Trained in Prison, Healing in N. Virginia
Healing power of dogs creates ties between prisoners, veterans, children with disabilities.
When I first started going inside prisons for paws4people.org, my job was three-fold: to capture, through photography, the connection between the dogs and their inmate trainers, to provide images that reflected the accomplishments of months of training and to document the moment that veterans, children and young adults were matched with their assistance dogs.
Reston Association Holds May Yard Sale
Participants enjoy good weather at yard sale event.
“I heard about this yard sale from a co-worker,” said Alfred Carter, a resident of Alexandria. Carter was one of 95 participants in the May biannual yard sale hosted by the Reston Association. The yard sale was held at the parking lot near the organization’s office at 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive the morning of Saturday, May 17. Shoppers and vendors mingled from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., enjoying the nice weather. “It is very nice and well organized,” said Carter, who brought an assortment of items to the yard sale.
Fine Arts Festival Brings Art to the Community
Signature local art event enriches community life.
“I think the opening night could not be better,” said Derryl Harris, a board member of Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE). Harris attended the Friday opening night event for the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. The festival, an annual event produced by GRACE, is a competitive, juried, outdoor event showcasing some of the finest contemporary fine art and craft. Each year the Festival features over 200 skilled artisans who utilize both traditional and unconventional materials and techniques to create, hand-crafted, original works of art available for purchase. The diversity of fine art and fine craft at the Festival, now in its 23rd year, ensures there were many tastes. A highlight of the Festival is the opportunity to interact directly with the artists.
Reston Community Orchestra Holds Season Finale
Concert features two young pianists.
The afternoon of Sunday, May 18, at Reston Community Center CenterStage, the Reston Community Orchestra (RCO) preformed their final concert of the 2013-2014 with a performance featuring two young pianists. Pianists Mark Dang and Matthew Geier performed Haydn’s “Piano Concerto in D Major.” The program also included Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite #2” and selections from “Forest Gump.” Conducting the orchestra was Dingwall Fleary, a maestro who has directed Reston Community Orchestra for 16 years.
Giving Circle of Hope Honors 2013 Nonprofit Partners
Connections for Hope Partnership of Herndon receives first ever Impact Grant Award of $25,000.
Hidden Creek Country Club in Reston was the venue on May 14 for the Giving Circle of Hope’s annual gathering to showcase the nonprofit partners to whom the organization’s members have chosen to award grants for the coming year. Each fall, eligible members of the Circle – persons who have contributed at least $1 per day for the year to the Grant Fund – review applications and vote to award grants for specific projects that help people in need in Northern Virginia.
Column: Post-Game Analysis
While I enjoy watching college athletic competitions, I do not watch many professional sports on television. For sure I do not watch any of the post-game shows. Panels for these shows seem carefully selected to ensure controversy and banter to fill the time slot.
Rebranding Their Passion
10th annual Technology and the Arts Awards presented.
Think S.T.E.A.M, not S.T.E.M. That was the message Leidos Director of Advertising, Branding and Creative Chris Green told a group of student artists at the 10th Annual Technology and the Arts Competition Awards at the ASCE World Headquarters in Reston on May 14.
Too Patient a Patient
Since I’m in the honesty business (as you regular readers know; and based on many of the e-mails I receive, commended on being so), if I were to admit anything concerning my behavior during these last five-plus years as a lung cancer survivor, it would have to be my continual tendency to minimize new symptoms, and in turn, not contact my oncologist (which from the very beginning is the exact opposite of what we are told to do). Stupid, stubborn, scared, naive, in denial; you pick.
You’re Never Too Young for Poetry
Local educators say exposing children and even babies to rhyme and rhythm can help develop reading and language skills.
Though Keith Ward's son is still a baby, the young child is already being exposed to exposed to not just silly stories, but poetry, and a variety of poetic forms at that.
Editorial: Remembering on Memorial Day
Fewer deaths as military operations wind down, but 22 veterans a day die of suicide.
In Arlington over the coming Memorial Day weekend, the organization TAPS, or Tragedy Assistance for Survivors, will hold its 20th annual Military Survivor seminar and Good Grief camp for young survivors, children of all ages. TAPS offers support to anyone who is grieving the death of someone who died in the military, whether from combat, suicide, terrorism, homicide, negligence, accidents or illness. http://www.taps.org/
Sullivan, Paine Lead McLean Past South Lakes in Conference 6 Baseball Quarterfinals
No. 7 Highlanders secure regional berth win over No. 2 Seahawks.
The McLean baseball team defeated South Lakes 5-0 on Saturday.
Reston Home Sales: April, 2014
In April 2014, 108 Reston homes sold between $1,080,000-$165,000.
Reston Home Sales: April, 2014
Classified Advertising May 14, 2014
Read the latest ads here!
Letter: Not the Answer
To the Editor: Delegate Ken Plum (D-36) tries to make the argument for expanded Medicaid rolls (“Contrasting Views,” Reston Connection, May 7-13, 2014), touting “free” government money, but inhibits rational argument with his inability to resist cheap partisan invective.
Langston Hughes Middle Celebrates Poetry
Poetry contest inspires creativity.
At the end of April, Langston Hughes Middle School held an after school award ceremony for the annual poetry contest. Approximately 80 poems by students were entered in this year’s annual poetry contest, and winners were announced. The contest, sponsored by Northwest Federal Credit Union (NWFCU) and the school’s PTA, offered students an arena to express ideas poetically. Representing NWFCU was Nicolette Watkins. “It has been a wonderful opportunity for the credit union to work with this school,” said Watkins.
Art Taking Over Town Center
Popular fine arts festival this weekend, May 16-18.
One of the largest outdoor festivals on the East Coast will come alive in Reston Town Center this weekend. The 23rd annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival will fill the streets with more than 200 artists and street performers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 16-18, to raise money for Greater Reston Arts Center.
High School Scholarship Seeks Donations
Laptops for Success provides computers for college-bound seniors.
Sahfkat Ali, a South Lakes High School alum, was among the first class that received a laptop through a new school scholarship in 2006.
Memorable Evening of Movement and Dance
Three local professional dance troupes pull into Reston's CenterStage.
Its successful season of adventuresome professional touring artists series nearing its close, Reston Community Center is bringing the contrasting styles of three local professional dance troupes to CenterStage.
Column: What Price Business?
Last month Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Virginia will participate in the Business Incentives Initiative, a joint project of The Pew Charitable Trusts (PEW) and the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) and six other states (Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma and Tennessee) to “reform economic development incentive reporting policies and practices.” While millions of dollars are spent on tax incentives and grants to lure business to Virginia each year, there is no evidence that the programs are actually working as intended. There is a national debate across the country about the necessity and value of tax incentives to encourage economic development.
Column: Why Doesn’t Reston Recycle?
Spring is here. The sky is a clear, lovely blue. The Reston Farmers Market is open and bustling with festive shoppers. Flowers are blooming all around us. Yet, as we walk the sidewalks, plazas, and the pathways around our lovely lakes, it is also hard to miss the unsightly plastic bottles and aluminum cans strewn along the walkways, in the yards, and worst of all, floating in our beautiful lakes.