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When a Bill Becomes a Law

On July 1, sales taxes go up for Fairfax County residents.

“We needed to at least make it clear that you risk a reckless driving offense if you text and drive.” —Del. David Bulova (D-37)

Don't Be Afraid; Learn About Bees

Number of drones on the increase.

What Do You Know About Bees? How many bees in an ordinary colony (hive)? a) 1000 b) 10,000 c) 60,000 or more 2. Each colony has one queen. What happens if more than one is born? a) All but one is killed b) All but one is driven out c) The first one takes half the colony and relocates 3. The oldest bee ever found (preserved in a drop of amber) lived how many years ago? a) 1,000,000 b) 25,000,000 c) 100,000,000 4. Stingers release venom for a brief time. What to do on being stung? gently back out stinger with a fingernail or credit card apply ice for swelling c) both a and b 90% of bees are workers. Which gender? a) male female Which stinging insect is vegetarian? hornet bee wasp 7. At least how much honey a colony (hive) needs for winter? 10 pounds 60 pounds 100 pounds 8. Honey has flavors depending on the blossoms visited. What do beekeepers do with "bad tasting" honey? throw it out leave it for bees to eat 9. Normal gathering range of a bee? 500 yards one-half mile c) 2 miles (or more) 10. For millennia, honey has been used treating wounds? a) true b) false Answers; 1.c; 2.a; 3.c; 4.c; 5.b; 6.b; 7.b; 8.b; 9.c; 10.a. Grading correct answers: 9-10 = A; 7-8 = "bee"; 5-6 = C. Arlington Adult Education offers a class called "Help the Honeybees!" on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at the Arlington Career Center, in Walter Reed Drive near Columbia Pike. Hours are 7 to 10 p.m. and registration is $5. Beekeepers Association of Northern Virginia has a booth at the 2013 Arlington County Fair to be held in Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 2nd Street, South, Aug. 7 - 11. Bee products are judged at the Fair and many Are offered for sale. All the answers to all the possible questions about bees are found through that association's webpage: www.beekeepersnova.org

Let the Sparks Fly in the County

It’s not too late to enjoy local 4th of July festivals, parades and fireworks.

So. It’s July 4, 2013. Independence Day. A federal holiday celebrating our freedom from Great Britain. The National Day of the United States. And you have nothing planned.


Editorial: HOT-Lanes and No Metro for I-66?

Did you miss the public discussion and input? So did we.

One day when I was stuck in traffic on I-66, I was briefly entertained by the license plate of the vehicle in front of me. "66 SUCKS," it read. No question, commuting on I-66 is a bear.

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Sacred Threads: Quilt Exhibit with Meaning

Besides being beautiful to look at, handmade quilts can convey powerful messages. Such are the quilts that will be on display during Sacred Threads 2013.

Column: No Shame in Crying

Nor is it a crying shame. But something has changed, dare I say affected my tear duct production. I can’t say with certainty – or even specify a particular moment in time for sure – when the tears began to flow more easily, but I’ll guess the change occurred sometime on or around February 27, 2009, the day I first met my oncologist; the day I was diagnosed with a terminal disease, stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), “prognosed” to live 13 months to two years. If that kind of shocking, terminal-type news doesn’t upset your apple cart – permanently, “You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din.” And so it has, as reflected in my frequent “salty discharge” (to quote Jerry Seinfeld).


Editorial: Ready for Your Pet’s Close-up?

The Pet Connection, a bi-annual themed edition, will publish July 24. We invite you to send us stories about your pets, photos of you and/or your family with your cats, dogs, hamsters, snakes, lizards, frogs, rabbits, or whatever other creatures share your home or yard with you.

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Potoman/North Sends off Talented Players

The Potomac/North U16 and U19 teams, full of Fairfax County players, both took home the Gold Medal Saturday and Sunday, June 22-23 the VA Commonwealth Games (The Virginia Olympics) for Field Hockey at the University of Virginia.

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Virginia Gubernatorial Candidates Speak in Reston

Northern Virginia Technology Council hosts Ken Cuccinelli, Terry McAuliffe.

The Northern Virginia Technology Council hosted Virginia’s two gubernatorial candidates Thursday, June 20 at Microsoft’s Reston offices.


Herndon High School Graduation Viewpoints

Where are you headed in the fall and where do you see yourself in 10 years?

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Herndon High Class of 2013 Graduates

Four hundred and eighty-eight seniors graduate at Patriot Center.

The 488 members of the Herndon High School Class of 2013 took their final steps as high school students Tuesday, June 18 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax.

Operation: Ladybug at Herndon-based Children's Science Center

The Children's Science Center of Herndon, at 485 Spring Park Place, Suite 500, is providing some ideas for backyard science this summer, with a call to young scientists to identify various species of ladybugs in their backyard.


Week in Herndon

Current events and news in Herndon.

Cox Communications Hosts Family Safety Fair

Cox Communications continues its efforts to keep families safe in their digital lives and beyond by hosting a Family Safety Day at its Herndon Solutions Store (3080 Centreville Road, Herndon) on June 29 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Herndon Town Calendar Photo Exhibit

ArtSpace Herndon and the Council for the Arts of Herndon have chosen 60 photographs to appear in the third annual Herndon Town Calendar Photo Competition.


Promoting Recycling in Herndon Neighborhoods

The Four Seasons and Hunters Creek neighborhoods, both located in the Town of Herndon, will square off in a “Battle of the Bottles” to determine which neighborhood increases its percentage of recycled material throughout the month of July.

Sacred Threads: Quilt Exhibit With Meaning

Besides being beautiful to look at, handmade quilts can convey powerful messages.

‘A Way to Say That His Life Mattered’

Westfield teacher, students raise money to honor Matt Peterson.

Matt Peterson was just 16 when his father inexplicably killed him, his mother and younger brother in their Herndon home before taking his own life.


10 Years Incarceration For Former Teacher

Robert C. Fenn convicted of child-porn offenses.

Little more than a year ago, Oak Hill resident Robert C. Fenn was about to finish his first year of teaching at Poplar Tree Elementary, where he taught special-ed students in kindergarten through third grade.

Legislators Honored

Dulles Corridor Rail Association honors delegates, senators who helped provide Phase 2 funding.

HB2313 Supporters Helped Provide $300 Million for Phase 2: Senate of Virginia George L. Barker, Charles J. Colgan, Adam P. Ebbin, Barbara A. Favola, Mark R. Herring, Janet D. Howell, David W. Marsden, Linda T. Puller, Richard L. Saslaw Virginia House of Delegates David B. Albo, Robert H. Brink, David L. Bulova, Eileen Filler-Corn, Thomas A. Greason, Charniele L. Herring, Patrick A. Hope, Mark L. Keam, Kaye Kory, Robert K. Krupicka, James M. LeMunyon, Alfonso H. Lopez, Joe T. May, Randall J. Minchew, Kenneth R. Plum, Thomas Davis Rust, James M. Scott, Mark D. Sickles, Scott A. Surovell, Luke E. Torian, Vivian E. Watts Keep up with Phase 2 developments of the Silver Line at http://www.dullescorridorrail.com/www.dullescorridorrail.com.