Seniors Spell in Bee, Expert Youth Speller Moderates
Herndon Senior Center hosted 200-plus senior attendees from 15 senior communities and 22 contestants on Sept. 11 in a spelling bee to remember. Lori Anne Madison, 7, the youngest ever participant in the Scripps National Spelling Bee from 2012, gave a presentation and assisted in word calling. The overall winner was Ruth Siegerson of Falcon's Landing.
A Playful Homage to Hitchcock
“The 39 Steps” opens at NextStop Theatre, Fairfax's newest professional theater.
"Hitchcock meets hilarity" is the way cast member Nick Rose describes "The 39 Steps," the first production of Fairfax County's newest professional theater company, NextStop Theatre in Herndon.
Record Crowds, Record Fundraising in Dulles Day Plane Pull
More than $226,000 raised for Special Olympics Virginia.
A record-breaking crowd—more than 16,000—turned out for the Sept. 14 Dulles Day Festival and Plane Pull at Dulles International Airport. In its 21st year, the event is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Virginia, pitting teams of 25 against one another to see who can pull an 82-ton, 164,000-pound airplane the fastest. Seventy teams registered to participate in the event, raising over $226,000—a record amount for the event. A new addition to the festivities this year was an early morning 5K on the Dulles runway, in which 2,000 runners participated. A highlight of the afternoon was the arrival of an FA2 fighter attack sea harrier jet, which demonstrated its vertical take off and landing capabilities to a rapt crowd.
Herndon Parks and Recreation Wins Awards for Marketing
Approximately 450 delegates from Virginia gathered in early September for the 59th annual conference of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society, which was held in Williamsburg. The conference is a learning exchange and provides an opportunity for recreation and park professionals to collaborate and ultimately improve the delivery of parks and recreation services. A highlight of each conference is a presentation of awards. This year Herndon Parks and Recreation had two items, which were selected in the 25,000 and less population category:
A New Beginning for Fairfax County Public Libraries?
Library trustees vote to discard beta plan in favor of more public outreach sessions.
On Wall Street, a “beta” test refers to assessing the risk, volatility and expected return of a particular portfolio. If Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) officials had a crystal ball to assess the volatility of its planned beta tests this fall, it’s likely they may have steered clear of the project that became a quagmire of epic proportions.
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
County suspends discarding of library books.
Just when Sam Clay, Fairfax County’s Public Library director, thought FCPL’s public image couldn’t get any worse, Supervisor Linda Smyth (D-Providence) released photos of bins filled to the brim with discarded library books.
Letter: Joining Forces to Prevent Homelessness
You can prevent homelessness, you can end chronic homelessness, you can move people rapidly out of homelessness. What you cannot do is stand aside and let people fall. This simple belief—that together we can change the rate and severity of people losing their homes—brings together nonprofits, for-profits, civic leaders and government staff. We each play a special role, depending on our location and mission. For United Community Ministries (UCM), prevention is the key.
Week in Herndon
Bolger said he has worked for 30 years fixing problems in our community, protecting families' homes from aggressive creditors, bringing residents together to improve street safety and schools. Now, Bolger says, he is running for Congress to bring these same problem solving values to Washington.
Herndon Resident Takes State Title in Clays Shootout
Herndon resident James McGowan emerged as top gun in the NSCA (National Sporting Clays Association) Virginia State Championship at Primland, taking the top prize of $1,000. He scored 187 out of 200 targets. The runner-up was Barry Moore Jr., of Pulaski, who shot a 185 and took home $500. Third place went to David Collins, Jr. of Ruther Glen. Only three targets separated first through third place.
Herndon Scouts Collect Bikes for the World
On Sept. 28, Boy Scout Troop 159 will have a bike drive for Bikes for the World.
Did you just buy a new bike and find someone to adopt your old bike which is not in a perfect condition? Do you have a child’s bike at home that's not fit for your son or daughter? Do you have a bike with missing parts? Put your old bike to good use by donating it to Bikes for the World.
ArtSpace Herndon Hosts Cinema and Brew Series
Gallery also opens a new art exhibit, “Menagerie.”
On Friday, Sept. 6 ArtSpace Herndon hosted its first Art House Cinema and Brew. The movie selected to kick off the new series was the cinema classic “Metropolis.” Directed by Fritz Lang, Metropolis was the first feature length movie of the science fiction movies genre. Giorgio Moroder, a music producer, released a version with a soundtrack by rock artists such as Freddie Mercury and Adam Ant in 1984. Ann Rust, wife of Delegate Tom Rust, and a board member for the Herndon Foundation for the Cultural Arts, welcomed everyone to the event.
Helping Herndon Girl Scouts Help Students in Need
Recognizing the importance of starting off the school year prepared to learn, local Girl Scout Troop 3419 recently partnered with Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation (NWFCU Foundation) to provide backpacks and school supplies to Dranesville Elementary School students.
Letter: Knowledge Is Power
It’s that time of year, when Labor Day passes and school traffic schedules take effect. In the midst of the post-summer hassle and bustle, September also begs our nation to reflect on a memory that still seems surreal. Coverage of the crumbling Twin Towers, debris, chaos, terror—seemed like a scene from an action movie and not something I should have been watching on the local news channel. Changed forever by this modern era Pearl Harbor, I have struggled to understand why and how.
Herndon Hosts Classic Car Show
Automobiles, live music, swing dancing come to downtown.
Downtown Herndon went back in time by more than a half century Sunday, Sept. 8, for the 12th annual AARP Dulles Classic Car Show.
The Pet Elf Celebrates 15 Years in Business
The Pet Elf is now officially in its 15th year of caring for Reston and Herndon’s pets. Kim Waite-Williams is the owner of The Pet Elf, one of Pet Sitters International’s nearly 7,000 members. Sept. 8, they’ll be marking the occasion with an outdoor picnic to honor their many clients and their pets at North Hills Pavilion, N. Village Road at Hollow Timber Court, Reston, from noon to 4 p.m.