More Than 200 Attend First Fairfax County Budget Hearing
Schools, libraries, economic development authorites and others seek more funding while tax-hawks call for reductions.
More than 200 people packed the Fairfax County Government auditorium Tuesday, April 7, and 60 speakers were scheduled to testify before the Board of Supervisors on the advertised budget. The hearing began with a presentation by School Board Chairman Tamara Derenak Kaufax. Members of the Fairfax County School Board sat in the front row, gave a standing ovation, and remained standing as Kaufax finished her testimony to begin the budget hearings.
Column: The Fact Is Not Yet The Matter
I don’t know which is worse: the extra-special, extra-expensive, dental cleaning (the kind that requires Novocain and involves the actual dentist, not merely the hygienist) that I have scheduled for April 8th – or my next hopefully-not-do-or-die CT Scan, moved up a month from my usual three-month interval because of a suspicious formation seen on my most recent scan back in mid-February.
Week in Reston
Weekly in happenings in Reston.
Letter: Keeping Reston Pollution Free
To the Editor
The work on the New Herndon Monroe Metro station has begun and will negatively impact the surrounding Reston community almost immediately
Letter: Taking Exception on ‘Education Taxes’
To the Editor
It's the lofty tone of certainty that grates. Bob Simon ("Turning Every Rock for Education Budget," Reston Connection, April 1-7), who, I hazard a guess, is comfortably able to pay ever-rising RE taxes, suggests that the county's rate should be jacked up yet again -- an extra penny yielding $22 million in revenue. Why didn't we all think of this? Why not two pennies for $44 million?
Column: A Hundred Fifty Years Ago
The first person I ever knew who wrote a weekly newspaper column was a teacher in the high school I attended who wrote a column during the period 1961-1965 entitled, “A Hundred Years Ago: The Civil War Day By Day.” He did not have to think of a new topic every week; he simply reported what was known to be going on a 100 years before during that week.
Weekend Fun in Fairfax County - April 3-5, 2015
A roundup of entertaining things to do this weekend.
A roundup of fun things to do this weekend in Fairfax county.
Prisoner Escapes from Fairfax Hospital, Gets Recaptured
Social media aids manhunt
Around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, Wossen Assaye overpowered the female member of his two-guard private security detail while the male was out of his hospital room. Assaye was reportedly in shackles on a hospital gurney before the struggle.
Springfield: Getting into Marian Homes
Remodeling project to provide for residents with intellectual and or physical disabilities.
When the new residents of Marian Homes’ latest remodeling project move in to the Gresham Street house in north Springfield, Fairfax resident and Marian volunteer John Germain hopes they feel at home.
Northern Virginia Training Center in Fairfax to Close by March 2016
From institution to community, finding homes for those hard to place.
Joseph McHugh has lived at the Northern Virginia Training Center for 35 years, moving in when he was a teenager. McHugh has cerebral palsy and colostomy and severe spasticity issues. At the training center, McHugh works with a speech pathologist, nurse, on-campus dietician and is close to an X-ray machine, dental facility and clinic on the grounds.
‘Your Life Is Today and Tomorrow’
Residents of local senior living communities share their experiences.
“I didn’t want to come here,” said Bill Woessner, referring to Brightview Assisted Living Community in Great Falls. “That’s right,” agreed Sheila, his wife of more than 50 years, with plenty of her native Scottish brogue to be heard in her voice. “He really didn’t. We have a lovely house here in Great Falls and I don’t think he was ready to budge. But how long after we got here did that change?” she turned to her husband and asked. “At least a day,” he laughingly replied. “Seriously,” said Bill Woessner, “it probably wasn’t more than the first 48 hours.”
Creative Aging Festival Coming in May
Includes 114 performances, poetry readings, art exhibits, lectures, classes and more.
A Creative Aging Festival will take place throughout the month of May at 100-plus local venues in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria. The month-long festival includes 114 performances, poetry readings, art exhibits, lectures, classes and more.
County Adult Centers Offer Seniors Activities, Social Interaction
In 2014, the attendance at Fairfax County senior centers was 277,342.
At the Kingstowne Center for Active Adults, volunteer Frank Bauer sees zumba and yoga classes “flowing into the main room sometimes,” he says, revealing how popular those classes are at the center, which caters to seniors 55 and older. This Kingstowne center, one of 14 senior centers throughout Fairfax County, offers classes and activities to keep seniors active.
Column: Manifest Destiny
I wouldn’t say I have symptoms (why would I say that? If I said that, I’d have to admit that cancer is having an effect on me.
Fit for the Golden Years
Fitness programs for seniors are part of a trend.
One night each week, Sue Thompson can be found dribbling a basketball down the court, leading her team, the Nova United, to victory. Thompson, who is in her 60s, is one of the youngest players in her league, the National Senior Women’s Basketball Association.
Nysmith School Students Interview War Veterans
Richard Graff didn't hesitate to describe his darkest days while serving in World War II. "Every combat soldier has to get used to the bodies," he said. "Whenever I think back to that one day when I didn't think I would have another day, you bet, I'm glad to be here," Graff said.
Police Captain Graduates from FBI Academy
Captain Graham H. McGowan is the Fairfax County Police Department’s latest graduate of the FBI’s National Academy, which has just completed its 259th session.
RA Members to Vote April 13- May 8 on Tetra Purchase
Reston Association members will vote on whether to purchase the 3.47 acre Tetra property located at 11450 Baron Cameron Ave. for $2.65 million.
Column: Return on Investment
Constituents contacted me recently about a Richmond Times Dispatch article headline they felt was misleading: “Ken Plum says Pre-K education leads to less crime and welfare.”
Girl Scouts Troop 3651 Raise Money for Honor Flights
Film and presentations explain the importance of getting veterans to Washington D.C. to see their monuments.
Girl Scout Troop 3651 organized a screening of the moving Honor Flight, and invited two World War II veterans, Howard Jester and George Hanna, to speak to the audience after the film.