Editorial: Yes to Fairfax Transportation Bond
$84 million for pedestrian, bike and trail improvements.
Of more than 75 projects included in the current proposal, on the ballot for Nov. 4, all but seven are designed to make Fairfax County safer and more inviting for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Editorial: Coming - Children’s Connection
During the last week of each year, The Connection devotes its entire issue to the creativity of local students and children. The results are always remarkable. It is a keepsake edition for many families.
Column: Not in the Mood
Sometimes, believe it or not, I’m not in the mood to be a terminal cancer patient (duh). Not that the effect is particularly tangible, but the weight of it, as well as the associated waits I’ve occasionally written about, can get awfully heavy.
Column: Week Of, Weak On, Week Off
This column completes the three-week arc which describes what I have endured mostly successfully for approximately five years now: chemotherapy every three weeks – with one year off for good behavior (not really good behavior; the year off was to switch to a twice-daily pill, Tarceva, to be taken at home, since the previous treatment was no longer stemming the tide). It’s been my experience that these anti-cancer drugs don’t exactly work forever.
Column: Pre-Chemo Peek
I realize, given last week’s column: “Post-Chemo Week,” this week’s column about the preceding week (week-of, actually) of chemotherapy might be a bit bass-ackward, but it seemed reasonable to me that if you regular readers had an interest in the week-after, perhaps you’d have a similar interest in the week-before.
Letter: Inspirational Experience
Letter to the Editor
As a participant in Delegate Barbara Comstock’s Young Women in Leadership Program, I wish to comment on how much I appreciated this unique experience.
Editorial: Deadly Medicaid Debacle
Literally killing poor people who could have health care, while refusing to give Virginia’s economy a boost.
The poor people of Virginia are so seriously harmed by the actions of the Virginia General Assembly in refusing to expand Medicaid at little additional cost to the Commonwealth that those harmed should have some legal recourse.
Commentary: Protecting Those Threatened by Domestic Violence
September marks 20th Anniversary of Violence Against Women Act.
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) – landmark legislation in which our nation committed new prevention and response resources so that our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends would no longer have to suffer in silence through domestic abuse.
Editorial: Change Is Coming, Right?
Legislators on changing the culture of cash and gifts in Virginia: Crickets.
With former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen facing what could be decades in prison after their convictions for corruption, a reasonable person might reasonably expect that members of the General Assembly would be gearing up to make some big changes.
Letter: Programs To Be Proud Of
Letter to the Editor
In her letter in the (“Opposing Medicaid Expansion,” Connection, August 20 – 26, 2014) Elinor Bartlett made it clear that she strongly opposes Medicaid expansion in Virginia. Fine, but while I strongly support her right to hold and express such a view, I cannot accept her use of irrelevant, unsupported, and factually wrong statements about Social Security and Medicare in support of her position.
Representing Herndon in State Assembly
Delegate Tom Rust (R-86) serves the residents of Herndon, and parts of Oak Hill, Chantilly, and Sterling in the Virginia General Assembly. He has resided in the Town of Herndon all his adult life and remembers when Dulles Airport was nothing but forest; now he is looking forward to seeing the Silver Line constructed to Herndon.
What’s on the Ballot; How to Vote
Election Day is Nov. 4, 2014, but you can vote as early as Sept. 19.
Every year is Election Year in Virginia. This year, every Virginia voter will choose one member of the U.S. Senate and their member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
About the Connection
As your local, weekly newspaper, the Connection’s mission is to deliver the local news you need, to try to make sense of what is happening in your community, to gather information about the best things in and near your community, to advocate for community good, to provide a forum for dialogue on local concerns, and to celebrate and record achievements, milestones and events in the community and people’s lives.
Editorial: Back to School - Good Steps, Good Intentions
The first day of school in Fairfax County is Tuesday, Sept. 2, but Monday, Sept. 8 is the beginning of something important. For the first time in decades, elementary school students will have a full day of school on Mondays instead of being sent home hours early. This action makes so much sense in for families with children in elementary school. The ability of Superintendent Karen Garza to facilitate this change to go into effect right away is remarkable, and we hope a promise for more changes ahead.
Editorial: Accountability for Police in Northern Virginia
There is more transparency in the police shooting in Ferguson last week than in police shootings in Northern Virginia.
This is not Ferguson, and tanks do not roll down the streets of Northern Virginia driven by police officers pointing sniper rifles at residents.