Kindness on Display at Diva Central
More than 200 teens flocked to the 12th annual Prom Dress Giveaway.
Kindness can turn an ordinary day into one that captures the happily-ever-after feeling of a Disney movie. Reston Community Center played Fairy Godmother over the weekend, giving hundreds of girls their Cinderella moment. More than 200 teens flocked to the center’s Lake Anne location for free prom dresses, jewelry and shoes during Saturday’s 12th annual Diva Central Prom Dress Giveaway.
Initiative for Public Art-Reston Exhibition at Dulles International Airport
Celebrates Reston’s Public Art and the Community as a Cultural Destination
The history, dedication and achievement of art in Reston is on display for the world to see. “Reston: The Art of Community,” an exhibit focusing on Reston’s contribution to the arts and coordinated by the Initiative for Public Art-Reston (IPAR), was installed in October 2013 and is currently on display until May 31, 2014 at Washington Dulles International Airport, which serves more than 21 million passengers, including 7 million international travelers, annually.
A Manufactured Crisis
To the Editor Visit your local sports equipment store to purchase a $100 fishing pole. You may not know that Medicaid will collect an additional $2.83 in what used to be known as a Federal Excise Tax – reserved for luxury goods and services- now an ObamaCare Medical Devices tax. Buy a new set of tires for $500 and you pay an additional $14.15 on the Medical Devices tax. This is just another, in a long string of hidden provisions of a bad law. Go figure how a new set of tires or a fishing pole is a medical device. The Department of Health and Human Services has asked retailers to not show the tax on your sales receipt! Why an open, transparent Federal Government would ask that is beyond this writer.
Classical Ballet Theatre Dancers Make the Most of their Evening
Classical Ballet Theatre (CBT) dancers dazzled their enthusiastic audience during “An Evening with Classical Ballet Theatre,” held at the Reston Community Center on Feb. 21. This evening of classical ballet and contemporary dance performances proved to be one to celebrate—for the audience, the dancers, and the choreographers.
Tour Of Silver Line Reston Station
Despite delay work at Reston station continues.
In February, Metro authorities with the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) released a statement that key criteria had not been met by Dulles Transit Partners (DTP), who submitted their notice of "substantial completion" to MWAA on Feb. 7.
Local Author Turning Book Into Screen Play
Great Falls Writers Group: Evening with the Authors.
A local author is planning to put the story of her life on the silver screen. Sixty-one-year-old Mindy Mitchell of Reston is writing a screenplay based on her book, "Lube of Life: A Tribute to Sex, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness in the Boomer Age," which she released last year along with her co-author, 63-year-old Edward Land of Hampton, Va. "The content [and] energy contained in our book, ‘Lube of Life,’ would adapt easily to film: a comedic yet poignant tale of late-in-life love," said Mitchell. "A ‘When Harry Met Sally’ all grown up."
Q&A with David Harris, Reston Association’s New Chief Financial Officer
Reston Association has hired longtime Northern Virginia resident and public accounting professional David Harris as their new chief financial officer. Harris took a few minutes on Friday afternoon to discuss his background and what his plans are for managing RA’s finances and information technology department as he settles into his new role.
Project BEST Brings Fun Science to Middle Schools
The nonprofit started last year by five Thomas Jefferson High School students brings its youth conference to Langston Hughes Middle School.
Thomas Jefferson High School senior Robert Young peered over a table of middle-schoolers gathered in a cafeteria on Saturday morning to observe their progress dissecting a brain made of Jell-O. The students’ mission in this activity was to simulate a precise act of brain surgery, using only tweezers and the steadiness of their hands.
Marriage Equality Moves Forward
As one who has worked on human rights issues for many decades, I am excited about the positive changes that are occurring at such a rapid pace in laws and in peoples’ attitudes about sexual orientation, especially same-sex marriage. Most of the people I talk to under age 30 don’t understand why this is even an issue. Unfortunately because of some of my colleagues in the legislature, action by federal courts will be necessary to bring about changes in the law. As time passes there will continue to be residual harsh and discriminatory feelings on the part of a minority who cling to the past as there has been with every advance in civil rights, but most will look back in bewilderment over what people were thinking in refusing to grant the same rights to all people.
Greater Washington Dance Center Brings a Fresh Perspective to Reston
Gretchen Vogelzang, founder and owner of the Greater Washington Dance Center (GWDC) in Reston will be the first to tell you that if you are looking for a studio where your child will be prepped to participate in elaborate performances for every season, then her place is probably not the one for you and yours.
Virginia Laws Help Local Governments Conceal 911 Calls from Public
Police agencies refuse to release audio from 911 calls, prompting questions about transparency.
When city officials in Alexandria released the audio of a 911 call in a high-profile murder case, many people interpreted the move as a step forward for transparency in a commonwealth known for opaque government.
Spelling Away at Terraset Elementary
Terraset Elementary School in Reston hosted its eighth annual Spelling Bee on Feb. 19, in the school's cafeteria. Fourteen students from grades 3-6 participated. The format followed those used by both the county and national bee programs. Sia Komba, a fourth grader, won in round nine, with the word "manufacture." Archer Oliver, a sixth grader, was runner-up. Komba will advance to compete against students from all over Fairfax County at the 2014 County Bee in March. The winner of the county contest will advance to the Scripps National Bee in Washington, D.C. Of her Spelling Bee experience, Komba said, "I liked learning new words, and I feel really good about what I did. I'm really excited!" Sarah Nieto, a fourth grade teacher and chair of the Spelling Bee Club at Terraset was pleased with the outcome this year. "We've had some competitive Bees in the past, but this one was really exciting. The kids prepared well," she said as the participants and other students congratulated Komba on their way back to their classes.
Reston Woman Trains Agility Cats
Her Abyssinians are famous in the cat world for their feats of athleticism.
Abyssinian cat trainer Lisa-Maria Padilla, 52, of Reston, is quite a fixture in the world of cats. Her performance cats called “Abys” do feats of athleticism all over the U.S. – at cat shows in Madison Square Garden, Orlando, and Las Vegas. The prize money is about $400 for the agility ring, so she does it mostly for the bragging rights.
SingStrong for a Cause
Professional a cappella singers preform at South Lakes High School.
For three days at South Lakes High School in Reston, the music of the human voice was celebrated with the sixth annual SingStrong International Charity A Cappella Festival. This event featured five concerts, an auction, and over a dozen classes and coaching sessions from professional musicians.
Fathers Take Daughters to Dance
Fathers and daughters enjoy special night at Herndon Community Center.
The evening of Saturday, Feb. 1, Herndon Community Center was host to the 6th annual Father Daughter Dance at the gymnasium room. Operating the DJ table was Aaron Hahn, owner of Basement Media Productions. The focus of the event was dance to popular music. Songs ranging from “Cotton Eyed Joe” to “Gangnam Style” were broadcast during the night. Appetizers and drinks were also served.