Eleven Candidate In Epic Democratic Primary to Replace Moran
Successful candidate could emerge with 10,000 votes.
The Democratic primary is shaping up to be the most competitive election in recent memory, one with an unprecedented number of candidates.
Herndon High Hosts Improvathon
Students practice and learn improv at fundraising event.
“I got a whistle, and we have some penalties,” said Scott D. Pafumi. Pafumi, was laying out rules for the Improvathon event at Herndon High auditorium. The Theatre Director at Herndon Middle School, Pafumi had been asked to referee this year’s Improvathon. Ten teams made of students from across Fairfax County went to Herndon High on Saturday, Feb. 8 for six games related to improvisational or improv theatre. Judging the events were Town of Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel, Town councilmember Melissa Jonas, and Herndon High Assistant Principal Maria Sneed. Evan Hoffman, director of the NextStop Theatre Company was the master of ceremonies. Participating with the Herndon High team was Herndon senior Hunter Robinson.
Strings Concert Held at Dranesville Elementary School
The fourth and fifth grade students perform for family and friends.
”It was a great evening for the kids,” said Seth Lovern. His daughter, Alexis, a fourth grade student at Dranesville Elementary School had just completed an evening string concert at the school cafeteria. “Her mom plays the violin, so she [Alexis] wanted to play the viola to be different.”
Week in Herndon
The MOMS Club® of Herndon will host a Relationship Roundtable on Thursday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m. – Noon at Trinity Presbyterian Church (615 Dranesville Rd, Herndon). Guest speakers Elizabeth Mahoney and Irene Burkett will lead an open discussion on ways to strengthen your relationship with your spouse or partner. Topics to be addressed include: common barriers to communication, effective communication techniques, and stress reduction methods. All Herndon, VA (zip codes 20170 and 20171) stay at-home mothers are encouraged to join this free event.
Rachel Carson’s Linda Gammon Wins Band Director of the Year Award
Carson Middle School band director Linda Gammon was named the 2013-14 Secondary Band Director of the Year.
Linda Gammon has won countless awards over the course of her 38-year teaching career, been named guest conductor of nearly every district band in Virginia, and has published a number of music education books. In Feb. 2014, Gammon added the Fairfax County Band Directors Association (FCBDA) Secondary Band Director of the Year Award to that list of achievements.
Holidays Are Over, But Need Still Exists
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.”
Floris Elementary Chess Team Wins Silver Knights Cup
Floris Elementary students competed in the third annual Silver Knights Cup chess tournament recently and won top school in the competition. The top four scorers from each school were taken to calculate school placements; from Floris, the top scorers were Ray Shen, Mantra Vivek, Anand Vinod, and Jonathan Tong. More than 220 students from 20 schools participated in the tournament in one of four sections: K-1, K-3, K-5, and K-8. Other Floris students who competed were Connor Whiting, Alec Riso, Aditya Kakkar, Vikas Nanduri, Shrey Papneja, Shiven Chokshi, Sumanth Ratna, Sri Kapa, Krish Sahoo, Yashwant Kapa, Shivam Papneja, Yash Sahoo, Maria Izzi, and Zahra Izzi.
School Board Votes For Longer SLEEP
Money saved from annual bus route review will be earmarked for implementation of later start times.
According to SLEEP, a local group advocating for later high school start times in Fairfax County, 72 out of 92 counties in Virginia have a high school start time of 8 a.m. or later.
ArtSpace Hires New Executive Director
Lawrence Verbiest has been named executive director of ArtSpace Herndon. On Jan. 8, the Herndon Foundation for the Cultural Arts’ board of directors voted to offer the position to Verbiest. He accepted the position and began work on Jan. 21.
Groundhog Day Held At Frying Pan Park
Families visit groundhog burrow.
"They are like little lawnmowers, so when it is spring, they eat everything they can," said Frying Pan Park naturalist Shannon Morley. "When it is summer, they eat everything they can. And when it is fall they still eat. But in winter they rest or hibernate." Morely was giving a presentation to families on groundhogs that reside on the park grounds.
Floris United Methodist Church To Host Chocolate Festival
On Saturday, Feb. 8, Floris United Methodist Church will hold its 23rd Annual Chocolate Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. One of the church’s largest community events, the festival features carnival games, large inflatables, face painting, balloon art, food and lots of chocolate. An entertainment and travel-themed Silent Auction and an expansive homemade bake sale table are other highlights of this event. It is free and all are welcome. The church is located at 13600 Frying Pan Road, in Herndon. For more information, go to www.florisumc.org/chocolate or call the church office at 703-793-0026.
Nine Candidates Vying for Attention in 8th Congressional District Democratic Primary
Race to replace Jim Moran is expected to be competitive and expensive.
It's been three weeks since longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8) announced that he would not be seeking a 13th term in Congress, opening up an epic primary fight that is now starting to take shape.
Helping Area Residents Sign Up for Health Insurance
More than 50 volunteers who are helping local residents sign up for health care insurance were recognized by state and local leadership last Saturday. To date, these Certified Application Counselors (CACs) have helped more than 500 individuals with the new Marketplace system, overcoming barriers of language, technology and understanding the new health care law. The volunteers were thanked for the commitment and service:
How to Fix I-66?
More lanes, bus rapid transit, rail, spot improvements proposed.
It’s said that nothing’s certain but death and taxes – but most of the time, traffic congestion on I-66 can be added to that list. So VDOT’s seeking input from the public on how best to alleviate it.
Debate Over School Budget Continues
Later start times, class size among topics at School Board public hearing.
Later start times, class size, and cuts to needs-based staffing were major themes of the testimony given at the Jan. 27 public hearing on Superintendent Karen Garza’s proposed budget.