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‘Another Way of Living’ Celebrates Reston

Documentary screened at community center on Founder’s Day.

When Rebekah Wingert-Jabi began to piece together a film about Reston’s history to date, she realized each member of the community created the web that shaped it.Her film, “Another Way of Living - The Story of Reston, VA,” was screened at the Reston Community Center on Saturday night as a part of the Reston Founder’s Day celebrations.“It wasn’t until I left Reston that I realized what a special place it was,” she said.The film, which took two years to create, weaves back and forth through Reston’s history and founder Robert Simon Jr.’s life. It showed how a place that once headlined as “An unlikely success story” is now the community for 75,000 people and counting.

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Local Designer Honored

Alexandria tastemaker blends a variety of styles.

Old Town Alexandra-based interior designer Anna Kucera has a knack for helping her clients turn their fanciful ideas in to concrete realities.

Floris United to Host Empty Bowls Fundraiser

Local potters give their time and talent to support Empty Bowls and help fight hunger in our area. The Reston and Herndon pottery classes at their respective Community Centers have been busy making hundreds and hundreds of ceramic bowls for an Empty Bowls fundraiser to benefit Food for Others, the largest distributor of free food in Northern Virginia and hosted by The Giving Circle of HOPE. Open to the public, the event will be held on Friday, April 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Rd, Herndon. Pre-event tickets are $25 and will be $30 at the door. Guests will receive a simple supper of soup, bread, a beverage, dessert and a handmade bowl, which they may keep to remind them that there are those in our community that are empty. For more information go to www.givingcircleofhope.org.


Fairfax Arts Programs Receive Federal Grants

Seven local organizations involved in the arts and literature are receiving a total of $230,000 in federal grants from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) said.

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‘Victims’ Rights Are a Necessity’

Honoring crime victims with walk, words and candlelight vigil.

Siobhan Russell was just 19 when her ex-boyfriend killed her. Ron Kirby, a noted regional transportation planner, was murdered in his Alexandria home in November by an unknown assailant.

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Reston Celebrates History and Founder’s Birthday

Reston Celebrates History and Founder’s Birthday

Reston founder Robert Simon Jr.’s birthday bash was the biggest party in town.With cake, music performances, proclamations and even a quick visit from the governor, Saturday’s Founder’s Day festivities at Washington Plaza attracted hundreds of spectators and a big smile from Simon himself.The event, an early 100th birthday celebration for Simon and Reston’s 50th anniversary, was held from noon until nearly 3 p.m.“Bob Simon, here we had an idea guy that followed through, and out of that idea flourished a place that had extraordinary values,” said U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11).


CATS Puts Special Needs Kids First

Children’s Adaptive Team Sports reinforces and praises with soccer and trophies.

Children with special needs can sometimes feel like they are not a part of a community. CATS - which stands for Children’s Adaptive Team Sports - helps these kids feel like real winners by putting them on their own basketball and soccer teams. “We’ve had some parents who were emotional and said they thought they’d never see their son play on a soccer team,” said founder and CEO Margarita Benavides. “Eighty percent of parents said there were improvements on motor skills or attention.”

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Aldrin Elementary, Giant Announce Partnership

Aldrin Elementary and Giant of North Point announced their business partnership with a school assembly, on March 6. This is the first official school partnership for Giant. Aldrin's fifth and sixth grade chorus performed a special song and kindergartners created a video highlighting their recent field trip to Giant.

Metrorail Workshop Held at McNair

Hunter Mill District residents express concern for safety.

About a dozen bikers and walkers from the Hunter Mill district helped to pinpoint possible trails that will become a yellow brick road for locals hoping to visit D.C. or head to Dulles Airport.Concern for pedestrian and cyclist accessibility to the Silver Line Metrorail stations coming to Herndon fueled a public workshop at McNair Elementary on April 7.Herndon residents living in the Dranesville district previously met at Herndon Middle School on March 26.“We need to make some investments in the bicycle and pedestrian areas right now,” said Kris Morley-Nikfar, Fairfax County Department of Transportation planner and Herndon Metrorail Station Access Management Study project manager.The proposal maps presented ways for cyclists to access the Herndon Metro Station or the Innovation Center Metro Station within three miles and pedestrians access within one mile. However, Fairfax County wants to improve the trails via upgraded crosswalks, improved and extended trails and road diets.“We’re building them for people dressed in business clothes or dressed in casual clothes,” said team lead David Whyte.


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Lake Anne Presents ‘Annie’

Lake Anne Elementary School presented “Annie,” the first Musical Drama Club production. The double casted show allowed all 46 children in the club to have higher profile roles and multiple parts as lead actors and background dancers/singers. The cast was made up of fourth through sixth graders at Lake Anne Elementary. Starring roles were performed by Claire Callaway and Olivia Bryant (Annie), Mikhail Goldenberg (Oliver Warbucks), and Christina Alegre and Alyssa Spar (Ms. Hannigan).

Under the Influence

Commentary

People who could benefit from an expansion of Medicaid that closes the coverage gap by insuring more of the working poor are found throughout the Commonwealth. The highest percentages of such persons tend to be in the southside and southwest regions of the state. Impose a map of regions represented by Republicans and Democrats over a map reflecting the highest percentages of the working poor and the two maps are close to identical. Yet, Republicans who represent areas of great need oppose the expansion of Medicaid, and Democrats who have large numbers of persons but a smaller percentage of those who would benefit from the expansion support it. The historic interest of the two parties explains in part this contradiction, but there are other explanations as well.

Reston Hospital Center Recognized for Excellence in Lactation Care

The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) and International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) have recognized Reston Hospital Center for excellence in lactation care. Reston Hospital Center has received the IBCLC Care Award in recognition of staffing professionals who hold the prestigious International Board Certified Lactation Consultant certification (IBCLC) and providing a lactation program that is available 5-7 days a week for breastfeeding families. In addition, Reston Hospital demonstrated that it has provided recent breastfeeding training for medical staff that care for new families, and have recently completed activities that help protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.


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McLean, South Lakes Girls' Soccer Teams Pleased with Season Outlook

Highlanders looking for sustained success, Seahawks looking to turn corner.

The McLean and South Lakes girls' soccer team played to a scoreless tie on April 4.

Classified Advertising April 2, 2014

Read the latest ads here!

Commentary: Why I Support Medicaid Expansion

As the Virginia General Assembly continues to discuss the expansion of Medicaid, the benefits and consequences of doing so have received a great deal of attention. Debates rage in the media, among businesses and around the kitchen tables of ordinary Virginians throughout the state. At our board meeting of March 25 my colleagues and I reiterated, in a bi-partisan vote, our strong support for Medicaid expansion in Virginia.


Opinion: Maintaining a Viable, Diverse Community in Fairfax County

While need for housing, childcare, healthcare and other human services have grown, these programs have faced significant cuts over past few years.

The following open letter to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors concerns housing and human services budget recommendations from the Fairfax Budget Advocacy Coalition for Housing and Human Services.

Northern Virginia Senior Olympics Mission: Living Healthy Longer

The 2014 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics will take place Sept. 13-24 at 18 venues throughout Northern Virginia. Adults 50 years of age and over who live in one of the sponsoring jurisdictions are eligible to participate.

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Maye Leads Herndon Boys’ Soccer to Victory

Hornets start 2-0 under new coach Tolaba.

The Herndon boys' soccer team faces defending region champion Oakton tonight.


John Marshall Bank Hires Kerry Donley

Kerry Donley has joined John Marshall Bank’s team of banking leaders. Donley, senior vice resident, will be based in John Marshall Bank’s Alexandria office.

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County Honors Its Heroes

Chamber of Commerce hosts annual Valor Awards.

The 36th annual Valor Awards, honoring public safety heroes, was presented by the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner on Monday, March 31.