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Highlanders Encouraged to Do ‘Great Things’

Class of 2013 defines McLean High one last time.

The light above the original 13 colony nameplates in Constitution Hall changed from a gushing green to a Highlander red by late afternoon. Of the 521 McLean seniors who proceeded across the stage on Thursday, June 13, 21 percent of them did so with honors. Their keynote speaker, CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell, gave the Class of 2013 key principles of how to live one’s life. He told two stories about Sept. 11, 2001: the two people’s stories were Father Mychal Judge and Lieutenant Kevin P. Shaeffer.

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Springfield Boy Scouts Help Plant Trees at Burke Lake Park

New trees replace mature ones torn down by Burke Lake Dam renovation.

When the renovation of Burke Lake Dam began last fall, many residents in the leafy South Run neighborhood were concerned about the dozens of mature trees construction crews had to rip out to gain access to the dam.

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Express Lanes Construction Could Impact Travel on I-95

As the construction on the 95 Express Lanes project increases over the summer, motorists traveling to Virginia Beach, the Outer Banks in North Carolina as well as other points south should be aware that the HOV lanes will be closed overnight on weekdays and occasional weekends throughout the summer, and there will be intermittent lane closures overnight for steel erection and other work, making travel on the general purpose lanes challenging. In addition to the 95 Express Lanes project, there is also a shoulder improvement project underway on I-95 in Prince William County and a BRAC-related ramp work from the HOV lanes to the Fort Belvoir North Area that may impact travel.

Teen Electrocuted on Fox Mill Elementary School Grounds

Shortly before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, police and fire were called to Fox Mill Elementary School at 2611 Viking Drive in Herndon. First responders arrived and located four juvenile males: three 14-year-olds and one 15-year-old. One of the 14-year-olds had inadvertently come into contact with a live electrical wire and was electrocuted. He was pronounced dead on scene.

Rising to Boys & Girls Clubs ‘Youth of the Year’

With help of Boys & Girls Clubs, local immigrant student receives full college scholarship.

Today, Henry Lopez has a bright future, complete with a full scholarship to college. It wasn’t always that way, however, and he remembers being a preschool student in a foreign country, unfamiliar with the language and culture, fighting to learn, to fit in, to avoid falling into a gang.

Operation: Ladybug at Herndon Science Center

The Children's Science Center of Herndon, at 485 Spring Park Place, Suite 500, is providing some ideas for backyard science this summer, with a call to young scientists to identify various species of ladybugs in their backyard. The challenge is part of a project, Operation: Ladybug, a collaborative effort between Cornell University’s Lost Ladybug Project and the Children’s Science Center to gather data for entomologists.

South County Middle Celebrates First Anniversary

The new school praised as “cornerstone of the community.”

After just one year, the South County Middle School Mustangs are already charging ahead toward a bright future: On Sept. 4, 2012, the school opened, boasting long, shiny hallways and advanced technological equipment. It recently commemorated its one-year anniversary with a ceremony involving the staff, members of the student body, members of the superintendent’s office, and members of the Board of Supervisors. Staff members donned matching polos with the school’s logo on it, and speakers wore shirts that had the school’s name and “The Only Solution” printed on the back.

Sunrise Valley Teacher Honored

Katie Blomquist named the 2013 Virginia History Teacher of the Year.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has named Katie Blomquist, a fourth grade teacher at Sunrise Valley Elementary School, the 2013 Virginia History Teacher of the Year.

Letter: Putting the People First

To the Editor:

Good government isn’t as hard as politicians make it out to be. It’s really about putting the people first. The IRS certainly wasn’t putting the people first when it harassed, humiliated and held up the applications of conservative groups. Nor when it held off on releasing the $125 million share owed to Virginia as part of a Medicaid fraud settlement. It did just the opposite.

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Paint the Pub Purple

Come one, come all event at O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub in Herndon.

Prepare to “Paint the Pub Purple” when O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub in Herndon hosts a happy hour benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) on Thursday, June 27. Taking place from 4-8 p.m., the happy hour will bring together supporters with drink and food specials and live music.

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Week in Reston

Helping Celebrate All Night Grad Party

Detectives in the Reston Police District are investigating four recent robberies and assaults on Reston area paths that may be connected.

Letter: Supporting Indoor Facility at Baron Cameron Park

To the Editor:

I am a long-time Reston resident, strong community volunteer and parent of age-group swimmers. I am also a nationally recognized swimmer and swimming official. I support an Indoor Aquatic & Recreation Facility at Baron Cameron Park

Letter: Call to Ban Outdoor Smoking

To the Editor:

As a teenager, I really dislike smelling smoke from cigarettes, cigars, etc. I highly agree with Starbucks’ ban of smoking on their outdoor patios. The rest of the community should consider banning outdoor smoking also.

Classical Ballet Theatre Dancers Reach New Heights

Serious dancers throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area are finding a home at Classical Ballet Theatre (CBT). They come to receive preeminent, year-round classical ballet instruction under the auspices of former Bolshoi Ballet star and CBT Artistic Director Alisher Saburov. Dancers enroll to perform in the many Children's Series, community outreach, and full-length ballet productions, where they don stunning costumes and dance beautifully choreographed leading roles.

Reston Organizations Teach Girls the Value of Science

The Girls Excelling in Math and Science (GEMS) Club Initiative, Nova Labs and the Mid-Atlantic Girls Collaborative (MAGiC) have announced a new project: The Girl Makers of Northern Virginia.

Commentary: Bipartisan Approach Needed in Evaluating Legislators

The 2013 session of the General Assembly was a landmark one, according to most everyone who follows politics in the Old Dominion. It passed a sweeping transportation funding package that had eluded approval for at least a couple of decades.

Teens Deserve Sleep Before School

For about 10 years, area parent groups and child health specialists have been arguing that high school start times should take into account the body clocks of high school students. In fact, research shows that high school age teens do their best if they get a solid nine hours of sleep. Adequate sleep improves learning, memory and performance in school. Inadequate sleep has many downsides.

Week in Herndon

Town of Herndon 4th of July Schedule

Town of Herndon government offices and services will be impacted by the Independence Day holiday as follows: Town offices—closed Thursday, July 4. Farmers Market—open 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Refuse collection—refuse will not be collected. Refuse normally collected on Thursday will be collected on Friday, July 5. Herndon Community Center—open 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Herndon Centennial Golf Course—open 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Special event—4th of July Celebration and fireworks at Bready Park, 814 Ferndale Ave. Free. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. and include children’s crafts, bingo and family music. Fireworks at dark. For more information, visit herndon-va.gov.

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Kilmer Eighth Graders Win Showcase

Coach Susan Bates and Joyce Tian and Pallavi Bhave of Vienna are pictured with Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) next to the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, June 6.

Letter: Young Referees Face Verbal Abuse

To the Editor:

Youth recreational basketball has finally ended. These days, children can play in house leagues from November through final playoff games in June. What they need and can't play without however, not counting coaches, league administrators and venues, are the referees.

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