Should Voters Consider Streetcar?
Two candidates propose referendum, but path to ballot remains unclear.
Should voters consider the fate of the controversial $310 million streetcar on Columbia Pike? That's what two candidates are proposing, although the path from their idea to the ballot box remains unclear, and the idea has resistance among people who support the initiative. The debate comes at a time when County Manager Barbara Donnellan prepares to propose her capital improvement program for fiscal years 2015 to 2024, a 10-year spending plan that will include the first major round of funding for the Columbia Pike Streetcar.
Feeling Repercussions of Winter
Schedule adjustments for Northern Virginia public school students.
This winter, thousands of area students were given more days off than expected. Day after day, parents, students and faculty received notice that school had yet again been cancelled due to the heavy snow and cold weather, which forced students and faculty to watch one of the coldest and heaviest winters since the 2010 Snowmagedden from home.
Hearing Loss Doesn’t Have to be Life-changing
“What?” May is Better Hearing and Speech Month.
On any given workday, you might find Arlington resident Erin Weiner sitting in a family-friendly restaurant causally coloring or playing games with a young child. At first glance, she might be mistaken for any young mother entertaining her offspring while they wait for a meal. In actuality, Weiner, who is a speech-language pathologist, is employing what she describes as an innovative approach to therapy that involves working with a child in his or her natural environment.
May 7: Week in Alexandria
The week of May 7 in brief.
A Tale of Two Seasons
It is not the best of times, nor is it the worst of times; it is, simply put: the time between the end of winter and the beginning of summer. It is the season known as spring, but more to the point of this column, it is the time when, if the weather cooperates/accommodates, I won’t need to turn the heat or the air conditioning on in my house. I will instead be able to ride the wave, so to speak, and not incur any post-winter/pre-summer utility bills. Possibly, I might even be able to pay off my oil-heating budget bill balance for the 2013/2014 season – before the 2014/2015 budget cycle begins, and hopefully not have to cool down the house at the same time – due to an early summer – so that on the day my oil-heating bill is due, it won’t be competing for cash with my upstart electric/air conditioning bill for money not well spent and for money hardly in abundance.
Supervisors Pass County Budget
Three supervisors vote against the $3.7 billion budget.
Educators are not happy that the school district will receive $64 million less than they asked for next year. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed the county’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget, which includes a 3 percent increase in the School Fund Transfer, at the April 29 meeting.
Animal Instinct: Democrats in Hotly Contested Primary Divided on Speciesism
Will Jim Moran's successor share his enthusiasm for animal rights?
Candidates in the Democratic primary for Congress have a wide range of views on animal rights, an issue that has become one of the defining legacies of retiring U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8).
Going into Business with Mom
Mother-daughter Realtor teams say working together can work.
Allison Goodhart has a vivid childhood memory: pulling a wagon filled with pumpkins and her younger sister around her family’s Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria, helping to promote her parents’ real estate business. Today Allison Goodhart works alongside her mother as part of Old Town Alexandria-based Goodhart Group of McEnearney Associates Inc., Realtors.
Three Cheers to 20 Years
People filled the Arlington Arts Center Monday evening, May 5, to mark the Arlington Sister City Association's 20th anniversary of its first partnership, with Aachen, Germany.
Vienna Celebrates ‘the Most Influential Rabbi of Modern History’
Tuesday, May 13, Chabad Tysons Jewish Center will present Paradigm Shift: Transformational Life Teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, a new six-session course by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute. The course will be offered as part of a series of local activities in Northern Virginia marking 20 years since the passing of "the Rebbe," Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of righteous memory. The Rebbe was a visionary religious leader who inspired countless individuals during his lifetime and established a global network of educational, social, and religious institutions to revive the post-holocaust Jewish landscape.
Friday Night Live Concerts Return To Herndon
20th year of Friday evening concerts at downtown Herndon.
Friday, May 2, the Town Green was full of families and visitors who came to attend the first Friday Night Live concert in the Town of Herndon. “It was a packed house, everybody is out having a good time,” said Herndon Police Officer Henry “Hank” Ruffin. This popular concert series is held every Friday evening until Aug. 22. The band which begun this season was Love Seed Mama Jump. The concerts begin around 6:30 p.m. and end around 10:30 p.m. The Friday Night Live concert series is free to attend and is almost always held unless rain forces them to cancel.
Silver Line Phase 1 Reaches ‘Substantial Completion’
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced its concurrence Thursday with an April 9 Declaration of Substantial Completion for Phase 1 of the Silver Line Project to extend the Washington region's Metrorail public transit system. The concurrence affirms that the Phase 1 construction by Dulles Transit Partners, a construction consortium led by Bechtel Corp., has satisfied the contract requirements applicable to the project's major functional elements.
Starshine Theatre to Present ‘The Odyssey’
Starshine Theatre of Great Falls presents its 21st Annual Spring Production, "The Odyssey," based on the ancient Greek epic by Homer. A Cast of talented local students, ages elementary through high school, will portray the colorful characters the great Odysseus met on his 20-year journey home after winning the Trojan War. This original musical drama includes songs and dance/action choreography to complement the epic scholars have called "The best story in 3,000 years." Performance at The Grange Theater, Great Falls, on Saturday, May 10, at 7 p.m. Seats must be reserved in advance by contacting Pat Green Budwig, M.A., Play Director, at 703-790-9050 or StarshineTheater@aol.com .
Week in McLean
Pizza for Charities at McLean Day McLean Rotary will be the only pizza vendor at McLean Day--offering delicious Domino’s pizza, in addition to its regular, popular hotdogs and drinks. McLean Rotary Club members have manned a hotdog booth at McLean Day since 1975. The booth was originally established in memory of recently deceased Rotarian Fred Earle, who was also known fondly in the community as The Mayor. The McLean Rotary Club subsequently established the McLean Day food and drink stand for fundraising and club fellowship. At its current location next to the rear entrance to Lewinsville Park, the Rotary booth is convenient to other food vendors and children’s rides. McLean Rotary has supported the community with fundraising and fun for nearly 40 years. The club established the annual McLean Chocolate Festival in 2012 and participates in a fall Monte Carlo evening to also raise funds for the community. The McLean Rotary Club meets for lunch on Tuesdays at noon in downtown McLean. Please go to www.mcleanrotary.org for details. McLean Youth Soccer Fundraiser, May 8 McLean Youth Soccer Scholarship Fundraiser will be held on Thursday, May 8, at Pulcinella - The Italian Host Restaurant, 6852 Old Dominion Drive in McLean. Support McLean Youth Soccer’s Scholarship Fund by dining in or ordering take out from Pulcinella Italian Host Restaurant on Thursday, May 8, from 5 to 9 p.m. 6852 Old Dominion Dr., McLean. For takeout or reservations for large groups, call 703-893-7777. When you present the flyer posted on the MYS website, 20 percent of the proceeds from your dinner will be donated to the MYS Scholarship Program. http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0054/9101/Pulcinella_Flyer.pdf Also available for take-out orders - Mention "MYS Fundraiser" and bring the flyer when you pick up your order. Please visit the club’s website for more information: www.mcleansoccer.org
Reston Langston Hughes Middle Celebrates Poetry
Poetry contest raises awareness about 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 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.
Reston National Golf Course to Host Annual Junior Golf Day Saturday, May 10
Free Admission, Contests, Prizes, Inflatable Dinosaur ‘Golfzilla’ Among Highlights
(VIENNA, VA) – Reston National Golf Course – managed by Billy Casper Golf (BCG), the largest owner-operator of golf courses, country clubs and resorts in the U.S. – will host its annual Junior Golf Day on Saturday, May 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. Attendees will enjoy free admission, instructional clinics conducted by PGA Professionals, contests and prizes, and even the chance to witness “Golfzilla,” a 19-foot tall inflatable dinosaur. Golfers can demo the latest Nike Golf clubs on Reston National’s driving range.
Week in Herndon
Herndon MOMS Club to Host Popsicle Picnic
The MOMS Club of Herndon will host a Popsicle Picnic on Thursday, May 15, from 10 a.m. – noon at Bruin Park (415 Van Buren St., Herndon). The club encourages all Herndon (zip codes 20170 and 20171) stay at home mothers to join them. Stop in for a fun morning of playground play, bubble blowing, sidewalk chalk artistry, and more at their annual Membership Drive. This event is an opportunity for prospective members to learn more about the club and to meet other Herndon moms. The MOMS Club of Herndon will provide complimentary iced beverages and snacks for everyone and free popsicles, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk for children who attend. Prospective members who sign up that morning to join the club and current MOMS Club® members who bring a friend to the event will be automatically entered into a drawing for a $10 gift certificate to Zinga! Frozen Yogurt. For more information or to RSVP contact: Tomoko Azuma, Membership VP at Herndon_moms_info@yahoo.com. In case of inclement weather, this event will be moved to Trinity Presbyterian Church (651 Dranesville Rd., Herndon).
22 Years in Prison for Child’s Death
A Fair Lakes woman has been sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for murdering an 11-month-old boy in Vienna, nearly three years ago. She is Carol Nadine Lutsky, 22, of Summit Manor Court. The tragedy occurred Oct. 5, 2011. Town of Vienna police officers were called to the 1100 block of Lakewood Drive S.W. regarding a baby who was reported to be unresponsive. But before they arrived, the caretaker, Lutsky, then 20, transported the infant to his biological mother who was in Reston at the time. The baby was then rushed to Reston Hospital, from where – because of his critical and deteriorating condition – he was Medevaced to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The boy, Nehemiah Williams, died the next day, on Oct. 6.
Longfellow Middle Goes Green
Longfellow Middle School students celebrated Earth Day and Arbor Day working on the Burke Stream Restoration Project on April 26 and May 3. Students and parent volunteers removed invasive weeds and planted a new bed with native plants. The Burke Stream Restoration Project is part of Longfellow Middle School's journey toward Green Flag Status under the Eco Schools USA program hosted by the National Wildlife Foundation. Terri Harley, Longfellow's Eco-Action Project Leader and volunteer with the Fairfax County Park Authority's Invasive Management Area program, met with FCPA IMA Coordinator, Erin Stockschlaeder, four naturalists and a botanist to develop a project plan for Burke Stream. More information on Fairfax County's Invasive Management Volunteer Program can be found at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resource-management/ima/#volunteering
