Friday, July 31
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 31-Aug. 9, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Thursday, July 30
Fairfax County Ad Hoc Commission Subcommittees Report
“It is well past time for the Fairfax County Police Department to start providing timely, honest and effective communications with everything it does.” When former director of Fairfax County public affairs Merni Fitzgerald delivered the final report and recommendations of the communications subcommittee of the Fairfax County ad hoc commission to review police practices, commissioner Joseph Cammarata responded immediately to those words in report’s introduction.
Fairfax: Special Grand Jury Begins Hearing Testimony in John Geer Case
Since shooting John Geer dead in the doorway of his Springfield home on Aug. 29, 2013, PFC Adam Torres of the Fairfax County Police Department has remained at work, albeit out of the field, but undisciplined by police and unprosecuted for any criminal wrongdoing.
Fairfax County School Board Honors Retiring Leaders, Adopts Budget Review and Audit Plan
In their last meeting of the summer, Fairfax County School Board members began by remembering former superintendent Dr. Robert Spillane, who recently died, and recognizing outgoing members of the school system’s leadership team.
Wednesday, July 29
Column: On A Tangent
Not that I live day-to-day or even month-to-month, but I do live – in my head anyway – quarter-to-quarter; that interval representing the usual and customary time between my recurring diagnostic scans. The time when the rubber hits my road.
Summer Reading: More Than Just a List of Books
The Summer Reading Program runs from June 19 to Sept. 5 and is open to children from birth to twelfth grade. Participants in sixth grade or younger are to read 15 books, and those in grades seven through twelve read six. Upon completion, the readers may bring their list into the library and submit it in exchange for an extensive coupon booklet, as well as getting to write their name on the local library wall of fame.
Wednesday, July 22
Column: 'Abyssful' Ignorance
Hopefully not. But you never know – per last week’s column, until you know. And the preferred pattern seems to be that waiting to be spoken to in person, a week or so post-scan, is the best the process can be; or at least, that’s the process that suits the doctor/HMO.
Tuesday, July 21
People and Pets of Herndon
The Jensen family loves their new pup Ginger, a two-and-a-half-year-old beagle-dachshund mix. Ginger lives in Herndon with her family of four, who have been her proud owners for two months.
Monday, July 20
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 24-Aug. 2, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Editorial: What’s Special about Your Community?
Share tips in upcoming Newcomers and Community Guides.
The Connection’s annual Newcomers and Community Guides will publish Aug. 26. A bevy of interns, plus staff writers and editors, are preparing this year’s editions, but we need help from our readers.
Thursday, July 16
Oak Hill and Herndon Home Sales: June, 2015
In June, 2015, 128 homes sold between $1,470,000-$155,500 in the Oak Hill and Herndon area.
Oak Hill and Herndon Home Sales: June, 2015
Wednesday, July 15
Column: 'Scant' Know For Sure Anymore
After six years, four months and two weeks since being diagnosed with stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer (the “terminal” kind), I can say with certainty that I have no sense of what my next CT scan, scheduled for July 15th, will indicate. Previously (multiple scans over multiple years), I’ve felt something in my upper chest/lungs where the largest tumors are located and the subsequent scan showed nothing of consequence.
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 17-26, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Tuesday, July 14
Buying Fresh at Herndon Farmers Market
Herndon residents come to the market to support local businesses and enjoy fresh food.
“There is none better! This is the best of the best, a great time! I love it!” This description is for none other than the Herndon Farmers Market. Held every Thursday in old town Herndon, the market is a place where members of the community come together to support local businesses and enjoy fresh food.
Dulles International Airport Challenges
A demand for change at Dulles Airport.
Washington Dulles International Airport, located in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties in Virginia, was once surrounded by farmland.
Ukulele Festival Held at Reston’s Lake Anne Plaza
Aloha! Ukulele festival a success in Reston.
A signature summer event of Reston is the Lake Anne annual Ukulele Festival, held this year on Saturday, July 11.
Editorial: Backpacks for All
Thousands of students will begin school this fall at a disadvantage; help now so they have the basics.
The first day of school each year is fraught with anticipation and anxiety. Many local students will be concerned about what they wear, who they will see, what it will be like. They’ve already had multiple shopping trips, online and otherwise, to be sure they have the supplies and extras they need.
Backyard Vegetable Gardens Feed Multicultural Cuisines
In Fairfax County, tomatoes are a staple of local gardens along with peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, beans and herbs like mint, oregano and cilantro.
There’s nothing like a juicy red tomato fresh out of the backyard garden to brighten up a summertime salad or a sandwich — or a bittermelon, aronia berries or “paradise apple,” as persimmons are known in Bulgaria. The multi-cultural population in Fairfax County has grown roots in the backyard vegetable garden.
Unscheduling Summer Play
Experts praise the benefits of free play for children.
What was once a time for catching fireflies, swimming and exploring has evolved into a period of elite day camps, academic enrichment classes and top-dollar sports clinics.
Friday, July 10
Letter: An American Muslim’s Prayer in Honor of Independence Day
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: “Allah has made you brethren one to another, so be not divided. An Arab has no preference over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; nor is a white one to be preferred to a dark one, nor a dark one to a white one.”
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - July 10-19, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Thursday, July 9
Fairfax: City of Fairfax Band Children’s Concert July 16
Each year, the City of Fairfax community band gives its youngest fans a chance to try their hand at the shiny, twisty and just plain loud instruments in the ensemble.
Wednesday, July 8
Column: My Manifesto, Sort Of
Being diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer (no, they’re not all “terminal”) is “a heck of a thing,” to extrapolate a bit from Jim Valvano’s memorable 1993 ESPY Awards speech given a few months before he succumbed to his cancer.
Commentary: Legislation Combats Sex Trafficking
On July 1, legislation that I sponsored, HB1964, went into effect. This new law is Virginia’s first stand-alone human trafficking statute and creates stricter penalties for traffickers, greater protections for sex trafficking victims, and provides needed tools for prosecutors and law enforcement to stop human trafficking in Virginia.
Letter: Celebrating Marriage Equality
Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: Today, we rejoice in the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the federal right of same sex partners to legal marriage in the cases of Obergefell v. Hodges, Tanco v. Haslam, DeBoer v. Snyder, Bourke v. Beshear.
Herndon Coach Wins Two Medals
Police detective and youth wrestling coach earns two medals in World Police and Fire Games.
Most athletes never get a second chance to live their dreams. Twenty-five years after his last wrestling match Jay LaWalt was able to make that happen in front of his friends, family and a crowd of adoring young fans he’s been coaching for years.
Herndon Takes Part In World Police And Fire Games
Herndon police and residents cheer on 2015 Fairfax Games.
Reston Town Center has been serving as the central location for the 2015 World Police & Fire Games athletes as they arrived. Reston Town Center was selected to host the Athletes Village, and at the Town Center Pavilion, a variety of social activities and entertainment has been planned. Residents of neighboring Herndon have also been excited about the 2015 games.
Tuesday, July 7
Suspects Identified and Charged in Recent School Vandalisms in Reston & Herndon
Detectives investigating two school vandalisms identified and charged four suspects – two adults and two juveniles.
A House by the Sea
Design ideas for beach homes.
As the sweaty days of summer slog on, many are dreaming about a home by the sea, a wistful retreat where cares flow as freely as an ocean breeze.
Editorial: Yes to Nonpartisan Redistricting
Politicians shouldn’t be choosing voters.
Virginia’s Congressional map is unconstitutional because African American voters are packed into District 3, according to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The problem will have to be remedied by drawing new boundaries.
Thursday, July 2
Coming Home to Queen of Peace in Springfield
Residents with disabilities move into new group house on Gresham Street.
Ten months ago, the unassuming single-level house on Gresham Street in north Springfield was a private residence. Today it’s the permanent home of four individuals with disabilities, and a fifth is on the way.
Fourth of July Weekend Fun in Fairfax County
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend: July 3-5, 2015.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Wednesday, July 1
Column: Quality of Life
Throughout my nearly six and a half years of cancer treatment, starting at the initial Team Lourie meeting on February 27, 2009, when my oncologist suggested I take that vacation I’ve always dreamed of (to which I exclaimed “WHAT!?”), my quality of life has always been important to him.
Business Developments in Herndon and Reston
SkyBitz, and a changing economy.
Fairfax County is one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, yet Virginia has been falling from grace on CNBC’s ‘Top States for Business’ ranking, dropping to number 12 on this year’s list.
Herndon Celebrates Completion of Station Street
Ribbon cutting at downtown Herndon street.
On Tuesday, June 16, residents of Herndon celebrated the reopening of the new and improved Station Street. Mayor Merkel, economic development manager Dennis H. Holste, Jr., former mayor Michael O'Reilly, Melissa Jonas and town councilmember Jasbinder Singh were some of the local officials who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the corner of Station and Center Street.
International Songwriters Collective Concert Held In Herndon
Music and calls for art at Hendon art gallery.
On Thursday, June 25, the International Songwriters Collective (I.S.C.) Tour made a stop at ArtSpace Herndon. Three musicians-singer songwriters are on a one-month tour: Jimmy Robinson from New Orleans, Lily Kiara from Holland, and Floatstone (born Brick de Bois) from Antwerp, Belgium.
Herndon's Hopeologist
William Bates, Herndon High School’s principal, gave a glimpse of the inspirational power of “hopeology” on June 23 before the Board of Supervisors.