<sh>Hughes Student Wins Geography Bee
<bt>Sterling resident Brian Cheng will represent the Commonwealth of Virginia in the National Geography Bee after winning the Virginia State Geography Contest on April 5 at James Madison University in Harrisonburg. By knowing that Teheran is the capital city located in the southern foothills of the Eburs Mountains, Brian was awarded with $100 and a National Geography Atlas.
A seventh grader at Langston Hughes Middle School, Brian is the son of Arthur Cheng and Hsiao-Hweiz Cheng. He gained his knowledge by reading geography books, road maps, and the National Geography Traveler. Brian also enjoys chess, tennis, and playing the viola and is a member of Odyssey of the Mind team.
Brian participated in the bee last year but did not do as well. However, he credited the experience with helping him win the bee this time around. Brian will join other winners from around the country at the National Geography Bee in May in Washington, D.C.
<ro>National Competitor
<cl>Neel Kotra, an eighth grader at Langston Hughes Middle School, will represent the Commonwealth of Virginia in the National Math Counts Contest in June. Neel and three other students representing Virginia will travel to Chicago to for the national competition.
<sh>Historic Trust Seeks Volunteers
<bt>The Reston Historic Trust is about to begin its annual Color Lines project, during which Langston Hughes Middle School students interview local residents. Currently, project organizers are seeking individuals who are willing to be interviewed. The topic of this year's project is the civil rights movement. Sarah Larson, who is organizing the project, said interviewees do not need to have been particularly active in the movement.
"Anyone who was alive at this time, your life changed," Larson said. "We're trying to get an idea of what American communities were like before, during and after civil rights."
To be an interviewee, e-mail Larson at sarah@communitystudies.com or call Leila Gordon, from the Reston Community Center, at 703-476-4500.
<sh>Hit and Run Vehicle Identified
<bt>Fairfax County Police have identified the vehicle involved in a pedestrian hit and run accident that occurred around 2:30 a.m. Saturday in Reston, near the intersection of Reston Parkway and Bowman Towne Drive. Jefferson L. Dean was, 63, was walking northbound on the right shoulder of Reston Parkway when a silver BMW left the roadway, striking Dean. The driver fled the scene northbound on Reston Parkway toward Baron Cameron Avenue. Dean was transported to Fairfax Hospital ICU in critical condition with a closed head wound. The identified vehicle has been impounded by Fairfax County Police and the case is currently under investigation. No charges have been placed at this time. Anyone with information pertaining to this investigation is asked to call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
<sh>Reston Charrette on Rail to Dulles
<bt>Hunter Mill Supervisor Catherine Hudgins will be hosting a community planning workshop, entitled the Reston Charrette, to discuss the land development that will surround the proposed Metro rail stations in Reston. The meetings will be April 11, 12 and 13 at TRW, 12011 Sunset Hills Road, Reston. The entire community is invited to participate.
The first day of the charrette will conclude with a public forum at 7:30 p.m. The next two days organizers plan to work on community planning. On the third day, consultants will also present the results of the participants' work.
For a full agenda, or to register for the charrette, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/huntermill/charrette_registration.html or call 703-478-0283.
<sh>Environment Hearing
<bt>The state Commission on the Future of Virginia's Environment will host a public hearing on Monday, April 29, at 2 p.m., in the Senate Room A of the General Assembly Building in Richmond. The commission is charged with examining the status of Virginia's natural resources/environmental programs and their funding and it is requesting the public to suggest natural resource/environmental issues that the Commission should examine as part of the work plan for the year. The Commission is composed of 10 members of the General Assembly, seven citizens and the Secretary of Natural resources. Those persons wishing to speak during this public hearing may register in advance by calling Patty Lung, Senate Clerk's Office, at 804-698-7450. For more information, call Martin, Farber, Sue Bulbulkaya or Jeff Gore at the Division of Legislative Services at 804-786-3591.
<sh>Upcoming Southgate Meetings
<bt>The dates and times of the following meetings, on the Southgate Recreation Center, have been confirmed by the Reston Association and by Fairfax County:
* Neighborhood Cluster and Community Meeting
Tuesday, April 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Stonegate Community Room, Stonegate Village Apartments, 2244 Stone Wheel Drive.
* Community Meeting on Programming
Thursday, April 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at RA's Southgate Community Room, 2050 Pinecrest Road.
* Community Meeting on Programming
Wednesday, May 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Dogwood Elementary School, 12300 Glade Drive.