Reston P&Z Committee Meeting - From Informational to Inflamed
Planning Procedures Under Scrutiny
Things got a bit heated at the October meeting of the Reston Planning and Zoning Committee on Monday, Oct. 17. “We urge the applicant to inform the public and get input from the very beginning of the process,” said Regina Coyle.
Accepting the Outcome
Commentary
Even though I literally wore holes in the soles of my shoes campaigning door to door, covering the equivalent of five districts in a person-to-person campaign was impossible. I congratulated the winners and kept on working.
Three Reston Residents Appointed to RCC Board
Beverly Cosham, Michelle A. Moyer and Paul D. Thomas elected in Preference Poll.
At the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2016, Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins requested and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved appointment of three Reston residents to the nine-member Reston Community Center Board of Governors.
Washington West Film Festival A Success
Film festival brings together filmmakers and film lovers.
A red carpet was laid out at Reston Town Center’s Bow Tie Cinema for the 6th annual Washington West Film Festival. The 6th annual Washington West Film Festival (WWFF) showcased fifty-nine films from around the world, including world premieres and D.C. premieres. ”We're getting terrific feedback about our Washington West 2016 lineup of films,” said Brad Russell, founder and president of WWFF.
Leadership vs Rhetoric
Letter to the Editor
Congresswoman Comstock worked across party lines to pass a 5-year transportation bill—the first of its kind in 10 years—which brings $6.2 billion to the Commonwealth. She also supported bipartisan bills to replace No Child Left Behind, provide resources to combat the heroin epidemic, and bolster our national security.
Classified Advertising October 26, 2016
Read the latest ads here!
Reject the Meals Tax
“A closer look at school spending shows the intentions of the School Board are to delve into more political correctness and social engineering.”
A “no” vote will send a message to the county Board of Supervisors that higher taxes should not be routine, and that county leaders must focus on better management, and more importantly, the School Board, more efficiency, and greater respect for taxpayers.
Bulova: Vote Yes
A legally binding commitment 70 percent would go to Fairfax County Public Schools.
I was elected chairman in 2009, just as the Great Recession settled over this country like a stubborn storm cloud. The market value of property in Fairfax County plummeted, resulting in historic reductions in both residential and commercial tax revenues. At the same time, more people than ever turned to the county for assistance. Former County Executive Tony Griffin’s prediction, in the throes of the Recession years, that “this will be our new normal” has proven prescient.
Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness Supports Meals Tax
After careful consideration, the Fairfax – Falls Church Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness has decided to fully support the proposed 4 percent Fairfax County Meals Tax.
American Elections: French Perspective
I am a French student who chose to come to study close to Washington DC for what I thought would be one of the most interesting elections in the history of Uncle Sam’s country.
Column: No to the Meals Tax
A food tax is not a silver bullet.
I have been opposed to the meals tax from the start, but what has concerned me most over the last several months has been the tactics used to try to convince our residents to vote for it and the county’s failure to deal with its spending problems. I would like to offer some clarity on these points and why I am against the meals tax.
Vote Yes: Immigrant Families Rely on Schools for More Than Education
Fairfax County Public Schools are more than just a place to learn. Growing up in Burke, I saw firsthand how our schools created a sense of community and neighborhood camaraderie. Schools are where we could go to borrow a book, where we could watch and play sports, and where we could perform a play or listen to a concert.
Column: Yes to the Meals Tax
Reduces dependence on property tax.
As a businessman here in Fairfax and a former member of the Fairfax County School Board, I write on behalf of a coalition of thousands of homeowners, parents, teachers, firefighters, police, friends and users of our libraries and our parks and recreation facilities, and those who belong to churches and non-profit organizations working to ensure that Fairfax County also protects those in need [www.yesmealstax.org].
Letter: Supporting Meals Tax
Letter to the Editor
I’m writing to encourage Fairfax County voters to support the county meals tax referendum on the ballot in November.
Letter: Meals Tax: A Better Option
Letter to the Editor
After reviewing Fairfax County’s proposed 4-percent meals tax, the Class Size Counts (CSC) board voted to support the Nov. 8 referendum because it decided that it would be better to raise money for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) through a tax on prepared foods rather than through additional increases to County property taxes.
Advice from the Pros
Local private school admissions directors share wisdom they’d offer to their own children.
From interviews to essays to standardized tests to open houses, the season for submitting independent school applications is underway. For families vying for a spot at the area’s most elite schools, the process can be fraught with anxiety, stress and confusion as parents and students wade through the myriad academic options in the Washington, D.C., region.
Herndon/Reston: Innovate Conference Explores Prospects of ‘Individualized Medicine’
The 5th annual Innovate Conference presents “Intersections: Healthcare, Informatics and Personalized medicine” and introduces audiences to a nationally recognized cast of experts. Keith Crandall, PhD, the founding Director of the Computational Biology Institute at George Washington University, sets the stage and introduces opening keynoters Congresswoman Barbara Comstock and Governor Terry McAuliffe (invited), providing a look at Federal and state intersections with research in healthcare and informatics.
Restonians ‘Embrace Change’
Annual Reston Home Tour features six diverse private homes, and a roam through BLVD, Reston’s newest luxury apartments.
A mild, sunny autumn day made wandering from one end of Reston to the other a decided pleasure, both for the ticket holders for the annual Reston Home Tour, and for the homeowners who generously put their digs on display. “Really,” said one gentleman volunteer at the stop at the five-story Beacon Heights Derrick/Lashlee townhouse along Lake Audubon.
Column: Fall Comes to Reston—The Good, Bad and Ugly
Independent Progressive
I love the fall! If it were up to me, we would have fall weather for eleven months of the year. This fall, however, is having real ups and downs.
Reston Column: My Election Picks
Commentary
Voters in the 36th legislative district which I represent will receive my annual voting guide in their mailboxes this week. I hope you will find it useful. You can also view the guide online at www.kenplum.com.