High Five
I made it. It’s five years after receiving a terminal diagnosis on February 27, 2009 from my oncologist: stage IV non-small cell lung cancer, accompanied by a "13-month to two-year" prognosis. Let’s be honest, medical professionals don’t toss around the word "terminal" because you’re going to be treated at an airport. Presumably, they know their facts and figures as well as the patient’s present condition, confirmed by a variety of diagnostic results from X-Rays, CT Scans, P.E.T. Scans, lab work and of course the ever-popular biopsy, so their diagnosis/prognosis is a bit more than an educated guess. Nevertheless, there are exceptions to every rule and until proven otherwise, I was not about to succumb to their statistics. Still, based on the best medical knowledge available at the time, this patient (yours truly) was given a limited life expectancy and encouraged to take the vacation I had always dreamed of – for obvious you’re-life-is-now-shorter-than-you-ever-imagined-type reasons, and yet, five years hence, here I am.
Bulova: ‘This Will Be a Challenging Budget’
Fairfax County average homeowner will see tax bill increase $330 under County Executive’s proposed $7 billion budget.
Fairfax County Executive Edward Long, Jr. unveiled a $7 billion budget proposal Tuesday that reflects his "cautious and deliberative approach to budgeting," a result, Long said, of continuing uncertainty over federal spending and sluggish commercial tax revenues.
Hollywood Comes to Fairfax
How to use Hollywood-style portrait techniques to photograph adoptable animals.
Animals at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter were given the celebrity treatment on Feb. 23 when a team from the non-profit Shelter Art Foundation taught shelter staff and volunteers how to use Hollywood-style portrait techniques to photograph their adoptable animals.
Giving Bianca a Second Chance
A Fairfax County Animal Shelter happy ending.
Bianca, a nine-year-old, female, German shepherd mix dog, had been living her life on the end of a chain in a rural part of Virginia. In late January, an unknown stray dog approached Bianca and attacked her. Bianca’s owner came outside and in an attempt to stop the attack he hit both dogs with a shovel, striking Bianca over the head and injuring her. Rather than pursue vet care, the owner drove Bianca to the local pound and surrendered her. For the next 36 hours, Bianca sat with no medical care, until a sympathetic staff person called the shelter’s rescue partner at the Highland County Humane Society in rural Virginia.
‘We Will Not Tolerate Unsafe Driving’
Police want motorists to get the message from their new cruiser.
There’s a new weapon in the Fairfax County Police Department’s arsenal, but this one has four tires and an engine. It’s a new cruiser covered with messages warning people not to drive impaired or distracted. It was unveiled on Friday, Feb. 21, at the Sully District Station, and the station’s commander, Capt. Ed O’Carroll, explained its significance.
Volunteers Needed to Help Older Adults
Meals on Wheels needs drivers in Fairfax. Call 703-324-5406, TTY 711, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and link to Volunteer Solutions or email VolunteerSolutions@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Herndon ES Celebrates International Night
School and PTA host event to celebrate culture.
“This is an annual event held in partnership with the PTA,” said Herndon Elementary Principal Ann Gwyn. “It is all about celebrating the many cultures here in Herndon Elementary.” The International Night event was held Feb. 20. Foreign foods dishes were brought in and were available to sample. “We start planning this event in November, it is a very popular event,” said school PTA president Amanda Geary.
Tasting Soul Food
ArtSpace Herndon hosts event on African American cuisine.
“It is our distinct pleasure today to host a Black History Month event,” said Lawrence Verbiest, executive director of ArtSpace Herndon introducing the coordinator for the event, Elise Abby Arrington. For four years now Arrington has helped arrange an event to commemorate Black History month. Last year, Arrington helped coordinate a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation with other local high school students at ArtSpace Herndon.
Holidays Are Over, But Need Still Exists
Commentary
We live in a community comprised of people from many diverse backgrounds. What a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family. We are able to live in culturally vibrant communities, teach our children how to live in a multicultural world and we are able to learn tolerance and respect for others. God wants every individual to know that he is loved and valued. Jesus said in Luke 10:27 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with your entire mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Loving Horses at Frying Pan
Farm Park provides a riding experience for children.
Children of all ages love horses. But keeping a horse is difficult when pasture and riding land are scarce. Here in Herndon, Frying Pan Farm Park and Spirit Open Equestrian have joined together so that children can ride and, for a short time, pretend the horses are their very own.
Volkswagen Donates Van to Children’s Science Center
The Children’s Science Center will use the van for its traveling Museum Without Walls programs in Northern Virginia.
The Children’s Science Center is now the owner of a brand new 2014 Volkswagen Routan minivan thanks to a donation by the Volkswagen Group of America. Volkswagen executives handed over the keys to the 2014 Routan to Children’s Science Center board members on Monday, Jan. 17 in front of the company’s headquarters in Herndon.
Additional Delays Slow Handover of Silver Line to Metro
Performance issues and unmet safety testing requirements cited as reasons for the continued delay.
Phase I of the Silver Line is still not quite ready for final testing by Metro authorities, according to a Monday statement issued by Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA). With the handover of the Silver Line project to Metro authorities looming, Northern Virginia residents will have to be patient despite their readiness to hop on the train at new Tysons Corner and Reston Metro stations.
Delegates Rust, Plum Provide Richmond Updates
Delegates Tom Rust (R-86) and Kenneth Plum (D-36) recap successes and missed opportunities in the first part of this year’s General Assembly session.
Herndon and Reston Delegates Tom Rust (R-86) and Kenneth Plum (D-36) ended the first half of the 2014 General Assembly session happy with the House of Delegates’ passage of transportation, education and absentee military voting bills. Tuesday, Feb. 11 marked the "crossover" point for this year’s General Assembly session, when both houses of the General Assembly must vote on all non-budget related legislation or allow those bills to die.
Herndon High Prepares For StompFest
Year marks Step Team’s 20th year at school.
High school step teams from around the area will be arriving at Herndon High on Saturday, Feb. 22 for the annual StompFest. "This will be the biggest event we have ever had," said team captain Hannah Vaughn. The Herndon High step team was founded in 1994, and StompFest has been an annual event for sixteen years.
Herndon Rotary Club Holds Valentine's Sock Hop
Final show for Herndon fundraising event.
The Fabulous Hubcaps band preformed Saturday evening at the Herndon Community Center’s gymnasium, playing some favorite classic rock n’ roll hits including "Surfin’ USA" and "Get Around." The Valentine's Sock Hop has been an annual event for the Herndon Rotary Club, but due to multiple factors will no longer be held as a fundraising event.
Herndon High To Produce ‘Robin Hood’
Children’s show also fundraiser for HHS Drama Boosters.
"No cast member goes on stage while tech crew is doing operations," said Catherine "Cassie" Szymczyk.
Teacher Vs. Student Basketball Game
Teachers win competitive game against students at Herndon Middle.
On Feb. 6, a team of seventh and eighth grade students from Herndon Middle School competed in a basketball match against school teachers. "We had a lot of students attend this year’s event," said after-school specialist Mike Thomas who was also helping as game announcer.
Heaven and Earth Akido Hosts Fundraiser
Funds raised for family of departed Herndon waiter.
"Damien was one of the first folks who I spoke with when I came back to the area after being overseas over three years," said Ben Ericksen. "We stuck up a pleasant conversation, and I told him I was back from Afghanistan. I would take some of the students up to the O’Sullivan’s restaurant."
Fresh Take on ‘Pinocchio’
New partnership brings ‘a fresh, playful and hilarious take’ on "Pinocchio" at Industrial Strength Theater.
Local family theater is getting a big boost. Fairfax County's newest professional theater troupe, NextStop Theatre is partnering with the Faction of Fools, a Helen Hayes Awardee for Outstand Emerging Theatre Company.
Oak Hill, Herndon Home Sales: January, 2014
In January 2014, 35 homes sold between $827,575-$140,000 in the Herndon and Oak Hill area.
Oak Hill, Herndon Home Sales: January, 2014