Thursday, February 26
Westfield Boys’ Basketball Wins Conference Championship
Bulldogs beat Herndon to win first conference/district title since 2008.
Westfield beat Herndon in the Conference 5 boys' basketball championship game.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova Bulova to Create Transparency Review Commission
Group would include citizens, legal community and other organizations.
When Alexandria resident Natasha McKenna was removed from life support and died on Feb. 8, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office posted a release on the county website.
Wednesday, February 25
Herndon Village Network Hosts Wine Tasting
Herndon Village Network (HVN), a nonprofit organization in Herndon that will help to improve the lives of the 55+ seniors living in the community, hosted a Wine Tasting Fundraiser - an evening of wine, food, music and art on Feb. 15 at ArtSpace Herndon.
Special Screening of Honor
Film screening March 16 to help WWII veterans travel to their monument.
The Honor Flight Network transports aging veterans to visit memorials built in Washington D.C. in their honor. Caroline Healy and 11 of her peers in Girl Scout Troop 3651 based in Great Falls are hosting a screening of "Honor Flight" at AMC Worldgate 9 Theaters in Herndon on March 16 at 5:30 p.m.
Budget Town Hall Meetings
Budget town hall meetings.
Herndon's November Election in Jeopardy
It is well known and scarcely debated that more voters participate in November elections than in those held in other months. This is certainly true in our town. I believe that we are best governed when everyone has a chance to participate in our democracy. I believe that elected officials should make elections as accessible and convenient as possible for all voters. To that end, the Herndon Town Council voted in December to move our elections from May to the more traditional month of November, starting in 2016.
Helping on Deadline
Reston, Herndon, Great Falls and McLean reporter Ken Moore, of Potomac, with his 14-year-old tabby Trilke. "Don't forget to feed me on your way out to deadline!"
Fern and Otter Come to ‘Work’
“My dogs Fern and Otter, both adopted from the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. They love to come to work with me at the shelter.
People and Pets Love Stories
t’s that time of year again! Nope, not a holiday - although perhaps it should be! It’s that anticipated edition when the Connection Newspapers celebrate the furry, or finned or feathered or scaled or clawed creatures that make themselves a cherished part of the family. Although Reston and Herndon probably number as many pets as people in their populations, sadly we’ve only got room to introduce you to a few – so here we go!
When Sam Met Frodo
“Sam and Frodo are both rescue cats. Frodo, the big orange guy with the furry feet, came from Home Alone Feline Rescue in 2011. He is part Maine Coon and part American bobtail. Lou and I had been thinking about getting a second cat as a companion for Frodo when I ran into Lee District School Board member Tammy Koufax at a community event in Springfield in August 2013..."
Letter: Del. Rust’s Votes Against Herndon
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: Unfathomably, Del. Tom Rust (R-86), The Town of Herndon’s representative in the Virginia General Assembly (GA), voted against the Town’s bill to change the language in our town charter to reflect Town elections to occur in November instead of May.
Herndon Forbidden to Govern Itself?
Virginia House squashes Town’s move to November elections.
The Virginia House of Delegates blocked the Town of Herndon’s plan to move town elections from May to November. The change would have begun in 2016. Despite passage through the Virginia Senate with a unanimous 39-0 vote on Jan. 26, the House of Delegates never voted on Herndon’s bill. After the bill cleared the Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns, the House voted to sent it to the Committee on Privileges and Elections on Feb. 20.
Bark and Call
Mobile Pet Grooming Comes to You
Marzi Sharifi started HoPPooH in Fairfax, a mobile pet grooming service, in 2013. With her two vans and groomer, Sara, HoPPooH—which means little dog or dog in Persian—will come to the pet owner’s door to groom and style man’s best friend…or his cat.
Column: Not So Late This Time
But real-time once again: February 20, 11 hours, approximately, after our regularly-scheduled, post-scan meeting with the oncologist at 10:00 this morning.
Tuesday, February 24
Vienna: Oakton Girls’ Basketball Continues Winning Ways
Cougars win 10th conference/district title in last 11 years.
The Oakton girls' basketball team defeated Chantilly on Monday to win the Conference 5 championship.
Editorial: Managing Mental Illness in Jails
Natasha McKenna’s death provides window on national concern.
A national report released on Feb. 11 highlighted the prevalence of people with mental illness incarcerated in local jails.
Fairfax County School Board Discusses New AAP Center at Poplar Tree
Board seeks more community feedback before taking action.
Greenbriar West Elementary School is far from the only Fairfax County Public School with an overcrowding problem.
Thursday, February 19
Oak Hill and Herndon Home Sales: January, 2015
In January, 2015, 40 homes sold between $985,000-$165,000 in the Oak Hill and Herndon area.
Oak Hill and Herndon Home Sales: January, 2015
Wednesday, February 18
Competing for ‘We the People’ Title in Herndon
Rachel Carson Middle School takes aim at national title.
Rachel Carson Middle School in Herndon has every reason to be proud. For the second year in a row, History and Social Studies teacher Cynthia Burgett’s special Civics class took home first place in the “We The People Competition” (WTP) at the state level and have their eyes on the big prize at the WTP National Invitationals Title round to be held on the campus of George Mason University between April 17-20.
Column: Staying Ahead of the Feds
The federal government is not always wrong. At the same time, the state government is not always right.
The Virginia House and the Senate have penned similar but competing mid-point versions to the 2014-2016 biennial budget.
Black History Month Celebrations
Local students learn about the history and accomplishments of African-Americans.
Fourth grade student Eli West crafted a poem this month that was modeled after Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous, “I Have a Dream” speech.
Stalled Labor Market Slows County Budget
Proposed budget calls for no real estate tax rate increase, but average homeowner would pay $184 more.
Supervisor Jeff McKay pointed out an irony in County Executive Ed Long’s proposed $3.8 billion budget. Three planning positions would be eliminated from the budget even though Long suggested the county needs more efforts to raise revenue from commercial and industrial venues.
Super-Insulation Talk Attracts Homeowners in Reston
How to lower electric, gas and water bills?
The Rose Gallery at Reston Community Center at Lake Anne in Reston was the venue for a well-attended presentation by Rich and Marian Taschler on proper home insulation and its mostly unknown benefits. The program was offered under the auspices of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at George Mason University.
Oh Deer! What Can the Matter Be?
The county Park Authority used aerial infrared surveys via fixed-wing airplanes to count the number of deer inside parks and within a small distance in the surrounding neighborhoods on Feb. 6, 2014 and Dec. 27, 2013, according to the 2014 Annual Report on the Environment for Fairfax County.
Bradford C. Smith of Oak Hill Dies
Bradford C. Smith of Oak Hill passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 4, 2015. He was the beloved husband of Maria E. Smith and devoted father of Melina Smith and Silvana Smith.
Column: Real-Time, Really Late
I’m not a night owl. More of an early bird, worms notwithstanding. But given the contents of last week’s column, “Scantsy,” I find it difficult to write about anything else while waiting for the results of my CT Scan.
Thursday, February 12
Herndon Firefighters Prepare to Move to Temporary Fire Station
After years of inquiry and study, preparations have been made to close the building of fire station Herndon Station #4. The Horn Motor's lot on Locust Street, at the intersection of Center Street in Herndon will host a temporary fire station.
Busy February at Herndon High
Students stay active at Herndon HS with extracurricular activities.
In addition to sports teams and athletics, Herndon High students have had the opportunity in February to be involved in various school activities. These have ranged from the February science fair to performing arts related groups.
Matthew Charged In West Potomac Alumna Hannah Graham Murder
Suspect faces life in prison.
Nearly five months after the disappearance of University of Virginia sophomore and West Potomac High School alumna Hannah Graham, the primary suspect in her death investigation has been indicted by a grand jury in Albemarle County.
Combining Health and Mental Health
Community Services Board provides emergency services, prevention and treatment.
One teenager who attempted suicide revealed that if anyone had asked him beforehand whether he was thinking of hurting himself, he would have said yes.
Fairfax County Judge Orders More John Geer Materials Released
Family’s lawyer’s motions supported.
Though extensive, the thousands of pages of documents, dozens of audio files and handful of videos released last month by Fairfax County, documenting the shooting death of Springfield resident John Geer, aren’t exhaustive.
Wednesday, February 11
Letter: Failing in Their Duties
Letter to the Editor
I applaud your editorial on the Geer murder (“No Justification for Secrecy, Delay on Geer Shooting,” Connection, February 4-10, 2015). The Connection has done yeoman’s work in keeping this tragedy in front of the public, unlike other newspapers which are johnnie-come-latelies.
Editorial: Not the First or Only Time
Secrecy around police shootings has been a problem for at least a decade.
The official position of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on the need for changes in policy after the shooting of John Geer by police in Springfield in August of 2013 appears to be that this is the first time police policies have been a problem: “Policies for handling police-involved incidents, which served us well for decades, were inadequate in this complicated situation.”
Celebrating Valentine’s with Classical Ballet
On Feb. 13, at the Reston Community Center, Classical Ballet Theatre (CBT) will be presenting “An Evening with Classical Ballet Theatre.” For the last 25 years, CBT has been educating and inspiring children through the art of classical ballet in Northern Virginia, thanks to the vision, commitment, and dedication of its founder and Executive Director, Cynthia Donavin.
Herndon Advances at National Dance Team Competition
The Herndon High School Varsity Dance Team recently returned from Orlando, Fla., where they competed in the Pom and Jazz categories at the 2015 National Dance Team Championship on Jan. 31 - Feb. 1. With over 350 high schools competing, Herndon advanced, for the first time ever, to the final round in the pom category and they are ranked 17th in the Nation.
Column: ‘Scantsy’
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to characterize the feelings I regularly experience during the final few weeks leading up to my every-three-month CT Scan, and even more so the feelings I experience waiting the following week or so to see my oncologist to discuss the results.
Tuesday, February 10
Herndon Gymnast Bradley Wins Conference 5 All-Around Title
Sophomore leads Hornets to second-place finish, regional berth.
The Herndon gymnastics team earned a berth in the 6A North region championship meet.
Monday, February 9
Stories of Good Times, Bad Times
NextStop presents “Love, Loss and What I Wore.”
"Who did I think I was when I bought this?" a voice says. A mother's voice reverberates, "Is that what you are going to wear?" These words will be front-and-center at NextStop Theatre's regional premiere of a comedy that is not for women only.
Thursday, February 5
Northwest FCU Opens a New Branch
NWFCU Opens Herndon Location
Northwest Federal Credit Union opened a new Herndon location the morning of Saturday, Jan. 31. The new location is located at 2545 Centreville Road, at the Village Center outside the town of Herndon, Virginia.
Herndon Becomes More Welcoming
New welcome signs erected at the entrances to the town.
Despite cold weather the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 27, Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel and members of the Town Council, Planning Commission and staff gathered to unveil new gateway signs.
Fairfax County Goes Public with Geer Documents
FCPD report confirms John Geer was shot while unarmed, hands raised.
Of the seven eyewitness accounts of the shooting death of John Geer, only one describes Geer quickly bringing his hands down to his waist. That was the perspective of PFC Adam Torres, the officer who shot Geer in the chest, killing him in the doorway of his home on Aug. 29, 2013.
Wednesday, February 4
Letter: An Open Letter to Virginia Delegates
Letter to the Editor
Many of you know our story well. We are the parents of Morgan Harrington. Morgan, a student at Virginia Tech, went to a rock concert in Charlottesville in 2009 and never came home. Her remains were found 100 days later.
Citizens to the Rescue
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy accepting applications.
The Fairfax County Citizens Fire and Rescue Academy, a free nine-week program to learn about the work of firefighters and paramedics, will begin its next session March 12, with the deadline for online applications closing on Feb. 16.
Free and Low-Cost Dental Care for Children
Special programs available as part of National Children's Dental Health Month.
Dental hygiene should start even before a baby’s first tooth emerges. That is one of the messages that dental professionals are hoping to convey this month.
Mental Health First Aid
County program offers insight into mental illness and teaches strategies for intervention.
Leslie Roberts recalls hearing a mother talk about getting her stepson admitted to a psychiatric hospital. “Her stepson was angry and acting out,” said Roberts. “She didn’t understand what her stepson was doing.”
Editorial: No Justification for Secrecy, Delay on Geer Shooting
Everything about this case erodes public trust and demonstrates police departments should not be allowed to apply “blanket” exemptions to release of information.
After waiting 17 months for any information about the investigation into the shooting death of John Geer, the information released last week is deeply troubling.
GMU Students Rally to Lower Student Debt
Members of GMU Student Power Travel to Richmond to voice concern over rising debt.
Twelve students from George Mason University traveled to Richmond with the Virginia Student Power Network, rallying and calling for debt-free education, and for increased educational opportunities for undocumented students. Rodrigo Velasquez, a junior at Mason from Springfield and GMU Student Power’s organizer, was one of the 12 from Mason who also went to Richmond.
NextStop Theatre Receives Helen Hayes Nominations
Herndon's NextStop Theatre received two Helen Hayes Award nominations presented by theatreWashington for outstanding achievement in professional theatre in the Washington metropolitan area. NextStop Theatre was nominated for Helen Hayes Awards for co-productions with Forum Theatre Company and with Faction of Fools Theatre Company.
Column: The Past Future is Now Present
Presumably, maybe even obviously, nearly six years into a “terminal” diagnosis, arrangements for a smooth transition of power should have been made already.
Impromptu Motion Struck Down
Singh resolution reaffirming Town position failed.
A prior incident between a councilmember and the town manager lead to an impromptu motion. Councilmember Jasbinder Singh motioned for a resolution at the Jan. 27 meeting calling for the town manager - currently Arthur Aselene - to give council members any material they want to decide on resolutions.
Tuesday, February 3
Local Prep Football Coaches React to End of Super Bowl XLIX
Majority say they would have called a run play from 1-yard line.
Lake Braddock football coach Jim Poythress sticks up for Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.
Sunday, February 1
Be Part of the Pet Connection
The Pet Connection, a bi-annual themed edition, will publish Feb. 25, 2015.