Usury Explosion: Northern Virginia Becomes Hotbed for Car-Title Lending Industry
Route 1 corridor currently has eight locations; soon to get ninth.
In the last three years, dozens of new car-title lending businesses have popped up in neighborhoods across Northern Virginia — the result of recent regulations opening the door to a business that charges as much as 264 percent a year on loans.
Column: "Scanticipation"
When I get CT-Scanned on Wednesday, November 27th, it will be nearly four months since my last diagnostic scan. That occurred during my hospital "staycation" during the first week of August, when I was admitted due to the extremely abnormal fluid buildup in my left lung.

Navigating Local Holiday Craft Shows
Supporting local artisans and getting one-of-a-kind gifts
Madeline Marzilli plans to start making her Christmas list right after her Thanksgiving house guests leave this weekend. On her list will be one-of-a-kind items for family and friends that she hopes to pick up at some of the local holiday craft shows.

Opportunities to Serve Others on Thanksgiving
Local charities in need of help from the community.
Rahsan Baatin bikes to his Arlington, Va., office on most days. He runs every day. His wife Victoria swims each morning. The two are gearing up to spend Thanksgiving morning running The Trot for Hunger, a 5k race to raise more for the local charity SOME (So Others Might Eat).

Keeping the "Thanks" in Thanksgiving
Focusing on gratitude on a day reserved for feasting.
"Pilgrims," said James, 5, as his mother helped him fasten his helmet for a hockey lesson at the Cabin John Ice Rink near Potomac. "Turkey and pie," said his 6-year-old classmate Aiden. Both boys were responding to a question about the meaning of Thanksgiving.

Creating a Beautiful Thanksgiving Table
Local designers offer suggestions for laying the perfect tablescape.
While food preparation can be all-consuming on Thanksgiving Day, the table décor also plays a major role in a Turkey Day feast. Whether your style is subdued and casual or chic and sophisticated, local designers offer ideas and inspiration for table settings that are as delectable as the meal itself.

Library’s Beta Plan: Dead on Arrival
Supervisors endorse Library Board’s recommendations to increase funding, discard beta plan.
"You can assume that the BETA Plan is dead. I will make that motion tomorrow." In her email to a concerned library patron the night before the Board of Supervisors Nov. 19 meeting, Chairman Sharon Bulova (D-at-large) put to rest speculation that the board would resuscitate the controversial beta plan aimed at streamlining the county’s library system.

South Lakes Seniors Attend STEM Diversity Symposium
Three South Lakes High School seniors—Mahrukh Chowdan, Marli Saunders and Olivia Vita were chosen by the GEMS Club Initiative to attend the first-ever STEM Diversity Symposium on Capitol Hill to discuss the accomplishments women and minorities have made in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as the importance of encouraging more women and minorities to pursue STEM studies and careers. The event took place on Nov. 13.

‘Les Miserables’ Storms the Barricades at the Reston Holiday Parade
The cast and crew of the Reston Players production of "Les Miserables" are excited to announce their participation in this year’s Reston Holiday Parade on Friday, Nov. 29.
Column: Beyond Thanksgiving Day
Happy Thanksgiving Day to you and your family! In previous columns on this date I have presented the historic evidence clearly establishing that the first Thanksgiving celebration took place at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia on Dec. 4, 1619—several years before the Pilgrims ever left England to come to Plymouth Colony.

Community Creates Season of Giving
Organizations and individuals step to transform ‘The Holiday Season’ into ‘The Season of Giving.’
Thursday, Thanksgiving, traditionally marks the beginning of "The Holiday Season." The Christmas Shopping Derby will kick off at midnight for many of the big retailers, and the frantic rush of decorating, card sending, gift buying, wrapping, parties, baking, cooking, preparing for visitors or preparing to travel shifts into high gear.
Three Birds Seeks Energy Education
Foundation seeks to assist schools with alternative energy solutions.
When Rachel Carson Middle School installed 11 solar panels several years ago, Joseph Plummer was inspired. After all, the students worked to raise more than $40,000 for the installation, which gave them a hands-on chance to learn about alternative energy sources.

Holiday Homes Tour Set for Dec. 7
Annual tour features five homes, will be walkable for the first time.
The Town of Herndon will host its annual Holiday Homes Tour Saturday, Dec. 7, giving visitors a chance to explore five residences and the visions of their owners.

Inventor Sets Sights on Sprinkler Savings
Michael Lehmann develops device, algorithm to detect rainfall.
Rain brings with it a lot of headaches, but for Michael Lehmann, rowing coach at Langley High School, one thing bothers him most of all: driving through the rain and seeing automatic lawn sprinklers going all out, watering an already saturated lawn.

Editorial: Holidays Are About Giving
So many needs, so many great organizations, give locally where your heart leads you.
The holidays are about giving. They are about children. The holidays are about sharing, about joy, about alleviating suffering for others. The holidays are about being thankful and about faith and appreciation.
Classified Advertising November 20, 2013
Read the lastest ad here!

Seahawks Ready to ‘Cut Nets’
South Lakes girls’ basketball returns nine from state-playoff team.
The South Lakes girls' basketball team opens the season on Dec. 3 at Stone Bridge.

Decline in Sales Tax Threatens Ability of Local Governments to Balance Books
Sequester looms large over revenues across Northern Virginia.
Sales tax revenues are down across Northern Virginia, leading to concerns that balancing the books for the coming fiscal year could be even more of a challenge for budget officials and elected officials in the coming months.

Nature Center Hosts Evening Hike
On Nov. 13, Reston Association hosted an evening hike at the Walker Nature Center on 11450 Glade Drive. The hike was led by naturalist Ken Rosenthal, who led a similar group with a target audience of grandparents and grandchildren the previous year.