
Full Day Monday Challenges Discussed
The implementation of “full day Mondays” has been anything but easy for area elementary schools. The challenges that Fairfax County Public Schools faced to bring more hours to elementary students’ school year was addressed by Superintendent Karen Garza and several board members during a school board meeting on Sept. 4 at Jackson Middle School.

Portrait of a Graduate Discussed
The heart of the school system’s new strategic plan is closer to being approved. The Fairfax County School Board discussed the five component Portrait of a Graduate - with some asking for a component emphasizing a caring quality - at Monday’s work session.

Reston Triathlon Attracts Hundreds
Despite having spent the morning swimming, biking and running, Neil Medoff wasn’t impressed with himself. The Reston resident is one of two triathletes who has competed in the Reston Triathlon all 31 years it has been an event, but he said Sunday’s race was not a personal best.
Classified Advertising September 10, 2014
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Board of Supervisors Approves 2014 Budget Carryover Package
FCPS full-day Mondays at discussion forefront.
When students at the 142 public elementary schools around Fairfax County stayed there the full day on Monday -- the first time in about four decades -- they likely weren’t worried about the cost. That’s between the school board and board of supervisors. Grown-up stuff.

‘Recession Ripple Persists’ at Realtors’ Summit
Private sector job growth key to strengthening regional economy, housing demand.
“There’s no question the primary economic driver of this region has always been Uncle Sam,” said David Versal, senior research associate at the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis. “That said, we’re not Detroit.”

Reston Town Center Hosts ChalkFest
IPAR ChalkFest brings hundreds of spectators and artists to Reston.
Amazing art lined the streets of Reston Town Center during the Reston ChalkFest event. Adults, teens and children had an opportunity to color the bricks of Reston’s Market Street between Library Street and Presidents Street.
Obituary: Euphemia Fay Sardone, 83, of Reston, Dies
Euphemia Fay Sardone, 83, of Reston lost her 14 year battle against Alzheimer disease on Aug. 25. Fay was born in Glasgow, Scotland and immigrated to the U.S. at age 19 in New York City, and pursued a modeling career. She later married, and settled in Fairfax County. In 1970 she became one of Northern Virginia’s first women Realtors, real estate broker, and co-owner and founder of Jerry Sardone Realty.

Businesses Change Hands at Reston Lake Anne Plaza
Some businesses move on despite redevelopment plans.
Located between Baron Cameron and Sunset Hills Road, Lake Anne Plaza and the adjacent neighborhood are the nucleus of the original Reston development. An important part of Reston’s development is its five village centers and town center.
A Plum Good Time!
Democrats gathered to support Dranesville Supervisor John Foust at Del. Ken Plum’s annual Family Picnic.
The powerful thunderstorms that drenched Northern Virginia Saturday night had the good sense to wait until the crowd of similarly powerful forces of nature – aka political VIPs - rallied, stumped and socialized at Del. Ken Plum's (D-36) Annual Summer Picnic and Pre-Election Rally.
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.
A Concert for Gloria
In celebration of her 90th birthday, there will be a concert in honor of Gloria Sussman at the Reston Community Center.
Not only is Gloria Sussman a long-time Reston resident, she is a Reston celebrity. So many people use the word “Restonian” to describe Reston’s community-oriented environment and local camaraderie and it is people like Gloria Sussman who make this possible.
Time Sensitive
As much as I don’t want to be cognizant of date, time and place, relative to February 27, 2009 when Team Lourie first received the stage IV, non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis on yours truly, I am (a terminal diagnosis will do that to you). Moreover, as often as I write about the need to live forward, rather than die backward (if you know what I mean), I still struggle with the application.
Column: The Legacy of Bob McDonnell
I had no idea what to expect when the jury announced it had reached its verdicts on the charges against former Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen, but when the verdicts were announced I was stunned.
Obituary: Jean Stuart Clymer
Jean Stuart Clymer, 90, of Reston, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014.

Extreme Politics
Foust, Comstock stake out opposing positions during first debate in hyper-partisan 10th district Congressional race.
Forget first-debate politeness. Republican Barbara Comstock and Democrat John Foust — the candidates vying to replace longtime U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf in Virginia’s 10th Congressional district — sustained the hyper-partisan tenor of their campaigns during a debate-style forum hosted by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce in Herndon last week.

The Broad-winged Hawks Are Coming
Every Autumn, in addition to literally billions of songbirds, a million or more avian raptors (hawks, eagles, and falcons) migrate from their nesting and breeding areas all over North America to their winter homes, mostly in Central and South America. Raptor enthusiasts and hawk counters often head for mountain ridges and other concentration points in hopes of seeing some of the birds fly by.
Classified Advertising September 3, 2014
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Taking On the ‘Silver Tsunami’
Herrity to present 50+ Plan to Board of Supervisors next week.
“It’s here,” said Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield). “We’re already living in it.” Between 2005 and 2030, the number of individuals 50 and older is projected to grow by 40 percent in Fairfax County and the number 70 and older is projected to grow by 80 percent. Herrity attributes the changes to both the aging of Baby Boomers, and the general increase in life expectancy.

Lake Anne Hosts Jazz and Blues Festival
New Orleans came to Reston on Saturday. The 8th annual Lake Anne Jazz and Blues festival raked in some of the biggest crowds it’s seen yet on Saturday, Aug. 30, as people came in from all over the D.C. metropolitan region for a taste of the area’s best music.