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Mercia Hobson

Stories by Mercia

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Seeking Shelter: Changes in Housing Preferences

Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship at George Mason University School of Business presents.

Housing

Herndon Considers Parking on Town Streets

Safety and quality of life concerns noted, along with new ordinance and towing rules.

Parking on Street

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Impact of Vehicle-Bicycle Collisions in Fairfax Courts

FABB's discussion with Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney for Community Justice and Policy

Bike ruling

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Brabrand: 'Stay the Course'

We have a right to do things up until that right impinges or infringes on the rights of others.

Masks

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FCPS Takes Legal Action Challenging Gov. Youngkin's Ex. Order No. 2

County School Board files suit jointly with six other boards.

Executive order

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Herndon, a Look-Back and What's to Come

Start of long-delayed downtown redevelopment tops accomplishments.

A Look at Herndon

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Local Camping and Outdoor Store Opens in Herndon

Good Wolf Gear buys new and used gear and apparel.

Camping gear

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New Governor Revokes Mask Mandate for Schools

FCPS says masks requirement remains in effect.

Mask Mandates

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Return to School 2022

After a week of weather closures, FCPS opens with Covid-19 surging

Returning to school

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FCPS Faces Staff Shortages in the Face of Omicron

Superintendent pledges to keep students in the classroom, but it will “not be business as usual.”

School with Covid

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First Snow of the 2022 Season

Schools close for the third day on Wednesday.

Snow in Reston and Herndon

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Status: ‘Under Construction’ Herndon Downtown Redevelopment Project

'Breathing new life into the heart of Herndon.'

Construction

2022 Real Estate Forecast

Real Estate Forecast

2022 Northern Virginia Association of Realtors Forecast

Single-family homes in Arlington are still the hottest real estate ticket in town.

Realtors Forecast

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Herndon Winter Market 2021 Celebrates Holiday Season

Arts & crafts, local beer, Glühwein, food and live music attract 11,000 to the one-day event.

Herndon Winter Market

Herndon Town Council Approves Resolution

Accepts $5 million grant; the Dig is ON in Herndon.

Herndon dig

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Holiday Tree Lighting & Sing-Along in Herndon

Santa appears a no-show.

Tree Lighting in Herndon

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Two People Critically Injured in Herndon Fire

44 displaced when electrical event sparks fire; no working smoke detectors in apartment.

House Fire

Challenged Books, Ballooning Waitlists for Mental Health, ADA Playgrounds

What you might have missed at the Dec. 2 School Board meeting.

School Board

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Twenty-nine Years, the Reston Holiday Parade

One of the best holiday parades ushers in the season at Reston Town Center.

Reston Parade

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Linus Had His Blanket, Now 1,300 Locals Have Theirs

A weft of comfort and warp of love bind the woven flannel.

Linus

The Favorites of 2021

In 2021, the longing to return to the favorite places and events in our communities has never been stronger...

Rock on, Alex!

Great Falls teen 'nails it' performing with a local band.

Teen in Local Band

The Dog Daze of Summer

The Water Mine hosts canine water pandemonium.

Dogs Swim

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VolunteerFest, 2021

Volunteers work on projects countywide for the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Volunteers

Great Falls Creamery, Where Summer Doesn’t End

Icy treats pair well with Great Falls Park.

Creamery

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Crisis in Afghanistan Reverberates Locally

Afghan Americans speak out.

The United States and other countries have welcomed more than 150,000 Afghans and their families since the emergency evacuations began in mid-August.

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Crisis in Afghanistan Reverberates Locally

Afghan Americans speak out.

The United States and other countries have welcomed more than 150,000 Afghans and their families since the emergency evacuations began in mid-August.

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Overcoming Mental Health Stigma

Suicide Walk-a-Thon brings awareness

The pandemic's psychological and socioeconomic fallout may be driving an accelerated trend in depressive symptoms and suicide ideation, attempts, and deaths in Fairfax County, reported experts in mental health at the "Fight Suicide" Walk-a-Thon at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston held Aug. 21.

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Back to School: The Best Shot: Vax Up!

Fairfax County families and educators discuss COVID-19 School Year 2021-22.

The first day of the much-anticipated, in-person return to school for SY2021-22 looms for many families, friends, and educators in Fairfax County's independent, public and home-based education systems.

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Mom's Organic Market: Stewards of the Land

Putting their mission statement front and center

Team Members at Mom's Organic Market take environmental restoration seriously.

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Fairfax County Public Schools Priority One: Get Eligible Students Vaccinated

Expansion of school COVID-19 vaccination clinics underway

The level of community transmission of COVID-19 in Fairfax County is increasing again.

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Fairfax County Supervisors Proclaim August 3 National Night Out

Proclamation celebrates neighborhood spirit and cooperation among residents and police

National Night Out is a time to celebrate, whether the clock that day says noon or 8 p.m. It is a time to have community fun, to say thank you to law enforcement officers, and get more involved in the community.

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NWFCU Foundation Back to School Drive In-Progress for 2021

Powerful change force for local at-promise students

The Northwest Federal Credit Union (NWFCU) Foundation is heading into the final weeks of their Back to School Drive 2021.

Fairfax County Holds County-wide Vaccine Equity Clinics

Bringing the COVID-19 vaccine to the people rather than relying on them to find their way to a site is one option to get people vaccinated and slow the surging Delta variant.

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Delta Variant Has Room to Run Rampant

Removing invisible vaccine barriers for communities in Fairfax County

Jump on a moon bounce, grab an empanada from a food truck and get a Covid vaccine.

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Community Garden Sows Skills to Improve Mental and Physical Health

Pathway Homes, Inc. holds ribbon-cutting for the project.

In 2020, nonprofit Pathway Homes, Inc. provided non-time-limited housing and supportive services to 616 adults in Northern Virginia with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and co-occurring disorders, some of whom experienced homelessness in 2020.

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New Food Scrap Composting at Select Fairfax County Farmers Markets

Nature’s recycling reduces methane and lowers carbon footprint

Fairfax County residents have another option for managing organic wastes such as fruit and vegetable peels, food left on dinner plates, coffee grounds, and even paper towels and napkins.

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Historic Herndon Oak Tree Removed

Nearly 200-year-old witness tree 'struggled' and obstructed sight triangle quadrant to the intersection.

In 1823, an acorn from an Overcup Oak tree sent up a shoot at what is now the corner of Elden and Center Streets in the Town of Herndon.

Christopher ‘Chris’ Adams, Funeral Home Owner, Dies

Remembering a kind and gentle man

Christopher “Chris” Jon Adams, owner and funeral director at Adams-Green Funeral Home & Crematory in the Town of Herndon, died unexpectedly on July 14, 2021, at the age of 56.

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Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent to Depart at End of Next School Year

Dr. Scott Brabrand, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools, announced on a YouTube video released Thursday, July 15, 2021, that he is leaving FCPS at the end of the next year, consistent with his FCSB contract.

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Herndon Celebrates Independence Day

Patriotism and independence shine bright on dual fronts.

The Town of Herndon celebrated the 4th of July after canceling last year’s event due to the pandemic.

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And What a Year it Was in Herndon

Herndon Rotary Club names Signe Friedrichs Rotarian of the Year 2020-2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic raged across her Town of Herndon, Rotarian Signe Friedrichs masked up and gathered up other masked service volunteers, business leaders, and nonprofit leaders.

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School Buses and Sites Provide Free Grab and Go 7-day Meal Kits in Fairfax County

No questions asked, no IDs needed – County children under 18 and all FCPS students eligible

Ten Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) buses began rolling Monday, June 28, on a mission to deliver their precious cargo: coolers full of nutritious breakfast and lunch items packed in seven-day, bulk meal kits, grab-and-go style.

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Two Men Charged with Chantilly Murder of Herndon Man

Homicides surge in the first six months of 2021 in Fairfax County compared to 2020.

With 13 homicides reported across all of Fairfax County already this year, the unprecedented spike in killings is a concern.

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Pandemic-Delayed Ribbon Cutting Held in Herndon

Town officials, Chamber members, and guests welcome District Floor Depot

District Floor Depot celebrated the Ceremonial Grand Opening of its third and newest branch at 1051 Elden Street, Herndon, with a ribbon cutting ceremony held Thursday, June 23, that was supposed to happen over a year ago.

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Vienna Cathedral Brass Debuts in Herndon

Vienna ensemble delivers versatility and virtuosity

The Cathedral Brass of Vienna Presbyterian Church performed a free outdoor concert titled "Americans We" at 7 p.m. on the Arts Herndon Lawn Stage, located adjacent to its arts center in the heart of the historic downtown district.

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Greater Traffic Volumes Coming with Future Comstock Mixed-Use Development in Herndon

Ground-breaking held for Elden-Center Streets Intersection Improvements

The critical $1.4M reconstruction and signalization of the Elden-Center Streets Intersection Improvements began June 7.

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Seen in TJ’s Freshman Class

In 2021, the U.S. News Best High Schools report ranked TJ the number one school nationwide for the second year running.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology admitted 550 students strong as its Class of 2025.