Column: No to the Meals Tax
A food tax is not a silver bullet.
I have been opposed to the meals tax from the start, but what has concerned me most over the last several months has been the tactics used to try to convince our residents to vote for it and the county’s failure to deal with its spending problems. I would like to offer some clarity on these points and why I am against the meals tax.
Vote Yes: Immigrant Families Rely on Schools for More Than Education
Fairfax County Public Schools are more than just a place to learn. Growing up in Burke, I saw firsthand how our schools created a sense of community and neighborhood camaraderie. Schools are where we could go to borrow a book, where we could watch and play sports, and where we could perform a play or listen to a concert.
Column: Yes to the Meals Tax
Reduces dependence on property tax.
As a businessman here in Fairfax and a former member of the Fairfax County School Board, I write on behalf of a coalition of thousands of homeowners, parents, teachers, firefighters, police, friends and users of our libraries and our parks and recreation facilities, and those who belong to churches and non-profit organizations working to ensure that Fairfax County also protects those in need [www.yesmealstax.org].
Letter: Supporting Meals Tax
Letter to the Editor
I’m writing to encourage Fairfax County voters to support the county meals tax referendum on the ballot in November.
Letter: Meals Tax: A Better Option
Letter to the Editor
After reviewing Fairfax County’s proposed 4-percent meals tax, the Class Size Counts (CSC) board voted to support the Nov. 8 referendum because it decided that it would be better to raise money for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) through a tax on prepared foods rather than through additional increases to County property taxes.
Letter: ‘It’s About the Issues’
Letter to the Editor
Much has been made about the personalities of the two Presidential candidates. All we really have to do is take a close look at the issues.
Advice from the Pros
Local private school admissions directors share wisdom they’d offer to their own children.
From interviews to essays to standardized tests to open houses, the season for submitting independent school applications is underway. For families vying for a spot at the area’s most elite schools, the process can be fraught with anxiety, stress and confusion as parents and students wade through the myriad academic options in the Washington, D.C., region.
Shining A Light on the Arts of Herndon
An “Arts Crawl” around historic downtown was a perfect mid-point for Herndon Arts Week, an annual celebration that started its 2016 run with “Kids Day” at Frying Pan Park and ended appropriately with a performance by child prodigy pianist Jose Andre Montano at ArtSpace in the town.
Herndon: A Dreamy Tale of Love and Loss
Mystical drama ‘Eurydice’ coming to NextStop Theatre.
The Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice has fascinated audiences for centuries. But NextStop Theatre is producing a modern retelling told from the perspective of Eurydice. That gives it a different outlook. The play titled “Eurydice” is written by Sarah Ruhl.
Herndon Letter: A Leader on Veterans Issues
Letter to the Editor
All too often our veterans have been forgotten and not given the honors they deserve when they return home from their tours of duty. As a veteran myself, I have long been bothered by the fact that many of our veterans who served in the Korean War have not received the recognition they are owed.
Navy’s Birthday Celebrated at Herndon High
Herndon High School Navy JROTC Cadets celebrated the Navy’s 241st Birthday with cake and camaraderie, but they also had a special surprise: Captain Fred Blakeman, the original Senior Naval Science Instructor, joined them for this special day. Captain Blakeman started the unit in 1983 and remained at Herndon for 17 years making the unit one of the best in Fairfax County.
Herndon: Rising Eagle Scout Demonstrates Talent, Leadership and Philanthropic Spirit
More than 200 members of the community attended Xander Day’s Make A Difference Day Benefit Concert and Children’s Book Drive on Oct. 9 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Herndon.
Herndon/Reston: Innovate Conference Explores Prospects of ‘Individualized Medicine’
The 5th annual Innovate Conference presents “Intersections: Healthcare, Informatics and Personalized medicine” and introduces audiences to a nationally recognized cast of experts. Keith Crandall, PhD, the founding Director of the Computational Biology Institute at George Washington University, sets the stage and introduces opening keynoters Congresswoman Barbara Comstock and Governor Terry McAuliffe (invited), providing a look at Federal and state intersections with research in healthcare and informatics.
Fairfax County: Room to Improve for Fairfax County Public Schools on SAT
Scores above Virginia, national Levels, but achievement gap remains
On average, Fairfax County Public High Schools performed better on the SAT college placement exam in 2016 than the Commonwealth of Virginia overall average.
Vienna, Herndon, Springfield: Baking a Robot
‘Lego Girls’ from Fairfax-Herndon-Vienna area raise funds for competition.
“Bake Sale! Support an all-girls robotics team!” our team yelled in front of Giant, our local grocery store, located on Lee Jackson Memorial Highway.
Free Halloween Car Rides Offered in Area
As a means of making the Washington-metropolitan area’s roadways a little less frightening this Halloween, free cab rides will be offered to would-be drunk drivers throughout the Washington-metropolitan area on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 29.
Oak Hill Remodeled Home Tour Set for Nov. 5
Gourmet kitchen, spa master bath among spotlight features in makeover.
A circa 1980's center hall Colonial enhanced by a gourmet kitchen, a spacious spa bath and a lower-level guest suite will be featured in a “Remodeled Home Tour” sponsored by Sun Design Remodeling on Saturday, Nov. 5.
Showcase Home Offers Design Inspiration
DC Design House was transformed by local designers to raise money for charity.
Those in search of interior design ideas now have a source of new inspirations, at least temporarily. The 2016 DC Design House is now open to the public and runs through Oct. 30.
The Trump Question? Asked and Answered
Comstock and Bennett trade jabs during first debate in race for 10th Congressional seat.
At the first of two 10th Congressional District debates on Thursday, Oct. 6, Democratic challenger LuAnn Bennett was not shy about hanging the Trump albatross around the neck of freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock.
Fairfax County: Lockard Named Interim Superintendent
Dr. Steven Lockard will take over for Dr. Karen Garza as Fairfax County Schools superintendent for the interim period while the School Board searches for her replacement.