Langston Hughes Middle Celebrates Poetry
Poetry contest inspires creativity.
At the end of April, Langston Hughes Middle School held an after school award ceremony for the annual poetry contest. Approximately 80 poems by students were entered in this year’s annual poetry contest, and winners were announced. The contest, sponsored by Northwest Federal Credit Union (NWFCU) and the school’s PTA, offered students an arena to express ideas poetically. Representing NWFCU was Nicolette Watkins. “It has been a wonderful opportunity for the credit union to work with this school,” said Watkins.
Do Your Best; Raise the Bar
Chantilly High named a Virginia Honor Band.
Being designated a “Virginia Honor Band” is the most prestigious title bestowed upon school bands by the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association. And Chantilly High’s band has just received this recognition for the 12th time.
Art Taking Over Town Center
Popular fine arts festival this weekend, May 16-18.
One of the largest outdoor festivals on the East Coast will come alive in Reston Town Center this weekend. The 23rd annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival will fill the streets with more than 200 artists and street performers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 16-18, to raise money for Greater Reston Arts Center.
High School Scholarship Seeks Donations
Laptops for Success provides computers for college-bound seniors.
Sahfkat Ali, a South Lakes High School alum, was among the first class that received a laptop through a new school scholarship in 2006.
Paladar Brings Latin-inspired Cuisine to Vienna
Restaurant launches with benefit for Food for Others, plans to be good neighbor in community.
Mix innovative Latin “comfort” food with a twist, a rum bar with more than 60 rums from throughout the Caribbean and South America, gracious staff, and a mission to be a friend to the community, and you have Vienna’s newest good neighbor, Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar. On May 8, Paladar hosted a benefit dinner on behalf of Food for Others, donating the proceeds to the Northern Virginia-area charity. It opened its doors to an enthusiastic public the following evening.
ViVa! Vienna! Returns Memorial Day Weekend
Rides, food, entertainment, kids’ activities and Memorial Day tribute celebrate community spirit.
Memorial Day is a time to honor America’s fallen and to celebrate life. ViVa! Vienna!, a three-day family-focused festival covering Memorial Day weekend, does both with fun activities and a Memorial Day tribute. ViVa! Vienna!, sponsored and hosted by the Vienna Rotary club, in partnership with the Town of Vienna and Navy Federal Credit Union, opens on Saturday, May 24, with food vendors and amusement rides for all ages. On Sunday and Monday, 350 vendors converge in the historic Church Street corridor and on the Town Green. Church Street closes down and nonstop live entertainment is presented on a children’s stage and a main stage. The Rotary Club returns its profit from the festival back to the community. It is awarding more than $165,000 to local nonprofits and schools in 2014.
Out-of-This-World Celebration
The third annual Chantilly Day celebration is this Saturday, May 17 and, with two former NASA astronauts coming, it promises to be out of this world. The festival runs from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., rain or shine, in the Kmart and Babies R Us parking lots in the Sully Place Shopping Center, off Route 50 West in Chantilly. And there’ll be fun for the whole family. Free children’s activities will be provided by the Chantilly-Centreville Chamber of and its sponsors and are being coordinated by the Chantilly Youth Association (CYA). The fun includes a rock wall, moonbounces and trackless train, plus several sports-themed activities.
Satiric Operetta Captures 19th-Century England
Ahoy, mateys! There are pirates on the horizon — but this bunch sings, dances and makes people laugh. And they’re all in Oakton High’s production of “The Pirates of Penzance.” It’s a satiric operetta about a group of inept pirates off the shore of Cornwall, England in the 1880s. And they’ll commandeer the stage, this Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Local Man Going to Prison Again
27 months incarceration for cheating government.
True, Henry Washington Yeh’s parents helped him file a fraudulent tax return. But it was his fault, in the first place, for involving them in his illegal activities. And last week in federal court, he was the only one of the three Vienna residents sentenced to prison – 27 months. For Yeh, it wasn’t the first time a family member ended up in legal trouble because of him. And when he goes to prison, that won’t be for the first time, either. In Philadelphia in October 2009, Yeh was convicted of drug distribution and later sentenced to 15 months behind bars.
Be Selective on Food Truck Sites
To the Editor: The City of Alexandria is about to entertain the idea of food trucks. We can look at the issue from two perspectives. First, setting up a food truck is far cheaper to set up than a regular restaurant. By some accounts, it is around 15 percent of the cost of setting up a regular restaurant, and as such, a way for people who really have a desire but not means to enter the market.
Vienna Parents, Son Sentenced in Court
Defrauded IRS on income-tax return.
It’s not every day that a judge sentences a son and his parents together – but that’s what happened Friday in federal court to a Vienna family. Ultimately, two family members received probation and the third was sentenced to prison.
Memorable Evening of Movement and Dance
Three local professional dance troupes pull into Reston's CenterStage.
Its successful season of adventuresome professional touring artists series nearing its close, Reston Community Center is bringing the contrasting styles of three local professional dance troupes to CenterStage.
Project Enlightenment is History at McLean High
The decades long-program ends - for now.
A unique class that has held a place at McLean High School for about 20 years, either as a club or in class form - will not be offered next year.
2014 Nonprofit Leaders Honored
The 16th annual Alexandria Business Philanthropy Summit was held May 7 as Volunteer Alexandria honored five individuals for their service to the community. Held at the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, more than 250 people turned out for the event that featured former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as the keynote speaker.
Roundups for 5/14/2014
The editor presents the roundups for the week of 5/14/2014.
Celebrating McLean
99th annual event is last for event director.
It’s the place to be. At least, that’s according to a phrase the McLean Community Center’s Director of Special Events coined for McLean Day: Celebrating Our Homeetown, which takes over Lewinsville Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Muffins for Mom at Churchill Road
Churchill Road kindergartners celebrated Mother’s Day on Friday, May 9 by hosting “Muffins for Mom.” Students in each of the four kindergarten classes (Barbara Lewis, Erin Thurston, Laura Matthews and Krista Zier) worked with the arts teachers Julie Brodzik and Jenny Whiteman to create hand-stitched squares for their moms. The students also made special Mother’s Day placemats.
Animal Shelter Grand Opening
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house Saturday, May 17, to celebrate the official completion of the shelter’s renovation and expansion project.
5K Ice Cream Race at Bull Run
The first annual 5K Ice Cream Race will be held Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville.
Column: What Price Business?
Last month Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that Virginia will participate in the Business Incentives Initiative, a joint project of The Pew Charitable Trusts (PEW) and the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC) and six other states (Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma and Tennessee) to “reform economic development incentive reporting policies and practices.” While millions of dollars are spent on tax incentives and grants to lure business to Virginia each year, there is no evidence that the programs are actually working as intended. There is a national debate across the country about the necessity and value of tax incentives to encourage economic development.