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Mercia Hobson

Stories by Mercia

Trust and Transparency Enhance Public Safety in Reston

Supervisor Alcorn hosts Hunter Mill Town Hall With FCPD

Leadership at the Fairfax County Police Department, Reston District Station are "very proud" of their work but acknowledge there is more work to come.

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Nothing But the Best for Family: Pets of Reston and Herndon

For us lucky ones, pets are part of our lives.

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The Madness of Trust and Betrayal in Reston

Months of no hot water for mixed-use Reston condo

It's a losing game in the long run for any condo association to postpone needed maintenance on their buildings or make band-aid fixes.

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Keeping Hunter Mill Residents Warm This Winter

No one needs to go without a coat.

The Hunter Mill District Winter Coat Closet that Cornerstones ran in partnership with the Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s office continues to be a much-needed resource for the community.

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See Reston’s Historic Sites

Online map recalls ‘Yes, in my backyard.’

Reston Historic Trust & Museum recently released its online interactive Reston History Map that highlights critical historical sites throughout the community.

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Heightened Needs Demand One-Stop Mobilizations in Reston

Drive-through supports three resources.

“It was quite a day,” said Roberta Gosling of Reston, co-founder of South Lakes High School PTSA  Food Pantry.

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A Bike for Bamilak

Good things happen when groups partner.

Herndon-based personal injury attorney Doug Landau of Abrams Landau Law Firm recently met Bamilak Robi, 11, of Reston after he and his family were involved in an automobile crash.

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Fairfax County Severs Cooperation with ICE

Board adopts Trust Policy barring voluntarily sharing residents' immigrant status

Fairfax County's Board of Supervisors approved in a vote of 9-to1, the Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy (Trust Policy) introduced as a Board Matter on Jan. 26 by Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay and co-sponsored by Supervisors Dalia A. Palchik (D-Providence) and John W. Foust (D-Dranesville).

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Fairfax County School Board Votes for In-Person Learning

Students who opt-in would be due back by March 16.

Fairfax County Public School students, whose parents or guardians opt for in-person learning for their children, are headed back to the classroom at least two days a week by March 16.

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Fighting Hunger in Reston Neighborhoods

Fairfax County’s Stuff the Bus rolls into action.

“The Wheels on the Bus” is a classic children's song that tells the story of a little bus going "All 'round the town."

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Tightening Criteria for Entering into Gang Database

Gang Task Force use of DataWalk under scrutiny

On Oct. 2, 2018, Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force selected DataWalk as their analytical platform to support its fight against gangs according to a headline on BUSINESS WIRE.

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Questioning Racially-Biased Gang Database

Activists: Residents can be entered into GangNet merely for living in neighborhoods where gang activity takes place.

With no recourse for review, a nebulous definition of gang membership led an activist, an immigration advocate, and a Virginia legislator to fight for change.

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The First Shots to Knock Out COVID-19 in Reston

Fellowship Square’s seniors inoculated

Lake Anne Fellowship House residents Steve McAvoy, 71, and Jin Liu, 84, of Reston were among the first of seven hundred anxious older adults at one of the three senior affordable housing communities operated by Fellowship House in Reston and Woodbridge who were inoculated last week against COVID-19.

Friends of Reston Introduce New Executive Director

Kia Cole-Hines of Reston has been tapped as the new Executive Director of Friends of Reston (FOR), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization for Reston Association (RA).

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COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Headaches in Fairfax County

IT and supply problems worry residents.

“I want to assure you that everyone who wants to be vaccinated will be,” said Jeffrey McKay, Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

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Reston Celebrates Dr. King’s Day

In cooperation with supporters, Reston Community Center (RCC) pivoted amidst the coronavirus pandemic to present, for the 36th year, the Reston Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration.

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CORE Foundation Celebrates 15th Anniversary

Nonprofit recognizes community partners, volunteers

CORE Foundation in Reston, "Helping Others Be the Change for 15 Years," held its MASKerade and Community Hero Awards Saturday evening, Jan. 16.

Fairfax County Residents List Assembly Expectations

County General Assembly Delegation holds pre-2021 Session Public Hearing

The Fairfax County General Assembly Delegation held a Pre-2021 Session Public Hearing on Saturday, Jan. 9.

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Local College Student Launches Tutoring Company

Education is his passion.

In the wake of the coronavirus and its impact on students' learning in Fairfax County Public Schools, a 2019 alumnus of South Lakes High School in Reston and second-year engineering student at Georgia Institute of Engineering recently founded S4S Tutoring.

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Local Hospitals Roll Out First COVID-19 Vaccines

Communities keep lights up for healthcare heroes

December 2020 held the darkest days yet during the pandemic but also lights of hope.

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Herndon High Runner Captures First at Cross Country League 5k Race

Gillian Bushée flies through school's cross county record

The most challenging distance to go for Herndon High School freshman and cross country runner Gillian Bushée of Reston was the distance from her bed to the front door each morning.

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Reston Association State of the Environment Report 2020

Highlights bring to life what is good, fair and poor environmentally; The Greatest Zoom on Reston Thursday, Dec. 17.

Anyone who has met Doug Britt of Reston knows he has a wealth of information on the creepy, crawly, slimy, majestic, utterly beautiful creatures, insects, and flora that call Reston home.

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One Board, Two Sycamores, Three Concerns in Reston

Possible removal of Heron House trees brought to light.

Two Reston sycamore trees at Lake Anne Village Center appear to be a concern to certain people, but for three different reasons.

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HOPE for the Holidays at Reston Hospital

Quilt installation unexpectedly concurrent with FDA vaccine authorization; Fairfax County cases four times they were in May

Since March, healthcare workers at Reston Hospital Center, like their counterparts elsewhere at county, state and national levels, as well as globally, have fought relentlessly, risking their own lives to treat and save their coronavirus patients.

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A Catch of Wishes at Lake Anne

Better than any greeting card for the season

Anyone taking a walk on the plaza at Lake Anne Village Center is drawn to it, unsure at first what it is.

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A Look Inside the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Meeting Dec. 1, 2020

Highlights of discussion and actions that impact all who live, work and play in the diverse county

Dec. 1 marked the final Fairfax County Full Board of Supervisors Meeting with Public Comment of 2020.

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Holiday Lights on the Farm in Herndon

Lake Fairfax and Burke Lake bring their displays to Frying Pan Farm Park.

Fairfax County Park Authority recently looked to find ways for people to have a good time during the holiday season with their family.

Students and Parents Navigate Virtual Learning in Fairfax County

FCPS Virtual and In-Person Learning During COVID 2020

Dec. 1 marked the day that Fairfax County Public Schools students in Group 5, those in Early Head Start, PreK, Kindergarten, and some who receive special education services were to at last transition out of distance learning and walk through school doors to receive two days a week of in-person learning.

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Helping Families in Need this Holiday Season in Reston and Herndon

Cornerstones combines Thanksgiving Food Drive with Gifts for Kids.

Cornerstones was back at it again, ready to assist 1,000 Reston and Herndon families struggling to make ends meet this holiday season.

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In-Person Learning Delayed for Some Fairfax County Public Schools Students

Superintendent and staff update school board on return-to-school plans

A surge in COVID-19 cases in Fairfax County forced Fairfax County Public Schools to delay its planned return of in-person instruction for an additional 6,800 students on Monday, Nov. 16.

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Possible Funding Threat for Fairfax County Public Schools

COVID cases increase, yet leadership hangs their star on families returning and increased enrollment.

Fall membership as of Sept. 30, 2020 at Fairfax County Public Schools declined by 8,859 students, dipping to 180,151 compared to data recorded last year at the same time, according to Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Transportation Services Jeff Platenberg.

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Hunter Mill District Winter Coat Closet Continues

Distribution limited to five Saturdays November through March

As the weather gets colder, the need for coats and winter outerwear is greater than ever this season for community members who are unsheltered.

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Election Storm of the Century: Herndon-Reston Area

Saying the vote counts is an understatement.

Election Day 2020 will go down in history.

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Pressure Mounts on Return to School in Fairfax County

School Board members face sensitive voting items.

The week of Oct. 19 held important information for Fairfax County Public Schools families.

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‘Matter Closed’ on Reston Golf Course Designation

Owner ‘respectfully disagrees’ with supervisor’s findings

Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn (D) issued a surprise statement early Friday morning, Oct. 23, ending what he termed "a good deal of uncertainty and even anxiety" among some constituents in the Reston portion of his district.

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In-Person Early Voting Locations Open in Fairfax County

Voters cite ballot controversy and deep divide in the country.

The need to drop their ballot into a secure drop-off box or slide it into a voting machine, spurred thousands of voters to wait in long lines on the first day of in-person early voting at satellite locations in Fairfax County on Oct. 14.

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Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Through Changes in TJ Admissions

Newest proposed merit lottery admissions policy fuels concern.

Top-level discussions concerning proposals by Fairfax County Public Schools leaders and School Board members to increase the population of underrepresented students of color at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) have flown fast and furious the last four weeks.

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Fairfax County Public Schools Staff Uncomfortable With In-Person School Plan

Fairfax County Federation of Teachers releases survey results.

Staff at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) are overwhelmingly uncomfortable with returning for in-person instruction, given the incomplete information about the implementation that has been currently shared, according to a report released by the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers (FCFT) on Oct. 6 during a press conference.

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Life Hangs in the Box Checked in Fairfax County

HR for County Schools tells staff to make a decision.

Tia Williams is an instructional assistant with diabetes and severe asthma at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

Viewpoints: Reston Residents Enjoy ‘Small Town Feel’

The Connection asked Reston residents what the greatest things about living in the area are.

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Mobilizing for the Biden-Harris Ticket

Virginia's former Governor, House of Delegate Speaker and Senate Majority Leader at Fairfax County Government Center.

The second and third day of early voting at Fairfax County Government Center brought enthusiastic voters exercising their rights to vote and more.

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Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees Revisits July Controversy

Trustee Rosenthal apologies for ‘wrong words’ and retains board seat.

Fran Millhouser, Chair of Fairfax County Library Board, said she received "many emails voicing public concern" for statements made by Trustees Phil Rosenthal (Springfield District) and Darren Ewing (Dranesville District) during the previous board meeting in late July.

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Kamala Harris Speaks at Fairfax 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony

At Fairfax County Public Safety Headquarters, County Fire Chief John S. Butler stepped to the podium at the 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony to commemorate lives lost on September 11, 2001.

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Responding in Reston to Hate Crimes

Rainbow and Black Lives Matter flags fly at Reston Church; surveillance camera installed.

"Beacon of hope to those who drive by. A demonstrated symbol of our commitment to justice and welcome."

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Casting Off Distance Learning for Fishing Lines

Oakton teen defers college and sets off across America.

First in a series showcasing the stories of Fairfax County families in the time of distance learning as they develop strategies and alternative learning plans best suited to their needs.

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Obituary: SLHS Alumni Adwoa A. Kessie, ’99

Served on the front lines of COVID-19 pandemic.

Longtime Reston resident and South Lakes High School alumni, Adwoa A. Kessie, Class of ‘99, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 19, after a long battle with COVID-19.

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Dedicated to the Notion of Every Child by Name and By Need

Successful virtual start planned for FCPS’ special education children.

Fairfax County Public Schools held a Special Education Town Hall on Aug. 16, part of its Back to School Countdown.

Ewing Resigns from Fairfax County Library Board

Trustee Rosenthal apologizes for disruption.

Two members of the Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees, Phil Rosenthal, Springfield District Representative and Darren Ewing, Dranesville District Representative, made statements during the July 29 public meeting of the Fairfax County Library Board Trustees that caused the public, organizations, and top County leaders to voice concern.

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Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble in Reston

Car Rally for Justice shines a light on conscious and unconscious biases.

With armed security guards patrolling the grounds, faith leaders of nine partnering churches in the Reston-Herndon area joined organizers from Martin Luther King Jr. Christian Church Reston for their Faith and Justice Car Rally.