Most voters will find that they do, in fact, satisfy one of these reasons for voting early.

The Taste of Fall

Local chefs and nutritionists offer healthy recipes for tasty fall dishes using seasonal ingredients.

When the temperature starts to drop and leaves begin to turn red and orange, you can often find chef Susan Limb meandering through local farmers markets, sorting through rough-textured, knotty sweet potatoes; tough, waxy butternut squash; and dusty, rose-colored apples.

Town Releases Annual Report

Manager reports “exceptional period.”

Herndon Town Manager Art Anselene presented the annual report for Fiscal Year 2013 to the Town Council Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Multicultural Festival Comes to Reston

Annual multicultural festival held at Lake Anne.

Nearly 50 years ago, Robert Simon founded Reston with several goals, and one of them was diversity. For the past 12 years, the Lake Anne of Reston Condominium Association, Reston Community Center and Reston Association have hosted a tribute to that goal, the Reston Multicultural Festival.

Reston Sport & Health Renovates

Location kicks off new features after $1.5 million renovation.

Sport & Health Clubs celebrated a $1.5 million renovation to their Reston location with a ribbon cutting and casino night Thursday, Sept. 26. The renovation of the club, located at Isaac Newton Sqaure, stretched to almost every aspect of the facility.