Stories for November 2015

Weekend in Burke, Fairfax, Fairfax Station, Clifton, Lorton, Springfield

Weekend in Reston and Herndon

“Fairfax County’s Founding Fathers” Revisited at History Conference

The 11th annual Fairfax County History Conference was held Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax, titled “Fairfax County’s Founding Fathers - Part I.”

Commentary: More on Session Agenda

Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum/State Delegate (D-36)

The General Assembly will convene for its regular session on Jan. 13.

Opinion: Finding Oil

In a world darkened by violence and despair, candles will soon light up the night.

Classified Advertising November 25, 2015

Read the latest ads here!

Reston Ready for Season of Giving

Where to give, how to help in Reston area.

“I do everything early,” says Phyllis K. of Reston. Phyllis prefers to remain anonymous because “it’s not about blowing your own horn. It’s about helping others.”

Editorial: Celebrate, Shop, Dine Locally

Every day can be “small business day.”

There is a joy to participating in community traditions and celebrations during the holidays, from walking along a sidewalk with the streets decked out for the holidays, to shopping in local stores, to being greeted by someone likely to be the owner of the store, to finding gifts that are not mass-produced

Transportation Strategy Update Launched

NVTA launches work on a six-year TransAction program.

Members of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) chose an appropriate location to announce the launch of the organization’s TransAction update efforts last week.

Creating Great Families Through Adoption

More than 800 children in foster care in Virginia are ready and waiting to be adopted.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month. With that in mind, meet two families expanded through adoption; two families whose kids describe their family as "awesome."

860 Virginia Children Need Homes

“Parental rights terminated.” “Available for adoption.” “Floundering in an imperfect system.” These words describe many children who are currently living in foster care in Virginia.

Quiet Riot: ‘C’mon Feel the Noise’

County passes new noise ordinance, will revisit effectiveness in 18 months.

The Board of Supervisors is at peace with the county’s new Noise Ordinance.

Fairfax County Updates Teacher Safety Training In Wake of Woodson Fire

Science teachers across Fairfax County Public Schools have begun mandatory updated safety training in the wake of an Oct. 30 fire at Woodson High School that injured five students and a teacher, and caused $7,500 in damage.

Classified Advertising November 18, 2015

Read the latest ads here!

Obituary: Mary Londergan Lovaas, 96, All Irish Mom and Community Volunteer, Dies

Mary Londergan Lovaas died early Sunday, Nov. 15 at age 96.

Letter: Contribute to the Rescue Reston Legal Defense Fund

To the Editor

Many thanks to our supporters - and we still need your help! Please make a difference with a donation to ensure we can maintain legal strength and backing to preserve designated open space at Reston National Golf Course, a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program Golf Course.

Reston Crime Reports

Incidents from Nov. 7-16

Commentary: Medicaid in Perspective

A recent newspaper headline proclaimed that “Audit finds waste, inefficiencies in Virginia’s Medicaid program.” As often is the case, the real story is beyond the headline.

Reston Author Shares New Book

“Dawn kisses the grasslands of the savanna. A lion roars. Long vocal cords vibrate in his throat – back and forth, back and forth.

Reston-centric Gifts Found at Lake Anne

Special gifts for the special people and pets in your life.

Imagine small shops where shopkeepers know everyone by name, catching a glimpse of neighbors enjoying a leisurely hot drink through the window of the local cafe, locals enjoying the view of the water at the plaza.

Reston Home Sales: October, 2015

In October, 2015, 97 Reston homes sold between $1,325,000-$85,000.

Reston Home Sales: October, 2015

Editorial: Holidays Are About Giving

The holidays are about giving, and giving thanks. The holidays are about children and family. The holidays are about sharing, about joy.

Weekend in Reston and Herndon

Fun and entertainment in your neighborhood.

Fairfax County: Garza Presents Budget Task Force Report to School Board

Transparency and methodology of budget review questioned.

Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Karen Garza is attempting to scale a towering projected budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2017. On Nov. 9, she presented School Board members the report of budget cuts recommended by a 36-member task force she summoned earlier this year.

Reston: South Lakes Football to Host Oakton in 6A North Playoffs

Seahawks beat Fairfax, finish regular season with 8-2 record.

No. 6 South Lakes will host No. 11 Oakton.

Classified Advertising November 11, 2015

Read the latest ads here!

Week in Reston

Weekly happenings in Reston

Reston Real Estate

Silver Line Metro Area Experiences a Banner Year

Every homeowner in Reston is asking the same question. Is the Wiehle Avenue metro station creating more demand for home ownership?

Reston Sports Briefs

Reston sports briefs.

Court Rules in Reston Golf Course Dispute

Connie Hartke, of Rescue Reston, sat in Fairfax Circuit Courthouse courtroom 4E for more than two hours Friday, Nov. 6 just as she did at the Board of Zoning Appeals in April.

Reston Crime Reports

Incidents from Nov. 1-6

Commentary: Bumper Sticker Politics

Experts on communications in political campaigns advise that a message needs to be expressed in a matter of seconds—not minutes—if it is to be effective.

New Businesses to Open In Herndon, Reston

Comstock Partners has prepared a lease with Farmers Restaurant Group to bring the restaurant to Reston Station at Wiehle-Reston East Metro station. Additional business developments with the Herndon and Reston area.

Nominations Sought for DryHome’s ‘Free Roof for the Holidays’

DryHome Roofing and Siding, a Sterling-based roofing company, is accepting nominations for its 13th annual Free Roof for the Holidays program for a deserving Northern Virginia-based individual, family or nonprofit in need of a free roof.

Meredith Klein and Drew Dudzik Married

Meredith Klein and Drew Dudzik were married on June 20, 2015 at St. John Neumann in Reston. The bride is a 2007 graduate of Chantilly High School and a 2011 undergraduate of James Madison University.

Fairfax To End Veteran Homelessness

Every veteran has a story, and a path to housing.

Jameel Mubaarik of Reston is a 63-year-old Army veteran and mechanical engineer, a former Reston homeowner.

Springfield: Capital Area Food Bank raises awareness of local hunger with Empty Bowls events

Kady Wohlfarth of Alexandria spent two months of her off days from the Alexandria Wegmans prepared food section to create 100 clay bowls. Hers accounted for one-third of the bowls at the “Empty Bowls” fundraiser and awareness-raising event for the Capital Area Food Bank.

Coming: Children’s Connection 2015

Get ready to send your submissions soon.

During the last week of each year, The Connection devotes its entire issue to the creativity of local students and children.

Weekend in Reston and Herndon

Things to do in your neighborhood.

Week in Reston

Weekly happenings in Reston.

Capital Bikeshare To Connect Fairfax, Starting With Reston

Transportation alternatives coming to Reston.

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) hosted a community meeting on the Reston Bike Share Project Thursday, Oct. 29, at Dogwood Elementary School, in Reston. It was an opportunity to meet Adam Lind, the county’s new Bicycle program manager.

Reston Police Highlights

Incidents from Oct. 24-30.

Athena Petersen Named Manager of Long and Foster’s Reston Office

Long and Foster Real Estate has named Athena Petersen as the new managing broker of its Reston office, located at 1831 Wiehle Avenue.

Obituary: George A. Burke, 64, Connolly’s Communications Director, Dies

George Burke, longtime Communications Director and trusted confidant of U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11), passed away Saturday at his home after a long battle with cancer. He was 64.

Boston Properties Appoints Kenyetta Price as Senior Property Manager

Boston Properties has announced their appointment of Kenyetta Price as senior property manager for Phase I and Phase II of Reston Town Center.

Letter: Inaccurate Commentary

To the Editor

We appreciate the coverage Reston Connection provided the hearing on the South Lakes High School addition, particularly the continuing sub-standard stormwater management by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). The article accurately reports the dialogue on the matter at the hearing.

No One Leaves Alive in Reston's Haunted House

Former beloved Lake Anne Elementary School teacher continues Halloween tradition.

Human skeletal remains were found around dusk Saturday night, Oct. 31, on Stirrup Road in Reston.

Harrison at Reston Town Center Wins Two Industry Awards

Harrison at Reston Town Center, a 360-unit luxury apartment community developed by Renaissance Centro in Reston, has won two top industry awards recognizing the project’s excellence in architecture and design.

Commentary: The Chicken and the Egg

A chicken or egg kind of debate has been going on in Virginia recently as a result of a report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC).

Commentary: The Reston Farmers Market and More in Reston

Reston is at its peak of fall finery.

In Reston, Neighbors in Need Offered Assistance

Resurrection Baptist Church of Reston hosts community outreach event to help homeless.

While others might have been gearing up to take the kids out trick or treating, preparing for the costumed hordes to descend on their homes, or even putting finishing touches on their own disguises, dozens of volunteers were spending their Halloween afternoon at the Reston Community Center (RCC) Hunters Woods, manning the “Stand Up for Our Homeless Community” event, hosted by Resurrection Baptist Church (RBC) of Reston’s Missionary Department.

Election Day in Herndon and Reston

Polls opened in Virginia from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 for the election, where voters will choose state and county lawmakers.

Classical Ballet Theatre Presents The Nutcracker

Experience the magic of Classical Ballet Theatre’s “Nutcracker.”

Fairfax County: Republicans Celebrate the Victorious

And honor the defeated

Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock) said he much preferred this night to the one when he was elected to his first term. A close race with his opponent meant waiting around until late into the evening. This year, Cook defeated Democrat Janet Oleszek by a more handy margin of about six percent of the vote.

Fairfax County: Palchik Upsets Incumbent Reed for Providence School Board Seat

With 58.22 percent of the vote in unofficial election results, Dalia Palchik of Annandale defeated the incumbent Providence District Fairfax County School Board representative Patty Reed, who garnered 41.31 percent.

Fairfax County: Hough Edges Incumbent Velkoff for Third At-Large School Board Seat

Fairfax resident Jeanette Hough said her race for the Fairfax County School Board started with a phone call to Springfield District representative to the board Elizabeth Schultz. “What are we going to do about the school board?” Hough remembers asking. “We’re being ignored as parents and taxpayers.”

Democrats Claim Victories in Local Elections

But General Assembly stays in the red column.

“We didn’t win the war tonight, but we did come out ahead in some of the important local battles, and that’s a good start.”

Reston: South Lakes Defense Limits Hayfield RB Ross in Victory

Seahawks would share Conference 6 title with win, help.

The South Lakes football team beat Hayfield 35-14 on Friday.

Fairfax Library Foundation Raises $197,000 at A Library Jubilee

The Fairfax Library Foundation hosted A Library Jubilee! Soiree in the Stacks on Saturday, Oct. 17 at Woodrow Wilson Library in Falls Church.