Editorial: Diversity Growing
Tune in to our series on immigration.
This week, the Connection kicks off a series about immigration, diversity and the growing population of foreign-born residents in Fairfax County. County reporter Victoria Ross opens with a story that captures vignettes and statistics of the changing population. It is a topic consistent with the original Thanksgiving story. More than 28 percent of Fairfax County's population is foreign born; that's 317,000 residents.
Brief: Rosemary Gallick’s Artwork on Display in Three Galleries
Paintings by Rosemary Gallick are on exhibition at the Reston Association until Nov. 30.
Brief: ArtSpace Announces Winners of Portrait Competitions
Brief: ArtSpace Herndon has announced the winners and honorable mentions of the fourth annual Portrait Competition.
Fairfax Becomes Immigrants’ Gateway
Focus on immigration.
Yesuf Beshir spent nearly three years gathering the mountain of paperwork he needed to leave Ethiopia and emigrate to America.
A Way Out of No Way
Two women — one African-American and one from Africa — learn to see America through each other’s eyes.
Rosemary Osei, 22, and Lillie Reynolds, 61, have been good friends for four years. The two women, who help teach special needs students at a Vienna elementary school, are sometimes mistaken for mother and daughter.
Viewpoints: Immigrants’ Experiences on Becoming Americans
On Sept. 22 at the Multicultural Festival on Lake Anne Plaza in Reston, 25 people participated in a naturalization ceremony that made them American citizens.
Thanksgiving Centerpiece Ideas: Flowers Not Required
Floral design pros share secrets to creating swoon-worthy centerpieces.
While the turkey is often the star of a Thanksgiving dinner table, a nonedible focal point can play a leading role in creating an elegant dinner table aesthetic. From lush floral arrangements to designs without blooms, three local floral design pros offer ideas for spectacular centerpieces that can be replicated easily at home.
Editorial: Shop Locally, Give Locally
Small business Saturday isn't enough; don't wait until then, and don't stop after that.
An effort to support locally owned businesses has resulted in the recognition of Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year that is Nov. 24. Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is a day of national zeal for shopping. Presumably the next day shoppers can focus on local shopping.
Woodpecker Attack
When Diane Smith moved into her Reston home in 2004, the house, which was built with cedar siding, was in good repair. The siding, she says, “appeared intact and heavily stained.”
Reston Residents Meet to Prepare for the Next Storm
On Saturday, Nov. 3, just days after Hurricane Sandy hit our region, Reston residents engaged in a dialogue at a forum titled “Is Your Neighborhood Ready for the Next Big Storm,” held at Reston Community Center Lake Anne. The event was organized by Reston for a Lifetime with the support of Reston Community Center and Reston Citizens Association to help create awareness and a dialogue before the first big snowstorm hits our region.
Reston Holiday Parade Set for Nov. 23
Reston Town Center presents the 22nd annual Reston Holiday Parade on Friday, Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. to launch the festive season with Macy’s-style balloons, musicians, dancers, antique cars, and more. This one-of-a-kind, one-hour parade along Market Street will also welcome the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage. The Reston Holiday Parade is held rain or shine, and since 1991 it has been an annual tradition on the day after Thanksgiving. The full day’s schedule is listed below, and more information is available at www.restontowncenter.com/holidays.
Letter: Volunteers Make Democracy Work
During my last canvassing on Nov. 5, I met a young female canvasser who truly exhibited outstanding determination in participating in the Get-Out-To-Vote effort of the Obama campaign. I spoke to Natalie Erdossy, and learned that Natalie brought her three very young children along during the canvassing, and that her husband was doing a second tour in Afghanistan with the State Department. She said that she was recruited by her neighbor Ellen Graves and she wanted to do her part. What I find so outstanding is that she was driven by a purpose greater that her immediate personal comfort.
Commentary: Reflections on the Elections
“Oh, no!” many may exclaim at the idea of hearing any more about the elections. But I believe it is instructive for the future to consider what happened and why. As residents of a battleground state, Virginians were inundated with telephone calls, television ads and slick mailers. Interestingly, the guys who spent the most money did not win. Virginia is a state that had just a few years ago elected Republicans to its top three statewide offices, majorities in the House and Senate, and eight of its 11 congressional representatives. Yet President Obama won the state handily. And former Governor Tim Kaine won a seat in the U.S. Senate even though 30 million in outside dollars were spent against him. How can this happen? Some of my thoughts on the question follow.
Column: Elections 2012—Role of Big Bucks Going Forward
Happy post-election to you all. Before I return to our discussion of our flawed election process and the role of the big bucks, I want to congratulate a good friend and fellow Restonian. Aaron Williams recently resigned after three years as director of the Peace Corps, one of America’s finest organizations. When this Reston resident, a former PC Voluneer himself, took over the Corps, it faced some major issues.
Herndon, Reston Honor Veterans
American Legion hosts Veterans Day Observance.
“The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Let us observe two full minutes of silence.” With those words, David Kirby, commander of Herndon-Reston American Legion Wayne M. Kidwell Post 184, opened the 2012 Veterans Day observance, addressing veterans, active duty members, town dignitaries and respectful citizens gathered on the green behind the Herndon Municipal Center. The commander was, of course, referring to 11 a.m., Nov. 11, 1918—the date and hour when hostilities on the Western Front of World War I officially came to an end. Originally celebrated as “Armistice Day” to remember those fallen in combat during that war, what we now call Veterans Day has evolved to honor those who made that ultimate sacrifice, and to thank all who have served and continue to do so.
Classified Advertising Nov. 14, 2012
Read the lastest ads here!
Gift Ideas in Great Falls
Maison et Jardin, Maison du Vin offer gift ideas for holidays.
While places like Tysons Corner might draw the large crowds and big numbers during the holiday shopping season, plenty of local residents are able to find gifts much more locally. The shops at the Great Falls commercial center offer a wide variety of items from locally owned businesses.
LEAP Awards $5,000 to Homeowners
Marti Fucile and Eric Shor receive award to make home more energy efficient.
Living on Lake Audubon, Marti Fucile and her fiancé Eric Shor have learned to love their view of the lake. But as environmentally-friendly homeowners, they also know the reality that comes with the high ceilings and large windows in their townhouse.
Used Book Shop Offers Gift Ideas
Lake Anne shop has been "where books and people meet" for more than 30 years.
Whenever he comes to Lake Anne, Jeremy Thompson of Reston has a place he always stops. A place he calls an "increasing rarity" in today’s world.
Column: Weight For It
This reference is not about pounds, per se. It is about the two largest tumors in my lungs, inoperable in that they are located between the two halves which make up the whole lung.