Letter: Joining Forces to Prevent Homelessness
You can prevent homelessness, you can end chronic homelessness, you can move people rapidly out of homelessness. What you cannot do is stand aside and let people fall. This simple belief—that together we can change the rate and severity of people losing their homes—brings together nonprofits, for-profits, civic leaders and government staff. We each play a special role, depending on our location and mission. For United Community Ministries (UCM), prevention is the key.
Column: Now This is What
Do nothing (no more treatment) and live life to the fullest (for as long as I’m able, and right now, I’m extremely able); start another chemotherapy protocol – with an I.V. chemotherapy drug which, according to my oncologist, has not been proven in any clinical setting to be better than the patient doing nothing; or, try to get into a Study (Phase 1, 2 or 3) at either N.I.H. (National Institutes of Health) or Johns Hopkins (in Baltimore) and let the treatment chips fall wherever experimental/research medicine takes them. This is what my oncologist discussed with Team Lourie at my most recent appointment, my first appointment with him since my hospitalization and subsequent release.
NVAR Summit at GMU’s Mason Inn
Complex shortage of homes for sale likely to persist; boomers not planning to retire, not planning to move, experts say. Rising mortgage rates should inspire renters to buy soon.
Nationally syndicated columnist and moderator Kenneth R. Harney introduced the expert panel for the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) 17th annual Economic Summit Thursday morning, Sept. 5. Dr. David Crowe, chief economist and senior vice president of the National Association of Home Builders, joined economic experts David E. Versel, a senior research associate at the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis, and Dr. Lawrence Yun, senior economist for the National Association of Realtors.
Condo Renovations
As sales of condominiums grow, so does demand for luxury renovations.
More people are moving from leafy, sprawling suburbs to more urban areas, neighborhoods both in the city and in Northern Virginia that offer close proximity to restaurants, jobs, cultural activities and Metro.
Big Ideas for Small Spaces
Local designers offer ideas for decorating small rooms.
Whether one is sprucing up a small powder room or decorating a studio apartment, space limitations often pose a design challenge. However, local designers say that no matter how a small space’s square footage or how awkward the layout, there are plenty of decorative cures for small spaces. Whether one is sprucing up a small powder room or decorating a studio apartment, space limitations often pose a design challenge. However, local designers say that no matter how a small space’s square footage or how awkward the layout, there are plenty of decorative cures for small spaces.
Top-to-Bottom Makeover Embraces Longterm Horizons
The Hollis family wanted a house that would work better today — and long into the future.
Sometimes it’s not limited square footage that makes a house feel inadequate — it’s how that square footage is configured.
Like Magic
New plan in built-out 1940s colonial gains vital square footage as young family looks ahead.
In the end, a skillful spatial reconfiguration is like a deft magician's trick — you've seen it with your own eyes, but you still can't figure out how they did it. “Really, I don't know how this plan created so much more usable space,” Alexandria resident Alice Goulet said, discussing a recent reconfiguration to several rooms in the family's 1,800-square-foot center-hall Colonial.
Northern Virginia Designers Awarded Rooms in Showhouse Event
Northern Virginia/metro area interior designers Kelley Proxmire of Kelley Interior Design and Wayne Breeden of E. Wayne Breeden Design are among 17 designers awarded rooms at the benefit Winchester Showhouse & Gardens, open to the public through Sept. 29.
Sun Design Named One of U.S.’s Fastest Growing Private Companies
Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, Inc., of Fairfax, was named by Inc. Magazine as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies. This is the fourth time the magazine has included Sun Design on its annual Inc. 5000 list.
Week in Reston
Police responded to the area of Virginia Center Boulevard and Baronhurst Drive on Monday, Sept. 9 shortly after 3:30 p.m. for the report of a crash involving a motorcycle. Initial responding officers summoned Crash Reconstruction Detectives to the scene.
Reston Strikes Blue Win First Tournament
The Great Falls and Reston U11 girls of the Reston Strikers Blue team played and won their first tournament of the season. They got a new coach (Georgiou Apostolos) this year as well as a couple of new players to round out the team. This tournament was the first time they stepped on the field together as a team. To note—Coach Apostolos also coaches his daughter's U14 Team (they are currently ranked No. 1 in WAGS—Washington Area Girls Soccer). They also won in this same tournament. The tournament was the OBGC Capital Cup Labor Day Tournament, which is one of the top rated Labor Day tournaments in the region.
Reston Strikers Win at OBGC Capital Cup
The Reston Strikers stepped onto the field in their first tournament Saturday, Aug. 31 to play in one of the top rated Labor Day tournaments in the region, the OBGC Capital Cup. The tournament included top teams from mostly Virginia and Maryland, ages U9-U19. The debut game for the Strikers ended in a 3-3 tie, awarding them one point in the bracket rankings. In their second game, the Strikers confidence grew with an easy 8-0 win. The Strikers had to beat the first place team in order to make it into the championship game. A tie would mean it was over. The Strikers won 2-1, and then faced off with the winners of bracket B on Monday, Sept. 2nd. The Reston Strikers won in a 2-0 victory.
Reston Association Holds Biannual Yard Sale
The Reston Association held a biannual yard sale at the parking lot near the organization’s office at 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive on Sept. 7. Shoppers and vendors mingled from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., enjoying the nice weather. The event organizer, Ashley Soloff, developed the idea of a community yard sale sponsored by the Reston Association. The idea was well received, as some neighborhoods in Reston do not permit individual yard sales.
Lockheed Employees Show Generous Spirit to Lake Anne ES
Employees of Lockheed Martin who work for the HRAccess Program (Human Resources for TSA) donated supplies to Lake Anne Elementary School; the "Recruiting and Hiring Team" as well as the "Personnel, Payroll and Benefits Team" contributed to the cause. These employees pooled their own money and one individual took the money and went school supply shopping specifically for the Lake Anne school. Her name is Renee McPherson and she is pictured above at Lake Anne Elementary School with school Administrative Assistant Michelle Claude.
Reston Native Unearths the Past in Spain
South Lakes High 2011 graduate explores ancient sites, archeology.
A former baseball player for South Lakes High School in Reston, Ben Raymond is used to spending time playing in the dirt. But this summer, his time in the dirt took on a whole new meaning.
Commentary: Lessons to Be Learned From Others
For many years I used North Carolina as a state that I thought Virginia should emulate. As another southern state, North Carolina was showing Virginia up in its commitment to improving the quality of life of its residents through investments, particularly in education. North Carolina’s appropriation for its university system was at least quadruple the amount per student as Virginia’s. Its preschool program was a model for the country. The state recognized early the importance of the high technology industries and was very successful in attracting new businesses to the Research Triangle.
Column: Another Questionable Use of Lethal Force
On Aug. 29, another civilian was shot to death in a situation that, on the face of it, did not justify the use of lethal force. Mr. John Geer was shot to death standing in the doorway of his home with no visible weapon according to reports from his father and neighbors.
South Lakes Student Honored for Writing
A South Lakes High freshman was among those honored Sunday, Sept. 8, for their entries in a Grandparents Day writing contest. She is Anusha Rahman and she received an honorable mention for “The Journey to My Grandparents.”
Herndon Scouts Collect Bikes for the World
On Sept. 28, Boy Scout Troop 159 will have a bike drive for Bikes for the World.
Did you just buy a new bike and find someone to adopt your old bike which is not in a perfect condition? Do you have a child’s bike at home that's not fit for your son or daughter? Do you have a bike with missing parts? Put your old bike to good use by donating it to Bikes for the World.
Editorial: Small Steps to Fight Homelessness
Efficiency apartments would serve 20-somethings, service workers, retirees and more.
One way to prevent homelessness is to think small. It doesn’t take much space to house one person. Sure, many houses in our area have 1,000 square feet and sometimes two or three times that much per person, but that’s really not necessary.