Riverside Dinner Theatre Trip
Travel to the Riverside Dinner Theatre in Fredericksburg Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., to enjoy the musical “Brigadoon” — a whimsical story of a Scottish village, which miraculously awakens on earth for a single day each hundred years. Lunch will be served before the show and includes drinks, salad, bread, entrée and dessert. The trip includes escort, driver, transportation, lunch, taxes, gratuity and tickets. Only 30 spaces available, $56 per person.
For more information, contact the Herndon Community Center at 703-435-6868 or register online at www.herndon-va.gov.
Herndon Relay for Life
A kick-off event for the second annual Herndon Relay for Life will be held Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 6:30 p.m., in the lobby of the Herndon Municipal Center.
The Herndon Town Council will present a resolution to the organizers of the second annual Herndon Relay for Life that will be June 11 and 12, at Herndon High School.
Last year’s event involved more than 700 participants and raised more than $120,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Families, friends, neighbors, classmates, church members and co-workers can join together to create eight to 15-member teams that raise funds prior to the event, then walk or run relay style around the track for the duration of the event. Each team is offered a campsite and encouraged to stay overnight, keeping at least one team member on the track at all times.
Relay for Life not only raises funds to fight cancer but also raises awareness about cancer prevention and the programs and services offered by the American Cancer Society. While the relay is underway, a festival-style atmosphere is created by team members camping out, enjoying entertainment, food, games. At dusk, candles are placed around the track and lit during the Luminaria Ceremony to honor cancer survivors and remember those who have lost their battle with cancer.
Individuals interested in participating in this year’s program are welcome to attend the Feb. 16 event.
For more information regarding the Herndon Relay for Life, go to www.herndonrelay.org or call 703-689-9798.
Town Receives Budget Award
The Town of Herndon has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).
This is the 14th consecutive year the town’s budget has been recognized by the GFOA. A Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation will be presented to Mary Tuohy, director of finance, Linda Simmons, director of human resources, and Michelle O’Hare, planner, at the Town Council public meeting Feb. 8.
According to the GFOA, the award represents a significant achievement by the entity, reflecting the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the town had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well the budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, an operational guide, and a communications device.
Since the inception of the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program in 1984, approximately 900 entities have received the award. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.
The Government Finance Officers Association is a nonprofit professional association serving 14,000 government finance professionals throughout North America. The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.
Good Neighbor Award Nominations
The Town of Herndon and the Cultivating Community Committee are seeking nominations for the Good Neighbor Award by March 25.
The purpose of this award is to recognize those people who go beyond the call of duty to act as good neighbors in their respective neighborhoods: the neighbor who helps others with repairs or who takes care of common property needs; the neighbor who looks over your property while you are away; the neighbor who looks after your children and pets; the neighbor who helps you out in a crisis; the neighbor who commits helpful or charitable acts toward other neighbors; the neighbor who participates in volunteer activities and who does special things to make your neighborhood a better place.
The winner will receive recognition by Town Council at a public meeting in April. Eligibility for the Good Neighbor Award includes:
* Must be a resident of Herndon.
* Act(s) for which the person is nominated must not be performed as an element of paid employment.
* Contributions to the neighborhood may have occurred over the course of many years, but the judges will give special consideration to recent good deeds.
Residents may nominate a family member, friend or neighbor who makes noteworthy contributions to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood.
To nominate an individual for the award, please attach to a nomination form a description of why you believe that person exemplifies the qualities of a good neighbor. In 300 words or less, answer the question: "What makes this person a good neighbor?" Some of these qualities may include:
* Contributions to the community beyond the scope of normal citizen responsibilities.
* Concern for their neighbors' well-being or overall quality of life in their neighborhood. This concern may be demonstrated by care of property, helpful or charitable acts toward neighbors or participation in committees or volunteer activities that contribute to positive changes in the neighborhood.
Nominations must be made prior to March 25, forms are available on the Town of Herndon Web site, www.herndon-va.gov — click on What's New. Forms are also available at the Herndon Municipal Center and the Neighborhood Resource Center. For more information, call 703-435-6800, Ext. 2010.
Guest Speaker at Assistance League Meeting
Assistance League of Northern Virginia will hold a multi-town membership meeting Monday, Feb. 7, from 10:15 a.m.- noon, at the Chantilly branch of the Fairfax County Public Library, 4000 Stringfellow Road in Chantilly. Nancy Gordon, social worker at the Women's Center OB/Gyn Clinic at Inova Fairfax Hospital will be the guest speaker. In 2004, Assistance League launched Project Lullaby to provide needed infant clothing, blankets and other basic items to mothers of newborns receiving care at the OB/Gyn Clinic.
Assistance League of Northern Virginia is a chapter of National Assistance League, a nonprofit, nonsectarian, volunteer service organization founded in the early 1890s that promotes volunteerism through leadership training and education in 25 states. Locally, Assistance League members implement its mission to promote the well being, self-esteem and education of at-risk youth and adults living in Northern Virginia through philanthropic projects.
For more information, contact Debbie Kiessling, membership chairman, at 703-758-1085, or Cindy Burgess, president, at 703-758-8454. The Assistance League national Web site is http://www.assistanceleague.org/.
Townwide Cable Construction
Verizon will be laying fiber optic cable throughout the town over the next three months. This upgrade will bring high-speed voice and data service to all residences in Herndon.
Work will be performed both in the public right of way and within prescribed easements on private property by Verizon's contractor, Ivy H. Smith. Residents will be notified by door hangers and signs when work will be performed in their neighborhood.
According to Verizon, similar upgrades have taken place successfully with minimal disruption to residents in Falls Church, Annandale, Springfield and Leesburg. For more information, call Ivy Smith at 1-800-768-8831.
Proposed Work Schedule Through February:
* Feb. 7: Fillmore Street, Dumbarton Court, Colvin Court, S. Gunnell Court, N. Gunnell Court, Ashburn Street, Longview Place, Madison Forest Drive.
* Feb. 9: Worchester Court, Pembrook Street, Merlins Lane, Herford Street, Bicksler Court, Clark Street, Montalto Drive, Devon Street, Woodshire Lane, Ashburn Street.
* Feb. 11: Worchester Street, Merlins Lane, Dranesville Road, Pembrook Court, Windcroft Glen, Queens Row Street, Trinity Gate Street, Clarke Street, Devon Street, Bicksler Drive, Criton Street, Cavendish Street.
* Feb. 14: Old Hunt Way, Huntsman Place, Crest Drive, Dranesville Road, Third Street, Royal Elm Court, Bennett Street, Coomber Court, Thurber Street, Philmont Drive, Ridgegate Drive, Judd Court, Monroe Street.
* Feb. 17: Jenny Ann Court, Iron Ridge Court, Third Street, Traper Crest Court, Dranesville Road.
* Feb. 21: Grant Street, Young Dairy Court, Barker Hill Road, Monroe Street, Hidden Park Place, Cooper Station Road, Dominion Lodge Lane, Grant Street.
* Feb. 23: Grant Street, Fillmore Street, Dranesville Road, Park Avenue, Tyler Street, Third Street, Moffet Forge Road.
* Feb. 25: Van Buren Street, Park Avenue, Monroe Street, Second Street, Third Street, Charlton Place, McDaniel Court.
* Feb. 28: Knight Avenue, Charles Street, Saber Lane, Queens Court, Charles Court, Knight Lane, Kings Court, Stanton Park Court, Cavalier Drive.
Budget Hearings Scheduled
The Town of Herndon is in the process of preparing the upcoming fiscal year 2006 budget, including the FY '06-11 capital improvement program (CIP). The Town Council and Planning Commission will be holding several work sessions and public hearings to give an opportunity for interested citizens to present ideas or issues for consideration while the budget is being developed. All public hearings are held in the Council Chambers; work sessions are held in the conference room, both located at 765 Lynn St.
A budget summary will be mailed to all Herndon residents during the first week in April, at which time it is anticipated that the complete recommended budget document will be available for public review. Information will be posted on the town's Web site, www.herndon-va.gov, as it becomes available. A copy of the proposed budget will be available for review at the Herndon Fortnightly Library.
The complete budget schedule is as follows:
* Monday, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m., Planning Commission public hearing on the CIP and Envisioned Future Statement.
* Tuesday, Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m., Town Council public hearing on FY 2006 budget and Core Ideology and Envisioned Future Statement.
* Monday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., Planning Commission work session to discuss the CIP.
* Monday, March 7, 7:30 p.m., Planning Commission public hearing on the CIP.
* Tuesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., Town Council work session to review proposed budget and CIP.
* Tuesday, April 12, 7:30 p.m., Town Council public hearing to allow public testimony on proposed budget and FY '06 portion of CIP.
* Tuesday, April 19, 7:30 p.m., Town Council work session to review proposed budget and FY '06 portion of CIP.
* Tuesday, April 26, 7:30 p.m., Town Council public hearing — consideration and adoption budget and entire CIP.
Kiddie Open Gym at Center
Toddlers can enjoy tumbling, big-wheel days, kiddie basketball and some pool time at the Herndon Community Center during Kiddie Open Gym.
Kiddie Gym is open every Tuesday and Thursday, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., through Feb. 24 in the Herndon Community Center Gym. Fee is $4 per child per day and discounted passes are available. An adult must accompany children.
The Herndon Community Center is located at 814 Ferndale Ave. For more information call 703-435-6868 or register online at www.herndon-va.gov.
Teen After-School Cinema
Teens ages 12 to 17 are invited to the Herndon Community Center for an afternoon of refreshments and a movie — all free.
Teen Cinema will be held every second and fourth Thursday, at 2:30 p.m., during January, February and March.
All movies are rated PG or PG-13.
To find out the movie schedule or to be placed on a mailing list, call the Herndon Community Center at 703-435-6868. To register online, go to www.herndon-va.gov.
Herndon Festival Volunteers
Volunteers are needed for the Herndon Festival planning and entertainment committees. Interested members of the community and civic groups from throughout the town are invited to assist the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department in the planning and execution of the 25th annual Herndon Festival to be held June 2-5.
Volunteers are also needed to serve on the entertainment subcommittee, which will meet once or twice to consider possible performers and make suggestions to the festival executive committee.
Call the Herndon Community Center at 703-435-6800, Ext. 2123. Those interested in the entertainment subcommittee should call 703-435-6800, Ext. 2120.